tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778561604345579912024-03-13T23:16:58.325-07:00Dallas Woodburn's Writing LifeDallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156614957133263056noreply@blogger.comBlogger443125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-58101416865530494772020-04-22T15:52:00.000-07:002020-04-22T15:52:11.178-07:00My book is here!!It is hard to believe... but nearly two years after I signed the publishing contract... and nearly four years after I completed the first draft... and after more than two decades of dreaming about this moment... my debut novel is out in the world today!!<br />
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THE BEST WEEK THAT NEVER HAPPENED is a love story set in Hawaii, with a dash of mystery and magic, about living each day to the fullest. It is available as a print book, an ebook, and an audiobook -- wherever books are sold!<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Best-Week-That-Never-Happened/dp/1951710118/">Amazon</a> / <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781951710118">IndieBound</a> / <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-best-week-that-never-happened-dallas-woodburn/1136004488?ean=9781951710118">Barnes & Noble</a> / <a href="https://www.target.com/p/the-best-week-that-never-happened-by-dallas-woodburn-paperback/-/A-79760220">Target</a> / <a href="https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Best-Week-That-Never-Happened/Dallas-Woodburn/9781951710118?id=7852385905215">Books-A-Million</a> / <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Best-Week-That-Never-Happened-Dallas-Woodburn/9781951710118?ref=grid-view&qid=1580359985301&sr=1-2">Book Depository</a><br />
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<img alt="instagram-tbwtnh-publication-bday-az" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6826" height="320" src="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/instagram-tbwtnh-publication-bday-az.png" width="320" /><br />
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ABOUT THE BOOK:<br />
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“This debut novel is captivating and moving. A dazzling, emotional story of love, loss, and living in the moment.”—Kirkus Reviews<br />
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After her parents’ bitter divorce, family vacations to the Big Island in Hawaii ceased. But across the miles, eighteen-year-old Tegan Rossi remains connected to local Kai Kapule, her best friend from childhood. Now, Tegan finds herself alone and confused about how she got to the Big Island. With no wallet, no cell phone, purse, or plane ticket, Tegan struggles to piece together what happened. She must have come to surprise-visit Kai. Right?<br />
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As the teens grow even closer, Tegan pushes aside her worries and gets swept away in the vacation of her dreams. But each morning, Tegan startles awake from nightmares that become more difficult to ignore. Something is eerily amiss. Why is there a strange gap in her memory? Why can’t she reach her parents or friends from home? And what’s with the mysterious hourglass tattoo over her heart?
Kai promises to help Tegan figure out what is going on. But the answers they find only lead to more questions. As the week unfolds, Tegan will experience the magic of first love, the hope of second chances, and the bittersweet joy and grief of being human.<br />
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<img alt="best week promo image-01" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6827" height="222" src="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/best-week-promo-image-01.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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Due to COVID-19, I unfortunately had to postpone all my bookstore events... but the silver lining is that I am doing a virtual book launch that anyone can attend from the comfort of their homes around the world!<br />
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On <b>Sunday, April 26th at 2pm PST</b> I will go live on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/451697442288895/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCabLNBPVdmxO1Nfafx7fi9A">YouTube</a>!<br />
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For the livestream, I will have a book talk, reading, and Q&A that will be led by the young adult authors <b>Tobie Easton </b>&<b> Jennieke Cohen</b>.<br />
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<span style="color: var(--color-text);"><b>Prizes will also be given out!</b> There will be small prizes for those who participate in a trivia game that will be run in the comments (themed bookmark, postcard, and temporary tattoos!) There will also be some bigger prizes!</span><br />
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Please add the event to your calendar and invite anyone who might be interested!<br />
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There is even a book trailer! Special thanks to Demi Bernice Eslit & Bryan Murphy for their help with production.<br />
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It's also been really fun to connect with book bloggers and websites who have been kind enough to help spread the word about my book! Here is a sampling:<br />
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<li><a href="https://www.thenerddaily.com/cover-reveal-the-best-week-that-never-happened/">Cover reveal & excerpt of <em>The Best Week That Never Happened</em> on <strong>The Nerd Daily</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.hypable.com/the-best-week-that-never-happened-excerpt/">Exclusive excerpt of <em>The Best Week That Never Happened</em> on <strong>Hypable</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2020/04/writing-our-way-through-grief-a-guest-post-by-dallas-woodburn/">Guest post on <strong>School Library Journal’s Teen Librarian Toolbox</strong>: Writing Our Way Through Grief</a></li>
<li><a href="https://novelnovice.com/2020/04/21/dallas-woodburn-the-day-i-finished-my-novel/">Guest post on <strong>Novel Novice</strong>: The Day I Finished My Novel</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yash3lf.com/interview-with-dallas-woodburn-author-of-the-best-week-that-never-happend/">Interview with <strong>The YA Sh3lf</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theindieview.com/2020/04/21/indieview-with-dallas-woodburn-author-of-the-best-week-the-never-happened/#more-15307">Interview with <strong>The Indie View</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://literaryagentmarkgottlieb.com/blog/john-steinbeck-fellow-in-creative-writing-young-adult-author-dallas-woodburn">Interview on <strong>Mark Gottlieb Talks Books</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.karenmccoy.net/the-best-week-that-never-happened-by-dallas-woodburn/">Interview with <strong>The Writer Librarian</strong></a></li>
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This has truly been one of the best days of my life!! My heart is so full. I feel so supported and loved-- and in this time of social distancing, I feel connected to all of you! Thank you for your support of me and my dreams!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-37667961956912057072020-03-31T11:30:00.000-07:002020-03-31T11:30:04.908-07:00YA Scavenger Hunt<div style="text-align: center;">
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Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author <a href="http://www.colleenhouck.com/">Colleen Houck</a> as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive <b>one book from each author on the hunt in my team</b>!<b> </b>But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for a short time!<br />
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<b>Go to the <a href="http://yascavengerhunt.blogspot.com/">YA Scavenger Hunt</a> page to find out all about the hunt. </b>There are FOUR contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the <span style="color: blue;">BLUE TEAM</span>--but there is also a red team, a gold team, and a purple team for a chance to win a whole different set of books!<br />
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If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to<a href="http://yascavengerhunt.blogspot.com/p/prizes.html"> the YA Scavenger Hunt page</a>.</div>
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<b>SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE</b></div>
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<b>Directions:</b> Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the <span style="color: blue;">blue team</span>, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). </div>
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<b>Entry Form:</b> Once you've added up all the numbers, <a href="http://yascavengerhunt.blogspot.com/p/enter-here.html">make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize</a>. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.</div>
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<b>Rules:</b> Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by <b>April 5th, at noon Pacific Time.</b> Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.</div>
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<b>SCAVENGER HUNT POST</b></div>
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Today, I am excited to be hosting <span style="color: magenta;">YVONNE VENTRESCA</span> here on my blog as part of the YA Scavenger Hunt!<span style="color: magenta;"> </span>Yvonne is the author of BLACK FLOWERS, WHITE LIES and PANDEMIC (winner of SCBWI’s Crystal Kite Award). In addition to her YA novels, Yvonne’s other work includes two nonfiction books and several short stories selected for anthologies, including the newly released middle grade collection, VOYAGERS: THE THIRD GHOST. She is currently pursuing an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. When she’s not writing, she loves a good ghost story and studies karate in a haunted dojo. You can learn more at <a href="http://yvonneventresca.com/">YvonneVentresca.com</a>, where she features resources for teen writers. </div>
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Find out more information by <a href="http://www.yvonneventresca.com/" target="_blank">checking out Yvonne's website</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pandemic-Yvonne-Ventresca/dp/1628736097/" target="_blank">find more about PANDEMIC here</a>!<br />
You can also follow Yvonne on <a href="https://twitter.com/YvonneVentresca" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YvonneVentrescaAuthor/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yvonneventresca/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.</div>
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<b>EXCLUSIVE CONTENT </b><br />
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<b> About <i>Pandemic</i> </b><br />
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By Yvonne Ventresca<br />
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My young adult novel, <i>Pandemic</i>, is about a teenager struggling to survive a deadly flu outbreak. As I write this post during Covid-19, I’m struck by the eerie similarity of the fictional world I created and the current events we are now living through. </div>
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In the midst of this, it doesn’t feel appropriate to reveal something light-hearted about <i>Pandemi</i>c, like a deleted scene or a Pinterest board. So instead I will share this: my main character, Lil, is a survivor. She is sometimes afraid, and her journey is not an easy one. But Lil ultimately triumphs. I hope you will, too. </div>
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Someday, in the aftermath of Covid-19, you might like to read <i>Pandemic</i>. But for now, I’m wishing all the YASH participants health and safety during these tumultuous times.
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In PANDEMIC, only a few people know what caused Lilianna Snyder's sudden change from a model student to a withdrawn pessimist who worries about all kinds of disasters. When people begin coming down with a quick-spreading illness that doctors are unable to treat, Lil’s worst fears are realized. With her parents called away on business before the contagious outbreak--her journalist father in Delaware covering the early stages of the disease and her mother in Hong Kong and unable to get a flight back to New Jersey--Lil’s town is hit by what soon becomes a widespread fatal illness.
With friends and neighbors dying around her, Lil does everything she can to survive. Just when it all seems too much, the cause of her original trauma shows up at her door. Lil must find a way to survive not only the outbreak and its real-life consequences, but also her own personal demons. </i><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />
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And don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books by lots of YA authors! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is <b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">11</span></b><span style="color: magenta;">.</span> Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the <span style="color: blue;"><b>blue team</b></span> and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!<br />
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<b>CONTINUE THE HUNT</b></div>
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To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, Amy Fellner Dominy! <a href="http://amydominy.com/blog/">http://amydominy.com/blog/</a><br />
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YASH is now on Twitter and Facebook! You can follow and tweet YASH <a href="https://twitter.com/yascavengerhunt?lang=en" target="_blank">@yascavengerhunt</a> and the same on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/yascavengerhunt">https://www.facebook.com/yascavengerhunt</a>.
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</style><div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-18109623104757162542020-03-04T16:00:00.005-08:002020-03-04T16:01:28.516-08:00My Debut Novel is Available for Pre-Order!Ever since I was a little girl, it has been my dream to publish a novel. And now, after years of writing and rejection and more writing, after three other novel manuscripts that live in my computer hard-drive... that dream is coming true!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIwt204iYzh4vEtZqlKiweKIrYFsCD0HihXWykcIWql2yP95lCvEU-7MzJa88q8gZEVtK8UWhfMfFdcp2WV4m1bgOE6DAIGdQdNApS-RJxS0NzQgdPAZDhW78_izbAkCASi6E7Zc-ero/s1600/The+Best+Week+That+Never+Happened+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIwt204iYzh4vEtZqlKiweKIrYFsCD0HihXWykcIWql2yP95lCvEU-7MzJa88q8gZEVtK8UWhfMfFdcp2WV4m1bgOE6DAIGdQdNApS-RJxS0NzQgdPAZDhW78_izbAkCASi6E7Zc-ero/s400/The+Best+Week+That+Never+Happened+%25282%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>THE BEST WEEK THAT NEVER HAPPENED is now available for pre-order! </b>It is being released in paperback,
as an ebook and as an audiobook.
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1951710118" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1951710118 </a><br />
<br />
Why is pre-ordering important for authors? (Especially debut novelists like me?) Well, the number of pre-orders tells the publisher, booksellers, and industry as a whole how much desire and interest there is in your book. The first few weeks can make or break a book, and the first novel can make or break an author’s publishing chances in the future.<br />
<br />
I would be incredibly grateful if you take the time to pre-order my book!<br />
<br />
Read an excerpt of the beginning here:
<a href="https://www.thenerddaily.com/cover-reveal-the-best-week-that-never-happened/" target="_blank">https://www.thenerddaily.com/cover-reveal-the-best-week-that-never-happened/ </a><br />
<br />
You can help me continue to be a #1 New Release on Amazon!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wLHqouY0vZwRjJe-C6K1lpnh5iuApjt0Q3Igb2y9vSOlrtUkpL0jnbni4KJhFHe0LI94YR1DQFg3_l5Rk9xcQcqj6ehTGCwMYwA3iwd6WsuluVBSvkULsAOWiHqBUM_vcjaUS7ykyNc/s1600/Best+Week+Number+One+Release.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wLHqouY0vZwRjJe-C6K1lpnh5iuApjt0Q3Igb2y9vSOlrtUkpL0jnbni4KJhFHe0LI94YR1DQFg3_l5Rk9xcQcqj6ehTGCwMYwA3iwd6WsuluVBSvkULsAOWiHqBUM_vcjaUS7ykyNc/s640/Best+Week+Number+One+Release.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>ABOUT THE BOOK </b></div>
<br />
After her parents' bitter divorce, family vacations to the Big Island in Hawaii ceased. But across the miles, eighteen-year-old Tegan Rossi remains connected to local Kai Kapule, her best friend from childhood. Now, Tegan finds herself alone and confused about how she got to the Big Island. With no wallet, no cell phone, purse, or plane ticket, Tegan struggles to piece together what happened. She must have come to surprise-visit Kai. Right?<br />
<br />
As the teens grow even closer, Tegan pushes aside her worries and gets swept away in the vacation of her dreams. But each morning, Tegan startles awake from nightmares that become more difficult to ignore. Something is eerily amiss. Why is there a strange gap in her memory? Why can't she reach her parents or friends from home? And what's with the mysterious hourglass tattoo over her heart?
<br />
<br />
Kai promises to help Tegan figure out what is going on. But the answers they find only lead to more questions. As the week unfolds, Tegan will experience the magic of first love, the hope of second chances, and the bittersweet joy and grief of being human.<br />
<br />
<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdWxE4hk_Lv6q5hyphenhyphenaHextqvDuNolqWe99-i7kj4NDmmLDoDngwUm9Xx-JqvZTzJGc4E6xhPlEALoyuybxaRtA46lTOEJMKiIbCI8IWcfIEJJVK0Tc_cEy_6qMXrDZ3ZrtJVYyTAQSS3Q/s1600/nikki+with+paintings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdWxE4hk_Lv6q5hyphenhyphenaHextqvDuNolqWe99-i7kj4NDmmLDoDngwUm9Xx-JqvZTzJGc4E6xhPlEALoyuybxaRtA46lTOEJMKiIbCI8IWcfIEJJVK0Tc_cEy_6qMXrDZ3ZrtJVYyTAQSS3Q/s400/nikki+with+paintings.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">My friend, the amazing young artist Nicole Ham, created two gorgeous custom paintings for the book's pre-order campaign! Everyone who pre-orders the book will receive a digital print of each of these paintings! </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>PRE-ORDER PRIZES</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
To receive your bonus goodies + be entered to win the grand prize, all you need to do is forward your proof of purchase and your mailing address to bestweekbookorder@gmail.com.<br />
<br />
PRE-ORDER ONE COPY of THE BEST WEEK THAT NEVER HAPPENED and RECEIVE…<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>a free ebook of my newly released 15th anniversary edition of 3 a.m.: a collection of short stories, including three new stories </li>
<li>a signed, personalized bookplate </li>
<li>a matching bookmark </li>
<li>two temporary tattoos: an hourglass and a gecko (you’ll understand their significance after reading the book!) </li>
<li> two downloadable digital prints of custom artwork created by Nicole Ham specifically for The Best Week That Never Happened </li>
</ul>
PRE-ORDER TWO COPIES of THE BEST WEEK THAT NEVER HAPPENED and RECEIVE…
<br />
<div>
<ul>
<li>all of the above </li>
<li>a gecko charm bracelet (also related to the plot of the book!) </li>
</ul>
PRE-ORDER THREE OR MORE COPIES of THE BEST WEEK THAT NEVER HAPPENED and RECEIVE… </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>all of the above </li>
<li>a print copy of my newly released 15th anniversary edition of 3 a.m.: a collection of short stories, including three new stories! </li>
</ul>
Also, for every copy you pre-order, you’ll be entered to win… </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
THE GRAND PRIZE: </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>a 30-minute call with me to discuss your writing, talk about how to get published, answer your questions about the book, or whatever your heart desires! </li>
<li>a prize package I’ve created just for you from Hawaii: chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, Ohana Bros addictive kettle chips, the best Kona coffee, and a beautiful mug </li>
</ul>
To receive your bonus goodies + be entered to win the grand prize, all you need to do is forward your proof of purchase and your mailing address to bestweekbookorder@gmail.com. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>PRAISE</b></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>"This debut novel is captivating and moving. . . A dazzling, emotional story of love, loss, and living in the moment." —Kirkus Reviews </i></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<i>“A poignant and gripping heart-tug of a page-turner filled with heart and hope. I couldn't put it down. Magic.” —Jennifer Niven, New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places and Holding Up the Universe
</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>"Dallas Woodburn weaves a bittersweet love story between star-crossed lovers—thwarted not only by distance but also by insurmountable tragedy. This captivating, poignant story is perfect for teens on the brink of discovering who they are and what really matters." —Natalie Lund, author of We Speak in Storms </i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOLfmgbaTYm6IT4SUtHgpJWXRFpJyf3cIRMsMVE_XI8YZKxXJakbrQzfyPeIa2Nw6uuOsuVBejWtZXL_qE7H5bJdI3kQ8GHVHcDad3CN9F87qTgwZUMaXJCv1JV2QyXGfkTpNfnianiY/s1600/Kirkus+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOLfmgbaTYm6IT4SUtHgpJWXRFpJyf3cIRMsMVE_XI8YZKxXJakbrQzfyPeIa2Nw6uuOsuVBejWtZXL_qE7H5bJdI3kQ8GHVHcDad3CN9F87qTgwZUMaXJCv1JV2QyXGfkTpNfnianiY/s320/Kirkus+review.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>BOOK TOUR EVENTS (all times listed in PST) </b></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I would love to celebrate with you sometime this spring! All events will have fun "book swag" like bookmarks and temporary tattoos! </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Book Launch: Tuesday, April 21, 7pm, Mrs. Dalloway's Bookstore, Berkeley (in conversation with YA author Stephanie Kuehn) </li>
<li>Saturday, April 25: 1-2pm, book-signing at Books on B, Hayward </li>
<li>Saturday, April 25: 4pm, Flashlight Books, Walnut Creek (in conversation with YA author Jennieke Cohen) </li>
<li>Virtual Book Launch: Sunday, April 26, 2-3pm, Zoom Web Meeting (in conversation with YA author Tobie Easton)... Join from anywhere in the world at 2pm on April 26! There will be special prizes, a Q&A, and more! <a href="http://www.dallaswoodburnauthor.com/" target="_blank">Contact me to learn more</a>. </li>
<li>Sunday, May 17: 1pm, Orinda Books, Orinda (in conversation with best-selling author & SF Chronicle columnist Vanessa Hua) </li>
<li>Thursday, May 21: 7pm, Chaucer's Books, Santa Barbara (in conversation with Woody Woodburn) </li>
<li>Saturday, May 23: 1-3pm, book-signing at Barnes & Noble, Ventura </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-21809429863381129562019-12-17T16:58:00.001-08:002019-12-17T16:58:54.961-08:00Giveaway!I am hosting a giveaway to celebrate the upcoming release of my debut YA novel, <i><b>The Best Week That Never Happened</b></i>. I hope you will take two seconds to enter this contest because it could not be easier, and I have lots of fun prizes to send your way!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUoSZDwexS6uRLDrMOPmrtPiM9Y4YFLx19c0KqvT2Vun6wuU96M_ZQWrmq0esPcTKe1hydCjIir9sysl0VK0F-DnWL9QK4fuezR73NPVaWsjJ2Eb7lZomjDSZSHeMnYbZnGgcfrZwNqQ/s1600/Giveaway%2521.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="989" data-original-width="1194" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUoSZDwexS6uRLDrMOPmrtPiM9Y4YFLx19c0KqvT2Vun6wuU96M_ZQWrmq0esPcTKe1hydCjIir9sysl0VK0F-DnWL9QK4fuezR73NPVaWsjJ2Eb7lZomjDSZSHeMnYbZnGgcfrZwNqQ/s320/Giveaway%2521.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>TO ENTER:</b> <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48902976-the-best-week-that-never-happened" target="_blank">Simply mark <i>The Best Week That Never Happened</i> as “Want to Read” in Goodreads</a>. That’s it! </b><br />
<br />
Bonus entry: ⇓ share this giveaway on social media and tag me ⇓<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>IG: @dallaswoodburnauthor </li>
<li>FB: @writerdallas </li>
<li>Twitter: @dallaswoodburn </li>
</ul>
On <b>December 31st</b>, I’ll be randomly choosing 30+ winners for the following prizes:<br />
<br />
<h3>
Hand-carved wooden snowflake ornaments </h3>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQNMSlJbD7hU1kJU7n4bnW14MTLA8aTQBs4iIJDGhsQ7T4qzINKiJi5lqJ0n4hFmROHYFQI7lbuRwIheLW0gijwiFtOty3xc1our7Q4_ITnjKozbnaqkO9PhbgDRbGi9eGLnUHvEwmbs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-11-20+at+9.31.30+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQNMSlJbD7hU1kJU7n4bnW14MTLA8aTQBs4iIJDGhsQ7T4qzINKiJi5lqJ0n4hFmROHYFQI7lbuRwIheLW0gijwiFtOty3xc1our7Q4_ITnjKozbnaqkO9PhbgDRbGi9eGLnUHvEwmbs/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-11-20+at+9.31.30+AM.png" width="300" /></a></div>
Why wooden snowflake ornaments? Here is a sneak-peek passage from <b><i>The Best Week That Never Happened</i></b> to explain how these beauties tie into the novel:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Crowded against the front window is a fake Christmas tree decorated top to bottom with wooden ornaments—“HAND-CRAFTED,” a sign proclaims. Trying to distract myself, I walk over and study the display. Some ornaments are smooth wooden globes, surprisingly light in my hand. Most of the globes are painted with images of Hawaii: surfers, dolphins, ocean waves.<br /><br />My favorite ornaments are the wooden snowflakes, paper-thin, so delicately carved it is impossible to imagine an actual person crafting them. Maybe, despite the sign’s promise, these are machine produced. I take one in each hand and compare them. It’s clear they are different: one has six narrow points while the other is broader, like a starfish. Could it be possible each ornament is unique, like real snowflakes? That would definitely mean they are hand carved.<br />
<br />The bell jingles. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I glance over. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
There he is.
Kai. </blockquote>
<br />
<h3>
A few of my favorite YA books </h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I wrote about some of these fantastic reads in <a href="https://quietya.tumblr.com/post/189511211528/31-days-of-quietya-with-dallas-woodburn" target="_blank">my post for the “31 days of #quietYA” blog</a>; others are perennial faves that I find myself returning to again and again. I will be giving away new copies of all of these books!<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><i>Emerge</i></b> by Tobie Easton </li>
<li><b><i>We Speak in Storms</i></b> by Natalie Lund </li>
<li><b><i>All The Bright Places</i></b> by Jennifer Niven </li>
<li><b><i>When The Moon Was Ours</i></b> by Anna-Marie McLemore </li>
<li><b><i>Unclaimed Baggage</i></b> by Jen Doll </li>
<li><b><i>Merged </i></b>by Jim & Stephanie Kroepfl </li>
</ul>
<br />
So what are you waiting for?? Enter and share with your friends!<br />
<br />
<b>TO ENTER: Simply <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48902976-the-best-week-that-never-happened" target="_blank">mark <i>The Best Week That Never Happened</i> as “Want to Read” in Goodreads</a>. That’s it! </b><br />
<br />
Bonus entry: ⇓ share this giveaway on social media and tag me ⇓<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>IG: @dallaswoodburnauthor </li>
<li>FB: @writerdallas </li>
<li>Twitter: @dallaswoodburn</li>
</ul>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-52692985029407065242019-09-17T09:05:00.004-07:002019-09-17T09:05:54.350-07:00Guest Article: Are you a Plotter or a Pantser?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>We’re Plotters Out of Necessity </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
by Jim and Stephanie Kroepfl, authors of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Merged-Jim-Kroepfl/dp/1948671344" target="_blank">Merged</a></i></div>
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<br />
There’s an outgoing debate between Plotters and Pantsers. Plotters outline their manuscript prior to
touching the keyboard. Pantsers write by the seat of their pants, meaning they rely on stream of
consciousness to create the story. J.K. Rowling is a Plotter and Stephen King is the penultimate Pantser.<br />
<br />
After comparing notes at writers conferences, it seems that most writers who are working on their first
manuscript are Pantsers. We were, and we believe it’s an important part of the writer’s journey. A new
writer needs to discover the joy of watching the characters come to life, and be astounded at the
unexpected flashes of brilliance. The thought of first plotting every chapter would intimidate many new
writers to the point where they’d give up before even starting.<br />
<br />
As Pantsers, we threw away months of work because the story took interesting turns, but not ones which
necessarily drove the story forward. But, this writing helped hone our craft. In <i>Outliers: The Story of
Success</i>, Malcolm Gladwell discovered that what the best-of-the-best have in common is they’ve
achieved ten thousand hours of experience. We consider all those deleted pages as our path toward ten
thousand hours of writing.<br />
<br />
Now, we’re Plotters. We have a large corkboard hanging on the wall, and we use index cards. One card
per chapter or scene. We start out with white cards, and after we’ve written the first draft for that chapter,
we change the card to a color. It tracks our progress, and provides a sense of accomplishment. Most of our
cards only contain ten to fifteen words, just enough to jog our memory about what is supposed to happen
in that scene. This method keeps our story on track, but isn’t so binding that we lose the inspiration. It
also helps in pacing and recognizing a sagging middle.<br />
<br />
Also, since we write together, being Plotters is a necessity. Since we divide the work, we have to be in
agreement as to what needs to happen when, and importantly, how the story is supposed to end. It also
keeps the dreaded writer’s block at bay. We grab a card, lay it by our computers, and that’s our homework
for the day.<br />
<br />
Our young adult science fiction novel <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Merged-Jim-Kroepfl/dp/1948671344" target="_blank">Merged</a></i> is being released on September 17, 2019 by
Month9Books. Visit us at <a href="http://www.jimandstephbooks.com/">www.jimandstephbooks.com</a>.<br />
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<b>About <i>Merged</i>:</b><br />
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Seven of our country’s most gifted teens will become Nobels, hosts for the implantation of brilliant Mentor minds, in an effort to accelerate human progress. But as the line between what’s possible and what’s right, draws ever blurrier, the teens discover everything has a cost.<br />
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Scientists have created an evolved form of living known as Merged Consciousness, and 16-year-old Lake finds herself unable to merge with her Mentor. Lake, the Nobel for Chemistry and Orfyn, the Nobel for Art, are two from among the inaugural class of Nobels, and with the best intent and motivation.<br />
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But when Stryker, the Nobel for Peace, makes them question the motivation of the scientists behind the program, their world begins to unravel. As the Nobels work to uncover the dark secrets of the program’s origins, everyone's a suspect and no one can be trusted, not even the other Nobels. As the Mentors begin to take over the bodies and minds of the Nobels, Lake and Orfyn must find a way to regain control before they lose all semblance or memory of their former selves.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Merged-Jim-Kroepfl/dp/1948671344" target="_blank">Click here</a> to order your copy!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-79912068262701428922019-07-15T17:02:00.001-07:002019-07-15T17:02:22.817-07:00Interview with Hope Bolinger, author of BLAZEYou might remember Hope from <a href="https://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/2016/06/interview-with-dancing-with-pen-ii.html?m=0" target="_blank">this interview back in 2016</a>, about her poem "Her Eyes Breathe Life" that was published in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Pen-II-collection-writing/dp/1533592853/" target="_blank">Dancing With The Pen II</a>. I was thrilled when Hope contacted me to share news about the publication of her debut novel, BLAZE, this summer (IlluminateYA, an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas). Wow!<br />
<br />
In the years since <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Pen-II-collection-writing/dp/1533592853/" target="_blank">Dancing With The Pen II</a> was published, Hope graduated from the professional writing program of Taylor University and become a literary agent at C.Y.L.E. More than 300 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Her column "Hopes' Hacks," tips and tricks to avoid writer's block, reaches 2,700+ readers weekly.<br />
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I asked Hope if she would come on the blog to share her journey to publication and answer a few questions, and she generously agreed to do so.<br />
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Here is a summary of her debut novel:<br />
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<i>If you can't stand the heat, don't walk into the fire.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Danny knew his sophomore year would be stressful . . . but he didn’t expect his school to burn down on the first day.</i><br />
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<i>To make matters worse, he — and his three best friends —receive an email in their inboxes from the principal of their rival, King’s Academy, offering full-rides to attend the town's prestigious boarding school. Danny wants nothing to do with King’s Academy and says no. Of course his mother says yes. So off he goes to be bullied and picked on for not being part of the popular and rich "in crowd."</i><br />
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<i>From day one at King’s, Danny encounters hazing, mocking insults from girls at the "popular and pretty" table, and cafeteria food that, for such a prestigious school, tastes as if it were purchased from a military surplus supply warehouse. If he survives, Danny will have to overcome his fears of failure, rejection, and loneliness—all while standing strong in his beliefs and walking into the fire.</i><br />
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<b><br /></b>
<b>What would you like readers to know about you as an introduction? </b><br />
<br />
Hi, everyone! I'm a 22-year-old literary agent and a soon-to-be-published novelist. More than 300 of my works have been featured in various publications from Writer's Digest to Crosswalk. I'm fresh out of college and am a bit of a pyromaniac and chocoholic.<br />
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<b>Take us through your writing process when you were drafting your novel. </b><br />
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<i>Blaze </i>was honestly a bit of a blur. That summer I was working four jobs and taking two college classes, was the maid of honor in my sister's wedding, and I was dealing with my parent's divorce that summer, but I wanted to get this book done in time to pitch it at the for the Maranatha Conference. You can't pitch a fiction project unless it's all complete. I wrote it in about 45 days. I tried to outline the book in 3 acts, 27 chapters (so 9 per act), and had a basic chapter outline. But, as usual, the characters had a little mind of their own and fought me the whole way through the writing process.<br />
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<b>What do you enjoy most about writing? </b><br />
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Everything. Some days are harder than others. Sometimes you just sit and 5,000 words flow from your fingertips, and others, you struggle to get 500. But I absolutely love all of it. You feel some sort of ecstasy. I've never been in love, but I have an inkling the sensation is familiar.<br />
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<b>What was the journey to publication like for you? </b><br />
<br />
Oh, wow. What a question. I'll try to set up a timeline from when I started writing to now.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>2013 - I began writing novels around the age of 16. </li>
<li>2014 - I picked up a job at a magazine and tried to query to agents and publishers. </li>
<li>2015 - Frustrated with no results, I self-published my novel "Unmasked" my senior year of high school and joined the professional writing major at Taylor University to learn all about publishing. </li>
<li>2016 - I picked up a job at a newspaper and pitched to an agent at a conference. Although interested, he turned me down. I co-wrote a WWII Veteran's memoir, published by Taylor University Press. </li>
<li>2017 - I picked up jobs at publishing houses and working for that literary agent who turned me down. He referred me to another agent, and she picked me up. That summer, I wrote Blaze and pitched it at a conference in September. The publisher told me to send along my materials. </li>
<li>Late 2017-Early 2018 - The book went through multiple rounds at pub board. They liked the concept but wanted a number of edits before they'd proceed with it. </li>
<li>May 2018 - The publishing company offered a book contract. I started working as a literary agent. </li>
<li>February 2019 - I graduated Taylor University summa cum laude. </li>
<li> June 2019 - My first traditionally published book, <i>Blaze</i>, came out. </li>
</ul>
It's been a wild journey. I know 2013-2019 from just starting to getting published may or may not sound like a lot of time. I promise I was hard at work all those years, penning dozens of books. It just takes a long time. The industry is glacial.<br />
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<b>What surprised you the most about the publishing process? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I think platform surprised me. More and more publishers want you to have a social media presence. I grew my platform from 2K to almost 18K in a year for this book launch alone. Publishers want you to pick up most of the marketing work. You can't just get by with an excellent book nowadays. They just have too many authors submitting them manuscripts, so they can be a little picky and choose the ones they know will bring in business.<br />
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<b>In addition to being an author yourself, you are also a successful literary agent. Do you have any advice for other writers who dream of being published? </b><br />
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Of course. Do not ever give up. Almost every point on that timeline, I wanted to throw in the towel. My family and friends wouldn't let me.
This industry is cutthroat, tough, and any author is an underdog, even if they've sold millions of copies. Keep writing anyway. You have something important to say, and the world needs to hear it.<br />
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<b>Can you share a few of your favorite books or authors? </b><br />
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Sure! Good ol' JK Rowling, C.S. Lewis, Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and F. Scott Fitzgerald top my lists. I love the Classics.<br />
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<b>What inspires you? </b><br />
<br />
So many things. As for book ideas, I usually think, "What situation would I never want to end up in?" And then I toss a character in it.
I think a great deal of injustice and topics people don't want to address ignite a fire in my bones. The Blaze trilogy addresses anything from corrupt administrations, mental health, school shootings, and loads of other hard topics that we don't want to confront. I want us to tackle them head-on. If we don't, how can we ever formulate a solution to these problems?<br />
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<b>What are you working on now? What’s next for you? </b><br />
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Oh goodness, a dangerous question. So many things:
I already have Book Two done, and as soon as my publisher gives me the green light, I'll start Book Three (already outlined). My agent also has three of my YA books, a couple of children's books, and a few other projects on query. I'm always working on something.
On the non-author front, I need a job. I'm working seven part-time positions at the moment and have about six years of industry experience. Fun as that sounds, I'd love something a bit more consistent. I've applied to 150+ jobs, but no luck yet.<br />
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<b>Anything else you’d like to add? </b><br />
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If you like boarding school dramas and lots of fire, I'd love if you'd give <i>Blaze</i> a look. And please don't ever give up. The world can always use a little of you and your writing. It takes a lot of hard work and sleepless nights, but you'll get there. I promise.<br />
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<b>Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us, Hope!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Connect with Hope at the following links:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Facebook: @therosewoman</li>
<li>Twitter: @hopebolinger</li>
<li>Instagram: @hopebolinger</li>
<li>Website: <a href="http://www.hopebolinger.com/">www.hopebolinger.com</a></li>
<li>Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Bolinger/e/B00V0VWFKQ?">https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Bolinger/e/B00V0VWFKQ?</a></li>
<li>Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13700140.Hope_Bolinger">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13700140.Hope_Bolinger</a></li>
</ul>
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<br />
<b>Blaze Extras:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Pinterest Board: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/hopebolinger/den-novel/">https://www.pinterest.com/hopebolinger/den-novel/</a></li>
<li>Spotify Playlist: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4kXdjZSHqf09ooHU10dMjf">https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4kXdjZSHqf09ooHU10dMjf</a></li>
<li>Webpage and game: <a href="https://www.hopebolinger.com/blaze">https://www.hopebolinger.com/blaze</a></li>
<li>Trailer: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVZAs5S2OXk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVZAs5S2OXk</a></li>
</ul>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-37612807186201307382018-09-24T05:00:00.000-07:002018-09-24T05:00:06.550-07:00Guest Post from Descript<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.248; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -2pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 3.75pt 0pt 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Overcome Writer’s Block </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with Automatic Transcription</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>a guest post from Descript</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 31.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="302" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/tK-VghCt5ki4JC4Cfp030ZoB8v1hA24gTl5r-gz5TF2XWKK_3pEf4va9mcsMH0uDMtenFo4cKhhaDTDiYMhzRIYTSpnqu7Cc_Y83eEJV5SKoQGTdu7K1E-73QV5g_gshnp1nzuBU" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you’re a writer — of books, essays, scripts, blog posts, whatever — you’re familiar with the phenomenon: the blank screen, a looming deadline, and a sinking feeling in your gut that pairs poorly with the jug of coffee you drank earlier.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.896; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 22pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you know that rumble all too well: this post is for you. Maybe it’ll help you get out of a rut; at the very least, it’s good for a few minutes of procrastination.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.896; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 22pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here’s the core idea: thinking out loud is often less arduous than writing. And it’s now easier than ever to combine the two, thanks to recent advances in speech recognition technology.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.896; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 22pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course, dictation is nothing new — and plenty of writers have taken advantage of it. Carl Sagan’s voluminous output was facilitated by his process of speaking into an audio recorder, to be transcribed later by an assistant (you can listen to some of his dictations in the </span><a href="https://www.loc.gov/collections/finding-our-place-in-the-cosmos-with-carl-sagan/articles-and-essays/carl-sagan-and-the-tradition-of-science/sagans-thinking-and-writing-process/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Library of Congress</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">!) And software like Dragon’s </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Naturally Speaking</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has offered automated transcription for people with the patience and budget to pursue it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But it’s only in the last couple of years that automated transcription has reached a sweet spot — of convenience, affordability and </span><a href="https://medium.com/descript/comparing-the-accuracy-of-automatic-transcription-services-519fec134465" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">accuracy</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—that makes it practical to use it more casually. And I’ve found it increasingly useful for generating a sort of proto-first draft: an alternative approach to the painful process of converting the nebulous wisps inside your head into something you can actually work with.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I call this process </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">idea extraction</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (though these ideas may be more accurately dubbed </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_Droppings" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">brain droppings</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Part I: Extraction</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s how my process works. Borrow what works for you and forget the rest — and </span><a href="mailto:jason@descript.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">let me know</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> how it goes!</span></span></div>
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<li>Pick a voice recorder. Start talking. Try it with a topic you’ve been chewing on for weeks — or when an idea flits your head. Don’t overthink it. Just start blabbing.</li>
<li>The goal is to tug on as many threads as you come across, and to follow them as far as they go. These threads may lead to meandering tangents— and you may discover new ideas along the way.</li>
<li>A lot of those new ideas will probably be embarrassingly bad. That’s fine. You’re already talking about the next thing! And unlike with text, your bad ideas aren’t staring you in the face.</li>
<li>Consider leaving comments to yourself as you go — e.g. “Maybe that’d work for the intro”. These will come in handy later.</li>
<li>For me, these recordings run anywhere from 20–80 minutes. Sometimes they’re much shorter, in quick succession. Whatever works.</li>
</ul>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Part II: Transcription</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once I’ve finished recording, it’s time to harness ⚡️</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Power of Technology</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">⚡️</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A little background: over the last couple of years there’s been an explosion of tools related to automatic speech recognition (ASR) thanks to huge steps forward in the underlying technologies.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s how ASR works: you import your audio into the software, the software uses state-of-the-art machine learning to spit back a text transcript a few minutes later. That transcript won’t be perfect—the robots are currently in the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘Write drunk’</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> phase of their careers. But for our purposes that’s fine: you just need it to be accurate enough that you can recognize your ideas.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once you have your text transcript, your next step is up to you: maybe you’re exporting your transcript as a Word doc and revising from there. Maybe you’re firing up your voice recorder again to dictate a more polished take. Maybe only a few words in your audio journey are worth keeping — but that’s fine too. It probably didn’t cost you much (and good news: the price for this tech will continue to fall in the years ahead).</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A few more tips:</span></span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li>Use a recorder/app that you trust. Losing a recording is painful — and the anxiety of losing another can derail your most exciting creative moments (“I hope this recorder is working. Good, it is... @#*! where was I?”)</li>
<li>Audio quality matters when it comes to automatic transcription. If your recording has a lot of background noise or you’re speaking far away from the mic, the accuracy is going to drop. Consider using earbuds (better yet: Airpods) so you can worry less about where you’re holding the recorder.</li>
<li>Find a comfortable space. Eventually you may get used to having people overhear your musings, but it’s a lot easier to let your mind “go for a walk” when you’re comfortable in your environment.</li>
<li>Speaking of walking: why not go for a stroll? The pains of writing can have just as much to do with being stationary and hunched over. Walking gets your blood flowing — and your ideas too.</li>
<li>I have a lot of ideas, good and bad, while I’m thinking out loud and playing music at the same time (in my case, guitar — but I suspect it applies more broadly). There’s something about playing the same four-chord song on auto pilot for the thousandth time that keeps my hands busy and leaves my mind free to wander.</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The old ways of doing things — whether it’s with a keyboard or pen — still have their advantages. Putting words to a page can force a sort of </span><a href="http://neilpostman.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">linear thinking</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that is otherwise difficult to maintain. And when it comes to editing, it’s no contest: QWERTY or bust.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But for getting those first crucial paragraphs down (and maybe a few keystone ideas to build towards)? Consider talking to yourself. Even if you wind up with a transcript full of nothing but profanity — well, have you ever seen a transcript full of profanity? You could do a lot worse.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-c07877aa-7fff-8386-d5ca-c434bb712cb5"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This </span><a href="https://medium.com/descript/overcoming-writers-block-with-automatic-transcription-f85bbb30eda6" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">article</span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></a>was<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> originally published by </span><a href="https://www.descript.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Descript</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></i></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-4396593310791948422018-09-20T11:02:00.000-07:002018-09-20T11:02:58.377-07:00Interview with Acclaimed Author & Motivational Speaker Amberly Lago<i><br /></i>
<i>I am so thrilled to welcome Amberly Lago to the blog today! I read Amberly's book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/True-Grit-Grace-Turning-Tragedy/dp/1683506235/" target="_blank">TRUE GRIT & GRACE</a> in a matter of days and was so inspired and moved by her story. This is a book that will change the way you see yourself and the world -- it will open your eyes to the possibilities before you, and will help you tap into the grit and grace inside yourself. </i><br />
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<i>Amberly was kind enough to stop by the blog today (in the midst of her busy schedule and book tour!) to answer some questions about not just writing and publishing, but also strength and resilience. Grab a mug of tea, turn off your cell phone, and sink into her insights and words of wisdom. </i><br />
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<i>It is such a pleasure to present to you... Amberly Lago!</i><br />
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<b>Can you tell us about you that you’d like the readers to know?</b><br />
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I was an athlete and professional dancer turned fitness trainer when a horrific motorcycle accident severed my femoral artery and shattered my right leg almost beyond repair. Months in the hospital and 34 surgeries—along with plates, pins, and sheer will—eventually spared my leg, despite the initial recommendation to amputate. As a result of the trauma, I was diagnosed with an incurable nerve disease called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, dubbed “the suicide disease” because it is ranked highest on the pain scale. But giving up was never in my wheel house. By embracing gratitude, acceptance, and self care, I found the ability to thrive despite living in constant, chronic pain.<br />
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I started sharing my story of hope and inspiration to small assembled crowds and then before I knew it, I was being asked to speak at conferences, schools, and institutions. My heart was instantly filled with joy the more I shared my story and made connections with others. Although I had never written a book before, I was passionate about writing my story in hopes of giving others a shift in their perspective and to leave them believing in themselves a little bit more. I wrote <i>True Grit and Grace: Turning Tragedy Into Triumph</i> and it was published earlier this year by Morgan James Publishing and launched on the Megyn Kelly TODAY Show.<br />
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<b>Take us through your writing and publishing process. </b><br />
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The thought of writing a book was a little overwhelming and I knew I needed help. Although I always did well in school, I didn’t even have a college education. I started asking around if anyone knew of a writing teacher. Three different people told me about an incredible teacher named Jack Grapes. I looked him up and enrolled in his Method Writing class. Method Writing is an organic approach to the creative process, a way of finding your deep, authentic voice. The Method does not take the traditional approach, which emphasizes structure and form; instead it focuses on truth and organic process. Method Writing deals with the inner voice and how it can be used to create unique works of art, true to your own voice and style, true to your own vision and point view, and true to your own life experience—whether writing a book, poem, recipe, Instagram post, or ransom note.<br />
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So along with writing every day in my journal, I made an outline for my book, and used Jack Grapes Method Writing class as a way to start writing. I wrote every day, even if it was just a page, and it took two years. I had to find the time to write between working, being a mom, being a wife, and trying to have any kind of social life. There were a lot of days I just wanted to keep pushing the snooze button, but I would wake up at 4:30 every morning to get my writing in before my day officially started.<br />
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It took a total of two years to finish my book, and then came time to find a publisher. I attended a conference called “Author 101” where I learned about everything from publishing to marketing and literary agents. Although I left there feeling even more overwhelmed, it’s also where I ended up finding my publisher.<br />
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<b>What is your favorite thing about writing? </b><br />
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My favorite thing about writing is getting things out of my head and onto the paper. When I was in the hospital and stuck in the hospital bed, writing was a way of coping with my situation.<br />
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I opened my journal and immediately began a gratitude list—that is, all the things for which I was grateful. So instead of staring into darkness, I focused on what was light in my life, and as the list grew longer, the less depressed I became. This was my medicine and it worked. Psychological depression, as opposed to biochemical depression, doesn’t occur in a vacuum. It occurs in negativity, when “what I don’t have” seems greater than “what I want to have.” We human beings rarely know how to value what we have until we lose it. And I was determined to beat those odds by listing and acknowledging all my blessings. Gratitude turns denial into acceptance, makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates hope for tomorrow. Writing a gratitude list keeps me in a place of gratitude, and when you are grateful you don’t have room for self-pity. Writing down all my emotions is healing and takes me out of my head and keeps me in my heart.<br />
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<b>Your writing is so authentic, honest and vulnerable. How do you push past fears, doubts, or self-criticism that is inherent for so many of us in the creative process?
</b><br />
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I try to write like I speak—straight from the heart. Sometimes I will read a post I have written for social media and I think to myself, what was I thinking writing that?? But it is how I was feeling at the time. I have found when you own your story and accept where you are on your journey it strengthens your resilience and allows you to make meaningful connections with others. Plus, it’s much easier to write when you are just keeping it real and letting the words flow.<br />
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<b>Do you have any advice for other writers, or for anyone going after their dreams? </b><br />
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Write from you heart and write vividly, using all your senses. Keep it real. I think readers can smell when you aren’t authentic. I started writing my memoir like I was telling a story and it was less intimidating for me to get started. The secret is to just get started. This is your perspective on life and events, and if you can share what you think, feel, and have gone through, others gather the wisdom and benefit of your experiences. No matter what, keep writing every day.<br />
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<b>Can you share a few of your favorite books or authors? </b><br />
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One of my favorite authors is Brene Brown and I love her book <i>The Gifts of Imperfection</i>. I start my day by reading several of my favorite spiritual books to center me before my day gets crazy. Some of those books include <i>Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Mediations for Women</i>, published by Hazelden; <i>I’ve Been Thinking: Reflections, Prayers, and Meditations for a Meaningful Life</i> by Maria Shriver, and <i>The Wisdom of Sundays</i> by Oprah Winfrey.<br />
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<b>What inspires you? </b><br />
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My two daughters inspire me to be my best and my biggest motivator is anyone who tells me I can’t do something.<br />
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<b> </b><b>What are you working on now? What’s next for you? </b><br />
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I am still on my book tour and have one last stop in Charlotte, North Carolina at Barnes & Noble. Next I will be delivering a keynote “Claiming Your Resilience When Living In Chronic Pain” at the annual RSDSA conference and also leading a 5K fundraising walk “Fight the Flame” to benefit those diagnosed with CRPS. I am launching an online inspirational fitness course soon, and my dream is to do SuperSoul Podcast with Oprah AND a TED Talk—Hey! I always say if your dreams don’t scare you, then they aren’t big enough!<br />
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<b>Anything else you would like to add?</b><br />
<br />
What I have learned is that life is a series of choices we make regardless of our circumstances. I could either make the choice to give up and let my life be determined by my circumstances, or fight to create something positive out of my situation. My choice is to notice the gifts life offers, which are particularly plentiful when you look for them. I believe in seeing the good in every situation and learning form it.<br />
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I believe we can have the life we always imagined, even if our circumstances have narrowed our possibilities. My sincere wish is that my book will help each reader claim their own power and belief in themselves and their dreams, and find their own resilience to move forward and choose a life filled with laughter and love, even when things don’t go as planned. We can’t choose what life throws our way, but we can choose to be happy and live a full life, despite our circumstances. Through our trials, we can embrace our challenges, connect to our innermost resilience, and change our perspective on life. We are strong, but together we are unstoppable.
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<b>Connect with Amberly:</b><br />
<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/True-Grit-Grace-Turning-Tragedy/dp/1683506235/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Purchase <i>True Grit & Grace</i> on Amazon</a></li>
<li>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amberlylagomotivation/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">@amberlylagomotivation</a></li>
<li>Website:<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://www./">www.</a></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://amberlylago.com/">amberlylago.com</a></span></li>
<li>Facebook:<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmberlyLagoSpeaker/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">@amberlylagospeaker</a></li>
<li>Twitter:<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/amberlylago?lang=en" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">@amberlylago</a></li>
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</style><div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-71880860924525403852018-09-11T12:15:00.000-07:002018-09-11T12:15:28.238-07:00Interview with Young Author Macy Li<i>I am delighted to feature an interview today with talented young author Macy Li. I have known Macy since publishing her short story "<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/issue-1/teaching-helen-keller/" target="_blank">Teaching Helen Keller</a>" on Word Smorgasbord two years ago. She was a superb writer then, and I have been amazed at how her writing continues to grow and evolve ever since!</i><br />
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<i>Macy just recently published her first book, a fabulous collection of poems, stories, essays and plays titled <u>Shards</u>. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/172292070X/" target="_blank">Order your copy on Amazon here</a>!) Macy has won many writing contests, including: Gold and Silver Keys in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, Honorable Mentions from Stone Soup magazine, the Best in Class Award for the Growing Up Asian in America Contest, first place in the Art Tales Writing Contest, and prizes in the Palo Alto Writing Contest. Next week, she will be featured on the <a href="https://thepaloaltopodcast.podbean.com/" target="_blank">Palo Alto Podcast</a>. She was kind enough to stop by the blog today to answer some questions about her writing process, finding inspiration, creativity, and more!</i><br />
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<b>Hi Macy! What would you like readers to know about you as an introduction? </b><br />
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My name is Macy Li, I’m thirteen years old, and I grew up in Sacramento, California. Other than writing, I enjoy playing piano, dancing, and reading. I’m also interested in biology and Latin. My favorite genre to write is poetry, because of the amount of emotion and meaning that’s able to be expressed in every line.
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<b>Take us through your writing process when you were creating Shards. </b><br />
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<i>Shards</i> is my collection of poems, stories, and plays, consisting of pieces from a year ago until recently. Each piece started out as a spark, an idea, a message that I wanted to share. I laced my thoughts and feelings into tales, hoping to express them in abstract ways that I loved. And so sometimes my words flowed into poems, stories, and plays. Other times, my pieces just didn’t work out. But through these experiences, I came out with a collection of my writing that I felt expressed the most of my emotions. Each word is like a shard, a hint to something bigger, completing my collection.
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<b>What do you like most about writing? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
My favorite thing about writing is that I can do anything with it. In the real world, there are people I can’t stand up to, things that I can’t do, and lives that I can’t have. But when I write, anything is possible for me. When I write, I finally feel free -- I feel happy. When I write, I escape from reality and drown in my own world. The bottled up emotions spill out, and I can paint worlds from my imagination. Sometimes, I feel weak and lost in reality, but writing gives me a power: a power to create. Writing is something I love.<br />
<b><br /></b><b>You write in a variety of different genres -- poetry, short stories, drama, nonfiction. When you get an idea, how do you decide what form it will take? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
When I get an idea, I think about which way it would be most powerful when presented. Some ideas are stronger as plays, others as poems, others as stories. I like to use poetry to communicate more abstract ideas and feelings, and I like to write plays to create closer connections between the characters and readers. I use stories to tell more vivid tales, ones which I like to pack a lot of description and emotion in.<br />
<b><br /></b><b>Do you have any advice for other writers, or for other young people going after their dreams? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I want anyone who’s interested in writing to know that in every piece of writing, there is always something special and beautiful about it, because reading someone’s writing is like hearing someone’s words from his or her heart. These words are special and amazing. My advice is to just let go when writing. Just relax and let whatever’s on your mind spill into a story. In order for your words to come out, they have to come from the heart. Never be afraid to write out your feelings into tales.<br />
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<b>Can you share a few of your favorite books or authors? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Some of my favorite books are <i>The Book Thief</i> by Markus Zusak, <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i> by Harper Lee, and <i>Mapping the Bones</i> by Jane Yolen. I like to read historical fiction, realistic fiction, and a little bit of science fiction.<br />
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<b>What inspires you? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I’m inspired by happiness, laughter, and love. I’m inspired by failure, rejection, and hurt. I’m inspired by mean people, by nice people, by people who make me cry, by people who give me hope. I’m inspired by the words people say, the feelings people feel. I’m inspired by anything that fills me with emotions, thoughts, and ideas.<br />
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<b>What are you working on now? What’s next for you? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I’m continuing to write poems, stories, and plays of all kinds, and simply enjoying the art of writing. I hope to be able to compile another collection soon.<br />
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<b>Anything else you’d like to add?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Never give up, because there is always hope until you give up. This is the most important thing I’ve learned. If you want to do something, you can do it. There is always a chance. <br />
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<b>Thank you so much, Macy!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Dear readers: you can <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/172292070X/" target="_blank">purchase your own copy of <i>Shards </i>on Amazon here</a>!</b><br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-9936762973350134512018-08-13T09:56:00.000-07:002018-08-13T09:56:10.753-07:00Interview with E.K. Baer about her New Collection!<i>Talented young writer E.K. Baer has recently published a new collection of poems titled <u>Down the Road</u> (which is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Down-Road-K-Baer/dp/1718696981/" target="_blank">available on Amazon here</a> -- there's even <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moje-cesta-Czech-K-Baer/dp/1719190755/" target="_blank">a Czech edition</a>!) This is a stunning collection that showcases her continued evolution as a poet, and her fresh insights and wisdom about the world will blow you away. And, in a testament to her compassionate soul, E.K. is donating all proceeds from book sales to charity. Buy one for yourself, and buy a copy for a friend, too! </i><br />
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<i>E.K. was kind enough to stop by the blog today to answer questions about her writing process, how this second collection differs from her first, and where she finds inspiration. You can also read the interview she did with us after publishing her first collection of poems <a href="http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/2018/01/interview-with-young-author-ek-baer.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </i><br />
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<i>Congrats on this beautiful book, E.K.! I am so proud of you. </i><br />
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<b>Take us through your writing process when you were creating <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Down-Road-K-Baer/dp/1718696981/" target="_blank">Down the Road</a>. Was this a different experience from writing your first book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Collection-Poems-K-Baer/dp/1978258410/" target="_blank">A Collection of Poems</a>? </b><br />
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When creating <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Down-Road-K-Baer/dp/1718696981/" target="_blank">Down the Road</a>, it felt as if I was suddenly ready to address all of the difficult and sad situations that I have been through over the years. When I was writing the poems of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Collection-Poems-K-Baer/dp/1978258410/" target="_blank">A Collection of Poems</a>, I wasn’t really ready to go there. So, writing <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Down-Road-K-Baer/dp/1718696981/" target="_blank">Down the Road</a> was a very cathartic experience.<br />
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<b>To you, what is the hardest part about writing? Do you have any advice for other writers who might struggle with this? </b><br />
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The hardest part for me is the time when I am inspired, but am not quite able to find the right words to weave into a poem. What helps me is to write down the thought, get up, walk away, and come back to the poem later. Personally, if I push myself to come up with something when it doesn’t flow naturally, I’m not happy with it in the end.<br />
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<b>What is the most fun or magical part of writing, for you? </b><br />
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I love being able to weave my dreams into a sort of reality in front of me.
Also, when I write I strive to make all the difficult times in my life relatable, and I feel better, in a way.<br />
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<b>How do you think you have grown as a writer since your last book was published? </b><br />
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I feel that, having read more of other people’s poetry, I have changed my style a little bit, and write a bit differently than I used to. I now feel more comfortable digging deep and letting the emotions tangled up inside of me come out.<br />
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<b>Can you share a few of your favorite poems or poets? </b><br />
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A few of my favorite poets and/or my favorite poems by them are:<br />
<ul>
<li>Mary Oliver, "Angel" </li>
<li>Robert Frost, "A Time to Talk" </li>
<li>Emily Dickinson, "Because I Could not Stop for Death" </li>
</ul>
<b>What nourishes you and fills up your creative well? </b><br />
<br />
I am inspired by everything around me – the way the trees wave in the wind, the way the crickets chirp, all in all how beautiful the world can be. I come up with a lot of my poems just by looking out the window! Also, I try to turn my life experiences into a relatable form – poems.<br />
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<b>Can you give us a peek into your writing routine? </b><br />
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I really do not have a very strict writing routine – I write when I feel inspired, which is almost every day. Many days I write several poems/short stories in a day, and other days I just write one.<br />
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<b>What are you working on now? What’s next for you? </b><br />
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This summer, I was fortunate to travel a lot and see other cultures and places, which gave me a lot of inspiration. Currently, I am working on more new poems and a few short stories. I hope to create another book soon!<br />
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<b>Anything else you’d like to add? </b><br />
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When writing, I feel one needs to have people around who support you and your craft. For me, one of those people is Ms. Woodburn. She is always encouraging me and guiding me through my writing journey. Thank you, Ms. Woodburn!<br />
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<b>Aww, it is my pleasure! Thank you E.K. for taking the time to join us today and to share your beautiful thoughts on poetry and writing. </b><br />
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<b>Links:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ekbaer.com/about/" target="_blank">E.K. Baer's website</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Down-Road-K-Baer/dp/1718696981/" target="_blank">Purchase <i>Down the Road</i></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Collection-Poems-K-Baer/dp/1978258410/" target="_blank">Purchase <i>A Collection of Poems</i></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-10605984763705376232018-04-10T10:53:00.002-07:002018-04-10T10:53:56.069-07:00Interview with Young Author Daniel Williams<i>I met Daniel Williams years ago when he reached out to me as a curious young writer. Since then, we have become good email buddies and pen pals, and I am so proud of how his writing career continues to blossom. His work was featured in <u>Dancing With The Pen</u> and he self-published his own book <u>Brothers Stand Strong</u> a few years ago. Now, his new book titled <u>This is Dan</u> will be released soon. Daniel was kind enough to stop by the blog today to answer some questions about writing, publishing, and following your dreams. Welcome Daniel!</i><br />
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<b>What would you like readers to know about you as an introduction?</b><br />
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My name is Daniel Williams and I am 25 years old. I was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I graduated from North Side High School in June 2011 and attended Ivy Tech Community College back in January 2012, but left in May 2013 due to personal reasons. My hobbies are reading books and writing my own books. I like going to movies, walking in parks, going to festivals, and spending time with family and friends. What people don't know about me is that I can dance, I can cook and I can bowl as well.<br />
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<b>How did you get your idea for <i>This is Dan</i>? Take us through your writing process. </b><br />
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I just started writing out my ideas out on paper. All I needed to say about myself. I wanted to write my life story out on paper and let readers know who I am. Let them know who the real Dan is. I started writing the book in January 2016 and just kept writing it. It took me two years to write it, and I finished in January 2018. Now, I am in the process of editing and doing the finishing touches to the book.<br />
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<b>What do you like most about writing? </b><br />
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I like writing mostly because you get to tell a story about what you want to talk about. You are in control of what you write and you can give readers an insight to help them in their lives.<br />
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<b>How was writing and publishing this book different from the writing and publishing experience of your first book? </b><br />
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The last book I wrote, <i>Brothers Stand Strong</i>, was my very first book. I had little support and was just a learning experience from publishing the book. I had to learn about the writing and publishing business out on my own and it took time. Now, with this book, I have had time to really understand self-publishing and having control of my book without anyone taking that from me. I put a lot of time with my new book <i>This is Dan</i> and hope that the readers know how dedicated I was with writing the book and when it is published.<br />
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<b>Do you have any advice for other writers, or for other young people going after their dreams? </b><br />
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My advice for any aspiring writer or upcoming writer is know what you have passion for writing. Know what you want to write and study the craft of writing. Read as many writing self-help books as you can and take notes. For young people out there going after their dreams, do what you want and continue to believe in yourself.<br />
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<b>Can you share a few of your favorite books or authors? </b><br />
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Goodness, my favorite books and authors I love to read are <i>I Say a Little Prayer</i> by the late E. Lynn Harris and <i>The Battle of Jericho</i> by Sharon M. Draper. E. Lynn Harris and Sharon M. Draper are my favorite authors.<br />
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<b>What inspires you? </b><br />
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What inspires me most is myself for going after my dreams and doing what makes me happy. I can do anything once I put my mind to it.<br />
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<b>What are you working on now? What’s next for you? </b><br />
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Next for me, once my second book <i>This is Dan</i> is self-published this year, I want to do a documentary on my life about all the highs and lows of my life. I plan to continue writing another book and will write another memoir on my life when I get older.<br />
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<b>Anything else you’d like to add? </b><br />
<br />
Anyone reading this, make sure you all follow my social media sites online and see what I am up to.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Add or follow me on Facebook: Daniel Ray Williams. </li>
<li>Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @dan_delightful</li>
</ul>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-72528166346150578342018-01-31T11:23:00.001-08:002018-01-31T11:23:24.754-08:00TeenPit: mentoring, editing, support, and being taken seriously as a writer<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Guest Post by Lyric Shard </b></div>
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You know that feeling of having butterflies in your stomach? The first one flapped its wings when I saw my manuscript title by a mentor’s name, the second when I met my fellow mentees, the third when I received an email from my mentor where she said she loved my pages. Then it was continuous flapping, hundreds of butterflies all at once. I still can’t count how many are left flapping their wings in my stomach, because my TeenPit experience did not only last for the one month promised--it’s stretched until today and hopefully will remain forever.<br />
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TeenPit is a writing contest designed for high school writers, where the participants submit their first 250 words and a short pitch for a chance to be paired with a mentor. <a href="https://khopkinswriter.wordpress.com/teenpit/" target="_blank">You can go here to read about all the details for TeenPit 2018</a>. And hurry up, the very brief submission window opens on March 17th.<br />
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I first noticed a tweet from <a href="https://twitter.com/kehopkins13" target="_blank">K. Hopkins, a PitchWars mentor</a>, in early April about a contest for teens. It’s always hard to be taken seriously when you’re sixteen trying to find your way into the publishing industry. TeenPit sounded like the perfect chance where I could hear something more than "your writing is good for your age." I could get feedback about my writing <i>as a writer</i>, not as a kid, and go from there to improve.<br />
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I immediately checked it out, drafted my submission email (almost a month before the submission window opened since only first 200 entries were accepted). Then one month passed fast, and the submission day came.<br />
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Thanks to living on the west coast, the window opened at five in the morning, and more thanks to the flat tire in the middle of the road the night before, I’d just come home, meaning my brain was perfectly functioning. I was able to send the email… well, with one very embarrassing mistake which ate me up the entire time I waited for the results. <i>I wasn’t going to be picked. I couldn’t be. I sent an email in Comic Sans. They would delete it before they read it. </i><br />
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The mentor teasers started a few hours before the results were posted. My impostor syndrome, for those few hours, seemed weaker than my high hopes. However, my hopes were right. My manuscript title was there, in the list of those that made it to the mentor round.<br />
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A few rounds of screaming contest (to relieve the excitement) with my chickens later, I sat down to relax and take time to believe my eyes. Only then was I able to open the email from my mentor, <a href="http://www.kristenlepionka.com/" target="_blank">Kristen Lepionka, author of the <i>Roxane Weary</i> mystery series</a>. It was greetings, introductions, "I love your voice" and gifs. That was all that was needed, to know that the first two chapters of my manuscript and I were in good hands. The next thing I needed was to listen, understand, and be open to making changes in my manuscript.<br />
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That’s what I did. In between school, senior activities and tons of essays, I knew to give my manuscript some time to edit it. I read her notes and edited. And edited. Scenes, characters, lines—everything. It was sending those twenty pages back and forth, more polished each time until we both looked at it and thought, "That looks about perfect."<br />
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The final edits were sent in, and now it was time to wait again. The top picks were announced, they were going to go straight to <a href="http://pitchwars.org/" target="_blank">PitchWars</a>, where they’d work with mentors for two months before their entries went up for agent showcase.<br />
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I wasn’t one of them.<br />
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That was okay.<br />
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In that one month, and all the months afterwards, I’ve become friends with the mentees from TeenPit Class of '17, a group of talented teen writers who are still there for each other.
In between edits and gifs, I realized Kristen was more than a mentor. Can I call her my fairy godmother? She’s there to help get me through--from her amazing feedback and edits, to fighting impostor syndrome, or whatever is in the way.<br />
<br />
TeenPit is so much more than the contest itself. It is a community, filled with love and support that doesn’t go away when the contest is over.<br />
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<b><i>Note from Dallas: I hope you enter TeenPit 2018! <a href="https://khopkinswriter.wordpress.com/teenpit/" target="_blank">Here are all the details</a>. </i></b><div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-5601379645691088562018-01-24T12:31:00.000-08:002018-01-24T12:31:05.354-08:00Interview with Young Author E.K. Baer<i>Today I am thrilled to introduce you to my dear friend and fabulous poet E.K. Baer, who has recently released her first collection of poetry! It was one of my favorite books of 2017 and one that I think will delight and inspire all readers, young and old. E.K. was kind enough to stop by the blog today to answer a few questions about her writing process, how she finds inspiration, and the steps she took to get published. Enjoy!</i><br />
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<b>What would you like readers to know about you as an introduction? </b><br />
<br />
My name is E.K, I am 10-years old and I am from Atlanta, Georgia. My best friend is my cuddly dog Coco who inspires me to do silly stuff. I has been writing poems ever since I can remember. Besides writing, I love to sing, play the violin and the piano. Music gives me the tempo and inspiration for my poems and helps transport me to the places that I write about.<br />
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<b>Take us through your writing process when you were creating <i>A Collection of Poems</i>. </b><br />
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<i>A Collection of Poems</i> started as just a bunch of random poems that came to mind. Writing has always helped me with whatever problems I encountered in my life. When I was writing these poems, it was not with the intent to publish a book. The idea of making it a book formed over the course of several months. It wasn’t until I met Ms. Dallas Woodburn that the possibility of making my poems into a book became a reality. Ms. Woodburn has been such a wonderful mentor! She assisted me in editing all my poems and formatting the book. This collection took me a couple of years to write, edit and publish. I am now thrilled to share it and I hope you enjoy my poems.<br />
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<b>What do you like most about writing? </b><br />
<br />
What I like most about writing is how it is a way to organize your thoughts, to put your life and dreams into a legible form, to spread your creations with the world. Writing is a freeing experience – the satisfaction after your mind races around with inspiration is tranquilizing.<br />
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<b>What surprised you the most about the publishing process? </b><br />
<br />
What I found quite surprising was the amount of work and time that went into publishing just when I thought I was done. ☺ I learned a lot through the whole process. It takes a lot of thought and consideration to figure out the right order of poems, an interesting cover and – hopefully – a good title!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlSy0ygeK8Sz2ns7ocZkIx7tM7webG8LU32gY2bsDXBv_E9npn2hmvvCAi2d1ALnSzEKay50CZygJpCSTRZgpxun9wL8Dsz2E-Lk8z3CmBdA-6kEkPkBWbdZ6i_zpJcm6T7PhAXodbD8/s1600/a+collection+of+poems.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlSy0ygeK8Sz2ns7ocZkIx7tM7webG8LU32gY2bsDXBv_E9npn2hmvvCAi2d1ALnSzEKay50CZygJpCSTRZgpxun9wL8Dsz2E-Lk8z3CmBdA-6kEkPkBWbdZ6i_zpJcm6T7PhAXodbD8/s320/a+collection+of+poems.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>Do you have any advice for other writers, or for other young people going after their dreams? </b><br />
<br />
Wow, this is difficult because I myself could use some good advice! I feel like some of my best work comes from the times when I do not worry about what other people think or do and when I simply focus on what I am currently writing. I find that it helps me when I can let go of the outside world. I would like to hope that I write some of my best poems when I am ready to describe all my feelings and experiences with pure honesty. I hope that it makes my poems into stories that other people can relate to.
I once received a helpful advice about entering my work into contests. The suggestion was to try and put it out of my mind as soon as I click “submit” and try to forget about it. That way I can go on and focus on new work. It is not easy, though, because we are putting ourselves out there every time we share our work. I am still working on it myself.<br />
<br />
<b>Can you share a few of your favorite books or authors? </b><br />
<br />
Some of my favorite authors and books by them are:<br />
• <i>3 a.m., There’s a Huge Pimple on my Nose</i> – Dallas Woodburn<br />
• <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> – Jane Austen<br />
• <i>Jane Eyre</i> – Charlotte Brontë<br />
• <i>A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court </i>– Mark Twain<br />
• <i>The Giver</i> – Lois Lowry<br />
• <i>The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers</i> – Alexander Dumas<br />
• <i>Blue Horses, A Thousand Mornings</i> – Mary Oliver<br />
• <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i> – Harper Lee<br />
<br />
<b>What inspires you? </b><br />
<br />
I am inspired by my favorite authors, as listed above, by the sounds and movement of nature, by my Mom, things people say in the booth next to us at dinner, my dog, Coco, the song of the birds, the whistle of the wind, and a cloud of thoughts. Inspiration never stops rushing to mind. Sometimes it seems as if inspiration is everywhere, floating around in little bubbles, ready to be used for stories or poems, but first you must catch it. ☺<br />
<br />
<b>What are you working on now? What’s next for you? </b><br />
<br />
Currently, I am working on poems for my next book, which I hope to publish very soon! I also continue to submit my poems and short stories to various competitions.<br />
<br />
<b>Anything else you’d like to add? </b><br />
<br />
Thank you for your interest in my new book. I wish everyone the best of luck. Always follow your dreams and never give up!
<br />
<br />
<b>Links:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Collection-Poems-K-Baer/dp/1978258410" target="_blank">Order your own copy of <i>A Collection of Poems</i> on Amazon</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://ekbaer.com/about/" target="_blank">Visit E.K.'s website</a>!</li>
</ul>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-16773594897355927792017-11-17T12:09:00.000-08:002017-11-17T12:09:31.616-08:00Interview with Young Author Marina Baker<i>I am so excited to feature an interview today with young author Marina Baker, who I have been honored to know for a few years now. She has participated in <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/summer-writing-programs/sample-page/" target="_blank">Write On's Summer & Winter Writing Camps</a> and she is also a featured author in <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/write-on-books/dancing-with-the-pen-ii/" target="_blank">Dancing With The Pen II</a>. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Marina is a prolific and talented writer and has already published a collection of poetry titled <u>Sock Drawer</u>. Now, she is celebrating the publication of her novel <u>Escape Reality</u>, which is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Reality-Marina-Baker-ebook/dp/B071DHMS1C" target="_blank">available on Amazon here</a>. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Read on for Marina's insights about the writing process, finding inspiration, going after your goals, and publishing your work!</i><br />
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<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv10L-xyTOGXZBTq1IQkhPDdpJ0lwpMZVedP0haCyoa6ve7OAeG56rgZmk3et-Z7S53zRSp64e-5SNo8p_xs8KLUrqDYGkL8eAi65UR9Z6a3EB1sDAsFskhMkwG710pMF9zYt-FNS2Ac/s1600/marina+baker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1124" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv10L-xyTOGXZBTq1IQkhPDdpJ0lwpMZVedP0haCyoa6ve7OAeG56rgZmk3et-Z7S53zRSp64e-5SNo8p_xs8KLUrqDYGkL8eAi65UR9Z6a3EB1sDAsFskhMkwG710pMF9zYt-FNS2Ac/s320/marina+baker.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marina and her brother, Miles, in Colorado.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>What would you like readers to know about you as an introduction?</b><br />
<br />
My name is Marina Baker. I am in ninth grade and I live in Ventura, California. Some of my other hobbies, besides writing, are swimming and reading.<br />
<br />
<b>How did you get your idea for <i>Escape Reality</i>? Take us through your writing process. </b><br />
<br />
I got the idea for <i>Escape Reality</i> when my mom said that I had a little inner monster inside me after I got really mad when doing yard work. I thought that this would be really cool if I actually turned into a monster, which happens to the main character of <i>Escape Reality</i>, Lily.<br />
<br />
<b>What do you like most about writing? </b><br />
<br />
What I love most about writing is the fact that I can create a whole new world that can be my own. I also love that I can possibly inspire other people, just like how I was inspired by some of my favorite authors.<br />
<br />
<b>Marina, you are quite amazing because at your young age, this is already your second published book! (Your first, <i>Sock Drawer</i>, was a wonderful collection of poems!) How was writing and publishing <i>Escape Reality</i> different from the writing and publishing experience of <i>Sock Drawer</i>? </b><br />
<br />
I think that when I self-published <i>Sock Drawer</i> I was new to the world of publishing. One big difference was that my parents and I really had to set up the font size and page breaks, everything like that. When publishing <i>Escape Reality</i> I didn't have to worry about that as much, because the book was published as a Kindle eBook. I think that both experiences were very important and memorable.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXcxRg414an1CRUMvN43g9aZsWDeuvdRnKvoVpDycG7RAMekR_oAppGQ5enZ2COu4oaBah0FGd7uYmbHkuYiDndtpKNLzhxRrXjypg-hgXLixXeDS8QUS3Mv3l8XIYDjnPTrwJR8EiEQ/s1600/escape+reality+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="386" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXcxRg414an1CRUMvN43g9aZsWDeuvdRnKvoVpDycG7RAMekR_oAppGQ5enZ2COu4oaBah0FGd7uYmbHkuYiDndtpKNLzhxRrXjypg-hgXLixXeDS8QUS3Mv3l8XIYDjnPTrwJR8EiEQ/s320/escape+reality+cover.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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<b>Do you have any advice for other writers, or for other young people going after their dreams? </b><br />
<br />
For other authors, I would say to keep working for your goals. If I had scrapped all of <i>Escape Reality</i> because of the first page, I wouldn't be where I am now. For other young people, I would say the same. Go with your gut and keep pushing because you are going to achieve great things. <br />
<br />
<b>Can you share a few of your favorite books or authors? </b><br />
<br />
One of my favorite books is the <i>Harry Potter</i> series by JK Rowling. I really look up to JK Rowling and think that she is an amazing author. Another one of my favorites is the <i>Selection</i> series by Kiera Cass. I would definitely recommend both of them.<br />
<br />
<b>What inspires you? </b><br />
<br />
I am really inspired by other writers as well as my cat, Chanel. I also really like to write about magic and far off places.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>What are you working on now? What’s next? </b><br />
<br />
Right now I am working on a story about an escaped prisoner. I don't really know how it is going to pan out, but I really like it so far, and I hope that I can stick with the story.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Anything else you’d like to add? </b><br />
<br />
Some other things about me: I am addicted to <i>Harry Potter</i> books. I just love the story so much!!!
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Links:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Reality-Marina-Baker-ebook/dp/B071DHMS1C" target="_blank">Order Marina's book <i>Escape Reality</i> here</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://writeonbooks.org/write-on-books/dancing-with-the-pen-ii/" target="_blank">Learn more about <i>Dancing With The Pen II</i> here</a>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-46644859710751054752017-11-09T19:45:00.000-08:002017-11-09T19:46:33.834-08:00Guest Post: Boost Your Mood and Creativity with Travel<div class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_2va8fdrna1dw"></a><span lang="EN">Boost Your Mood
& Creativity With Travel</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">by Henry Moore</span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Your job performance requires you to think
creatively, but lately, you’ve been finding that harder and harder. It’s not
that you cannot do your job, but the stress is sapping your creativity and
making things more difficult. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rather than start searching for a new job,
consider planning some travel. Heading out for even just a few days can
recharge your spirit, boost your creativity, and improve your mental health. It
can even help you stay healthy. Read on to learn why vacations can be so
helpful.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Image Source: <span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/en/hands-world-map-global-earth-600497/">Pixabay</a>)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_7065t6dhftru"></a><span lang="EN">Mental Health Benefits Of Travel</span></span></h2>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Home is comfortable, and while that’s a great
thing, it can also leave you feeling bored uninspired. That’s why people’s mood
and creativity can decrease when you haven’t traveled in a long time. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Chopra Center lists six reasons why <a href="http://www.chopra.com/articles/6-reasons-why-traveling-is-good-for-you"><span style="color: #1155cc;">travel is good</span></a> for you: </span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">You tend to get exercise while
traveling, and that’s great for your physical health. And when your body is
healthy, your mood is better. </span></span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Stimulation from traveling
somewhere improves memory and concentration. </span></span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Engaging new people and cultures
boosts your creativity. </span></span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">A relaxing trip reduces your
stress and decreases depression. </span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Traveling broadens your
perspectives, allowing you to find solutions you never thought about before. </span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">You can build relationships with the
people that travel with you. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another reason why taking a trip improves your
mood and creativity is that you test your <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kimanzi-constable/how-travel-changes-your-p_b_8693094.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;">comfort zone</span></a>. It’s easy to stick with
repetitive routines at home. That’s fine, but in the long-run, you get stuck in
a rut. Breaking that up by traveling pushes you into new territory (literally
and figuratively) </span></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_6tk3ngpww4wu"></a><span lang="EN">Keeping Your Trip Relaxing</span></span></h2>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">However, not all travel is equally beneficial.
You’ve probably been on one that ended up stressful and taxing rather than
relaxing and fun. That’s why you need to follow these tips for a <a href="https://lifehacker.com/top-10-tips-for-having-a-perfect-stress-free-vacation-1722867267"><span style="color: #1155cc;">good vacation</span></a>: </span></span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Instead of saving your vacation
days for one big trip, space them out through the year so you have more to look
forward to. </span></span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Don’t create a complex plan.
Explore your options, but be sure to schedule some downtime in your itinerary. </span></span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">If you’re traveling with family or
friends, talk beforehand about guidelines and expectations so no one gets upset
because they expected something different. </span></span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Pick an underrated destination.
Crowds and tourist traps can make your trip stressful, so pick a destination
that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="normal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">If you are in <a href="http://www.treehouserehab.org/self-discovery-addiction-recovery/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">addiction recovery</span></a>, you also need to worry
about temptation and relapses when traveling. That said, you can definitely
find a relaxing trip. Focus on places not known for alcohol or drugs (avoid
spring break towns, for example) and go where there are fun but sober
activities to explore. </span></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_gs5ez34wnns"></a><span lang="EN">Improve Your Creativity</span></span></h2>
<div class="normal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A relaxing trip will definitely improve your
mental health, but you also need to recharge your creativity on this trip.
That’s part of why you’re heading out somewhere new. Inc.com has a great page
explaining how you can beat <a href="https://www.inc.com/molly-reynolds/how-to-vacation-like-a-professional.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;">a creative block</span></a> by traveling, such as: </span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Bring along a few games, as
playing can improve your memory and problem-solving abilities. </span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Explore options to create
something, even if it’s just sketching some cool place you find on your trip. </span></span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Talk to people at your
destination. You can boost your creativity by learning new perspectives. </span></span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">In those scheduled downtimes, take
a moment to just daydream. Creativity can improve when you let your mind wander
on its own. </span></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_j1uwxo13v3y1"></a><span lang="EN">Recharge With A Fun Trip</span></span></h2>
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<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">Traveling can do wonders for both your mood and
your creativity. If you feel stuck in a rut, take a few days and travel
somewhere new. After meeting new places, activities, and people, you’ll be
surprised how you’ll be happier and able to think more creatively. </span><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="normal">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Henry is the co-creator of FitWellTraveler. The site blends two of his favorite subjects (travel and wellness) to provide readers with information about how to get the most out of both. He believes travel can change you, and good health preserves you.</span></i></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-33436845182466085112017-09-28T14:57:00.001-07:002017-09-28T14:57:37.540-07:00Winners of the Write On! Fiction & Poetry Prizes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSf-svQd9bUwOllTjZoNHsfcsUrdFiXYimMEQ91xuZSuwFNmOctsZLdVWm3FHD6N6937fcjKzDuhZYj_M5ctSlh_3HB4Vri2lAhm_HxT_4qMuhWbrAEo3l7JwlbxKr7h-SlIi0oBB98I/s1600/write+on+logo+for+submittable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSf-svQd9bUwOllTjZoNHsfcsUrdFiXYimMEQ91xuZSuwFNmOctsZLdVWm3FHD6N6937fcjKzDuhZYj_M5ctSlh_3HB4Vri2lAhm_HxT_4qMuhWbrAEo3l7JwlbxKr7h-SlIi0oBB98I/s320/write+on+logo+for+submittable.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I am so proud to announce the winners of our Write On! Fiction and Poetry Prizes! This was a highly competitive submissions period and we received so many excellent pieces from young writers all around the world. It was a tough decision for our judges! Congratulations to all of our winners and many thanks to everyone who entered. It was a pleasure to read your work!<br />
<br />
You can read a selection of the winning entries published on <a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Word Smorgasbord literary journal</a>.<br />
<br />
More exciting news: the Write On! Youth Drama Prizes for short plays are currently underway! <a href="https://writeon.submittable.com/submit" target="_blank">Learn more and submit your work here</a>!<br />
<br />
And now, without further ado...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Write On! Fiction Prize</span></b></div>
<br />
<b>Ages 12 & under</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Gold: Suntali Donahue, “The Dream Portal”<br />
Silver: Alex Zhong, “Hawk and Willow”<br />
Bronze: Ada Sheeran, “Survivors”<br />
<br />
Honorable Mention:<br />
<ul>
<li>Logan Chan, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/write-on-fiction-prize-winners/ages-12-under/the-fox-and-the-owl-a-tale-of-cleverness/" target="_blank">The Fox and The Owl: A Tale of Cleverness</a>” </li>
<li>Benjamin Webb, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/write-on-fiction-prize-winners/ages-12-under/the-three-little-figs-a-fairytale-adaptation/" target="_blank">The Three Little Figs: A Fairytale Adaptation</a>"</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Ages 13-18</b><br />
<br />
Gold: Victoria Saltz, “Escape”<br />
Silver: Anjali Zyla, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/write-on-fiction-prize-winners/ages-13-18/the-merry-go-round/" target="_blank">The Merry-Go-Round</a>”<br />
Bronze: Andrew Huang, “The Crash”<br />
<br />
Honorable Mention:<br />
<ul>
<li>Sydney Anderson, “The Little Blue Dragon” </li>
<li>Aidan Chisholm, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/write-on-fiction-prize-winners/ages-13-18/steps/" target="_blank">Steps</a>” </li>
<li>Vichar Lochan, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/write-on-fiction-prize-winners/ages-13-18/you/" target="_blank">You</a>” </li>
<li>Kanchan Naik, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/write-on-fiction-prize-winners/ages-13-18/to-mourn-a-flower/" target="_blank">To Mourn a Flower</a>” </li>
<li>Daisy Wang, “Five Years Later: Bitter Is The Night”</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Write On! Poetry Prize</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Ages 12 & under</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Gold: Macy Li, “One in a Million”<br />
Silver: Elisabeth Baer, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/poetry/write-on-poetry-prize-winners/ages-12-under/purple-moon/" target="_blank">Purple Moon</a>”<br />
Bronze: Samitha Nemirajaiah, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/poetry/write-on-poetry-prize-winners/ages-12-under/whisper-trees/" target="_blank">Whisper, Trees</a>”<br />
<br />
Honorable Mention:<br />
<ul>
<li>Rosalie Chiang, “Dear Mom” </li>
<li>Anika Johnson, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/poetry/write-on-poetry-prize-winners/ages-12-under/take-care-take-care/" target="_blank">Take Care, Take Care</a>” </li>
<li>Luca Pasquini, “I am from…” </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b><b>Ages 13-18</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Gold: Cameron Moore, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/poetry/write-on-poetry-prize-winners/ages-13-18/teach-your-kids-to-swim/" target="_blank">Teach Your Kids to Swim</a>”<br />
Silver: Kanchan Naik, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/poetry/write-on-poetry-prize-winners/ages-13-18/summer-angel/" target="_blank">Summer Angel</a>”<br />
Bronze: Cara Levicoff, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/poetry/write-on-poetry-prize-winners/ages-13-18/an-expose-on-time/" target="_blank">An Exposé on Time</a>”<br />
<br />
Honorable Mention:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Marina Baker, “Growing Pains” </li>
<li>Michelle Bless, “Falling Down” </li>
<li>Sam Jacovitz, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/poetry/write-on-poetry-prize-winners/ages-13-18/butterfly-effect/" target="_blank">Butterfly Effect</a>” </li>
<li>Sameed Sayeed, “<a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/poetry/write-on-poetry-prize-winners/ages-13-18/tomorrow-never-came/" target="_blank">Tomorrow Never Came</a>"</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Congratulations again to all of our winners -- it is my extreme pleasure and delight to share your work with the world! And thank you again to everyone who entered our contest and opened your minds, hearts and imaginations to our judges. We hope you go forth and create more marvelous writing to share with the world!<br />
<br />
<i><b>"Write with passion. Write with love." -Ray Bradbury</b></i></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-68151714815832951412017-06-07T17:28:00.001-07:002017-06-07T17:28:43.524-07:00Write On! Youth Fiction and Poetry Prizes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmBSiQhkDskCPz05snzaCMT3J4gtcbrmQweZYqr0CBylgBJ9Yu3Ouo6kwCg4N2W1jwOX1YpueDmZo_RC8-kbDQIYiCFJ8YS_Xoum9vjfJwocNzyTEbIsbIXnp_iuqb40OSGj-V9lvU5U/s1600/write+on+logo+for+submittable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmBSiQhkDskCPz05snzaCMT3J4gtcbrmQweZYqr0CBylgBJ9Yu3Ouo6kwCg4N2W1jwOX1YpueDmZo_RC8-kbDQIYiCFJ8YS_Xoum9vjfJwocNzyTEbIsbIXnp_iuqb40OSGj-V9lvU5U/s400/write+on+logo+for+submittable.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Ten years ago, I held the first <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/summer-writing-programs/sample-page/" target="_blank">Write On! Summer Writing Camp</a> for young writers. In the years since:
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://writeonbooks.org/summer-writing-programs/sample-page/" target="_blank">Summer Writing Camp</a> has expanded to two summer weekends with sessions in both the morning and afternoon. </li>
<li>I now also offer a <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/summer-writing-programs/winter-writing-camp/" target="_blank">Winter Writing Camp</a>. </li>
<li>Dozens of students are enrolled in my yearlong <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/summer-writing-programs/guided-mentorships/" target="_blank">Guided Mentorship program</a>. </li>
<li>I have been honored to teach hundreds of young writers. </li>
</ul>
Many of my students have gone on to publish their work and win writing contests; many have become editors for their high school newspapers and literary magazines; some have even gone on to study Creative Writing and Journalism in college! I am so proud of every single one of the young writers I have had the privilege to meet and teach in the past decade.<b> All these years, one thing has remained the same: my belief in the magic of unleashing your creativity through writing.</b><br />
<br />
Exciting news! In celebration of the <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/summer-writing-programs/sample-page/" target="_blank">10th Annual Summer Writing Camp</a>—held this year in Ventura, California, on August 15, 16, 19, and 20—I am holding the <b><a href="https://writeon.submittable.com/submit" target="_blank">first ever Write On! Youth Fiction and Poetry Prizes for young writers ages 18 and under</a>!</b><br />
<br />
You can win prize money, books, a free coaching call with me… and you might even become a published writer! Read below for the rules and submission procedures. I can’t wait to read your work!
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Prizes in all categories are: </b><br />
<ul>
<li><u>First place</u>: $50, a free 30-minute coaching call with me, a signed copy of my book of short stories <a href="https://www.amazon.com/3-m-collection-short-stories/dp/0595357865/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">3 a.m.</a>, and publication of your work on <a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Word Smorgasbord online literary magazine</a></li>
<li><u>Second place</u>: $25, a signed copy of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/3-m-collection-short-stories/dp/0595357865/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">3 a.m.</a>, and publication of your work </li>
<li><u>Third place</u>: a signed copy of 3 a.m. and publication of your work </li>
<li><u>Finalists</u>: publication of your work </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Contest Rules: </b><br />
<ol>
<li>This contest is judged BLIND, which means no identifying information should be on your entry. You will submit your name, age and contact information through the submission form. If your name is included on your entry, it will be disqualified. </li>
<li>Word limit: fiction should be 1,000 words or less. Poetry should be 2 pages or less. </li>
<li>There is a $10 entry fee for each piece, or you can submit 3 entries for $25. This helps fund the prizes and the administration costs of Submittable. You also have the option to purchase a copy of <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/write-on-books/dancing-with-the-pen-ii/" target="_blank">Dancing With The Pen II: a collection of today’s best youth writing</a> at the special discounted price of $15, rather than its cover price of $25. </li>
<li>You may submit as many entries as you would like, as long as you pay the entry fee for each piece you submit. </li>
<li>The contest deadline is midnight Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, August 20, 2017 (the final day of this year’s Summer Writing Camp). </li>
</ol>
<br />
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b> –> <a href="https://writeon.submittable.com/submit" target="_blank">Click here to submit your work now!</a> <–</b></b><br />
<b><b><br /></b></b>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
I can't wait to read your wonderful, beautiful, amazing, brilliant, scary, funny, thrilling, heart-wrenching, goosebump-inducing, magical, lovely stories and poems! :)</div>
</div>
<b>
</b><div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-38642984538137502372017-05-19T12:57:00.003-07:002017-05-19T12:57:45.402-07:00How Far Will Your Ripples Go?Last week, I went with my friend Marjie to UC Berkeley to see the Scottish Ballet's stunning performance of Tennessee Williams' famous play "A Streetcar Named Desire." It was my first time going to a professional ballet performance---my only previous ballet experience was attending community performances of "The Nutcracker." I always enjoyed "The Nutcracker" and was always impressed by the talent of the ballerinas. Still, I was not expecting to feel so emotionally moved and enraptured as I watched the performance last night.<br />
<br />
The dancers conveyed so much with their bodies and expressions; I forgot they were not speaking in words. Because they were speaking in movement. Even without dialogue, they were able to capture the aching hope and despair of Williams' play, and bring his story to life in a new way. What's more, this performance imagined and fleshed out a vivid backstory for Blanche's character, inspired by the original title Tennessee Williams considered for the play: "The Moth." The ballet closed with a vulnerable portrayal of Blanche as a moth, struggling to get close to the light. Illuminated in a spotlight centerstage, one of her hands fluttered skyward like a moth's delicate wings. A hush descended over the audience and some people even gasped, viscerally moved by the image, and then the curtain fell to thunderous applause.<br />
<br />
I wish Tennessee Williams could have been there to see this interpretation of his play as a ballet. I think he would have been pleased to see his story brought to life in this new way, filled with the tension and drama of music and dance.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/1tennhouse-661x1024-e1494614533633.png" href="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/1tennhouse-661x1024-e1494614533633.png"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-6268" data-mce-src="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/1tennhouse-661x1024-e1494614533633.png?w=560" height="560" src="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/1tennhouse-661x1024-e1494614533633.png?w=560" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="560" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
I have felt a connection to Tennessee Williams ever since last Thanksgiving, when my family and I traveled to New Orleans and tracked down the apartment that he had lived in during his New Orleans days at the end of his life. Serendipitously, while we were outside, taking photos and reading the small plaque affixed to the front wall, a man who lived there just happened to be returning home. He introduced himself as Brobson and invited us inside for a drink; he had lived there for many years and had known Tennessee Williams. He kindly welcomed us inside and shared many stories, even taking us around to the backyard to see the pool where Tennessee used to relax in the afternoons. (My dad wrote a terrific two-part column about our visit with Brobson, <a href="http://woodywoodburn.com/act-ii-southern-hospitality/" target="_blank">which you can read here on his website</a>.)<br />
<br />
Before that day, Tennessee Williams had been larger-than-life to me; a name in a list of Great Writers I Admire; a photo on a Wikipedia page. But seeing where he had lived and meeting someone who had known him turned him into a real person. There were surely days he struggled to write, as I sometimes do. Days when he doubted himself. Days when he wanted to give up. "A Streetcar Named Desire" was once merely a glimmer of an idea on the edge of his consciousness.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, he wrote the idea down, and he kept writing until the play was finished. Even when it was hard. Even when there were a million other things he could have been doing, or would have rather been doing. Even when he wondered if the words he was painstakingly stacking up, one after the next after the next, would amount to anything at all.<br />
<br />
Tennessee Williams had no way of knowing how much his plays would impact people and how far the ripples of his creativity would extend. He had no way of knowing that on a Thursday evening in Berkeley thirty-seven years after his death, hundreds of people would be moved to tears from a new portrayal of the characters he had dreamed up.<br />
<br />
None of us know how far our own ripples will go. The gifts we create. The lives we touch. The kind words we share. All of these are stones dropped into water. What was once still is now in motion.
<br />
<br />
You have no idea how your daily actions might inspire others. What you do and make today might affect someone tomorrow, or next week, or ten years from now. Others in the future might learn from you and build upon what you have done, creating something of their own that is entirely new and wonderful, something else that will launch more ripples out into the world.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><a data-mce-href="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/2566986256_e5310a0dfc_b.jpg" href="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/2566986256_e5310a0dfc_b.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-6269" data-mce-src="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/2566986256_e5310a0dfc_b.jpg?w=560" height="372" src="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/2566986256_e5310a0dfc_b.jpg?w=560" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center;" width="560" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">{<a data-mce-href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/liberato/2566986256/in/photolist-4UQtzJ-UnkTAB-TYvaU7-Th6Q33-6SurQC-UmZPGV-nE9cXs-eP3qJA-aGSZik-6WseQh-QKjCeZ-eP3pNC-cyyWHq-aGSHVp-8dhPhU-fdxB5s-8Z8kE5-o861FX-UAsnfQ-njDwMi-eWYhae-SJ71GH-6Wof7n-Rzu7ps-aGSYo2-aaKWkp-Me993-99DuPA-rAhUEx-a3Y36e-d4QcPo-a3Y3GZ-SoE5Nx-RQfv1T-nquMiW-U3RfdZ-mk6c3n-UoG97L-TtKYFK-d7yXSY-GJ7imq-Sg94ob-nZh7CX-ee2rGd-bzmcgK-5ct9ur-91fD1B-m7XkGU-oCW244-ng8wXt" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/liberato/2566986256/in/photolist-4UQtzJ-UnkTAB-TYvaU7-Th6Q33-6SurQC-UmZPGV-nE9cXs-eP3qJA-aGSZik-6WseQh-QKjCeZ-eP3pNC-cyyWHq-aGSHVp-8dhPhU-fdxB5s-8Z8kE5-o861FX-UAsnfQ-njDwMi-eWYhae-SJ71GH-6Wof7n-Rzu7ps-aGSYo2-aaKWkp-Me993-99DuPA-rAhUEx-a3Y36e-d4QcPo-a3Y3GZ-SoE5Nx-RQfv1T-nquMiW-U3RfdZ-mk6c3n-UoG97L-TtKYFK-d7yXSY-GJ7imq-Sg94ob-nZh7CX-ee2rGd-bzmcgK-5ct9ur-91fD1B-m7XkGU-oCW244-ng8wXt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;">source</a>}</dd><br />
<div>
<br />
Back when I was in elementary school, I wrote and self-published a small book of stories and poems. Nearly two decades later, I received an email from a composer named Alex Marthaler at Carnegie Mellon University. He was creating a song-cycle around the theme of childhood and adulthood, and he had somehow discovered my little book. Would it be okay if he used some of my poems as lyrics for the songs he wanted to compose?<br />
<br />
<i>Yes! </i>I quickly responded. <i>Yes, that would be amazing! </i>
<br />
<br />
Would I be willing to write a few companion poems, responding to the themes of the poems I had written as a child, now from an adult perspective?
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Yes, yes! What a fun project! </i>
<br />
<br />
And it was an extremely fun project, unlike anything else I had done before or since. I looked at the poems my child-self had written with fresh eyes and new appreciation, and I wrote new poems that were in conversation with them. It was like talking to the girl I had once been, and listening to her replies. She helped me remember why I first fell in love with writing to begin with. The magic of setting your thoughts down onto paper, and then releasing those words into the universe. Like launching hundreds of miniature paper airplanes into the sky.
<br />
<br />
I sent him the new poems, and a few months later, Alex sent me the recordings of the songs. Listening to them, I was blown away with wonder. Who would have imagined that a few little poems I wrote in pencil on lined notebook paper at my kitchen table when I was nine years old, would one day be turned into beautiful songs performed at Carnegie Mellon?</div>
<div>
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<br />
<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 251px;" id="attachment_6270" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; width: 251px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><a data-mce-href="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/dallas-pimple-copies.jpg" href="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/dallas-pimple-copies.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6270" data-mce-src="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/dallas-pimple-copies.jpg?w=560" height="430" src="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/dallas-pimple-copies.jpg?w=560" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="241" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">{Me in fifth grade with copies of my first little self-published book}</dd></dl>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
I love this quote from Brene Brown:<b>
"Creativity is the way I share my soul with the world." </b><br />
<br />
How will you share your soul with the world? What ripples will come from what you share?
One thing I do know is that our world will be so much richer for it.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">P.S. You can listen to Alex's song rendition of my fifth-grade poem "Peanut Butter Surprise" <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/the-dallas-method/about/" target="_blank">on my website</a>, and if you'd like a copy of my first little book, <a data-mce-href="http://writeonbooks.org/the-dallas-method/about/dallass-books-2/dallass-books/" href="http://writeonbooks.org/the-dallas-method/about/dallass-books-2/dallass-books/">it's available here</a>. And <a data-mce-href="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/playground-songs-by-dallas-woodburn.pdf" href="https://daybydayorganization.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/playground-songs-by-dallas-woodburn.pdf">here is a free download</a> of my childhood poems with their adult counterparts, in case you'd like to read them.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
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<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-25540623521729615802017-04-14T10:20:00.006-07:002017-04-14T10:23:07.992-07:00How Not to Lose the Ending of a Story<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b>
<b>A Guest Post by Lucy Adams</b></div>
<br />
<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Sv925TymC3Lf8TAAqnNdczenS2tp9A6xY_YiIDfCDf3ZHpGsz4NvqrztrBTpOj3TqQLpK9tkBAr_-Z8ZxlB00_e7jVeiH545_s4OWJaGEfIiK6R7_RMp4PMi0rgU5ez74amOk20PI1c/s1600/pen+nib.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Sv925TymC3Lf8TAAqnNdczenS2tp9A6xY_YiIDfCDf3ZHpGsz4NvqrztrBTpOj3TqQLpK9tkBAr_-Z8ZxlB00_e7jVeiH545_s4OWJaGEfIiK6R7_RMp4PMi0rgU5ez74amOk20PI1c/s400/pen+nib.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/02/19/10/12/writing-1209121_960_720.jpg" target="_blank">source</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Excellent stories influence people months and even years after they are read. However, it sometimes happens that a story that seems perfect at first glance eventually does not meet the high expectations of both the author and the audience. Why does this happen?<br />
<br />
Imagine you read a book with all the components (conflict, plot, characters, <a href="http://seantaylor.blogspot.com/2016/12/hackneyed-and-innovative-ideas-for.html" target="_blank">idea</a>, symbols) in harmony, but after half a year passes you can’t recall even the name of the protagonist, let alone the details. What's the catch?<br />
<br />
In most cases, the weakest point of the book is its ending. Weak endings have buried millions of potential <a href="http://www.lucyvhayauthor.com/best-of-3-lucy-adams-freelance-writer/" target="_blank">bestsellers</a>!
Memorable stories always have a strong ending, and it seems that such stories live their own lives. Some of them become great and live for centuries, influencing the fates of readers.<br />
<br />
Today our goal is to identify and analyze the main mistakes that authors make when working on the final of the book.<br />
<br />
<b>
To begin with, let’s distinguish three main reasons that make an ending boring and unremarkable: </b><br />
<br />
1. Premature ending.<br />
2. Artificial ending.<br />
3. Fully completed ending.<br />
<br />
<h3>
#1 Premature Ending </h3>
There are several reasons that an ending might seem premature:<br />
<br />
<b>• There is a too-fast change in the character traits of the protagonist. </b><br />
For the reader, the shift in the mindset and character traits is the most important event: the climax in the story. And if it happens too early, the development of the character ceases, and hence all subsequent events seem not so significant and not so interesting to the reader.<br />
<br />
<b>• Too-fast goal achievements. </b><br />
In every story, the protagonist (as well as the antagonist) has an ultimate goal that he strives for through thick and thin. For example, to get the woman of his dreams. When this happens, the reader gradually gets bored. Therefore, if you want to change the global desire, you should introduce some plot twists as well.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>• Untypical actions. </b><br />
A coward suddenly becomes brave; an angry soldier engages in charity; a child solves Fermat's theorem, etc. Untypical actions are a sign that the events happen not for the objective reasons but the will of the author. And it’s quite disappointing for the reader!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
#2 Artificial Ending</h3>
The artificial ending is the most common mistake among aspiring writers. In most cases, the reason for such an unremarkable ending is a thoughtless plot.
Note that any narration should be a consistent system that contributes to the development of the protagonist and further change in his or her traits. Non-compliance with this rule results in a blurred ending. Although there’s often is a visible ending, the thoughtful reader will see that you did not know where you were going but simply wandered meaninglessly in the dark.<br />
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<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpDmToLY5FlRzhvCGXDzUjUhVsBaw4iuiL_uJcQONb1zM3TiRRsM2fHB_ZaZveW-KFMW6Qa0SMYB9QhlniOKhyphenhyphenrbPmcf66xeZ0uIzZvrDM1U8gS93sjMFMMzU1rh7OnV57DMitm9fHDM/s1600/typewriter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpDmToLY5FlRzhvCGXDzUjUhVsBaw4iuiL_uJcQONb1zM3TiRRsM2fHB_ZaZveW-KFMW6Qa0SMYB9QhlniOKhyphenhyphenrbPmcf66xeZ0uIzZvrDM1U8gS93sjMFMMzU1rh7OnV57DMitm9fHDM/s400/typewriter.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/11/09/14/17/machine-writing-1035292_960_720.jpg" target="_blank">source</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
#3 Fully Completed Ending</h3>
The protagonist reached his goals, changed his traits, and finally achieved complete tranquility… nothing more bothers him, and that’s cool! All the secondary conflicts are solved, and there’s nothing more to talk about. These events suggest that the story is over. But in fact, it should not be so! The achieved calmness is temporary while the change in traits does not guarantee a peaceful life! An excellent story lives for a long time because its ending is always a start of something even more intriguing!<br />
<br />
Let’s recall <u>One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest</u> by Ken Kesey. The story seems to be over. What to talk about? Suddenly the Chief escapes from the hospital to continue the work of McMurphy, thereby giving us a new meaning. The idea is still alive; it doesn’t die with the protagonist!<br />
<br />
<h3>
In Conclusion </h3>
When working on the ending of the story, authors should make sure that:<br />
<br />
• The ending is not premature and the plot develops naturally, preparing readers for the final stage.<br />
• All the secondary storylines are completed.<br />
• The protagonist has reached the goal or failed the mission.<br />
• There are no questions left regarding the main characters.<br />
• The ended story gives birth to a new one and leaves room for thought.<br />
<br />
I wish you best of luck in your <a href="http://www.1sthappyfamily.com/2017/02/10-tips-to-boost-your-writing-skills.html" target="_blank">writing endeavors</a>!<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Bio:
Lucy Adams is a blogger and <a href="https://buzzessay.com/writing-services/essay-help" target="_blank">essay helper</a> from BuzzEssay. She covers a wide range of topics, from education to psychology. Lucy is a generalist ready to prepare a few guest posts exclusively for your blog. Feel free to suggest something interesting, and you will get a fast and grounded response!</i><div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-83038093111179182372017-03-15T16:25:00.000-07:002017-03-15T16:25:20.421-07:00Celebrating Success<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For most of the year, my job as a writing teacher is a slow, gradual process with my students… helping them write more clearly and expansively, broaden and deepen their thinking, and discover more joy and freedom in the act of writing. Like training for a marathon, it is a “slow and steady” endeavor. I see their growth, but sometimes it is harder for them to see it.<br />
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Then, every so often, there are spectacularly exciting days. Days when I receive their giddy emails and phone calls and I get to celebrate with them. Days when their hard work and hours of time are rewarded.<br />
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Just in the past few weeks, I have learned that my students were honored in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards with a whopping 7 Gold Keys, 11 Silver Keys, and 3 Honorable Mentions; Honorable Mention in the national Princeton University High School Poetry Contest; and National Finalist honors in the American High School Poets Just Poetry Competition.<br />
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Sometimes the successes are more personal, such as my student who proudly told me that he received a perfect score on an in-class English essay “for the first time ever!!” He said, “I didn’t think I could do that.” I knew he could.<br />
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Recently, I received an email from one of my adult students -- who is finally, bravely working on a book that has been bouncing around in her mind for years -- that simply said: "Thank you for helping me break through my inertia." After years of thinking she was not good enough to try her hand at writing, she is now getting her words and ideas down on paper. <br />
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I am so grateful for my students, who remind me daily the power of persistence and who fill my life with imagination and enthusiasm. I am so proud of them. It fills my heart to see them gain pride and confidence in themselves.<br />
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<i><b>Would you like to work with me?</b> </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I currently have a select number of spots available in my <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/summer-writing-programs/guided-mentorships/">Guided Mentorship</a> and <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/summer-writing-programs/online-tutoring-services/online-tutoring/">Online Tutoring</a> programs for young writers, as well as my <a href="https://daybydaymasterpiece.com/coaching/">Writing Coaching programs</a> for adults. <a href="https://daybydaymasterpiece.com/coaching/">Contact me</a> to learn more and book your free 20-minute consultation call with me. I'd love to help you, or your child, gain confidence in your ideas and tell the stories that matter most to you. Let's work together to reframe writing for what it truly is: a tool of connection and empowerment! </i><div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-58709828174871467512017-02-22T11:08:00.000-08:002017-02-22T11:08:44.787-08:00"The Great Sledding Hill" by young writer Benjamin Webb<i><br /></i>
<i>Today I am proud to publish this wonderful story by young writer Benjamin Webb. If you are interested in reading more work by young writers, why not order a <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/?page_id=383">personalized copy of <u>Dancing With The Pen II: a collection of today's youth writing</u> here</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Pen-II-collection-writing/dp/1533592853/">on Amazon here</a>.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sean_oneill/3126515349/in/photolist-5Lhd64-bYfgZo-jhG465-jLhEy6-aQwtS-p6gkTn-7cUzr-iCEriR-bf82G8-9brJqS-qoVHkU-65YS7K-tNzAy-4j5o9t-tBH5K-651sZc-5WYprL-5Sirjj-7Cjs3D-eciyWn-tNzqA-ecpjMG-655GD9-tBGMs-tNzmt-7BREnF-6646Db-ecppCy-9iuWoT-655EBy-9boCmX-7xVDFh-rNH1J-jhDCud-9M6ybc-6KK4zM-dTFY8x-thMfS-957gXc-5TJobV-dTFYcD-5TAVf8-5VX7ph-669SSN-651rU6-akhvXF-2AnLYg-qCio4N-63icH9-9etukE">source</a>)</td></tr>
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<b>The Great Sledding Hill </b></div>
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by Benjamin Webb</div>
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The car thumped on the road surrounded in milky white snow. My dad and I were going to a school because behind it there was supposed to be a sledding hill.<br />
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Soon we arrived and my dad parked in a parking lot by what looked like a colorful playground. It was hard to see anything because of the snow falling. When I got out of the car I saw the school. It had three floors!<br />
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My dad got out my orange sled and we walked to a metal gate.<br />
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“How do we get past?” I asked. “It looks locked -- we won’t be able to go sledding!”<br />
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“Let’s try,” my dad said and pushed on the gate. Suddenly the gate swung open.<br />
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“That did the trick!” I shouted to be heard over the howling wind.<br />
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We walked for a minute and I started falling down a slope. My dad grabbed me and pulled me back up. “Be careful,” he warned.<br />
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Then I realized that it was not a small slope, it was the hill. It was bigger than our house! <i>You could go skiing on this hill,</i> I thought. <i>Maybe it’s too big.</i><br />
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“Get in the sled,” my dad said.<br />
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I got in.<br />
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“Ready?” my dad asked.<br />
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“Ready” I said slowly. My heart was pounding as I took off down the hill. “Whoa!” I hollered, “This is better than a roller coaster!”<br />
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<i>Uh oh,</i> I thought. There was a bump in the hill. The sled flung over the bump and I landed in the soft snow.<br />
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“That was something,” I said finally. “I have gone sledding before, but this hill is amazing!”
I got up and brushed the snow out of my mittens. Everything seemed okay.<br />
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The wind died down and it wasn’t as cold. “Wait -- how am I going to get back up?” I questioned. “Well, I think I have to climb.” I started running up the hill as my sled dragged behind me. “This isn’t too bad,” I said. “Climbing is easy.”<br />
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Then I tripped and fell down and noticed some gray concrete stairs. “That is probably easier than climbing.” I laughed and started going up the stairs.<br />
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When I got up to the top, my dad waved. I went down the hill over and over again.<br />
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<i>Benjamin is 9 years old and loves math, cats, animals, and video games. He has a fish named Rainbow and a cat named Misha. He also likes swimming, hiking and loves drawing.</i><div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-48114483320307893842017-02-09T07:42:00.000-08:002017-02-09T07:42:51.133-08:00Interview with Young Author Caylen D. Smith<i> A few months ago, I was super impressed to read about young author Caylen D. Smith <a href="http://www.vcstar.com/story/money/business/2016/10/29/brf-business-briefs-author/92574120/">in my hometown newspaper</a>. Her self-published "Guardian" series of books is amazingly popular -- the second book in the series, </i>Uneven Odds<i>, even garnered a spot on the Apple iBooks Young Adult New Releases! I reached out to Caylen through her website and she was kind enough to give her time for an interview. I am thrilled to feature her on the blog today! Her story is inspirational and filled with practical writing advice. Read on for more about Caylen, in her own words! </i><br />
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<b>What would you like readers to know about you as an introduction? </b><br />
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My author name is Caylen D. Smith (the D stands for dramatic), and my age is 21, soon to be 22! I’m a senior in college and my hometown is Agoura Hills, California. My hobbies—more likely known as addictions—are scrolling through Tumblr and working on my Tumblr blog. It’s a way to be creative. Also, that tweeting nonsense as well. I will never turn down the opportunity to read, mostly anything, but I lean more toward books that are fantasy, or contemporary novels. They are my weakness. If I am not reading or writing, I am definitely watching my favorite movies repeatedly. Mostly anything from the Marvel Universe or a Christopher Nolan film.<br />
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<b>Describe your path to publication. How did you get your idea for the first book? Take us through your writing process. </b><br />
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The idea of the first book, <i>Ripples: Book One of the Guardian Series</i>, was sparked by a dream. The difficult part about it was that I didn’t remember everything that happened. All I remember was there were rebels, a girl and her friends that lived in a huge house, and a lighthouse abandoned on the beach. Not writing down exactly everything in the dream when I first woke up was my fault, but I somehow managed. I thought it would be interesting to name these strangers, and create backgrounds for them as well. Surprisingly, Landon was the first, then came Alexandria, the main character. The rest just followed. I invented their storylines, daily lives and what made them important to the story itself.<br />
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I never really thought of putting my work out there to sell. I didn’t think it was quite possible because all I wanted was to write and see where these characters would go on this little adventure I placed them in. Actually, my mother was the one who pushed me to publish my stories. We sent out a few drafts to some companies that were interested, but no offers. So, we decided to self-publish instead. Every now and then we would purchase magazines about self-publishing, and found sites about authors who went that route. It seemed easy enough, but using an editor was something we didn’t think to find at first. Though once we realized how important it was, we found an editor with the help of a friend. We checked out artists on the internet who created book covers too. And soon we had a team that I have used for all three of the <i>Guardian</i> books.<br />
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<b>Have you been writing for a long time? What do you like about writing?</b><br />
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Surprisingly, I didn’t start out like other authors. Many say in interviews that they have always aspired to be writers, or how they began to write when they were children. I became passionate with the writing world when I was a tenth grader in high school. That was less than six years ago that I aspired to be a writer. Since then, I have completed nine full manuscripts – three of which have been published. Writing is a complicated thing. I think creating worlds and characters is what keeps me interested. Having to make up backstories of characters and how they got to the point where the book started, and weave in their own unique stories throughout the novel is a challenge I like to make for myself. Like why is this character always angry? Or how can this character have this much joy in their heart? What they look like, smell, and what are their favorite foods—their hobbies and wants. It is what helps me make their world.<br />
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<b>What has been the most surprising thing to you in your journey as an author?</b><br />
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The most surprising thing has to be that people actually enjoy reading my books. I know there is this sense that “you are your toughest critic” but all my life I didn’t think I was that great of a writer. That was why I placed myself so low on the food chain, but the funny thing is that each part of the food chain is important in its own way. Each one has a special gift in their own role in life.<br />
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<b>Do you have any advice for other writers, or for other young people going after their dreams?</b><br />
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<b></b>Write what you want to write. I see all the time the contradictions on the internet. For example, one side wants less random death in stories, and the other side can’t get enough of emotional pain. I think, if done appropriately, character death is highly essential for the plot. People die in real life all the time, and having that in the story gives a sense of reality. In one way, listening to the readers is extremely important. Their voices do matter, don’t get me wrong -- but also be aware that not everyone is going to like one thing or the other in a story.<br />
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<b>Can you share a few of your favorite books or authors? </b><br />
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Well, author wise it would have to be Flannery O’Connor, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Colleen Hoover, and Meg Cabot. Each of these authors has a special place in my heart. If I ever need inspiration to help me as a writer, I look to these wonderful people. Especially O’Connor, since she is extremely quirky. My favorite books are <i>The Great Gatsby</i> by F. Scott Fitzgerald, <i>Lord of the Flies</i> by William Golding, <i>We Were Liars</i> by E. Lockhart, and <i>The Scorpio Races</i> by Maggie Stiefvater.<br />
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<b>What inspires you? </b><br />
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Music inspires me. I cannot write without some type of song playing in the background. The way movies can capture true emotion for the audience is through lyrics and sound, and I use that to my advantage. Music tells its own story with words as well, and it helps me paint a scene in my head, or an emotion I am trying to convey for my characters.<br />
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<b>What are you working on now? What's next for you? </b><br />
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With the <i>Guardian Series</i> finished, meaning the fourth book is done, just needs to be edited and cover reveal and all, I am working on this new project of a story retelling of Robyn Hoode. Yes, that is the spelling. I told myself if I were to do a retelling it would have to be on something that has not been constantly retold. So, this was the story that I saw less of on the shelves and wanted to give it a chance and see what I could create.<br />
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<b>Anything else you'd like to add? </b><br />
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I know the thought of self-publishing can be taboo in the writing world, but times are changing. It takes finding a wonderful team (editor, cover artist, and proof readers) that can help you along your path. It might be one of the best decisions you can make, if you are more focused on getting your story out there than receiving money right away. Those who start from the bottom sooner or later can reach the top. And that is an inspiring story to be told.<br />
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<b>Links:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9853130.Caylen_D_Smith">Caylen's Goodreads page</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Caylen-D.-Smith/e/B00RS3QSQW/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1">Purchase Caylen's books on Amazon</a></li>
</ul>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-81965028201836610122017-01-27T00:30:00.000-08:002017-01-27T00:30:01.808-08:00How to Get Published: Some of My Advice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi, everyone! It's hard to believe it is almost the end of January already! Some of you might have a goal to get published in 2017. One of my <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/summer-writing-programs/guided-mentorships/">writing mentees</a> sent me some questions the other day about publishing, and I thought it would be a great topic to explore a little more here on the blog. Here are her questions, and my answers. The main take-away is that there are a variety of options to publish your work -- all it takes is a little exploring and bravery to find them and submit!<br />
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And, if you have a flash-fiction story, essay, or poem you are interested in getting published online, please feel free to send it my way! I am currently accepting submissions for this blog and for the <a href="https://wordsmorgasbord.wordpress.com/">WordSmorgasbord</a> online literary journal.<br />
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<b>How do I find a publisher that will publish my book? </b><br />
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There are some small publishers that you can submit your work directly to -- here is a website listing many of them: <a href="http://www.everywritersresource.com/bookpublishers/taking-submissions/">http://www.everywritersresource.com/bookpublishers/taking-submissions/</a><br />
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You will want to read through the publisher's website to get a sense of what they are looking for and if your book might fit.
For submitting to traditional publishers -- big publishers like Random House and Scholastic, that you see in bookstores-- you need to have an agent. You can find agents listed in books like Jeff Herman’s Guide to Literary Agents and The Writer’s Market, magazines like The Writer and Writer’s Digest, and websites such as <a href="http://www.agentquery.com/">www.agentquery.com</a>. When you find an agent you like, you send a "query" to the agent, which is a short letter about yourself, any publishing credits and writing experience you have, and why this book you have written needs to be published. This is where you sell yourself and make the agent want to read your work. Depending on the agent's submission guidelines, you might also send the first couple chapters and a synopsis of your book. After the agent reads this, they will contact you and ask for the entire manuscript if they are interested. And, if they like the entire book, they will ask you to sign a contract! Then they will work with you to revise the book and make it the best it can be before shopping it around to publishers.<br />
<br />
<b>Do you have a preference between self and traditional publishing?
</b><br />
<br />
I think both are excellent options -- it just depends on where you are in your writing career and what you are looking for in a publisher. I was very happy to self-publish my first two books, and I learned so much about the industry and self-promotion to have "hands on" experience publishing my own books. Now, I am looking to venture into traditional publishing -- but it is taking quite a long time, for me at least, to break in! I have had two separate agents who believed in my books, but I have yet to get a publishing deal. Of course, some authors get publishing deals much more quickly, but for me at least, the lesson has been that it takes a lot of patience. When it comes to traditional publishing, you can control the quality of your writing, but beyond that it is pretty much out of your control. I think a lot comes down to luck and timing!
Here, I have broken things down into lists of "pros" and "cons":
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING</div>
<ul>
<li>Pros: big-name publishers can help market your book, you don’t pay publishing costs, get an advance up-front, can build a relationship with editors</li>
<li>Cons: can get lost in the shuffle, lose control over book, can take a looong time, still need self-promotion!!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
SELF-PUBLISHING</div>
<ul>
<li>Pros: relatively fast, you have control over your content and cover design, you can publish what and when you want, platforms like CreateSpace make books available online to a wide audience</li>
<li>Cons: it's an investment, you bear costs up-front, self-promotion is vital, you might have a smaller audience for your work </li>
</ul>
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<div>
<b>Do you think it is necessary to have an agent?</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For traditional publishing with big-name publishers, yes, you need to have an agent. Those publishers will not accept work that is not submitted to them by agents. However, there are some smaller publishers that do accept work straight from writers, and then there is self-publishing, where you definitely do not need an agent! An agent is sort of like the connection between a big publishing house and a writer. They have established relationships with editors and, when it comes time to sell your book, they are the ones who are able to negotiate your contract. The standard rate is that an agent takes a small commission when they sell your work. They do not make any money if you do not make any money! Since my agent has not sold any of my books yet, she has not made a single penny from me (even though she has put in a lot of work on my behalf.) This just goes to show that if an agent signs you, they believe in you wholeheartedly! It is a neat relationship because you truly are a team.</div>
<div>
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div>
<i><b>***An Important Caution:</b> If an agent asks to read your work or represent you, don’t be blinded by your excitement. You want to make sure this agent is the RIGHT agent for you – an agent that will represent you with honesty and enthusiasm, treat you fairly, and work with you to become a better writer. If an agent ever asks you to pay them money to read your work, they are NOT a legitimate agent. Find out about “scam” agents on the website Predators and Editors: <a href="http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/">http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/</a></i></div>
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<div>
<b>Do you have experience having an agent?</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yes, I currently have a literary agent, who is actually my second agent -- a different agent signed me for my first book, we spent over a year working on edits, but she never felt it was "ready" to send out, and she didn't like the second novel I wrote. So we ended up parting ways and I found a new agent who I really like. Perseverance is KEY. It took me two long years to find my first agent, and another year to find my second agent. I could paper all four of my bedroom walls with rejection letters! Agents told me my book wouldn’t sell because it was too long, too short, too edgy, not edgy enough, I was too young, etc. etc. etc. But I believed in my writing and I believed in myself. I know there is a place for my novel in the literary world – I just had to find my “soulmate” agent who understood my book and who was as excited to find me as I was to find her! As of right now, I have written three novels, and my agent is currently trying to sell the third one. If this one doesn't sell, I will just work on a new novel and hope that one does! Publishing can be very fickle and confusing, and an editor might not buy your book for so many reasons -- they might be having a bad day, or they really like your writing but they already published a similar book, or the name of the main character brings up a bad memory of someone who was mean to them in elementary school. If you are rejected, it does not AT ALL mean that your writing isn't good enough. I have learned, and keep learning over and over, that the most important thing is to believe in yourself and persevere, and to enjoy the PROCESS of writing -- that is what you have control over.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Have you published without an agent?</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yes, I published my first two books without an agent, and they were both wonderful experiences -- I feel like my books were successful and I learned so much from the process! I also publish the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Pen-II-collection-writing/dp/1533592853/">Dancing With The Pen</a> series on my own through CreateSpace. I think it is a wonderful time to be a writer because there are so many avenues available to publish your own beautiful, professional books!<br />
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<br /></div>
<b>Is it important to read the submission guidelines before submitting to an agent?</b><br />
<br />
Yes! There are so many agents and they all want slightly different things, so it is CRUCIAL to read submission guidelines. You don't want the agent to think that you are sending out submissions to hundreds of different agents -- you want them to know that you chose them specifically because you think they will like your work based on what they have represented before. A great way to find agents is to look in the acknowledgments section or on author websites of books you really like that you think are similar to the book you want to publish. Usually you will be able to find the name of that author's agent, and then you can go on that agent's website and see if they are accepting new clients. Then it is really important to carefully read the submission guidelines and follow them when you send the agent your work! For example, some agents want to see the first three chapters; others want to see the first ten pages; some want you to attach your document; others want you to paste it into an email. The rules may seem silly or small, but if you don't follow them, your submission won't even be read!<br />
<b><br />Do you think there is an advantage to having someone else look at your writing before publishing?</b><br />
<br />
Yes! Again, I could not agree more with this question! I think having someone else -- and it does not have to be a professional editor, it could also be a parent, teacher, friend, or relative -- look at your writing before you publish it is absolutely crucial. They can help you catch mistakes, fix small spelling or grammar errors that your eye skips over because you have read the pages so many times, and also they can let you know if anything is confusing or might be expanded or explained better. Often as writers WE know what we are trying to say, but sometimes things get lost in translation, so it is important to get someone else's perspective. Before you publish anything, you want to make sure it is the best it can be, and having someone else look at your writing is an important step of that process.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwLaDhoZWJzexvCxE5M7e6xZf9VUDbKaDbOU37fUS5J4DtDlRs2AXKJtYOLd5gfAU_utIrBxFOITfzacrIO5sNumc1nyyDdUVt5nJ7jfF9F1U_tQdU4sY1BOKCf-B-ifpId0KMd-vG1A/s1600/writing-jjpacres-fl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwLaDhoZWJzexvCxE5M7e6xZf9VUDbKaDbOU37fUS5J4DtDlRs2AXKJtYOLd5gfAU_utIrBxFOITfzacrIO5sNumc1nyyDdUVt5nJ7jfF9F1U_tQdU4sY1BOKCf-B-ifpId0KMd-vG1A/s400/writing-jjpacres-fl.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-10043296860744142942017-01-08T17:03:00.000-08:002017-01-08T17:04:42.190-08:00New Story by "Dancing With The Pen II" Contributor Vivek Bellam<i>Today we continue our <u>Dancing With The Pen II</u> blog tour with an exclusive extra story by young writer Vivek Bellam, whose story "Battlebots" is featured in the book. Order a <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/?page_id=383">personalized copy of <u>Dancing With The Pen II: a collection of today's youth writing</u> here</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Pen-II-collection-writing/dp/1533592853/">on Amazon here</a>.</i><br />
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<b>Dogs Can Write?!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
by Vivek Bellam</div>
<br />
My dog Lillipup walked over to me with a pen in her mouth. Lillipup is a golden brown color. She is small, has floppy ears, and a peacock tail, and she is four years old.<br />
<br />
“Lillipup,” I said, “give the pen to me.”<br />
<br />
Lillipup ignored me and walked over to a piece of paper that had dropped on the floor. She clicked the blue pen and, when the ink touched the paper, everything she wanted to say to me appeared on the paper like magic.<br />
<br />
The pen wrote, <i>Hey Vivek. I want my teddy bear. Do you know where mom put it? </i><br />
<br />
The teddy bear is Lillipup's toy that she found when we went to visit our cousins. She liked the toy so much that we decided to bring it back home with us. Before long, Lillipup had ripped off an ear of the bear. Now the area where one ear used be is sewn together. The bear is small, has no accessories, and is the same golden color as Lillipup's fur.<br />
<br />
When Lillipup dropped the pen, I picked it up, and wrote down what I wanted to say to her, hoping she would understand it.<br />
<br />
I wrote back, <i>I don't know where Mom put your bear. Also, do you remember when we adopted you? </i><br />
<br />
When we first adopted Lillipup, I didn't like dogs. When my sister came back from looking at puppies, there was a certain dog she wanted me to see. As soon as I saw Lillipup, I immediately wanted to play with her.<br />
<br />
I didn't know if Lillipup could read the words I wrote down, but somehow, she understood. When I gave the pen back to her, she wrote, <i>You can keep the pen. And I do remember that. Why were you scared of dogs?</i><br />
<br />
I nearly shouted it, but I whispered, “Street dogs bit dad in India once and he got an infection, but I was never scared of you. Thanks for the pen, Pup. I'll write more to you later!”<br />
<br />
With that, off I went to my room with my new blue Pilot G-2 07 magical clicking pen.
<br />
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-------</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>Vivek Bellam </b>is a ten-year-old fifth grader who lives in California. </i></div>
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<b style="font-style: italic;">Links: </b></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Order </i><u style="font-style: italic;">Dancing With The Pen I</u><i> & </i><u style="font-style: italic;">Dancing With The Pen II</u><i> </i><a href="http://writeonbooks.org/?page_id=383" style="font-style: italic;">directly (personalized copies available!) </a><i>or </i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Pen-II-collection-writing/dp/1533592853/" style="font-style: italic;">via Amazon</a><i>.</i></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<i>If you have a few minutes and could </i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Pen-II-collection-writing/dp/1533592853/" style="font-style: italic;">write a review on Amazon</a><i>, that would be fantastic!</i></div>
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<i>You can also follow </i><u style="font-style: italic;">Dancing With The Pen</u><i> on </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dancingwiththepen/" style="font-style: italic;">Facebook</a><i>. We're featured on </i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10551140-dancing-with-the-pen" style="font-style: italic;">Goodreads</a><i>, too!</i></div>
</div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477856160434557991.post-86761015357103438762016-12-16T10:03:00.001-08:002016-12-16T10:04:53.517-08:00New poem: "Christmas" by Adele Carcano<i>Today we continue our <u>Dancing With The Pen II</u> blog tour with an exclusive extra poem by young writer Adele Carcano, whose piece "Because" is featured in the book. Order a <a href="http://writeonbooks.org/?page_id=383">personalized copy of <u>Dancing With The Pen II: a collection of today's youth writing</u> here</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Pen-II-collection-writing/dp/1533592853/">on Amazon here</a>.</i><br />
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<b>Christmas</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
by Adele Carcano</div>
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Christmas<br />
Jingle Bells, mistletoe, Christmas trees and joy<br />
but not without him<br />
he makes it better<br />
<br />
Jingle Bells, mistletoe, Christmas trees and joy,<br />
hot chocolate, marshmallows, blankets made of snow,<br />
he makes it better<br />
because without him there would be no...<br />
<br />
Hot chocolate, marshmallows, blankets made of snow,<br />
but not without him<br />
because without him there would be no<br />
Christmas.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i style="text-align: left;"><b>Adele Carcano </b>lives in sunny California and enjoys volleyball, playing cello and writing! </i></div>
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<i>Order </i><u style="font-style: italic;">Dancing With The Pen I</u><i> & </i><u style="font-style: italic;">Dancing With The Pen II</u><i> </i><a href="http://writeonbooks.org/?page_id=383" style="font-style: italic;">directly (personalized copies available!) </a><i>or </i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Pen-II-collection-writing/dp/1533592853/" style="font-style: italic;">via Amazon</a><i>.</i></div>
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<i>If you have a few minutes and could </i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Pen-II-collection-writing/dp/1533592853/" style="font-style: italic;">write a review on Amazon</a><i>, that would be fantastic!</i></div>
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<i>You can also follow </i><u style="font-style: italic;">Dancing With The Pen</u><i> on </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dancingwiththepen/" style="font-style: italic;">Facebook</a><i>. We're featured on </i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10551140-dancing-with-the-pen" style="font-style: italic;">Goodreads</a><i>, too!</i></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/</div>Dallas Woodburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156437061012375523noreply@blogger.com0