<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Writer&#039;s Round-About &#187; Kimberlee Ferrell</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/author/kimberlee-ferrell/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.writersroundabout.com</link>
	<description>The Craft and Business of Fiction and Freelance Writing</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:47:43 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0</generator>
		<item>
		<title>Character Birthdays: Happy Birthday, Heros and Heroines</title>
		<link>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/06/happy-birthday-heroes-and-heroines.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/06/happy-birthday-heroes-and-heroines.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:00:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kimberlee Ferrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Character Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antagonist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[astrology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[birthday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[character building]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[character traits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[characterization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[happy birthday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hero]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[heroine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[numerlogy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[protagonist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[protagonist birthdays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scenes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[story]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=4018</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you know your when to wish your characters a happy birthday? Many writers neglect the most important day of their protagonist&#8217;s life. After all, if she was not born into your imaginary world, you wouldn&#8217;t be able to tell her story now. But there are stronger writing issues to consider when deciding your male ...<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/06/happy-birthday-heroes-and-heroines.html">Character Birthdays: Happy Birthday, Heros and Heroines</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>



No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.writersroundabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/character-birthdays.jpg" alt="Happy Birthday Cake for Heroes, Heroines, and Characters" title="Happy Birthday Cake for Heroes, Heroines, and Characters" width="240" height="180" align="left" />Do you know your when to wish your <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/category/fiction-writing/fiction-writing-character" title="Learn more about Character Development">characters</a> a happy birthday? Many writers neglect the most important day of their protagonist&#8217;s life. After all, if she was not born into your imaginary world, you wouldn&#8217;t be able to tell her story now. But there are stronger writing issues to consider when deciding your male and female characters celebrate their birthday.</p>
<h3>Happy 29th, Again</h3>
<p>What is your character&#8217;s attitude toward her birthday, and her age? Does she dread every passing year, or does she celebrate with a blow-out party that includes everyone she&#8217;s met in her life? When are the birthday&#8217;s of your character&#8217;s family? If you don&#8217;t know, you are missing out on a key area of characterization that you could explore.</p>
<p>More importantly, you may miss her birthday all together! If her birthday falls right into the middle of your story, your character wouldn&#8217;t completely forget. At the very least, she would comment to herself about how she is far too busy to go out with her friends this year. Perhaps she&#8217;ll miss visiting her parents, because she has now moved halfway across the country to start her new job. Are your character&#8217;s kids celebrating their birthdays with a crisis filled birthday party? Her new love interest may forget, and schedule his monthly golf game on the birthday weekend she expected him to take her to his beach side villa. Unless you know, your characters will never age, and gain the wisdom that comes with reflecting over the course of their lives so far.</p>
<h3>What&#8217;s Your Sign?</h3>
<p>Another consideration is that you or your characters may have an interest in exploring what their birthday stands for, in the universal scheme of things. <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/astrology" title="Build character and plot with an Astrology Forecast">Astrology</a> and <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/numerology" title="Learn more about your characters with a Numerology Forecast">Numerology</a> use a person&#8217;s birthday to determine their personality traits, and the possible issues they might have to deal with throughout their lives. If you are struggling to flesh out a character, you can look up their birthday, and discover how they might act in their relationships, careers, and home lives. If you don&#8217;t like what the results turn up, you can change their birthday to a different sign, and start over. Even if you don&#8217;t care about such things, your young college student heroine might read her horoscope every morning, and you ought to have an idea what it would say.</p>
<p>Other uses for birthdays include exploring what happened on that day in history. If your historical hero was born on the day the Civil War started, he would have a different upbringing than someone whose parents raised him during the Great Depression. Many websites and books have such &#8220;Day in the Life&#8221; descriptions, or you could scan old newspapers near your character&#8217;s real world hometown. Even less famous events could play into your <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/11/sg1-series-part-two-character-development.html" title="Characters are an elemental part of every story.">character&#8217;s life</a>, such as if she were born on the same day the water tower fell and flooded her home.</p>
<h3>Planning For Other Character&#8217;s Birthdays</h3>
<p>Even if your story covers a short amount of time, it is wise to know when all of your characters are born, not just your protagonist. She may be planning a surprise party for her best friend, when she suddenly loses her job and can&#8217;t afford to do so anymore. Your antagonist may decide to cause havoc on his birthday every year, because local bullies wrecked his 18th birthday party.</p>
<p>Birthdays are a great rite of passage that everyone goes through each year. It marks new growth, beginnings, and a chance to start life with a clean slate. Your characters could use these same milestones, to take your story in new and unexpected directions.</p>
<p><strong>What do birthdays mean to you, and your stories? Have you explored how your characters react to growing a year older? </strong></p>
<p><em>Editor&#8217;s Note: Know another birthday you shouldn&#8217;t forget? Writer&#8217;s Round-About! We&#8217;re turning 3 this month so come and <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/06/wras-3rd-birthday-bash.html" title="Win some prizes as WRA's 3rd Birthday Bash">win some prizes at our birthday bash</a>.</em></p>
<p>Image credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dantaylor/366302195/" title="Birthday Cake by Dan Taylor">Dan Taylor</a></p>
<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/06/happy-birthday-heroes-and-heroines.html">Character Birthdays: Happy Birthday, Heros and Heroines</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>


<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/06/happy-birthday-heroes-and-heroines.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Piece Together Characters From Family Members</title>
		<link>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/06/piece-together-characters-from-family-members.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/06/piece-together-characters-from-family-members.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kimberlee Ferrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Character Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[character attributes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[character creation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[character development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[character profile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[character traits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family character traits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[notes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[observing characteristics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personality]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=3821</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of my favorite aspects of writing is character creation. I usually start my stories due to an interesting character popping into my mind, with a story to share. Often, I&#8217;ll know right away what they look like, what their general outlook on life is, and what their goals are. However, I may not know ...<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/06/piece-together-characters-from-family-members.html">Piece Together Characters From Family Members</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>



No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.writersroundabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/developing-characters-from-.jpg" title="Character Traits Pieced Together From Family" alt="Character Traits Pieced Together From Family" width="240" height="196" align="left" />One of my favorite aspects of writing is <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/category/fiction-writing/fiction-writing-character" title="Creating and developing fictional characters.">character creation</a>. I usually start my stories due to an interesting character popping into my mind, with a story to share. Often, I&#8217;ll know right away what they look like, what their general outlook on life is, and what their goals are.</p>
<p>However, I may not know what their favorite breakfast food is, what nervous habits they have, or their belief system. Some character attributes may not be needed in the preliminary stages of writing, but if I don&#8217;t know them up front, it can cause problems later on in the story. If I don&#8217;t know that the antagonist killed their parents in a war twenty years ago, then I have no idea why she is so determined to stop his reign of tyranny now.</p>
<h3>Borrowing Attributes From Family</h3>
<p>If I am unsure of my character&#8217;s attributes and motivations, I turn to an unending source of human characteristics &#8211; my friends and family. It doesn&#8217;t get more realistic than using actual traits and habits that other people have. However, you need to ensure that you don&#8217;t make a character who is exactly like your Uncle Bob, and ends up leaving his wife and developing a drug addiction. That could be perceived as slander, and cause ill will and even court cases between family members.</p>
<p>To avoid that possibility, I take observed characteristics and play mix and match. I might take my best friend&#8217;s eye twitch, add on my grandfather&#8217;s quiet attitude, and place those traits onto my protagonist&#8217;s thirty year old love interest. That way, there is no possibility of anyone seeing themselves within one character.</p>
<p>Also, allow the characteristics to change and grow throughout your story. Whereas my friend might twitch her eye when she is angry, my love interest character would twitch his eye when he is lying instead. His silent streak, borrowed from my grandfather, could go away completely by the end of the story, as he opens up and learns to trust the heroine.</p>
<h3>Observe People Everywhere</h3>
<p>Of course, family and friends aren&#8217;t the only possible sources for character creation. Inspiration is everywhere! <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2009/12/simple-saviours-the-notebook-and-pen.html" title="Simple Saviors: The Notebook and Pen">Take your notebook</a> and go to a crowded cafe, mall, or park. Make notes to yourself about specific attributes that catch your eye. Add these into the mix along with those traits you picked from your family, and you will have a completely different character. Even television, music, and online friends offer more character possibilities.</p>
<p>Once you&#8217;ve compiled your character, you might want to write out a <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/storylines" title="Save your character creation sheets with Storylines Writer's Cafe Software.">character creation sheet</a>, that lists all of the facts about the character that you know so far. This can range from hair and eye color, to identifiable habits, to primary and secondary motivations. Whatever you need for your story, you can outline, and add to or subtract from as necessary.</p>
<p>To further ensure that your character is differentiated enough from your family, write a short story that shows a &#8220;Day in the Life&#8221; of your hero. Let your family and friends read it, and see if they identify with the hero. If they do, you may need to change a few traits.</p>
<p><strong>Have you ever drawn from real life people to create a character? What are your tips to ensuring you get just the right blend of fact and fiction?</strong></p>
<p>Image Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/egarc2/535214433/" title="the family by egarc2">egarc2</a></p>
<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/06/piece-together-characters-from-family-members.html">Piece Together Characters From Family Members</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>


<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/06/piece-together-characters-from-family-members.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Writing Through a Move With Your Family</title>
		<link>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/writing-through-a-move-with-your-family.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/writing-through-a-move-with-your-family.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 12:00:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kimberlee Ferrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[moving as a freelancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writer's plan when moving]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=3806</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m currently house hunting, and hope to move sometime this summer. However it&#8217;s never too early for a freelance writer to start planning the logistics of a move. It is not like you can just move things over a long weekend, because writers never have one! There is always something to be done, written, or ...<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/writing-through-a-move-with-your-family.html">Writing Through a Move With Your Family</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>



No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/budget-truck-rental" title="Budget Truck Rentals for the Moving Freelance Writing Family"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2800396184_aee6e3bdc5_m.jpg" alt="Budget Truck Rentals for the Moving Freelance Writing Family" title="Budget Truck Rentals for the Moving Freelance Writing Family" width="240" height="180" align="left" border="0" /></a>I&#8217;m currently house hunting, and hope to move sometime this summer. However it&#8217;s never too early for a freelance writer to start planning the logistics of a move. It is not like you can just move things over a long weekend, because writers never have one! There is always something to be done, written, or researched.</p>
<p>Your family can become a help or hindrance during a writer&#8217;s move. They can give you extra time and space before the move to tie up loose ends, and remember to mark all of the boxes with your computer and writing supplies! Unless you let them know what you need, they won&#8217;t be able to support you, and your trip will become a large headache!</p>
<h3>Plan, Plan, Plan!</h3>
<p>As soon as you know that a move is imminent, begin planning as much as possible. Even for an across-town move, you will be spending a lot of time and money. You&#8217;ll need to increase your income considerably during the months preceding your move, to pay for deposits, moving trucks, and general spending during the course of your move.</p>
<p>Even if money won&#8217;t be a problem, you will be very short on time. You will be packing up all your belongings, cleaning up your old house, moving into a new house, cleaning the new house, and unpacking. Whew! I recommend getting ahead of all your current projects by at least two to three weeks for a local move, and even more ahead for a long distance move. Let your writing clients know what&#8217;s going on, and what is the best way to contact you during the time your computer is packed away.</p>
<h3>Have a Family Meeting</h3>
<p>Once you have a moving and writing plan in mind, go over the details with your family. Let them know that you are going to be working extra hard to make the move a success, and enlist their help. Tell them exactly what they can do to make the upcoming months smooth sailing. If you need a few extra hours of quiet working time, let them know! Ask if they can pick up a few of your household chores, so you have more time to deal with moving issues. Whatever you need, your family can be there to support you.</p>
<p>Seek their input as well. In your planning, you may have forgotten about upcoming family events, such as reunions, graduations, or even your child&#8217;s weekly soccer practice. They may be able to tell you about upcoming expenses that you hadn&#8217;t considered as well. Also, don&#8217;t forget that moving can be very stressful, especially for your children. Allow them to voice their concerns about meeting new friends, adjusting to a new school, and keeping in contact with their old friends.</p>
<h3>During the Move</h3>
<p>When it is finally time to pack all of your books, computers, and writing paraphernalia, send a final email to your clients reminding them of the move and when you expect to be back online. Mark all of your belongings carefully, and pack them near the door of the moving truck, so you can easily access them right away at your new home.</p>
<p>Keep a notebook, laptop,  or phone with internet capabilities with you during your move. You&#8217;ll want a way to jot down writing ideas, and to check your email or voice mail as often as possible for any client emergencies. You may not be able to address them all right away, but you can reassure your clients that you will be available soon.</p>
<p>Above all, have fun on your move! A new home is the start of a new chapter of your family&#8217;s life, and can be a thrilling adventure! Enjoy the one on one time you will have with your loved ones on the road, and filling a new home with your special touches.</p>
<p><strong>What other advice would you give for a freelance writer on the move? Have you experienced a move as a writer? Share your stories with us!</strong></p>
<p>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil_g/2800396184/" title="Moving Truck by Phil_g">Moving Truck by Phil_g</a></p>
<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/writing-through-a-move-with-your-family.html">Writing Through a Move With Your Family</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>


<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/writing-through-a-move-with-your-family.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Creating Maps to Outline Your Novel&#8217;s Plot</title>
		<link>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/creating-maps-to-outline-your-novels-plot.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/creating-maps-to-outline-your-novels-plot.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 May 2010 12:00:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kimberlee Ferrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Plot and Structure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creating maps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[drawing story maps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mapping an outline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[novel outline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[novel world creation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plotting novels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing inconsistencies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing with a map]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=3590</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Some writers prefer leaping into a story headfirst, without any idea of where the plot might lead. Others have an inkling of where the story is heading, but they&#8217;re just not sure how to get there. Some writers are capable of whipping up a detailed, point by point outline, just like we were required to ...<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/creating-maps-to-outline-your-novels-plot.html">Creating Maps to Outline Your Novel&#8217;s Plot</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>



No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.writersroundabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/creating-world-maps-for-fiction.jpg" alt="Map Outline For Your Novel's Plot" title="Map Outline For Your Novel's Plot" width="240" height="180" align="left" />Some writers prefer leaping into a story headfirst, without any idea of where the plot might lead. Others have an inkling of where the story is heading, but they&#8217;re just not sure how to get there. Some writers are capable of whipping up a detailed, point by point outline, just like we were required to create in school.</p>
<p>But what about those in the middle grounds, who would like to know where the novel is going, but don&#8217;t know where to begin? Try mapping out the world of your novel, so you know what kind of boundaries, cultures, and governments your characters might have to deal with, along with what conflicts they might encounter along their way.</p>
<h3>Why Create a Map?</h3>
<p>A map is a visual reminder of the landscape of your novel&#8217;s world. This is especially important in novels where you are creating your own world, such as science fiction, fantasy, and some historical novels. However, even in modern fiction, you&#8217;ll need to know where your main character lives, where he works, and how long it takes him to get to various points throughout your fictional or real city. You don&#8217;t want to have huge inconsistencies, where it takes one hour to drive to the mall, and ten minutes to drive home!</p>
<p>You can use a map to show natural landmarks, man-made constructs, and other topographical items that your characters may have to navigate in the course of the novel. For example, your main character may want to ride her horse to the neighboring realm&#8217;s castle, but she (and you) discover there is a large river in the way with no bridge in sight! Instant plot conflict, which you and your character will have to deal with. Will she be able to cross? Will her horse be left with nearby tribesmen &#8211; whose settlement you sketched in nearby? Your map will become invaluable, adding additional depth and description to your novel.</p>
<h3>Map Creation Techniques</h3>
<p>To start, all you&#8217;ll need is some paper and pencils. It doesn&#8217;t matter if it is notebook paper, printer paper, or a sketchbook. You can choose colored pencils, or just a regular #2 pencil. Be sure you have an eraser around somewhere, as you&#8217;ll find yourself changing your mind throughout the creation of your novel&#8217;s map.</p>
<p>Decide what kind of scale you&#8217;ll be drawing at. All that means is that you will either draw your map street by street to detail your city, or city by city to show your world. For a city view map, you&#8217;ll want to highlight buildings of interest, such as a town hall, restaurants, malls, or homes. For a world view map, your cities will be dots, while landmarks will get more attention, such as mountain ranges, rivers, and forests.</p>
<p>Allow yourself to have fun! Your map doesn&#8217;t have to be perfect, and is for your eyes only. Of course, if you&#8217;ve drawn yourself and your characters into a corner, feel free to change anything that isn&#8217;t working. Just be sure to make the necessary changes to your novel&#8217;s plot if you decide to alter your map!</p>
<p><strong>Have you ever sketched out your story&#8217;s world? Did you have fun letting your creativity flow in visual format? Would you try this method out for plotting your next novel?</strong></p>
<p>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/erreeffe/1202857256/" title="Castelli del Chianti by Renzo Ferrante">Renzo Ferrante</a></p>
<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/creating-maps-to-outline-your-novels-plot.html">Creating Maps to Outline Your Novel&#8217;s Plot</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>


<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/creating-maps-to-outline-your-novels-plot.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Freelancer Family Relationships: Partnership or Rivalry?</title>
		<link>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/freelancer-family-relationships-partnership-or-rivalry.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/freelancer-family-relationships-partnership-or-rivalry.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 12:00:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kimberlee Ferrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Organization and Time]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing partnership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing with children]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=2928</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the more challenging obstacles that freelance writers face is figuring out how to write in conjunction with family life. Let&#8217;s face it, there will always be days where you&#8217;re dreaming of a secluded cabin hidden deep in the woods. Then a toy will come flying across your desk, and the only thought you&#8217;ll ...<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/freelancer-family-relationships-partnership-or-rivalry.html">Freelancer Family Relationships: Partnership or Rivalry?</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>



No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.writersroundabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/freelancer-family-relationships.jpg" alt="Partnership Rivalry Family" width="240" height="161" align="left" /> One of the more challenging obstacles that freelance writers face is figuring out how to write in conjunction with family life. Let&#8217;s face it, there will always be days where you&#8217;re dreaming of a secluded cabin hidden deep in the woods. Then a toy will come flying across your desk, and the only thought you&#8217;ll have left is &#8220;When is my other half coming home?&#8221;</p>
<p>Peace and quiet become a thing of the past when you have children. Your significant other will always want to drag you away to the store just as you are settling into your writing groove. Some days, it is all you can do to keep yourself from building a brick wall around your writing desk, to keep the noises and distractions from family members out!</p>
<p>How then, do we win our family members over to our team? Eliminate the &#8220;me vs. them&#8221; attitude, and come up with some ways to work together, and not at cross purposes.</p>
<h3>You and Your Partner: The Captains of Team Home</h3>
<p>Above all else, you have to come to some agreements as the elder members of the household. (Single parents need only confirm these points with themselves.) Your children look up to the two of you as their caregivers and their primary examples. When you can agree on how your daily home life operates, it is far easier to communicate that to others.</p>
<p>Create a household schedule that everyone can abide by. Writing time should be held sacred in your house, and everything that can be put off for another time should be. Your freelancing is a real job, that brings in real income, and should be respected by everyone in the house. Errands, date night, and play time should be established, so you know when to wrap things up and switch gears.</p>
<p>Discuss with your partner who is &#8220;in charge&#8221; of watching the kids when. If you suddenly have to complete a rush assignment, you don&#8217;t need to be getting up every five minutes to get snacks and play referee. On the other hand, if your spouse has just arrived home from their cubicle job, they deserve some down time before changing the diapers and reading stories. Respect each others&#8217; needs while figuring out who is the &#8220;go to&#8221; parent at any given moment.</p>
<h3>Recruiting Your Children to Your Team</h3>
<p>Children are free spirits, independent and still learning about the world around them. They don&#8217;t immediately understand that you are working from home, as it is not as obvious as leaving and coming back. Your job is to show them how to respect your writing time, while letting them know they are not being ignored.</p>
<p>Give your kids visual signals that let them know when not to disturb you. A red stop sign placed on your office door or on the side of your writing desk can let them see when you are busy working. On the other side, you can draw a smiley face or other indicator for when it is okay for them to ask you for help.</p>
<p>Teach your kids how to have quiet time. Giving them age appropriate projects will engage their imaginations quietly, allowing you to work mostly uninterrupted &#8211; after all, they are going to show you their completed work! Coloring, painting, or reading are all good examples of quiet play. There are even kids&#8217; toy laptops available, so they can work on the computer alongside you.</p>
<p>Acknowledge when your family needs your undivided attention. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the online freelancing world, when we could be spending more time with our partner and children. Emergencies can and will happen, but not every family moment need be an emergency. Sometimes, our children just want to know they are loved and accepted all the time, not just when it fits into our day. Curl up on the couch, or go outside and play catch from time to time. After all, freelancing is about doing what you love, surrounded by those you love.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/50-chances-win-cindy-hudson.html" title="Don't miss our Book by Book giveaway. There are 50 chances to win!"><img src="http://www.writersroundabout.com/wp-content/themes/RLS-Rebecca/scripts/timthumb.php?src=http://www.writersroundabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Book-by-Book-230x230.jpg" alt="Don't miss our Book by Book giveaway. There are 50 chances to win!" tite="Don't miss our Book by Book giveaway. There are 50 chances to win!" width="230" height="230" style="margin-left:10px;" align="right" border="0" /></a><strong>How do you make time for both your writing and your family? Is everyone in your household &#8220;on the same team&#8221;? What about other family members, living with you or miles away?</strong></p>
<p>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/valeriebb/331244652/" title="The kids reading together by Valerie Everett">Valerie Everett</a></p>
<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/freelancer-family-relationships-partnership-or-rivalry.html">Freelancer Family Relationships: Partnership or Rivalry?</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>


<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/05/freelancer-family-relationships-partnership-or-rivalry.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Self-Publishing Your Poetry Book</title>
		<link>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/self-publishing-your-poetry-book.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/self-publishing-your-poetry-book.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:00:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kimberlee Ferrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[National Poetry Month]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[book marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[building an audience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online audiences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poetry book]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poetry lovers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing poetry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=3544</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Poetry is known as one of the hardest forms of writing to monetize. Most magazines who accept poems pay in either free copies or a small stipend. Book publishers cringe when receiving poetry book manuscripts for review, as there is little reason for them to publish any poetry unless it is by the biggest names ...<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/self-publishing-your-poetry-book.html">Self-Publishing Your Poetry Book</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>



No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.writersroundabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/self-published-poetry.jpg" alt="Self-Publishing Poetry Books" width="240" height="139" align="left" />Poetry is known as one of the hardest forms of writing to monetize. Most magazines who accept poems pay in either free copies or a small stipend. Book publishers cringe when receiving poetry book manuscripts for review, as there is little reason for them to publish any poetry unless it is by the biggest names in the poetry world. Mass market readers don&#8217;t seem to be buying poetry anymore, and bookstores seem less interested in carrying it.</p>
<p>So what&#8217;s a sensitive souled poetry writer to do? Shove their literary goals aside while pursuing the bigger bucks to be made in more readily accepted forms of writing?</p>
<p>While a writer <em>does</em> have to eat, they don&#8217;t have to ignore their poetic leanings for long. Carving out a few minutes a day for poetry writing will soon fill an entire book full of poetic imagery and metaphors, in need of an audience.</p>
<h3>Writing Poetry for an Online Audience</h3>
<p>Self-publishing is an increasingly acceptable way for writers to publish their own books, from instructional materials to memoirs to novels. WRA&#8217;s own <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/01/author-jenn-greenleaf-launches-virtual-book-tour.html">Jennifer Greenleaf </a>launched her own self-published books, sharing her insights on the process with us. Other authors around the world are <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/03/trashed-by-traditionally-published-authors.html">taking publishing into their own hands</a>, forgoing the comforts of a traditional publishing house to brave the wilds of the internet jungle.</p>
<p>Poetry authors can blaze their own path to publication as well. The key to any self-publishing success is building an audience receptive to your work. With poetry, this is even more critical, as most people aren&#8217;t actively searching for a new poetry book. You can create a small website showcasing a small portion of your poetry, and invite others to follow you along the path to publication. Using social media, you can determine their level of interest and excitement for poetry, and create easy ways for them to stay informed of your book&#8217;s progress. They can even become involved, spreading the word to others, or giving you suggestions on possible poetry topics.</p>
<h3>Why Self-Publishing For Poetry?</h3>
<p>In addition to the difficulty that poetry faces in the mass market, there are other outstanding reasons to consider if self-publishing a poetry book is right for you. When you self-publish, you retain full copyright and control of your work. Your poems can be formatted exactly the way you desire, with illustrations if you like. The book can be the right dimensions and font, and you don&#8217;t have to struggle over the details of a lengthy publishing contract. For those of us (myself included!) who enjoy having complete artistic control over their writing, self-publishing is ideal.</p>
<p>You can also connect to a wide variety of audiences that may enjoy your poetry throughout the internet. For example, if you have written a book of love poetry, you can promote it on blogs about romance writing or dating advice. You can join a forum for women, and let them know you&#8217;ve written a poetry book they may enjoy. There are so many available options depending on your topic and audience, that the choices are truly yours.</p>
<p><strong>Would you consider self-publishing a poetry book? Do you still enjoy reading poetry, even though bookstores don&#8217;t carry many options? What are your experiences with self-publishing?</strong></p>
<p>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24337020@N07/2468973967/" title="Clapbooks From The Poetry Project by FolkeB">FolkeB</a></p>
<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/self-publishing-your-poetry-book.html">Self-Publishing Your Poetry Book</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>


<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/self-publishing-your-poetry-book.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Choosing Poetry Topics</title>
		<link>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/choosing-poetry-topics.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/choosing-poetry-topics.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:00:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kimberlee Ferrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[National Poetry Month]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children's poetry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[descriptive poetry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dr. seuss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finding Ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[literary device]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[meaning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[metaphor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[philosophy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poetry ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poetry topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poetry writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rhyme]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seti]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shel silverstein]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[theme]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writers digest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing poetry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=3517</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When the urge to write poetry strikes, all I want to do is drop everything, grab a pen and paper, and start scribbling down the first thoughts that enter my mind. Writing poetry can be quite a thrill, and it is best to be prepared for when that moment hits. However, even when I have ...<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/choosing-poetry-topics.html">Choosing Poetry Topics</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>



No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.writersroundabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/poetry.jpg" alt="Poetry Topics and Ideas" title="Poetry Topics and Ideas" width="240" height="159" align="left" />When the urge to write poetry strikes, all I want to do is drop everything, grab a pen and paper, and start scribbling down the first thoughts that enter my mind. Writing poetry can be quite a thrill, and it is best to be prepared for when that moment hits.</p>
<p>However, even when I have the desire to write poetry, I sometimes have no idea what I want to write about. While leaping into poetry writing and seeing what happens can be beneficial, I often find that having an idea of what I want to write will make the process flow much more smoothly.</p>
<p>Here are some different ways that I choose my poetry writing topics, so I don&#8217;t miss out on the inspiration that has headed my way!</p>
<h3>Observe the World Around You</h3>
<p>The easiest way to choose a poetry topic is to sit down and focus on something in your immediate environment. Describe the contents of your desk, the light shining through your window, or the taste of your favorite beverage. Anything is a good topic for poetry! Even purely descriptive poetry can have a deep impact and be full of meaning.</p>
<p>Mundane objects can also be used in poetry as metaphors for larger, more philosophical topics. For example, a poem I wrote a long time ago was about the sugar crystals that lined the rim of my coffee cup. The crystals turned into a discussion on the hardening of our lives and ourselves over time.</p>
<h3>Discover What Matters</h3>
<p>Choosing meaningful subjects can bring your poetry to life. Think about what has been going on in your life that could be processed through the poetry format. Are there causes you care deeply about, or feel have not been addressed? Or have you been going through a difficult time, and need to reflect over recent events?</p>
<p>One unique example was a poem I read in <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/writers-digest' title="Writer's Digest Magazine">Writer&#8217;s Digest</a> some years ago. The poem was highlighted because it used the sestina format, repeating six lines in six different orders throughout the poem. But the topic was more interesting to me, as it was about <a href="http://www.seti.org/Page.aspx?pid=1366" title="The SETI Institute: Explore, understand, and explain the origin, nature, and prevalence of life in the universe.">SETI: the search for extra-terrestrial life</a>! With poetry, the sky isn&#8217;t even the limit!</p>
<h3>Have Some Fun</h3>
<p>Poetry doesn&#8217;t have to be moody and serious all the time. Some of the best poems I&#8217;ve read were those when I was a child, which were lighthearted and fun. Sometimes, the poems are hidden in the guise of a story, introducing children to literature in all its forms at a young age.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/shel-silverstein" title="Discover Shel Silverstein and explore his children's poetry">Shel Silverstein</a> is my favorite children&#8217;s poet. His poems were well crafted, engaging, and often hilarious. Another one who many not obviously be a poet is <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/dr-seuss" title="Dr. Seuss (aka Theodor Geisel) is famous for his use of nonsense and rhyme language learning devices in children's literature.">Dr. Seuss</a>. His stories definitely did rhyme! If you&#8217;ve never tried writing funny poetry, you could always give it a try for a lighthearted change of pace.</p>
<h3>Inspiration is Everywhere</h3>
<p>The world is full of possible poetry ideas. It&#8217;s up to you to be open to what strikes you when you pull out your notebook. When you have the chance, <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2008/01/where-do-ideas-come-from.html" title="A street map for those avenues you explore as you search for the Idea Waterfall.">explore every avenue</a> open to you, and your poetry will take off!</p>
<p><strong>What are your favorite poetry topics, to write or to read? What ideas and themes does most of your poetry revolve around? Are there topics, ideas, and metaphors you feel repeatedly drawn to when you write?</strong></p>
<p>Image Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blowfishsoup/2928446425/" title="Poetry by Blowfishsoup 9-27-2008">Blowfishsoup</a></p>
<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/choosing-poetry-topics.html">Choosing Poetry Topics</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>


<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/choosing-poetry-topics.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Reading Your Poetry Aloud</title>
		<link>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/reading-your-poetry-aloud.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/reading-your-poetry-aloud.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:00:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kimberlee Ferrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[National Poetry Month]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[audio recording]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[editing poetry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poetry reading]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public speaking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reading poetry aloud]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sharing poetry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video recording]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=3507</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When I was in school, I wrote a good amount of poetry. I&#8217;ve found it to be a great way to express myself, to capture a moment in time forever on paper. I love the opportunity to craft illuminating metaphors, to play with the sounds of words, and to create impact with well-placed line breaks. ...<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/reading-your-poetry-aloud.html">Reading Your Poetry Aloud</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>



No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.writersroundabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/reading-poetry.jpg" alt="Poetry Reading" title="Poetry Reading" width="250" height="250" align="left" />When I was in school, I wrote a good amount of poetry. I&#8217;ve found it to be a great way to express myself, to capture a moment in time forever on paper. I love the opportunity to craft illuminating metaphors, to play with the sounds of words, and to create impact with well-placed line breaks.</p>
<p>However, poetry is meant to be shared. It is a personal experience that comes from the core of your being, and the chance to share that experience with others should be welcomed. After all, you can spend countless hours crafting a poem. Why let all that work languish in a desk drawer?</p>
<h3>My Poetry Reading</h3>
<p>In college, I decided to attend a poetry reading, to share my work with others. I am not a great public speaker, and a poetry reading is unlike any other performance. I had been in plays during high school, but there were other people on stage with me, sharing the spotlight.</p>
<p>The poetry reading I went to was held in a friend&#8217;s living room, and there were only five other people in attendance. There was no spotlight, no stage, nothing to separate me from the audience. Tea and coffee were served, and we spent the first few minutes getting acquainted and admiring the lovely artwork she had in her home.</p>
<p>Then it was time to read poetry.</p>
<p>I was incredibly nervous. When I&#8217;m nervous, I tend to stutter and stumble over my words. So I took a deep breath and plunged into reading my poem (which has been lost in the process of time, so I cannot share it here).  Time seemed to stop, as everyone&#8217;s eyes were on me. The night seemed empty and cold, and nothing else mattered but getting the words out, as I had never read them aloud, not even to myself.</p>
<p>Then it was over. My poem was maybe two or three minutes long. Everyone complimented me on my poem, saying it was deep and insightful, everything a good poem can be.</p>
<p>More importantly, I had actually done it. I had written a poem, and sent it out into the universe. I shared my inner self with others, and it was a liberating yet terrifying feeling. I was out of breath, as if I had ran a marathon. And I had, but it was a marathon of the soul.</p>
<h3>Reading Poetry for Others</h3>
<p>So would I recommend you reading your own poetry? Absolutely. It can help you face any fears you may have about public speaking, which is a great goal in itself. Poetry is a highly personal form of writing, and sharing yourself through your poetry is a special way to connect to other people.</p>
<p>Poetry reading can also help you discover any awkward parts of your poem, that may need editing. Yes, poetry requires editing too, and can be the most enlightening part of the process. Using the different literary devices at your disposal can be great fun, when crafting your own poems.</p>
<p>Even if you&#8217;re not ready to read your poetry in front of others, reading it out loud to yourself can be a rewarding experience. You can relive any moment in time, by reading your poetry, and capturing it on an audio or video recording. You could save it for your family, or post it online for others to enjoy and comment on.</p>
<p>Poetry is vastly rewarding, in so many ways. Reading it aloud is something I believe everyone should try at least once. You never know what might happen!</p>
<p><strong>Have you been to a poetry reading before? Or read your poetry aloud to others? Share your experiences here!</strong></p>
<p>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulinebalba/3537698991/" title="Eric Aguilar 70's Bistro by paulinebalba">paulinebalba</a></p>
<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/reading-your-poetry-aloud.html">Reading Your Poetry Aloud</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>


<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/reading-your-poetry-aloud.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Add Conflict to Enhance Your Writing</title>
		<link>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/add-conflict-to-enhance-your-writing.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/add-conflict-to-enhance-your-writing.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kimberlee Ferrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Craft of Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conflict in fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conflict in nonfiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conflict in poetry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[copywriting conflict]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hemingway]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plot conflict]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing conflict]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=3380</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most people don&#8217;t like conflict in their day-to-day lives, but they sure love it in their reading. Living vicariously through our words, the reader imagines themselves to be the hero of our work, facing and overcoming adversaries with wit, determination, and skill. Whether these adversaries are actual people, or situations that must be worked around, ...<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/add-conflict-to-enhance-your-writing.html">Add Conflict to Enhance Your Writing</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>



No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.writersroundabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/epic-conflict-dalek-vs-cyberman.jpg" alt="Conflict and Struggle in Writing" title="Conflict and Struggle in Writing" width="300" height="300" align="left" />Most people don&#8217;t like conflict in their day-to-day lives, but they sure love it in their reading. Living vicariously through our words, the reader imagines themselves to be the hero of our work, facing and overcoming adversaries with wit, determination, and skill. Whether these adversaries are actual people, or situations that must be worked around, the one constant is that the main character must triumph over conflict.<br />
<br clear="all" /><br />
<strong>Sounds like the makings of a great adventure, right?</strong></p>
<h3>Adding Conflict to Both Fiction and Non-fiction</h3>
<p>If your fictional tale doesn&#8217;t have enough conflict, then it is just a matter of finding out what your hero wants in life, and what could get in his way to thwart his efforts. To figure out what he cares about the most, look at what he has pursued in your story so far. His initial pursuits in early chapters or paragraphs can pinpoint the causes he cares about, as well as <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2009/06/welcoming-your-demons-pep-talk.html" title="Welcome your Protagonists Demons into your story.">potential antagonists</a>. Of course, you could always &#8220;<a href="http://character-development.suite101.com/article.cfm/interview_characters_to_discover_their_motives" title="Interview Characters to Discover Their Motives">interview</a>&#8221; your main character by asking yourself questions about him, and coming up with creative answers.</p>
<p>Many works of non-fiction can benefit from conflict as well. Simple how-to articles or complex technical manuals don&#8217;t lend themselves to adding conflict. The conflict is already there, as the reader wants to know how to do something, and the article or book holds the key to their understanding. In most other forms of non-fiction, however, there is plenty of room to spice up your writing by illuminating sources of conflict.</p>
<p>For example, long-form sales copywriting can include conflict, by indicating all the types of people who are the &#8220;wrong people&#8221; for their product. The intent is to show that people who don&#8217;t care about having the brightest teeth, or who don&#8217;t want to make thousands of dollars, are the wrong people, and that the reader is obviously one of the <a href="http://www.fluentself.com/blog/biggification/re-explaining-right-people/" title="Right People and Wrong People">right people</a> for the product.</p>
<p>Conflict can also be introduced, by bringing up and addressing all of the potential complaints someone may have about their product. This creates stress, and then relief, in the reader as they discover that the product being sold is suitable for their needs. The same elements of conflict in a fiction story that allow the reader to share in the hero&#8217;s roadblocks and successes also work in non-fiction, to entice a reader to care about the chosen topic, and sympathize with potential problems and solutions.</p>
<h3>Conflict in Poetry</h3>
<p>For many people, poetry is just a long descriptive narrative, describing a cup of coffee in a unique way. Depending on the quality of the poetry, many people shrug their shoulders at the end, saying to themselves, &#8220;Now what?&#8221; Although purely descriptive poetry can be done very well, many people still crave the elements of action and conflict within poems.</p>
<p>Good poetry can show conflict, by describing how a rainy day prevents a woman from meeting her long lost brother, and how (and if) she can overcome this dilemma. Some poems save the conflict for the last line, shifting your perspective on the scene for some shock factor. While this approach works sometimes, it can be overdone. Use the short form of poetry to show both the problem and the solution, to provide a satisfying experience for the reader.</p>
<h3>Other Literary Forms of Conflict</h3>
<p>Conflict can be found everywhere, from product reviews to journalistic news features. Keep an eye out for elements of conflict when you read, and think about how you can incorporate conflict into your writing.</p>
<p>My favorite example of literary conflict? This unconfirmed anecdote attributed to Ernest Hemingway, that he could write a six word story on a bet. His response? <em></em></p>
<blockquote><p>For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>What have you noticed about conflict in your reading and writing recently?</strong></p>
<p>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/balakov/3998364720/" title="Epic Battle by Balakov">Balakov</a></p>
<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/add-conflict-to-enhance-your-writing.html">Add Conflict to Enhance Your Writing</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>


<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/add-conflict-to-enhance-your-writing.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Writer&#8217;s Ethical Boundaries</title>
		<link>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/a-writers-ethical-boundaries.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/a-writers-ethical-boundaries.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:00:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kimberlee Ferrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Tips and Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging ethics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[copyright ethics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creative commons search]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FTC blogging guidelines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writer's ethical boundaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing ethics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing standards]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=3236</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lately, I&#8217;ve been thinking about ethics, and how it applies to the writing life. Everyone has ethical standards they live by, although many have not thought about them or articulated them clearly. Where we, as a society, agree about ethical conduct laws are formed. Where we differ, and a clear cut answer is elusive, often ...<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/a-writers-ethical-boundaries.html">A Writer&#8217;s Ethical Boundaries</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>



No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.writersroundabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/writer-caution.jpg" alt="A Writer's Ethical Boundaries" title="A Writer's Ethical Boundaries" align="left" border="0" width="240" height="160" />Lately, I&#8217;ve been thinking about ethics, and how it applies to the writing life. Everyone has ethical standards they live by, although many have not thought about them or articulated them clearly. Where we, as a society, agree about ethical conduct laws are formed. Where we differ, and a clear cut answer is elusive, often falls into the realm of ethics.</p>
<p>Writers come across different ethical questions at various points in our writing career. Not all of us will face the same issues, depending on where our writing takes us. It is important, however, to think about our personal ethical standards, so we know how we will act when questionable writing activities present themselves.</p>
<h3>Writing Ethical Content</h3>
<p>Personally, I do not write adult material. It is something I am not good at, and do not believe in writing. Most people make this choice one way or the other, and that is a choice they must live with. After all, the adult market is lucrative and not lacking in opportunities. Yet I would not be comfortable doing so, and some writers would agree with me. Some would not. Dawn recently asked, &#8220;<a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/03/is-ghostwriting-ethical.html" title="Is Ghostwriting Ethical?">Is Ghostwriting Ethical?</a>&#8221; </p>
<p>Other areas where writers may refuse to write due to ethical standards include politics and religion. If a client approaches them with a topic that is in direct opposition to their religious or political beliefs, a writer can confidently refuse to accept that assignment. If you haven&#8217;t thought about it previously, you may not feel as comfortable saying no. It would be wise to make a list of your &#8220;off-limits&#8221; topics, so when the situation arises, you can visually confirm where your ethical line is drawn.</p>
<p>Another area in which I refuse to write is &#8220;questionable&#8221; health practices, which for me includes anything that would make its way into my spam folder. The (fictional) &#8220;<em>Lose 100 Pounds by Skipping in Circles and Eating Woodshavings&#8221; </em>diet book would never be written by me! Anything that could cause serious damage to a person&#8217;s health is on my &#8220;off-limits&#8221; list.</p>
<h3>Blogging Ethics</h3>
<p>Blog writing presents a world of other ethical questions that a writer must answer. There is the ongoing debate about writing product reviews that are compensated in some fashion. The <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005endorsementguidesfnnotice.pdf" title="Read the FTC's ruling on reviews, testimonials, and endorsements for bloggers.">Federal Trade Commission</a> has required that bloggers explicitly state the conditions of their reviews. Yet it is up to the individual blogger to determine how to comply with this requirement, and to tell the truth, of course.</p>
<p>Another issue that steps into the ethical forefront in blogging is copyright. There are &#8220;scrapers&#8221; who undermine a writer&#8217;s credibility by swiping some or all of their RSS feed and posting to their own website. While I&#8217;m sure that it is pretty clear how undesirable that behavior is, we have to keep an eye out for such activity, to protect our own copyright.</p>
<p>On the flip side of the coin is image copyright. While we would protect the copyright on our writing endlessly, we often take a much more casual attitude to image copyright. After all, it&#8217;s just a picture, and everyone does it, right? Not true. I have learned to seek out creative commons usage for all the images I post, and credit the creator of the image at the end of each post. A great tool for finding safe to use images is the <a href="http://search.creativecommons.org/#">Creative Commons Search</a>, which combs multiple sites finding images that are free to use.</p>
<p>Obviously, there are countless ethical issues that writers must consider. If we don&#8217;t take the time to figure out what is right for us, then we may make ethical mistakes that hurt others and ourselves in the long term.</p>
<p><strong>What ethical issues have you faced? Did you make the right decision for you, or come to regret it later on? </strong></p>
<p>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pictureperfectpose/">Picture Perfect Pose</a></p>
<p><strong>Join the conversation and share your comments on <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/a-writers-ethical-boundaries.html">A Writer&#8217;s Ethical Boundaries</a>.</strong>

I hope you enjoyed this post from <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Rebecca Laffar-Smith's Writer's Round-About">Writer's Round-About</a>.
If you'd like to read more like this <a href="http://www.writersroundabout.com" title="Visit Writer's Round-About">visit the site</a> and <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWritersRoundAbout" title="Subscribe to Writer's Round-About via RSS">subscribe to our RSS</a>.<br/><br/></p>


<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.writersroundabout.com/2010/04/a-writers-ethical-boundaries.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>20</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

