*SNAP* I DID IT!

I did it! I did it! My fingers are in casts. My family and friends have abandoned me. I'm not sure where or who I am, but it was worth it, because... I did it!
(Of course this is partly complete fiction. I mean, I did DO it - that part's real, but my fingers are fine. As a matter of fact, they're downright "buff", and my family and friends were never neglected or ignored... Uh, well, okay, maybe they were a little ignored, but they still love me! Life IS Gooooood!

My NaNo Widget

Just thinking. . .

"Autumn has given way to a dusting of snow. Barren tree branches rise to a wintry sky. The sepia-toned landscape lends itself to the touch of a paintbrush or the writer's muse. What color shall we add today? What stories shall we spin while the snow drifts in dreamy spirals past the windows? Muse to muse, it's the perfect time of year to travel by tapping away at the computer keys and reviewing. Spin a tale for me to read. Let's weather the winter through wit and novel writing." mia

A New Christmas Tradition for savvy Americans

NOTE: I did not write this and cannot take credit for anything except passing along what I think makes a lot of sense.
Please give it a read and let me know your thoughts.

CHRISTMAS 2011
BIRTH OF A NEW TRADITION

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.

This year will be different. This year, Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes everyone gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamin's on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would love the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I know I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

Okay, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you really need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a better tip than you normally would.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

Consider THIS as a new American Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

I'm just sayin" . . .

Comment and let me know your thoughts.

Carol

#

Pearls. . .

“To be kind to all, to like many and love a few, to be needed and wanted by those we love, is certainly the nearest we can come to happiness.” ~~ Mary, Queen of Scots.

I'm not gonna say it . . .

On the Home Front

Okay, so I'm going to do NaNoWriMo once again. I had a great time with it in 2009, skipped it last year because I was smitten with someone, which made me stupid and deamilazy; and now I'm back, all cylinders firing. Let's see how it goes.

What I'm most excited about is the prospect of meeting local writers with whom I can socialize and talk-up the craft. I'm always heading to the City for these meetings, and I'll be happier with a group closer to home. I'm really psyched about it!

In the meantime, I am looking forward to this three day holiday. Okay, well my plans have changed from the grammar school reunion I'd originally scheduled for this weekend; much as I want to see certain folks, especially some all-time favorite teachers, there is the need to make a living. The biography on which I'm currently working needs timely research so it's off to Gettysburg for me, which means I'll need to bag the reunion I was so excited about. Bah! I'll just have to experience it all from the safe distance of the computer screen as I meander through the photo albums.


From Lemons to Lemonade!

Since I need to be in that area to work, and since the work I'm doing will only take an hour each day, give or take, I've invited one of my favorite girlfriennns along. We'll go sight-seeing, out-letting and and antiquing. We'll drive for a few hours, take in some Civil War History, lunch somewhere wonderful and make home base at an elegant, hopefully haunted, B&B (My room has a fireplace, her's doesn't - hee hee.) I am SO looking forward to this! It'll be nice to be waited upon for a few days by innkeepers and, uh, waiters.

And then there is the shopping... Ooooo, I'm all a quiver.

All for now.
C.

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My Poem, CURSE OF THE SETTING MOON, won First Place!

CURSE OF THE SETTING MOON
A Shewolf's Lament
By Carol St. Ann



When echoed call of lonely howl
Replaces the longcase's chime,
Enchanted hooting of the owl
Cues emancipated time.

Human ways obliterated;
Four legs have I, instead of two.
Lustful urge is satiated.
With each full moon, I'm born anew!

Oh! Blessed rising of the moon!
Reclaim the bitch that was the dame.
Time opportune brings night's attune
And spites notorious defame.

In full moon's glow, I'm blessed to know
True pleasure at nature's own hand.
It grieves me so to have to go,
For, on two legs, I'm cursed to stand.

Some rue the rising dark of night:
Eyes, blind to see; ears, deaf to plea.
I crave the moonlit second-sight
And laud the joy she brings to me.

Perceptions pique, and toned physique,
Smooth silken fur, and pin-sharp nails
Create the aura, my mystique;
For at fang's length my charm prevails!

And lo, dear creatures of the glen,
I vow no hunters will harm you.
I'll force on them true fear again
And prey on their vernal menu.

Oh, woeful morn, I do so scorn
Your seemingly glorious wake.
To some the rose, to me the thorn,
As once more, hid'ous form I take.

This wretched thing that I become,
When golden orb does wake and rise
May fool the some but not the one
Who sees with wisened, open eyes.

Oh! Cur'sed setting of the moon!
At your leave, my torturous shame.
You rob me of my heart's attune
And smite with liar's cold disdain.

Until the hooting of the owl
Again steads human sense of time
I'll bow my head in anguished scowl
And long for freedom's cherished prime.


Carol St. Ann
August, 2011

*The contest: "The Enchanted Book of Poetry Contest!" August, 2011. The Artistic rendering is the prompt, and, indeed, the inspiration.

PLEASE HELP: If anyone knows the name of the artist who drew/painted this glorious work of art, please email me so I may give proper credit and send traffic to his/her website! Such talent deserves all the praise and credit!


.

But who'll read it?

Heard a funny story the other day:

Stephen King was in a grocery store one day and an older lady was in front of him in line. She kept looking back at him and finally spoke.

"I know who you are," she said. "You're that man who writes those terrible, disgusting stories. I don't like that kind of writing."

King said he just nodded, acknowledging the woman but not saying a word.

She continued, "I like decent stories real authors write like Shawshank Redemption."

King smiled at the woman and said, "I wrote that."

She quickly responded, "No you didn't!"

So you see, not every reader will like every single thing you write. But it doesn't mean you need to change. Just keep writing and your audience will find you.

CsA

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My poem, "THE BARRENESSES" won First Place!

The BARRENESSES
By Carol St. Ann


Circle, you leafless trees,
shed of autumn's dressage.
Lift limbs; embrace the breeze,
rapt with heaven's message.

Lay bare your naked bark,
and wave to passing clouds;
a shadow, cold and stark,
still standing ever proud.

Beneath the starlit skies
a gentle, rumbling sway
rustles like midnight cries.
Alas, it's how you pray.

The winter-sweet repose
fuels springtime's joyful burst
when green bud forms and grows,
and rains quench newborn thirst.


CSA, 2011
_______________________________

I am pleased as punch to share the news: This poem received First Place honors in the 76th Traditional Poetry Contest.

REVIEWS:


"The Barrenesses is a poem with a lyrical quality that aptly describes the trees in a wintry state, praising their creator. It is beautifully written and rolls sweetly off the tongue, leaving the reader with an enchanting flavor to chew on for a while."
~~ "Critic Quotes Review"

_____________________________

"In going through your portfolio initially, this was the first piece that caught my eye - the exceptional title, the multicolored preface, the stark yet beautiful photograph with the absolute perfect perspective for this piece.

The poem's structure itself is excellent, adhering to six-syllable quatrain stanzas in a 4x4 presentation. The tone speaks as if a call to arms from the author or the naturalist observer - one that has spent time among these trees and knows them well, appreciates them, beckoning them to new heights of poetic piety. Excellent development.

Your third stanza, "Beneath the starlit skies..." was most enjoyable for me, as I myself have found many a respite with Orion high in the sky, shining bright through the reaching limbs of these majestic, dormant titans of symbolic creation.

My only concern with a poem this eloquent, naturalist, perhaps even druidic in its equation of trees with holiness, is that it might find a very limited audience in the populace as a whole. If it were a work of mine, that would be all the more reason for me to go as far out of my way as possible to promote it...but I have a knack for finding and stubbing buttons when and if I can. I think in a specifically targeted setting, this would certainly do quite well, and it certainly performed well for this reviewer, indeed.
~~ "This is Why We Write, A Drew Review"

_____________________________

"Perfection in meter and rhyme, and a beautiful statement in reality and metaphor.
~~ Desi MacDaniels

_____________________________




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FOUR WAYS TO ATTRACT MORE READERS...

FOUR WAYS AUTHORS CAN ATTRACT MORE READERS (AND BUYERS) FASTER
by Bob Baker


Attracting new fans. Admit it, that's what having a book published is all about -- getting more people to read your words, know about you and buy your books. And hopefully, getting a LOT more people to do those things.

Why else do you work so hard to craft chapters, paragraphs, sentences -- even individual word choices? For what other reason do you fight off sleep so you can finish just one more section before you call it a night? I don't believe you go through these things to amuse yourself and hone your grammar skills in obscurity. You work hard because you know you have something of value to offer ... and you want to reach as many people as possible with your ideas.

Marketing is the thing that helps you reach that goal. But marketing is also a subject that confuses a lot of writers. Whether they write fiction or nonfiction, are self-published or traditionally published, writers the world over know they need to promote themselves. But many don't know where to start, much less how to continue marketing effectively.


Does this describe you? If so, consider the following scenario:

Let's say you went to an average U.S. city and rounded up 1,000 people and gathered them in a giant VFW hall. These 1,000 folks would be randomly chosen and made up of people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. Next, you'd distribute information about your book, talk to these people and even let them read sample chapters.

After this direct exposure, what are the chances that one person out of those thousand would be attracted to your ideas and personal identity enough to buy your book? Most writers, regardless of how obscure their subject matter is, should feel pretty confident about being able to win over at least one new fan from this group of 1,000. That's a one-tenth of one percent conversion rate.

Now let's multiply that reasonable formula by the entire U.S. population of 285 million people. One-tenth of one percent would be 285,000 people. That would be enough fans to make you a bonafide bestselling author. Right?

So how do you find and connect with those one-in-a-thousand buyers (without the use of VFW halls across the country)? Most likely, you can't afford the massive advertising budget of major companies. These corporations spray their marketing message over the masses, knowing that it'll only stick to a small percentage of the population.

The solution: You must find creative, low-cost ways to go directly to those fans who make up that one-tenth of one percent. Don't waste your time and money promoting yourself to people who will most likely never embrace your words.


Here are four steps to take to reach those new fans:

1. Define Your Distinct Identity

You must have a firm grasp on what your writing (or latest book) is about. And you must be able to define it clearly and quickly. What sets your book apart from others in its genre? What attitude or social statement do you (or your book) make? Generic self-help, romance or science fiction titles won't cut it. Dig deeper and discover your unique identity. When you do finally reach some of those rare potential fans, don't lose them by not being clear about who you are.


2. Describe Your Ideal Fan

Once you have a handle on who you are as a writer, it's time to paint a clear picture of your ideal fan. Can you articulate how your readers dress, where they work, what TV shows they watch, what they do for fun and who their favorite cultural heroes are? Observe the types of people who come to your public speaking engagements or readings, and note what they have in common? Conduct simple online surveys with people who visit your web site or subscribe to your e-zine. Knowing precisely who your fans are will dictate what avenues you use to reach them and how you communicate your message once you do reach them.


3. Determine How to Get Access to Your Ideal Fans

Once you know exactly what type of fan you're going after, start making a list of the various resources these specific people are attracted to. What magazines and newspapers do they read? Where do they hang out? What radio stations do they listen to? What retail outlets do they frequent? What web sites do they surf to? What e-mail newsletters do they subscribe to? For example, if your fans are mostly Harley riders, go to a search engine like Google and start entering keywords related to motorcycles. Evaluate the search results and compile a list of the many good sources you uncover.


4. Network and Promote Yourself and Your Book

Armed with this targeted list of contacts, get busy! Send e-mail press releases to niche media outlets. Contact the webmasters and editors of appropriate publications. Post messages in specialized forums. Visit and interact via the web sites of similar authors or reading groups. Contact organizations and charities related to your writing niche.

In short, go to where your ideal fans are. And market yourself through these outlets relentlessly. Why spend too much time and money trying to promote to everyone ... when you can save money and be far more effective by going directly to those valuable one-in-a-thousand fans?





Bob Baker is the author of "Unleash the Artist Within," "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook" and "Branding Yourself Online." Get a FREE subscription to Bob's newsletter, "Quick Tips for Creative People," featuring inspiration and low-cost self-promotion ideas for artists, writers, performers and more. Visit PromoteYourCreativity.com for details.



FREE Reprint Rights - You may publish this article in your e-zine or on your web site or blog -- as long as the author bio/blurb at the end is included.

Tiffany and Co. - TF2024

Tiffany and Co. - TF2024

English: Its Own Worst Enemy!

(Thanks to Fyndorian)

Dearest creature in creation,
Study English pronunciation.
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse.
I will keep you, Suzy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy.
Tear in eye, your dress will tear.
So shall I! Oh hear my prayer.

Just compare heart, beard, and heard,
Dies and diet, lord and word,
Sword and sward, retain and Britain.
(Mind the latter, how it's written.)
Now I surely will not plague you
With such words as plaque and ague.
But be careful how you speak:
Say break and steak, but bleak and streak;
Cloven, oven, how and low,
Script, receipt, show, poem, and toe.

Hear me say, devoid of trickery,
Daughter, laughter, and Terpsichore,
Typhoid, measles, topsails, aisles,
Exiles, similes, and reviles;
Scholar, vicar, and cigar,
Solar, mica, war and far;
One, anemone, Balmoral,
Kitchen, lichen, laundry, laurel;
Gertrude, German, wind and mind,
Scene, Melpomene, mankind.

Billet does not rhyme with ballet,
Bouquet, wallet, mallet, chalet.
Blood and flood are not like food,
Nor is mould like should and would.
Viscous, viscount, load and broad,
Toward, to forward, to reward.
And your pronunciation's OK
When you correctly say croquet,
Rounded, wounded, grieve and sieve,
Friend and fiend, alive and live.

Ivy, privy, famous; clamour
And enamour rhyme with hammer.
River, rival, tomb, bomb, comb,
Doll and roll and some and home.
Stranger does not rhyme with anger,
Neither does devour with clangour.
Souls but foul, haunt but aunt,
Font, front, wont, want, grand, and grant,
Shoes, goes, does. Now first say finger,
And then singer, ginger, linger,
Real, zeal, mauve, gauze, gouge and gauge,
Marriage, foliage, mirage, and age.

Query does not rhyme with very,
Nor does fury sound like bury.
Dost, lost, post and doth, cloth, loth.
Job, nob, bosom, transom, oath.
Though the differences seem little,
We say actual but victual.
Refer does not rhyme with deafer.
Foeffer does, and zephyr, heifer.
Mint, pint, senate and sedate;
Dull, bull, and George ate late.
Scenic, Arabic, Pacific,
Science, conscience, scientific.

Liberty, library, heave and heaven,
Rachel, ache, mustache, eleven.
We say hallowed, but allowed,
People, leopard, towed, but vowed.
Mark the differences, moreover,
Between mover, cover, clover;
Leeches, breeches, wise, precise,
Chalice, but police and lice;
Camel, constable, unstable,
Principle, disciple, label.

Petal, panel, and canal,
Wait, surprise, plait, promise, pal.
Worm and storm, chaise, chaos, chair,
Senator, spectator, mayor.
Tour, but our and succor, four.
Gas, alas, and Arkansas.
Sea, idea, Korea, area,
Psalm, Maria, but malaria.
Youth, south, southern, cleanse and clean.
Doctrine, turpentine, marine.

Compare alien with Italian,
Dandelion and battalion.
Sally with ally, yea, ye,
Eye, I, ay, aye, whey, and key.
Say aver, but ever, fever,
Neither, leisure, skein, deceiver.
Heron, granary, canary.
Crevice and device and aerie.

Face, but preface, not efface.
Phlegm, phlegmatic, ass, glass, bass.
Large, but target, gin, give, verging,
Ought, out, joust and scour, scourging.
Ear, but earn and wear and tear
Do not rhyme with here but ere.
Seven is right, but so is even,
Hyphen, roughen, nephew Stephen,
Monkey, donkey, Turk and jerk,
Ask, grasp, wasp, and cork and work.

Pronunciation -- think of Psyche!
Is a paling stout and spikey?
Won't it make you lose your wits,
Writing groats and saying grits?
It's a dark abyss or tunnel:
Strewn with stones, stowed, solace, gunwale,
Islington and Isle of Wight,
Housewife, verdict and indict.

Finally, which rhymes with enough --
Though, through, plough, or dough, or cough?
Hiccough has the sound of cup.
My advice is to give up!!!

(Apparently excerpted from The Chaos by Gerard Nolst Trenité.)
CM/CSA