Jessica Ferguson

Author, Writing Coach, Speaker

IWSG: Visions of Glory

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We took a road trip. Hubby read to me from William Manchester’s The Last Lion, Winston Churchill’s Visions of Glory 1874-1972.Interesting. Note what Winston wrote about writing: “Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public.”

Churchill’s early life, the way he tackled his writing and his dreams, is interesting and if we browse this huge biography, no doubt we’ll pick up a few tips. I can’t help but wonder if Winston’s mom was one of the first agent/publicists. He mailed her his articles; she placed them with newspapers, often calling on important friends to help promote and sell her son’s works.

I truly believe connections play an important role in our success. We have to network; we have to attend writers’ conferences. Of course, we have to write too, so that we actually have something to market. If Churchill, at 23, can be so driven to achieve his dreams, why can’t we? He didn’t appear to be afraid of making a fool of himself, but of course, he was mortified when he did.

 

If you enjoy biographies, you might take a look at Manchester’s The Last Lion.

Of course, we can’t take a look at this book without investigating the author of it: William Manchester–another role model we might consider studying.

From Wikepedia:

In 2001 President George W. Bush presented Manchester with the National Humanities Medal. Manchester is also the recipient of the Abraham Lincoln Literary Award, among other awards.[9] Following the death of his wife in 1998, Manchester suffered from two strokes. He announced that he would not be able to complete his planned third volume of his three part-biography of Churchill, The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Defender of the Realm, 1940-1965. In October 2003 Manchester asked Paul Reid, a friend and writer for COX Newspapers, to complete the Churchill biography. In 2000, Manchester received the Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award. The Helmerich Award is presented annually by the Tulsa Library Trust. Manchester died at the age of 82 on June 1, 2004

Why do we toy around with our dreams? Time is flying. It’s later than we think. We should make a list of what we want to achieve and do it. Just do it. Who’s with me?

Call for Submissions – Entangled Publishing

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I’ve found guidelines for some fun, challenging, creative and quirky stories that you might enjoy writing. The publisher is Entangled Publishing. Be sure to explore their website.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Zombie Fairy Tales (Ever Afters)

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: House of Horrors (Flirts)

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: When in Rome… (Ever Afters)

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: GuiltyPleasures (Flirts)

The Editors of Entangled Publishing have a Wish List too. Read it HERE.

I realize not everyone is interested in writing genre fiction, or even romance, but let me ask you this: Are you being published? Are you satisfied with what you’re accomplishing or are you holding out for that ultimate goal or dream? I heard a speaker say that having a book published–even an ebook–builds credibility. She also said that we should be creating multiple income streams. I’d be thrilled with a couple of drips! She said, too, that publishing a book is important regardless of how we do it. Do you agree? Don’t let “literary pride” get in the way of writing romance. Don’t let being a guy keep you from writing romance. Just for fun, plot and write one of these fun stories. Just for fun. Then, determine what you want to do with it. And remember, if you decide to publish it, you can always use a pen name.

Self-Publishing Attack! A Do-Able Plan

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Last Friday, I purchased the Kindle Edition of James Scott Bell’s book Self-Publishing Attack! The 5 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws for Creating Steady Income Publishing Your Own Books. I sat down and read it immediately and by the time I reached the end, I was inspired and feeling hyper. I always like that feeling even though on Friday, I didn’t do much with it.

Here’s the review I put on Amazon about Bell’s book:

In the past, I’ve discouraged many writers from taking the self-publishing route. The more I read, learn and investigate, the more I realize this is one of the best times to be a writer–BECAUSE of self-publishing and all the options available. The door is wide open. With James Scott Bell’s guidance and encouragement, any writer can feel knowledgeable and certainly more confident in their attempt to self-publish. I may have been a wishy-washy believer yesterday but after reading Bell’s Self-Publishing Attack!, I’m not today. I bought and read this book this morning, highlighting on every page, and can truthfully say the encouragement alone is worth the price. James Scott Bell is truly the voice of encouragement. Also, I thank him for a do-able plan of action.

That plan of action is strategic planning, prioritizing your daily/weekly tasks and setting goals and five laws that help you do it all. Sure we’ve heard most of this information before from other authors but not in the encouraging voice of James Scott Bell. Bell breaks it down for us – simplifies it. Shows us that it’s do-able BY each and every one of us. Self-Publishing Attack! is the perfect title.

I have most of James Scott Bell’s books on writing. I’m never disappointed in them. Check them out HERE.

Bell blogs at The Kill Zone. And for fun, take a look at his YouTubevideos.

Kreativ Blogger Award

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Thanks to Sylvia at Writing in Wonderland for the Kreativ Blogger Award. I was trying to add a place to post my ‘awards’ and wiped out my pages. 🙂 Grrrrrrrr! Blogging makes me tear my hair; most days I don’t feel like a creative/Kreativ Blogger.

KREATIV RULES:

1. Thank and link back to the awarding blog(s).
2. Answer the ten questions
3. Provide ten random facts about yourself.
4. Last, but not at all least, hand this on to seven deserving others.
Ten Questions (that only scratch the surface):
1. What is my favorite song?  Just give me music and I’ll be happy. I like listening to music when I’m alone.
2. What is my favorite dessert? Ice cream, hot fudge sundaes, Blizzards! Anything ice cream!
3. What ticks me off? Politicians and anyone else who tries to destroy our country and change our history.
4. What do I do when I’m upset? Gripe, gripe, gripe (and vote!)
5. What is or has been my favorite pet?  When I was little I loved lizards. They were all named Lizzie, I played with them until they died, then I buried them in a ‘lizard graveyard’ under the hedge behind our house.
6. Which do I prefer: white or wheat?  I prefer white but I force myself to eat wheat. Blah!
7. What is my biggest fear? You name it and I fear it: success, failure, pain, loss of a loved one, car wrecks, hurricanes, tornadoes …
8. What is my attitude mostly? Up and down and all around. I’ve been accused of being combative. Sometimes I am. I’ve also been accused of being negative but I call it being realistic.
9. What is perfection? God creating nature. Is there anything more perfect than a nest full of baby birds? Have you ever watched a bird pick up a twig for her nest, then hop over to pick up another, then another, then another without dropping the previous twigs out of her beak. Fascinating and beautiful and perfect creation in action.Only God could make such perfection.
10. What is your guilty pleasure?  A package of powdered donuts. I don’t share!
Ten Random Facts about me…..

1. I used to love watching commercials. Now I don’t understand them.
2. I could live in the library. I always come home with such random books: basket weaving, jewelry making, the history of this, that or the other.
3. I love finding unknown cousins and family members through my genealogy.
4. I have a secret desire to invent something.
5. I don’t like onions or cucumbers.
6. I’d love to start a business called Encouragement Incorporated where everyone could be handed positive strokes on a continuing basis. No cocky, self-assured, aggressive, mouthy people allowed.
7. I would love to find a lost child that was featured on John Walsh’s missing children show.
8. I usually hate the bad guys, but I like J.R. Ewing.
9.  I despise shopping for clothes or shoes. Plop me down in an office supply store and I’m in hog heaven!
10. I’d love to write a screenplay.

I give the Kreativ Blogger Award to the following:
James Tate at Tate’s Other Side
Kristi at Getting Lost in Louisiana
Kent Conwell at The Eyes of Texas
Debbie Gail Smith
Debra at DreamWeaver
Bossy Betty  Please pop over to this blog and look at Bossy Betty’s home renovations. It will take your breath away and make your heart race. Seriously!
Amy de Trempe – she needs to get back to her blogging!

For Your Information: Understanding the Amazon Sales Rank

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I haven’t had time to post. We’ve had company since the first of the week, but I wanted to share this link with you. Most of you probably know this but … maybe not. HERE is the link to Understanding the Amazon Sales Rank with other interesting articles. Educate yourself. Writers, whether published or not, need to know the good, the bad and the ugly about being a writer.

I’ll see you later!

Characterization and Charlaine Harris

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Since my dream and my daughter’s reference to the Lily Bard books, I’ve read two in the series: Shakespeare’s Landlord and Shakespeare’s Champion. Now I know why daughter thought Lily Bard had inspired my dream. Lily Bard is a maid because it’s a mindless job she can do alone. She’s always getting involved in dangerous cases, inspite of her desire to remain invisible.

Author Charlaine Harris is excellent at characterization. I like to imagine her sitting down at the kitchen table with pen and paper, writing the name Lily Bard at the top in bold letters, listing all the Lily traits. Lily is tough. No, she’s harder than tough. She can kill with her bare hands–even her feet. She seriously studies and practices martial arts.

The theme of Lily’s life is that she’s emotionally damaged and determined she will never be a victim again. She lives in small town Arkansas (chosen because it’s name is Shakespeare, and her last name is Bard) with the intentions of reinventing herself; and she has. Every action is weighed carefully, and is totally in character of one who wants to remain alone and socially unincumbered.

Landlord is first in the Lily Bard series, and though I’ve only read the first two books, Landlord is my favorite of the two. I like getting to know Lily, seeing her weaknesses and vulnerabilities. I like watching her struggle to protect herself emotionally. I like seeing her hesitantly let go, get involved in someone else’s life–always against her better judgment. 

In Lily Bard, Harris has created a strong female character that is independent, blunt, solitary and very intelligent. Admirable is the right word.

How did Harris do it? What questions did she ask herself? What came first–Lily Bard or the story? What came first–the name or the dark past? Lily Bard was perfectly constructed, and not too different from Lee Child’s Jack Reacher. If you ever want to study the growth of a series character, start with Charlaine Harris’ Lily Bard.

When you create a character, what comes first? How far do you plot a character’s life? Do you create an elaborate backstory that explains why s/he’s like s/he is? Do you examine how s/he will act/react to friends, family, threats, pets?  Do you believe taking characterization to the highest level will make your book a richer more satisfying read?
So many questions–looking for answers.

A True Story in Text

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Text from mom: I had the strangest dream about you.  You got involved with an unsavory character and when we warned you about him you said you’d go undercover to learn more about him. Then you showed me a book you’d bought on how to be an undercover maid.

Text from daughter: That’s weird. Are you reading those Lily Bard books?

Text from mom:  Not yet.
Text from daughter: I just wondered if they influenced your dream. I don’t want to be a maid and undercover work makes me nervous!
Text from mom: We were really worried about you.
Text from daughter: Nothing to worry about on this end.
Text from mom: Are you feeling okay?
Text from daughter: Why did you ask if I’m feeling ok? I’m actually not. Coffee withdrawal because I’m doing the Daniel Fast.
Text from mom: Your texting voice didn’t sound good.
Text from daughter: A mother’s intuition. 

Not Your Mother’s Library

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Yesterday was a wild library day. My friend Janie says our meeting place has become the epitome of the “new library” where silence isn’t golden or necessary. One can sit with drinking containers of water or cola but they must have lids. Children are allowed to chase each other through stacks of books, shrieking and giggling. Yesterday one of them ran under our table, bumped his head and howled to high heaven. Worse, a mom fussed at her high school grad daughter for not knowing the details of an internship. Mom kept saying, “Don’t show me attitude, I’m just volunteering my time to help you.” I sympathized with the daughter and wished the mom had not volunteered her time. Since they sat across from me, I heard every word; must have missed the part where daughter showed attitude. Mom seemed to be the only one displaying attitude. I woke up this morning thinking about them.

To top off the escalating chaos, every now and then, believe it or not, someone yelled, “Go Thunder” and a few cheerful voices joined it.  I wondered if the moon was full. I think I must have bragged on my library writing too much. Payback time–at least for the summer.

Regardless of the noise, I was able to re-work the first four chapters. I’ll have to go over chapter four again, the louder the noise, the more distracted I became. And by ‘rework’ I mean I did some layering, revised some of my sentences, changed the how of my main character and sprinkled in a little attraction between the hero and heroine, as well as suspicion and hesitancy. Since things have to move faster in a novella, I’m wondering if it works.  We’ll see when I submit, won’t we? All in all, I felt satisfied with my accomplishment. Revising and editing doesn’t move as fast as writing from scratch. Maybe I’ll get more done today, but honestly, I keep getting distracted by my genealogy. Sigh. I have way too many interests!
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Yesterday I received a nice surprise. Andrea Teagan from The Enchanged Writer nominated me for the Liebster Award.  How cool is that? She wrote: Jessica Roach Ferguson from Praise, Prayers, and Observations a southern writer with the sweetest heart. Don’t miss her blog.

Wow, I’m thrilled and honored, Andrea. Thanks! I hope you all will check out The Enchanted Writer. Andrea has some interesting links to contests, critique groups and lots more.

Google told me that the origins of the Liebster Blog award are a little sketchy but the general consensus is that it originated in Germany, “Liebster” meaning favorite or dearest, to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. Upon accepting the award the recipient must then pass it on to five more blogs of note.

Here are the rules:
1- Choose FIVE up and coming blogs to which you award the Liebster. Blogs must have less than 200 followers.
2- Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
3-Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you gave the award to with links to their sites

So, I’m passing the Liebster Blog Award to:

Linda  at The Incurable Itch of LF Todd. Linda is a fairly new blogger and she’s doing great. We took a road trip together last year and headed to the Killer Nashville conference. Fun!
Jan  blogs at Beyond Acadia: Reading, Writing and Living Well. Jan is my coffee drinking buddy, my Swamp Lily partner and my encourager.
Beth hangs out at Creative Wordlenik. She signed up for my NF writing class. She’s fun, brave and one of the best writing pediatric nurses around.
Pat tells all at Life’s Autumns. If you want to laugh, cry, and learn about emotions, this is the blog for you.
Lynn is one of my favorite bloggers. She’s a letter writer and shares some heartfelt memories at Present Letters. She’s multi-talented too as you’ll find out if you visit.

How Much is A Comment Worth?

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I realize no one has answers for a problem manuscript without reading it, but your comments helped. It makes a difference for me to know others have had or are going through some of the same writing scares. Those who said distance is a good thing are right. It always helps to come back to something with fresh eyes. That’s why I can’t understand how some writers whip out books, poems and stories and send them out into the world, immediately. Yes, there are authors who write five and six books a year! How do they do it? Without a doubt they have more smarts (and organizational skills) than I do.

Oddly enough, the moment Charles said, “All I can tell you is that it is a sign something ain’t quite right” I got a flash of where the problem was: At the very beginning–with my outline. I tried to complicate matters by having too many characters involved in the same goal which in turn caused a pivotal character’s actions to appear extremely contrived.  Make sense? Well… to me it does. As Audrey commented, I was trying to make things happen.

My point here is not that my problem is solved, but that comments really help. They encourage and cause us to think. Really doesn’t matter whether you’ve read my manuscript or not–you had a vague idea of what I was going through and what I needed.

Time is precious. It’s the one thing we can’t get back. Just want each of you to know I appreciate you giving your time to me. That’s what you’re doing when you take the time to comment.

Tomorrow I’m meeting my friend Janie at the library where we’ll write till we drop. I plan to fix this story and I’m looking forward to it. I’ll let you know what happens.

Mustang Library, Senior Citizen Center, Chamber of Commerce and a bunch of other things. Good vibes in this library!