Write or Die

“Writing is easy, all you have to do is cross out the wrong words.” Mark Twain

The Rant 'N' Rave Section

You've got nothing to lose as you sit at your desk contemplating your next scintillating sentence. What will it be? What's next? Uh-oh, you're stuck so you get up and walk away in order to “think about it”. HA! Procrastination and writers block leap wildly on your back like a pair of half-crazed gorillas, stealing all of your drive and motivation while leaving just a helpless husk of wannabe writer writhing on the floor. Is there a cure for this malicious malady?

You bet. You see, the problem lies in the fact that there are no immediate consequences to stopping. Oh sure, it'll take you longer to finish that first draft of your novel, if you ever do, but so what. Nothing to lose but that dream that sits waiting for you sometime in the foggy nebulous future. The only consequences are INTANGIBLE.

Ah, a key word is that. INTANGIBLE. NOTE: Only tangible consequences are known to produce results. Now to the cure for this malais. It's free, it's online and it's called Write or Die, Dr. Wicked's Writing Lab. http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html. The writing lab is set up so the user can choose which mode of writing suits them. I started with the gentle mode, just to get a feel for it. The comments below explain it much better that I could. Read them, visit the site and watch your words per day escalate into a finished draft in no time. Note, this is a free service.

“Write or Die”

The idea is to instill in the would-be writer with a fear of not writing. We do this by employing principles taught in Introduction to Psychology. Anyone remember Operant Conditioning and Negative Reinforcement?Negative Reinforcement "strengthens a behavior because a negative condition is stopped or avoided as a consequence of the behavior."Consequences: Gentle Mode: A certain amount of time after you stop writing, a box will pop up, gently reminding you to continue writing. Normal Mode: If you persistently avoid writing, you will be played a most unpleasant sound. The sound will stop if and only if you continue to write. Kamikaze Mode: Keep Writing or Your Work Will Unwrite Itself.

These consequences will persist until your preset conditions have been met (that is, your time is up or you've written your word count goal or both)This text box is not a word processor, it is not for editing, the way to save is to select all of the text, copy and paste into your own text editor. The idea is to separate the writing process and the editing process as much as possible.This is aimed at anyone who wants to get writing done. It requires only that you recognize your own tendency towards self-sabotage and be willing to do something about it. If you're sick of saccharine writing advice that no one could honestly follow and you want a real method to getting work done. Works great for real deadlines too! Excellent for getting your 1667 words a day for NaNoWriMo

Good for writing on lunch breaks, just enter 30 minutes in the time limit box.

"TIDBITS"

Here's a great contest to enter:

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to everyone! This competition welcomes anyone who loves arranging words into the beautiful art of poetry or to write a short story that is worth telling everyone. And to all who have the ability to dream... Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes. All works must be original. http://www.dreamquestone.com/
Guidelines:
Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed.
And/or write a short story, five pages maximum length, on any subject or theme, creative writing fiction or non-fiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting). Also, must be typed or neatly hand printed.
Multiple poetry and short story entries are accepted.
Postmark Deadline: July 31, 2009
All winners will be announced on August 31, 2009
Prizes:
Writing Contest First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100.
Poetry Contest First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50.
Entry fees:
Writing Contest entry fee: $10 per short story.
Poetry Contest entry fee: $5 per poem.
To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “Dreamquestone.Com”
Mail to:
Dream Quest One
Poetry & Writing Contest
P.O. Box 3141
Chicago, IL 60654
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com/ for further details or to enter!
No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. “And remember, in whatever you do, it’s okay to dream, for dreams do come true.” –Dream Quest One

Last but Not Least

Writer's Wrecipes
Erle Stanley Gardner's
Recipe for Podunk Candy

I haven't tried this yet but it sounds good. You may have to experiment with the timing on this, though.

4 ozs. Chocolate
1-2/3 bottles Dark Caro Syrup
1 lb. Dark Brown Sugar
2-1/2 Tbs. Butter (reserve 1 Tbs.)
Lots of Vanilla extract

Cook in a fair size pan over good heat until it bubbles like a volcano. Add 1 Tbs. butter at the end to soften.
Pour on greased (?) cookie sheet or candy plate. Cool and crack with a hammer.

From Valerie J. Naso, Gardner's grand daughter
Thanks to: http://www.phantombookshop.com/erlestanleygardner/esgodd_.htm

Well, that's it for this time, see ya later gater…..Aelf

Sites to see, places to go and groups to join

Long Story Short: http://www.alongstoryshort.net/
Fantasy Gazetteer: http://www.fantasygazetteer.com/
My Writing Friend: writingfriend@yahoo
Linda Barnett-Johnson Editing: http://lindabarnettjohnson.homestead.com/
Pindersoft's Writers Project Organizer: http://www.pindersoft.com/wpo.htm
StorYBook 2.1.11: http://storybook.intertec.ch/joomla/
Nick Daws Writers Circle: Nick Daw's Writer's Circle.
Wridea: http://www.wridea.com/
J.D.Vine Publishing: http://www.jdvine/com/index.html
Tennessee Writers Alliance: http://www.tn-writers.org/
USA Patriotism, Poetry: http://www.usa-patriotism.com/
Poynter 30 Writer's Tips: http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=78&aid=103943

Freebie Writers Tools

Idea Cruncher: http://www.ideacruncher.com/

Freemind: http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Word Web download: http://www.wordweb.info/

I’ll be adding to the above list as time goes on and I find more newbie friendly sites.
Copyright © 03/17/09

Interview with author Anna Maria Prezio

"Only amateurs say that they write for their own amusement. Writing is not an amusing occupation. It is a combination of ditch-digging, mountain-climbing, treadmill and child birth. But amusing? Never." -Edna Ferber

The Rant 'N' Rave Section

Interview with Author Anna Maria Prezio

No rants, no raves this time. I'll be having three posts this month. Each one with an interview of a writer. The first is with author Anna Maria Prezio, who's new book "Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster" is available -

Interview Questions

Anna Maria Prezio

1.What three words do you think describe you as a human being?
Generous, Intuitive, Humanitarian

2.How do you think others would describe you?
Humorous, Generous, Dependable

3.Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.
Photography, Cinema, Family.

4.Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.
No but I love animals.

5.What is your most precious memory?
Seeing my son for the very first time.

6.What is your most embarrassing memory?
Standing in from of my 4th grade class with a drippy nose and without a tissue.

7.If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing with your life?
Fundraising

The Writer:

8. Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a “real” writer?
While studying journalism in college, my first English class project involved writing poetry that I enjoyed.

9.What is going on with your writing these days?
I write every day and as much as I can.

10.What are your future goals for your writing?
I would like to do public speaking, consultations, radio shows, and TV shows to bring about awareness of how ghosts can be released and how to alleviate the fear around the subject of spirits, ghosts and entities as well as to introduce people to the positive effects of Feng Shui.

11. Can you describe a typical writing day for you?
There is nothing typical about a writing day. Inspiration comes in many forms.
Sometimes my book ideas come to me in a dream. Sometimes they come to me in my meditations. I’m blessed with inspiration.

12.Why do you write?
Writing for me is cathartic.
I write to inspire, to heal, to give of myself, my knowledge and my wisdom.
I write to enjoy wonderful words on paper. I write to teach. I write to be heard.
I write to give something to someone who needs it. I write because the imagination gives us new experiences to pass on to others and old stories, traditions, cultures, experiences to hand down to generations to come so that they can be preserved. Writing allows me to tell my innermost part of me in the form of a character or a story. Writing is creating, imagining, dreaming. What would be do if we could not imagine, dream or create?

13.What writer most inspires you? Why?
Writers who inspire me are so many from Aristotle, Plato and Socrates to Tom Clancy, Ernest Hemingway and Anne Frank. The authors who inspire are those who give a bit of themselves as they write, fertile with imagination and spirit.

14.How do you define your writing?
Simplistic, Daring and Provocative in a very understandable way…I want to provoke your thinking and I want you to open your mind and your heart when you read my works.

15.In one sentence—what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?
She was ahead of her time.
Art and Science do mingle, mix and match…
Anna Maria Prezio was an innovator…

The Details:

16.Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?
http://www.prezio.com/
http://www.fengshuiharmony.net/“Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster”
My blog on my website is full of information.

17.Is there a place where readers can reach you?
prezio@sbcglobal.net or my website, http://www.prezio.com/

18.Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?
You can opt-into my website and receive my free report entitled, “Power &Prosperity Through Feng Shui and Color”

19. For new readers—what can they expect when they read your book(s)?
In conclusion: Clarity, knowledge and intrigue on a subject I write about for the
first time. It will inspire you and enlighten you to a new way of thinking about entities, ghosts, spirits and supernatural forces.

"TIDBITS"
"Dream Quest Contest"

And now for something entirely different, a hot tip on a great contest. The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who loves to arrange words into the beautiful art of poetry or to write a short story that is worth telling everyone! And to all who have the ability to dream... Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes. All works must be original. Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com/ for details or to enter!

Guidelines:
Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed.
And/or write a short story, five pages maximum length, on any subject or theme, creative writing fiction or non-fiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting). Also, must be typed or neatly hand printed.
Multiple poetry and short story entries are accepted.

Deadline: December 31, 2008

All winners will be announced on January 31, 2009

Prizes:
Writing Contest First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100.
Poetry Contest First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50.

Entry fees:
Writing Contest entry fee: $10 per short story.
Poetry Contest entry fee: $5 per poem.

To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “DREAMQUESTONE.COM”
Mail to:
Dream Quest One
Poetry & Writing Contest
P.O. Box 3141
Chicago, IL 60654
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com/ for further details or to enter!

Last but Not Least
"I didn't know that!"

The Bronte sisters lived in a house surrounded on three sides by graveyards.
Thanks to blogs.usatoday

Well, that's it for this time, see ya later gater…..Aelf

Sites to see, places to go and groups to join

Long Story Short: http://www.alongstoryshort.net/
Fantasy Gazetteer: http://www.fantasygazetteer.com/
My Writing Friend: writingfriend@yahoo
Pindersoft's Writers Project Organizer: http://www.pindersoft.com/wpo.htm
Nick Daws Writers Circle: Nick Daw's Writer's Circle.
Wridea: http://www.wridea.com/
J.D.Vine Publishing: http://www.jdvine/com/index.html
Tennessee Writers Alliance: http://www.tn-writers.org/
USA Patriotism, Poetry: http://www.usa-patriotism.com/
Poynter 30 Writer's Tips: http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=78&aid=103943

Freebie Writers Tools

Idea Cruncher: http://www.ideacruncher.com/
Freemind: http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Auto Crit: Automatic manuscript checker: http://www.autocrit.com/
Word Web download : http://www.wordweb.info/


I’ll be adding to the above list as time goes on and I find more newbie friendly sites.
Copyright © 09/08/08