A Minute to Win It! by DL Larson

I'm helping with a high school class reunion this year. It's scheduled for mid-June and I'm in charge of our class olympics.  It's been fun and a challenge to come up with games that all middle-aged people can play. My goal is to not leave anyone out.

This may not sound like writing, but it has turned into quite a writing project. I've selected a few games off of Pinterest, and the rest, I've thought up on my own. I have fifteen minute to win it games.

I made a template, so each game will have instructions, object of the game, supplies and the number of people needed to perform the task. Next, I will collect all the materials needed for three teams to play and assemble them for each round of games.

I have games with water, if it is hot. I have games without water, if it is cold. I have food games, I have ball games. I have games where the players will be wearing ridiculous objects or performing silly stunts. And I made sure all the games are G rated. I have no way of knowing who will be in attendance and I certainly don't want to offend someone because of a game.

I've made notes for our MC and instructions for our Team officials.

This may not have been beneficial to my writing career, but it's been a fun diversion from the regular routine of writing. It was writing for a different reason, for a different outcome and I believe I used another part of my brain that likes dreaming up stuff to make people laugh.

So if you are having a family reunion, or a get-together with friends this summer, I urge you to play a game or two. Exercise your writing talent and your imagination in a different direction. Make up a game of your own.


Need something to get you started?

- Hot Air Solo Cup Relay - 2 people needed.
Supplies for each team: several balloons, several large solo cups, bucket (table if possible)
Object: how many solo cups can each team get into the bucket (in one minute.)
Instructions: One player must blow up a balloon inside the solo cup without touching the cup. Once they can lift the cup using only the balloon, they then transfer cup and balloon to their teammate, who can not touch the cup either! The teammate carries the balloon and cup, touching only the balloon to the bucket (at the end of the table or other designated area.)
Once the player has reached the bucket, the player releases the air in the balloon until the cup falls into the bucket. If the cup does not fall into the bucket, it does not count in scoring. Players may use the same balloon or a new one in the time allowed.
Repeat!


Til next time ~

DL Larsonwww.DLLARSON.com

Take Out Those Hard Drives

Well, I didn't spend much time writing today. That's because on Saturday there's an electronic recycling event happening in our area.

Every time I get a new computer, I make sure to transfer the important files to the new computer. Still, I'd been hanging on to the old laptop computers, though they were useless in many ways. Two had Windows 98 still, another had Windows XP and was prone to stalling. None had enough memory. The hubby also had a Windows XP that needed recycling.

So, today was the day to get those laptop computers ready to be recycled, not an easy task. For each of the four computers, I had to locate the hard drive and remove it. Amazing how the hard drive turns up to be in so many different places!

Early on, I decided to Google and find out where to look. That helped quite a bit, although at times it was still hard to find the right video to show me what to do. Then I had to tackle all those little screws in all the weird spots.

Still, it was important to remove those hard drives, and I did it! Next step will be hitting them with a hammer or maybe dunking them in water, or both, so no one can retrieve sensitive information off of them. At least the hard drives are small, so I don't expect that chore to be as difficult as removing all those little screws.

Find Morgan Mandel's mysteries and
romances on her Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/author/morganmandel

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/morgan.mandel
Twitter: @MorganMandel

Cover Change by Margot Justes

Covers sell books, that is the first thing as readers that we look at, then the back, maybe the first page or two, but the cover is what grabs the attention.

I'm doing something I've never done before, I have a new cover for a paranormal book released in 2013. The old cover below was artsy, but lacked intensity and boldness. 

Cheers,

Margot  Justes

Blood Art

A Fire Within

A Hotel in Paris

A Hotel in Bath

and coming in July A Hotel in Venice

www.mjustes.com

Who Needs Cardboard?

Cardboard's flat, and  may come in handy for packing.

When it comes to book characters, it won't get you anywhere. Whatever you do, don't write a cardboard character. What's that, you ask. It's a one dimensional character, who doesn't seem real. Here are some ways to give your characters dimensions:

1. Family - People don't come from nowhere. Offer some kind of information of a character's family, even if it's only the basics of whether or not he or she is the only sibling. To expand, you can throw in tidbits about the jobs, habits, good or bad qualities of family members. 
2. Experiences - Unless your character is a newborn, he or she will have memories of the good and bad things which happened before the story begins. Dot in a few of those experiences here and there, but not too much, so readers can understand how and why your character thinks or behaves.
3. Goal - There must be something your character is striving for, even if it's only to be left in peace. Offer hints about what your character wants.
4. Emotions - In subtle or even obvious ways, show how your character reacts to various situations. An eye twitch, a furrowed brow, kicking something across the room, swearing, blinking back a tear, or outright sobs, are some ways to show your character has feelings.
5. Health issue - Whether it be existing or brought about by the plot, you can easily slide in ways to make a reader worry about your character's well being. The possibilities here are endless. They can be something beyond that person's control, or not. Either way will work. A character may be an alcoholic, or maybe get drunk only once, but at exactly the most dangerous time in the plot. A character could get into an accident, even while completely sober, and suffer minor or catastrophic injuries. Or the character may overeat in times of stress, and is slightly overweight.  
6. Hobby - You can easily include a hobby for your character, either one you enjoy, or one you wish you enjoyed. Joanna Campbell Slan uses scrapbooking in her books. Because of that, she gathers a huge audience of scrapbookers. A few other examples are stamp or coin collectors, attending garage, yard, and rummage sales. I'm sure you can come up with other ones that can round out your character, and as an added bonus, may also pull in specific hobbyists.
7. Obsession - In large or small ways, your character absolutely craves something. It might be an unattainable person or object. It could be demanding perfect order in appearance or a dwelling. The opposite obsession could be slovenliness or hoarding. Or, a character could get caught up in gambling. Reading, watching TV, and movies, can also become small or large obsessions.

Can you think of other ways? Or, maybe you'd like to mention a multi-dimensional character in one of your own books or someone else's.

Find all of Morgan Mandel's romances and

mysteries at her Amazon Author Page:

http://www.amazon.com/author/morganmandel

Excerpts of her books are at:

http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com

Connect on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/morgan.mandel

Twitter: @MorganMandel

Zombie Book Prequel Coming Soon!

Yes, I've been busy. The editing is nearly done and it'll be sent shortly to the formatter...

Remember Becca, the girl who turns part-zombie? Well... what happened to her cousin before he came home?

Coming Soon! A short story prequel to my book, Girl Z: My Life As A Teenage Zombie
 (cool cover, huh?)

** NOW OUT! ** 

In the zombie short story - CHANGES: A GIRL Z Prequel, Spence’s “perfect” job is anything but. He escapes a living dead nightmare when his co-workers turn into flesh-eating monsters. As the plague spreads, Spence heads home hoping to see his family one last time... if he can make it.

Get it at:
All formats - Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/543942

All Amazon Links: http://authl.it/B00XWWO79S

Making the most of a Writer's Magazine by DL Larson

My RWR issue has been on my kitchen island for several days now. I haven't moved it for fear it will get lost in my office and I won't remember to read it. The May 2015 issue of Romance Writers Report has wonderful information in it. This issue the 2015 RITA and Golden Heart Finalists are listed. Windy City member, Sonali Dev is a RITA finalist with her debut book, A Bollywood Affair.

Congratulations, Sonali!

Also mentioned in the May issue, are the authors who passed away this last year, including Cathy Linz, a Windy City member. Cathy was one of the first people I met when I joined Windy City. I remember her red cowboy boots and friendly smile. She teased me about my big book and how it weighted down the gift bags that were handed out to the librarians and book sellers at our Appreciation Dinner. The year was 2005. I was glad to see Cathy was remembered on the RWR list, and at the same time, I wanted to see a whole page devoted to her. She was such a HUGE part of why I stayed connected with the Windy City chapter.

Several other articles caught my attention too. Here's just a few:
'How to SUCK at Self-Promotion."
"But they mean well! When People Are Too Helpful."
"Breaking Free of Distractions"
"Scene Stealers"

If you do not currently subscribe to a writer's magazine, I urge you to. Each month valuable and applicable information is at your fingertips. I may not always read my writer's magazines the day they arrive, but I always read them. And I always, find something worthwhile and uplifting to store away in my writer's tool kit to use when its needed.

So, my grandkids just left and I'm too tired to work on my WIP. Sounds like the perfect time to sit back and read RWR.

Til next time ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com