Sunday, March 30, 2014

Selected Articles for the Reader in You


20 great articles selected just for you, the reading writer. Have fun!

The 1968 Olympics Black Power Salute
Courtesy: The Mystery World
1. 40 of The Most Powerful Photographs Ever Taken
The 1968 Olympics Black Power Salute: African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise their fists in a gesture of solidarity at the 1968 Olympic games. Both Americans were expelled from the games as result.

Local literature can be a surprising source of home state pride, no matter where you're from.
We found the most famous book set in each state. How many have you read? Check out the annotated map below.

There is nothing better than a good ghost story. It might be tempting to pop in one of your scarier movies when you want to get into the Halloween spirit, but there are plenty of novels sure to keep you up for just as many nights.

Here are some tips that may help make your fiction reading experience even more enjoyable.  Some of them may be obvious and well-known, but others may surprise you.

You write, you re-write, you edit, you tweak and when it's perfect, you submit. And then you get rejected. Many times, maybe by a person who didn't even read it. Rejection is painful because it instantly devalues your creation.

 Article writing can be great for your career as a writer: nothing bad can come from writers trying to sell content to magazines, newspapers and websites.

 A few years back I did what I wish more editors would do—I wrote about how to break into our magazine.

In 1850 Charlotte Bronte finally outed the brilliant but obscure brother authors Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell, and neatly analysed why centuries of authors have chosen to shelter behind entirely invented names or ambiguous double initials. The brothers Bell were her and her extraordinary sisters…

There’s a huge gender divide in speculative fiction publishing—especially when it comes to science fiction and space opera, which are incredibly male dominated.

As an avid movie fan myself, it sure puts a smile on my face when I hear of news book releases that pay homage to the artistry of the craft.

Actor Jim Carrey is famous for parking his car on Muholland Drive every night before anybody knew about him, and visualizing becoming the Hollywood star that he inevitably became.

Who are your literary influences?
Readers often ask me who my favourite mystery authors and/or influences are.  It's actually a pretty short list.
Generally, when it comes to crime fiction, I like North American writers.

Here’s something most published pros know well: In this business, there are no absolutes. There is no fixed path, no yellow-brick road to success. The journey to bookstores seems a lot like that old snowflake cliché—No two are alike.

At the pet shop in “101 Dalmatians” all of the dogs in the window are puppies except for this familiar dog in the corner. The dog is Peg from the classic Disney film “Lady and the Tramp”

Guest blogging can be a valuable asset in your tool kit, whether you’re a blogger, writer, podcaster, or small business owner.

Creativity is not a talent; it’s an ability: you can learn it, develop it and use it.

When I was in school and a teacher would assign us to write an outline for a story, I’d finish the story first, then go back and write the outline so I’d have something to turn in.

We all have those days when it feels like we weren’t able to check enough things off our to-do list. What do you do when that happens?

If you’re drawing a blank in your #writing, lead yourself back to your natural nature.

So what do lionesses have to do with leadership lessons? One of my big loves in life, other than my husband, is travel. My husband and I have had the opportunity to travel throughout the world and one of our favorite places is Africa.

These are all articles I have had the pleasure of reading and learning from. The lessons will remain with me to the grave.

Keep your pens bleeding!

Akpan



Friday, March 28, 2014

10 Ray Bradbury Quotes Embedded in Pictures


Here’s about ten Ray Bradbury quotes to get you fired up for the next assignment—something for your muse to chew on for a little bit.














Some of these pictures might have copyright (not the ones w/ the Ray Bradbury close ups) I'm not sure. But just in case, I hope the owners ain't mad I distorted their works w/o written permission. Look on the bright side, at least, I used it for a good cause. Thanks.
Just saying, did any of the quotes/pix get your juice flowing?

Keep your pens bleeding!

Akpan


Thursday, March 27, 2014

The #sundayblogtour List 100 (Sep 2013—Jan 2014)


Compared to the previous one, this list straddles content that spans a wider period of time. What gives? NaNoWriMo happened, that’s what. And then I was neck-deep in festive reverie last December. All the same here’s the second in a series of lists compiled from my virtual tour of the web’s blogs and sites which I plunge into weekends on Sunday; an activity on twitter I codenamed #sundayblogtour.


1. This is truly a writer's website #sundayblogtour http://rmwilburn.com/  @RMWilburn101


3.  But it's important to remember that most kids pass through childhood safely. #sundayblogtour http://475035832790540880.weebly.com/1/post/2013/09/sept-28th.html … @FranceneStanley

4.  Right from the start, the ride begins and it doesn't let up until the very last page #sundayblogtour http://jp-lane.com/reviews.html  @jpLANEauthor

5. The true story of a youthful spirit that knew not of defeat. #sundayblogtour http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EXC1BWW/  @paulregabooks

6. She's French, lives in Canada, and writes in English. Meet @JudeOuvrard #writer #sundayblogtour http://www.judeouvrard.com/tormented-cover-reveal/ …

7. I wasn't going to write this post, in fact I had something entirely different in mind #sundayblogtour http://www.tessellationsaga.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/i-vow-to-thee-my-country.html … @Dede12012

8. Our intention is to inspire and nurture your creative spark. #sundayblogtour http://ocenterprises.weebly.com/  @OCEnterprises

9. Thirty-something, single, and caught up in the hustle of everyday life #sundayblogtour http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/kathryne-arnold.html … @KathryneArnold @AuthorNetwork

10. I realized I wanted to become a serious writer about a year and half ago. #sundayblogtour http://karenamontreal.blogspot.ca/2013/09/interview-with-j.html … @yuribeans @KarenaMontreal

11. @traciebanister has been scribbling stories since she was a child, many ft. feisty heroins #sundayblogtour http://traciebanister.blogspot.com/ 

12. A friend is a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection #sundayblogtour http://samanthajamison.com/  @samanthajamison



15. If you’re drawing a blank in your #writing, lead yourself back to your natural nature. #sundayblogtour http://writetodone.com/what-writers-should-do-when-theyre-drawing-a-blank/ … @EricStoffle

16. Mankind is undergoing rebirth new arrivals closely watched... #oncehumans #sundayblogtour http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DJL3B9O/… @TweetTheBook @KNycole_Lee


18. The rich culture of the people who had inhabited Mexico before the Spanish arrived. #sundayblogtour http://blog.zoesaadia.com/weapons-in-the-mexica-period/ … @ZoeSaadia

19. Grief is a dark journey often tainted with judgement & false perception #freefall #sundayblogtour http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EWSWID8/  @arthurcrandon



22. This event will see each author, blogger... host things to let you know about their work #sundayblogtour http://feedmyreads.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/an-update-on-our-feed-my-reads-and_13.html … @LucyPireel @S_T_Hawthorne @RandyMasseyAuth




26. Anyone who has a story to tell will share their story with the world! http://indaindex.com/w-p-smith/  #sundayblogtour @RobertaGoodman @brknsunshine

27. The Fussy Librarian emails you ebooks matching your unique interests #sundayblogtour http://www.thefussylibrarian.com/  @KathyLLogan @FussyLibrarian

28. What they find stuns even the staunchest of disbelievers #mermaidsofwinter #sundayblogtour http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DKIVE0E/  @DanGlover1 @RJ_kumarkumar




32. Evil lives in the dark. We know this inductively as children #thesocietyofsinners #sundayblogtour http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0053482GW/  @CharityParkerso

33. Embark on an enchanted journey with a young blacksmith #sundayblogtour http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0899578888/  The Wolf of Tebron @CSLakin

34. Visit @GlennSoucy1 #ian1 page. He loves writing fast action books that are rich with imagination. #sundayblogtour http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/glenn-soucy.html …


36. Enter the adventurous world of Mac Faraday by Lauren Carr #sundayblogtour http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FIFGCCW/  @TheMysteryLadie @Catherinemkirby


38. Bestseller Success Stories that Started Out as Self-Published Books #sundayblogtour http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4064574?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003 … @HuffPostBooks



41. For those who love cinema, you’ll surely want to pick up a copy and tell your friends #sundayblogtour @Hugo_Matz http://horrornews.net/78604/book-review-alternate-movie-posters-author-matthew-chojnacki/ …?

42. Omega Airlines Boeing 737 blows a tire on takeoff from NY’s..#thecoverup #sundayblogtour http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009QNR578/  @Micheal_Rivers @MedThriller


44. I hear my name, not in the silent world... I listen to a memory. #sundayblogtour http://www.kandyfangs.com/?p=482  @KandyFangs @The_CthulhuCult

45. When you’re in the flow of your writing, words and ideas come to you effortlessly. #sundayblogtour http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/benefits-of-writing-a-fast-first-draft … @WritersDigest

46. Your story needs orientation, a crisis, an escalated tension, a satisfying climax #sundayblogtour http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/6-secrets-of-writing-a-novel-without-an-outline … @WritersDigest



49. She is in the eclipse Trying to kiss the sun With cherry stained lips #sundayblogtour http://marsocial.com/2013/10/m-a-r-s-newpoets-cherry-stained-metaphors/ … @B4Ann

50. Famous Novelists on Symbolism in Their Work and Whether It Was Intentional #sundayblogtour http://m.mentalfloss.com/article.php?id=30937 … @loveleov



53. Stinging Nettle is used in traditional medicine as laxative agent http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca/2013/11/stinging-nettle-urtica-dioica.html … #sundayblogtour @kylejnorton

54. Check out all of the books and read the first chapter Online or download the pdf #sundayblogtour http://words.spangaloo.com/  @WordSatSpangalo

55. Free profile for Authors, Agents, Editors, Readers & more #sundayblogtour http://Kindlemojo.com/  @TheKindleWhispe

56. Where people are disposable commodities. CORRUPTED @EmmyYoshida #sundayblogtour via @Martha_Bourke http://viewbook.at/corrupted  #ASMSG





61. The Rise of Mallory presents a new insidious evil dat needs 2 be stopped #sundayblogtour http://indaindex.com/everville-the-rise-of-mallory-by-roy-huff/ … @faydra_deon @PhebeBodelle








69. Unprecedented program to offer high school diplomas to roughly 150 ppl #sundayblogtour http://laist.com/2014/01/10/la_public_library_to_offer_high_sch.php … @EvelynNAlfred @liberatormag

70. Will religious diff be too big a hurdle for Adara and Milo? #sundayblogtour http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GGKZ8NW/  @georgehenry47 pic.twitter.com/LHUYsNmGQD









79. Will she be able to overcome her fears? #sundayblogtour http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CSACU8K/ @AlisaEaston5






85. In giving d little girl I used to be her voice, I found peace @JasmineAuthor #sundayblogtour http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009O5HA5U/  pic.twitter.com/FyqGVJxNWz


87. I paint original abstract art and russian avantgarde. #sundayblogtour http://www.etsy.com/shop/KsaveraART 




91. Will Lily succumb to d finality of extinction facing her species? #sundayblogtour http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DKIVE0E/  @DanGlover1 pic.twitter.com/yT4NatdET7







98. Continues the tradition of Dr. Seuss, Raold Dahl #poetry. #sundayblogtour http://poorrichardspoetry.homestead.com/  @TopWritingSkool




Hope you enjoyed the ride. It was a thrill building up the list.

Keep your pens bleeding!

Akpan


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