Over the next few days, I'll be spotlighting and sharing articles about Mother's Day. I hope you enjoy each post and help me share how special mothers are in our lives.
With Mother's Day only two weeks away, everyone's on the lookout for great gifts-especially gifts they haven't given Mom year after year.
Good news for all those gift-seekers out there, we're showing moms all around the world how much they are loved by sharing this special video with all the women who have touched our lives and have made a difference. Share this email or the video link with those special women (mom, grandma, mom-to-be or even a lady who was like a mom) in your life. It’s easy to do and it doesn’t cost you a thing!
Our goal is to share this video with at least 1,000 women by Mother’s Day! Please join the World of Ink Network in spreading the word and sending this wonderful gift of love to every women you know.
Want to send more than a Mother’s Day Video?
Heartwarming and Uplifting Gift Book - Just in time for Mother’s Day!
From the moment we are born, someone is telling us to be careful. No matter what country we call home or what language we speak, I Love You, Be Careful—a gift book designed to share these word that follow us our entire lives. The beautiful illustrations by Cady Driver capture poignant memories and cause one to reflect on all the “Be Careful” moments in life and smile.
I Love You, Be Careful can be experienced in two ways. The book can be purchased as a print version (in hard or soft cover) for personal use or as a gift. You can also send as an eBook/Card from Amazon.com, Smashword, B&N or wherever eBooks are sold.
Note: There is a page to personalize it as a gift.
Thank you for forwarding this special gift to your social networks and helping us spread the power of I love You, Be Careful to those we love...especially moms!
About Us:
Co-authored by sisters Joan Dickow and Judy Snider, the idea of I Love You, Be Careful started from a telephone conversation one day when the sisters talked about wanting their loved ones to be safe and know how much they are loved.
“No matter whether it was our grown kids, husbands or other loved ones our love and concern for them inspired us,” states Judy Snider.
Judy Snider lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her husband, Gil and two silly cats. She is the author of the CWA award-winning children’s picture book, Goldy’s Baby Socks and one of a team of authors who wrote, The Scared Purse.
Joan Dickow stated, “Everyday moments in my life inspire me!”
Joan Dickow is a 20-year breast cancer survivor, a mother, grandmother, wife, friend and sister. She finds there is beauty all around her and all her good moments and stressful moments inspire her. She lives in Berkley, Michigan with her husband, Fred and their cat, Coffee.
You can find out more about
Writers On The Move: Writing Means Commitment:
This morning I had messages from two students. Both have important exams this week. One emailed to say she had not time to do anything but revise. The other, who is studying for several exams at degree level, sent me the final revisions for her noir novel, due to be published in August.
That was commitment:: commitment to her book, to her editor, to her publisher.
Commitment to writing for publication means taking on board all aspects of the job--and yes, it is a job. It may be creative, it may be an art, it may allow you to work flexi-time. But writing has all the same pressures as any other business--research and development, selection of the best materials for the job, deadlines, attention to detail, scrupulous checking and discarding when necessary to ensure a perfect product.
No matter what is happening in your life, writing and the commitment to completing projects with set deadlines has to come first if you want to be seen as reliable.
Read more at http://www.writersonthemove.com/2012/04/writing-means-commitment.html
Come join Kecia Burham, VS Grenier & Irene Roth once a month on the 4th Wednseday on BTR’s World of Ink Network show: Families Matter.
Airs live 6pm EST - 5pm CT - 4pm MT - 3pm PST
This is a discussion based show. Call in at (714) 242-5259
This months show topic is on 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.
We will be talking about tips for parents and teens so they can be successful in school and life.
The idea of this show is to have guests and listeners (adults or kids) share information to help empower children, teens and their families.
Please post any questions or stories you would like us to answer or share on the show to our chat room. We invited you to call in and join the conversation. Or email us here at Blog Talk Radio.
Call in at (714) 242-5259
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http://worldofinknetwork.blogspot.com
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http://worldofinknetwork.com Click the link below to listen to the show:
The Families Matter Show with Kecia Burham VS Grenier 04/25 by WorldOfInkNetwork | Blog Talk Radio
Many writers have gained inspiration from people they know or have met.
The reason behind this is that characters are never more effective and
more lifelike as those that are actually based on real people. In the
past this was not a problem because even if the real individuals did not
like how they were portrayed, there was little they could do about it.
However, now you hear about various ongoing lawsuits brought before the
courts purely and simply because the claimants felt their portrayal was
less than flattering.
Today I bring you a little guest post about how to gain inspiration for your characters by using family, friends and co-workers. Maybe these tricks will help inspire you as well as keep those you care about (or don't like so much) from getting upset.
Creating Characters Based on Real Life:
Using Family Members, Friends and Enemies
One of the most common problems associated with the development of
characters in any give story, novel or screenplay is that they are flat
and do not have any life to them. This does not make characters
believable in the slightest. However, by drawing inspiration from
elsewhere, you can avoid this problem completely. The way you perceive
your friends will reflect in the text and either give the narrative a
warmth that cannot be found if you do not really care about these
characters. Similarly, your enemies are your enemies for a reason, and
the way you perceive them in real life will translate itself onto the
page. This will ensure your tale is gripping from start to finish and
your characters are infinitely believable!
The following steps represent ideas you can take to effectively use your
friends, family and enemies in your books, as such, without actually
earning yourself a lawsuit!
1.
Brainstorm your characters in advance. Brainstorming your
characters will enable you to make them individuals and also cut out
certain personality traits of the individuals they are based on. If you
only use the real life subjects as a basis then this should not be too
much of a problem. Select the basic traits you wish to use in a
character and add to them with other traits and a quick text expansion
on how you will use them. Small things like altering the age and gender
of the character in question will also help disguise the fact that you
are using friends, family and enemies as guidelines for your characters.
These simple touches can infinitely help to protect you so use them to
their fullest extent.
2.
Do not choose names that are even remotely related to the names of the real life subjects you are using.
This is a common problem encountered by authors because they neglect to
distinguish the characters from their real life counterparts in name!
If you think about it, this one stupid mistake can cost you a lot.
Instead of turning your Aunt Molly into Aunt Polly, make her your
mother's best friend Claire. This may sound ridiculous to a deep
thinking author because you would still be able to tell who that
character is based on, but to the outsider looking in, it will not be so
obvious and may well be missed by those that matter!
3.
Try combining character traits of individuals you know. Taking
your best friend and your sister and combining elements of their
characters will make a distinct separation between them in real life and
on paper. The two individuals you choose do not need to be similar in
terms of personality and looks, but combining the two will make a
believable character that does not directly resemble either, thus
allowing you to get away with it! Combining two enemies is just as
effective and may actually make that character seem worse on paper as
well, thus enhancing the character.
4.
Look into your past and draw on people you used to know. This
is an easy option. People you used to know but are no longer in contact
with you probably would not draw the distinction between themselves and
your narrative as long as you do not draw on common situations you have
experienced. This is a tell tale sign and should be avoided.
5.
Ask permission if the character is overtly and obviously a member of your family or circle of friends.
If you do need to represent a character so he or she resembles a friend
or family member accurately then be sure to ask permission. It may also
be necessary for the person to sign something, but this would come
after the next step.
6.
Ask the people you have based characters on to read your first draft.
If you do this then you have their consent to publish if and when you
get a deal, so long as they do not voice objections to anything written
about the character based on them. After they give you their consent to
represent them in such a way, get them to sign a waiver just in case
they do change their mind at a later date. Adhering to all of the above
will get you to this stage, but then make sure you are fully protected
in case of future changes of heart!
________
Copyright © Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ
Join hosts VS Grenier, Marsha Casper Cook and co-host Bennet Pomerantz on June 1st at 1PM EST – 12PM CT – 11AM MT – 10AM PST.
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