Unicorn Bell, Loglines, and Three-Line Pitches.

Contests galore on our writerly blogs and sites for July. Savvy Authors has a month of agent, editor, and publishing house events for writers to submit to, an excellent opportunity for all who are serious about their goals.

Next week on Unicorn Bell -- the critique site of CharityBradford, Marcy, and I -- a two-headed Giveaway and much angst.

And the Dreaded Logline/Three-Line Pitch

Check in on Monday for the details. For now, go to UB for the tools to perfect that first line.

What is it that grabs your attention as you read the first page of a new book? What turns you off in that first line? Some agents hate dialogue as the first line, others like it.

Really, it is what snares your eye. Use what trips your trigger and make that first line pop.

The Difference Between a Mechanic and a Writer

What do you see in this photo? (Btw, for the eddi-cation of my city friends, that is a bale spike at the end)

A mechanic sees a tractor about to be serviced.  Raising the lift-arm makes it easier to access the oil filter and hoses along the body of the engine.

Makes sense, right?

What does a writer see?

Come one, what’s the first thing you thought of?

I’ll give you a better look.

Yeah, I know you want to say it. Go ahead.

Rude gesture, right?

Right.

And THAT, my dear children is the difference between my hubby and me.

Have a Laugh, Take Two...

…they’re small.

Imagine this scenario:

We wake up in the back seat of a police cruiser. The emergency lights are flashing.

What are the first four words you say to me?

Copy and paste the above situation and post on your blog so I can get back at you return the favor and meet your followers. Remember, only four words.

Take time to have a laugh!

Happy Independence Day!

Blog On Fire award

To RJR, the Blog On Fire award.

No strings attached to acceptance. Feel free to 'Pay it Forward' to others if you like.

Visiting the Blogs...

…aka goofing off instead of working on my WIP as I should.

After checking out the amazing Alex Cavanaugh and his wealth of info last Friday, I went on an unintended journey to Google and Amazon to discover a type a music he recommended, a genre unknown to me.

WTH is ‘Viking’ music?

After discovering the answer to that provocative question, I ended up downloading music less, um, screaming.

I found a new – to me – group, Within Temptation. Their latest CD, The Unforgiving, has the exercise beat I like and super lyrics.

(and regarding lyrics. Since My Baby Does the Hanky-Panky hit the airwaves, no tune can get away with repeating the same words over and over and over…)

My downloads:

Sinead. The lead vocalist, Sharon den Adel is A. Ma. Zing

A Demon’s Fate. The title alone is beyond cool.

Iron. I am always on the lookout for a song that describes my protag. Iron describes Shamira perfectly:

You can’t live without the fire

It’s the heat that makes you strong

‘Cause you’re born to live and fight it all away

You can’t hide what lies inside you

It’s the only thing you’ve known

You’ll embrace it and never walk away

Don’t walk away.

The lesson here is, Be Advised! Either visit Alex’s blog and lose yourself for several minutes/hours or continue to lead a superbly meaningless life. *tongue firmly in cheek*

 Sooooo……got any more music suggestions?

*bg*