Go Placidly Amidst the Noise of Christmas . . .

Every year after Christmas Eve dinner and before we unwrapped presents from the family, Grandpa read the story in Luke about the birth of Christ. This old man with chiseled features from years of manual labor; hands gnarled from sculpting in wood and steel became himself filled with wonderment. The image of him holding the Bible with such tenderness made me imagine him cradling the holy infant in his hands as well as his heart. At that moment, I understood how this child who changed the world could bring the rich and powerful, the poor and needy, the young, the old, the strong and frail to their knees.

There is nothing selfish or haughty or hateful or cynical in the message of Christmas and when hearts do become burdened by flicks of id (produced and scattered by a godless society), individually, we silently yearn for the peace that comes from love. The message of Christmas is an invitation delivered in the form of a child. What is more needy or trusting than a baby? What fills the human heart with more unconditional love than a head-bobbing snuggle from a newborn? Humanity, now more than ever, needs this type of intimacy.

Christmas, if we let it, brings nourishment to strengthen the soul and humble the spirit. With that thought in mind, I wish you and your loved ones a very, MERRY CHRISTMAS

To all the men and women serving our country, to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one during this holiday season, to those who are searching for meaning in their lives, to those suffering from addictions, and to all my friends, family and loved ones, I wish you all peace, love, safety, and the blessings of Christmas throughout the new year.

IMPORTANT - I received this notice and wanted to pass it on to you. I am so grateful to have you as a friend and hope you feel the same. There are changes coming and the following notice will explain what they are. I hope you'll take the time to update so we will still be friends in the new year.

An update on Google Friend Connect

16 hours ago by A Googler

In 2011, we announced the retirement of Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger sites. We made an exception for Blogger to give readers an easy way to follow blogs using a variety of accounts. Yet over time, we’ve seen that most people sign into Friend Connect with a Google Account. So, in an effort to streamline, in the next few weeks we’ll be making some changes that will eventually require readers to have a Google Account to sign into Friend Connect and follow blogs.

As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other OpenId providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count.

We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow.

We know how important followers are to all bloggers, but we believe this change will improve the experience for both you and your readers.

Posted by Michael Goddard, Software Engineer

THE BIG PICTURE

Pictures, renderings, graphs, charts, all increase interest in a book, however, there are subtle choices an author can make to enhance the project. Much of it has to do with personal style. These choices add to the polished look of a product. For example:

• POSITIONING:
• Arrange pictures on a page with the subjects looking toward the gutter (in-seam) or looking at an object blocking the edge of the page. Otherwise, the subject looks as though it's trying to escape.
• When taking new pictures for the book, think of the light source as though the reader is looking through an open window (referring to the open pages of the book). Study a table near a window (filled with food, a lamp or vase). Where is the light source at different times during the day? How do the shadows fall? Which is more pleasing to your eye? Does one portray the message and theme of the project better?  
• Try different techniques. Set a mood with a large block of color behind the picture. Use a soft focus. Add unexpected elements. Whatever you choose, make sure it adds to the story and doesn't over power the page.
• Unless it's a picture book, visuals are there to compliment the writing. Place a photo on a page by itself, cluster them around a theme or timeline, or add at the end of the book as a photo diary. Let your imagination and creativity blossom. 
• B&W or COLOR or BOTH
• There is something very dramatic and edgy about a photo taken in current times and developed in B&W or (with the help of special settings on some cameras)  highlighting one color, for example: a red rose with a B&W backdrop.
• Older photos are a challenge. Some are washed out or scratched from age. My suggestion is to handle as little as possible. Take a picture of the picture or take it to a professional for restoration. There is beauty in the markings on a photo if writing a memoir, especially if there's a family memory attached.
• Use different tones to establish a timeline or age of a photo. Sepia for the 1800s, B&W before 1945 and color for modern.
• IDENTIFICATION 
• If you're submitting an article to a magazine or news source, or working with a publisher, check their specifications and follow them . . . exactly.
• The most widely used formats in identifying photographs are:
• PEOPLE                            LOCATION
• (l-r) seated: add names  Subject: animal/plant/person
• first row: add names       Location: park, museum, etc
• standing: add names      Where: city/state/country
• Photo credit                    Photo credit
• Double check the spelling of all names.

Finally, open your rough-cut copy of the finished book and quickly flip-fan the pages. This quick, overview of all the pages will help you see the color balance of the pictures. Is one more intense than another? The goal is to balance. This is something that can be easily corrected in the printing process.

Whatever your style or story, I wish you much success in your writing career.

BUY ONCE - GIFT TWICE

We're happy to announce that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of "Begotten With Love" supports the A.C.M.E. Scholarship fund. This fund helps students whose education is in financial jeopardy due to the death of a sibling or parent. If you're looking for a present for the reader in your life and want to help another, visit our website www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com

To learn more about award-winning author, Jo Ann V. Glim:

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SETTING THE SCENE

MACRO EDITING - Part 3 in a 5 Part Series

It doesn't take a chapter or even a paragraph to write the perfect scene opener. 'It was a dark and stormy night,' comes to mind. All the senses are heightened and the reader is hooked. But then 1830 English novelist Edward Buler-Lytton (in his novel Paul Clifford) continued the sentence. It was a dark and stormy night: the rain fell in torrents - except at occasional intervals . . . (and the sentence didn't stop there). In fact, there are now contests dedicated to writing the longest and most convoluted sentence possible; not quite the tact an aspiring novelist wants to emulate. 


The goal as a writer is to convey a story that transports the reader from their world into ours with enough dialogue, narrative, and description to guide them on that journey. It's our goal to foster their imagination so they identify with the story and characters . . . but how much is too much?

When reading your manuscript on this go-around of macro-edits, stop and think. If you're thoughts become:

DISTRACTED   Is it because the description is too long? If a wandering mind happens to you, it will surely happen for the reader. 

• Try shorter sentences or blending descriptions into the dialogue. For example: Little Red Riding Hood said as she ran through the woods to her grandmother's house. 
• Intersperse scene descriptions throughout the chapter instead of writing a litany at the beginning. 
• Think like a camera. Movie scripts begin with an establishing shot. Who could forget the space ship in the opening scene from Star Wars? The most popular beginning is either a panoramic or extreme close-up.  These set the tone for a movie and can do the same for a book.

CONFUSED      When we become too familiar with a topic, town, or personality, it's easy to omit information because we think everyone is viewing it from the same base.

• If the story line falters or the scene feels vague, you may have more explaining to do. Read the script out loud. What you hear sounds totally different than what you see on the printed page. If your tongue takes you down a new path, continue the thought. Write it down. We talked about searching for musicality when writing in the post, "Music in Words." This is one way to find it. 
• A scene description is "visual" dialogue that may:
• enhance emotion, 
• reveal a plot twist, 
• move the story forward.

SKEPTICAL  A story is not an essay or thesis. There are times that proper English may slow the action or discredit a character's personality. Part of setting a scene is being true to the cast that makes your story real.

• Contract words where possible. 
• Avoid cliche's . . . unless you are clever enough to form an original. 
• Add a little spice to the 'script, y'all. The operative word is little. 

Whatever your style or story, I wish you much success in your writing career.

To learn more about award-winning author, Jo Ann V. Glim:

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MUSIC in WORDS

MACRO EDITING - Part 2 in a 5 Part Series

Poets and songwriters seem gifted with sensing the melody in words. With the stroke of a pen, they infuse our senses with emotion. We're willingly captivated by the masters. However, the rest of the writing pool (myself included) sometimes struggle with untangling descant chords in even simple sentences!

These thoughts roiled through my mind as I began formulating this post.  A quick bite of lunch and a listen to one of my favorite Sunday radio programs, Radio Lab hosted by Jad Abumerad on NPR, then down to it.  The topic of his show focused on: Music - Language - Touch. Right in line with this week's post!

Even though the guests talked about the spoken word, their theories brilliantly applied to the written word as well. They've documented the fact that speech has four tones universal in all languages. As  Stanford University Director of Infant Studies Professor Ann Fernald discovered, speech follows four tonal patterns: happy (with a rise in voice); command (short and to the point); comfort (the awww factor); and warning (call to attention). It doesn't matter which language, the patterns match perfectly in all of them.

Which brings me to this week's Macro Moment in editing the manuscript: listen for the music in the character's conversations. Are the tonal patterns similar? Stilted? Lax? Believable? Mix it up! Facial expressions and body gestures change temperament. Act it out as you read aloud. Let this round of editing bring you closer to the heart of the characters and the message of the story.

Building a dynamic and plausible narrative is a balancing act. What we compose sets the tone for the scene; gives the characters personality; moves the story forward; and imposes the will and style of the author (think of the famous staccato pattern of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer). Whatever your style or story, I wish you much success in your writing career.

Listen to an archived copy at www.RadioLab.org. Professor Diana Deutsch, Psychologist at the University of California - San Diego studies the affects of language and musicality. Stanford Professor Ann Fernald, Director of Infant Studies discovered four distinct tones in which we communicate.


"Begotten With Love" Kindle eBook sale ends this Sunday. To order a copy today, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOOLUWQ 

To learn more about award-winning author, Jo Ann V. Glim:

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The 5 LAYERS of MACRO EDITING - #1

Best selling author James Patterson sums it up when he tells writers . . . 'just write.' I have gladly joined the chorus

Let the Story Flow!

Published, unpublished or newbie, what difference does it make if we (as aspiring novelists) spend months working on an outline, developing characters with charms and flaws and/or scouting for locations, if the story isn't fully told? The difference is . . . your skills as a writer are on display. Your commitment to professionalism is tucked on every page. Even journalists who fly by the tips of their ink-stained fingers create a beginning, middle and end to the copy they write.

One of my first editors (RIP, Jerry) when I worked at the Bahamas News Bureau in Chicago would tell the staff, "Editing is not sleuthing for misspelled words or correcting grammar. That should come as second nature."

Which brings me to this point: of the two editing styles, which format do we use, Associated Press or Chicago?  Most of us were schooled using one form while our aspirations depend on the other. Knowing which style you need upfront can save hours of edit time. For example, one style uses two spaces between sentences, the other only one. If you're editing a 65,000 word manuscript with the wrong editing style (or no style at all), you're in for one looooooong edit session.

Google offers a number of resources from which to find the answers to your editing dilemma. As the adage goes, the longest distance between two points is the short cut.  So, take time to edit, rewrite, ponder and edit, again. The ones who persevere are the ones with a better chance to enter the one percent club of published authors. DON'T GIVE UP! I wish you much success on your writing journey.

October is Family History Month. What do you know about your heritage? Your family's journey to America? Their trials and triumphs? Leave your family the best gift of all . . . knowledge. 

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CELEBRITY STATUS

Becoming a celebrity is not something you achieve. It's an honor, a title, a blessing and a curse, bestowed upon you by others. Not everyone who is famous is a celebrity. In fact, most are not. For example: the Rolling Stones are famous. Mick Jagger is a celebrity. What makes a celebrity a celebrity is the mercurial "it" factor. No one I've ever asked has been able to define exactly what that means, they just know "it" when they see it. 

Have you wondered what it would be like to be a celebrity? Jet setting around the world. On the "A" list. Smothered with love and adoration (sigh).

If you're a writer, artist, singer, actor, or sports star or involved with media, you're closer to recognition than you think. But as the saying goes, be careful what you pray for, you may get it. There is a dark side. One that we create when we elevate strangers to a position greater than their gifts. SPOILER ALERT: Everyone struggles with making sense of this complicated world in which we live. A celebrity is no closer to the truth than you or I and if, because of your talent, you become a celebrity, I pray you use your power and responsibility with compassion and wisdom to help the less fortunate.

A number of years ago when I was working in media, part of my job was attending rock concerts. Loved it. L-O-V-E-D it! Not only did I have a chance to hear amazing concerts but attended some of the best parties. These were gifted movers and shakers: Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (and their pet rabbit, Late); Paul Revere and the Raiders; Janis Joplin; and Santana; to name a few.

I was standing back stage one night when a concert ended. The men in the band sprinted for the exits as the instruments they laid on the stage floor rang out the last note. One of the guitarists grabbed my hand and shouted, "Come on!"

We ran down two flights of back stairs to a waiting limo. The Sullivan Theatre in downtown Chicago is an impressive, city-block-long, brick building. At the far end of the alley, a mass of bobbing heads quickly approached the car. "Get in. GET IN," shouted the driver.

The band jumped in, jockeying for leg room. The driver locked the doors and slowly pulled forward. At that moment, the first wave of star-struck teens swarmed the car. I remember a pretty, young girl (couldn't be more than fourteen) threw herself against the limo. Her tears stained the car window as she screamed the name of the lead singer. Her look quickly turned to panic as the mob crushed her against the car. Somehow, the driver made it through and I saw the girl still waving and sobbing as  we zoomed into city traffic.

I thought about that long ago incident while I was on a research trip to Anacortes, Washington recently. What would I do if I were followed by the paparazzi? I laughed and groaned for being so silly and slid my card/key into the motel door while balancing a three-sectioned Styrofoam box containing left-over salad and prime rib. The treat slid snugly into the fridge and I settled in with copious notes from a day of research. It was going to be a long night and an early morning.

Sunday morning was spectacular; sunny and warm. Mass had just ended and I had twenty minutes before I met a friend and joined her for her church service . . . "Mass in the Grass," they called it. I headed back to the motel to change my clothes and finish the left-over prime rib.

My lower jaw had been tender this week. Dental work (finished the day before I flew across the continent). The need for tweaking my million dollar smile caused excruciating pain with every bite I took. I gladly removed the new partial and placed it in the empty section of the container.

Left overs can be as enjoyable as the initial dinner if you have fond memories of spending the meal with friends or loved ones. A quick look at my watch told me I was going to be late. I closed the lid on the box and threw it in the waste basket. Made a cursory sweep of the room and left.

It was great sitting next to Linda, after all these years; our voices blending on a familiar hymn. We hadn't done that since we were kids in junior choir. It was as though the world had rewound to a simpler time when all we had to worry about was . . . actually, nothing. It was summer.

I felt so alive! Even my jaw didn't hurt. An uncontrollable gasp rolled off my lips. MY TEETH!!! I shouted in a stage whisper in my friend's ear and ran from the gathering as though the devil asked me to dance.

The five minute car ride felt like an hour. When I flung the room door open, I saw what I feared most. The room was spotless! Bed made. Trash gone. Teeth, as well.

I was numb. "Now what, Ollie?" I asked myself as I tried to keep my thoughts under control. I opened the door a crack and saw the housekeepers cart two rooms away. A large, clear bag filled with used tissues and spent food wrappers hung from the side. 'Oh, I can't do this,' I thought, my stomach doing barrel rolls. 'You have to or explain a fifteen hundred dollar loss to your sweet hubby,' my alter ego whispered.

I looked down the walkways; no one around. Took a deep breath and pushed my hand into the partially filled bag. A smile crossed my face as my hand slid down the side of a Styrofoam box. I prayed it was mine as I opened the lid and jumped up and down when I saw my teeth.

"Thank you," I said as I looked toward heaven and then flushed as my eyes met those of a man on the second floor balcony. I quickly turned (with box in hand), hung my head to hide the fact that I was laughing hysterically, and smiled, grateful that I am not a celebrity.

To learn more about award-winning author, Jo Ann V. Glim:

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TRAVELLING THE ROAD of YOUR CHARACTERS

For the past six weeks, I've been doing research on my next book, catching up on much neglected reading and upgrading my computer and programs to make life more efficient. Grateful to be back and looking forward to a normal routine whatever that may be.

I wanted to share my thoughts on travelling before writing. I've always felt it necessary to visit a place that I plan to include in a book, even if I had the pleasure of living there. I was grateful to hear author Richard Paul Evans agree with this sentiment in a recent interview.  For me, it's important to capture the sights and sounds of each place. They all have their own personality, their unique perfume. For example, the shoreline on the Atlantic is totally different from that of the Pacific. The smell of the freshly turned fields in Iowa cannot compare to the smell of pineapple and plumeria in Hawaii.

As I sat on a driftwood log (toes buried in the sand) enjoying a sunset, a plot line never before imagined raced through my mind. In fact, it changed the whole 'who done it' character. As the author (the one in control), it was a great moment of surprise and revelation. I often remind myself that writing is like working a Sudoku puzzle. Once you figure out the logic, the rest falls into place. The trick is writing it so the reader is waiting for that revelation.



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5 REASONS Writers Talk to Themselves

When I first began writing, I believed all writers . . . except me, knew the message they wanted to convey and within an hour could produce a completed article with no typos. If working on a manuscript, all writers . . . except me, would have brilliant characters, sassy dialogue, and a story line close-to-perfect on the first go 'round.

That line of illogical thinking was rife with writer's block. In fact, my Christmas card that year pretty much summed up how I felt I spent my days. The caricature (drawn by Nick Carmen Cosentino) showed me sitting at a typewriter pulling one sheet of paper after another out of the machine. The wadded up balls found a use as ornaments on the card's Christmas tree.

As I met more and more published authors at conferences and book signings and now through social media, I've learned we all endure the same process to complete our projects. It doesn't matter if we are just beginning our career or if we're well-established. Writers are destined to edit, cull, write and rewrite before the manuscript, short story, or article is complete. It's enough to make you want to talk to yourself and that's exactly what I suggest to you:

• READ OUT LOUD - Not to search for punctuation or spelling errors but to enjoy the story as a reader would. If you find a character adding dialogue to the story, by all means, write it down. Don't think about it. Do it. I view this stage of writing as I do a conversation at a party where an awkward pause happens and we finally think of a clever or witty comeback at two o'clock in the morning. Your character may be having that moment.

• VISUALIZE - I wasn't there when my nearly ninety-year-old grandfather took on two muggers but I knew the outcome of his story (Chapter 35 - Best Laid Plans). I had no clue as to what the martial arts moves were called but I wanted to write the best rendition possible; to accept the challenge to learn something new. I called upon experts. Watched demonstrations. Took notes and visualized. I discovered my husband could bend like Gumby, so, I cajoled him into role play. Then I pondered, visualized, and wrote.
  
  Are you writing an action scene? Car race? Horse race? Swim meet? Set up kid's blocks and move them as the scene in your head takes form or take a cue from sports coaches and draw your moves. Think about the interaction of the characters, the motivation and story line. Think . . . visualize . . . write.

• ELIMINATE PASSIVE VOICE and SOFT WORDS - Many of the classics were written in passive voice (will, would, feel, thought, seem, etc.) but reading tastes change and so do writing styles. Now, agents and publishers seek stories showing a scene rather than telling it.  It stands to reason. Our lives are spent with visual impulses -- televisions, computers, YouTube, iPhones. As you read your manuscript aloud, do you feel yourself listening to a second-hand story or are you caught up in the drama as part of the action? The reader will feel, the style you've chosen. 

• SHORTEN SENTENCES - Words are musical. When you read out loud, it's possible to hear the rhythm; feel the timing. Think about where your story is taking the reader and build the emotion. Does it need more action? Tenderness? Color? Sentence structure is a wonderful tool. Don't be afraid to use it. Try eliminating conjunctions and delete unnecessary words: just, that, only, maybe, so. Write simpler sentences. Did it change the mood? Tighten the story? 

• EXPLAIN WHAT'S COMING - Oh, a clever lot we bards. So clever we may leave the reader behind . . . don't want to tip our plot, ya know. While reading your story out loud, ask yourself if the reader is sitting along side you asking for more or better, yet, is he or she shouting 'Don't open that door!'? Keep the reader guessing but don't expect them to go back several chapters to find the tie-in.

 As a reader, I want and deserve a story that keeps me entertained and informed. As a writer, it's my pleasure to take you on a journey away from your world into mine.

I hope these hints will keep you talking to yourself. I wish you nothing but writing success.

To learn more about award-winning author, Jo Ann V. Glim:

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"Begotten With Love" is now celebrating its fifth week on the Amazon.com Best Seller List. Click Here to Read what others have to say.

America . . . The World Is Watching

The 4th of July

Life, Liberty, Pursuit of happiness. 

The weather was stinking hot in Philadelphia that summer two hundred thirty-nine years ago. Our founding fathers, anxious to get home to their families and farms, knew it was their honor and duty to stay for the good of our newly forming country. A fever of unknown origin was sweeping across the city adding to their stress according to the journals in John McCullough's magnificent novel, "John Adams."

Here we are, all these years later . . . still in a state of flux. It's easy to become disillusioned when the expectation is that we all lived happily ever after. It was comforting to read Thomas Jefferson's words, 'The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave.' It made me realize that our beloved documents have the ability to withstand the storms of injustice; to bend, mold and shine like tempered gold when all is said and done. As Americans, we can defend the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all without trampling the rights of those who may not agree. Again, Jefferson said it best: 'I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as a cause for withdrawing from a friend.'

As we celebrate this holiday, may we remember what Jefferson said about government. 'The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.' So, as we lower our baseball caps to see the fireworks and place a sweater around our shoulders to keep out the chill of sitting on the beach in a bikini all day, let us remember another of Jefferson's quotes: 'In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.'

A happy and safe 4th of July celebration to all. For those serving in the military, a heartfelt thank you.

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"Begotten With Love" is now celebrating its fourth week on the Amazon.com Best Seller List. Read what others have to say.

THE ART OF THE INTERVIEW

Do you get so nervous during an interview that your stomach feels like you're sipping soup while jumping on a trampoline? Do you spend the hour fidgeting?  Staring at your shoes? Worried you're over qualified . . . under qualified? 

You're not alone!

Ninety-two percent of Americans experience high levels of anxiety during the interview process according to Jobvite, a company that tracks and collects data for recruiting and human resources professionals. Women suffer most from the jitters while men worry about their qualifications for the position.

Because most of my career has been spent in communication and human relations, I believe I bring a unique perspective to the art of the interview:

• Sixteen years with a hiring service - ten of them in human resources management.
• Two years as a production assistant for a large ad agency looking for and booking talent 
• Six years producing a weekly newspaper column
• Forty years and hundreds of freelance articles
• Five years in radio 

Even if that litany makes me sound as old as Yoda, it also gives me a valuable point of view from both sides of the desk. As an HR professional, job one is to find the most qualified candidate available to fill a position. It's that simple . . . and with so many people out of work, it's that complex.

The first thing I'd like to do is dispel certain myths about Human Resources managers in corporate America:
Recruiters look forward to meeting candidates and want the applicant to feel as comfortable as possible. That's true. It's a long process and depending on the job description, many people and interviews may be involved. Have patience.
Hundreds of applicants may be applying for the same position. That's true. A well-trained HR team will read every one of the resumes they receive and sort them according to the candidate's talents and skill level. All resumes are kept for a period of time (usually six months). This is one reason it is so important for the candidate to present the most pristine resume possible. Typos do sway opinion.
It's all about the m-o-n-e-y. That's not true. It's about finding the most qualified candidate who shares the company's product vision. HR does not set salary for a company's positions. Most Fortune 500 companies have a scale based on three levels: entry, middle, and top. To negotiate for the highest wage in the appropriate level, a candidate needs to come to the interview armed with knowledge about his/her talents and the company's history, performance, and goals. Ask for a copy of the Company's Annual Report. It will help you decide the health of the company and if it's the career path you want to follow.

One of the most difficult attitudes for us to accept as candidates is that we are a product. A commodity to sell. Our skills equate to salary. We have self worth! Don't diminish it with thoughtlessly placed social media rants or expletives. HR does check.

One of the best books I've read on business management is John C. Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. It's ideal reading in a group session, especially in conjunction with the videos.

There are certain modes of behavior when applying for a job:

• Dress appropriately
• Be on time
• Use your manners
• Be prepared
• No texting/checking phone messages/making calls
• This may be your work family for a number of years, show you're interested 

Remember, an interview is not one-sided. It's a conversation. The HR employees reflect the attitude of the company. Does it feel like the right fit for you? The ultimate choice is yours.

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FREE This Weekend ONLY

I have to brag (if only for an hour). "Begotten With Love" is on Amazon's Best Seller list. We are celebrating my birthday this weekend with our first, FREE eBook event. Please join us and tell your friends to come along!

https://amazon.com

6 TIPS for "ROAD TRIP" RESEARCH

My husband and I love to travel and if the opportunity presents itself, I like to research family ties along the way. If you've read "Begotten With Love," you already know I didn't learn my true identity until I was thirty-five years old. That was the beginning of a thirty year hunt that took us coast-to-coast and border-to-border.

In the beginning, we muddled our way through the research part of the trip and just looked at it as an adventure, which it was. But as we began to find more and more of the puzzle pieces, it was necessary to organize and make the most of the time we had on the road. Following are some pointers we learned the hard way: 

PRE-PLANNING - Many Places that House Records are Closed on Weekends . . . Call Ahead

1.     Read the history of the town or city during the time period your ancestors called it home before you visit. It may help clarify the choices they made. Why'd they settle there? Were they active in the community? Often times, news articles from years-gone-bye make finding birth and death notices, wedding announcements, and articles about special events easy to access.

2.     Contact the sextant of the local cemetery before the trip. They may be able to provide burial location records. Relatives, especially in older cemeteries, may be buried in a cemetery's family plot, on a family farm, or in church yards.

Prior to our trip to Alabama, I found an article about the death of my great-grandparents' infant daughter in their local newspaper that included this sweet poem:

Shed not for her the bitter tear

Nor give the heart to vain regret,

'Tis but the casket that lies there

The gem that filled it sparkles yet. 

Because this occurred in the late 1800s and the engraving on the baby's headstone was so worn, if we had not taken time to research before we left, we would have returned home with more questions than answers.

There is more to this story. Right after I finished writing this post, it nagged me that I did not know who wrote this beautiful poem. So, I googled it. It turns out it's the epitaph for Myra Belle Shirley who is buried in a long forgotten grave in Oklahoma. The epitaph was penned by her daughter, Pearl. Myra was an educated woman and an accomplished pianist who wore velvet skirts and plumed hats. She was also a notorious American outlaw and horse thief. You may recognize her, if I told you her name was "Belle Starr."

It seems the obituary journalist lifted the poem from a horse thief. Historical irony.

3.     Contact the local historical society, the genealogical society, and the library. If they know you're coming, they may be able to provide you with documents or stories you never expected.

ON LOCATION - Bring Plenty of Batteries (and an extra charger) for the Camera 

4. There is nothing more disheartening than having equipment failure on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. It's well worth it to spend the extra money for another battery charger and an extra battery than to try to commit Hallmark moments to memory.

5. Bring duplicate copies of genealogy pages as well as blank pages. It makes it so much easier to scribble field notes on a copy and later transfer it to your records. I also like to use index cards (stored in a small box) to keep contact information, new leads, and miscellaneous information.

6. Talk to everyone! Having lunch in a charming, old building? Ask about it's history. Tell the owner why you're in town. You never know where the next gem of information will come.

Whatever you do, however you plan, take time to enjoy the moment. There is such a strong, familial bond in walking the streets that your ancestors called home. Look toward the horizon and know a generation past gazed at the same landscape . . . and wondered about you. 

I wish you a safe and memorable journey.

IN OTHER NEWS:

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HOME of the FREE

BECAUSE of the BRAVE

When I see the American flag . . . ethnicity and religion and race meld into the folds of Old Glory and the only colors that fly are red, white, and blue. I see America at her finest.

When I see the American flag . . . I am reminded of the immigrants who risked everything to come to our country in hopes of a better life. Not for what they could take from it but for what they could give to it: the inventor, the entrepreneur, the businessman, the artist, the athlete, the faithful, the laborer.

When I see the American flag . . . I see the big dreamers who have changed the face of the world: Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Jonah Saulk, Alexander Graham Bell, and Bill Gates, to name a few. I feel the presence of  those who have yet to be discovered and know in my heart that they too have the opportunity to realize their dreams.

When I see the American flag . . . I see more than stars and stripes. I see blood shed by those who fought and fight to protect us and our freedoms. I see the scorch marks and tatters of battle. I hear the moans of the wounded and feel the pain of the dying as they lay so far from home.

The American flag is precious to me as are those who are willing to give their life for me, a stranger. Our common bond and strength, as Americans, is in this flag. I shall cover my heart and shed a tear whenever she is presented because SHE IS AMERICA.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"Begotten With Love" news update:  It's now possible to access our website www.BegottenTheBook.com with most mobile phones. Give it a try.

To learn more:
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WRITING LIMERICKS

Writers usually take themselves soooooo seriously! That's why it's refreshing to remember a talented man with a whimsical and irreverent style. Lear started by writing a series of poems for children; over one hundred fifty-six in all. His most recognized offerings being "The Owl and the Pussycat" and "The Road Not Taken." A collection of his limericks are in his books, "A Book of Nonsense" and "Nonsense Songs." If you'd like to learn more about this gifted man's artistry, writings, and life visit poets.org and/or nonsenselit.org.

If this is a writing style you'd like to try, by all means, do! I found it challenging and fun. Keep in mind, most of the same writing rules apply as I tried to illustrate in the second limerick, below. My apologies to you, and the pros for the prose:

There once was an indie author

Who argued editing a bother,

His story gained fame

Everyone knew of his name

Because a typo named his hero an otter.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"Begotten With Love" news update:  It's now possible to access our website www.BegottenTheBook.com with most mobile phones. Give it a try.

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WHEN IN DOUBT, SPELL IT OUT

There is nothing worse than writing a complex story line and finding yourself lost in a maze of characters and plot with no way out! Readers appreciate twists and turns unless it stops the flow of the story and especially, if it makes them mentally patch the pieces together.

It is well worth the expense to invest in the talents of a professional, development editor to read a draft. Their objectivity and skills ferret out rough spots in a story, such as: gaps and gaffs in dialogue; plot cadence and accuracy; and missing passages. These types of omissions usually occur when we take for granted something we think is a universal chord with the audience when, in fact, it isn't. I like the mantra, when in doubt . . . spell it out. When in the midst of an edit (as I am now), it keeps me focused on producing the best story I know how.

I hope this tip helps you with your projects.

IN OTHER NEWS:
I was invited to be on CL GAMMON'S blog talk radio program  last Saturday morning. CL and I always have a good time! If you'd like to hear what we were dishing, click on the link above. 

"Begotten With Love" news update:  It's now possible to access our website www.BegottenTheBook.com with most mobile phones. Give it a try.

To learn more:
VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com
LIKE: on Facebook 
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube

SCIENCE FICTION and the Master of Imagined Reality

There was a time when I had little respect for science fiction stories. Even at an early age, I didn't enjoy programs such as Flash Gordon. I didn't appreciate the entertainment value. Space ships suspended by visible string? Harumph! It didn't spark my imagination, it offended my sensibilities.

I held firm to my belief that science fiction was nothing more than mystical vapor from the imagination of the writer until a friend gave me a copy of "Dune." Before I was halfway through the book, I changed my mind and couldn't wait to read "Dune Messiah." I had walked through the arch of the impossible, stared at the improbable, and realized, I'd been bewitched into believing in worlds yet seen!

Then in 1982 my hubby and I stood in line with half of America to see Steven Spielberg's ET. To this day, I laugh out loud when I think of the closet scene where ET is hidden between the stuffed toys . . . or the epic moment when he mimicked the scream of five-year-old Gertie (Drew Barrymore) as she first realized a real alien invaded her home. But then they lost me with the communicator; ET's (crafted from recycled trash) sci-fi telecommunication device used to phone home. I felt betrayed by theatrics. Duped.

"Did you know Bell Labs helped build the communicator?" my hubby asked as we drove home that evening.

"No, I didn't," I responded knowing I'd have to find out more. And through the years, I did.

It seems Spielberg approached AT&T's Bell Labs asking for help to devise a machine that could actually send a signal into space. They turned him down, according to an article written by Jennifer V. Hughes (a freelance journalist from New York) in an article for the North Jersey News Nov. 11, 2012. However, the company asked if there was any scientist willing to work on the project on their own time. Henry Feinberg, Bell Labs' National Exhibits Manager (now retired) took the challenge.

What you see on screen is based in possibility. Hughes described it this way: the Speak and Spell made writing a message possible; the rope tied around a turntable harnessed the wind to power the machine; and a tinfoil lined golf umbrella formed a reflector capable of sending signals into space. Suddenly, memories of my grandfather, a furniture designer and inventor, and his studio shelves lined with prototypes formed from the darndest items came flooding back. I realized studios and labs (all across America) are the birthplace of possibility for scientists, inventors and writers. They hold the trays of new ideas. It's up to us to feed from these platters of knowledge. To think. To dream, To build.

For the writers who read my posts, there are several reasons I wanted to share this story:

1. To reinforce how important it is for key elements in a story line to be grounded in reality. Remember, Spielberg could have made something up but knowing that he took extra steps shows his enthusiasm and belief in his craft and brought a new level of respect from the audience for him and his body of work.
2. By involving a scientist from one of America's most prestigious labs and having him achieve a working model reveals the everlasting bond between science and science fiction. As a writer, we must always be mindful that words have the ability to capture and release the soul of the reader. Make sure your work takes them on that special journey.
3. To encourage you to reach beyond your comfort level. Ask for help. Research and enjoy the experience unfolding around you. As an aside: In another scene when ET was sick and near death, Spielberg didn't ask actors to play the part of the health professionals, he hired nurses and doctors to do what they do best, save lives. A brilliant move on his part. One that added to the depth of the story when he could have just written, "Dr., you're needed in the tent, stat."  

I wish you well in your writing goals. I hope this post encourages you to think like Spielberg.

***MARK YOUR CALENDAR:***
I'll be on CL GAMMON'S blog talk radio program Saturday morning April 25th from 10-10:30am (eastern) 9-9:30am (central) talking about my book "Begotten With Love." Feel free to write in questions or comments to clgammon@hotmail.com or call him during the show at 1 646-564-9980. We'd love to hear from you.

"Begotten With Love" news update:  It's now possible to access our website www.BegottenTheBook.com with most mobile phones. Give it a try.

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BOOK TRAILER on YouTube

CREATIVE WRITING

Creative writing gives authors the opportunity to draw a reader into a story of fiction grounded in fact; one that's been percolating in the writer's imagination and as rich as a latte. What makes this style of writing so exciting is the thread of reality laced with fantasy. 

Readers want us to use all senses in our descriptions; they expect to be consumed by emotion, charm, and strength (or lack thereof) of the characters and if we weave a tight enough story, they'll be totally committed to the story line and breathless for more.

   

The narrative of a story is the heartbeat of a writer's soul . . . we bare it if we dare, protect it when we care, and bravely stand vulnerable to the world when we share. It's not easy to open ourselves and let go of something that we've so lovingly created. Yet, if we never let go . . . we'll have nothing more than a conundrum of wondering: 'if a writer pens a novel and keeps it in a drawer, is it still considered a book?'

FIVE THINGS YOU CAN START TODAY:

5.     Make a timeline. Determine reasonable dates for outlines, photos,
        drafts and expect yourself to complete them.   

4.     Start collecting articles on subjects pertinent to the story.    

3.     Research potential locations for your book. Make note of the
        ambiance: smells, sounds, lighting, elements, etc.

2.     Interview your characters. Find out everything you can about
        each one of them.

1.     Write 500 words a day. You'll find your own comfort level. It may
        be more and sometimes less.

I wish you much success on your writing journey.

"Begotten With Love" news update:  It's now possible to access our website www.BegottenTheBook.com with most mobile phones. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

To learn more:
VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com
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AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube

FACE FACTS

Guillaume-Benjamin Duchenne studied facial expressions. The theory resulting from his research was: the muscles of the face represented the movement of the soul. Duchenne identified and isolated fifty-three emotions that correlated with the formation of certain muscle responses. Which makes me wonder if he isn't the granddaddy of the social media phenomenon -  emoticon.

There are forty-two muscles in the human face, each capable of forming expressions and contortions. We unconsciously manifest our thoughts, desires, and disposition through the reflections cast upon our face.

If you visualize someone who's love-sick; depressed; courageous, eating chocolate cake . . . it's easy to get the picture. Thinking back to times of stress, duress, or trauma in our own lives, someone may have told us to suck it up or put a smile on our face and we've complied. We show the world what they want to see but for a fleeting moment while we decided on our public persona, our true feelings may have shown. Actually, this unspoken language of expression is hard to suppress but some will argue that what you think is what you'll be.

These reasons are why it's so important to have contact with another person in more than a one hundred forty character tweet where they've chosen the icon they want you to think they feel. It's important to see for yourself how another is actually internalizing your conversation. This is where separating fact from facade becomes complicated. We are drawn to people because of their demeanor and until we gain knowledge or life experience, we'll sometimes walk away from our conversations saying, 'What kind of a look was that?' not sure if the body language actually matched the verbal response.

If you think about it, our personality shines through our face. So does our mood. Feelings. Physical health. Even our credibility. Writers who study facial expressions and body language and apply them (with the same sensibility as adding hot pepper sauce to meat) tend to develop more well-defined characters. I encourage you to think about using a little spice in your writings.

(Mecanisme de la Physionomie Humaine - 1862) 

"Begotten With Love" news update:  It's now possible to access our website www.BegottenTheBook.com with most mobile phones. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

To learn more:
VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com
LIKE: on Facebook or
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube