Category Archives: documentary filmmakers

Novel Writing Challenge

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“The most beautiful things are those that madness prompts and reason writes.  ~André Gide,

Heads up, novelists! November is National Novel Writing Month. Do you have what it takes to beat the challenge and fulfill the goals of  “thirty days and thirty nights of literary abandon?” 50,000 words (175 pages) in 30 days is the goal and NaNoWriMo will have novelists all over the world participating in this fun literary challenge. 

Do not procrastinate, do not stall, write your heart out and win, above all!

 What’s this I read?

  • Worry, not about content, only quantity?
  • Allow your work to be unedited?
  • Write wrecklessly? Scary!
  • No writing experience needed?
  • Kids can participate in their own challenge! 

Join in this on-line writing challenge! For more information, please visit: http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Weekend Indie Publishers News – For Artists

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Are you an artist who envisions a future venture of independent publishing your sketchbook of drawings? If so, build on your skills and grow as an artist. Begin fulfilling your dreams through one of the top drawing programs in the country: 

Study: 

 Sell your published work: A company that is dedicated to excellence can help you achieve your goals – for artists, writers, filmmakers and non-profit organizations. http://bit.ly/c5v8Qa

 Market your work with the help of professionals! http://bit.ly/d0DN3K

Create, grow as an artist, strive and thrive!!!

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Russian Roulette

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“…the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause”                             ~ Vince Lombardi 

On Saturday, at the Colorado Independent Publishing Association event, www.cipabooks.com,  Eric Boss of the traditional publishing house, Penguin Group, revealed his viewpoint on what books sell. From what I heard, it’s anyone’s guess! There seems to be no proven, tried and true formula to writing a top selling book. What a bookseller feels will be a sure thing can sometimes disappoint. A book that seems to have a lesser chance for outstanding sales can produce surprising and fulfilling results! 

There are some things, however, that can increase the selling potential of a publication. The cover design and even the spine design needs to make the book pop and stand out from all the rest. Also of great importance, is the choice of title and tagline. The potential buyer to has to be compelled to pick up the book, and curious enough to want to know what  is in it for them. If those elements are there – the odds are much better that the book will be sold. Ka-ching! Ka-ching! 

According to Boss, right now, there are two kinds of books that are not selling well – computer books and self-help books. Computers have become so much more user friendly, people are not seeking direction from computer manuals like they used to. I was surprised at the downturn in selling in self-help books, but perhaps during this time, people are deferring to the advice of professionals to better ensure success. 

Although the chances of writing a top earning book can be a bit of a gamble, does that mean a writer should abstain from jumping into the publishing industry? Absolutely not! People by the millions enter into book publishing each and every year. Why? Because they believe in the end, they will have a story to tell with a fulfilling outcome. And you can’t win if you don’t play.

 

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A Fulfilling, Worthwhile Trek

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“I know the price of success: dedication, hardwork and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.”~ Frank Lloyd Wright  

Saturday morning at 5:30 am, I began  the long trek over snowy Rabbit Ears pass from Steamboat Springs, Colorado to Denver, CO, three hours away, to attend the monthly Colorado Independent Publishers Association www.cipabooks.com gathering. Snow covered mountain passes were not going to stop me from fulfilling my need for more knowledge about the subject of  independent publishing vs. traditional publishing. Eric Boss, bookseller for the Penguin Group, would be an informative speaker, I was sure. 

As a person who has been involved in bookselling for many, many years, Eric had much to say about what books sell and what do not. He also addressed the issue of “what it takes to be successful” in the traditional publishing industry.  

So, what did I learn? From all that I heard, the chances of “making it” in independent publishing and traditional publishing are one in the same. It helps to have good business acumen, defer to professionals for assistance (especially important if you want to first and foremost be a writer) and be dedicated to the project at hand. 

Tomorrow, I will share some things Eric Boss, professional bookseller, had to say to the crowd about what books sell and what do not. I think you will be surprised!

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Weekend Indie Publishing News

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I thought we would switch all things up this weekend, and instead of me providing you with weekend independent publishing news, I would like assistance from our readers to fulfill my quest for knowledge pertaining to artists. 

Unfortunately the networks these little fellas represent get all the recognition, but, we have little information on the graphic artists that created these icons behind the scenes. Can anyone tell me the names of the artists behind these icons?

 

While you are on your quest for knowledge, I will be off at the Colorado Independent Publishers Association monthly meeting. http://www.cipabooks.com.  Publishing professional, Eric Boss, whose company is represented by another little cutie (that has always been my favorite animal) will be there.

 

Next weekend it will be my turn to share some information from the independent publishing world with you!

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Is it a Phrase of your Life?

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“Three things tell a man: his eyes, his friends and his favorite quotes.” ~ Unknown

One of my good-natured friends sent me an e-mail the other day that made me laugh. It also gave me reason to stop and ponder. The e-mail consisted of all kinds of paraprosdokian sentences. I had no clue what that meant but as I read the list of phrases, I think I quickly got the idea.

Although the dictionary may have a definition of paraprosdokian phrases far different than mine, I have determined that these sentences are about authenticity, or rather, lack thereof. After reading line after line of these phrases, I believe many of  these quotations reflect how some people live their lives.

Here are a few examples of paraprosdokian sentences:

  • “Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others whenever they go.”
  • “Evening news is where they begin with “Good Evening” and then proceed to tell you  why it isn’t.”
  • “The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas.”

The list of quotes my friend sent me forced me to ask myself some questions. “Is the way I go about life in accordance with what is true?” “Do I live a life fulfilled with being honest and straight forward with myself and others?” “Do I say one thing and do another?”

Believe me, I am not perfect in any respect! But, I do everything I can to be aware of my actions and to live my life staying true to my principles, values and core beliefs.

When I am no longer on this earth, I don’t want anyone to say – “She was a good person, as long as she stayed out of the picture.”  Or when I arrive at heaven’s gates, I don’t want the judge to say – “She can come in, as long as she doesn’t open her mouth.”

Since this blog is only my interpretation of the term “paraprosdokian,” please let me know if I am way off base and have misunderstood these quirky, funny figures of speech are all about. I don’t want to be giving out any misinformation.

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Shhhh….Don’t Tell Anyone!

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“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and let it come in.”  ~Morrie Schwartz 

Yesterday, we received a joyous e-mail from one of our 7 nieces. She was emailing us to announce she had gotten engaged the night before. For two architects who found one another and fell in love, the setting for the proposal was picture perfect!  

 Across the way from where my niece lives stands an old mill building. The building was the subject of discussion every time she and her boyfriend would walk by it. The two architects would discuss all they ways they would like to restore it and how this historic building with all it’s architectural details, would make a fulfilling place to live.  

Two days ago, my niece’s boyfriend was hard at work. Unbeknowst to her, he was laboring hard at creating a scene for a romantic proposal in this historic old mill building. That evening after dark, they walked by the familiar site of the mill building, as usual. My niece noticed and remarked that there appeared to be lights on inside the abandoned building. Her boyfriend suggested they go take a peak inside. She was hesitant for fear of getting caught trespassing but, with a little prompting, she swallowed her fears and in they went. At the top of the stairs, she saw the scene of two lone chairs and lit candles. She said “we better get out of here, someone is having a party.” Her boyfriend took her hand and said……            Ah, romance!  In the rest of the story are things many novels are made of. 

Congratulations, Kara and Joe! I know you two architects will design a beautiful life for yourselves and create inspiring homes for others.

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Creative Connectivity

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“Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are.”   ~Bertold Brecht  

As I was raising a teenager, I heard parents commiserating that even after they had given their child curfews, “grounded them” and made requests to no longer have relationships with certain others, their child still found creative ways of  fulfilling  their need to connect with others. So it comes as no surprise that a trio of students – Zuckerberg, Hughes and Moskovitz created Facebook. Other young entrepreneurs are responsible for various other social media marketing channels, too.  Young folk think differently then those who came before them – all thirteen year olds will tell you that! 

What opportunity social media marketing has brought to our world! It has given us the ability to connect with communities of people that otherwise the odds of connecting to them, would have been slim to none! No matter how much money and effort is put into print advertising and direct mailing(even with the help of targeted lists) you can not beat the scope of  internet marketing.The  chances of reaching people that have similar interests is multiplied many times over through e-marketing. It is the best way of reaching large numbers of people for the lowest cost! 

Simply having a website is just not enough these days. If you do not have an e-marketing component to go with it, you are not maximizing your internet visibility. Now, there are many more ways, than one, to become visible over the internet. Need help with expanding your web presence? Use the worldwide web to find a company that specializes in both e-commerce and e-marketing. With the New Year approaching, rethink your business’s website presence – are you maximizing on your visibility? 

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Harvest Home and Heart

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“All freezes again – among the pines, winds whispering a prayer” ~ Rieki, 18th Century Japanese Poet

Last  night I had a strong reminder that winter is not too far away. As I stepped into the chill of the evening air, I was all but overcome by the pungent smells of autumn – rotting leaves and woodstove smoke.  Our sense of smell is heightened in the darkness of the night.

At this time of year, with every drop of precipitation, I say a prayer that the gorgeous guest of winter will decide not to arrive too early and stay too long.  I appreciate her presence when she first appears. She is white, pristine and new. But as she over stays her welcome every spring, she turns brown, dingy and old. I grow tiresome! As I age, the gap between fall and spring seems to be extended and the glamourous guest of winter, snow, does not quite fulfill me the way it used to. Rather than bemoan the fact that winter will have her way with me again this year, I think I will savor the sublime provisions of autumn and have a grateful heart that remembers the gift of life in all seasons.

Mysteries, such as the routine changing of the seasons, are profound. Thirteenth century mystic,  Dame Julian of Norwich, must have been thinking of nature as he declared “all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all matter of things shall be well.”

During this autumn season, be thankful for all matters of the heart, health, home and harvest.

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A Gift Given

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 “A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there.” ~ Walt Disney

It has been just about two years since I relocated to the West. I arrived, site unseen, trusting that the change of location would be good for me and our family. We loved our home of 30 years in the beautiful state of Vermont. However, it was time to turn to a new State to fulfill our need for a change in opportunities after many years of being in the same place. It was a chance to see what another part of the country had in store for us. 

Yesterday, as I sat in church, I began to think of all the things I was grateful for in my life and in a new community. Among them is a singular voice. It is a voice that emanates from a nearby pew nearly every week. The voice is so beautiful, that it brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.  (And I am not a particularly tearful person by nature). As I told the gentleman’s wife, “when I hear his spectacular and commanding voice, there is no doubt in my mind that God gives each and everyone of us personal gifts in life.”  This exquisitely talented man, has used his talents as a professional vocalist, throughout his life. What a fulfilling way to spend one’s career. 

Parents, do you have a child who at a young age is showing signs of extraordinary talent in athletics, Art, mathematics, science or perhaps, has at a tender age, a deep understanding of the world around them? The diversity with which God created humanity and our world is awesome! No two people are exactly alike, and when we follow our individual hopes, dreams and talents we become the best we can possibly be. Are you following a path that will lead to personal fulfillment? If not, can you change that? It is never too late!

 

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