SIR JOHN'S BLOG FEATURING AUTHOR JOHNNY RAY

2012-01-21T16:56:00.001-08:00

I had a very nice interview today on another blog that I hope you will take a look at and leave a comment.
Please click here

2011-12-26T06:27:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season.

The good news is that my novel, THE REJECTION LETTER is currently at no 6 on amazons list of best sellers in the romance category.
I plan to soon do a series of interviews with my characters, so stay tuned.

Johnny Ray

2011-12-23T07:15:00.001-08:00

this is a video I think you will enjoy.

2011-12-19T05:21:00.000-08:00

THE HERITAGE is one of my latest novels and I thought everyone might like a look at the opening of the book. I hope you like it and see more at the amazon site.

Available on Kindle now

http://www.amazon.com/The-Rejection-Letter-ebook/dp/B0069S80AE

THE HERITAGE is a 55,000 word novel based in New York City. KRISTINA SUTHERLAND learns she‟s pregnant, but how? She couldn‟t remember having sex with anyone for a long time. Her only explanation—a date rape drug. The problem: it happened onboard the corporate yacht attended by every member of the board of directors, older men and friends of her family. Still, the test strip didn‟t lie. And now, someone wants her to have an abortion to end the scandal and would do anything necessary to make sure she either complies or dies before giving birth.

An insider, the head of security for Lyon International soon offers her the best chance in surviving and discovering the truth. But SHAWN DAVIS has his own deep secrets to hide. While his grandfather, Brent Lyon is the chairman of the board he had tossed Shawn and his mother to the curb when he was born. His mother had refused to have an abortion, a decision Shawn obviously felt thankful for. This time, however, Shawn can make a difference, especially when Kristina needs someone to believe in her, to be her champion.

THE HERITAGE
BY
JOHNNY RAY
Chapter 1
A tingling sensation ravaged Kristina Sutherland‟s body as she waited for the colors to change on the test strip. Damn, she couldn‟t be pregnant. How? She hadn‟t been with a guy for months now. Still, she never missed her period before. A spinning numbness clouded her thoughts as she studied the blue strip indicating a positive response.

She needed help, but knew all she would receive was criticism. Yes, she loved to party, but she wasn‟t stupid. This couldn‟t be happening to her. Facing her mother would be the hardest part. She could imagine the headlines as Barbara Sutherland, one of the top socialites in New York City had to explain how her daughter got knocked up.

Kristina hid the test kit in a drawer. Her father, Lawson Sutherland would be home soon. She didn‟t want him to know. While her mother would go berserk, but her father would . . . . She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before shuffled toward her mother‟s activity room where Kristina last saw her painting.

The perspiration coating her body turned to a bitter chill. She shut the door on the way in as her mother studied the way she could barely walk, much less stand.
Barbara turned and lowered her paint brush. “What is it?”

“You‟re not going to like this.” Kristina struggled to find a seat as her legs failed her and her mother rushed to her aid.

“Here.” Barbara tossed papers and small boxes out of the seat and onto the floor. “Let me help you. Kristina, you look sick.”

“I feel like I‟m going to pass out.” Kristina realized she might lose her lunch any moment.

Her mother knelt beside her and squeezed her hand. “You feel sweaty. What‟s going on with you?”

Kristina cried, as she lowered her head. Each loud expression of sorrow released one wave of embarrassment after another. “Mother. I‟m pregnant.”

“Pregnant! What? Are you sure?”

“I know. I just took a test. I missed my period and I never ever miss one.”
Kristina felt her mother pull her head into her bosom. Good, she needed support and not criticism. However, she knew it would come soon enough.

The patience of her mother shocked her. She never reacted like this with her before. It wasn‟t her temperament. “I‟m sorry, mother.”

“I‟ll take care of you, baby. I think I know what you‟re going through. I‟m here for you.”

Kristina raised her head to face her mother. “Please, don‟t tell Dad.”

“He‟ll have to know soon enough.”

“I know. But I don‟t know who the father is, and I know he‟ll want to know.”

“I see. It shouldn‟t be too hard to figure how which guy did this to you.”

“Mother, you don‟t understand. I haven‟t had sex with anyone in a long time.”

“Well apparently you have.”

“That‟s why I‟m upset. I don‟t remember anyone. It has been at least four months ago.”

Her mother offered a smile. “Then perhaps the test was wrong. We need to have you looked at by a good doctor.”

“Yes, I want to see someone good, but I don‟t think there‟s any doubt. I need to know what happened to me. I only have one possible explanation.”

“Which is?”

“I‟m thinking someone may have taken advantage of me when I passed out from drinking too much one night.”

“Which night?” Her mother‟s mouth opened wide. “This sounds like rape. Are you sure?”
“No, I‟m not, but I don‟t have any other explanations.” Kristina forced her attention on the night aboard the company yacht. She remembered the heavy drinking, and the partying later, but nothing else until she woke late the next day. “Mom, I really need to do some thinking before I say anything.”

“I think you‟re hiding something. You know you can tell me.”

In a way she knew she needed her mother‟s help, but also how she might explode, accusing others with no proof. She had to think about it. She needed to be alone and concentrate. Perhaps even ask some questions of others who were onboard. Yes, maybe even find someone who could do an investigation for her—discretely.

As Kristina mind raced from one thought to another, her mother regained her normal mannerism of arrogance and pride she had been breed with—something Kristina fought every day with. She didn‟t want to become like her mother. Her father‟s wealth provided her with all of the physical luxury they could ever want, but also saddled them with a need to protect their image from those intent to ruin it in any kind of scandal. So was the life of the high society elite in New York City.

“I can tell you‟re not mentally able to handle this right now. I think I have no choice but to help you.”

“Mom, you mean control me. Don‟t worry; I don‟t plan to let the world know what happen until I have more answers.” Kristina rubbed her eyes. “I need to be alone for a while and think.”

“I do hope you have some smarts about you. But, we do need to get to the bottom of this as fast as we can.”

“For now, I need to lie down and rest. I know I need to eat something, and will force myself to later. However, I want to be left alone.” Before her mother could respond, Kristina walked out of the room and rushed to her own. She had to concentrate on what she needed to do. She wanted a best friend; someone who really cared about her. Unfortunately, all of the people she had around her insisted on partying all of the time. They would find this hilarious and their ridicule was definitely not what she needed now.

SEE MORE ON KINDLE INCLUDING REVIEWS

http://www.amazon.com/The-Rejection-Letter-ebook/dp/B0069S80AE

2011-12-18T12:55:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all

Please see my author page for updates on my novels. And please give me your feedback on my hook I am using in my current advertising.

Just asking--After sleeping with a literary agent shouldn’t you receive more than a standard form rejection letter? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0069S80AE

THE REJECTION LETTER

2011-12-02T02:56:00.000-08:00

THE REJECTION LETTER
FREE GIVEAWAY TO CONTINUE

To continue with the season of giving back to the reader, I will give away one copy of THE REJECTION LETTER every day until Christmas. These free copies will be selected from people signing up for my newsletter. The form to do so is on the side of this blog.

From my family to yours, I hope everyone has a great Christmas season.

JOHNNY RAY

2011-12-01T06:43:00.000-08:00

THE REJECTION LETTER
3 FREE E-BOOKS TO BE GIVEN AWAY TODAY
LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE IN THE DRAWING

REJECTIONS
EVERYONE RECEIVES THEM

I don't think anyone enjoys them. What has been your way of dealing with them? What is the most amusing or funny rejection who ever received? What advice can you offer others on accepting it and moving on?

Since rejections go both ways, how do you prepare someone for a rejection? When is a little white lie better than the truth? Or, how do you make it sound not so bad? What is your advice on someone faced with having to give a rejection to someone?

I look forward to seeing everyone's opinion. And good luck on the drawing for a copy of THE REJECTION LETTER.

JOHNNY RAY

2011-11-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

THE REJECTION LETTER
EARN A FREE SMASHWWORD COPY
OFFER ENDS DECEMBER 3, 2011

ARE YOU AN ASPIRING ACTOR OR ACTRESS?
DO YOU NEED SOME EXPOSURE IN SHOWCASING YOUR DRAMATIC ABILITIES?
DO YOU ENJOY YOU TUBE?
GOOD!
HERE IS THE DEAL

VIDEO RECORD YOUR BEST READING OF MY OPENING SCENE WHICH IS ABOUT TWO PAGES AND PUT IT ON YOU TUBE. THEN SIMPLY NOTIFY ME IN THE COMMENTS BELOW WHERE I CAN FIND IT, AND WHERE TO SEND YOU THE CODE TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE COPY. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE READING, PLEASE ADD THAT MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THIS SITE WHICH IS WWW.SIRJOHN.US. BY ENTERING THIS PROMOTIONAL GIVEAWAY, YOU AGREE THAT THIS IS THE ONLY COMPENSATION YOU WILL RECEIVE AND WILL DO YOUR BEST TO PORTRAY THIS SCENE AS IT IS INTENDED. ANY FURTHER USE OF THIS COPYRIGHT MATERIAL IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

THAT'S IT.
OKAY, HERE ARE THE OPENING PAGES.

THE REJECTION LETTER

JOHNNY RAY

CHAPTER 1

He envisioned his own tombstone:

Michael Lloyd

Literary Agent Extraordinaire

Killed in the Line of Duty

Damn, he knew he could die any minute. A blurred object mere inches in front of his eyes materialized, as a flash of light reflected from the cold steel. Focusing on the razored edge of the curved knife ascending into a sharp tip designed to kill, he stopped breathing. His body stiffened, and froze solid where he sat with his back against a hard cold wall. He felt scared any movement might further agitate his attacker. The pain radiating from the back of his battered head dulled his vision and his thoughts. A wire tying his hands together cut into his skin, increasing the unbearable terror ravaging his body.
He inhaled the smell of blood and sweat as he gazed into the darkness, hoping to gain his bearings. Again a fist smashed into his forehead, slamming the back of his head into the wall behind him as the world faded. He fought his way back to life, only to stare into the slicing blade carving the side of his face.
“DAMNNNNN!” His voice erupted and echoed off nearby walls and in his head. The pain shattered the remaining will to remain still. He struck out with his head, his arms, and his legs. In return the hand slammed his head back against the wall again.
He forced his way back into reality as the warm blood flowed from his face. “What do you want from me?”
“Satisfaction.”
“Satisfaction for what?”
“Ruining my life, that’s what!”
Another slice sheared off an ear.
“OHHH SHIT, stop, please stop. I’ll give you anything you want—anything.”
“That’s impossible.”
The knife retreated as a face leaned forward, one he recognized only so slightly.
“You? Why you crazy—.”
A vicious kick to his crotch blasted his tortured soul to new levels. “Oh God, why me? Stop, please stop.”
“I know you think you have the balls to do what you want. Being a literary agent doesn’t make you God—you stupid bastard.”
The next kick to his crotch made his stomach deliver its contents to his throat. The bitter taste forced a gagging convulsion. He knew then he was going to die soon. “I’m sorry. I’m—.”
“You should’ve thought about your actions earlier.”
Another punch to the face bounced his head off the concrete wall. Thoughts of his life rushed forward to fill in the fading minutes. Would his life end like this? His family, his agency, his friends, his clients—what would happen to them? His world collapsed as the remaining blood drained from his body.

2011-11-24T04:59:00.000-08:00

BLACK FRIDAY
SALES EVENT
50% off until Sunday Night

THE HERITAGE

GO TO SMASHWORDS AND USE COUPON CODE ty34v

THE REJECTION LETTER
Go to Smashwords and use coupon code NR35X

2011-11-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

REJECTIONS

We all get them. Some are personal and some are professional. While some hurt, others can be helpful, as in helpful criticism, in knowing what to change. Knowing which kind of rejection one is receiving can also be critical in knowing how to accept it. The person giving it can also affect the way it is perceived. A rejection form a close personal friend can be much different than from a total stranger.
And, of course, everyone reacts differently to a rejection. The feelings of depression in one might be the same as revenge in another person. One person can become very vocal and another sulk and never let anyone else know how they were hurt.
It is much different when someone rejects you as a person than when they reject something you recommended, which could be based simply on a business decision. The rejection could be everything to do with you, or it could be nothing to do with you and simply could be the idea itself did not convince someone else that it was right for them.
For those with bipolar disorder, you might see one reaction at one time and a totally different response at another time. Yes, bipolar has many ranges. A mild case would be much different from a severe one.
They say time is the big healer. In regards to rejections, it is absolutely true. In fact, at a later date, it is sometimes comical when you look back at the events.
Since I am a writer and many of my friends are writers, we tend to concentrate on rejection letters. Many people keep them in stacks to remind them of what they had to go through—as if some kind of martyr syndrome. Still, it is good to get them out and have a good laugh form time to time.
I remember waiting on the response to a submission to one publisher for a very long time. Finally I sent a follow up. My submission had been lost. Several months later, I did get a response on the follow up—my manuscript had been forwarded to another editor—problem solved—no. The rejection stated that they did not feel like my work was appropriate for their line. Do what? I wrote a very hot love story which was exactly what they publish. Then I saw the line which the editor worked for at the publishing house—the inspirational one. Yes, I guess it didn’t fit, but she is not the one I sent it to either.
It is also important to consider what the person giving the rejection is going through. If that person gives rejections all of the time they would act different from someone who seldom does it.
In my novel the rejection letter, the story is meant to entertain and is not based on any specific story of a rejection letter I received. I have many friends who are literary agents which I highly respect. Still, I know they will never handle such a story as a serial killer who stalks literary agents. My novel, THW REJECTION LETTER, however, explores the world of the literary agent, the large publishing houses, and the inner story of one young woman’s fight to overcome her bipolar disorder while learning a little about life, love, and finding her own sanity in the process.
I know everyone has their own stories to tell about being rejected. I would love some feedback after you have read my novel. And, of course, reviews are always welcome. I do a number of interviews and hope to have a list of where I will be and what blogs I visit on blog tours. So, please follow this site and subscript to it.

I am proud to announce that my novel, THE REJECTION LETTER, was released last week and is available on kindle
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0069S80AE
and on smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/106185
Also, check my blog at www.sirjohn.us for more information.
To someone else, the rejection letter might be perceived as a simple piece of correspondence. But when Amy, who suffers from bipolar disorder receives a form rejection letter from Edward, an agent she had an affair with at a recent convention, she takes the rejection as both personal and professional—in short—a declaration of war.

2011-11-18T09:15:00.000-08:00

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/106185
PLEASE GO TO https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/106185 TO PURCHASE

THE REJECTION LETTER

This is available on smashwords for purchase now, please go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/106185 for more details.

To someone else, the rejection letter might be perceived as a simple piece of correspondence. But when Amy, who suffers from bipolar disorder receives a form rejection letter from Edward, an agent she had an affair with at a recent convention, she takes the rejection as both personal and professional—in short—a declaration of war.
Amy quickly embarks on a plan to get revenge by destroying Edward’s literary agency. However, Amy is soon not the one to be feared the most. Her actions create a copycat, a serial killer, who targets literary agents and viciously murders them. Living with the knowledge she has created a monster, a serial killer, is one thing, while doing nothing to stop the madness is another. But how could she track down a killer when she has no training in such? Thinking like a mad man might be the only way—but could she go there and survive herself?
When the winds of fate rekindle the romance with Edward, thus making him the next target—she really has no choice but to help the FBI. But will she be too late?

I am looking for established book reviewers with a blog or a web site to help me promote this book. If interested, please e-mail be at sirjohn@wwisp.com

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/106185
PLEASE GO TO https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/106185 TO PURCHASE

2011-11-13T18:55:00.000-08:00

THE HERITAGE HAS A NEW COVER!

I hope you want to check it out. Please go here to see more

2011-11-11T04:25:00.000-08:00

COMING SOON
I am working on final arrangements to have my next book released next week. THE REJECTION LETTER is a romantic thriller that I think many people will enjoy. I had to give everyone an advanced look at the cover. Please tell me what you think. I will have more news shortly on the book release soon. I hope everyone wants to celebrate this event with me.

2011-10-23T04:03:00.000-07:00

My latest release.

I finally have my novel THE HERITAGE up on Smashword, kindle, and Barnes and Noble.

FIRST
RAPED—IMPREGNATED—DISGRACED

NEXT
A KILLER WANTS TO STOP THE BABY FROM BEING BORN AND
DISCLOSING THE FATHER

FINALLY
A WEDDING—A BABY—A HERITAGE

HOW?
PREPARE FOR SOME PLOT TWIST IN ONE OF THE BEST ROMANTIC THRILLER OF THE YEAR

New York City socialite Kristina Sutherland, the daughter of legendary Lawson Sutherland, a top executive with Lyon International discovers she’s pregnant, but doesn’t remember having sex for a long time. While contemplating an abortion she bumps into and confides in Shawn Davis, the head of security at Lyon International and asks him to take her to an abortion clinic out of the city for consultation, making him promise to keep any details in confidence. While she realizes she needs him as a bodyguard to keep the press away and guard her privacy she also knows he has a loyalty conflict due to his position in the corporation. Shawn provides security to the company elite and their families. Desperate, she knows no one else to turn to that she trusts.
Shawn is the secret grandson of Brent Lyon, the chairman of the board of Lyon International. After Brent asks Shawn to come to his office they talk about their past and how Brent regrets his earlier decisions. Brent had disowned his daughter, Shawn’s mother when she ran off with a want-to-be rock star. She had raised Shawn on her own until she died a few years earlier. Brent had invited Shawn back into his life only after her death, and only to a small degree which had to remain a secret to avoid scandals which could ruin the corporation.

2011-02-01T07:29:00.000-08:00

READING ROMANCES
I think there is one name that says romance better than any other--Harlequin
It is great to save money and I hope my friends do that with this coupon below.

2010-10-20T12:18:00.000-07:00

Johnny Ray has completed a new e-book on
HOW TO WRITE YOUR MEMOIR
Please check it out now!

BECOME AN AFFILIATE AND MAKE SOME FANTASTIC MONEY

HOW TO WRITE A MEMOIR BY Johnny Ray has officially been launched today.

Johnny Ray has worked as a professional ghostwriter for a while and is an award winning novelist in his own right. Since there are so many people wanting to author their own memoirs and people like Johnny Ray can only handle a few per year this guide and workbook is a perfect solution for many people wanting to record their legacy and pass on their advice to future generations.

Information on the e-book and how to get a copy is available on his promotional page http://www.sirjohn.org/MEMOIRSS.html

For those into affiliate marketing an affiliate page is available at http://www.sirjohn.org/MEMOIRSA.html

Anyone wanting to interview Johnny on a radio or TV show can contact him at sirjohn@wwisp.com

Johnny would like to thank everyone who helped with this project.

Johnny Ray

2010-09-22T06:49:00.000-07:00

How to select the right words when telling your memoir

As a professional ghostwriter this is the biggest challenge to writing memoirs. It takes getting in the head of the author and letting the story flow from the source.

Johnny Ray
Award winning Novelsit
Memoir ghostwriter
http://sirjohn.org/MemoirGhostWritingServices.htm

Memoirs: How to Touch Others With Your Words

By: Sandra Haven

Memoirs are great ways to related things to readers, for instance to inform, to educate, and to entertain them. These all address the value that any writing has to the reader. Writing, especially memoirs, can have another value -- one to the writer. A memoir can provide a powerfully cathartic value to the writer. As an editor since 1990, I've read many a memoir and I applaud writers for expressing the often confusing, occasionally ridiculous and sometimes amazing experiences that made up their lives. But I really admire those who take the heart-wrenching journey of writing about the dreadfully painful experiences that molded them into the people they are today. This is a valuable step in the writer's own healing.

Writing For Yourself -- Many writers are unable to finish something of this magnitude simply because of the pain involved. So anyone who completes a memoir should feel very proud of himself. And once written, the writer might consider the journey to be ended. Afterall, he has fulfilled the need: to get it out of himself, spilled onto paper, freeing himself from the solitary burden carried for so many years. And that is fine. No one needs to go further; once written, the memoir can be set aside, its duty done.

Writing for Others -- However, many memoir writers intend to publish their words for friends and family or to find a publisher to spread their story to a larger audience. That is another entire journey. Because then the manuscript must fulfill another need, one for the reader. So if you are writing a memoir and you want it to be read by others, you should ask yourself what you want the reader to take away.

Use the "Showing" Technique -- Most likely you want to share your life, to make what you experienced a valuable experience for the reader too. With this in mind, remember to avoid "telling" readers about your life. Every time you address the reader as "you" or tell us how to think, what to watch for, or how to respond, you are telling us we can't figure it out on our own. Readers will not respond favorably to this approach. They can even doubt your perceptions, wondering if they were, in fact, accurate.

Instead show your life. Let the experiences speak for themselves in the sensory descriptions and clear details that let the reader feel the sorrow or sense the joy in each incident. If we can see the way you were treated, then we feel we are there too, treated that same way. We know the experience is true because we feel it for ourselves. We'll experience what you experienced. The sharing will be complete.

Remember, memoirs are not just dates and names and facts lined up across your years. Let us experience the emotions you felt in sensory ways. Emotions are the most valuable tool any writer has. Show a strong emotion in one sentence and readers will understand with greater depth and impact than pages and pages of explanations ever would.

Memoirs are powerful tools to free the author's spirit and to add an extra dimension to the reader's life too!

About the Author

Sandra E. Haven has had her writing published in the U.S. and Europe--from short fiction to articles, mainstream to genre. Since 1990 she has provided editing services specializing in content, characterization, plot, tone and continuity. She deals in most fiction genres with an emphasis on mysteries, fantasies, and stories for children as well as memoirs. For more information see Bristol Editing Services.

(ArticlesBase SC #420708)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Memoirs: How to Touch Others With Your Words

2010-09-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

How long does a memoir have to be?

There is no specific length. It can be as short as an article in the paper posted the days after one dies to a full length 100,000 plus novel or autobiography. It can focus on one event and make a great short story, or a period in ones life making a short story of around 3500 to 5000 words.

A novella is the next step up and covers a slightly longer or more in depth look at life with around 20,000 words. This gives the author room to expand the story and give it some substance while keeping it short enough to make it a doable project for most.

A short novel is around the 50,000 word range. This gives the author room to further explore life and to introduce other characters to the reader. Much more of a time period can be covered.

The full works of a full length novel can take a while to write and covers the complete story. The entire message the author wants to present can be covered. This takes commitment and time. Research can be time consuming but needed in such a work. A ghost writer will spend a lot of time working on this and is necessary in most cases. The bare minimum for such a project is around $50,000 with the average around $125,000.

Back to the shorter versions like the short story a persons life can be captured easily and affordable. Many people want their life to be remembered and there can be no better way than with a memoir, hopefully authored by the one the story is about, but it doesn't have to be. It could be told my a loving spouse or child in memory of the life they remember.

But, the purpose is to record a life and make it immortal so that life will not be forgotten. The length is totally up to the author.

Johnny Ray
Award winning Novelist
Memoir ghostwriting services
http://sirjohn.org/MemoirGhostWritingServices.htm

2010-09-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

Is your memoir a reflection of your true life or the way you wish it was?

A memoir is a way to make sure your life does not go unnoticed. The accomplishments and victories are hard earned by most people and many times the rewards do not match the efforts put forth. Many times it is hard for one to toot their own horn. But, as life comes closer to an end the efforts need to be acknowledged. The life built for the family needs to be appreciated.

When looking back on your life many parts of it will appear different after time has elapsed. While the struggles were so miserable at the time, the future rewards have made it all worthwhile. However, the struggles need to be remembered and the current generation needs to know what it cost and to not take it lightly.

In looking back you could paint a world as it was or as you wish it was. It is only human nature to paint your life as one people will like and respect. This one aspect of writing your memories is very important in coming to grip with before you start writing. Many people assume life to be a certain way when n reality it may be far from the truth.

So, how do you want your life remembered? Would you want it in your own words or the words of others who only could guess your true story? It is your legacy you are going to pass on. And, you are the only one that can tell it right.

Johnny Ray
Award winning Novelist
Memoir Ghostwriting Service

2010-09-14T06:10:00.000-07:00

Memoirs can be so diverse,ranging from telling a sorted past of abuse and setting the record straight to honoring a loving spouse who has remained faithful to you and supported you your entire life. Everyone will have different goals to accomplish. some write to pass on the legacy of the family and intend for only a few to read them. Others write to be sold and to the masses and want their words of wisdom to be heard.

Determining why you want to write is important and it might take a little soul searching to discover what you want to write about and why you want to take on such a project.

As a professional ghostwriter I understand how the story is the central part of the story that drives everything else. It is what will sustain the author to tell the story that must be told. This is why I started my Memoir Ghostwriting Services.

The following article gives many more ideas on what to include in your memoirs and why you should write your memoirs.

Johnny Ray
Award Winning Novelist
http://sirjohn.org/MemoirGhostWritingServices.htm

Memoir Writing Help, Memoir Writing Ideas

By: Prakash Sharma

You might not need any memoir writing help, per se, as you know your past and you know quite well how to write, thank you. You might instead just need someone to inspire you, motivate you, give you a nudge--with some memoir writing ideas.

Here are a few prompts to stimulate your memory and to encourage your creativity...of which you have plenty to work with and to share. So do the activities (or at least one), and share them (or it) with loved ones...or with me if you wish. I love reading your memoirs and responding.

Prompt:

Starting on June 17, 1976, Diego and Suzy Goldberg, of Buenos Ares, Argentina, photographed head shots of each member of the family...one day every year. Of course, they started as a family of two--Diego and Suzy--and have over the years created a photo essay that captures their physical growth (and more) over time.

Visit the website and study the photo essay, "Time" (at www.zonezero.com/ magazine/essays/diegotime/time.html).

In words instead of photos, choose one day of your family's life (starting with your parents or guardians and adding you as a child) and describe what you each look like. Do this for one day every year for as many years as you can.

Prompt:

All art is a response to something--other art, an event in our culture, a moment in history. Look at the photos (on roxannewrites.com or anywhere on the web, and write a page or two of your immediate associations with that picture.

For example, look at the photo of the old 50’s drive-in. What is the first memory that comes up for you? Who was involved? Who was absent and why? What sounds do you recall as predominant that day? What smells were there? What colors do you recall? How did you feel on that day?

Prompt:

At the bottom of the page of my site are two pictures. One is clearly related to the movie theatre, as it features a crowd of men and women (of the 40’s?) standing outside The Dixie Theatre, all facing the camera; and the other has to do with the stage (and movies...later), as it is an artistic rendering of Othello pulling back the bedchamber curtains and peering in at a sleeping Desdemona. Decide what one play or movie influenced you the earliest.

What was the name of the play or film? When did you first see it? What impact did it have on you? For instance, if you and your family were poor and you only saw one movie when you were a kid, maybe you grew up to love movies or work in the movie industry.

Maybe, instead, you saw a play every year with your since deceased uncle, and were inspired to go into theatre or to study literature. Write whatever you want about one movie or play, and then email me with the draft(s) for a response and more encouragement if you wish.

Finished with these prompts?

There are more lessons in Memoir Writing for Our Elders.

Note: The black and white photo below may remind you of something other than your first movie experience. Go for that draft, too!

And stop in every month for new prompts and/or a response to your creative memoir writing if you’d like. I know I’d love it if you did.www.allfreereports.com

About the Author

For More Free Resources visit

www.allfreereports.com

(ArticlesBase SC #370641)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Memoir Writing Help, Memoir Writing Ideas

2010-09-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

What length does a memoir have to be?

There are no required lengths. It can be a complete story of one’s life such as an autobiography and run into the hundreds of thousands of word, to a very short story, perhaps even a profile accounting of one’s life.

However, in general a full length book is generally considered to be around 100,000 words. A short novel is around 50,000 words and a novella around 16,000 to 20,000 words. It all depends on what the author wants to focus one.

In this post I will concentrate on the novella. This size is short and concise and can be used to tell a specific part of one’s life. A memoir can be about you as a person or someone else close to you. It can also be about two people’s life together. There are no rules if one wants these to be left to the author’s friends and relatives. It is the perfect way to pass on a legacy.

One does not have to be rich and famous to author their memoirs. What is needed is a story that must be told. As an example let us explore the guy who has been married for a long time to a woman that passes away. He now has many grandchildren and great grandchildren. And as all parents know there is a time when the children and grandchildren ask, “How did you meet mother, or perhaps grandmother, etc.” Each time the story is one told with fond memories of that special time. This is all that is needed to set the memoir into a story form best suited for a memoir in novella length.

Why not make a romance from a story in your past? It could be the best way to honor a spouse you walked through life with. There could be no better way to pass on values and morals to a future generation. It can also be a way to tell a hot romance that no one would suspect. Real names could be used or written as a novella where only those close to the story would ever know the facts were true.

By writing a novella rather than a full novel the time to write it is reduced to a workable project. Also the cost of hiring a ghostwriter is reduced to a sum that can be affordable by most people. If the project gains interest it can always be expanded or additional novellas added to complete one’s life works.

I work as a ghostwriter and always looking for an interesting story that must be told. The sooner the project is started the better as most of the information is stored in one’s memories. I also plan to have an e-book on how to write your own memoir soon. I hope everyone interested in this will follow this blog as I post tips on writing your memoirs while I finish the work on this how to book. And as always remember me if you know of anyone needing my Memoir Ghostwriting Services

Johnny Ray
Award Winning novelist
http://sirjohn.org/MemoirGhostWritingServices.htm

2010-09-09T13:16:00.000-07:00

Considerations in writing your memoirs.

One of the main concerns for many people wanting to write their memoirs is who to leave in and who to leave out. In both cases peoples feelings can be hurt. If this is addressed early on the whole project can go much faster and smoother. A good memoir is one where the author is free to discuss topics openly. this quality is what make memoirs so intriguing to readers. Please check out my memoir ghostwriting services at http://sirjohn.org/MemoirGhostWritingServices.htm

Johnny Ray
Award Winning Novelist
Ghostwriter
http://sirjohn.org/MemoirGhostWritingServices.htm

The Dangers of Memoir Writing

By: Linda Joy Myers

I have taught memoir writing for many years, and have always encouraged people to write their personal stories. After all, my belief is that writing is good for you, it is healing–I have seen this many times for myself and for others–and it frees the writers to move on to other new levels of interacting with their memories.

Of course, in all my classes and workshops we discuss the issues of family–the writer’s worry about how family will react to their stories, will it make things worse? Will they be attacked or judged for what they say on the page–this is assuming that they show their writing to others or are published.

But recently I have found from interactions with an older generation in my family, it doesn’t matter if I wrote my truth. It doesn’t matter if I stand behind the story I told. It doesn’t matter if I have not named names or told the most secret stories.

What matters is that I have written anything about the family. What matters is that I have written a book, and told stories about the family, benign though they were. This appears to be threatening. I have discovered that people may judge you for writing even if they have not read the book, that they may project their own imagined fears and perhaps guilt–about what we may never know–onto the person who takes the risk to speak out, to write, to publish.

I always felt that I was safe from retribution in writing Don’t Call Me Mother because the people I write the most about–my mother, grandmother and father, the main characters in the book, were dead. I knew they wouldn’t like it, but I knew that I had to tell the take of the generations of mothers who had abandoned their daughters. I also wanted to honor my Iowa family and tell the stories of how I felt loved and accepted there, how my great-grandmother and great aunts and uncles had made me feel less abandoned.

I left out the molesting uncles, I left out the confrontation with one of them later in my life. I left out what I felt were stories that would distract from my main story about the mothers. But who knows if the legacy of sexual abuse is not part of their story too? I heard rumors about grandfathers and uncles who were “to be watched out for.” I heard stories about hands up little girl’s dresses. I knew that my grand mother ran away from her grandparent’s home when she was 16. I don’t know why. I do know that she expressed a deep hatred of men when she was raising me. What roots did that have?

I write all this because I see that no matter how hard we may try not to offend and how much we have tried to protect family members, it still may not work. You may find yourself, as I did recently, on the receiving end of an attack, judged and perhaps feared.

Perhaps the pen is the mightiest tool of all. Perhaps we must be prepared for anything. Perhaps writing is a warrior’s path.

But I still say to the writers out there: write your truth, write for yourself. Protect yourself from the judgments of others as long as you can. But if you are published, be prepared for anything.

Writing Invitations

1. Make a list of the people whom you do not want to offend.

2. Make another list of those whose secrets you know.

3. Write about the secrets and shame-based issues in your family in your journal to clear them out of your head.

4. Look over your memoir and make a list of the stories that implied, even if you had not written them, certain secrets and truths based on what you know about the family.

Don’t tell family members what you are writing about—personal stories or a memoir—until you are finished. It keeps the outer critic from becoming your inner critic.

6. When you are finished, you can change the names of the guilty or the innocent, but if they will know who they are when you publish your work, you need to tell them at this point what you are doing.

7. Consult a literary attorney for advice if you have legal concerns about your writing.

About the Author

Linda Joy Myers, Ph.D., the author of Becoming Whole: Writing Your Healing Story, is a workshop and conference coach for writing as a transformative process. Her prize-winning memoir Don’t Call Me Mother is the recipient of the 2006 Gold Medal Award from BAIPA, Bay Area Independent Publishing Association.

Becoming Whole has been used as a text by therapists, ministers, and writing coaches. A licensed clinical therapist, Myers demonstrates the power of a memoir to bridge, integrate, and heal the past. www.memoriesandmemoirs.com

(ArticlesBase SC #204047)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - The Dangers of Memoir Writing

2010-09-08T06:21:00.000-07:00

How to write your memoirs by hiring a Ghostwriter

This has to be one of the most interesting questions many people ask themselves later in life after putting it off for years. Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone is unique. What is your legacy and how will it be preserved if you don't write it.

A memoir is different from an autobiography is that it is much shorter and can be written in a more novel type style. The names can be changed to protect those around the author.

I am actively looking for an interesting story to preserve and make into an unforgettable novel or memoir if you wish. I will be writing a series of articles on the what,why.where,when,who, etc of a memoir and hope everyone will contribute to the post.

For more information on my memoir ghost writing services please check out my new site at http://sirjohn.org/MemoirGhostWritingServices.htm

Johnny Ray
Award winning novelist

2010-08-20T09:06:00.001-07:00

When should a writer build his list of people wanting to buy his books?

The answer to me is simple—NOW.

I think this goes back to the saying, “build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door” which is not always true. If they don’t know about it, how will they know which path to take?

Collecting a few names here and there will help, but what about all of the people who come to your web site, your blog that only come one time and disappear forever?

When negotiating the sale of book, the publisher is attempting to estimate how many books you are going to sell. A list showing a substantial number will build your case. Staying in contact with your fans is important, but you have to have time to write. So what is the solution?

Many programs exist on the market to manage your list. One of the best is one that will allow fans to opt in to your list from you blog or your web site. I know many people hate to pay money for a service to do this without knowing how effective it might be. As such, the following invitation should be attractive to you.

I have a special newsletter designed for writers who want to make better use of their site visitors and offers a free test drive of this incredible product.

As a final note, many additional web sites of Johnny Ray can now be found in one place, along with all of his social media connections.

2010-08-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

Blogging has become a full time job

I always wanted to be a writer and never thought it would be as a blogger, but I love to write and with all of the blogs I have I'm never without a place to write. I have many blogs and a full list of them is at http://www.sirjohn.us

Will my blogging and my love for novels ever merge? I guess that will be seen one day. I was wondering if other novelist have decided to take the route I have and now spend most of their time on their blogs, etc. and how they are doing on making money doing it.

As an update, I do have many of my novels under consideration at many agencies and publishers now.

Johnny Ray

2010-08-09T01:01:00.000-07:00

Please follow me on google friend before you leave and check out my list of blogs on http://www.sirjohn.us I am willing to help others wanting to build their blogs.

Today I work on my blogs some more, there is always something special to add to them and the number of blog post I have to write is mind blowing, but I love it. On top of the post I write, I write novels, do some editing work, and enjoy my poetry http;//www.sirjohn.org/poet and my short stories http://www.sirjohn.org/ShortStories

I also enjoy writing article I syndicate. it is amazing the ones that circulate the most. I wrote one on popcorn ceiling and saw where it has been published 687 times now.

And it is hard to forget twitter and fcebook, just to mention a couple of them. I have a full list on my directory http://www.sirjohn.us

The next big project for me is to understand youtube better. I hope ot have some work posted there soon.

Work hard my friends.

Johnny Ray

2010-07-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

Writing tips by John Desjarlais

Everyone has learned from Aristotle that a story must have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Most stories fail at the beginning, because an agent or editor will read only a few paragraphs, maybe a few pages, looking for reasons to reject it. That's why the opening must capture attention immediately and compel the reader to keep turning pages.
Much has been written about the need for a great hook, a grabber of a first line or two that grips a reader by the lapels and doesn't let go, setting a mood from the get-go and hinting at a conflict or problem. Less has been written about WHEN to open.
There are three points when you can open in a chronological form:
1. Just before the problem comes up
2. Just as the problem comes up
3. Just after the problem comes up
Use #1 if it introduces the lead character well and emphasizes the gravity of the problem to come.
For example, in my mystery BLEEDER, protagonist Reed Stubblefield is shown driving into the rural Illinois countryside under a 'gun-metal gray sky,' far from his familiar cityscape, feeling anxious. A bumper sticker that says 'gun control means using both hands' and a talk with a gas station attendant who holds the pump like a pistol are small ways to allow reflection on his gunshot wound that has sent him on this retreat for recovery, while also hinting at trouble to come, especially when the attendant asks if he has come all this way to see the town's new priest, reputed to be a 'bleeder,' a stigmatic healer.
Use #2 if the arrival of the problem itself is more dramatic and interesting.
In my latest mystery, VIPER, insurance agent Selena De La Cruz is shown in her claims garage tinkering with her vintage Dodge Charger when she is interrupted by a phone call from a former boss - a team leader with the DEA - who says he needs her back to find a notorious dealer she helped to imprison who is now free, before he finds her.
Use #3 if the lead character's reaction or first move to solve the problem is more dramatic.
In my historical novel, "The Throne of Tara," the story opens with a man's resolution, "I have a son," Fedlimidh fumed, "and by the gods, he shall be high king of Erin one day!" In the next few lines, we learn in dialog that he has just been victimized by cattle raiders and this re-kindles his ambition for his newborn boy. He will name him 'Crimthann', wolf, at his baptism, to emphasize his warrior heritage and destiny. The mother has other plans.
As with all tactical choices in writing, there are advantages and drawbacks.
The potential drawback of choice #1 is running too long, dwelling on descriptions or causing the reader to wonder when the writer will get down to business. The biggest mistake beginners make is inserting backstory or a flashback early on, as a way to explain what is happening or to provide motive. This puts the brakes on a story and is a major reason why so many stories end up in the rejection pile. The same thing goes for 'prologs.' These are almost always a sign of an amateur and are nearly always badly handled. Use a 'prolog' only if the event in it is ten years or more before the main action of chapter one scene one. It's better to sprinkle in backstory 'bits' in the narrative rather than using a clunky 'prolog.'
The potential issue with choice #2 is that it can emphasize the problem over the character who has the problem. A reader will only be interested in the problem if he is interested in the character who has it. So make us care about the character first.
The possible problem of choice #3 is that a reader will feel disoriented, not knowing what has caused the character's reaction. This must be shown - not told - quickly, perhaps in dialog or some action, and not by an author's summary or explanation.
Beginnings are terribly important - the beginning of every scene, every chapter. They are what make a reader want to continue tuning pages to the end. As Aristotle said, "Well begun is half done."
John Desjarlais is the author of "The Throne of Tara" (Crossway 1990, 2000), "Relics" (Thomas Nelson 1993, 2009), BLEEDER (Sophia Institute Press 2009), and VIPER (Sophia Institute Press 2010). A member of Mystery Writers of America, he is listed in Contemporary Authors and Who's Who in Entertainment. His website is www.johndesjarlais.com and his blog, "Johnny Dangerous," is at http://jjdesjarlais.blogspot.com >

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2010-07-19T16:41:00.001-07:00

So, do you really want to self publish?

2010-07-16T06:18:00.000-07:00

Who enjoys a great bottle of wine?

I think many people enjoy great wine but want a price they can afford. I am so glad to find this company and invite all of my friends to explore them. By buying directly from the company we can all save a lot and find wines hard to find in other places.
I want to know what kind of wines my friends like to buy and what they are drinking. My taste vary from day to day, but like I've heard many times before life is too short to drink bad wines. so drink the best, but save money doing it.

2010-07-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

Who enjoys laying on the beach, with eyes closed and listening to their favoriate book. If so, this is a great offer you should consider.
Johnny Ray

Download and Listen to any Audiobook for only $7.49. Save 50% for 3 months on over 75,000 Titles.

2010-07-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

Writer vs Programmer
I am sure I am not the first writer to learn that web designing and programming are a very large part of writing. I think this is especially important when you recognize the job of a story teller is to get his story out to the masses. The internet has changed everything and it is changing so fast. All models of selling are evolving daily.

There are so many talented writers in the world you have to compete with. the difference is the ability to market you stories. There was a time the publisher handled all of this for the author, but now it is up to the author to do most of the work. Perhaps one day the publisher will learn how to handle it again, but it will be after they determine how to make a profit from it.

Until then, it is time to learn a new profession and learn how to be a pro at it.

What new areas of expertise do other authors see coming. Where will we all be in a few years?

Be sure to check out my other blogs. a complete list can be found here http://www.sirjohn.org/bloglist

Johnny Ray

2010-06-29T17:19:00.001-07:00

WRITING WORKSHOP 101
WRITING THE BOOK INSIDE YOU

Do you have a book inside you that is exploding to get out? But—you have no idea how to start?

You are not alone.

Before you start on page one with “It was a dark and stormy night” you need to do a little preparation--little things like establishing who your market is, which genre you will write in, establishing your own writing goals and writing schedule, building characters, building your setting, discovering your voice, deciding which point of view to use, plotting, outlining, developing conflict, researching data . . . humm, kind of makes your head hurt, doesn’t it.

For three hours award winning novelist Johnny Ray will describe what is needed before you start the novel giving you a great foundation toward writing your bestseller. The problem with most undiscovered writers is that they never get to page one.

If you ever expressed an interest in writing a novel but didn’t know how to get started or had the encouragement to do so, you owe it to yourself to check out this series. The writers workshop #101 will be held on June 20th, 2010 at Joe's Crab Shack located at 2730 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, Florida 33755 727-799-8530. The workshop will start slightly after 6:00 PM and last until 9:00 Pm. You are encouraged to come early and eat and network with other aspiring writers at 5:30 and to check in.

Johnny Ray will add other courses to make sure you have the support you need. Full details will be given at the workshop. The next workshop (#102) you may wish to consider is one describing the writer's life and how to complete a novel in as little as 60 days. It will be held on June 22, 2010 at Joe's Crab Shack located at 2730 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, Florida 33755 727-799-8530. Again the workshop will start slightly after 6:00 PM and last until 9:00 Pm. You are encouraged to come early and eat and network with other aspiring writers at 5:30 and to check in.

The cost is only $30 per workshop and can be paid in advance using paypal below or $35 at the door. Please drop Johnny Ray an e-mail at johnny@sirjohn.org to let him know you will be attending and to ask any questions.

2010-06-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

Writing advice on fine tuning your writing habits by Johnny Ray

I think every writer slowly fine tunes the way they write. Everyone has the best place and time to write. We all distractions and problems which make us much less effective.

When i am writing new material I can fly and have no problem. But like many people the business of writing slips in and sucks all of the time between those golden times. You know like submitting, polishing, researching, more editing and, of yes, Family time.

In looking at the writing objectively, I will start a new plan of nothing but working on producing new words every day. I have a hefty goal, but one I think i can carry out. I generally write at about 750 words if I am not distracted and can simply create. For thee hours I can easily do 2,000 words. I plan to get up early and accomplish this which will the rest of the day to work on all of the rest of the needed parts of being a writer.

At this rate I will have a short novel every month or a normal 100,000 word novel every other month.

I will let everyone know how this works out. I want to hear how others keep their writing on track.

Johnny Ray
http://www.sirjohn.org/bloglist

2010-05-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

A day of writing to see what can be accomplished in one day--today! Are you ready for the Novelist Johnny Ray challenge?

If you concentrate on writing how many words can you write in a day? Just by closing the door and writing. I am hoping for 8,000 words today and will be posting my results during the day. I hope you will join me and post your goals and updates. It will be a great day.

Johnny Ray

2010-05-29T18:10:00.000-07:00

So, what do writers do on Saturday night?

It depends on if you are a full time write or a week end warrior I guess. For the full time writer it is like Saturday for most people and a good night to enjoy a little wine with friends. For the week end warrior this might be the most productive time for you.

For me it is a good time to enjoy a glass of wine for sure, but a time to reflect on what I've written for the week and make plans in my mind without a constant pressure to get something written. It is also the one night I get to read someone else and see what they are writing.

Tell me what you do with your Saturday night?

Johnny Ray

Be sure to check out my commentary also at http://www.sirjohn.org/blog1

2010-05-23T17:59:00.001-07:00

Do you want a kindle? Check out the official site of Novelist Johnny Ray http://www.sirjohn.us for details of the giveaway contest.

2010-05-23T11:22:00.001-07:00

I recently placed my license with Charles Rutenberg, the largest single office in America with over 1600 agents to handle my referrals. http://ping.fm/DpWli

2010-05-21T16:15:00.001-07:00

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN ARIZONA by Johnny Ray
http://ping.fm/bLdcy

2010-05-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

Writer's block

I think it hits everyone. I'm working on my work in progress and hit a brick wall. I think the problem is I made the obstacles so high there is no way to make it over them. This is a passionate story, but making it work in only 50,000 words is not going to happen.
While off fighting a war, my heroin, yes my heroin has her land sold to a land baron without her knowledge. She wants it back. Even it she thinks he seduced her mother into signing the papers and even if she is falling for his mesmerizing looks.
I will take a day off, drop back and replot and start over. I think this is the best approach for me.
My blogs need updating anyway. I hope you can leave a comment on how you handle writers block and also visit my other blogs. http://www.sirjohn.org/bloglist

Johnny (Sir John) Ray

2010-05-13T05:20:00.000-07:00

One long marathon day of writing

Today I will put out my best effort to see how many words I can write in a single day. No goal, but as many as I can. I hope to have others join me on this venture today. If you are interested simply pop in with you totals.
Johnny Ray

ps I might update one blog today on the BP OIL SPILL http://www.sirjohn.org.blog1 since this is important to me.

Now, let the writing begin!

2010-05-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

Writing and learning as the story unfolds by Johnny Ray
I think it doesn't matter how much you plot and plan out your novel, the story will evolve and sometimes in the most unusual ways. Sometimes small corrections can be made and at other times, a complete rewrite is in order. Sometimes, a writer can be luck and have a great spin off idea.
T me, the most important aspect of writing is staying in tune with what is going on in the story. In a way you have to become the characters and live their life along with them. This can be very interesting, especial if you write from multiple points of view.
As soon as I write a rough draft which can take a long time, I open a bottle of wine and read the story now stopping to correct anything. this is just to see how the story fits together and it stays intact and not all over the place. Yes, like many writers on different days i look at the world differently. The voice as to stay the same through out the novel.
Then, when the framework is intact, the rel work of editing comes into play.
I'm still slightly over half way though my current WIP and pushing forward. Day by day, the novel is evolving and I'm loving it.

Johnny Ray

2010-05-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Johnny Ray led discussion on the life of a writer.

Working through the middle of another novel I hope to be proud to sign my name Johnny Ray to can be fun, can be work, and sometimes pain. I think it is like any occupation where their are days you like and days you wish you were out fishing or simply drinking a beer on the beach somewhere.

Just like I hope to Brand the Johnny Ray name, I want each book to have the same feel and voice. The problem is having a different mood and expectation every day. This is where polishing, a kind of quality control comes in. If you don't finish the book in a short period of time, the problem is more obvious. That is why I want to get the basic rough draft completed as fast as I can.

With that said, I guess it is time to haul Johnny Ray the writer back in the seat and keep hammering away. With 26,000 words on a goal of 52,000 he is half way there and hopefully Johnny Ray will write 6,000 a day and finish the rough draft by this weekend. Then I get to be me again, LOL

Johnny Ray

Also, please check out the new blog on Johnny Ray Commentary at http://www.sirjohn.org/blog1
thanks
Johnny Ray

2010-04-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

How to cast characters by Novelist Johnny Ray

As soon as I have a basic idea on what I want to write I start auditioning my characters. To me it is like applying for a part in a movie. I know the part but want it to have a full realistic person playing it.

The first item of business is the name. The name can make a world of difference on how you see that person. There are many sites available to study names and it is worth the time to do so.

Next is the specific characteristic of that character like how tall, weight, etc.

Add to this his own personal quirks , his or her own voice, words they use that no on else would use, based on heritage, race, region of the country, education, etc. I want each character to stand alone.

Then time to find a face to fit the character. While many places to find photos I use http://popcorn.oneindia.in/hollywood to find them easily.

Next I have to add what the characters motive are, what really makes them click.

I place all of the characters sketches on page one of the novel so I can always find it. I also print out a copy and have it on the wall next to me. let's face it, I will be with these characters for months as I write about them. While my creation as such, I want them to take own their own life and let me write about it. This page I will move to another file after I finish the novel and start polishing.

With all in place, I have a group meeting telling everyone what the goal of the story is and we go to work.

Johnny Ray
Award winning Novelist

2010-04-26T18:32:00.000-07:00

Nicholas Sparks Shares Tips for Aspiring Writers

2010-04-25T05:12:00.000-07:00

Award Winning Novelist Johnny Ray's quest to find the best blogs and video promotions.

When it comes to personal blogs which ones are you favorites? What does it take to become a great blog. What keeps you coming back? Today I will be surfing the web in the hunt for an answer. Please let me know what your thoughts are today. I will try to summarize all of the comments in a post in a few days. I have a list of my blogs here http://www.sirjoh.org/bloglist.
I'm also interested in blog videos as well. I love to know how people plan to brand their name or product to make it stand out.
Now, time for me to do some surfing, I hope you will help me on this web surfing Sunday.

Johnny Ray
Award Winning Novelist

2010-04-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

Walgreen is having an Earth Day special on ink cartridge refills. For today only they are charging only $1. I use a lot of ink so this is fantastic for me. I wondered if it was true when I heard the news. I have just returned from there and they accepted about a dozen cartridges from me for a dollar each.
This is good seeing how I have to print out a lot of copies in the next few days. I hope this saves some others some much need funds now with the economy as it is.

Johnny Ray

2010-04-15T08:11:00.000-07:00

THE ENLIGHTENMENT DIET
I've started working on a previous work on mine which will BE retitled ETERNAL DREAMS and thought it would be nice to share the process of reaching enlightenment in the story.
While there are four steps involved, this will center only on the first one.
To reach what most people consider a state of enlightenment, visions of purity are almost always included. To reach a higher level of purity and energy the foods entered into the body would naturally matter.
As such, it only makes sense to eat foods that are alive and not dead. What is meant here is simple when you think about it. Yes, we all have heard you need to eat good food. But, exactly what is that? Fresh vegetables always come to mind in such a discussion, but again it is much more than simply fresh. Perhaps how you describe fresh is the key.
A carrot that is washed, cleaned, cooked is considered healthy by most people, but it is really? It is now dead and self destined to destroy itself with micros and other bacterial, returning it to the earth. On the other hand, a carrot that is freshly plucked from the ground and could be replanted and live is still full of life that can be consumed. The difference is now the body is receiving a life force and not a signal to decompose. You have to think of consuming life forces, an energy, instead of material substance.
The carrot is but one example of life forces that can be consumed. In future post, I will discuss other sources of food that are alive and can increase your energy and life force.
I want your opinion on this, please feel free to comment.
Johnny Ray

2010-03-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

Novelist Johnny Ray taking time to taste the strawberries
When work consumes both day and night, it is time to take a break. In Florida the strawberries are plentiful. In fact, the berries were late this year and due to the competition one farmer turned it open to the public to pick. We picked up 18 flats and made preserves, jellies, topping, froze some, gave away what we could and still have strawberries left over.

As far as my novels go, I have many in front of agents and editors now. I hope to have some good news to report soon. I also am rewriting a romantic paranormal suspense. I should have it completed in about a week. In April I will be working on converting one novel to a screenplay. This should be interesting. I also have a new novel I'm about 20% into that is very interesting for me as it is about the fashion industry. I hope to have it completed by June. It is an international romantic suspense.
Now tell me , can't you smell the strawberries cooking. Is it possible to overdose on strawberries?

2010-03-02T05:16:00.000-08:00

Award winning novelist Johnny Ray describes how to select characters for your next novel

I have studied this many times and taking the advice of so many people more qualified than me. However, I will attempt to tell how I do it and hope some of my writer friends will jump in and add what works for them.
First , with a very rough idea as to what my story is about I make a list of characters types I will need like a hero here and a heroin there, etc. and build the basic building blocks of physical appearances, etc.
Second, I have to have photos of my characters. I use sites such as http://popcorn.oneindia.in/hollywood to search for actors I would love to use. I build a large list and keep it for small characters later, but looking for my main characters. When I find the main characters, I search for additional photos of these actors and add them to the list.
Third, I start building the strengths and weaknesses of each character. I want to know what makes this person different, unique and interesting enough to spend the next 3-6 months with.
Fourth, I start to build what mannerisms the character has. I want each character to be known by the way he acts and talks, etc. I want to know what specific way of talking does he have, favorite expressions, etc.
Fifth is getting under the skin of the character and discovering what really makes him tick. This is when the character starts taking on a life.
An last, my character develops while I write and I have no problem going back every day and adding to his sketch. I do this every morning before I start to add to the story.
For me to be able to tell a story, I have to know my characters and like so many other writers, the magic happens when the characters take over and becomes real enough to tell the story with the writer simply recording the action.

Johnny Ray
http://www.sirjohn.org

2010-02-23T16:34:00.000-08:00

Novelist Johnny Ray's bike trip to the end of the Pinellas Trail

Like writing a novel, the greatest feeling in the world is making it to the end; especially when you have so much fun along the way. Yes, I love Tarpon Springs and Greek coffee. I finished rewriting another novel and hope to present it in the next few days to some great editors and agents. I will report back later on how it went.

Johnny Ray

2010-02-16T05:04:00.000-08:00

A writer’s use of technology
The world is changing for many as technology expands on a daily bases. And this could not be truer of anyone more than writers. With writing programs the ability to catch errors in grammar and spelling, not to mention word choices are so easy almost anyone can become a writer.
With the enhanced technology come more demands in other aspects. Details, the world is at a writers finger tips, literally. The ability to become an expert in any field is only a matter of time spent on the net. The great writers know how to become such an expert and to be able to impart such knowledge seamlessly to the reader. Readers want to be entertained for sure, but they also want to learn something new and in an interesting way.
The stumbling block is not forgetting there is a world out there beyond the computer where people live and explore life; a life with emotions and feelings that can only be experienced in the world away from the computer. The ability to merge technology and real life is a gift very few writers achieve.
So, where will the future technology take us? We could only dream, but perhaps that is what a great writer needs to do—create a world only the mind can conjure up.
Johnny Ray
http://www.sirjohn.org
http://www.sirjohn.us
http://www.lovepoemsbyjohnnyray.info

2010-02-15T05:42:00.000-08:00

THE DREADED SYNOPSIS
by
Johnny Ray

I attended a workshop presented at the local Tampa chapter of The Romance Writers of America monthly meeting by literary agent Nephele Tempest. She discussed two parts and I will make this a two part blog as well. The first part is the synopsis.

The length of the synopsis is often discussed as she made it clear a short one is preferred and you needed one only a paragraph or two and one about one and a half pages. I have seen many agents set their requirement from very short to very long. It depends on the agent. As such it stands to reason to have a long one and the ability to shorten it according to which agent you are pitching.

The main difference in a query letter and a synopsis is the ending. The query is designed to hook the agent, the synopsis is required to show the agent you can fully develop the story and have enough plot to carry it. Kind of like a one two punch.

A short synopsis describes the major points in the novel. A longer synopsis can add complexities and minor plots. In either case the author has to be able to show a satisfying resolution.

Some authors work with an outline that can be converted to a synopsis and others write a synopsis specifically designed for a specific agent. The ability to demonstrate a writer’s style inside the synopsis is a big bonus. Being a business relationship, the agent will want to know they will enjoy working with the author and his style fits the type book he is proposing.

In listening to Ms. Tempest I realized how important it is to custom the synopsis to the individual agent. She offered some very valuable insight into the process of attracting and obtaining an agent.

Johnny Ray
www.sirjohn.org

2010-01-31T20:51:00.000-08:00

Johnny Ray's Poems
The newest in blogs run by Johnny Ray is his poetry blog
A new poem will be written almost every day, so please check back there as often as possible. The poems are free to use in an email or post in your own blog with the requirement the poem stay intact as it was written, the poet (Johnny Ray) be given credit and the link back to the site remain in place. Please enjoy them and be sure to bookmark the site and link to it as you wish. You might want to follow the new poems on google friends as well.
If you want to see a particular type poem for a special occasion, please leave a note in the comments section

Johnny Ray

http://www.lovepoemsbyjohnnyray.info

2010-01-31T12:12:00.000-08:00

Gasparilla--a day to be remembered for Novelist Johnny Ray, perhaps even insight into a future novel.
The weather did not cooperate but we had a great time anyway. Once a year the pirates come ashore in Tampa to take the city and party. Oh yes, party all day and night. Some of the photos are posted here to show the fun. With the rain photos the parade could not be captured this year.

2010-01-17T07:05:00.000-08:00

Fighting the uphill battle as an aspiring author by Johnny Ray

I know when facing a mountain side of reason to reconsider it appears to be overwhelming. You could simply give up and try something different or think of a way around it. But sooner or later the fact remains to see what is at the top you have to make it there first. Looking back later, the climb can be an interesting reminder, a way of showing others how to proceed.

Yes, at times it is important just to be able to hang on to how far you have come. The support groups built along the way can help, but it is important to find the rocks that will give you one more chance to climb one more flight.

There is a saying when climbing--never look down. The same is true in writing. We all have to start somewhere, but it is not where we have to stay. Reaching for one hold after another takes concentration and effort. With each step we gain confidence. We learn what works and what does not.

I know what keeps me going. I never learned how to fail. It may take me longer but the only way I know to become a best selling author is to keep climbing and keep writing everyday.

Today I want to hear what keeps other people going to make it to the top. What are your motivations? How do you continue to climb one day after another?

2010-01-12T06:16:00.000-08:00

Johnny Ray enjoying a winter play land during the holiday season
Since it was going to be cold anyway, I thought the best thing was to go somewhere to really enjoy it. These photos are from the back of the cabin in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
I think being trapped inside like this might be a good way to concentrate on writing--you sure can't do much of anything else. Florida has so many distractions. I guess my point in this post is learning how others cope with distractions. For me, I have the opposite problems, I need the distractions to stimulate me to write. I always go to crowded places to work. What helps you to concentrate?
Johnny Ray
http://www.johnnyray.info
http://www.thejohnnyray.info

2010-01-10T16:13:00.000-08:00

Johnny Ray photos in the Green Swamp of Florida. Research is always important and since so many times my characters end up in the swamp this was a very interesting time I spent wild boar hunting recently. The deep swamps in Florida can be so beautiful but intimidating at the same time. The wild boars do have an attitude, not to mention the large gators in the swamps. It is definitely a place of intrigue.
Johnny Ray

2010-01-04T05:27:00.000-08:00

Johnny Ray's editorial Service is now open. I plan to only offer this for the first two months of this year. I will be glad to provide a sample edit of the first five pages. See the site for details or e-mail me with any questions at sirjohn@wwisp.com
I also have two new sites I think you will like.
http://www.thejohnnyray.info
http://www.johnnyray.info
These are great resources for writers and I would love to hear what you think about them. I am also looking for guest bloggers on these sites.

Johnny Ray

2009-12-31T11:44:00.000-08:00

Johnny Ray preparing to celebrate. Just like writing, the best way to make a decision is to sample all life has to offer.

If you don't understand what the local beers taste like, then do the most sensible thing -- try them all. I want to take a minute and wish everyone a great new year and hope you make the world brighter by just being a part of it. Now it is your time to sample what the world has to offer, to live life to the fullest.

Johnny Ray
Award winning novelist

2009-12-27T15:06:00.001-08:00

Johnny Ray with his granddaughters
It is nice to spend some time with my granddaughters for Christmas. They are a handful.

2009-12-16T10:17:00.000-08:00

The Johnny Ray family hopes all have a great holiday season.

It is time to wrap up the year and relax for a while. It has been a great year and I've learned so much from my friends. Writing has become such a way of life with me. Yes, I'd write if no one read my work but me. Hopefully, others will like it and it will give them some enjoyment in reading it.

I have several people reading partials and fulls now and know that soon the next step in this journey will happen. It is amazing how much there is to learn in this business. I remember in my previous business how long it took to become good at it and know it will be the same here. So, for all of those in the same boat as I am, remember 2010 will be a magical year full of great things. I wish everyone a great holiday season and next year.

Please be sure to follow me on this site and visit me at http://www.sirjohn.org

Johnny Ray

2009-09-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

How much does blogging increase a writers exposure?

I have been wondering about this lately and attempting to find some solid proof which does not exist. So, the next best source is to ask writers you do blogging. It would be nice to find a way to correlate the two but even with all of the fancy analytic programs I use, it is impossible.
I do use one program that tracks where someone goes when they leave my site. This seems to be the best indicator of someone purchasing something.
Some writers want a core group of dedicated readers to start the buzz on their book while others want a massive following to attract many direct readers. It would be good to hear other writers opinion on this.
I'm leaving the field wide open on this subject hoping to hear your thoughts.

Johnny Ray

2009-09-07T12:28:00.000-07:00

The road to publication may be long, but is definitely not lonely
Of all of the professions I know of, I have to say with so many helpful people in the publishing industry the chances of becoming lonely are very slim. Yes, when you write it often means hiding out for a while to get it right. However, the interaction among writers both published and unpublished in amazing. The sheer number of groups is mind blowing. And If you want to socialize the number of conventions is astonishing. And, everyone wants each other to succeed. They all have different opinions on how to make it happen, but all want the same goal.
So, what is it that drives this group to want to help others so much? Is it the love of writing? Or is it something else? I think it is perhaps a wanting to share and the wanting to let others know they care about others. To some extent I think it is also the feeling that to sell their work they have to be known and they have to do their share of public relations. But this alright with me, it helps me to understand what I have to accomplish.
I know we do not always take the time to thank those that help us along the way, but the amount of help I have received from so many people will never be forgotten. The ones that have helped me the most know I am thankful and I just wish I had kept a full list of all the little words of encouragement I have received from other writers. Writers, agents and editors are a very special group I am so glad to call myself part of. My hope is to return the words of encouragement into a published work of art that everyone can enjoy. Because of their encouragement I keep writing and will until I get it right.

Thanks again to all,

Johnny Ray
http://www.sirjohn.org

2009-08-17T08:28:00.000-07:00

Thoughts on obtaining an agent

After following the advice and directions of many authors and want to be authors I have gained a lot of insights, with some of it excellent and some of it bad. However, I thought it would make a good blog to highlight a few of the good points I have picked up along the way.

I have learned that agents do want books to sell and do want new authors. This is how they make their money. Most agents do their best to put forth their best foot around writers. They know they are talked about as the gatekeepers, etc. They are looking for writers that stand out from the crowd. They are looking for something unique and writing about something they have an interest in. And, I have learned that in many respects they are people just like anyone else. Sometimes they get tired of talking about only writing and would love to talk about other interest they have. This is especially true when you catch them away from their office or convention floor, like in the bar.

Many agents are bombarded with queries and proposals. I think many times it is not near as many as they would love for you to think. Remember, they have a reputation they have to promote as well. They want others, especially editors to think they are in full demand and receiving all of the top proposals in the market. The one reason they will not accept many of the clients that contact them is because they feel they have to submit work that will not be good for their own reputation.

I remember one conference where a panel of agents looked a query letters. The first item they really wanted to know is if the author had published before. Next question, how did they do? Third question, if not published, are they famous? What are they looking for? They are looking for the ability to sell books strictly on their name.

If a writer is none of the above, the agent then looks for something different to set them apart from the crowd. It could be a fantastic writing skill, superior knowledge of a certain field, a unique voice, or something that clicks with that agent. If that does not happen, the query letter is dead.

So, what is a writer to do? Number one is to get known; to make a name for yourself. The route to doing this is varied and the more creative the author is the better. And we are not talking about slightly known, but highly known. For an example, if you want to become famous for your blogging you will not need a few hundred or a few thousands going to your blog a day but 5,000 to over 10,000 per day. We are talking about national exposure and not local. Yes, a lot of work without a platform to stand on. For some this is possible and for most it is almost impossible. I did say almost.

While you are building your name, it is also important to demonstrate you can write well. Learning to write is a never ending exercise. The author has to know the market and what is selling. You have to think of the market as your competition. You can not be as good as the bestselling authors, you have to be better. Why? Remember they are well known; you are not. You have to make your work stand out. How can you be unique and different if you do not know what is out there?

Your last shot is getting to an agent that has a unique interest; one that likes a certain style or type of book. This is a niche agent. Another trick I have learned is to start a query off locked on that special interest. Agents receive a lot of mail sent to them very formally and I hate to say it very dull. It has to be refreshing to receive a letter acknowledging they are a real person with wants and desires like everyone else. They also have egos and love to hear how they made a great sale they worked hard on. They like to know people read their articles they spend so much time on. They want to know that you spent the time to know them.

I think past that the agent wants to answer two main questions. Why is this the easiest book to sell now and why is this author the best to work with now. When it all comes down to it, the agent only has so much time and has to work what he or she thinks will make the most money for the time spent.

I think what I have been getting around to is a simple point. To obtain an agent you have to think like an agent and ask yourself what you would be looking for if you were in their place.

Johnny Ray

2009-08-09T03:59:00.001-07:00

Introduction to Mobipocket
Mobipocket was formed in March of 2000 and has quickly become the leader in the ebook industry. The ebooks can be downloaded to almost anything including a blackberry, Palm os, pocket pc, windows including visa and I understand will soon be available on iphone. Mobipocket has a free download of their software and it is extremely easy and fast. It is one of the three main ebook formats and based on the open ebook specifications.
They are not available on a kindle. But with the kindle not available for sell outside the United States, this is a great way for many people around the world to obtain ebooks written by Americans. Mobipocket is written in html form which makes it great to add links and other extras you will not normally find on books. It is extremely easy to read a book when it is on your phone or PDA. This is quickly becoming the preferred way for most of the world to read.
Their list of books available is growing fast and I expect to see them only make it better.
Amazon purchased Mobipocket in April of 2005. Mobipocket is located in Paris France.
Johnny Ray

2009-08-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

OHMIGOD

I have had this on my mind all day and thought I would see what others think. I was criticized for using this word "OHMIGOD" several times lately and wondering if I am missing something here.

I entered a contest and looked back over the comments to help me polish the work when I noticed it the first time. The reviewer had circled the word every time I used it, which was three times in two chapters. On the last time she circled she wrote, "I don't know why you use this word, no one talks like that but lamb little teen aged girls. I now think I know why she did not give me a great score.

On the next time (different novel) I was criticized for using it the reviewer wrote, "I started to stop reading right there. You need to never use ohmigod in your writing, it is a big turn off to readers."

So, I have had this on my mind today and wondering what part of the world would think like this. I know a lot of professional people who use these words all of the time. To me it is very common place and is part of the way Americans talk and the way I know many people from around the world talk.
The question I have for everyone is. . . Am I wrong? If so, enlighten me.

Johnny Ray

2009-07-27T01:27:00.000-07:00

Thoughts on when is the best time to submit to agents
I am definitely no expert on this but willing to share what I have learned and heard on this. The month of August is the month many agents and publisher go on vacation. I have heard many say that it is not a good idea to submit during this month. To make the situation worst is that in September you have many teachers off during the summer months that decide to write a novel or finish one. Many of these are submitted in September.
That leaves October and November to be good months. The agencies know it will soon be the holiday season and the year will be gone. This is when I have heard it is best to find an agent.
Yes, I know what I am going to hear. If you have a great novel and perfectly written it does not matter. Well, if the agent never looks at it, yes, it does matter. So, if these are the best time to hit your favorite agent or editor, what different should you do to get noticed?
That can be the trick as most agent do not like off the wall, outlandish presentations. However, I suspect they welcome a good mood type query.
This is from my experience. I have found I get much better response if I spend the time to know as much as I can about the agent. What have they sold recently? What conferences have they attended? What have they posted on their blog? Anything to make it hard for them to ignore you. Yes, agents don't like being talked about as the agent that ignored you if they think they will run into you again at a conference or online.
Another point I discovered is that it is best to e-mail a query on Thursday. Many of the agent go through their stack of query letters on Friday. This will make your query be close to the top.

Of course, I'm no expert on this and would love to hear what other aspiring writers think as well as maybe an agent or two to add to this discussion.

Johnny Ray

2009-07-22T05:35:00.000-07:00

Finding a mentor
I have always been of the opinion that to become the best in any field you have to find the greatest person in that field and learn from them. This has been true in the past of almost all great people in any field. They all had someone to help them develop. Writing is no different. A great mentor will help you develop your voice, your style and not be concerned with the rules that hold down many emerging writers.

The great thing about writing is that there are so many writers wanting to help others along. All writers want to be better and know it helps to receive others opinions. They also know to take all advice for what it is--one person point of view. But, when that advice is repeated over and over it starts sinking in--which can be good or bad.

What is tragic is that sometimes a great writer forgets what makes him special--his own special voice. From reading much more than I want to admit I have noticed that new writers follow rules that are imposed on them in order to become published. As time passes and they can stand on their own, so to speak, they relax the rules and reestablish their style. This is when they become great writers. They write for the reader and not for the rules imposed by some writers and editors.

If I had a choice, I would prefer a writer allowed to express the feeling in a story in his own unique voice to one that is written perfectly according to grammarians and other word controlling elitist. And this is why I think finding the right mentor that has made it pass the control of such is so important.

However, this is my opinion, what is yours?

Johnny Ray
http://www.sirjohn.org/bloglist

2009-07-20T06:08:00.000-07:00

Mystery Writers of America meeting
I attended the MWA meeting and heard author Martha Powers talk about cranking up the suspense in our novels. She really is an interesting speaker and talked about how important it is to have the central theme so powerful that a level of fear arises that totally hooks the reader. The characters have to be memorable and add to the tension and suspense of the story. An element of time always builds suspense,especially if it is a very short window. The writer needs to keep the tension building, but there are times the writer needs to let the reader breath. A short pause makes the next thrill more dramatic. She said to let the reader expect events to happen and then do the unexpected.

She mentioned how the writer needs to reveal the information slowly and let the character have time to develop. Once the details are revealed, the suspense of not knowing is over. In fact, she added that the strongest scene should be at the end of the book. This is what sells the next book. This is what the reader remembers. When the final details are given, the story is over and the writer needs to quit writing. Well maybe time to start the next story.

It is easy to see why Martha Power is such a great writer. She understands what readers want and has become a master in delivering perfectly.

Johnny Ray
http://www.sirjohn.org/bloglist

2009-07-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

Planning a novel is very involved. I found the article below which is very close to the way I approach writing so I had to share it. It would be interesting to hear how others go about the mechanical part of writing.

Johnny Ray
www.sirjohn.org/bloglist

Planning a Heart-stopping Story

Author: Holly Lisle

Over the last six lessons, you've figured out your theme, and you've worked out at least one and possibly several subthemes. You've learned how to use blended scenes, intercuts, and cliffhangers to work both themes and subthemes into your work. You have great conflict waiting to happen. What do you do next?

All of our discussion of themes and subthemes comes down to this. It's time to figure out how your story is going to go.

After more than 17 years of writing novels as my full-time job, I've tried every method I could find for getting my stories into order without so overworking them during the outline process that I no longer wanted to write the book. This is the method I currently use, and am still refining. It's simple, it's quick, and it's flexible---all three advantages which make writing more fun, and keep your work fresher for you. This is going to seem like the strangest imaginable way to get a passionate, compelling, suspenseful story on the page...but it completely blows away waiting for your Muse to inspire you in terms of effectiveness.

I am a heavy user of plot cards---3x5 index cards or the software equivalent--upon which I write one single sentence for each scene. That sentence outlines the characters and the conflict that will occur in that scene.

(Don't understand scenes? The Scene Creation Workshop will help you get the hang of them. http://www.hollylisle.com/fm/Workshops/scene-workshop.html )

To write your novel, you'll need to know:

• How many plot cards/ scenes you'll need for your book,

• Which theme or subtheme (or blend) you'll be dealing with for each scene,

• Which characters will be in each scene,

• Who the POV (Point Of View) character---the person through whose eyes the story is told---will be.

You'll start with basic arithmetic plus your themes and subthemes to do this to figure out how many scenes you'll need.

An average first novel in the current market is around 90,000 words long (if you're writing for the adult, not children's or YA markets).

• So we'll start with 90,000 words as our target length.

For this example, we're going to assume that you have one main theme and two subthemes that you've decided will each run the complete length of the book.

• Theme: HEROINE sets out to win a writing contest and prove to her dubious husband that her dream of being a writer is not a waste of time.

• Subtheme #1: HEROINE meets man at work who encourages her writing, and her pursuit of fulfillment, leading her to consider leaving her current relationship.

• Subtheme #2: HUSBAND watches his wife's life change as she pursues her dreams, and he starts wondering what happened to his own dreams.

Let's further say that you've decided your scenes will average a thousand words each, so you'll need about ninety of them to get a full-length novel. (In real life, the math is rarely this easy--mine scenes generally average 1500 to 1750 words each, but every book and every scene is different.)

• Target Length of Book ÷ Average Length of Scene = Number Of Scenes

• 90,000 ÷ 1000 = 90 scenes for the book (PLEASE NOTE: This is an APPROXIMATION. Books are not so cut and dried that you'll end up with exactly ninety scenes, nor will they each be a thousand words long.)

You want to give a lot of the story over to your main theme. We'll figure 50% because it's a nice, easy number, but it could just as easily be 60%. Or 73.8%, if you like to make things complicated. Let's not go there, though.

• 50% for the heroine's main story.

Then we'll divvy up the other half of the book between Subtheme #1 and Subtheme #2. Say you decide that you want the heroine to dump her husband for the man at work. You'll probably want to give #1 more time and space than #2. If you want her current relationship to grow stronger because her pursuit of her own dreams has inspired her husband to pursue his, then you'll want to put more work into #2. And if you want to keep the reader in suspense about which way she's going to jump, split them down the middle.

I think the suspense angle is interesting, so I'm going to give:

• Subtheme #1 25% of the book, and

• Subtheme #2 25% of the book.

Multiply 90 (Total Number Of Scenes) by .5 (50%--the percentage your main theme gets). You'll get 45.

• 90 x .5 = 45 Main Theme Scenes

Now multiply 90 (Total Number Of Scenes) by .25% (the subtheme percentage).

• 90 x .25 = 22.5

You'll get 22.5, which basically means you round up for one subtheme, and round down for the other one. Or write two short scenes. Or don't worry about the remainder, because this is just a rough technique to give you a quick picture of how you're going to break up your story. I'll give subtheme #1 22 scenes, and subtheme #2 23 scenes, just because I've decided the husband reawakening his own dreams is a better story than the dude at work hitting on someone else's wife, and at the end of the suspense, I'm going to have the heroine stay with her husband.

• 22 Subtheme #1 Scenes

• 23 Subtheme #2 Scenes

Anyway, I now know I'll need 90 3x5 index cards on which to write out plot cards, and I'll have 45 of them for the heroine's pursuit of her dreams, 22 for her entanglement with the man from work, and 23 for her relationship with her husband.

NOTICE that nowhere in here have I addressed POV (Point Of View)---that is, which scenes are shown through which character's eyes. The theme and subthemes do not select POV for you. As you write out plot cards, you'll have to select the best POV based on what is happening in each scene. Let's do a few now, and I'll show you what I mean.

• Jenna, cleaning the attic on a rainy Saturday afternoon, discovers one of her journals from her teenage years in which she promised herself that she'd be a famous novelist by the time she was 25, and something stirs in her at the sudden, sharp memory of that dream. [POV-Jenna] (Main Theme)

• Kevin Hobart hears Jenna talking to a co-worker about her crazy desire to write a novel, and does a good job of faking casual as he invites her to a meeting of a writers' group to which he belongs. [POV-Kevin] (Subtheme #1)

• Mac watches Jenna reading through piles of books about writing, taking notes and writing things down, and tells her she's going to get her feelings hurt when she does all that work and no one wants what she's done. [POV could be either Mac or Jenna] (Subtheme #2)

• Jenna meets Kevin at her first meeting, and even though she brought something she wrote to read, is intimidated by the process and refuses to read when her turn comes around. [POV could be either Jenna or Kevin] (Blend of Main Theme and Subtheme #1)

You may not get all 90 scenes when you first start outlining. That's okay. You may not, in fact, get much beyond the first third of the book. That's fine, too. You have a plan, and you can build and change things as you go. The greatest advantage of figuring out and using plot cards is that when you discover a better direction for your story, you can toss a 3x5 index card or two, and replace them with better, rather than tossing several thousand or more already-written words.

I realize it's unnerving to look at the mechanical processes behind creating edge-of-the-seat fiction. It's more romantic to imagine typing like a wild thing, writing without a plan, tossing balled-up pages in the wastebasket from across the room...and dressing all in black, and drinking espresso in a coffee house while lamenting being blocked, too. Passion is in what you put on the page, though, not in how artsy you look while you're doing it.

In the final installment of BRING YOUR NOVEL TO LIFE, "Life, Passion...Deadline," you'll learn how to hold on to your story and its heart while working to a deadline.

About the Author:

Holly Lisle is a full-time novelist who also writes extensively about writing. You can find her website here: HollyLisle.com and sign up here to receive her free newsletter.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Planning a Heart-stopping Story

2009-07-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

The importance of writing everyday

One of the most important pieces of advice I ever received is that writer write. Some days it is only a little, but some days it is a lot. I think it is the only way to get better. And to write better you have to push yourself, to write each piece of work with more emotion, more description, more clarity than you wrote earlier. For there are also saying such as,"if you keep doing what you're doing you keep getting what you have."

With this in mind, I thought I would take some time to reflect on my writing. Is it getting better or is it the same old thing? And more importantly, would I really know?

They say a writer needs to have very tough skin. After having sending my work to various contest, critique groups and agents I think I am seeing the errors of my ways. As I rework some of the works I completed several years ago I think I am very glad it did not get published. Yes, it was terrible.

One of the best pieces of advice I was given earlier is to keep a notebook of errors I made in writing. I now constantly refer to it in polishing my work. While I think my education at several universities helped, I think the University of hard knocks has moved me along much more.

I also think the harder it is to obtain a goal the more valuable the prize is when it is obtained. It also makes me appreciate the great writers out there by knowing what they also went through to be where they are. While I'm sure some writers are borne with natural ability, I think most have to work at it like everyone else.

With small victories, a contest win or a request from a top agent, the journey to becoming published is an interesting life full of doing what I really want to do--write.

Johnny Ray
www.sirjohn/org

2009-07-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

Free Kindle giveaway contest

I am still running my contest for a free kindle giveaway. The rules for the kindle giveaway are very simple. On my site www.sirjohn.org select the novel you think will be published first and e-mail your vote. My e-mail is sirjohn@wwisp.com I will pick a winner from those that select the correct novel that is published first. I have partials,fulls and query letters out on all of them.

I am working on my seventh novel now and when it is finished I will post info on it, If you want to switch your vote on the kindle giveaway contest at that time, just e-mail me. On my site http://www.sirjohn.org I also have a place for you to sign up for my newsletter.

I also have a large number of blogs I post to. a complete list of them can be found here www.sirjohn.org/bloglist For those that want to learn how to make money on their blogs please join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Theprofessionalbloggers

I wish everyone the best on the free kindle giveaway contest and want to thank you for your support of me as a writer.

Johnny Ray

2009-07-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

Thoughts on self publishing by Johnny Ray

I'm sure I'm not the only writer to think more about this recently. While my goal remains to have my work distributed by a major house, the lure and freedom of self publishing tend to be growing. The time table is definitely faster, the rewards now maybe high enough to make it worth while, and it at least gets your work out there where people can see it and buy it. I feel like I have a large enough platform to sell many of my own books. However, a large house would definitely help with all of their resources.

I've heard that it could hurt your brand, your name later. To some extent this is like in the real estate business where real estate agents look down on for sale by owners. I've also heard this is how many authors got their start. I know many people have their own opinions on this. However, thinking about it, a pen name might work out great.

What would be great is to find a site where one could simply post their work and have people buy it that the author sends to the site. It would help to have an administrator to handle all taxes and accounting of sales, but that is it, allowing for a larger royalty payment.

I've also been exploring the kindle site which appears to be interesting. They have traffic coming to the site, which is good. They can download to people that must go to the site to buy and they are now able to download to the iphone. That can be some very positive incentives.

Of course, the downside is no editor or creative person to guide you. You have to arrange for your own copy writing and book cover designs, etc. And no publicity department to work for you.

My research is just beginning and would love to have others give me their thoughts and available information for a follow up post.

Johnny Ray
Award Winning Novelist
www.sirjohn.org

2009-06-23T02:06:00.000-07:00

Johnny Ray's comments on MWA meeting

I attended a meeting of the Florida Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America last Saturday on the east coast. The speaker was Elaine Viets. Elaine writes two different series at the same time and for the same publisher. One is the hardcover Dead-End Job series where she told us she actually worked in these jobs to learn more of how they function and to add the detail that makes they come alive. Yes, she has had some interesting jobs in this minimum wage world because of this. The other series is the Josie Marcus Mystery Shopper series.
Elaine told how important it is to keep the characters totally different. She has received many awards for her work and has found a way to stay busy writing by having the two different series. Elaine is a great speaker and a great writer. Check out her books.
The chapter meeting attract less members this time of the year as many of the members go back home up north for the summer months. The big event they host every year is Sleuthfest. Last year it was fantastic and I expect the same next year.
Johnny Ray
www.sirjohn.org/bloglist

2009-06-16T06:02:00.000-07:00

Meeting with borders romance buyer Sue Grimshaw

Last Saturday, the local chapter (TARA) of the Romance Writers of America had Sue Grimshaw talk to us about how borders operated and how books sales were going. I was also very lucky to have lunch with her at the meeting. She is extremely knowledgably and a very nice person to know.
She stated that romantic book sales are climbing nicely for all romance categories with the exception of erotica which is staying flat. She talked about how important book covers were becoming. This is so much so now that several publishers will send a jpeg to her for review before the book run. She detailed how books are purchased for the store and what criteria are used to determine where they will be placed. Placement is naturally a big concern for most authors.
She mentioned that book signing were not doing that well in moving the number of books that you need. There are many other ways to promote your books. It is important to get as much money from the publisher to promote your book as possible.
Borders has an affiliate program where you can make money. Why not, it doesn’t cost anything to sign up.
She mentioned one thing I found interesting. I know publisher have a monetary interest in a writer, but didn’t think about how much a book store has an interest in you becoming successful. She mentioned that she wanted to see authors grow and they wanted to help in that process. She mentioned how good web presence is and how you need to link to the borders true romance site. She also mentioned how important it was to be on social media sites like twitter. Of course, I loved that since I’m one of the most popular writers on twitter with around 14,000 followers.
She also mentioned how important it was to write a series. An example would be where on a stand along book where she would order say 3500 copies she would order perhaps 8000 or more if it was connected to a series. This is very interesting to know and perhaps why most agents want to know if you are planning a series. Another point she made is that on the series, they readers want it fast, if not almost immediately after they read the first book. In fact, she mentioned some readers will buy the whole series at one time if available.
If you ever have a chance to hear Sue Grimshaw speak, you need to take advantage of the opportunity. She is a wealth of knowledge and extremely friendly.

Johnny Ray
www.sirjohn.org/bloglist

2009-06-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

Writing tips on creating characters by Johnny Ray

After you have the basic idea of what you want to write, it is time to select your characters. There are many ways to do this and I know many authors do it differently. I think all great writers agree that however you select them, you have to know them inside and out. This means knowing not only what makes them great but what their limitations are as well. I use a system where I actually interview the characters I want to use. I develop a full file on them. Do the characters change during the novel? Yes, I learn more about them over time. But as I do, I always go back to their file and update it. I post these files at the front of my novel so that it is always in front of me. Hopefully a great name comes to me that highlights who the character is. If not, I use the best I can think of. It is easy to change the name later. I also look for a photo that gives me a visual image of my character. This also gets posted on the front of my manuscript.

There have been times, I go to a public place and find someone close to what I envision my character to be like. Then, I make notes of all of the movements and quirks that person makes. Sometimes, I use actors or actress. It is good to watch a film they made and notice certain habits they have and the unique way they talk.

To make the characters believable, it is the authors job to breathe life into them. I know it is hard to understand unless you are a writer, but some characters become more real than people living and breathing around you.

It is interesting to see how other writers create their characters and look forward to hearing from them. Also,it is interesting to hear from readers on what they think makes a great character in a book.

Johnny Ray
www.sirjohn.org

2009-06-08T05:48:00.000-07:00

Writing tips on the best use of time by Johnny Ray.

There are many ways to use your time as a writer. Sometimes it is under your control and sometimes it is not. A system that was promoted at Harvard earlier is called PERT which stands for program evaluation and review techniques. Basically the system made you establish a program to manage your time. It helps to know how much time is needed to complete each step and how to make sure each part is done in order and not stall the overall project. There are several steps in writing a novel.

1)Conception is where it all starts.
You need to have an idea for your novel. You need to know what you want to say. You need to know who your characters are. Every author is different and some want to know exactly how the novel will play out in every detail. Others want the basic part of the novel and have the freedom to allow their characters to tell the story. In any case, there has to be the spark to get started.

2)Research is where the hard work starts.
Some books require very little research and some require a lot. Many times the research can be a continuous project. Many times a writer can paint himself into a corner. This is why it is I think so important to do the necessary research before you get started.

3)Finally, the actual process of writing the story.
The fun part of writing is actually being able to tell the story. With a proper concept and research completed, this part can go smooth. however, most of the time the problems pop up with new unexpected twist to the plot you would like to add or change. Then there is the problem with getting facts correct. Having to stop to complete more research can really slow down the story telling.

4)Revisions is where you switch hats, going from a storyteller to a writer.
Now, that you have the story completed and all of the proper conclusion attended to, the actual work of polishing comes into play. a few novelist are blessed with the ability to write perfectly, but most have to go back over their work many times to correct the grammar and misspellings. But, polishing is much more. If the previous steps are completed properly, this part will be easy, if not, the revisions can take a long time.

5)Okay, now you wrote it, but can you sell it?
A new novelist can spend more time trying to sell a novel than he spent writing it. This is a whole new process from writing. but, again, if the prior steps are completed properly, the final step can be much easier. thus the reason for completing the program evaluation and review techniques.

Johnny Ray

2009-06-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

Drawing for a Free Kindle

The details of a drawing for a free kindle to be given away can be found at www.sirjohn.org/bloglist. To be eligible for the drawing you must e-mail your guess as to which Johnny Ray novel you think will be published first. Please e-mail to sirjohn@wwisp.com

This site also list Johnny Ray's various blogs as well. Writing the various blog post has been interesting. Your comments are always welcome, but because of various spam elements, they will be moderated. I hope everyone understands and wish everyone the best of luck on the kindle give away contest.

Thanks,
Johnny Ray

2009-06-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

Another day on the beach, another page, another character to develop.
It is amazing how work goes smooth one day and is interrupted the next day by various factors outside your control. One day the story is so clear and the next day the "what if" scenarios appear. You have to ask yourself, shall I rewrite now or wait and see how this goes. As many writers discover, the struggle comes from letting the characters tell the story or acting like "father knows best" and controlling it yourself. Can you trust your characters? I think it all depends on how strong and realistic you make them as well as how fully you have them developed before you start writing. Yes, sometimes a character develops into a whole new being and a rewrite is necessary, but that can be a good thing. After all, that is why they call it a first draft.
Keeping track of all of the different scenarios can be a daunting task, especially when many of them come to a writer late at night while everyone else is sleeping. It is important to keep track of all of the sub plots and twist that you discover. A character can be like a new friend. Some times it takes a while to fully know and understand the motives, goals and dreams of a character that does not fully understand himself as well.
My suggestion is to take the time to be a friend of your characters. You will be rewarded as well as your readers.

Johnny Ray

2009-05-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

The Sir John Majito Espresso

Since I've had so many request for this recipe, I decided to post it here. Feel free to modify it according to your own taste and leave me a comment on how you modified it to make it better.

Start with fresh mint(six leaves) and crush it in an eight ounce glass with a muddle stick to release all of the flavor possible.
Take a lime and squeeze all of the juice possible into the glass.
add a shot or two of Rum (Spice Rum the best)
add a shot or two of espresso coffee, if not available try Kahulla
add syrup, or brown sugar to adjust sweetness to your taste preference
add ice
Stir, don't shake
top off with club soda.
add a lime as an ornament

Enjoy

2009-05-26T18:19:00.001-07:00

Staying on Track
One of the great things about being a published author is the deadline. The one incentive an unpublished writer doesn’t have. While many authors busting their behinds might not agree, the fact is, it makes you keep your butt in the chair and write. Also, I’m sure there is a different feeling when you hope you might sell a novel as compared to knowing you have it sold already.
So, how does an unpublished writer keep working and producing at a fast enough to compete with those that are published? Sometimes you just have to fake it until you make it. The advantages of not being published however mean that you don’t have revisions or publicity you have to worry about. Of course, some of that time is wasted on sending out query and other material attempting to find an agent or publisher.
Every agent is going to answer different. The best answer is to work as hard as you can everyday and have no regrets later. Progress, it is all about the progress forward.
Johnny Ray

2009-05-23T12:11:00.000-07:00

Developing alternate streams of writing revenues

I remember the days when I thought writing would be so easy and take so little time. Like many people I thought I would be the next overnight sensation. Well, six novels later, I’m still waiting on becoming discovered. However, I’ve learned a lot along the way.
Lately, I’ve discovered many other ways of making a living as a writer. Yes, not like being known as a famous novelist, but satisfying the needs to have your work read. I never knew the demand for article and content writers was so high. Maybe you don’t make as much per article as you would like to, but I’m sure over time, the efficiency in turning out articles will improve. It is a way to work on your own schedule which is great.
The various social media outlets like facebook, u-tube, tweeter, etc. can also add to your popularity and hopefully make your novels sell more when they do come out. A point that I think can never be underestimated. And then there is the affiliate marketing programs you can receive income from off of your web sites you develop.
If you plan on entering these additional arenas, be prepared to spend some time in learning web designing and marketing. The competition can be fierce, but friendly at the same time. You will find everyone wants your link and traffic. It can be a win-win situation.
To finalize my point, I think to attract a top agent and publisher; you may have to create your own name recognition and following. Let’s face it, the one way to make sure an agent stands up and wants to take you on, is to become famous.

Johnny Ray
www.sirjohn.org

2009-05-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

It is amazing the amount of work that goes into a novel. It is also so amazing that an author never know if he has a salable product until he is finished. Now, it is interesting to see how some authors obtain sales before they ever start. If other authors have information on how to do this, it would be great to hear from them.

2009-05-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

Writing contests are interesting in many ways. The feedback can be great or terrible, but in any case can give you a point of reference as long as you are true to yourself and not allow another person’s point of view ruin what you have good working for you. Again, at other times, if you hear the same criticism coming from several people, you might need to ask yourself if you are the one being bullheaded.

In deciding how to react to criticism I think it helps to really know your own style of writing. What makes it different from or similar to other writers? In order to stand out, I think we all agree it has to be original in several ways. How do you approach point of view? Is it different from others or a copy cat of many others in the marketplace? What is particularly different about your voice? Can you identify it? If you can, perhaps you can expand on it.

The one item I noticed from most people doing reviews in contest is that it appears to be coming straight out of a text book of how to judge. The problem is that most of the great authors that are best sellers never play by those rules. If you don’t think so, simple obtain a few of the top sellers and do your own review. Point of view jumps are very common. Writing in a passive voice is very common. I hope you understand what I’m saying. These authors are very aware of the rules, but don’t listen to them. Their object is to tell the story and make it interesting. They get away with breaking the rules because they can.

I’ve also heard that the main reason to enter a contest is to get in front of a certain editor. It is hard to believe that an editor is not looking for the next book that will make money for the publisher. There are other ways to get in front of them. While they say they are not taking submissions, they are still interested in looking. And when it comes to getting in front of an agent, they are almost always open for submissions without going through a contest.

And the last part in deciding if the contest route is good for you is the cost. With the money spent on entering many contest, the same money could possibly be spent with a professional coach that could help polish your novel and give you a wealth of knowledge to advance your career.

Still I know it is exciting to see your name on the list of finalist or as the actual winner. I have won before on a contest and walking up on stage is very exciting to accept your award. But when it comes to actually getting you published, I still have my doubts. And as many aspiring writers will still enter some contest hoping for the best.

With all of this said, the pathway of each author will be different. And in truth, it might take a little of all of the efforts to find the magic bullet. Still it is a business decision in how to spend your money and your time every author needs to address.

Johnny Ray

2009-04-05T09:42:00.000-07:00

Keyword Density Discussion Led by Johnny Ray
I know this is always a debated point and the relevance is questioned by many professionals so I thought I would collect the thoughts of many people much smarter at this than me. How important is it for the exact number of keyword or phrases to appear as a percentage of the total words in the article? Can it be too little or too much? I think we can all agree with a yes, but the question is, what is the best number?
I’ve heard the ideal keyword density for the primary words or phrases can ranges from 2% to 20%. I’ve also heard that the first paragraph and the last paragraph are the most important. And as always highlighted headings and relevant links are paid additional attentions. With the various search engines like Google, Yahoo, and MSN analyzing keyword density differently with their own unique search algorithm, the process of adjusting is a never ending process.
With many different keyword density tools available to identify the search terms that your competitors are using on their pages, and meta tags or links you can quickly correct your own plan of attack. That is if they are obtaining the optimum search value. But by using the density tool on your competitor's pages you have better information on planning the density on your own pages.
What are your current thoughts on keyword density? If you have relevant sites to share, please do.
Johnny Ray
www.sirjohn.org/seo

2009-03-31T09:22:00.000-07:00

Making the readers love the characters of a novel is perhaps one of the most exciting parts about writing. So, why do writers make them so unlovable from the start? Yes, writers want them to grow and be fully dimensional. And some characters are meant to be unlovable. But, the questions remain on how to make the characters interesting enough for the reader to care about so that the pages will turn.
The reader has to have expectations that the characters can be redeemed. Even as bad as the worst character is, there is always some good trait. Readers want to know why someone turned out so bad. What are the motives and reasons for such actions? In short, a good writer instills a curiosity in the reader to keep reading to find out—why?
To keep those pages turning, the characters have to be unique, but conform to certain standards that everyone adheres to. The reader wants to become that character for a while and want to be known as the beautiful lady or handsome gentleman for a while. They want to know they can face adversities and overcome them. They want hope. It is when the writer gives them none, they close the book.
An interesting book to read and follow the advice in building characters is “How to make people like you in 90 seconds or less” by Nicholas Boothman. It is a great book that belongs on all writers desk.
Johnny Ray

2009-03-03T12:46:00.000-08:00

Sleuthfest Conference

Last week there was some discussions about Jill Marsal's new agency. I just returned home from Sleuthfest and met Jill there. She was very generous with her time and answered many questions for me after a cocktail party by the pool. Yes, it is still warm enough to swim outside in Palm Beach, Florida.

Her new office is about five miles from her old one and she will be busy this week setting up shop. I miss this area. I learned to surf close to there.

She is interested in thrillers and her partner is interested in romances. She told me she had many contacts in New york and being in
California is not a problem in placing her work with major publishers.

I have talked to many agents and she is one of the most friendly and intelligent agents out there. She took the time to hear what I wanted in a career instead of just what I had written recently. She asked to see my work and I have my fingers crossed. she wold be a pleasure to work with.

The conference was great and I also received request from four other agents. Donna Bagdasarian has a fantastic sense of humor and full of energy. She pulled into a meeting room and asked me about my work. She asked for a full on the spot. More fingers crossed.

Nicole Kenealy is with the Aaron priest Agency and very hungry for new authors. She also wants thrillers. She asked for a partial. She is a lot of fun to be around.

Josh Getzler is with Writer House. He is a super nice guy and very easy to talk to, especially if you like baseball. He also asked for me to send him something.

The two editors,Neil Nyren and Toni Plumer, were fantastic. I had lunch next to Neil. He asked what I was writing and showed interested in me. However, I know he never handles anything without an agent. Hopefully, one day that will change and I hope he remembers us meeting there. I can tell it would be fantastic to work with him. The same is true about Toni. She showed an interest that I found very refreshing. Her company, St. martin would be one of the publishers i would love to write for.

In other words, listen up everyone, next year you need to make this conference.

Johnny ( Sir John) Ray
www.sirjohn.org

2009-02-03T18:09:00.000-08:00

I think one of the best times in a writers life is when he meets another writer that has accomplished so much--like Janet Evanovich. She had great words for the writers in the Florida Writers Association. Get the first chapter completed and move on. She said to quit rewriting it until you wear yourself out. It makes sense to me. She is also the inspiration I need to write my first romantic comedy. This will be intersting, but something I think will help me to be a better writer. This group of writers is fantastic and very suportive. I was extremely honored to win the Royal Palm Literary Award for best thriller in 2008 sponsored by the FWA.

2008-08-06T05:24:00.000-07:00

Novelist Johnny Ray's reflections on Dialog.
One of the great exercises in creating fantastic dialog is simply going some where and listening to what they say and how they say it. I recently did this and learned two things that I found very interesting. First off, when asked a question, most people never directly answer it, but beat around the bush. The next point is that most people try to talk over the other person. It would be great to learn how to make two people talking to each other at the same time appear on one flat piece of paper.
If anyone knows of an author that has mastered this technique, I would love to read some of that author's work. Let me know what interesting experiences you have had in observing others talking.

2008-07-18T07:26:00.000-07:00

Novelist Johnny Ray's thoughts on life. It's interesting to see how life changes when you have to go to the hospital for a small surgery - I had my gall bladder taken out. However, all is looking better now and I hope to get back to work on my next novel soon. I would like to thank all of you that have been so supportive of me the last two weeks.

The experience made me think about how much emotions and thoughts that a writer needs to express through his characters. This is what is needed to make them come alive. The use of dialog that sounds natural and conveys their inner thoughts is a gift that is hard to learn with out actually forcing yourself to do so. I have heard of this lesson in writing before and plan on doing it in the next few days. It is simple, you take a notebook with you and write down word for word what people say. While I am healing it would be great to try this.
It would be great to see how other writers work on dialog, so leave me a note.

Johnny Ray

2008-06-30T12:16:00.000-07:00

Building a brand name for Johnny Ray as a novelist is a step by step process that becomes more and more interesting as time progresses. However, the friends created along the way are making all of the difference in the world.
I think it is important to look at the process of writing from both a writer and a reader. There are thousands of books on how to write. And, they are very informative. However, you do not see many on the subject of reading tips. To fully enhance this experience, I have decided to dig into this much deeper and hopefully provide the little something extra that will help the reader enjoy the book he or she is reading. No, this is not going to be a course in reading, but think of it as more of a way of thinking, of understanding, of experiencing a world that the writer intended.
I think it is very true that the charcters in the book should tell the story, it is impossible to totally remove the writer and his personal opinions. A review of who the author is will help tremendously in reading the book. Now, if it is an author you know from before, you may already know much. But adding to your knowledge of who that person is could be invaluable in understanding the story. On a new book, reading about the author could prove to help understand why the story is told a particular way. So, I guess my first post in this series is to get to know the author and what makes him or her tick. The effort will be well rewarded.

Johnny Ray

2008-06-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

Novelist Johnny Ray's notes on how to make writing interesting.

First and most important, the writer, in my humble opinion, must find life interesting, intriquing and completely unique in every day it is explored. There is so much to explore , to discover, to live. Yes, all people have a way of enjoying life, some more than others. But, for many life seen through the eyes of the writer adds to their life. It would be good to explore the whole world and see all of the beauty this world has to offer, but not a reality for everyone. That is why I think the writer has a special obligation to experience life and remember all of the details that make places come alive.

It would be great to hear how other writers record their thoughts on places they visit. leave me
a note on how you keep track of the places you visit. Or if you are a reader, let me know what it is about a place that you want to know about. What excites you so much that you want to visit it. How can a writer make a place appear real and vivid to you.

2008-06-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

Novelist Johnny Ray's writing tip #1 on polishing the novel. Sometimes finding an error is easy when it stands out from the rest of the work. Other times it's hard when it is so well embedded in the work. A single shell on the beach is always given much attention, but when you see clusters of them every where, you tend to not even notice them. That is why I like using the control F key. There are many times that a writer loves a certain word or phrase. And unintentionally uses toooooo much. You know the words. Just click on one and add it to the control F box. It will amaze you. The secret is learning how to replace it. It takes work, but that is what writing is all about.
Let me know how you like to use the Control F key to polish your work.

2008-06-18T05:05:00.000-07:00

Novelist Johnny Ray's vision of writing from one of the most beautiful beaches in the world proves that dreams can come true.

Caladesi Island near Clearwater Florida was recently picked by Dr. Beach as the most beautiful beach in America. The only way to reach it is by boat and having an experienced captain running the boat is fantastic, especially when he knows the history of the island. I will be working on an article about this island shortly and releasing all of the photos of I have taken.
As always, I want to know what others have in their backyard to inspire them, to excite them to write.
There really is a good story here that needs to be told. More on that later.

2008-06-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

Novelist Johnny Ray's writer's block issues. Some days the story flows off the back of your mind easily and sometimes it clogs up the works. Like today, when I think I can get started again, I find myself wanting to do more and more research. Yes, I'm writing about a city (Moscow)I have only been to twice and then just passing through. However it is amazing how much information and photos that you can have access to over the internet. It is a curse and a godsend.

I have joined a writer's group and look forward to the meeting with them this Saturday. It's the Tampa chapter of the Romantic Writers of America. I think just the excitement of being around so many talented people will be great.

I think it would be great to hear how other writers work through their own writer's block.

2008-06-04T00:10:00.000-07:00

Novelist Johnny Ray's thoughts on how to best self promote your name.
Being a best selling novelist is the dream of many, obtaining it is the reality of a few. The process of promoting yourself with nothing published is interesting. I've been working on it and this is from my web site at www.sirjohn.us. It will be interesting to see what others are doing to promote their name.

Johnny has a passion, a thirst, for life and adventure that he loves to share with his readers. As an avid traveler and professional businessman conducting business worldwide for years he has made many interesting contacts and received numerous awards for top production. He has owned and operated several real estate companies, several insurance companies and a stock brokerage company. His name is well known in the real estate world where he is listed in the who’s who of international real estate professionals. As the previous head of several corporations he is accustomed to appearing on radio and TV talk shows as well as speaking in front of various audiences. He actively maintains a data base of around twenty thousand people he has conducted business with. His self syndicated columns are sent out by way of a special data base he maintains that includes over one thousand newspaper editors.
He is a graduate of Auburn University with post graduate work at the Birmingham School of Law, The University of Alabama, The University of Tennessee, UCLA, New York University, Wil-Var Institute and The American College. He has received the following certifications: Certified International Property Specialist, Certified Residential Specialist, Certified Managerial Accountant, Certified Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant.
When it comes time to play, he is very active in many sports including swimming tennis, biking, and skiing. He loves adventures that are new, interesting and challenging.
He lives in St Petersburg, Florida where he works full time as a writer. His intentions are to market his works aggressively, using the internet as well as public appearances. His background in advertising and public relations as well as his willingness to hire outside professionals will insure that his books will have the very best chance to become best sellers.
He belongs to the Florida Writer Association, the Romantic Writers of America, the Mystery Writers Association, and can be found attending various national writer conventions throughout the year as well as supporting several local writing groups in the St. Petersburg, Florida area.

2008-05-29T05:17:00.000-07:00

Novelist johnny Ray's thoughts. The world of writing novels is changing and perhaps I am not the best one to address this, but it appears that to be the break out type novel, the author must not only be a great writer, but must have a commanding knowledge of the subject. In other words his research must be outstanding. I can see the time when a writer must have a full time assistant just to do, or verify the research. I saw an article somewhere recently where author Tom Wolfe made a comment that he thought the way to save or improve the world of the fiction writer is to make him or her more of a journalist. The comment has me thinking and I'm starting to understand his meaning. It is the research into the real world that is needed to make the story interesting. People want to learn something new , to be taught, to be led, but without being bored or beat over the head with facts they have to memorize.
It would be interesting to see how much time and work other authors put into research. I would like to know their thoughts as well. Let me know your thoughts. if you are a reader, I especially want to know your thoughts on the reality inside the fiction.

2008-05-25T12:40:00.000-07:00

Working on the beach as a Novelist, I'm quickly learning that branding the name of Johnny Ray is going to be an interesting project. However, learning that this beach is also quickly becoming known as one of the top beaches in the world is not bad. In fact, just south of here is a small island, Caladesi, that Dr. Beach just announced as the best beach in America for 2008.

Inspiration to write can get no better than this.

Now, it would be interesting to hear what other writers use to inspire their writing This is mine!

2008-05-22T13:42:00.000-07:00

Novelist Johnny Ray's reflections on life's little pleasures.

I think today it would be good to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Life can be good, as my wife often tells me. Sometimes it is so easy to stress out about things not going right in your life. Yes, writing is important, but it is not the only thing. I know all writers have a way of smelling the roses. This picture taken at the Sunken Garden in St Petersburg was the result of such a quick get away trip. It will be good to hear what other writers use to escape from their work. Let me know.

Johnny Ray

2008-05-21T05:06:00.000-07:00

Author Johnny Ray's thoughts on promoting your book and yourself in order to obtain an agent.

Promoting your book can be a very interesting project. Especially if the book has not been published, purchased by a publisher or even accepted by an agent for representation. However, it's becoming more and more apparent that before anyone will take on the book there has to be a buzz about the author and the book. I think the best way to start is with a web page. I have mine at www.sirjohn.us and have it arranged mainly to attract agents and give them a brief idea of what I am working on. The next area I need to work on is public relations and think that my attending the right conventions and book fairs that just possibly I can meet the right agent or author that will help direct by path. The third area is getting something published and obtaining the credential that appear to be so valuable. I think by writing articles for papers and in fact anyone that will publish them is the best way to go. And, of course, I need to keep working on my next novel. Today I am working on the fifth chapter and a long way to go. But, I am pouring all that I've been learning into it and hope this thriller will catch the attention of an agent.

It will be good to hear what other want to be authors are working on and how they are actively searching for an agent.

Johnny Ray

SIR JOHN'S BLOG FEATURING AUTHOR JOHNNY RAY

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The Dangers of Memoir Writing

How to write your memoirs by hiring a Ghostwriter

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Who enjoys a great bottle of wine?

WRITING WORKSHOP 101WRITING THE BOOK INSIDE YOU

Writer's block

One long marathon day of writing

Award Winning Novelist Johnny Ray's quest to find the best blogs and video promotions.

Award winning novelist Johnny Ray describes how to select characters for your next novel

Planning a Heart-stopping Story

THE REJECTION LETTER
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THE REJECTION LETTER
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OFFER ENDS DECEMBER 3, 2011

ARE YOU AN ASPIRING ACTOR OR ACTRESS?
DO YOU NEED SOME EXPOSURE IN SHOWCASING YOUR DRAMATIC ABILITIES?
DO YOU ENJOY YOU TUBE?
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HERE IS THE DEAL

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Go to Smashwords and use coupon code NR35X

WRITING WORKSHOP 101
WRITING THE BOOK INSIDE YOU