THE POWER of the PEN

It seems, nowadays, everybody has an opinion about everything! No one keeps it to themselves nor should they be forced to, if they choose to voice it. That's the beauty of the First Amendment. The part of it we seem to forget is: along with a personal opinion comes counterpoints which, if expressed these days, will most likely meet with harsh criticism, even disdain and mockery. What happened to respecting differing views? What happened to the art of listening to opposing sides of an argument and then drawing a conclusion based on facts and common sense?

If I were to answer my own question, I would say that I believe a part of this rudeness comes from a lack of respect for our language and the written word. It's true when they say that the pen is mightier than the sword. Our language is as complex and facile as the people who use it. Nations have fallen because of a few well-placed words. Journalists have been murdered for reporting or lampooning trending topics. Politicians have turned historic events into talking points and the media has bastardized our language to make reality (as they see it) palatable. Celebrities have ridden the tail of a comet to stardom with outrageous gibberish, as though having their face in front of a camera somehow empowers them with knowledge.

I saw a tee-shirt recently that said, I'm a writer. What's your super power? Being a writer is an awesome career choice but with it comes a hefty responsibility. Writers are at the forefront of entertainment, education, news, policy, and world debate, Our thoughts, observations and writings have the ability to persuade and inspire others. It can also be used to coerce, dilute or propagandize. We must never underestimate the power of our pens. Nor should we use them for anything but good.

If you are considering a career in JOURNALISM, take these 5 points to heart:

1     Check sources and facts. Even some of the most brilliant and prolific writers from the New York Times and Rolling Stone Magazine have taken shortcuts. It has cost the conglomerates readership and credibility and writers their jobs.

2     Write passionately not emotionally. Write objectively. Let the story unfold naturally.

3     Don't become a part of the story. If you have a pre-determined idea of what the story's outcome is, then you'll be looking to strengthen your point of view rather than investigate the true story.

4     Trust your gut. If something just doesn't smell right (JDSR) keep digging but use common sense. The last thing you want is to be arrested for harassment or stalking or worse yet, injured.

5     Keep an open line of communication with the editors. They are your best friends for assignments, contacts, and as a sounding board for story ideas.

Good luck with your career and may you pen never run out of ink!

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the award winning book, "Begotten With Love."  

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

Ernie Banks fan? Like my Facebook "Book News" page and see a picture and story from my friend Penny Lane Juhlin (learn our connection to Mr. Cub).

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WHAT'S IN YOUR BUCKET LIST?

I've accomplished many of the goals and dreams that were squirreled in my bucket list, such as riding in a hot air balloon, but there are many more to fulfill, including a zip line ride in the jungles of Costa Rica.

We all need to remind ourselves of our dreams. If we don't, life will overcome us and we will never complete what we have challenged ourselves to do. I was reminded of this a few weeks ago when I reached inside the "bucket jar to choose a new adventure. My dreams are written on paper shreds the size of a Chinese fortune. I let them swirl through my finger tips before picking one. Some were tattered. Others bent or folded. I never know from year-to-year which I'll choose. To me, that's half the fun but in all honesty, I recognize (by the feel of the paper), some of the goals I'd written. It's like reading marked cards and my fingers quickly passed by some of the more outrageous dares. I made a mental note to type all of them on the same paper stock so next year I can't cheat.

The inside of the pottery jar where these clips of fantasy are housed has rough nubs where the sides meet the bottom and one piece of paper in particular seemed impaled to the bottom. I picked and pulled until it loosened and then brought it to the surface. The paper was yellow with age. The message was: Grow your hair long enough to donate to someone in need of a wig. Someone struggling with a life-altering illness. It had been in there over twenty years!

I've not had long, long hair since I was in the eighth grade. Could I do it? I really wasn't sure anyone would want it. Ground zero is, at the moment, jaw length and if human hair averages 1/2" per month  . . . I'm making a commitment to my mop of hair for 18 months. I've been blessed with good hair. I'm just not gifted with styling it. A feeling of panic began to creep in. What if I grow it and don't want to cut it? What if it looks hideous on me and vanity forces me to cut it? What if it has too much gray in it and they won't take it? 

But then I asked myself the only question that mattered. What if I do it and it makes a difference in someone else's life? Someone who has struggled with more than the occasional tangle or bad hair day. l don't know if Pantene Beautiful Lengths and the American Cancer Society will accept my hair or not because of the interspersed gray (must be less than 5%). I won't know for a while. Is that going to stop me from trying? No. Am I going to go for it? Yes.

If this seems like something you'd like to do, too, visit www.Pantene.com and follow the prompts for Beautiful Lengths to view the rules. I'd love to have your company along the way. Ask your friends to join us. We'll post a journal on here every 8 weeks to see how we're doing. Send me a picture of your hair now and we'll post updates on our progress. I'm hoping to make a donation by Valentine's Day 2016 but more realistically, it'll be that summer. What do you think??? Are you in?

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the award winning book, "Begotten With Love."  

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

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

GREAT LAST MINUTE GIFT IDEAS

TO DELIGHT/INSPIRE the READERS IN YOUR LIFE

Great Finds Under the Tree 

Uh-oh . . . you may be in trouble. Your gift may be a little late.  However, there's still time to find something . . . quite different!

COMICS: You may not recognize the name of my friend, author/producer/screenwriter, Alan Brennert but you certainly know his work! He has written for L.A. Law; published the book "Molokai," and more recently, "Palisades Park;" and put pen to paper for some of our most popular comic books (Batman/Cat Woman) which is what I want to tell you about because it's Christmas time. Alan has placed a number of items from his personal comic collection for sale through www.blastoffcomics.com. It'll be fun to look around and see what's still there. Even if all items are sold, there's still time to order one of his books. For more information about Alan, visit his website at: www.AlanBrennert.com.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: There are two series every family should own, in my estimation. 
One is written by Brad Meltzer,  a #1 thriller author who could not find inspirational books for his daughter to read. Meltzer wanted to introduce her to the ordinary people who have changed our world. People like Rosa Parks, Einstein, Lucille Ball, Amelia Earhart, Abraham Lincoln, and (coming in January) Jackie Robinson. www.bradmeltzer.com

The other introduces children to American history through the fictional character of Rush Revere. Young readers are transported through time travel and befriended by a horse named Liberty. It's becoming a run-away favorite with the middle school set. For  more information visit: facebook.com/rushrevere or http://rushrevere.com. 

HOLIDAY THEME: Richard Paul Evans newest offering, "The Mistletoe Promise" is rapidly climbing on the NYT Best Seller list. If you know a reader that loves stories filled with hope, this may be the gift for them. Evans is a favorite author of mine not only because of his writing but because of his compassion for children and families that are struggling. I would suggest visiting his website to learn more about The Christmas Box House, I've had a chance to visit. Amazing place. http://www.richardpaulevans.com

HOT and STEAMY! USA Today and NYT bestselling author Melissa Foster, knows a thing or two about romance . . . and chocolate. Foster not only has a devoted fan base but she is one of the best friends an indie author could have. If you are interested in learning more about the Dreaming of Love series, visit http://bit.ly/dreamingoflove_paperback. If you're an indie author and want to learn more about self publishing www.fosteringsuccess.com.

As a twelfth-hour shopper, I hope this helps fill some of the voids on your Santa list. I wish you a Merry Christmas and the Happiest and Healthiest of New Years.

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the award winning book, "Begotten With Love."  

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

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

HERE'S TO YOUR SUCCESS!

We all have a perceived notion of what success is for ourselves and hopefully we are all striving to achieve that goal. To me, success is: small strides toward a greater objective; working through challenges and disappointments towards a positive outcome; creating a better world, a better relationship with others, a better me.

In my mind, we often confuse success with wealth and notoriety. Wealth and notoriety are neither good nor bad. It's only a form of measurement (by others) to determine how successful we've become. It's also an abstract nemesis to success and very deceptive. Many are misled by what they see, hear, and read. They think they know the truth and foolishly jump to conclusions.

If this sounds like the outline for character development, it is. Why does it work? Because it's the very essence of human nature.

If you're struggling with a script, look to your characters for help. Do they have all the success you want them to have? Are they still striving? Are they wealthy enough? Notorious enough? Let them talk to you. They'll tell you when they're through.

Good luck in all you do. I wish you well.

Thank you Book Reader Magazine for the publicity. It is much appreciated. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ENJOY MY BLOG - If you're looking for a new read or want to know more about a new author, take a look at Vinny's publication.

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the award winning book, "Begotten With Love."  

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

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

AND THE READER SAID . . . "GOTCHA!"

Last night, we were watching an episode of NCIS (the original version with Mark Harmon and crew) when Abbey, the brilliant scientific sleuth of the show, discovered an important clue: a plastic water bottle buried in the dirt of Vietnam next to an artifact from the sixties. This raised me from my eight o'clock stupor to mumble, "Vietnam was way before bottled water became an everyday phenomenon."

The thought of this scene nagged at me, even through this morning. It may have been they were trying to tie the artifact to the bad guy who was still in Vietnam in the here and now. But . . . that point wasn't and still isn't clear in my mind. Which brought me to two points I wanted to share with you about writing.

POINT ONE: Readers are so good at picking up on the tiniest of flaws. The funniest blooper I remember (in a movie) is an actress who was in the kitchen making a sandwich during a very poignant scene with her child. As she spoke, she slathered the peanut butter and jelly onto the bread and before putting the bread away, blew into the bag so it filled with air like a balloon, then added the twist tie. I don't remember any of the conversation that occurred after that. My eyes were fixated on the sandwich bag and the thought that this woman had never made a sandwich in her life!

As a writer, it is so important that we understand our subject matter: pay attention to details; know the mannerisms; understand the lingo; and totally enmesh ourselves in the experiences we are committing to paper.

Don't be shy about interviewing at least two professionals, if you have a scene planned that is out of your area of expertise. Ask them to review what you've written or better yet, role-play the parts. I have found my sources to be very receptive because they know they're going to be represented as accurately as possible. This rule of thumb is applicable to all genres, especially fiction.

POINT TWO: Ask for feedback from beta readers. Not family or friends who love you and may say what you want to hear rather than what you need to hear. Ask objective, love-to-read people to critique your work. There are groups of people who will help you in this way. One source with multiple programs for writers and a boatload of books for readers is www.Goodreads.com.

Good luck with you writing goals.

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the award winning book, "Begotten With Love."  

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

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

HOME OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE

Today is Veteran's Day in America. A day to thank the men and women who have courageously sacrificed and served to protect our beautiful country and America's ideals. Your acts of bravery and compassion; your commitment to God and country; your love for your fellowman (and woman) are prime examples of the American spirit. We salute you and thank God for your service.

INDIE AUTHORS and THE LAW

WHERE DO YOU TURN FOR LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING YOUR WRITING?  DO YOU PROTECT YOUR WORK? DO YOU READ THE FINE PRINT? 

What you don't know (or ignore) can hurt you!

• Have you contemplated using your Facebook news feed page to attract readers through social media promotions rather than opening a "fan" page? Before you make that choice, you may want to read  Lisa C. Johnson's article "Avoid These 5 Social Media Pitfalls in Legal Zoom's 2014 November newsletter (sign up for the newsletter at the bottom of their home page).
• Are you one of the chosen few whose manuscript or book has been selected for movie rights? Have you checked into hiring an entertainment attorney to look over the contract? . . . No? You know an attorney (a relative or friend who said he'd look it over for you). Well, ask Jillian Stein, Director of Development, New Deal Studios what she thinks of that idea and, I'm sure she would respond the same way she did at the Florida Writers Association conference in Orlando when she appeared on the panel workshop Publishing with an Agent and said, "If you think an entertainment attorney is expensive, hire one that's working outside his/her area of expertise. Their mistakes could cost you thousands."
• Have you organized your records and protected your property (manuscript) as an LLC or some other legal entity? This may or may not be right for you but if it is, check with the state and the IRS to make sure you're in compliance and that you have a working knowledge of deadlines and expenses. The penalties are hefty!
• Have you copyrighted your work? I was thrilled when I received information from the United States Copyright office and realized my book was now a part of the Thomas Jefferson library. If you are ready to take that step or if you'd like to know what it entails, eMail http://www.copyright.gov for more information.

Whatever you do, take time to read the fine print. Ask questions. Research. 

I wish you well.

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the award winning book, "Begotten With Love."  

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

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