Five more days and then it is off for 2 months.

This weekend was a busy and hard working one. We decided to finally throw away stuff we have had for 42 years. Several trips were made to the dumpsters provided by the city for residents to dispose of junk they didn't want anymore.

I am going to sell the Iphone as we went to pre-paid, another step in getting closer to retirement. Still not sure why I did that, but I will get use to the new phone or just quit using one altogether.

On the work front, I have a higher than before average of students that passed the state test this year. That was good news for both them and me. Means we are doing something right in the classroom.

I can't believe that summer vacation is so close.

What are your plans for summer? Leave comment down below and tell us.

Was thinking of going on vacation, but will probably not as we say we are going every year and never get to because something always comes up.

This summer I already have one surgery scheduled and not sure what the trip to Chicago will develop after the test there.

This is really a rambling blog this week isn't it?

On the book front, they are still selling, a little slower than before but that is okay. All 4 are still at Amazon for only 99 cents. Only three are listed on Barnes and Noble, also for 99 cents.

Well, I'm off to enjoy the heat of a very hot day.  Hope you all have a great week and summer.

Again, let us know what your plans are for the summer.

Until next time,

John

Hello

I would first like to say thank you to all of you that read this Blog. I started this without any knowledge of what it would be for. All you hear is that an Author must have a Blog, they must be on Facebook and Twitter.

When I sign in to Twitter, I see people posting all kinds of stuff and the times show they have been on there for hours.  Now, I am not going to complain about what they are doing or saying. But, what I can't understand is how they get any writing done if they are sending tweets out every minute and half.

I can't do that. I need to do one or the other.  I am not saying that I can't multi-task, but to be on the Internet posting to here and there takes away time from writing.  I don't have that much time as it is, so I guess I go against the flow and not tweet much and not post on Facebook as often.

I do have one request if you have a bought one of my books, please tell a friend if you think they would enjoy reading it that they can get it at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. And don't forget to say that they should buy a copy.

Also, here is another item I am tossing around. I hope to finish one of the big novels this summer, and am wondering if I should just publish it as an eBook or try to shop it around the few publishers that are left to see if by chance I can break through the barrier and get it picked up.

What do you think? Which way would you go?  Leave a message to let me and the others know which you think is the right way to go.

Looking on the brighter side, there are only 14 days left before vacation starts.  That means two months and seven days of no work, just writing, playing and whatever...

What are your plans for the summer?  Leave a message. It is not hard to do. Just go right down there at the bottom.  Let us all know what you have planned.

Until next time, enjoy the sun, the warmth, and read a book.

John

I just checked the sales report for 2011 and 2012 for my eBooks and the results are great!

This report does not count the books sold via Amazon, just Barnes and Noble and other Reader sales.

One of the books sales report shows 907 copies downloaded.  That is great in my mind.

And what is funny, it is the one that is really a spoof crime story.  One that someone said was horrible, and another said their kids could write a better story.

There are always critics that cut your work down, but two bad comments out of 907 sales doesn't mean anything.

Now, if I could just get the other books to sell that much, then maybe I could make some money. Of course, the 907 sales were at a lower price than the others.

That is why they are selling at 99 cents, in hopes that that helps sales. We have stopped selling the one that sold the most for now to also help the others out.

How are your sales doing?  Why not leave a message below and let us know your successes in your book sales. We would love to hear about them.

The weather has to get good again, so we can spend some time outside sitting in the swing, writing on the new story.

We are still waiting for the video game developer to get back with me about the story for their shooter game. Our fingers are crossed that he will still be doing the game and the story will be used to enhance the game.

Writers often get their ideas from people they know, items in the news or just their imagination.  There sure has been a lot in the news lately, but some the items I don't think I want to write about just now. Maybe in a few years I can go back and write about them, as they would still be relevant then as they are now.

What are you working on?  Are your stories coming along like you want or is the writing slow?  Leave a message and tell everyone what you are up to in your writing.

Until next time, have a great time doing whatever it is you do.

John

Another Guest written entry. Please enjoy their article on Creating A Strong Excerpt

By Writers Relief Staff on March 5, 2012

We’ve already discussed how publishing an excerpt from your book in a literary magazine can be a powerful marketing tool. It’s a great strategy to generate enthusiasm about your book among literary agents, editors, and prospective readers.

But where to start? How long should an excerpt be? Should authors pick a random chapter—or should they specially create a story or essay based on the novel? Before you panic, check out these tips to create a strong, buzz-worthy excerpt:

1. The first chapter of a somewhat literary or fully literary novel often works well as an excerpt for literary magazines. For other types of novels, the first chapter might make a great stand-alone piece if it’s a place of tension. But if your first chapter is fully devoted to setting the scene or introducing a character’s backstory, choose something else. (And consider revising your first chapter!)

2. There’s no rule that says you have to use the first chapter. An excerpt can be pulled from any portion of your book or memoir. Look for scenes that offer strong conflict, spirited action, or climactic tension. Slice-of-life moments or character sketches can also be great places to start. Keep it simple and compelling, and make sure you aren’t devoting precious space to long explanations of plot or backstory.

3. The excerpt doesn’t have to be cut word-for-word from your book. You can change it any way you want to fit the parameters for a short story. NOTE: Keep in mind that the short story/short prose market has its own rules. By keeping your excerpt under 3,500 words, you’ll open up the greatest number of markets available to publish the work.

4. You can also write a piece that’s not in your book but one that is based on it. You may draw from material that didn’t make it to the final cut or start from scratch and create a brand-new story—perhaps even a spin-off featuring a secondary character. Whatever the source, this piece should maintain the integrity of the characters and stay true to the overall theme of your novel (or memoir). The goal is to generate interest in the work that inspired it!

a stand alone

A Stand Alone (get it?)

5. Choose the right ending. Compelling doesn’t necessarily mean neat and tidy. As long as your excerpt finds some resolution, or a stopping point that hints at resolution, you’re fine.

Submission strategist Kriste says: “Many editors of literary journals do not like to consider book excerpts because excerpts that are not meant to stand alone can feel awkward and incomplete. However, if your excerpt can stand alone and feels more like a short story or character sketch or slice-of-life piece, then more markets will likely be open to publishing it as a short story.”

Writer’s Relief (est. 1994) is a highly recommended author submission service. Check out their free publishing leads, calls for submissions, and tips! This article was originally published at the following http://www.writersrelief.com/blog/2008/01/seduction-of-fake-poetry-contests/

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Hope your writing is coming along well. Summer will be here before long and I will be writing more on the novels, especially since I have given up the radio job.  I will have more free time now to write and maybe on more than just novels.

Leave a comment and let us know how you are doing. Don't be afraid to comment and tell us what you are up to these days, too.

Until next month,

John

You’ve seen the ads in the Sunday newspaper magazines—a mass-market appeal to submit your poem, get published, and win a huge prize. “American Poetry Association Contest! Win up to $50,000!”

There’s no shortage of poetry contests out there. And in most cases, the goals of these contests are legitimate: recognizing and honoring quality poetry and beefing up membership or subscription bases.Unfortunately, there’s no dearth of con artists in this world, and bogus poetry competitions are everywhere, luring would-be as well as established poets with seductive prizes and flattering appraisal of their poems.

Journalists have had some fun with these contests, entering intentionally awful poems, which are then accepted by the contest’s publisher and met with high praise, accolades, and, of course, invitations to purchase an anthology containing their work (only $49.95!) or invitations to attend conventions to accept their prizes (registration fee: $425.00). Writers beware!

Be on the lookout for these warning signs of a disreputable poetry contest:

Unusually large cash prizes. Especially when there’s no entry fee. Where in the world do they find such financial backing?

No prize money but a promise of “agent representation”—at a high price. Or an invitation to join “The International League of Poets”—for a pricey sum, of course.

Anthologies. Your poem was accepted, and the publisher is oozing high praise. Your stunning and highly acclaimed poem will be published in an anthology—and would you like to purchase said anthology for $49.95? How about your proud friends and family? For several hundred dollars, you and yours can each have a copy of your poem in published form…

Conventions. Again, your poem has been “accepted” and is lavishly praised. You’ve even won a prize! But you have to attend a convention to accept this prize, and naturally, the registration fee is a few hundred dollars.
Unknown contest sponsor. The name may seem familiar, but it’s a word or two away from the name of a legitimate poetry organization. Check the Web site. Is the organization associated with anything else? Other publications, societies, anything at all unrelated to this contest? If not, back away quickly. Legitimate poetry organizations focus on the writing community, and the contest is but a sideline.

Contest sponsor is difficult to contact. Is there a phone number? A contact name? Are your questions answered quickly, or is the response slow to come or evasive?
Advertisements in daily newspapers or magazines unrelated to the writing field. Legitimate organizations advertise contests in publications targeted for the writing community and do not spend gobs of money on mass-market publications.

Low standards. Each and every poem—from quality to awful—is accepted and lavishly praised.

Past winners are nowhere to be found…If it’s next to impossible to find the work of past winners, then, well... you get the picture. However, if you are able to find the previous winners and their work is mediocre, then obviously the standards of the contest are lukewarm as well.

Short poems preferred (or required). The better to fit into an anthology, which is what the sponsor is trying to sell anyway.

If the warning bells clanging in your head aren’t enough, do some research of your own. A Google search for “poetry scams” on the Internet will give you lists of the worst contests. And legitimate contests are out there if you’re willing to do a bit of research...

Writer’s Relief (est. 1994) is a highly recommended author submission service. Check out their free publishing leads, calls for submissions, and tips! This article was originally published at the following http://www.writersrelief.com/blog/2008/01/seduction-of-fake-poetry-contests/