Jeepers Creepers!

Nearly every character in my books, somewhere along the line, eventually kicks back, slips on their Levis®, and slams back a few Cheetos®.

That practice may soon end if a new piece of legislature gets approved.

The long-reaching arm of this legislation will not only expose you to liability when you describe your characters (and their activities) in your fiction, but it will affect EVERY use of a trademarked term. Soon copywriters, article writers, nonfiction experts, and even poets will need to watch for these terms that have so thoroughly penetrated our communications. Even news commentators will need to watch what they say for fear of a lawsuit.

Here’s what the Author’s Guide says about this new development from their website http://www.authorsguild.org/news/threatens_free_expresion.htm :

Trademarks, including business names, brands, and slogans, are unavoidable and proliferating in daily life. Writers of fiction and nonfiction inevitably incorporate trademarks into their work, sometimes to comment on the particular business using the trademark, but frequently the use is merely incidental to the nonfiction or fiction writer's story ("Tom went to a McDonald's, had a Coke, and waited for the Harley to arrive.").
Just as fair use provisions of copyright law permit writers to make certain uses of copyrighted works in their own works, so do fair use and related provisions of trademark law permit writers to use trademarks in their works. One of the important protections for writers using others' trademarks is section 43(c)(4)(B) of the Lanham Act, which excludes noncommercial and news reporting uses from several types of liability under trademark law. The new law would weaken these protections, exposing writers to greater potential liability for their use of trademarks.
This would needlessly chill expression. The legitimate changes to the dilution provisions of trademark law can be made without changing the exclusions from liability contained in the current law.

Read more here: http://www.authorsguild.org/news/threatens_free_expresion.htm

Talk later,

Beth

Yet Another Reason Why Freelancing Is A Most Dangerous Profession.

http://zimdaily.com/news2/article.php/20060221143329624.html

How sad.

Talk later,

Beth

How To Write Conversationally And Easily Connect With Your Readers

We live in a nano-second world. Today's readers, harried and exhausted just don't have time to linger, quietly absorbing the glorious intricacies the English language.

Nope. Too busy. Way too tired.

This means everything you write has to appeal to the fast paced, raised on Sesame Street, weaned on MTV generation.

And as a writer, you need to deal with this reality.

But how do you do this?

Easy. Write conversationally.

Now, when you're speaking with another person, they have the benefit of watching your nonverbal communication. You wave your arms, roll your eyes, intone your voice… all these nonverbal cues clarify the message you're trying to convey.

Unfortunately, written words don't transmit nonverbal cues very easily.

That's why you must write conversationally while using absolutely every tool we can muster to make up for the lack of nonverbal communication.

Here are three of these tools:

First, as a writer, you must "word paint" your message and create as similar a message in your reader's mind as possible. This means that you must choose ultra-specific words, particularly verbs. Of course, using a few passive verbs (such as is/was/had/etc.) is inevitable.

However, whenever possible, eliminate them and replace them with a vibrant/active/visual verb. This means that a sentence such as "You are greeted" can easily transform to "Larry greets (active verb) you the minute you step in the door."

Second, you must also use ultra-specific language.

Readers cannot hear your tone of voice. They cannot observe gestures. This means that EVERY word you choose MUST carry its weight and propel your message forward.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. What do you visualize when you read this sentence?

“I drive a car.”

Weak sentence, eh? We've probably got two very different pictures in our mind. Here's a better sentence:

I drive a red car.

Closer but I'd venture to guess that our pictures are still very different.

How's this?

I drive a cherry red 2005 Porsche 911 Turbo S. Coupe with an incredible 3.6 L. Turbo engine.

OK. Now we're probably "seeing" the same car PLUS you can infer a number of my personality traits based on this car I drive.

How would your opinion change if I told you I really drive a '93 earth friendly three-cylinder Geo Metro hatch back?

I don't drive either of these cars, but by now I'm sure you're able to see how word choice can influence your reader's opinion of your message.

Lastly, you've probably heard the writer's mantra, “show, don't tell".

This sentence puzzled me for far to long. It's actually a very easy concept to understand.

Suppose you came across this line, "The food is cold."

This sentence doesn't draw a “word picture.” In fact, at this point, you're probably not even sure if "cold food" is a good or bad thing.

Here's a better phrase: Light dances on little ice crystals as the waiter carries your own little slice of heaven.

Or perhaps instead of saying, "The food is hot," write "Fragrant steam drifts upwards as..." well, I'm sure you get the idea.

So yes. Write conversationally, but choose ultra specific words.

This means you tighten your verbs. You won't get rid of every passive verb, and that's fine. However, you must pull every weapon out of your arsenal to make your reader see, taste, smell, hear, and feel this world you're creating.

Paint vivid word pictures and you'll connect with your readership like you never have before.

Beth Ann Erickson is the editor and publisher of Writing Etc., the fre* e-mag that’ll make your writing sparkle, help you write killer queries and get you onto the road to publication fast. Subscribe today and you’ll receive the e-book "Power Queries." http://filbertpublishing.com

Geriatric Dogs

Ironically I wrote about puppies yesterday.

I don’t suppose the post sat online more than an hour or so before I received the phone call.

“Mag’s not doing well. I’m taking him in this evening to put ‘em down. Tell Peder if he wants to say ‘goodbye’ he’ll need to do it today.”

My stomach turned.

Magnum, the beautiful golden lab, lived next door for the past eleven years.

He was the kind of dog that I was sure would live forever. Bouncy. Friendly. Totally without guile.

All summer, he’d lie in the sun, tail thumping whenever anyone approached. If he knew you, he’d stand and swagger closer.

“I think he had a stroke last night,” Doug (our dear neighbor, and Mag’s owner) continued, “He can’t stand up anymore. He’s in his kennel.”

I knew Mag shouldn’t spend his last day alone so Peder and I trudged next door and carefully retrieved our old friend.

Peder gingerly carried him into our kitchen. “He feels like a huge bag of rice.”

Yeah. He did. Totally without muscle tone. Except for that tail. After we got him into the living room and rested him on top of a soft cushion in front of the corn stove, Mag struggled to lift his head as if to thank us for getting him someplace warm. His tail thumped softly on the area rug.

Broke my heart.

Maggie lay in that one spot all afternoon as Peder quietly read “Eldest” on the couch nearby.

I checked on the two of them throughout the afternoon. Neither moved, the young man watching his geriatric, skeletal weakly thump his tail while studying the boy’s face as only an elder dog can.

Later, Doug retrieved his old friend. “I’m feeding him steak tonight,” he said.

Still the pain lingered. It finally sunk in that we were about to lose a long-time neighbor and dear friend.

But Magnum will not be forgotten. Not as long as he lingers in our memories.

And that’s exactly what we writers do. We capture memories, wrap them in beautiful verbal packages, and ensure the gentle souls who pass through our lives will endure forever.

And that’s exactly what I’m doing today.

May Magnum enjoy his new tromping grounds. I know he made third street just a little better.

Talk later,

Beth

Adopting Puppies

This past weekend I’ve gone ‘round and ‘round trying to decide if we’re going to open our home to a new puppy from the Humane Society.

Lucy (our Rat Terrier Wonder Dog) is five years old and seems to miss going to her doggie classes. No, I don’t think she misses the obedience practices, but she does miss playing with other dogs.

I know this because her little face just lights up when she gets a chance to play with her neighbor friend, Pika, the bouncy black lab.

(Side note, if you’ll remember, Lucy stopped attending dog classes after the instructor, in a fit of rage upon discovering Lucy wasn’t listening as intently as she should on a hot Sunday afternoon, nearly hung Lucy and pummeled her little spotted dog body against the agility tunnel. Today Lucy’s fine, but she doesn’t have much of a desire to go to classes. I don’t blame her. I don’t feel like going either.)

But back to puppies… I dunno.

I keep my eye on the Humane Society listings, I almost drove there to just take a look at the dogs available, but I just can’t bring myself to adopt yet.

What if Lucy doesn’t like the new addition to our family? What if they fight over food? What about Lucy’s perches? Will she share them? And the toys, will Lucy attack anyone who tries to pick them up?

Too many questions.

Guess I’ll hold off until all the stars align perfectly for this project.

Talk later,

Beth

Doom

Yesterday, I gave my dear son the “best Valentine’s Day present ever.”

Chocolate? Nope.

Candy? Nope.

Flowers? You’ve gotta be kidding. No way. The kid’s 16.

Nope. But what I did give him, well it was a huge hit.

You see, we were killing time at our local Wally World and as he meandered through the video department, his eyes landed on the latest DVD releases.

And there it sat: “Doom, the unrated version.”

Dang. I actually sat through that entire movie at the theater. I knew the boys (meaning my husband and son) really enjoyed it. And now that same testosterone-addled cinematic triumph sat on the shelf beckoning us to pick it up.

And that we did.

Peder clutched it throughout the store, occasionally releasing it from his chest to take another gander at the DVD extras.

Talk about anticipation.

When we finally got home, I got a good look at the packaging.

Now, marketers and writers… listen up here. This gets interesting.

If you’ll recall, Doom became popular during the long-lost days of DOS. It was a total word of mouth phenomenon generated during the grand days of “Shareware.”

Now, using the shareware model of software sales, Id (the makers of Doom) gave away one level of the game free. If you enjoyed the game, you could order the full version of Doom and voila… they made a sale.

This technique launched Id. According to the documentary I watched last night (on the Doom DVD extras page) Id sold somewhere around 2 million copies of Doom’s full version because they’d distributed millions of copies of their demo.

Wow. Talk about an interesting sales technique. Can anyone say “viral?”

In fact, that same sales technique worked on my family.

In the early 90s, we received a free game on a box of cereal called “Chex Quest.” We didn’t know it at the time, but Id had given the cereal company permission to use the Doom engine to power Chex Quest. We loved the game.

Soon, we absolutely NEEDED more levels. I dug a little and found out Doom powered the freebie game. Before you could say “computer violence,” I’d already picked up our own copy of Doom… later Doom II… then Doom 3… and just yesterday, Doom—the movie.

Here’s the kicker: Guess what’s included on the Doom movie DVD?

A demo of Doom 3 for Xbox.

They’re still giving away demos. The technique must sell software.

Now, just think how you can you apply this bit of marketing info to your writing career….

Talk later!

Beth… who’s getting back to work. And no. I don’t play Doom on company time. Really I don’t. Honest. (OK. I do. But only when I get stuck. Really stuck. And then I don’t play it long. Only long enough to get going again. Oh, and just in case you’re wondering, I’m not a Doom fan. Well, not really. Just kinda… Way too violent for me. Well, not really. I have been known to plaster a few imps into peanut butter. I didn’t just say that, did I? Jeepers. I think I’ll just quit typing. Talk later.)

J. Peterman

Still on my writing binge. Still feels great.

However I stole a few moments this morning to dig through my ever-growing pile of “junk” mail.

Yup. I collect the stuff. Even file it. Some of it’s… well junk. Ah, but every once in a while I stumble upon a true gem.

Like this morning when I found the latest J. Peterman catalogue. “Owner’s Manual No. 39 for Carnival 2006.

Makes me smile every time.

The guy breaks more direct mail rules than I can count but sheesh, I can’t put the thing down! I plan on buying something this issue just so I don’t fall off their mailing list.

Want a taste of the writing? Check ‘em out. I’d suggest you order a catalogue, too. It’s great reading.

http://www.jpeterman.com

Talk later,

Beth

On a Writing Binge

Wow. What a weekend. Fantastic, really.

Didn’t get even ONE phone call yesterday. None today either. No interruptions whatsoever. ‘Twas wonderful.

I’m currently on a writing binge that began… well it began a while ago. Except now I’ve had two marvelous uninterrupted days of pure writing bliss. Did I mention that the stupid phone hasn’t rung once!?

I’m a mess. Hair’s in a sad pony-tail. Most of it’s too short to get in there so it fringes around my face in little strings. I didn’t brush my teeth until 1:00 this afternoon. I know. Gross.

I’m even wearing my writing uniform… Levis, t-shirt, covered with my grey wool sweater. (Bad vegetarian. BAD vegetarian.)

But life’s good. Way, super good.

And this binge feels wonderful.

Talk later!

Beth

“Postage” for E-mail Part Deux

This article sheds a little more light on the new e-mail debate.

Very interesting.

Enjoy!

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004398.php#004398

Talk later,

Beth

Book Disclaimers

I the aftermath of the James Frey fiasco, the New York Times has posted a group of potential book disclaimers.

Hilarious.

Enjoy!

http://tinyurl.com/8kk4j

Oh, and be sure to click the “Judge a Book By its cover” link at the bottom of the page. It’ll open a new window to reveal a bunch of the disclaimers in all their glory.

Talk later,

Beth

Charging Postage for E-mail

Ok. I've heard the urban legend: (insert corporation/government agency name here) is planning on charging postage on all e-mail.

As all of us knows, this legend is false.

Or is it…

Imagine my surprise when Marketing Sherpa ran an editorial concerning just that… charging postage for e-mail.

Ack!

I wonder how this new development will affect e-mail marketing. Just think how it can affect the way you (or your clients) will keep in touch with their customers.

Here’s the story:

http://www.marketingsherpa.com/sample.cfm?contentID=3178

Hmmmmm.

Talk later,

Beth

The “Etc” in Writing Etc.

OK. Personal life here. But it’s appropriate considering the big medical news today.

Quick background. My dear husband experienced a heart attack three years ago. Got put on a ton of meds. Hated it. Side effects were horrendous. Decided to control his blood numbers by modifying his diet.

Three years ago… total cholesterol was 259.

We just received his latest blood test report and wow. Today his total cholesterol sits at 163.

No meds. Not a one. His other blood numbers are fantastic as well.

We’re thrilled.

I mention this because all the national news is reporting that “low fat diets” don’t lower your risk of heart disease.

Bah.

If you actually read the study, you’ll find out that (on average) the participants ingested around 30 percent of their calories from fat… down from 35 percent.

That’s not low fat.

Maury (my dear husband) lowered his numbers by slashing his fat intake to around 7 to 15 percent of his total calories per day. No added fats. Absolutely no meat. Forget dairy, too. He doesn’t eat much processed food either.

What do we eat? Lots of whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables.

I guess that makes us vegans. A very low fat vegan diet at that.

Thing is, this food plan we follow is scientifically based. Respected cardiac researchers, physicians, and researchers such as Ornish, McDougall, Pinkney, Esselstyn, Bernard, and Campbell have proven that this regimen not only prevents heart disease, it actually reverses it. Studies have been replicated time and time again.

But most of importantly, these dietary changes (oh, and the food’s great… just in case you’re wondering) are working in my dear husband’s favor.

Amazingly, these study stats (reported in reputable medical journals) aren’t blasted over mainstream media.

How sad.

Talk later,

Beth

P.S. Want to end this post with a smile? Surf here: http://www.grab.com/fun/specials/licensetopill

Amazon Connect

I recently discovered that Amazon is jumping on the blog bandwagon.

Well, they’re kinda jumping on the wagon…

If you’re an author who has one of your titles in their system, you can now open an “Amazon Connect” account and get blogging. People who purchase your books can now read your bio, get hooked into your blog, and comment away.

Should be cool.

One of Filbert’s authors, Billie Williams, has already started posting.

Will this new technology help sell books?

Only time will tell, but so far it looks mighty interesting.

Here’s Amazon’s description of the service:

“Amazon Connect is a new program that allows readers to receive messages directly from their favorite authors. It opens an entirely new channel of communication between authors and their readers. Participating authors can post messages on their book detail pages and to the home page of readers who have bought their books on Amazon.com.

[On the Amazon Connect page] is a directory of participating Amazon Connect authors listed by last name. Clicking on an author's name will take you to their Profile Page. From there, you will be able to see the author's bibliography and previously posted messages. You can sign up to receive an author's future posts by clicking on the 'Change what you receive' link on their Profile Page.”

Here’s where you can get more info:

http://www.amazon.com/connect

I’ll keep you posted on any new news on this service.

Talk later,

Beth

Mighty Cool Writing Contest

I just received this in my in-box. Looks mighty cool so I thought I'd pass it on:

Yuhoo! I have a new writing contest on my site. Would you be so kind as to announce it in your next newsletter, or on your blog, or radio, TV, Good Year Blimp? I'll wash your car for a month. Okay, big fat lie ... but I would be grateful!

*****St. Valentine's Day Writing Contest***** )

Give us your tired, your poor, your best St. Valentine's Day Funny, Weird, Spooky, or Crazy story (No tear-jerkers, please!) Visit my homepage at http://www.queenjawjaw.com for the rules, guidelines, AND a list of prizes. Remember, you MUST BE SIGNED UP on my homepage (sign up at the ALL THINGS ROYAL button on the front page or the CONTACTS page) to be eligible to enter. Good Luck, and may the best brib---ahh...I mean story win!

Good luck!

Georgia Richardson Queen Jaw Jaw, The Queen of Experiences
Author of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE THRONE and PINK JASPER - Gems from the JourneyVisit my Queendom today!

North Alabama NAWW Regional RepresentativeHumorist for:The National Association of Baby Boomer Women (NABBW) The Monthly View Magazine

Beth again: I just received word that Georgia will not, in fact, wash my car. Can't say I wasn't warned. Dang. :)

Talk later,

Beth
http://filbertpublishing.com
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/CopywriterMastermind

Snow, Snow, and More Snow

Yesterday afternoon, green grass peeked out between drifts.

Last night as Maury (dear husband), Peder (wonderful son), and I trekked out on our evening walk, flakes filled the air so dense that the swirls cast dancing shadows under each street light.

‘Twas utterly cool.

Warm, calm evening. Heavy, wet snow. Thick blanket of white beneath our feet that made each foot step sound like a bag of microwave popcorn furiously popping.

Long stretches of virginal snow, not a mark to be found except the subtle rolls following asphalt cracks.

True magic.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed in the fast paced world of freelancing. But one quiet walk on a snowy evening seems to put every little problem, every challenge, every disappointment back in perspective.

We truly live on a most exciting planet. I hope you take time today to get out and enjoy it.

Talk later,

Beth
http://FilbertPublishing.com
http://BethAnnErickson.com
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/CopywriterMastermind