How I Found The Write Path - the Butler/Hrezo way :)

Aloha,

The amazing Carrie Butler and her lovely co-host, PK Hrezo (sir, I know you have pronunciation problems, but please... step away from the "H") want to compile a free e-book for writers who are just starting on their road to publication, using advice from the most brilliant, up-and-coming voices in the industry.

Now that all those people have sent their entry in, here's mine :)

THE PROMPT: 
Please write a letter/note to yourself when you first started writing toward publication and include the answers to the bold elements listed below (I told them to be good… but nooooobody listens to me):

(PS: My letter is meant for the me that sat on the patio of his 27^th floor Chicago apartment… on the evening of Y2K:)

- A lesson you learned the hard way:

Dude, don’t be a chicken. Writing is your passion – you’re just afraid to admit it. Get over yourself.
Grow a pair. You will?
Good.
Now, sit down, be quiet – and write the damn story.

- Something you didn’t expect about the industry.

Writers care about each other’s success. You’ve always wanted to be a part of a group. Well, here you go. Take the plunge. You’ll absolutely tread water for a while, but they won’t let you down - or drown. Trust a little – and learn a lot.

- A writing-related resource you could never do without now

Twitter.
(No, you don’t have to learn the Chicken Dance.)

It’s something on the Internet (yes, I know it sucks paying AOL a monthly fee, but that will change, too.)

Anyway, Twitter is a way to quickly share information in 140 characters or less.
(No... it’s not at all like hanging with the little animatronic people at Disney’s “It’s A Small World.)

- One thing you’d change about your journey

You need to get out of restaurant management ten years earlier, work as a server in a swanky place and then spend the extra hours writing at the library or at Starbucks (yes, the coffee place.)

- One thing you’re glad you did.

In five years, you’ll apply and get that Staff Writer position with that Florida newspaper (even though you had neither the required two-year experience nor the degree in journalism.)
Nice one, and that’s what I’m talkin’ about, dude.

- Your number one tip for pursuing publication.

You haven’t got the looks or the education, but you are such a pain in the arse when you get your teeth in something that’s important, so don’t be a big gurl’s blouse.
Don’t quit on your dream.
Ever.

- Anything else you feel is worth passing on

Dude, raid the accounts and buy about $10,000 in Apple stock – more if you can afford it.
(No, it’s not a fruit producer or a new martini drink.)

Oh, and patent the word “Google.”

(No, not gaggle, Google… seriously, why do I bother. Yes, I know I’m stuck with you. Now, go. Write.)

And, if you’re stuck, go to Harvard. (Yes, the Uni. Yeah, the one in Bahston…)

Try getting some face time with some dude called Zuckerberg.

(He’s a student, and he has a neat idea that people will give thumbs up to... some may even like it…)

###

INFORMATION: 

My bonded name is Koopmans… Mark Koopmans...

You can find me on Twitter – simply click here.

If needed, the fabulous Carrie Butler has permission to use my entry in the e-book compilation.

 

Love Is In The Air bloghop - Mark & Juliet's scene (from Love Actually)

Aloha,

 

The fabulous writers over at Unicorn Bell (you simply must go check them out, dahling) are hosting a Love Is InThe Air Blog Hop.

From their site:

It's a celebration of that little thing called love. Be it steamy or sweet, puppy, kitty, teen, aggravating, first kiss or final goodbye, let your scene tug at our heartstrings. Post your stories of love on Monday [through Friday], visit, comment, enjoy the fun!

I’m keeping it simple – and PG – by sharing one of my favorite movie love scenes. If you’ve ever watched Love Actually, you’ll smile as soon as you click on this video.

To set up the scene (in this 2003 romantic comedy set in Christmastime London,) Mark is in love with Juliet (who is newly married to Mark’ best friend, Peter.) Mark, however, has always been cold and distant toward Juliet - he calls it self-preservation - until now…

 

 

Keira Knightly plays Juliet and fans of The Walking Dead will instantly recognize Andrew Lincoln.

In my formerly single days, I never did try the oversized cards move, but I love the concept :)

Have you ever tried this? Did it work?

What if someone tried it on you? Would it work?

 

Click here to enter and/or read some more entries.

 

 

Michael Di Gesu Asks: "Spare a Blog Hop for a Cup of Coffee, Pal?"

Aloha,




The devilishly handsome (I'm not jealous of his hair :) Michael Di Gesu returned recently from what sounded like an amazing trip to Columbia.








One of the benefits of his vacation is that several of us are going to get hooked up by a brother from another mother.


Michael is hosting a Columbian Coffee Blog Hop and will give away several one-pound bags of 100% Columbian Coffee!

The rules are as easy as pie, and in Michael's own words:

"Are you ALL ready.... This is going to be a super fun HOP!

All you have to do is tell me what you LOVE about coffee ... AND ... A few random winners will receive ONE POUND OF PURE COLOMBIAN COFFEE! YUMMY!

I almost HATE to give it away, but I want to share with you guys... I can only ship in the US ... so I hope my international pals understand.... The mails are so expensive these days..."


If you're a coffee drinker, this is a I-gotta-enter-this-one type of hop - and if you're not a coffee drinker, (what's wrong with you :) do please remember that ANY of your coffee-drinking friends would love to receive this as a present (yes, I would :)

PS: I really love how that blouse/sweater and leggings/jeans (choose as applicable) looks on you. It makes you look so young and vibrant.*

*(Yes, I will grovel to win one of the bags of coffee.)

Michael's Coffee Blog  Hop is THIS Friday and the Link is HERE.

Oh, How I Miss You... Bloghop

Aloha,

Sadly, I was informed that the 17-verse sonnet I wrote for my beloved and departed hair is not exactly what Andrew Leon, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and Matthew MacNish had in mind as they host the second annual “Oh, How I Miss You” blog hop.

It is, of course, about the bloggers we miss…and the ones we would really miss!

Here’s the premise: Do you have a couple blogger buddies who aren’t posting as often? Those who’ve pulled back and seem absent from the blogging world? Do you have blogger buddies you are grateful they are still around and would miss if they vanished?

Our blogger friends are special – time to let them know!

 

The three people I miss are the same from last year (I still miss them...):

 

Daina Rustin over at Mystic Treehouse (Daina was the one of the first Bloggers to follow me who was NOT a friend or family member – and I will always appreciate her “followship” :)

 

 

 

Saran Pearson over at Empty White Pages (Sarah and I shared many a funny comment “back in the early days” and I miss her humor and insight.)

 

 

Rachael Harrie over at Rach Writes… (Rach is still around, but has taken an extended break from her Writer’s Platform-Building Campaign.)

Three Bloggers I would miss are:

Melissa Maygrove: is just a super person who I can always rely on to offer honest and straightforward advice - plus she is, in my humble opinion, the Grammar Goddess of the whole, entire Blogisfear :)

Father Dragon: (Also known as Al Diaz:) Father Dragon has been a force of goodness and inspiration over the past year. I know Al said he was thinking of taking a blogging step backward - because of some other opportunities - but I hope we don't lose you altogether, my brother from another madre :)

Morgan Shamy: Morgan is another friend I would hate to lose. She has taken some time off for now, but I can't wait for her to come back with more of her awesome sauce positivity. My day is always better when I'm fresh, posted and Morganized :)






                                                Who do you miss?

"Have You Got a Dream?" (... Monthly Bloghop Update)

Aloha,

I’m again participating in the Do You Have a Goal? bloghop hosted by Misha Gericke and Beth Fred.
Their fun and nifty idea has members of the Linky updating our stated Goal on the last Friday of the month.

Just follow these guidelines, and Bob’s your uncle.

·         Beth and Misha are the official co-hosts of the Linky List.
·         When you enter your blog’s address into the Linky, write your goal as the link title. For example, Misha’s link title is “earn $7500 per month.” Not your name or your blog. (So we can keep track of who’s doing what.) Plus, it serves as an easy indication of the fact that you’re not the only crazy one!
·         If you do enter, please be supportive of us other Dreamers!
·         Update Day is, as mentioned, on the last Friday of every month. Even if you don’t think you achieved much – or anything – please write a quick post to say so. We can’t encourage if we don’t know.
·         Please, please, please spread the word! A lot of people need encouragement, and making a decision and figuring out how to get there is half the battle...  

 For me, this month has been interesting to say the least – especially the last few days – but to bring you up to date:

My current goal is to finish a 75,000 word first draft by Halloween. I started seven weeks ago, and have 18,000 words in the bank, or five thousand more than last month.

·         One night, I even impressed myself with my writing speed and prowess when I wrote TWENTY pages… only to later discover each page was filled with the letter “L.”

(I’d fallen asleep in front of the keyboard, with my finger comfortably resting, apparently, on the twelfth letter of the alphabet…)

·         In other news… wanting to change “just one thing” on my blog resulted in a recent and complete two-time overhaul of my blog. (Why, sure, I have six extra hours over two days to spare…J)

·         WIP#1 remains in the hands of the editor, and we’re expecting great things to happen there over the next few days!

“Reporting live from the kitchen table, this is Mark Madmann, and now it’s back to you, Alex, in the Clones ‘R’ Us studio.”

You can join in this monthly Blog Hop here.

She Said What? BlogHop & Writers4Writers Update

Aloha,

As I've just finished an awesome Writers' Conference (and am so pumped up I'm staying away from all sharp objects) I'm pushing my weekly W.R.I.T.E. update 'til tomorrow, 'cos I wanted to give a few shout-outs:

My blogging buddy, the lovely Elise Fallson is co-hosting the She Said What? Bloghop with the lovely-er Michelle Wallace over at Writer in Transit.

(The two friends are celebrating Blogging Birthdays: Michelle is two and Elise is turning the big 01!)

Full details here. This seems a fun event and not something that will balloon up in front of my face – theirs apparently, but not mine :)

                                                    ###

Also, just a quick reminder that today and tomorrow is the Writers4Writers event hosted by Stephen Tremp, Mary Pax, C.M. Brown, and Christine Raines.

 

This month, the spotlight will be on: Gwen Gardner and Melissa Bradley.

The purpose and mission of W4Ws is to:

• Help writers bring awareness of their book(s) to tens of thousands of new people

• Help writers reach Amazon Top 100 in at least one category (i.e., suspense, free, whatever)

• Increase sales of their book(s) after the promo is over

• Drive new traffic to their blog and increase following

• Create verbal and viral buss.

For a review of W4WS check out the W4WS link on Stephen’s blog here. (The Linky Link signup is there, too.)

 

Oh, How I Miss You BlogFest...

Aloha,

 Today is the “How I Miss You BlogFest.”

 Hosted by Andrew Leon, Matthew MacNish and that Alex guy.

Here’s the premise:

 Do you have a couple blogger buddies who aren’t posting as often? Those who’ve pulled back and seem absent from the blogging world? Do you have blogger buddies you are grateful they are still around and would miss if they vanished? Now is your chance to show your appreciation and spotlight them!

On November 16, list one to three bloggers you really miss and one to three bloggers you would miss if they stopped blogging. Then go leave a comment on those blogs.

Our blogger friends are special – time to let them know!

As a simple guy, not given to outburstings of emotional posts or cries, (kids, leave the bleedin' poor butterfly/dog/mailman/stranger alone!!!)  I am going to keep this simple:

 The three people I miss are:

 

Daina Rustin over at Mystic Treehouse (Daina was the one of the first Bloggers to follow me who was NOT a friend or family member – and I will always appreciate her “followship” :)

 

 

Saran Pearson over at Empty White Pages (Sarah and I shared many a funny comment “back in the early days” and I miss her humor and insight.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rachael Harrie over at Rach Writes… (Rach is still around, but has taken a break from her Writer’s Platform-Building Campaign.

(I don’t blame her one little bit, because she gives her heart and soul to each of her Campaigns and does so out a selfless desire to pay it forward.)

(Put it to you this way, if no-hyperlink-needed Alex ever had a Blogging Sister, her name would be Rachael Harrie.)

 

 

 

 

Oh, there is one person I would love never to see again… am I allowed to say that?

This "kind" person sends me a LOT of wonderful links to various websites, and while I don’t need a new Coach bag, a cheap alternative to Cialis, (or any another colored pills,) this blogger keeps on trying – ahhh, God love him.

I am, of course, talking about our mutual friend, A. Non Ymous (I think he’s a Finn, or French, or he may be Flemish.)

So, dear A. Non, if you’re out there, do feel free to stop emailing me – 'cos if you do, I promise to send you a can of Hawaii’s favorite foods:

Courtesy: photobucket.com/shnbwmn

PS. Sorry, but I’m not going to publicly list the three Bloggers I would miss the most...

WUSS!!!

Whatever.

Ha! Ha! you’re going to be the star of the new movie: “WUSS in Boots.”

Ssshhhh now.

You’re such a Wuss that yo Mamma helps you fight out of a wet paper bag.

Can you just let me finish this, please?

Oh. OK. Sorry.

Thanks.

(whispers……....... Wusssss!!!)

Anyway, I can’t write a list of who I’d miss, but you know who you are – and I thank you for your continued friendship, wisdom and support.

 PS… Hope to see everyone Monday as THE BIG REVEAL goes live at 6:01 EST J