Autumn Leaves | New Photo on Pixabay.com

Autumn Leaves in Our Town

Free to Download

On August 7, 2022, the user community on Pixabay.com voted to approve my photo, and it was published today! It’s the featured image of this blog post. Select the link below to view it on the Pixabay website.

Autumn Leaves in Our Town – iPhone Photography

October 2021, my husband and I spent an afternoon at our town’s civic center to capture photos and video of the beautiful autumn leaves before the first frost would cause them to fall to the ground. The approximately two dozen trees glowed a buttery yellow in a canopy above us. It was delightful!

The colors inspired me to write a haiku verse:

Autumn’s Bliss – Scheduled for October 7, 2022. Will update with the link.

If you visit my photo on Pixabay, you can register for free, and then download my photo for free. If you use, it please let me know how and where. I’ll be happy to promote your work.


Your Turn!

In the Comments section below, feel free to share your thoughts about autumn leaves, fall colors, the changing of the seasons.

Note: When you write a comment, I’ll respond. To view my response, make sure you get notified via email by selecting the checkbox for “Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment.”

Happy New Year 2022

New Year Greetings

It’s January 1, 2022, and once again I hesitated to put the word “Happy” in the title of this blog post. For many people, 2021—similar to 2020—was not a happy year. Once again, many experienced a year filled with grief due to the loss of loved ones or the loss of a job. If that was your 2021, please accept my hugs and my prayers. I acknowledge your sadness as I have felt it as well for those I know.

For me, 2021 provided important and good gifts. It gave my husband and me relief from a huge burden. We also gained new insight on ourselves which enriched our relationship. I continue to grow in wisdom, and as an imperfect Christ follower, I grew a bit closer to Him this past year, which blessed me in many ways.

Continue reading “Happy New Year 2022”

Merry Christmas 2021

Memories of a Microfiction Story

First, a very Merry Christmas season to those of you who celebrate it.

Aahh, Facebook and it’s Memories feature, reminding me of things I had forgotten about.

Today, I read the memory of a post I wrote this time last year, and the memory put a warm smile on my face.

Last year, I had entered a microfiction story contest sponsored by a group in Scribophile, my writers community, and I won. The story’s format was new for me and presented a fun challenge. Plus, the Word Count Maximum of 150 words meant I had to include a solid beginning, middle, and interesting ending in only a few words. What was the format for the story? I had to write a five-star travel review with a Christmas theme. Something similar to what we’d read either on Yelp or on Trip Advisor.

Below is the link to my blog post with my contest winning story, plus some thoughts I shared about the writing process. Enjoy!

Bethlehem Manger: Five-Star Review


Your Turn

Feel free to write a Comment below. I know there are many social media platforms where we can connect. However, I’d enjoy creating a small community right here, on my website. Let’s chat!

Note: When you write a comment, I’ll respond. To view my response, make sure you get notified via email by selecting the checkbox for “Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment.”


Join Jenise’s Journey!

Follow this blog in your RSS feed reader, or subscribe to my Newsletter to follow me on my journey.

Thanks for reading. I appreciate you!


Featured image: Advent candles by geralt on Pixabay.com

Update – 5 November 2021: Changes | JeniseCook.com

And, Thanksgiving Gratitude

Autumn all across northern Arizona is… gorgeous! It’s not the east coast of the United States nor is it comparable to Colorado’s extensive color in the Rocky Mountains. However, our pockets of forests and riparian areas hold their own with fall colors.

Our photo-safari day trip to Red Rock State Park in Sedona a few weekends ago did not disappoint. We saw the best fall colors in several years!

As the seasons here change from summer to fall, followed by winter’s quick approach in a few months (with snow!!), some of my creative plans are also changing.

What’s going on?

Continue reading “Update – 5 November 2021: Changes | JeniseCook.com”

Update – 7 August 2021: New Published Works, Anthology Project | JeniseCook.com

Hot August Nights

June in north-central Arizona was atypically hot, Hot, HOT! The landscape grew so dry it was scary. At one point, I think there were over 40 wildfires burning in the state.

July brought much-needed monsoon rain storms, and our hillsides and prairies are lush and green… for awhile. As I gaze out over the emerald lands, I imagine we’re in Ireland.

The rains also brought much cooler temperatures, and I’ve used the good weather to focus on some projects (“honey do’s”). As a result, I didn’t write and submit much, but I do have some creative news to share:

    • New publications (in journals and self published)
    • Update on my haiku anthology project

Continue reading “Update – 7 August 2021: New Published Works, Anthology Project | JeniseCook.com”

Update – 29 June 2021: New Published Works, a Book Project, Third-party Platforms, and Creative Plans | JeniseCook.com

June Blooms

Summer’s brutal heat here in north-central Arizona, plus thick smoke from nearby wildfires, has held us captive inside for several weeks. I’ve used the time to complete more “honey do’s”, and I’m still waiting to hear from online literary journals (who pay authors) for two of my short stories.

What do I chat about in this blog post?

    • My first anthology book project
    • Links to my newest works published in literary journals
    • My thoughts on third-party platforms
    • Hints about future plans/projects

Continue reading “Update – 29 June 2021: New Published Works, a Book Project, Third-party Platforms, and Creative Plans | JeniseCook.com”

Update – May 31, 2021 | JeniseCook.com

A Few May Flowers – May 2021 News

I’m taking care of multiple projects off-line, in real life. As a result, I don’t have much news to share nor have I uploaded many new stories or verses. I’ll get back to writing more soon.

For two of my flash fiction stories submitted to paying literary journals, I’m still waiting to hear back from the editors. (I’ve received a few rejections as well.) Their time frame is about six months after the submission date. Sigh.

Continue reading “Update – May 31, 2021 | JeniseCook.com”

I’m Nominated for Author of the Month!

Author of the Month for May 2021

The Editorial Team of Spillwords Press just sent me an email (tonight) stating that I’m one of several contributors to their literary journal nominated for Author of the Month for this May.

How to Vote

Would you like to vote or me, or one of the other nominees? You may cast your vote starting on May 26th through May 29th.

    1. Select the link below to go to the Vote page on Spillwords Press.
    2. Then, click on Jenise Cook or the author’s name to cast your vote.

VOTE: Author of the Month – Spillwords Press – May 2021

Spillwords will announce the Winner soon after the voting has been completed.

Continue reading “I’m Nominated for Author of the Month!”

I’m Interviewed by Spillwords Press

Spotlight on Writers

The Editorial Team (thank you, Rebecca and Dagmara) of Spillwords Press interviewed me via email for the literary journal’s “Spotlight on Writers” feature. I’m thrilled as this journal has been very kind to me by providing a home for several of my short works. And, they’re very committed to promoting us all on social media.

Please Vote

You, dear reader, can help me out.

    1. Select the link below to go to the interview.
    2. Then, click on the tiny red heart to cast your vote.

Spotlight on Writers – Spillwords Press – 22 May 2021

Note: As of 4 June 2021, I received 46 hearts/votes. Thank you! :-)

Continue reading “I’m Interviewed by Spillwords Press”

Newsletter Issue 2 – May 2021 | JeniseCook.com

Notes from Jenise’s Journey

Subscribers received this Newsletter via email prior to its release to the public. Some topics were special updates for Subscribers only. Visit my Subscribe page to join Jenise Cook's Creative Journey.

Featured Image: Sedona, Arizona. Image by Jenise Cook
(C) Copyright 2015–Present, All Rights Reserved Worldwide


Welcome to my first occasional Newsletter for 2021! Yeah, I know, I know, it’s May 20th. But, I had promised you I wouldn’t send these out very often.

My Subscribers and Readers Helped Me Win!

In my previous Newsletter late last year, I asked my Subscribers, my Scribophile colleagues, and me readers/fans on Twitter and Facebook to vote for my tiny story “The Author’s New Sight” at the online journal Rejected Manuscripts (RIP).

View “The Author’s New Sight” on my Substack

Because of your votes, my story remained in the top-20 most popular works for all of 2020! The editor, Charlie Taylor, has included my story in the journal’s 2020 anthology, a book published and available for sale.

I’m tickled because it was a silly story about the main character’s fading eyesight, and a miraculous surgery. Now, it’ll live on in a book that may, or may not, earn some royalties.

Thank you to those who voted! 🙂

Okay, let’s get rolling with: Publishing News, Reader News, Photography News, and Creative | Maker News!

Continue reading “Newsletter Issue 2 – May 2021 | JeniseCook.com”

Northern Arizona Snow and Southern Arizona Sunset Photos on Pixabay.com

Free to Download

Arizona Snow and Sunset

Arizona’s weather and sunsets inspire many photographers. I carry my iPhone with me almost all the time to capture “grab shots”.

View each photo using the links below:

Buckeye, Arizona Sunset | Snow on Branches | Snow on Branches, closeup

image of 3 new photos on Pixabay by JeniseCook.com

Northern Arizona Snow

January 2021, we had almost blizzard conditions. After the storm passed, I shot these two images of our neighbor’s tree that’s right outside one of our windows. The snow on the branches reminded me of images for Japanese haiku verses, so I wrote one:

Haiku Verse: White Winter Carpet

Southern Arizona Sunset

During the same storm I mentioned above, while warm and cozy inside, I found a favorite sunset photo I had captured when we RV camped at Buckeye Regional Park, in Maricopa County (Metro Phoenix area; we dry camped for free, for eleven days during March 2017).

Enjoy the haiku verse this sunset photo inspired me to write:

Haiku Verse: Fading Sunset

Your Turn!

In the Comments section below, feel free to share your thoughts about the images, my haikus (be nice, LOL), about snow storms, sunsets, Arizona… etc.

Note: When you write a comment, I’ll respond. To view my response, make sure you get notified via email by selecting the checkbox for “Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment.”


 

Happy New Year 2021

New Year Wishes

Dear Subscribers, Friends, and Visitors:

It’s January 1, 2021, and I hesitated to put the word “Happy” in the title of this blog post. For many people, 2020 was not a happy year, it was a year filled with losses and grief. If that was your 2020, know that you have my heart and my hugs, and I acknowledge your sadness.

For me, 2020 gave me the gifts of additional wisdom, guidance, and friendship, no matter what each month threw at all of us.

For 2021, I’m not making resolutions; I rarely do. Instead, I’m celebrating the little things, and focusing on areas of growth and improvement. Why?

Continue reading “Happy New Year 2021”

Update – November 27, 2020 | JeniseCook.com

Update No. 2

USA Thanksgiving Greetings!

Dear Subscribers and Friends:

I’m happy to reveal a new gift for new subscribers! The week of Thanksgiving in the United States seemed like a good time to make this new gift available. It’s one small way I can express my gratitude for those who choose to join Jenise’s Journey.

What’s the new gift? It’s a new eBook. What’s in the new eBook?

Continue reading “Update – November 27, 2020 | JeniseCook.com”

eBook Cover for My Haiku Anthology

Finalized: The Cover for My Haiku Anthology eBook

I created this cover using one of my autumn photos. You can download the photo for free:

Autumn Leaves on Pixabay.com

My writing community critiqued the cover, providing good feedback.

My husband Mark, a (retired) graphic designer/digital production artist, helped me with final “tweaks”.

Feedback on the final cover from folks on Twitter is very positive.

What’s Next?

Update 20 December 2022 – Life happens, but we all move forward. I will self publish my chapbook, Changing of the Seasons, in 2023.

First, I’m offering the PDF version of the anthology as a free gift to new Subscribers to my Newsletter. Next, I’ll purchase the ISBNs to publish the eBook version in ePub and .mobi formats, first. I’m also studying to set up my online store on my domain. I hope to offer a nice paperback version in the future.

It may take awhile to get all this done, as I’m using “extra” (non-household) funds to support my creative endeavors. It’s a fun journey, and I’m patient.


Are you on Jenise Cook’s Creative Journey as a Subscriber? If not, come on board!

Visit my Subscribe page.

Visit my Tip Jar page.


Image Credit: Alexas_Fotos on Pixabay.com

Williams and Flagstaff, Arizona (Route 66) Photos on Pixabay.com

Free to Download

Scenes on the Mother Road

Ah, historic Route 66! When Williams and Flagstaff began to ease some of their SARs-COV-2 guidelines, we drove to Route 66 country for lunch and a walk-about in cooler temperatures (we had masks and maintained social distance from others).

I had my trusty iPhone in my hand while Mark captured images on his digital cameras (he also shoots film). Pixabay accepted the five iPhone photos I submitted of some iconic scenes and businesses. Register on Pixabay for free to download any of the images. There’s also an optional “coffee” feature to use, if you’d like.

View each photo using the links below:

Williams Route 66 | Babbitt Brothers Mercantile | Hotel Monte Vista and Babbitt Bros. | Hotel Monte Vista sign (no trees) | Hotel Monte Vista sign (framed by trees)

Williams, Arizona

Williams is the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, South Rim. Its downtown, filled with restaurants and tourist-oriented shops, sits right on historic Route 66. When the weather is nice, musicians play on outdoor patios at the eateries. Laughter fills the air, classic cars line the sides of Route 66, and the horn of the Grand Canyon Railway’s train fills the small valley with the sound of adventure as it enters or leaves the town.

Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff is home to one of Arizona’s three four-year (state) universities, Northern Arizona University (NAU). The city also serves visitors to the Grand Canyon South Rim, plus it has a vibrant downtown with great restaurants. It’s also the gateway to Arizona Snowbowl for downhill skiing.

Learn about historic Babbitt Brothers Mercantile and the Hotel Monte Vista. I enjoyed capturing images of the Monte Vista, framing it with the trees.

Your Turn!

Have you traveled Route 66? If yes, feel free to share your memories below!

My Works on Medium

Good-bye Medium

For readers who followed me on Medium since April 2019, I left the platform and moved my works to my website.

On 31 August 2020, I left Medium after they changed their Terms of Service (ToS), which was the second and final “blow” after they changed their payment algorithms to contributors in autumn 2019.

It was fun connecting so intimately with readers, and earning a small yet growing monthly sum until fall 2019. Platforms come and go, and it was time for me to focus on my own platform here.

My 50-Word Stories

My 50-word tiny stories, previously self graphic illustration button to 50 word stories on JeniseCook.compublished on Medium, now live on my website with the “story behind each story”.

Select the image to read them.

 

My Haiku and Tanka Verses

My haiku and tanka verses that I had also published to Medium are now available on my website.

Select the image to read them.

What’s Next?

Update 20 December 2022 – You can visit me on my Substack publication, and subscribe for free! Visit: Jenise Cook’s Creative Journey

I’m planning to self publish an anthology of 50-word stories, and another of my haiku verses. Visit my Subscribe page to join me on this journey, and receive news and updates.

As a reader, you still have the feature for writing Comments on each work, and I hope you do! Let’s start creative conversations.

You can visit Publications for all links to all of my works.

Thank you for reading!


 

Filter Words

Why Care About Filter Words?

This was my question when members of my online writing community Scribophile first called me on the carpet in their critiques of my WIPs for using way too many Filter Words. (WIPs = works-in-progress)

And, I still do….use too many….

What Are Filter Words?

And why should I care? I had to learn more. Why?

When I wrote communications and training content in the corporate world, I never heard that phrase. It seems to matter It matters a great deal in the creative writing world. Or, so said the Scribophile “critters” (slang term for members who critique my WIPs).

The “critters” feedback on my stories created an itch, and I scratched it. Thanks to the almighty World Wide Web, my research on the keywords “Filter Words” rewarded me with gems of information.

Who woulda thunk?

And, I felt a bit sheepish my brain’s mental light bulb flashed once I saw examples of Filter Words illuminated my thoughts.

Continue reading “Filter Words”

I’m Interviewed by The Friday Fix

Author Spotlight

Justin Robert Deming, the Publisher of The Friday Fix on Medium (now RIP but stories are still visible), interviewed me for his new “Author Spotlight” feature. Select the links to read the interview either on Medium or in a downloadable PDF file.

Author of the Month (on Medium.com)

Downloadable PDF of the Interview

If you would like to interview me, contact me and let’s chat!


 

Images of Flowers on Pixabay.com

Free to Download

28 June 2020 | Flowers

The latter part of June, Pixabay accepted my two iPhone photos that I call “grab shots”. It’s sheer coincidence that they’re both images of flowers. These blooms cheer my heart! Select the two links below to view and download these images (free registration/log in needed).

Glowing Tulip  |  Cactus Blooms

Screenshot of JeniseCook.com photos of a yellow tulip and cactus blossoms on Pixabay.com

The Tulips

I love tulips, and had bought a bouquet of yellow tulips from the local grocery store. When the last tulip remained, I placed it in a small, clear glass jar. Early the next morning, a ray from the rising sun snuck through the window and glowed on the little tulip and the glass jar. I grabbed my iPhone, pressed the shutter, and I love the result.

The Cactus Blooms

We very much enjoy our local public library, and its doors were open during COVID-19 (masks required, social distancing requested, in-person classes on hiatus). With my iPhone, I captured these cactus blooms in the library’s side garden. The blooms’ orange color vibrated in my eyes as I gazed at them.


 

I’m on the Editorial Team for Lost Pen Magazine!

Jenise Cook Copy-Editor

8 June 2020

Published today, Dyane Forde posted a new page for the volunteer editorial team for Lost Pen Magazine. Yours truly included!

I’ve been copy editing and proofreading for LPM since Issue No. 1 (2019). As the publication grows, so does the team, and I’m excited!


Update 1: Effective 20 October 2020, I am on a sabbatical from the team as Copy -editor, to dedicate time to my husband’s and my projects. I still love and support Dyane and Lost Pen Magazine.

Update 2: Effective after the publication of LPM Issue 4 (I did copy-edit this issue), Dyane has transitioned the literary journal from a PDF file format to the Lost Pen Blog. This change will allow readers to Like and to Comment on each published work. It’s a wonderful new life for Lost Pen Pub!

Update 3: Lost Pen Pub (blog) is RIP. Observed December 7, 2022. However, the PDF files of the issues are available here (Issue 1 is on Issuu.com):

Issue 1   |   Issue 2   |

Issue 3   |   Issue 4   |


Image credit: Dyane Forde, Lost Pen Publishing


 

Update – June 4, 2020 | JeniseCook.com

In-between Newsletters Update

Dear Friends/Subscribers:

Thank you for subscribing to my site and my newsletter this past year. I appreciate your support and encouragement. Let me “cut to the chase”. I published my first (and only, as of today) Newsletter on June 1, 2019. I’m laughing as I type out that date. A year and three days later, I’m communicating to my early subscribers, and welcoming my newest subscribers.

Continue reading “Update – June 4, 2020 | JeniseCook.com”

Greeting Card Featured on Lost Pen Magazine

When Something I Made Is in Someone’s Home

What an awesome feeling that is!

Update: Lost Pen Pub (blog) is RIP. Observed December 7, 2022.

13 May 2020

I woke up to a wonderful surprise in my email Inbox that brought a few tears to my eyes. Tears of gratitude! My sister in the faith and Founder/Editor-in-Chief of Lost Pen Magazine, Dyane Forde, wrote a blog post about my new Easter greeting card.

Read Dyane’s story on her blog. (Link is RIP.)

I had sent the card to her as a gift. COVID-19 affected international mail deliveries, and it arrived after Easter. Still, she was thrilled, and I teared up as I read her post and saw the photos she captured of the card.

It warmed this creative maker’s heart… to see my greeting card in her home. Thank you, Dyane!

My first greeting card’s design contains one of my photos plus a poetic verse I wrote for Lost Pen Magazine.

To learn more about this card (pricing, ordering, etc.), visit my Greeting Cards page.


Image credit: Dyane Forde


 

How I Promote My Writing

The Question

One of the members of the online writing community I belong to (Scribophile) asked me how I get the word “out there” about my new works. Here’s the question:

Hello again, Jenise. I see they published your story in Mojave Review. Congrats to you. My first chapter of [name deleted] will be published in the emag next month. How did you handle that? Any advice on what to do? Scrib and such? Write to the magazine and say thanks?

What’s My Promotion Process?

As of the date of this blog post, this is my process, and it will change over time:

    1. Post news on Twitter
    2. Post news on Facebook
    3. Share links in Groups on Scribophile
    4. Write and post on my website and my blog
    5. Send out links via my email newsletter

This is my process as of now, and it’s 100% online. In the future, I may add Instagram, a YouTube channel, and other online media that would effectively bring an audience my way. I’ll explore real-life, in-person, channels once I have something to put on a table (books, greeting cards, photo prints, etc.).

Acknowledge the Editors

Yes, I always thank the Editors for publishing my works. They’re very busy people, so my email messages are short and sweet.

I also thank them when they reject my works. That’s a difficult decision for them to make. I tell them I’m grateful they read my work and had put time into considering it for publication.

Your Turn

How do you promote your works? Let me know in the Comments below.


Image credit: geralt on Pixabay.com


 

Forest Image Added to Pixabay.com

Prescott National Forest

Groom Creek Schoolhouse Gulch

On 11 August 2019, Pixabay.com approved for upload one of my nature photos (featured image on this post). It’s now in my Photo Gallery on Pixabay.

We visited the Groom Creek, Arizona, community with my cousin in 2013, on a beautiful October day. We walked the Schoolhouse Gulch trail, which is wheelchair accessible as the trail is laid with asphalt. If you’re ever in the area, I recommend this easy trail, especially after 3:00 PM, so you can catch the light from the setting sun. Bring your camera!

Download Photo from Pixabay.com

My photo is free for you to download and use. You can sign up on Pixabay for free. If you do use my photo, please add a credit that links back to the image, if you can. Here’s the link:

https://pixabay.com/photos/forest-dusk-nature-landscape-4397399/

When you are on Pixabay as a registered (free) user, you’ll then have access to download a myriad of gorgeous images for free from many creative people from all over the world.

Tip the Photographers

Plus, you can use your PayPal account to send a “tip” to the photographers, but that’s optional. No one is required to send funds to any of the photographers, but if you can afford to, it is a nice way to encourage them/us.

Note: I am promoting Pixabay because I like the images. I receive no funds from Pixabay. I will do the same for any other photo image sites that I want to recommend.

Enjoy!


 

Why I Write Fifty-Word Flash Fiction Stories

50-Word Stories Are a Challenge

And, that’s why I write them. I have to think of a strong opening sentence that grabs my readers and compels them to keep on reading.

I also have to write an attention-grabbing middle. The middle needs to keep the reader engaged and hint at either a crisis or a climax to the story’s action.

The ending has to be somewhat of a surprise to the reader by ending the story with a twist. If I can fool readers 75% of the time, I figure I’m batting a thousand.

I don’t “nail it” with every story, and that’s why I love to write 50-word micro flash fiction stories. They’re a challenge and fun writing practice.

Give Fifty-Word Stories a Try!

Here are some resources to get you started:

https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/50-word-stories-6064613

https://letterpile.com/creative-writing/50-Word-Mini-Stories-Creative-Writing-Exercise

And, study the stories published by Tim on fiftywordstories.com

Share Your Stories

If you write and post your story (or stories) online, paste the link in the Comments below. I look forward to reading your tiny stories.


Image credit: viarami on Pixabay.com


 

Lifesaver

New Online Literary Journal for Christians and All People

image of poem Lifesaver by JeniseCook.com published in Lost Pen Magazine
Select image to view larger size.

My Photo and My Poem in the Inaugural Issue

On 3 June 2019, my poem Lifesaver was published in Lost Pen Magazine, by the Founder and Editor, Dyane Forde. She also selected one of my photos to accompany my poem, an image she featured on her legacy blog in March 2018.

Update: 7 December 2022, the journal is closed and archived. You can view information here.

Continue reading “Lifesaver”

Newsletter Issue 1 – June 1, 2019 | JeniseCook.com

Hello, Dear Friends and Encouragers:

Welcome to my first Newsletter for JeniseCook.com!

Eventually, I will learn my MailChimp* program, and you’ll read “fancy-schmancy” newsletters with color, graphics, photo images, and all sorts of goodies. I’ve been quiet but I’ve been busy, so I figured the start of a new month is a good time to bring you current on my creative activities.

*Note: In August, I switched to MailerLite.

Update: MailerLite was acquired and I stopped using the service. For now, you may follow me on Substack… jenisecook.substack.com.
Continue reading “Newsletter Issue 1 – June 1, 2019 | JeniseCook.com”

Using Vocal Queues to Show Hidden Emotion

Article on Janice Hardy’s Site

“Tapping into the hidden emotions and subtext of a scene is a wonderful way to pull readers into that scene. Becca Puglisi visits the lecture hall today to share her tips on creating subtext and using vocal cues to show the hidden emotional layers of your characters.” ~Janice Hardy

Link to article

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2019/01/using-vocal-cues-to-show-hidden-emotion.html

Becca Puglisi, Contributor

Article date: January 24, 2019

The contributor is Becca Puglisi, author of The Emotional Thesaurus and many other works for writers/authors.

Visit Becca’s Writers Helping Writers blog and her One Stop for Writers, an online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling (for-pay content after a Free Trial period).

What Are Vocal Queues?

Becca says that “vocal cues are shifts in the voice that happen when someone is feeling emotional.”

Vocal Queue Examples

I love how Becca used The Hobbit for her example. For me, it’s a timeless story that’s in my top five (5) beloved books.

Continue reading “Using Vocal Queues to Show Hidden Emotion”

What’s Your Problem?

Short Story on CommuterLit.com

I’m grateful to announce that one of my flash (short-short) stories that I had posted for critiques by my fellow Scribophile members was published today on CommuterLit.com!

The Story Behind This Story

I wrote this story in an email-thread format, an unusual format for either print or online journals. What does that mean? I tell a story through various email messages between two “senders”. I wanted to experiment with the email format for a short-short story. My thoughts? The jury’s still out; I’m not sure how I feel about writing a story entirely of email message exchanges (or text messages as well). But, it’s a good story with a happy ending, so please select the link above and read it on CommuterLit.

I submitted this email-format story to various journals. Over a dozen rejected my submission. They encouraged me, but the format caused them pause, meaning they didn’t feel comfortable with this novel story structure.

What's Your Problem by Jenise Cook published on CommuterLit.com
Click/Select to view larger image.

Not for CommuterLit.

My thanks to editor Nancy Kay for her support of emerging authors and for her openness to unique story formats.

 


© Copyright 2019—Present, Jenise Cook, All Rights Reserved Worldwide.


Subscribe to JeniseCook.comThank you for reading. Come along on my adventures.

Select the image to join Jenise’s Journey!

My First Chicken Soup for the Soul Submission

I’ve Submitted a Story to Chicken Soup for the Soul

Today, February 28, 2019, I submitted my first story to Chicken Soup for the Soul (CSS). I submitted to their upcoming book topic “Angels All Around”.

How did this happen? I don’t remember. I was browsing something on the internet, then I happened upon a link to CSS’s list of new book topics. On Scribophile, I’ve had a short story about an angelic visitation in queue for critiques, and it was ready for my revisions.

“Maybe it’s time to take that story for a ride,” I said. Meaning, submit the puppy and put it out there. Stories that languish in queue and don’t see the light of day do not accomplish much.

I revised my story, then put it back in queue for a final round of critiques. While I waited for my fellow “Scribbers” to provide their feedback, I did some research. I looked up what authors had to say about their stories published in CSS books. Here’s what I learned, all of it helpful to me, so I wanted to share it with you:

Continue reading “My First Chicken Soup for the Soul Submission”

Writing and Photography Blogs: Delia Talent

The Intersection of Writing and Photography

Last Thursday, a beautiful gift appeared from one of the members I know on Scribophile. Delia Talent (alias), one of my online friends (on “Scrib” and on YouVersion) and my sister in Christ, tweeted a link to her newest blog post. It features one of my free photo images that resides on Pixabay.com

I love these words she wrote:

Continue reading “Writing and Photography Blogs: Delia Talent”

New Year Resolutions for 2018

Happy New Year 2018!

You made it. Yes, you experienced 2017 and you’ve woken up to 2018, so Happy New Year to you! I’m delighted to “see” you here on this post. To celebrate, feel free to leave a Comment below. Let’s spread the holiday cheer!

About New Years Resolutions

Many years ago, I stopped making New Years resolutions. It was fun to create a list when I was younger. Age is not the reason why I discontinued listing resolutions to keep in the new year. Life is the reason. “We make plans and God laughs.” Or, as Scottish poet Robert Burns lamented: “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, / Gang aft agley.” (often go awry).

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Pixabay Donor Found

Mystery Solved!

One day in early April 2017, I got an email from my PayPal account notifying me that someone had made a monetary donation for one of my photos from my Pixabay.com account. I tried to figure out the donor’s contact information, so I could send a “Thank you”, but the data’s not available from either PayPal or Pixabay. I searched for about an hour, then gave up.

Sunday, 10 September 2017, while my husband Mark and I watched Hurricane Irma coverage on The Weather Channel, I tried again and found… her. My first Pixabay donor.

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Photo of the Risen Christ

Nail-Pierced Hand of Christ

When Mark and I first visited The Shrine of Saint Joseph of the Mountains  [Facebook] in Yarnell, Arizona, we walked the stations of the cross up and down the hill. After we visited the tomb, we didn’t know what awaited us just a few steps away.

Before us stood a life-size bronze statue of the resurrected Christ Jesus, His left, nail-pierced hand extended out to us (to visitors). I sucked in a breath and stood in awe, thinking of Doubting Thomas at that moment.

Then… “I gotta take a picture of this!” sprang into my mind.

Yeah, the photographer in me showed up in a somewhat sacred moment. However, the image has had an impact on, and inspired, others.

Inspiration and Impact

I captured this image in 2012.  About a year later, our community’s beloved Granite Mountain Hotshots (GMIHC) bravely fought, and tragically died at, the Yarnell Hill Fire, losing nineteen crew members (one survived – LODD June 30, 2013).

The fire burned through the shrine’s property, but the cement figures of Christ at each station remained, although some of the wooden crosses and markers were burned. The shrine also lost its retreat center buildings and its gift shop. Volunteers are slowly rebuilding, and you can still walk the stations.

When I put this image out to the public, the following has happened:

Pixabay link to view and download the image – free registration and login needed to download my free image.

How to get this image on a greeting card.

My verse “Lifesaver” and this photo in Lost Pen Magazine, Issue No. 1 (ps. 14-15, September 2019)

My post about Dyane Ford’s blog post about this image (March 18, 2018)

Norma Gail Holtman, blogger, used this image (September 10, 2017)

Your Turn

Share your thoughts in the Comments. Let’s chat!

7 Things You Need to Know When Writing Your First Book

Wally Bock’s Writing Edge

Link to Article – 23 July 2012

“Writing a book is a journey of discovery. It’s also a big project that can become a grand accomplishment or a horrid disaster. Here are some things to know if you’re writing your first book.”

A Road Map

If you are, like me, new to writing and publishing your first book, Wally’s article will give you much-needed “baby steps” guidance. His points are still relevant since he published it back in 2012.

Start with his 7 Things, then continue your research as you need for your work-in-progress (WIP).

The Seven Points

    1. Writing a book is different
    2. The book is a living thing
    3. The book is always right
    4. The book will surprise you
    5. Every book deserves re-writing
    6. Every book deserves professional editing
    7. Once you have released it to the world, it’s not your book anymore

What I’m Taking Away

As of the date of this blog post, I have at least three novel WIPs (I’ve lost count), and it’s true for me that the book is a living thing. The characters in my WIPs are real people to me. They have personalities that take over when I’m writing. Some are kind and cooperative. Many are stubborn and move the narrative away from my “pantser” outline. My takeway is to let the characters do their “thing”. I can fix plot holes after I complete the first rough draft.

The book will surprise you has astounded me while working on my WIPs. When I’m immersed in the first draft process, with the world quiet, silent around me, the narrative takes off under its own power and reveals scenes or character development aspects that I swear do not come from me. Of course they do; as Wally wrote, my unconscious mind is at work.

Why Haven’t I Published My Novels?

My novels are still WIPs because I enjoy the writing and revising process, a dynamic process, living and breathing on my computer screen. When I post my WIPs for critiques to my online community on Scribophile, I enjoy reading feedback from potential readers of my novels, critiques that suggests changes that strike me as quite brilliant.

My Dilemma

Perhaps I’m like a parent who’s afraid to face the empty nest. Maybe I don’t want to let my “children” go, to live their own lives out in the world.

Maybe Wally’s point number seven, once you have released it to the world, it’s not your book anymore, speaks too much truth to me?

“It IS my book, my preciousssss.”

Your Turn

What say you, gentle reader? If you’re an author who has published your novel, or if you’re a writer with struggles similar to mine, please share your experience in the Comments below this post. Thanks!


Image credit: bloomingmimosa on Pixabay.com


 

NaNoWriMo 2013: I Signed Up for NaNoWriMo 2013

My NaNoWriMo 2013 Journal

(Originally published on 3 October 2013, on the now-closed www.remacgowan.com blog.)

Tonight, I signed up for NaNoWriMo 2013.

I confess I have signed up twice in the past, but this time it feels different. This time I’ll finish.

You’ll find out on December 1st, if you return!

Continue to read more for my entire NaNoWriMo 2013 Journal:

Continue reading “NaNoWriMo 2013: I Signed Up for NaNoWriMo 2013”

Author Quotes: Steven King on Murdering Children

“When your story is ready for rewrite, cut it to the bone. Get rid of every ounce of excess fat. This is going to hurt; revising a story down to the bare essentials is always a little like murdering children, but it must be done.”

—Quotes by Stephen King, “The Horror Writer Market and the Ten Bears,” November 1973 WD

RIP Elmore Leonard

We’ve Lost a Giant

Image courtesy of: www.ElmoreLeonard.com

To honor his memory, may I strive to write better and so I share his famous 10 Writing Tips:

    1. Never open a book with weather. If it’s only to create atmosphere, and not a charac­ter’s reaction to the weather, you don’t want to go on too long. The reader is apt to leaf ahead look­ing for people. There are exceptions. If you happen to be Barry Lopez, who has more ways than an Eskimo to describe ice and snow in his book Arctic Dreams, you can do all the weather reporting you want.
    2. Avoid prologues: they can be ­annoying, especially a prologue ­following an introduction that comes after a foreword. But these are ordinarily found in non-fiction. A prologue in a novel is backstory, and you can drop it in anywhere you want. There is a prologue in John Steinbeck’s Sweet Thursday, but it’s OK because a character in the book makes the point of what my rules are all about. He says: “I like a lot of talk in a book and I don’t like to have nobody tell me what the guy that’s talking looks like. I want to figure out what he looks like from the way he talks.”
    3. Never use a verb other than “said” to carry dialogue. The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in. But “said” is far less intrusive than “grumbled”, “gasped”, “cautioned”, “lied”. I once noticed Mary McCarthy ending a line of dialogue with “she asseverated” and had to stop reading and go to the dictionary.
    4. Never use an adverb to modify the verb “said” … he admonished gravely. To use an adverb this way (or almost any way) is a mortal sin. The writer is now exposing himself in earnest, using a word that distracts and can interrupt the rhythm of the exchange. I have a character in one of my books tell how she used to write historical romances “full of rape and adverbs”.
    5. Keep your exclamation points ­under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose. If you have the knack of playing with exclaimers the way Tom Wolfe does, you can throw them in by the handful.
    6. Never use the words “suddenly” or “all hell broke loose”. This rule doesn’t require an explanation. I have noticed that writers who use “suddenly” tend to exercise less control in the application of exclamation points.
    7. Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly. Once you start spelling words in dialogue phonetically and loading the page with apos­trophes, you won’t be able to stop. Notice the way Annie Proulx captures the flavour of Wyoming voices in her book of short stories Close Range.
    8. Avoid detailed descriptions of characters, which Steinbeck covered. In Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants, what do the “Ameri­can and the girl with him” look like? “She had taken off her hat and put it on the table.” That’s the only reference to a physical description in the story.
    9. Don’t go into great detail describing places and things, unless you’re ­Margaret Atwood and can paint scenes with language. You don’t want descriptions that bring the action, the flow of the story, to a standstill.
    10. Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip. Think of what you skip reading a novel: thick paragraphs of prose you can see have too many words in them.

And Elmore’s most important rule is one that sums up the 10:

“…if it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.”

Author Quotes: Ray Bradbury on Short Stories

“Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row.”

“Young writers shouldn’t kid themselves about learning to write. The best way to do that is to train yourself in the short story. Read every damn one that’s ever been written, and there aren’t that many really good ones. You must live feverishly inside a library. Colleges are not going to do you any good unless you are born, raised and live in a library every day of your life.”

“I always say to students, give me four pages a day, every day. That’s three or four hundred thousand words a year. Most of that will be bilge, but the rest …? It will save your life!”

“Don’t talk about it; write.”
― Ray Bradbury