tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51372512852110005652024-03-12T19:02:35.464-06:00Peggy BechkoReading and writing is what it's all about. Peggy Bechko, author of traditionally published romances, westerns, optioned screenplays and a number of Ebook editions of former hard copy books invites you along on her writer's and reader's journey. Check out historic romance Cloud Dancer at amzn.to/LMkCUT
Find insights for readers into the writing life, helps for writers, my writing updates, occasional reviews, helpful web links for writers and fun links for readers that I uncover along the way.
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.comBlogger615125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-16757891132951547192017-07-04T10:53:00.000-06:002017-07-04T10:54:14.436-06:00Medicare Wars Pamphlet 1 is FREE July 4-8<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Whew, I hardly get one project under control and another pops up! Sort of like whack-a-mole, but in a good way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Medicare Wars, Pamphlet 1, A Radical New Approach – learn, Fight, Win! Is <a href="http://amzn.to/2um4sNM" target="_blank">FREE</a> on Amazon July 4 – 8! Grab it for yourself, pass on the info to family and friends. You’re never too young or too old to learn about Medicare and there's lots younger people should know before advocating for “Medicare for Everyone” Single Payer is much more desirable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2um4sNM" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bgj5xNw4AmM/WVvGJCSIeZI/AAAAAAAADLs/2Ma6bTajLvI4cls4azTaCSD37AZfkjG9QCLcBGAs/s320/Instagram%2BMW%2BPromo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But, while we have it, learn what makes it tick. How it’s funded. How you pay for it all your working life, how it is,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> in truth, an Earned Benefit -- and those are not dirty words. Learn a bit about the history of how it came into being, how it’s been twisted with the arrival of insurance companies in the middle of its administration, how the recipient can get the most out of what is available and how few of those oft-touted</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “choices” people really have.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2um4sNM" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="961" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f9HuZG3zaOA/WVvGnOkYvKI/AAAAAAAADLw/sW_umbtLiH4tMcZq4sJIhlbfPJWZ73GWQCLcBGAs/s320/KINDLE%2BCOVER%2B-%2BPAMPHLET%2B1.jpg" width="192" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">That’s the biggie for now – the first Pamphlet is the series is FREE now. Don’t wait. Grab it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, Pamphlet 2, Stuff You Wish You Knew is also available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback editions and Pamphlet 3 will be available shortly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On other fronts, work continues on the sixth Comic adventure in the Planet Of The Eggs series, a double-edition which will cap off the first volume of the Eggs’ adventures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2sCwtU5" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1152" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IL_p1k4D_N4/WVvGzlw2TkI/AAAAAAAADL0/rHshRQrawiIaoM2LcTam9p0KeW7_th4wgCLcBGAs/s400/first%2Bfive%2BPOE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0sZk1Rdxouw/WVvHSUCHKvI/AAAAAAAADL4/h5ToBgelsfIj-7t-_hcDH_DCA_VhgyQxwCLcBGAs/s1600/blue%2Beye%2Bhummer%2Bcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="699" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0sZk1Rdxouw/WVvHSUCHKvI/AAAAAAAADL4/h5ToBgelsfIj-7t-_hcDH_DCA_VhgyQxwCLcBGAs/s200/blue%2Beye%2Bhummer%2Bcopy.png" width="179" /></a><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Beyond that, I continue to work with producers on the production of a fun horror script. We’ll see how that unfolds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And, on the back-burner lingers my newest Romance Novel, tentatively titled “Serpent’s Tail”, which is calling to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Have a wonderful 4<sup>th</sup> and don’t forget to get that free copy of <a href="http://amzn.to/2uGNlpD" target="_blank">Medicare Wars</a> and tell your friends. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-63125419654438172017-06-20T11:10:00.000-06:002017-06-20T11:11:46.546-06:00A Writer's Update<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It’s been a busy few months here in my office, and the result is I haven’t had time to add much to the blog. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So it’s time for an update. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Work continues on the Medicare Wars series of books to focus folks’ understand of Medicare. Two have published, the third is on the way and three more after that. The idea is to create pamphlets to provide bite-sized information to everyone interested in Medicare as it is, it’s history, it’s future and the concept of ‘Medicare for Everyone.” With my partner, we provide solid information and direction on how to apply, what people should expect and the pitfalls all around us. Good news is the first in the series, Medicare Wars: A Radical New Approach, Lear, Fight Win, will be FREE July 4 through 8. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2tp5fNF" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="961" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zzHViXygt3c/WUlVj_oSiCI/AAAAAAAADKs/rmbvpSybLbESBu5hLuYS5ImV1gWalB4NQCLcBGAs/s320/KINDLE%2BCOVER%2B-%2BPAMPHLET%2B1.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Grab your copy, spread the word <a href="http://amzn.to/2tp5fNF">http://amzn.to/2tp5fNF</a> Don’t forget to visit our Facebook page at <a href="http://bit.ly/MedicareWars">http://bit.ly/MedicareWars</a> Tell your friends about that site as well. We love visitors and welcome questions. We also get very excited about honest reviews so please do post one at Amazon, Goodreads, wherever you talk about books.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bit.ly/EGGPLANET" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1152" height="160" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ovn-Kr3lXOg/WUlV8JbmUTI/AAAAAAAADKw/a8wg9auunooW3_6zi8zwGJ4ItaHTtj9ZQCLcBGAs/s320/first%2Bfive%2BPOE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In addition to the Medicare Wars series, we’re just about to publish the sixth Comic in the Chronical of the Eggs series, Planet of The Eggs: Worlds Collide. Do check out the series starting with the first comic, Planet Of The Eggs – Cracked Open at </span><a href="http://bitly.com/POECrackedOpen" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">http://bitly.com/POECrackedOpen</a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> and don’t forget the Facebook Fanpage </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> as well at </span><a href="http://bit.ly/EGGPLANET" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">http://bit.ly/EGGPLANET</a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> and the great review of another in the series “Eruption” at Readers’ Favorites </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bitly.com/EruptionReview" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="66" data-original-width="430" height="49" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6tUdz_PEMjo/WUlWT1UziWI/AAAAAAAADK0/3QRqpzvgLg0CV095h2nJNxN3hRrlXokLACLcBGAs/s320/logo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://bitly.com/EruptionReview" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">http://bitly.com/EruptionReview</a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">. The sixth adventure completes the first volume, but there will be more! Visit, like the page and watch for what’s coming next</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And don’t forget the first installment of our kid’s Read To Me books, Look At Me, Look At You! <a href="http://amzn.to/2ccMqoi">http://amzn.to/2ccMqoi</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2ccMqoi" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="1600" height="224" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rQDll_W0seM/WUlWrPbjuNI/AAAAAAAADK4/DYdIGTCUPoURkH2EdhrMnWPHIX22zFFIwCLcBGAs/s320/COVER%2BFINAL_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Have a great summer and we’ll just keep on writing and illustrating!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-9576823320068002792017-01-17T11:29:00.003-07:002017-01-17T11:29:43.492-07:00Time Management - 5 Tips For Making Time For Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QH8MqB7fJiA/WH5htQK6VKI/AAAAAAAADEQ/ESQGCgm5SZQMCbxmlCgDomkq4yp6IOmigCLcB/s1600/clock-474128_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QH8MqB7fJiA/WH5htQK6VKI/AAAAAAAADEQ/ESQGCgm5SZQMCbxmlCgDomkq4yp6IOmigCLcB/s400/clock-474128_640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Managing your time. Making time for your writing. Finding time. Whatever
you call it, it can be tricky while juggling kids, relationships, job, whatever
else you're involved in that you can’t really give up or set aside. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So, in the spirit of my back to basics mood at the moment, here
are a few ideas ( 5 tips) to help things along. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">1. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">I
always suggest keeping a notebook or notecards with you. That way you can jot
whenever something occurs to you or whenever you observe something that needs
to be remembered, even if away from your writing place. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">Or take notes on your
phone or record messages to yourself on the phone if you can. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">There are also
great tiny recorders you can use to capture notes to yourself then plug into
your computer and transfer like the <a href="http://amzn.to/2iDR2pE" target="_blank">Yoday</a> voice recorder.</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">Inexpensive too!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> 2. Set
priorities and do your darndest to stick to them. Talk with your spouse, your
kids, whoever is going to be around and work at getting them to understand how
important this is to you. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> You have to let others know that at times you’re
going to have to say no to things that drain away your time minute by minute and
that you must stick to your ‘to-do’ list to keep things moving. Remember to do
the most important first. Plainly, there will be bumps in this road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 3. C</span>reating
goals that are good for you is a great help. Decide perhaps you’re going to
create a certain number of pages or words during a session. Maybe go with an
amount of time. Or best yet, set a goal of how many words you want to get down
on paper during the amount of time you have available. Stick to it! </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> If you do
this you’ll minimize distractions and get a lot more done. Remember – the world
of social media is out to get you and rob you of all your productive time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2ixW8bJ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8lbT1OCaELc/WH5gl7F0rDI/AAAAAAAADEE/bridrwERqekstjYEQ6ZGOr5vjqbLZxHkgCLcB/s200/61%252BSANXO4vL._SL1200_.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> 4. Dedicate
a writing space, no matter how small. Even if it has to do double duty. If you
have to write on the kitchen table, do it at a time when you can clear the
table, set up your laptop and do nothing but write at the table. It helps train
the mind that this is the time for writing. If you can convert a closet or set
up a small desk somewhere, so much the better. If a sit/stand desk like what I use from <a href="http://amzn.to/2iDQW0Y" target="_blank">Veridesk</a> is good for you and in your budget, go for it. Work with what you have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> 5. Finally,
don’t put enormous pressure on yourself. If you’re forcing yourself into doing
something you don’t want to do you’re not going to get very far. If this is
something you want to do you WILL begin to set your parameters and goals. If
that doesn’t happen then perhaps writing isn’t for you and it’s time to move on
to other things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-81326937518556473202017-01-11T10:04:00.002-07:002017-01-11T10:44:14.666-07:00Big New Project coming - Medicare Wars pamphlets<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Hi there folks. I took a bit of a break from the blog throughout the holidays and because I was loaded down with work. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Something new is coming soon - and it's not our usual fiction!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ekS3-LkvsHQ/WHZmARFGGXI/AAAAAAAADDs/-94M29bkfMglTvYYtKF3vSqfF8De44auQCLcB/s1600/READ%2BTHIS%2BTWICE.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ekS3-LkvsHQ/WHZmARFGGXI/AAAAAAAADDs/-94M29bkfMglTvYYtKF3vSqfF8De44auQCLcB/s200/READ%2BTHIS%2BTWICE.png" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">During our break we began in earnest, work on a major project, a series of pamphlets to explain Medicare, where it came from, where we are, and what the future might hold, in bite-sized bits. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's a big project, brand new, geared to help lots of people created by my writing </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">partner on The Egg Chronicles, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs/" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Planet Of The Eggs comics</a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">, Charlene (fondly known as Charlie) Brash-Sorensen and I are working on.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Charlie has a very long history - </span><span style="font-size: large;">Twenty-six years in management and executive positions in the Medicare and Medicaid health insurance industry. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As she tells us, those "twenty-six years is a <b>LONG</b> time. It takes a toll personally and physically. It takes a few years to totally drop the stress and move on. In my particular case shedding my career persona—Director of Strategic Planning, Director of Operations, Associate Executive Director, Executive Director, Vice President of Network Development, Vice President of Operations, Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Consultant—has taken 4 years. The last vestige of those years was putting my Brooks Brothers 3-piece suits for sale on eBay." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2l7KBuwnSNo/WHZg0KpzW8I/AAAAAAAADDY/rWF7YeSAU8cqi8QSwyHRcswX_AU-74n0wCLcB/s1600/MEDICARE%2BWARS%2Bcover%2BPamphlet%2B1%2BCROPPED%2B-JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2l7KBuwnSNo/WHZg0KpzW8I/AAAAAAAADDY/rWF7YeSAU8cqi8QSwyHRcswX_AU-74n0wCLcB/s400/MEDICARE%2BWARS%2Bcover%2BPamphlet%2B1%2BCROPPED%2B-JPG.jpg" width="258" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So was born, in this political atmosphere, the non-fiction project: MEDICARE WARS! A series of pamphlets clearly titled so people old and young can see which one best fits their need for learning and our guess is most folks will want them all. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">First up is the beginning with info on the history of Medicare, what you, and yes, your employer, PAY for, what the Medicare Insurance program is all about and some links, tips, and helps to make it clear what each citizen of the United States does in order to be a recipient of this program. And what everyone should receive because of it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Future pamphlets will take individual elements and go into very clear detail. We call it Medicare Wars because, since this most recent election, the program is in danger. </span>together <b><i>WE</i></b> <b><i>THE PEOPLE</i></b> have the power to defeat the assault being waged on Medicare. This is why we’ve named our series of pamphlets, Medicare Wars.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Charlie is in the process of starting up a blog to go along with it as well as a Facebook page where people can ask questions, briefly describe their own good and bad experiences and come to for breaking information that's clear and up to date. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, as work continues, don't hesitate to comment here with questions you may have about how it all works, why younger people should be paying attention and a whole lot more. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Please leave questions and suggestions for content we can cover in future pamphlets in the comment section</b></i> and don't forget to tell your friends, family and anyone with any interest. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Pass it on and let's do this thing! First pamphlet releasing very soon in Kindle and then paperback editions. Watch my for more info soon. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And yes, w</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">e love our Eggs and they will continue their adventures. Number six (the final in the first Vol.) is under way with a few delays. But, not to worry, it's coming soon!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8kZMM3vVp-A/WHZhEjfr7eI/AAAAAAAADDc/UaxNr1O0HC8F7gJJKNlNDJJTgf0sBSkxwCLcB/s400/first%2Bfive%2BPOE.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-9218080510776756312016-11-09T13:11:00.003-07:002016-11-09T13:11:40.146-07:00How to Write a Novel - and not just talk about it<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Okay folks, I think I’m going to go
back to basics for those writing novels – especially since this is national
novel writing month – or <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a> as it’s called and we’re already well into
it with a few of my friends participating. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So, there are lots of people out
there who TALK about writing a novel, but then there are the ones who actually
do it. Congratulations if you’re one of the later. Then there are people who’ve
talked about writing a novel and finally actually do it! Congratulations to you as well. Bet it feels
good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7kIvgaYYR4/WCOAmvDX3YI/AAAAAAAADBE/wr8SxIVVC8EnUhsQiydB4cqJREOizSc-wCLcB/s1600/child-1244531_1920_edited-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7kIvgaYYR4/WCOAmvDX3YI/AAAAAAAADBE/wr8SxIVVC8EnUhsQiydB4cqJREOizSc-wCLcB/s320/child-1244531_1920_edited-1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For those of you who are still kind
of getting your feet wet and aren’t really on stable ground as yet. Here are a
few things to get you motivated and stay on track.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">First give yourself some attainable
goals (you can do the really heavy duty, nearly unattainable if you want, but
the attainable ones are generally reached and motivate you to continue to the
next goal). Those involved in <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a> are already on that track. I suggest you even write it down. Use strong
words for yourself. For example, tell yourself you’re going to start and finish
a publishable novel within a year (or six months, or whatever). If you do it
you’re creating a goal and a deadline for yourself and as a writer, believe me,
you need both. It’s that old ‘it’s hard
to make yourself work when you’re the only one you’re answerable to’ plague
that nails many an author. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Second, the secret to completing
that novel is writing. That basic. Every day won’t bring amazing paragraphs and
stunning chapters, but it’s important to stick to it. To do it every day. If
you’re turning out bad writing that’s okay. Eventually that bad writing will
evolve into good writing. And, eventually sentences equal paragraphs and
paragraphs add up to chapters and chapters…well, you get the drift. There’s a
finished novel in there somewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And remember for the third point
here that there is no right way to write a novel. Seriously. You might plan the
whole thing out from beginning to end. Another writer wings it entirely. Some
ideas begin with only a title. Some writers are agonizing over the title long
after the novel is written. Some people write the story. Some let the
characters guide them to the end. Whatever way works for you is the way to
write a novel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Great writing is most times
rewriting. That means you could well write many more pages than what the novel
will actually have. You’ll do a lot of deleting and you’ll probably get mad at
whoever you draft to give you input as you realize you have to delete even
more, then restructure the story to fill in the holes that are left. It hurts.
Almost every writer I’ve ever known resists taking out chunks. I, myself, had
to reduce a novel by about a third once in order to have it published. But it
DID get published. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2fT3zsZ" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bHKQFCF8GOY/WCOBBTGJW_I/AAAAAAAADBI/d72kdByNZd8tmoKeH9H6M_Pmn2Q9LvXXACLcB/s400/Blown%2BTo%2BHell.jpeg" width="250" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2fT3zsZ" target="_blank">published originally by Doubldeay - now available on Kindle</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zXFgWyXzv0s/WCOC1P7AunI/AAAAAAAADBQ/5IJxHPOlJhUbWwBqUkUyzE-xYWKs5jXPQCLcB/s1600/butler-1537384_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zXFgWyXzv0s/WCOC1P7AunI/AAAAAAAADBQ/5IJxHPOlJhUbWwBqUkUyzE-xYWKs5jXPQCLcB/s320/butler-1537384_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Lastly don’t forget to celebrate and
pat yourself on the back when you finish a goal. Do something nice for yourself
when you complete a chapter. When you finish the first draft crack open the
champagne!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">When it’s ready for publication blow out the stops. Truly, you’ve
accomplished something amazing, don’t let it be just another day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Now, think about what I’ve said
here, then get out there and write the novel you’ve always intended to. (or that short story or comic or non-fiction or......)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-71408034019680932572016-11-02T14:20:00.001-06:002016-11-02T14:20:01.842-06:00BEST REALTOR - SANTA FE - Damon Apodaca 505-690-7943<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fLGDPy0chXA" width="459"></iframe>Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-73320334816188261042016-11-02T11:07:00.001-06:002016-11-08T13:55:48.677-07:00Best Childrens books in years - Egg Chronicles - Planet Of The Eggs<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/37lAS-doiDI" width="459"></iframe>Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-41030841397446197392016-10-11T14:18:00.000-06:002016-10-11T14:18:24.685-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6plzo6fRBoA/V_1FjalmGkI/AAAAAAAADAU/eo6CU4F-7cUxQN4yv3A0Th6aYrEowRKjQCLcB/s1600/CIMG2924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6plzo6fRBoA/V_1FjalmGkI/AAAAAAAADAU/eo6CU4F-7cUxQN4yv3A0Th6aYrEowRKjQCLcB/s320/CIMG2924.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Happy
autumn – another year is racing by. The
holidays will soon be screaming down upon us – and a new year in the offing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">As
seems to be usual lately, as the time spins by, the children’s comic book
series, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" target="_blank">Planet Of The Eggs</a>, part of The Egg Chronicles family, is taking up a
good deal of my time along with that of my writing/creative partner Charlene
Brash Sorensen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We’ve
completed five books in the <a href="http://www.planetoftheeggs.net/" target="_blank">Planet Of The Eggs</a> comic series for Children and
are working on the sixth Children’s comic in the series, Worlds Collide. The
script is written and we’re about six pages into creating the illustrations to
tell the tale! We hope for a release date somewhere in late Nov. or early Dec.
Add it to your Christmas list!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AX2jn7YSEiA/V_1GThvUatI/AAAAAAAADAY/0iYec1rQunE2xLPrAkGODTRS9ovIrgdmACLcB/s1600/glowing%2Btwilight%2Bfacing%2Bleft%2Bw%2Bfeathers%2B-%2BTrnsp%2BBk.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AX2jn7YSEiA/V_1GThvUatI/AAAAAAAADAY/0iYec1rQunE2xLPrAkGODTRS9ovIrgdmACLcB/s200/glowing%2Btwilight%2Bfacing%2Bleft%2Bw%2Bfeathers%2B-%2BTrnsp%2BBk.png" width="122" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Our
most recent interview on the Planet Of The Eggs series is with Lisa Haselton
and you can see it <a href="http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/2016/10/interview-with-childrens-authors-peggy.html" target="_blank">here</a> Do stop by today and leave a comment with
your thoughts. Share it with your friends. Explore Eggland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://bit.ly/2dT2VaA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JvFgOSi-VRk/V_1Ghkp95bI/AAAAAAAADAc/kB5JuN5sbLUARkB6JYWNM_x71YmVb6JkgCLcB/s1600/14292274_159667934479410_5805803849355194624_n.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In
other news, my latest short story, Skykicker, has just been published by <a href="http://bit.ly/2dT2VaA" target="_blank">CowboyJamboree magazine</a>. The
PDF of the magazine is free to download and contains the short story. Enjoy!
And I’d love it if you could leave a comment there or here on this blog
on what you think. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Upcoming
are more books for the Egg Chronicles family- including more children’s comics
in the Planet of The Eggs line and more early reader books for the <a href="http://amzn.to/2ep8NLK" target="_blank">Read To Me</a>
series. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Meanwhile
I’m settling back and watching the change of the seasons while I contemplate
how in the world I’m going to get my romance novel finished – Serpent’s Tail.
Not even a tentative date set for that one, but it’s definitely in the hopper
at about 2/3 done. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Enjoy the lovely crisp weather and awesome colors of fall!</span></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-46871450432882125172016-09-27T11:18:00.001-06:002016-09-27T11:18:58.777-06:00A Scattered Blog Post for Writers & Readers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BCvo8trIkxc/V-qk_bkqo9I/AAAAAAAAC_I/qE1U1k5pjVoC6X55A0lHJE19OAxwSSZxACLcB/s1600/mushrooms-548360_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BCvo8trIkxc/V-qk_bkqo9I/AAAAAAAAC_I/qE1U1k5pjVoC6X55A0lHJE19OAxwSSZxACLcB/s400/mushrooms-548360_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Yep, autumn has come to my little
corner of the world, temps in the low 40’s when I got up this morning. And, since this time of year tends to make me
a bit scattered with the need to pull it back together I’ve decided to treat my
readers to a scattered post. A bit of a few things to let you know about, to
give you a little something and to hopefully make your day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gqzXMQciqHM/V-qlQMtDORI/AAAAAAAAC_M/qh8uQHjEUgErIvwHiQRigliUGwvNijAvACLcB/s1600/sun.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gqzXMQciqHM/V-qlQMtDORI/AAAAAAAAC_M/qh8uQHjEUgErIvwHiQRigliUGwvNijAvACLcB/s200/sun.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">With the sun shining outside, the green
tea on my desk and access to the web coming and going this morning I’ll do the
best I can – so here’s the first thing on my small list. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The publisher, Baen has introduced their
<a href="http://www.baen.com/catalog/category/view/s/free-library/id/2012/?author=0&category=0&dir=asc&order=name&publisher=0">FREE library </a>and are offering free electronic versions of some of their books. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You can read online or download in a
variety of formats.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Nice. Thanks Baen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And wait, there’s another free resource.
<a href="http://www.ebooklobby.com/">Ebook Lobby </a>They offer free books, more of the non-fiction variety, but a few children’s
books as well. Also free to download. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And, if you write pretty much anything,
there might be a time when you want to grab a copy of Elements Of Style – you can
get that free <a href="http://www.bartleby.com/141/index.html">here</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">On another subject, a friend of mine,
author Robbie Cox, has a great series going with two installments already
completed which I’ve read and enjoyed.
It’s the Warrior of The Way series. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2d6P9CB" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d2g_LL1y0Wc/V-qlyLzqXnI/AAAAAAAAC_U/0wmoR-yKoKoEWRX0By0Upfb5m38ErhovgCLcB/s1600/Reaping%2BThe%2BHarvest%2B-%2BRobbie%2BCox%2B11-20-14.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The first is Reaping The Harvest
$2.99 on Kindle It kicks off with -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">On his way
home from a moving job, Rhychard Bartlett heard a scream and ran to help. That
action changed his life forever and tossed him into a war between the Way and
the Void. Given the Guardian Sword, assisted by an ellyll who only stands two
feet tall, and bonded to a mind speaking coshey the size of a Newfoundland
canine and a taste for pepperoni pizza, Rhychard must stop the demon Vargas
from carrying out his plans. Once he finds out what they are, of course. In the
meantime, he longs for the girlfriend who left him because he suddenly had too
many secrets. Not only must he save the day, but he also must convince Renny
Saunders he's not the cheating lover everyone thinks he is.</span>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And the second is Lore Master $3.99 on
Kindle <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2dhnaNq" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VTT3pYrFUrA/V-qll38IfkI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/TSwq2v4vBC4WhbXeXZTVj0W-tCRdCe8TQCLcB/s320/Lore%2BMaster%2B-%2BRobbie%2BCox%2B-%2B2nd%2Bafter%2BReaping%2BHarvest.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Robbie is an excellent writer with a
gift for drawing in the reader and giving him a great tale. Check him out on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CoxRobbie?fref=ts">faceboo</a>k.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And his website at <a href="http://www.robbiecox.net/">The Mess That Is Robbie Cox</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And wrapping it up for this week – what am
I up to?</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Work on the sixth installment of the
Planet Of The Eggs Children’s Book Series under The Egg Chronicles banner with writing/creative partner Charlene Brash Sorensen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQVR_9syLR0/V-qmoM8VsJI/AAAAAAAAC_c/SKbL5yH_blcX-Wf-S7yeahVx7qjblbAxgCLcB/s400/FB%2Bbanner%2B8-16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We’ve blocked out the story line, figured out
the illustrations we’ll need to create and are about ready to start creating
that book titled Worlds Collide. You can
still get the first in the illustrated stories for kids by going to our
Facebook page (hopefully giving it a like while you’re there) and click on the
sign up button for our newsletter. This will only continue through the end of
the year so you might want to get a move on to grab your PDF copy of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" target="_blank">Cracked Open FREE</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OnQPDZrvX4Y/V-qnGvukcjI/AAAAAAAAC_g/r3mUQfN_TfYDaE2KUyJcVszVJwZ203HLQCLcB/s320/PLANET%2BOF%2BTHE%2BEGGS%2B-%2BTHUMBNAIL%2BLRG.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> and start the series that just keeps getting better as light battles dark and the heroic egg warriors confront the depths of evil!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2d13fVa" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jDjO315rclA/V-qnuxehlUI/AAAAAAAAC_o/hjRznVL_ko4JGOHP80poXY96sAQBFY2YACLcB/s320/COVER%2BFINAL_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">On the back burner for The Egg
Chronicles is our next Read To Me Picture Book for very young readers (and the
parents who read to them). No title yet, but we’re playing with ideas.
Meanwhile, check out the first. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Since our ‘egg empire’ is expanding we’re
planning a whole reboot at the beginning of 2017 with the creation of The Egg
Chronicles under who’s banner will be the children’s series Planet Of The
Eggs (six issues in Vol. 1 now complete with Vol. 2 in development), the Read
To Me Picture Books for Young readers, and more to be announced.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NbIeCnYNNwE/V-qobo9OIJI/AAAAAAAAC_s/op7YRRiXnF808S4Lu40CCm8XCSpjiqLQACLcB/s1600/DRAGON%2BTRNSP.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NbIeCnYNNwE/V-qobo9OIJI/AAAAAAAAC_s/op7YRRiXnF808S4Lu40CCm8XCSpjiqLQACLcB/s200/DRAGON%2BTRNSP.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Thanks for reading! Have a great autumn and I’ll be back with the
next post soon!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Meanwhile, watch out for Puff the dragon-</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">he's growing up fast!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-12221811248143254162016-09-20T13:21:00.000-06:002016-09-20T13:21:41.012-06:00Update on A Writer's Journey<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncB8anMU_Ek/V-GD40M95lI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/8zVllosbfcANhfbinvDxgvAT2Yti0AMxQCLcB/s1600/nm%2Bautumn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncB8anMU_Ek/V-GD40M95lI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/8zVllosbfcANhfbinvDxgvAT2Yti0AMxQCLcB/s320/nm%2Bautumn.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Autumn
is coming to where I live and the flowers are bursting forth in a purple and
yellow display that’s breathtaking. I can see them from my office window which
makes my office an exceptionally nice place to work this time of year as the
temperatures begin to cool.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.newmexico.org/fall-color/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4DFlEnX8aEE/V-GD75imk3I/AAAAAAAAC-c/pj9a5ueKFxoATT60JsazHH77pmyDBHMRwCLcB/s320/NM%2Bautumn3.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It’s
also a great time to take stock and figure out what’s coming next for this
writer. After all, we’re heading into
winter – the traditional time for hibernation, and for writers the perfect time
to curl up with a computer and really put out some great stories and more while
the fire crackles on the hearth and the hot chocolate steams in the mug. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UfF1q5kHu-I/V-GFPzIIeeI/AAAAAAAAC-k/1lI8-BUVY5sInHFN4UxRPnpdKPZ_1dYGQCLcB/s1600/FB%2Bbanner%2B8-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UfF1q5kHu-I/V-GFPzIIeeI/AAAAAAAAC-k/1lI8-BUVY5sInHFN4UxRPnpdKPZ_1dYGQCLcB/s640/FB%2Bbanner%2B8-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">First
and, these days, in the forefront is the Planet of the Eggs Comic series brought
to you by The Egg Chronicles, that I co-create with creative partner Charlene
Brash Sorensen. Yep, we’re working on #6 – the final story in this first volume
of the comic series, titled Worlds Collide. Its great fun and our readers are
going to love it. Don’t forget you can visit the Facebook page where we keep
folks up to date on what’s happening and where you can sign up for our monthly
newsletter – or you can just sign up for it <a href="http://bitly.com/EggsSignUp">HERE</a>. You get the first Planet Of
The Eggs Adventure, Cracked Open FREE when you join enthusiastic readers on the
newsletter list.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">That’ll
wrap up this first series of adventures, but there are more to come. Got any
ideas for these brave an intrepid warrior, scholarly and medic eggs? Go ahead,
post ‘em in the comments section below, we’d love to hear your thoughts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In
that same vein, also under The Egg
Chronicles banner, we’ve begun </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2cO548E" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vjXxZNp26fo/V-GFZDmr4CI/AAAAAAAAC-o/kKx2wZWCvls2BhmptKpya-cUSNCA-MCbACLcB/s320/COVER%2BFINAL_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">creating our new line of Children’s Read-to-Me
Picture Books! The first one is Look At Me! Look At You! Now available as
<a href="http://amzn.to/2cO548E">digital release</a> for your <a href="http://amzn.to/2cO548E">Kindle</a> and in <a href="http://amzn.to/2dezork">paperback</a> as well on Amazon. Share them
with your kids and grandkids. We’re thinking of creating coloring books as well
– what do you think?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On
another note I’m working on converting my vampire western (titled<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KDmTn-HKkvo/V-GGB3XK2mI/AAAAAAAAC-s/FpBpaFASF9ktGrsJNyA1UfQuGcz03a_tACLcB/s1600/BloodlLines0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KDmTn-HKkvo/V-GGB3XK2mI/AAAAAAAAC-s/FpBpaFASF9ktGrsJNyA1UfQuGcz03a_tACLcB/s320/BloodlLines0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">artwork by Gabriel Hardman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bloodlines)
screen script to novel format. That’s going to take me into early spring since
we’re doing so much work with our Eggs. It’s back to novels on that front and
it’s also great fun to do even if I do have to keep my nose to the keyboard to
keep up. The two styles of writing
(novel and script) are pretty far apart, so there’s a lot of detail to fill in
and small errors to catch as the writing continues. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Come on over and visit me at my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PeggyBechko.Writer/">facebook page</a>
and <a href="http://www.peggybechko.com/">webpage</a> as well. I’m delighted to welcome new followers and read comments
my readers share. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-84701269395635488552016-09-06T14:53:00.001-06:002016-09-06T14:54:27.713-06:00Two Ways For Writers To Kickstart The First Chapter<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The
first chapter of your book is important.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Very
important. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It
doesn’t seem like such a big thing, the first chapter, or does it? It’s the
beginning, that which should tantalize your readers, draw them in and hold on
tight. So full of promise – what adventure lies ahead?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">That
first chapter shouldn’t be the thing to set terror fluttering in the heart of
the writer, but rather to be exciting, invigorating, fun! That first chapter
can lead to so much. It can grab readers. It can hook a bored editor who’s looking
for the kind of book you’ve written. It can keep a browser on Amazon reading
that Kindle edition and asking for a full sample leading to that coveted sale
because that reader is hooked and just can’t stop reading. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t85xxvakslY/V88sONIrlaI/AAAAAAAAC9s/3qDESbB0FaQgEHUDfGkqybFPOou76FY8ACLcB/s1600/screen-1315650_1280_edited-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t85xxvakslY/V88sONIrlaI/AAAAAAAAC9s/3qDESbB0FaQgEHUDfGkqybFPOou76FY8ACLcB/s320/screen-1315650_1280_edited-1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So,
NUMBER ONE: don’t succumb to terror. Don’t let the white of the screen before
you intimidate you. There are all sorts
of warnings out there that are a trap to intimidate writers. “In the beginning,”
they say, “grab me from the first sentence!” or “Don’t waste a single word!” or
“get it moving, start your story somewhere after the first couple of chapters
and skip the intro altogether.” Heard this? Read this? Between writing coaches,
teachers, editors, agents and script readers it feels like all they’re out there
to do is to intimidate writers and scare them into giving up before they even
start. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QJrRkvLM7hs/V88shdUeAQI/AAAAAAAAC9w/q90-VcjJUKINTrJrNjXAObReQQgdvP2bgCLcB/s1600/mark-twain-391112_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QJrRkvLM7hs/V88shdUeAQI/AAAAAAAAC9w/q90-VcjJUKINTrJrNjXAObReQQgdvP2bgCLcB/s320/mark-twain-391112_1920.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Okay,
you, as a writer, don’t need all that tension. The truth is, they’re all looking
for that great book and you just might have it. So relax. They aren’t actually
expecting perfection from writers. They’re looking for originality and
powerful. So breathe in, breathe out and get those first words up on the screen;
just let the words flow. The bad and the good. Editing time will be the time to
sort it all out. Oh, and by the way, as a general observation, it’s just fine
to want to write a book to entertain. It doesn’t have to have a great and deep
message or some thrumming theme. Write what your inner writer wants to write. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">NUMBER TWO: have a light touch with
description. Yes, yes, I know, you can see it all in your mind, every blade of
grass, every cricket chirping at a window, every hair on the black dog’s head.
Sounds, sights, emotions, textures and colors. The story you’re writing is so
powerful you want the readers to be right there with you, to be immersed in the
story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUh1Ah1QO1k/V88snqpYz4I/AAAAAAAAC90/W50fbFAtHFstD095al6S5mfiIMiYe2U3wCLcB/s1600/street-13553_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUh1Ah1QO1k/V88snqpYz4I/AAAAAAAAC90/W50fbFAtHFstD095al6S5mfiIMiYe2U3wCLcB/s400/street-13553_640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But don’t feel you have to spill it
all in those first few sentences in that first chapter. Sketch out the bones
with enough details to give it some punch. Your readers don’t want to hear
about the weather, every detail of the hero’s street and how long he’s lived
there all in the first few sentences. Readers always trust writers to fill in
detail as the story moves forward. What’s needed in the beginning is those few
details, just a taste, just enough to give a feeling of place. Then trust
yourself to add the needed information along with the forward movement of the
story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now turn that blank white screen
into a writer’s chapter to be proud of. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-81817216750643946562016-08-30T10:55:00.000-06:002016-08-30T10:57:26.054-06:00Giving Up Perfection - the Writer's Task<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Are
you a writer of any type?</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Do you strive
for perfection?</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Are you slowing yourself
down beyond belief?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Yep,
well consider this. Sometimes there is just the need for speed. If you watch a bike race like we saw in the Olympics
you’ll see it’s not the perfect, cautious rider who wins, it’s the reckless
idiot willing to throw it all to the wind and push it to the limit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">True?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Yes,
we saw that young rider wipe out on a curve, but that rider was in the game.
And if there hadn’t been that wipe out, if the ride had continued on beyond the
point of control what would have happened?
Thrown off course? Yes. But on a track not taken before, perhaps faster. Maybe better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wAm6ZRELAok/V8W47PSbWBI/AAAAAAAAC9M/l4ofKO3bx_UeCDVkCD5ZGtritVIl9I2WgCLcB/s320/sport-562154_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Are
you in the game? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Perfect
will never get you fast and in the end, when applying this to writing, it’s
fast that counts for the first draft. Get it out there like word vomit on
paper. Really, just toss it out there. Get yourself on a roll and let those
written words loose – 1,000 words, 2,000, maybe 5,000 or more in a day. Don’t
trip up your hot streak. Don’t risk tossing aside a ‘wow’ moment when you, as
writer, look back over the day’s work and find you’ve gone way beyond your
usual abilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Yes,
you’re going to have to edit whether you’re an author who waits until the end
to go through the whole script in one go or another kind of writer who edits
what was done the day before prior to continuing. You’re just (most of you) are
going to have to do some clean up. Or someone is going to have to do it for you
and believe me it won’t be an editor or a producer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">BUT
- Don’t let the magic of that full throttle day disappear. Don’t chance killing
the spark that ignited. Your writing begs for you to be reckless. Perfect slows
you down. My advice is don’t go for perfect…especially when in the midst of a
creative storm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2bGudzY"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LxKyKfmi9Vs/V8W5yCwCVsI/AAAAAAAAC9Q/P9VwfVvc6rIeX1Z7BlmVWsV1m3ETcEY0wCLcB/s400/owl-1524058_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The
other side is the obvious. I’m sure you’ve all heard various complaints about
books with typos, misspellings and all sorts of grammar mistakes that throw the
reader off and end up causing them to put the book aside. Same can happen with
any other writing. What if you’re a
technical writer and hand in a paper filled with errors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I’m
not saying the driven writer shouldn’t be bothered with such, we have to be. We
even have to read galleys with a professional eye to catch the errors the
editors at major houses miss. However you accomplish it, do it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But
when it comes to your story, don’t go for perfection, go for the speed and
power that make your words sing. You never know what new demon might emerge out
of the mist. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2bzcFXM" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NkYMPwJk3CI/V8W3U7NfRAI/AAAAAAAAC9E/oNZGnMYc_8EXP3LhPfKAHcU1EjTG5M2KwCLcB/s320/penguin-153401_1280.png" width="279" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-34032339613231217542016-08-17T11:58:00.000-06:002016-08-17T11:58:03.057-06:00Writers and Avatars on Facebook<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As a writer I
decided to have some fun and use a cartoon Avatar on my Facebook page for
now. I like changing occasionally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I’ve
always had some picture or another of myself on my twitter and Facebook pages associated with my writer self,
and just in case you’re one of the people who don’t, let me say it kinda makes you less human, more
of a non-entity if you don’t have a picture up there to represent yourself. If
you’re just you, it’s not very personal. And, if you’re a business or the site
is the representative of your business (like being a writer) then not having a photo can really kill
your business (as in not having people move to your writer's info). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It may seem silly, but that blank image is what your customers
would be associating with you. So if writer equals blank space what does that convey to the readers who stop by? It also makes it look like you’ve something to
hide and that makes people think you may be a spammer. So it’s best to put SOMETHING up there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.peggybechko.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2nBIROyJqpw/V7Sg8LOPVWI/AAAAAAAAC8M/qEGJH6BD8KgREkv-Tq8CtEAhlj1Afw2bgCLcB/s320/hi%2Bres%2B300dpi%2Bfor%2Bdownload%2Bphoto.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For
me, it was fun using Cartoonize <a href="http://www.cartoonize.net/">http://www.cartoonize.net/</a>
to create the picture and easy as well. Just upload a picture to the site and a
couple of clicks later you have it – there’s even a choice of styles. See what
you can do with it. Use a picture you like and see the results in moments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But
there are lots of other alternatives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If
you don’t want to be a cartoon there are a number of free resources on the web
where you can create an Avatar of yourself
from scratch using bits and pieces they provide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here
are a few I’ve run into and explored just a bit. Create a new you and have fun
doing it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;">Build Your Wild Self
is one of my Favorites, but that’s me, others may suite you better. </span><a href="http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=IPGfo&m=3lf1LPgjgRVmzs1&b=uzwPmfgakWWzxW0YtpLS_Q" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.buildyourwildself.com/</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.buildyourwildself.com/"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zS2406xZ4Eo/V7SkEBwyKwI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/DrbxpRhpQskFOcxs8d05s6u71GZXr7ZcACLcB/s200/wildself_Modified.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here
are some others:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Avachara</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">http://avachara.com/avatar/</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Face Your Manga</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">http://www.faceyourmanga.it/</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">DoppelMe</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">http://www.doppelme.com/</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Montagraph</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">http://www.montagraph.com/</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Visit and see what
might work for you – or go ‘googling’ for Avatar creators or another creative
keyword and if you find something unusually great go ahead and share the link
here. It would be greatly appreciated. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It’s time to stop
being a mystery person and face the crowd – or at least let your Avatar do it
for you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-30653923711676290252016-08-09T11:10:00.000-06:002016-08-09T11:10:12.835-06:00Directions in a Writer’s Life<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Namely – mine!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some writers pretty much stick with what they began with whether it’s
novel writing or scriptwriting or journalism for an entire career. That’s great
for them, or, if you’re a writer and that’s the way you go, for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For me, things keep on a’changin’. It’s not that I move away from one
type of writing to another and leave the ‘old’ behind, it’s more like I add to
what I’m doing. That can get a bit crazy, but it’s the way I Iike it. Spices
things up for me, keeps the fresh and the new ideas rolling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I began with novels, published with Doubleday, Harlequin and others. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--LsbtLG_lPo/V6oIlLoZp-I/AAAAAAAAC7U/OitfvRz4nkMUbX1irAhCMf6AzspgdF0mgCLcB/s1600/NIGHT%2BOF%2BTHE%2BFLAMING%2BGUNS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--LsbtLG_lPo/V6oIlLoZp-I/AAAAAAAAC7U/OitfvRz4nkMUbX1irAhCMf6AzspgdF0mgCLcB/s320/NIGHT%2BOF%2BTHE%2BFLAMING%2BGUNS.jpg" width="192" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2aSwoyX" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h0PQy5m_Ovk/V6oIvid-UEI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/V6JkWjQXTXYzDPqHYzYbKGkzJio8IWOcQCLcB/s320/Dark%2BSide%2BOf%2BLove%2BCover%2BScan.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Then I added script writing and I loved it. Had a wonderful mentor in Larry
Brody of <a href="http://tvwriter.com/">TVWriter.com</a> (for whom I'm a Contributing Editor), sold a script, optioned some others and am still working
with scriptwriting having completed one a short time ago. All I had to do was
know how to type and be creative...and learn the formatting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But that’s not where it stops for me. I’m also creating a novel from a
previously written script. Its great fun and I intend to publish. I have a romance novel I’m working on
finishing up as well. Still typing, still milking the creative juices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">What’s the newest? Comic books. Kid’s books. Yep, an unusual
undertaking for me. I’ve partnered up with a great friend and we, together,
write and illustrate the comic series <a href="http://amzn.to/2aIa3mJ" target="_blank">Planet Of The Eggs </a>with five adventures
published so far and more in the works.
As an off-shot we’re now creating our first ‘read-to-me’/’young readers’
picture book based on the fun characters of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" target="_blank">Planet Of The Eggs</a>. The first is
celebrating the differences in us all, as well as what brings us together, and
is as yet untitled, but that’s coming! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The learning curve was pretty steep on comic creation. We’re still
using a combination of <a href="http://amzn.to/2aJsCdp" target="_blank">photoshop</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/2aXdEAg" target="_blank">powerpoint</a> and <a href="https://plasq.com/downloads/comic-life-desktop/" target="_blank">comic life</a> software. Now we’ve
also thrown in the free photo manipulator from <a href="http://paint-net.en.softonic.com/">Paint.net</a> and got a couple of
special effects packs so we can create cool pen sketches and other kind of
amazing effects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The results so far is the near completion of the first volume (six
issues) of the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" target="_blank">Planet Of The Eggs comic book series</a>. But wait, there’s
something afoot! The series is about to
find itself in a reboot as we evolve from the very young adventurous eggs to
the more confident, determined Superhero eggs and their friends, companions and
arch enemies. We’re on the very cusp as we complete the first picture book and
dive into plotting for the sixth adventure to complete our first volume. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2aSxQ4o" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Et6H6qRKAVo/V6oKv3XgzmI/AAAAAAAAC7o/LTCUjXOY9EYMd3tdEDJz-rHw3pSThJIFwCLcB/s320/POE%2BEruption%2B2%2B-%2Bsaving%2Bdot%2B-%2Bcover.jpg" width="199" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Oh, and the fifth, Planet Of The
Eggs-Eruption 2, Saving Dot has just released in Kindle format and paperback
will follow in the next couple of weeks.
Want to keep up with it all? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Go to our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" target="_blank">facebook</a> page for Planet Of The
Eggs, tell us your thoughts, which heroic egg is your favorite, what villains
you would like to see, whatever comes to mind. We love to hear from fans. Oh,
and there’s a monthly newsletter as well – just click the sign up button near
the top of the page and get access to the first adventure in PDF FREE! Or sign up directly <a href="http://bitly.com/1NeMRLy" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2aIa3mJ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7gVoDAci2Ms/V6oKeR4OrBI/AAAAAAAAC7k/zl7XhU_YEDkv7NBt9ehgkydUi1rvi-lqgCLcB/s320/PLANET%2BOF%2BTHE%2BEGGS%2B-%2BTHUMBNAIL%2BLRG.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So, my personal writing career has become a fantastical juggling act
and I love it. Yep, I’ll be finishing that romance novel, probably creating
more novels from scripts and the reverse as well as finding new and exciting
things to pursue with my writing. I’ll
let you know what I come up with next.
Meanwhile, happy reading and writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-39987089256123942652016-07-27T15:00:00.000-06:002016-07-27T15:00:01.828-06:00 Three Books on A Desert Island Question For Readers and Writers<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kueyYhYwKD4/V5kfigwO3vI/AAAAAAAAC6o/v5uBU5AWzu80etWAOL-6OVdDZutP9ACEgCLcB/s1600/beach-1232772_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kueyYhYwKD4/V5kfigwO3vI/AAAAAAAAC6o/v5uBU5AWzu80etWAOL-6OVdDZutP9ACEgCLcB/s320/beach-1232772_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Have
you ever been asked that question? You know, the one about which books, if you
could take only three, or one or five, would you take with you to a desert
island? Ah the seriousness of it all, the conundrum. Which books to take?
Rack your brain. Think, think, think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Well,
I’m a long time reader and writer and I have an answer. Nope, not a list of
which books I’d take and a lengthy explanation as to why I chose those
particular books. It’s much simpler. I’m not big on clutter or complications.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here
it is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2anp5m0" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2adFVMW7huQ/V5key99EnvI/AAAAAAAAC6k/1YafOEIQmCc59l1EQskoMl-6d_UPuZTUACLcB/s200/51uivNjSUQL.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I’d
take along an Ebook reader – and a solar charger. In my case that would be a <a href="http://amzn.to/2anp5m0" target="_blank">Kindle Fire</a>, but
for others it would be something else. Whatever. The Kindle plus <a href="http://amzn.to/2afp1ni" target="_blank">solar charger</a>
would take up less space (if that’s an issue) and provide a whole lot more than
the basic few books. In fact I could load it up with my old favorites that I
like to read more than once and then hit Kindle for lots of freebies I could
add to the memory and catch up with discovering new authors. That’s not to say
I couldn’t purchase a number of books I’ve been meaning to read along the way
as well. How about Game of Thrones, the
complete set? That would keep me busy for quite a while and take up little
space on the reader. Whohoo! Just don’t hit any ‘delete’ button accidentally.
There’d be no recovery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And
the reader, if it’s more of a tablet, would let me take a few downloaded movies
and/or music along as well. Ah, the modern age. The wonderful world of digital.
The other nice thing is I could read in the dark. Most screens are backlit so I
wouldn’t be forced to attempt to ready by torch light or candle or something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Only
downside is if anything happened to the reader/tablet/Kindle/whatever, or the
solar charger, there would be no ‘hard copy’ books or anything else to read,
listen to or watch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sigh. Well, we can’t have everything (though I’m
not quite sure why not…it’s just that my Grandmother said…well, you know). Maybe I could then pound palm leaves into some
sort of paper and use charcoal from burned out palm stumps to write my own
books. It’s a thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Anyway,
that’s my answer. I’d risk it. Hopefully if it was a castaway situation I’d be
rescued before something untoward happened to my electronics. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NugGCRV9Cew/V5kgH6MGn7I/AAAAAAAAC60/tD7frGnIAy4sXuK_KQqI6FkJl30lA3sWACLcB/s1600/palm-40293_1280.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NugGCRV9Cew/V5kgH6MGn7I/AAAAAAAAC60/tD7frGnIAy4sXuK_KQqI6FkJl30lA3sWACLcB/s320/palm-40293_1280.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-15428021770212474172016-07-19T13:57:00.001-06:002016-07-19T13:57:20.724-06:00From the Beginning – Five Writer’s Gripes About Novel Starts<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2a6dlUq" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g0_uT8HTXAs/V46ErfgiH5I/AAAAAAAAC5w/TyiKxBkyTVYL-SbfiJptalTZ9A85LN1nACLcB/s320/Stormrider%2BCover-%2B-%2Bblue.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00325f; letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I’m
a writer, but I’m also a reader. Even if you aren’t both I’m sure there are
things about the beginning of a book, the very first sentence that just bug the
heck out of you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00325f; letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Seriously.
Me too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00325f; letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So
I’m going to talk here a bit about beginnings – specifically the very beginning
– the first sentence of a novel which ideally is supposed to grip the reader by the
eyeballs and not let them go. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00325f; letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Um,
yeah. So here are five ‘do-nots’ from my perspective as both writer and reader.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4cknnZT6vqQ/V46FCsdhHlI/AAAAAAAAC50/29nA_e4VLm821rtyNXRwFZrN21BJDKSBQCLcB/s320/student-41444_640.png" width="276" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00325f; letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">First,
it’s the beginning. I know nothing of what’s going on so let’s not start with a
really long sentence. Those usually aren’t too good anywhere in the book, but
at the very beginning they can be killers. A long sentence provides just too
many ideas and bits and pieces of information all randomly connected for the
reader to make any sense of by the time the sentence is finished. And this, as
the very first sentence…not a good idea. Way to turn off the reader. Come on!
It’s the first sentence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00325f; letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Second,
I’m not wild about books that start right out with dialog. I mean at this
point, need I reiterate, it’s the beginning. The reader isn’t acquainted with
any of the characters, knows nothing about the plot, where they’re at or what
they are doing or intend to do. So why would the reader care what someone is
saying at the very inception of the book? When I see a start like that I
suspect it’s a sort of a gimmick the writer learned somewhere. I know I know,
“it’ll all make sense later”. Probably not for me because that second sentence
better be a doozy to keep me reading beyond that first, “So you wanna go to the
park?” dialog bomb at the beginning. A beginning like that doesn’t tweak any
questions or raise any interest in my brain. Just lost interest. On to something else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZnzdEwKZ4U/V46FLm_vXxI/AAAAAAAAC54/DlNJQ8LTYIMnRV76wqIjwIUOObypmUMXQCLcB/s1600/hands-1373363_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZnzdEwKZ4U/V46FLm_vXxI/AAAAAAAAC54/DlNJQ8LTYIMnRV76wqIjwIUOObypmUMXQCLcB/s320/hands-1373363_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00325f; letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Another
thing (I guess this is the third) that gripes me is the revelation the whole
opening was a dream or maybe a flashback or maybe a visitation from another
dimension. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather keep on track. Diversions can
occur later, but I want that first sentence hook to really give me something. It’s
supposed to be a hook, remember?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00325f; letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Okay,
next. The fourth gripe on my list. Since this is the beginning and I as a
reader have no idea what is happening, why would I care where it’s happening? I
mean a writer showing off some purple prose in the first sentence without
connecting how it’s relevant to the story is probably going to lose readers. Fast.
Readers are in it for the story, not a detailed description of the scenery. As
the story evolves the reader might well enjoy a vivid description, but please,
make that description relevant. This is not a showcase for the writer’s
vocabulary. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00325f; letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And
the fifth and final frustration on my novel beginnings </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.peggybechko.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SG5NDsRF16s/V46FRiKp0NI/AAAAAAAAC58/qzuYVF4a9xErHaAQUR9d_Nuzh7aNqUzXACLcB/s320/boat-852633_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">list is the excruciatingly
ordinary start. You know, something like: At six in the morning, on March 2,
the start of his thirtieth year, John Snow climbed out of bed. There are
exceptions of course and writers who can pull this off, but mostly what is
there about an introductory sentence like that that would catch the attention
of a reader? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00325f; letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So
those are my gripes. Have you got any novel gripes that really bug you? Either
a beginning or something else? Things that might make you just close a book and
forget it. Toss in a comment below if you do…or if you disagree with any of my
complaints. Go ahead, you know you want to. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-66193652079214886882016-07-13T10:54:00.000-06:002016-07-13T10:54:45.829-06:00Reader's and Writer's Paradise - the Library Quotes & Contemplation<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“I
have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”― Jorge Luis
Borges<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nvPs3Qamw0/V4ZxQmcQXMI/AAAAAAAAC5I/vMXG77LwVWMZBsK_MAurSjuU67XsKAacACLcB/s1600/girl%2Bwith%2Bbooks_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nvPs3Qamw0/V4ZxQmcQXMI/AAAAAAAAC5I/vMXG77LwVWMZBsK_MAurSjuU67XsKAacACLcB/s320/girl%2Bwith%2Bbooks_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Don’t
you love quotes from people you respect – or quotes that are just fun?</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do you look at them and contemplate any
deeper layers of meaning? Or does it just tickle something within you that
responds and makes it your own?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Like the quote above. I’m not saying
it has many deep layers of meaning, but isn’t it fun to contemplate? I’m a
writer and a reader. I can’t help it, it speaks to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZjvhagVbPI/V4ZxXA8dB4I/AAAAAAAAC5M/uq53OZq7ayMwqRh8KXuX5NrLJqIlBPvsgCLcB/s1600/book-clouds-873442_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZjvhagVbPI/V4ZxXA8dB4I/AAAAAAAAC5M/uq53OZq7ayMwqRh8KXuX5NrLJqIlBPvsgCLcB/s320/book-clouds-873442_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Have you thought of such a thing? I
mean I’m not really into gold-paved streets, etc. I’d be much happier with a
great library. A wonderful library complete with all the books of the world and
including the fabulous Ereaders on where there are stored even more books!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Ah, yes, paradise. In heaven or on
earth, it must be well stocked with books and scripts. And since we’re talking
paradise here, they must be well-written fiction books and scripts packed with
gripping tales and/or non-fiction with mind-boggling information I would have
never considered on my own. You too?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-68dpzobACiw/V4ZxnDC8WvI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/5zFi0FVka90fdndVXJGWP5FS8QCSjSMdACLcB/s1600/reader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-68dpzobACiw/V4ZxnDC8WvI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/5zFi0FVka90fdndVXJGWP5FS8QCSjSMdACLcB/s320/reader.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Mind-expanding fun. I mean libraries
are the repositories of books, knowledge and these days, much more with access
to electronic books, the web, music, TV, movies and pretty much everything
else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The other wonderful thing about
libraries is that anyone can go. Wow. Really. I mean what forethought the
ancients and then the more moderns had when libraries came into being. Never
ending education and entertainment is available within those walls. It’s
peaceful. It’s fulfilling. It offers up worlds we haven’t even dreamed of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J-YLm81AgzI/V4ZxueHDeMI/AAAAAAAAC5U/al4gqCgYr987ZCLg2hfq9dEB5vkjwewkwCLcB/s1600/in%2Ba%2Bbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J-YLm81AgzI/V4ZxueHDeMI/AAAAAAAAC5U/al4gqCgYr987ZCLg2hfq9dEB5vkjwewkwCLcB/s320/in%2Ba%2Bbook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Seriously, if you haven’t been to
your local library in a while, it would be very much worth your time…that is
until paradise library actually exists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-63221563515551073442016-07-06T11:49:00.000-06:002016-07-06T11:49:21.541-06:00Writers and Readers Do you do Pinterest & Live on Social Media?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0gzoGEKvU0/V3wtO2NnmLI/AAAAAAAAC4M/DBj5P22y00YwHrzPZ-7bIOkLXcZg4avrACLcB/s1600/cat-151919_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0gzoGEKvU0/V3wtO2NnmLI/AAAAAAAAC4M/DBj5P22y00YwHrzPZ-7bIOkLXcZg4avrACLcB/s320/cat-151919_640.png" width="320" /></a><a href="http://amzn.to/1QuLdd3" target="_blank"> </a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Are you addicted – or not? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If you visit Pinterest frequently, on a scale of 1 to OMG I’ve gotta
stop, where do you fall? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I admit I enjoy Pinterest and I visit, but only on a ‘I have the time’
basis. And when I do I enjoy sharing
other people’s pins as well as adding some of my own such as these:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SF_Psaau0jk/V30cARglZCI/AAAAAAAAC4w/2fLcni--QcYSkF5roI7YlEt714Q1zVzhgCLcB/s1600/four%2Bbook%2Bcovers%2B-JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SF_Psaau0jk/V30cARglZCI/AAAAAAAAC4w/2fLcni--QcYSkF5roI7YlEt714Q1zVzhgCLcB/s640/four%2Bbook%2Bcovers%2B-JPG.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bitly.com/POECrackedOpen">http://bitly.com/POECrackedOpen</a> <a href="http://bitly.com/BookSpells">http://bitly.com/BookSpells</a> <a href="http://bitly.com/MummifiedEgg">http://bitly.com/MummifiedEgg</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%C2%A0http://bitly.com/POEEruption" target="_blank"> http://bitly.com/POEEruption</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Along with a whole assortment of other pins having to do with trees,
dragons, books, authors and other loves. Go ahead, visit my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/writerpeggy/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> page. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Social media of all types can be great fun, but they can also be a
time-sucking monster. I’m a great proponent of ‘everything in moderation’. Since
I’m a working writer I can’t let myself spend the whole day at the computer
checking out interesting/cute/inspiring pictures with equally catchy captions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So, what do I do? What I do makes my time on social media such as
<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/writerpeggy/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/PeggyBechko" target="_blank">twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/peggy.bechko" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and others unpredictable. I have no particular
time I can dedicate to those areas. I pretty much pop in whenever the time and
spirit allow. Sometimes it’s between projects for a few minutes. Other times it’s
in the evening after dinner and chores when I can spend a little longer
perusing what’s new and adding some of my own.
It might be a weekend with a bit of spare time not writing or joining
friends. Or I might just be taking a break from working. Another great time to
enjoy social media is when I’m traveling…providing I can get a good WiFi
connection. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And that’s why I have so many books loaded on my <a href="http://amzn.to/29hszTr" target="_blank">Kindle</a> – I never know
if that connection will exist and I love the Kindles and tablets for allowing
us to have more than one kind of media close at hand. Music, books, magazines,
pdf documents, videos and web access all crammed into one convenient package. Seriously,
if you commute (and don’t have to do the driving yourself), what a great addition
to our lives have been these amazing electronic devices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Yep, mildly addicted to Pinterest, but addicted to so much more these
devices offer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Tell me, are you addicted to <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>? How addicted -- is it your ‘go
to’ when looking for distraction and fascinating material? Or some other social
media?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Share below your favorites and don’t forget to include links to your
twitter, facebook, linkedin, pinterest…. Whatever social media you enjoy. And if you're into Facebook - head on over to our Planet Of The Eggs page at www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs and join the group & get the newsletter with the Sign Up button at the top. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-32200338685954018262016-06-21T15:40:00.000-06:002016-06-21T15:40:04.140-06:00Writer Peggy Bechko Discusses What's Coming Next<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Seems like a Writer's work is never done! But that's a good thing! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Onward. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This week I'm talking a bit about what's coming next for me -- </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There are a number of irons in the fire as usual. I have a romance novel that needs finishing - I'm about 3/4 of the way there. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Work continues at a slow pace for the conversion of one of my movie scripts, Bloodlines, into a novel companion. It's a vampire western full of the paranormal. I hope to have that complete by late fall or early winter. No promises though!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Why is progress on Bloodlines script to novel slow? Because Planet Of The Eggs, the comic book series I partner in with Charlene Brash Sorensen, is taking priority - we have four books in the comic series out now with the fifth to be released later this summer. The fifth is nearly finished in first draft form. Here's the first page from that new adventure - tentatively titled Saving Dot. We'll let you know of any changes in title and the release date. Check it out here or visit our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iUY7a6EbdPw/V2mNKi7Z9tI/AAAAAAAAC3U/5dyv5Iw2zj064EwotlWtqPggQUjUm40iACLcB/s640/SAVING%2BDOT%2B-POE%2B5%2B-%2Bteaser%2B4%2Bnewsletter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And, in addition to the new book, the fifth of six in the first volume, there are big changes coming to our series as our characters evolve and mature. And Volume Two is already an evolving idea. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But as to the next adventure, Saving Dot, what do you think? Do we save Dot? She's hanging on to a dragon and the flight is bumpy. Her egg friend, Sala is in the dragon's clutches and the rest of the gang, Cyrus, Nightfist, Twilight, Smudge and Skink along with Dot's human companions, Smith and Dave are laying plans to get them back! The girls are strong, it may not be them who need rescuing!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There's mayhem and tragedy ahead - stay tuned, keep reading, and let us know who's your favorite character and where you might like to see them go next in space and time.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cjj2EgRwIrU/V2mvdZxqYWI/AAAAAAAAC3k/TxtTKMlCvkw0F4ELKUUmI3qcej3YtEZAwCLcB/s400/SMALL%2BBANNER%2B%2BFOR%2BTWITTER.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-18192612321264442252016-06-14T11:14:00.000-06:002016-06-14T11:14:34.199-06:00Writers - Save Your Readers From Boring…<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RjqDshUDYUc/V2A3M5IfBCI/AAAAAAAAC2c/jRAOokFNMKQu59gwR-6QvXNEHu2nRAQOwCLcB/s1600/danger-851895_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RjqDshUDYUc/V2A3M5IfBCI/AAAAAAAAC2c/jRAOokFNMKQu59gwR-6QvXNEHu2nRAQOwCLcB/s400/danger-851895_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Throw your hero off a cliff. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Yep, that’s the ticket. Think about it. Are
you boring your reading audience with wonderful Mr. Nice Guy who may be a bit
shy, but so darn good looking he’s irresistible?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Okay, he can be all that, but does he spend
his days at the lake faithfully with his one true love and have nothing more
exciting than crossing against a light to spice up his day? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Bt-SetLZUg/V2A4aG5yO5I/AAAAAAAAC2w/66f5Jwo-hzIh6LZRNaQvrU4553kFhfyMQCLcB/s1600/wedding-1345700_640_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Bt-SetLZUg/V2A4aG5yO5I/AAAAAAAAC2w/66f5Jwo-hzIh6LZRNaQvrU4553kFhfyMQCLcB/s320/wedding-1345700_640_edited-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Uh…. Boring. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Readers don’t want to follow a perfect hero or
heroine as he or she goes about her day and everyone is subjected to every
boring detail from tooth brushing to hailing a cab. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Really, if that’s your character you might sit
down and have a talk with yourself about why that is. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So how about this. Your hero remains your hero
but you toss in the woman he meets and falls in love with, a kick-ass martial
arts champ, crack shot markswoman with a questionable past and a sarcastic wit.
Now we’re talkin’! How would they work out their differences? How would he
react to her, aside from loving her? What about her past, is that about to come
back and bite them both? I don’t know,
do you have a clue? A few elements like this and the reader doesn’t know from
one page/moment to the next if the hero is going to have to jump off a cliff to
save himself/her/ or out of total frustration. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Now that I’d like to read. Done well it would
be a great page-turner or possibly the plot of a hit movie. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So, are you thinking like that, writing like
that? No? Why not? We all have pasts and wounds we can draw on that we can
present to our characters and really identify with. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If not, why not?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It’s scary out there for writers. They really
need to plumb the depths and dig deep. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Unless…wait, there is no unless. It’s what a
writer needs to do in order to hook readers. Sure, the fictional people are,
well, fiction, but we put a little of ourselves into every character we create.
Heroes, villains, it doesn’t matter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sinister? Painful? Dark? Yep, and we can throw
in some sunshine and lollipops, but it originates within us. And we can’t make
readers or movie goers feel if we can’t feel. Open up to yourself, admit your
flaws and dark corners.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Dig deep, raise the bar for yourself and don’t
stop exploring every emotion we all possess. Your readers will thank you and
admire you for it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-34399788130057924372016-05-31T15:11:00.002-06:002016-05-31T15:15:01.692-06:00Writing Tips Anyone- Why they Can Be Absolutely Useless Plus the Writer's Update<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">First - an update for our readers:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.planetoftheeggs.net/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" " border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ax6eSguCbA/V038HUIPu_I/AAAAAAAAC18/9kUiFGNNJQMymjmTbB2zcA8ebDcxDhftACLcB/s320/COVER%2B-%2BERUPTION.jpg" width="247" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our latest comic in the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" target="_blank">Planet Of The Eggs Series</a>, <span style="color: red;">Eruption,</span> is now available in <a href="http://amzn.to/1O2TSUa" target="_blank">paperback</a> as well as <a href="http://amzn.to/22wgKOg" target="_blank">Kindle</a>
editions. The latest newsletter just released as well. Join the fun at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs">www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs</a> - tell your friends and click the sign up button to be sure to get your copy of the next newsletter filled with character interviews, freebies, contest notifications and more! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And now on to the pros and cons of writing tips:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Writers seem inclined to want to
learn. That’s why writers, both newbies and old hands, are always on the
lookout for tips to help improve the writing, speed the writing, promote the
writing, create compelling characters – pretty much any aspect of writing. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But here’s the problem. There are
tons of tips and instruction out there. Some of it is really good, other, not
so much. In any event it’s tough to tell which can be chucked and quickly
deleted from the brain bank and which is worth keeping. It’s so overwhelming
the studious writer can end up simply wasting time…lots and lots of time. And
time is where the true value lies for the writer for the amount of time to
write for most is limited. Sometimes tucked into neat segments at designated
times. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But some things learned are so
valuable they’re not to be missed. You’ve learned to fine tune your adjectives.
You’ve reduced your adverbs. You’ve brought more emotion to your writing. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Right – all that’s good and writers
generally have a mental inventory of writing tools and techniques they
regularly employ. Problem is a writer can reach maximum saturation with so many
tips and teachings flowing through the brain cells that it throws everything
off. It can even cause writer’s block (I’ve never experienced this, thank
goodness, but I can see where it could happen). </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">So what’s to be done? Probably less
than one would think. The trick is to codify all that learning into sturdy,
straight-forward techniques that work for you (and you is certainly a broad
audience – each writer sees things differently).</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Think about the many hats of
creativity. Walt Disney was said to have claimed to wear many different ‘hats’
when he attended creative meetings. There was the dreamer, the critic and the
realist. The dreamer creates, the critic picks things apart and the realist
pulls it all back together in a powerful way. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I break my thinking down that
way I can see my ‘dreamer’ comes up with the ideas, extrapolates them and
creates, infusing characters with life and the story with energy. I give my
dreamer full rein in the beginning. Anything goes. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My critic then does a dandy job of
picking at all the lose threads, finding things that don’t work and criticizing
sentence structure, story ending and everything else. All the while those tips
and teachings I’ve picked up over the years are on alert, watching out for
floods of adjectives, verbs that just lay there, repetitive words and a whole
host of other details. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Until the end when the critic is
told to shut up and the realist within takes over to slap on the last polish,
pulling it all back together into the comprehensive story it was meant, from
the beginning, to be. </span></span><br />
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, the moral is, don’t toss out the
tips you come across as a writer, but don’t allow them to swamp you in a sea of
bits and pieces either. When a new idea on how to create the perfect story
comes along let it join the others in your toolbox and see how it improves your
writing. If it doesn’t, let it go. There is not right and wrong way to write
the story. </span></span></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-22465888816908778892016-05-25T10:27:00.003-06:002016-05-31T15:13:33.111-06:00Writers And Readers Websites Wednesday <div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.kidlit.tv/" target="_blank"><img alt="www.KidLit.TV" border="0" height="170" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9L0KoMG9VPE/V0XRJfb_dsI/AAAAAAAAC1I/oW07Vw_C8zAtWX1TkBIvegJtmcBfZisPgCLcB/s320/kidlit-sitelogo-small.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I admit I haven't had time to keep up with this on a regular basis - but that doesn't mean I've given up on providing cool sites when I find them! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rPviA0HIHPI/V0XSLvtTRuI/AAAAAAAAC1U/9knvZCUUpYQ4OZY4Xw0FDcYI2ChzGmbDwCLcB/s1600/KidLit-Podcast-Susan-Verde-and-Emily-Arrow-Featured-Image-250x125.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rPviA0HIHPI/V0XSLvtTRuI/AAAAAAAAC1U/9knvZCUUpYQ4OZY4Xw0FDcYI2ChzGmbDwCLcB/s1600/KidLit-Podcast-Susan-Verde-and-Emily-Arrow-Featured-Image-250x125.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today's is <a href="http://www.kidlit.tv/" target="_blank">KidLit TV (and radio and more)</a>. It's at <a href="http://www.kidlit.tv/">www.KidLit.TV</a>. Don't just sit there - go on over and check it out! <span class="site-description">Helping parents and educators explore the world of children’s literature.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" target="_blank"><img alt="www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L6LaSjTYsS0/V0XRqs0NdMI/AAAAAAAAC1M/Y4DkxJ0m71E680XLLht3I0NvIv02w6XBgCLcB/s320/Hi%2BRes%2B300%2Bdpi%2B-%2B1st%2B3%2Bbook%2Bcovers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-6893286244505881102016-05-24T11:43:00.000-06:002016-05-24T11:43:05.798-06:00What Are Writers Afraid of? Using Emotion To Create Compelling Characters <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.planetoftheeggs.net/" target="_blank"><img alt=" " border="0" height="235" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bVyyoc8O1gY/V0SOyL-wxeI/AAAAAAAAC0s/er3j0qm5Rv4Wz9o9X8z_bYo-EO4gdAqAQCLcB/s400/piranhas-123287_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>What’s anyone afraid of? Everyone is
afraid of something whether they want to talk about it or not. It might be the
dark, spiders and snakes, heights, guns, crowds…something! There is something
that sets your nerves to jangling and teeth on edge, not to mention raises a
cold sweat. <span> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Just thinking about whatever that is
can make the hair stand up on the back of your neck, your heart pound and the
breath hitch in your lungs if you get into the zone closely enough. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Reason. We all try to use it at such
moments, but reason can be at war with that fight or flight we’ve all got so
deeply embedded within us. The urge to run or do battle is something hard to
deny. So what’s all this about? </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>The writer’s muse. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>A writer’s best work can stem from connecting
with that moment, getting inside yourself to pull out those deep-seated fears
and expose them to daylight in the service of harnessing the power those
emotions and channeling them onto the blank page. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Writers want to reach inside the
reader’s head and feel things. The gamut of human emotions and dark thoughts.
It’s so easy to ‘make it up when we go along’ when writing, but the fact is the
best writing stems from the gut. The best writers reach deep to plumb their own
experiences and inject that into characters. Remember and regurgitate those
emotions in order to really bring a character to life. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yK7732G2Jh4/V0SPe58ITzI/AAAAAAAAC0w/fWJlUJr_a3EPymEtiUB9u1vsU42Wyr3mACLcB/s1600/gothic-1305040_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yK7732G2Jh4/V0SPe58ITzI/AAAAAAAAC0w/fWJlUJr_a3EPymEtiUB9u1vsU42Wyr3mACLcB/s320/gothic-1305040_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Terrified of walking alone in the
dark on a city street? Think of all the nuances as my mother did when she was a
young woman and had the night shift at a switchboard. She walked home on the
dark sidewalks of a Chicago night with every other street lamp blown out. She hugged
the building side when a car came past and hugged the curb side when passing
alleys. She walked fast…very fast. Sounds, common and unfamiliar were all
around. Strangers on the street with her; were they as she, walking home from
work…or a threat? Adrenaline. Inject the fear. Inject the urgency. Clip the
sentences and paint a vivid picture. Hurry. Pause. Confront the dark fear of an
unlit alley as a garbage can lid bangs within the blackness. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>That was one reality. There are many
others, and they aren’t always in the physical realm. A character doesn’t
always have to worry about being stalked by a murderer. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>It can be much closer
to the heart, much more emotional. Is there fear a marriage is failing? Is a
student an outcast at school afraid of one more indignity? Will a friendship
end with betrayal? Will a job be lost to a character charged with supporting
siblings after their parents die? Nightmares. All of it. Emotional wrench and
perhaps destruction.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Either way. Emotional or physical –
what do you fear? What can you hand a character that will give him the cold
sweats? </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Think about it. Feel it. Write it. <span> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-8067145659437965452016-05-17T13:20:00.003-06:002016-05-17T13:36:31.967-06:00Creating Comics - an abbreviated how to<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/1NxcI5B" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" " border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5u0ayCJZW70/Vzto-gDqfDI/AAAAAAAACzQ/gJu68jrzoc4CCHIQ9I1zdLI3ejOt1YUoACLcB/s320/COVER%2B-%2BERUPTION.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since our newest in the Planet of The
Eggs series, <a href="http://amzn.to/1NxcI5B" target="_blank">Eruption</a>, is now releasing in paperback, I decided this week to
talk a bit about the creation of the comics. It takes a whole lot of work, but the
creation process is such great fun I thought I’d share a bit of it with our
readers. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.planetoftheeggs.net/" target="_blank"><img alt=" " border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2aGDH47wfzs/VztpQgB5hXI/AAAAAAAACzU/p-esumzKmkcQGJG3mXJxDpenQkc8ut5hwCKgB/s400/Creators%2Band%2BEggs.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I really can’t tell folks how to find a
story idea other than to be open, to research and to be aware of the weird
world around you. I can, however give some practical tips. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">There’s a lot to it, but basically my
writing and creative partner Charlene Brash-Sorensen and I use <a href="https://plasq.com/downloads/comic-life-desktop/" target="_blank">Comic Life</a>
software (you can try it free, but there is a low cost to buy - no, I'm not an affiliate so I won't make any money if you buy a copy) to create the actual comic, but prior to that there’s a lot of prep
work. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since neither of us are sketchers or
artists of any variety, except the manipulation of pictures into our stories,
we depend on photography and occasional clip art to create our books. So one of
my first tips is your camera. Your phone camera, whatever will take decent
pictures. There’s scenery and events all around you that can make great
backgrounds for stories (be aware of not taking pictures of people without
their permission), but if you need plants, mountains, forests, animals,
whatever, keep that camera handy and take lots of pictures. We even have mini ‘photo
shoots’ using things like (in our case) eggs </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tRQ6ktQegdA/VztqMKBXkKI/AAAAAAAACzk/j2VxeRtJSSQIlDTy8uTC3dlYqmU-sWMNACLcB/s1600/bluish%2Begg%2Bpng.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tRQ6ktQegdA/VztqMKBXkKI/AAAAAAAACzk/j2VxeRtJSSQIlDTy8uTC3dlYqmU-sWMNACLcB/s200/bluish%2Begg%2Bpng.png" width="153" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">we’ve painted against white
background for easy cut-out in photoshop, feathers of various colors from
various angles against white, again for easy cut out and a whole lot of other
items which makes the images our own and we don’t have to worry about copyright.
I’ve even taken close up pictures of flower bouquets and a vigorous fennel
plant for backgrounds.<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dHOm3aXq7ho/VztuGu_J7EI/AAAAAAAACz4/bjhJrqfx984SxsGDhWuye-fiovL5Uv7tgCLcB/s1600/fennel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dHOm3aXq7ho/VztuGu_J7EI/AAAAAAAACz4/bjhJrqfx984SxsGDhWuye-fiovL5Uv7tgCLcB/s320/fennel.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Beyond that there are places online
where you can find free and royalty free pictures that can be used. We use Pixabay a lot and of course a google
search for ‘commons’ photos and illustrations can yield other resources such as
Open Clip Art and many others. If you want to use any pictures you find online
make sure they’re royalty free and free to use in any fashion. Or purchase the
pictures you need and be sure the license covers what you’re using them for. Read
the requirements and follow them. Copyright infringement is a no-no.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We use Photoshop a lot for cutting out
characters, changing colors, etc. But, there are phot manipulation tools
available that are free. Check out Gimp and Paint.net for a couple I know
about. We even use Powerpoint to create some images when we won’t want to work
with all sorts of layers and effects. What is created can be saved via Powerpoint
to Jpg or png formats. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The whole thing sprang from a simple
idea – Heroic eggs determined to save their world. We’ve had to learn a lot to
put our books together – I haven’t even mentioned the required dimensions and
details here that are required for digital and print publishing. The fun just
never stops (and I mean that truly and sarcastically.)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r11j7FOwA8g/VztuxVWPk3I/AAAAAAAAC0M/UNVdepwga8sfluABqn_WXNcMkUmZV5kXwCLcB/s1600/cyrus%2Bswim%2Bcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r11j7FOwA8g/VztuxVWPk3I/AAAAAAAAC0M/UNVdepwga8sfluABqn_WXNcMkUmZV5kXwCLcB/s200/cyrus%2Bswim%2Bcopy.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVQ1GRXGNcQ/VztuZ35yEhI/AAAAAAAAC0A/_bNqj1s3fNwF9tg-RHi4813eQYjrSIrjACLcB/s1600/Hooter%2BFlying.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVQ1GRXGNcQ/VztuZ35yEhI/AAAAAAAAC0A/_bNqj1s3fNwF9tg-RHi4813eQYjrSIrjACLcB/s200/Hooter%2BFlying.png" width="169" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EmD1pRBA01s/VztuiABXa5I/AAAAAAAAC0E/TINcNtUuQkod93z-INL0dq6B9WcZr2gTgCLcB/s1600/armed%2B-%2Btrnsp%2Bbkgrnd.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EmD1pRBA01s/VztuiABXa5I/AAAAAAAAC0E/TINcNtUuQkod93z-INL0dq6B9WcZr2gTgCLcB/s200/armed%2B-%2Btrnsp%2Bbkgrnd.png" width="163" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dive in if you’re of a mind – see what
you can create – oh, and while you’re at it, grab copies of Planet Of The Eggs
comics – </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1R6POfR" target="_blank">Cracked Open</a> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/1V7T8OY" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grimoire Book Of Spells </span></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/1qrzd0s" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mummified Egg</span></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1WBCXek" target="_blank">Eruption </a>---</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Available in Kindle Edition and Paperback with more to come! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs" target="_blank">Planet Of The Eggs Facebook Page</a> to get the first in the series free and join the adventure with a FREE collectible monthly newsletter with freebies, updates, character interviews and more. </span></span></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137251285211000565.post-34246088324803788632016-05-10T13:25:00.001-06:002016-05-10T13:25:12.485-06:00Writing The Wham Bam Action Scene<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JIQk4tnxqQM/VzIyssjVtvI/AAAAAAAACyc/f3al1iwdQaMDaIiaxCpaXj5okHZ_CHrPQCLcB/s1600/fish-1358427_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JIQk4tnxqQM/VzIyssjVtvI/AAAAAAAACyc/f3al1iwdQaMDaIiaxCpaXj5okHZ_CHrPQCLcB/s320/fish-1358427_1280.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I’m a writer. I admit it, I’m a sucker for creating action scenes. Now
it’s possible you might think my everyday life is full of excitement and action
to spur such scenes, but no, it usually begins with a cup of hot green tea at
my computer desk. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Nonetheless I’m an action junkie; books, movies, tv, whatever. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1OfnCwK" target="_blank">Star Wars</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/1Ofn8qz" target="_blank">Deadpool</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/1saYGgz" target="_blank">Sword Dancer Novels</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/1rRFZ0B" target="_blank">Orson Scott Card</a>! Yes, I like
detail as well, background, the backstory, but what really sucks me in is the
action. Don’t make that backstory and setting too lengthy or I’ll be peeking
ahead or see where the action again picks up. Not everyone is like this, but
that’s me.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Probably that’s why I like to write action as well. <span> </span>That means I want to write it well and I put a
lot of demands on myself. I also get the chance to back flush a lot of aggression
– you know, run those horses, fight you ninjas, blow stuff up and even, maybe,
kill off your favorite character. It’s a lot of fun on a lot of levels and it’s
a powerful type of writing short-cutting, at least for a time, descriptions and
character development. Hey, they guys are pounding on each other so what’s to
develop in that scene? (There are exceptions to that, but that’s not what we’re
talking about here). Short, staccato, keep it moving! And, action verbs all by
themselves lend color. Who simply yells? No, it’s shriek, scream, bellow, howl,
screech. Hey, what’s not to have fun here? </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gMuNQSR08Kg/VzIyyQYmiXI/AAAAAAAACyg/4Aw1-HGFudo3NGteX69cCqs_RRO1Dh6EwCLcB/s1600/rodeo-1010051_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gMuNQSR08Kg/VzIyyQYmiXI/AAAAAAAACyg/4Aw1-HGFudo3NGteX69cCqs_RRO1Dh6EwCLcB/s320/rodeo-1010051_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">But, there’s more to it that Wham Bam! The pressure is on to write a
really GOOD action scene, not something the reader yawns his way through. It
goes deeper. It engages the emotions. Why is the heart racing when reading an
action scene or viewing an intense movie action scene? It’s simple. It’s
because the reader or watcher is engaged with the characters and actually cares
how it all comes out. We’re rooting for Dean Koontz’s <a href="http://amzn.to/1ZC6MZO" target="_blank">Odd Thomas</a> to prevail and
survive. We watch Deadpool and despite all his oddities, want him to come out
on top. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C41lOHiL4Oc/VzIzF2YLHYI/AAAAAAAACyo/Qpiy55MP6J4CXIJS68R7WIQ0CczRyOttwCLcB/s320/COVER%2B-%2BERUPTION.jpg" width="247" /><a href="http://amzn.to/1T49V0z" target="_blank"> </a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I write primarily with a movie running in my head whether novel or
script. I see what’s happening, but even more to the point, when writing an
action scene, I put myself in my characters heads. The reality is, in real
life, people don’t know what’s coming next. They don’t know they’re going to
die (or not) in a car crash. They don’t know that killer is going to pop out of
the alley and try to do them in. It’s all a surprise to them and that’s where
the engagement comes in. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The trick, then, is simple and complicated. The answer is to put
yourself into the character’s head just as you allow yourself to be swept into
a story when reading or watching. Feel what they feel, think what they’d think
in that moment. Dig deep for the emotions of terror, anxiety, desperation. Get
those emotions on the page and the person reading the novel or the script from
which the movie is made won’t just be reading – that person will be right
beside the characters when the bullets fly, the horse stampedes or the great
Pacific wave looms over the fishing boat. And the adrenalin will surge. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now we’re talkin’…that’s action!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kdb32MkO98w/VzIy3emRc6I/AAAAAAAACyk/xB8SF_2OJDcSzcnYCsaK1uKsXdzF8_mfgCLcB/s1600/science-fiction-965260_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kdb32MkO98w/VzIy3emRc6I/AAAAAAAACyk/xB8SF_2OJDcSzcnYCsaK1uKsXdzF8_mfgCLcB/s320/science-fiction-965260_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Peggy Bechkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16237136250763362974noreply@blogger.com1