Stephanie Verni's Blog, page 21
February 24, 2020
Podcast 7 – Writing a Character Sketch—it’s pretty helpful
[image error]Today’s podcast addresses writing a character sketch. It’s your job as the author to know everything there is to know about the characters you are including in your stories. How do you write one and what should you include? Check out today’s podcast to find out!
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https://stephsscribe.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/podcast-7-22420-4.46-pm.mp3
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Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She has authored five works of fiction and one academic text on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are typically set in Maryland to showcase the beauty of her state. Connect with her on Instagram at stephanie.verni or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at Stephanie Verni, Author.
February 18, 2020
Podcast 6 – Joining a Writers Group
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I did something new, you guys.
I joined a writers group (and got new glasses…but it’s the writing group I want to talk about).
It’s a blissful thought to me: a bunch of people who love writing talking about writing.
Truthfully, I’ve wanted to join a writers group for a while, and the time has come for me. It’s time to be inspired by others, work with others, share ideas with others, and brainstorm with others who enjoy writing.
Our first meeting energized me last night, and you may be able to hear the level of enthusiasm I’m feeling in today’s podcast.
But we could use some help: if you are a member of a writing group, share some of your stories with us! We would love to hear how you conduct your group, including the good and the bad of it you have learned along the way.
So without further ado, here is today’s podcast that talks a little more about joining a writing group.
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https://stephsscribe.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/podcast-6-21820.mp3
February 14, 2020
On This Valentine’s Day, LOVE
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Today is what life is all about, people: LOVE. And it’s not always romantic love—just love in general. I’ve spent years writing books with love as a core theme. Love for a father, a mother, a grandmother, a grandfather; love for a daughter or son; love for one’s work; love for dear friends; love for life; and letting go of one love to begin another.
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[image error]We’ve all been there. We’ve experienced euphoric relationships and devastating ones. We’ve felt the waves of a new love and the crushing sensation of a broken love.
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People often ask me how much of “me” goes into the writing of my books. I’m sure it’s not surprising to hear an author say that a lot of herself is in the writing. It may not be the exact same situation or characters, but the feelings or imagined feelings of the story are easy to write when you’ve experienced something similar. Frighteningly similar.
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On this Valentine’s Day—February 14, 2020—remember your loved ones. The ones who lift you up. The ones who give you hugs and kisses. The ones who tell that you can do it, even when it seems like an uphill battle. Valentine’s Day is all about LOVE. ALL those we LOVE.
February 3, 2020
Podcast 5 – Clearing Your Head, Work Space, and Thinking About POV
Today’s Podcast #5 covers the need to clear your head before beginning a new project, along with the reasons to clear your workspace. I touch on these two motivators and then roll right into deciding how your narrative is going to take hold. Which point of view is right for your story? Sharing some thoughts on that and why you should think about this now…to avoid a lot of additional reworking down the road.
Enjoy!
Xx,
Stephanie
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https://stephsscribe.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/podcast-5-2320-5.15-pm.mp3
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Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She has authored five works of fiction and one academic text on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are typically set in Maryland to showcase the beauty of her state. Connect with her on Instagram at stephanie.verni or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at Stephanie Verni, Author.
February 2, 2020
Giving In To Creativity
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Sometimes you don’t just need to mentally clear your head, but you also need to clear out your workspace to foster your creativity. It’s like starting over again with a clean slate.
I took time yesterday to do just that—and then wrote 1,000 words of a new thing that’s been brewing in my head. It’s a more complicated story with four main characters, and a little darker than what I normally write. At the beginning of a project, it’s always exciting to see where it may take you. Well, truthfully, it’s exciting and scary at the same time. But, it’s taken hold in my brain, and the story seems to want to be told. So I will surrender and go with it…
Does anyone else embrace this crazy creative feeling, like a story has chosen you to be its writer? I would guess there are a lot of you who do. It’s wild, right?
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Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She has authored five works of fiction and one academic text on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are typically set in Maryland to showcase the beauty of her state. Connect with her on Instagram at stephanie.verni or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at Stephanie Verni, Author.
January 30, 2020
The Beginning of a New Novel…or Not. What I’m Working On????
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The truth is, after reading my post headline, I’m not actually sure what I’m working on. I’m not sure at all. Ever since completing and now trying to promote Little Milestones, there’s been little happening in my writing world. January was spent getting ready for the spring semester as I’m teaching a course I haven’t taught in a while, so I’ve needed to spend a lot of time preparing for my classes.
One night, however, the idea of these four characters popped into my head, and the idea of a book starting and ending in a bar took hold. I’m not sure AT ALL what is going to happen to these people yet. I’ve been outlining a little and thinking this through. Last night, however, a new idea for a novel came to me, which has led me to wondering where I go from here.
For that reason, I’ve decided to share a very preliminary draft of what the first few paragraphs of a new novel might look like. What do you think? Could this go somewhere?
Let me know what you think.
xx,
Stephanie
PRELIMINARY, POSSIBLE, MAYBE IF-IT-EVER-HAPPENS NEW NOVEL IDEA
©STEPHANIE VERNI
[image error]Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
This story begins in the bar of a dark restaurant that is nestled along Main Street in historic Annapolis several weeks before Christmas. Four people who have never met are sitting in different locations in the establishment, categorically drowning their sorrows over four different types of drinks: a dark lager; a deep, red, pino noir; a dry martini; and a Johnnie Walker Black on the rocks. The night is young, and light snow begins to fall outside the paned, large windows that look upon the street where people walk at hurried paces wrapped in coats and hats and scarves, yet the four aforementioned people sit content not to move for hours.
In the corner, with his hat neatly positioned on the adjacent, empty seat, sits Nick Bellows, a 42-year-old divorced banker who’s been miserable in his career for twenty years, and even more miserable since his wife of ten years left him for his neighbor. Apparently, they’d been fooling around for a couple of years behind each of their spouse’s backs. Perhaps her attraction to his neighbor, Jake, a fit runner and triathlete, had more to do with Nick’s inability to be a good husband, as he spent far too much of his free time gambling their money away and drinking to the point of it becoming less of a social exercise and more of a pattern. And yet on this night, Nick contemplates the mistakes that led him here to drinking a Johnnie Walker Black on the rocks.
Eva Levoni taps her foot to the R.E.M. tune that reminds her of being a student in college—and now she teaches college. She curls her fingers around the dry martini and slowly brings it to her lips. She plucks the toothpick with the olive on it and slowly draws the olive across the plastic stick with the tips of her teeth. She can’t remember if she had time to eat lunch, the whirl of the semester wreaking havoc on her fried brain, but she assures herself she will get a bite to eat from the bar menu. She feels the warmth of the gin slide down her throat, and she wonders if she’ll have the fortitude to grade one more paper. She’s also staying calm despite that fact that her boarder is moving out tomorrow, and she’s enjoyed having her. As it’s the Christmas season, no one has answered her advertisement to rent the apartment on her property, and she leans on that rent payment to help pay her bills. Unmarried and untethered, her partner of ten years, Bill, left her in August to move back to Iowa to be reunited with his high school girlfriend, whom he’d reconnected with through Facebook. Eva takes another sip and tries not to think of Bill. At all.
Lily Webster checks her watch and takes a sip of the wine. She’s been waiting for half an hour for her blind date to show up. She checks her phone. No message, still. When her employee mentioned this fix-up, she had not wanted to pursue it. She tried successfully three times to avoid having to go on yet another blind date. However, after Sarah had badgered her for the tenth time, she gave in and agreed to meet this guy, Paul, Sarah’s boyfriend’s buddy. A clothing and accessory boutique owner of a store just up the street on Maryland Avenue, Sarah thought she and Paul, and entrepreneur himself, would make a smashing pair. Lily wasn’t really in the mood for another relationship—at least it felt as if she’d just gotten out of one, but that was three years ago when…she found herself still unable to utter his name…the pain was still much too vivid for her. She checks her watch again, another ten minutes have passed, and still no sign of a tall, dark, handsome man who apparently liked all the same things she did, according to Sarah. Nope. No sign of him yet.
Reid Jones sips the head of the dark lager the server places in front of him at the bar. He’s watching the highlights of last night’s Redskins game on ESPN. He wonders when his team will ever win a Super Bowl again, it’s been so long. His buddies are supposed to meet him here at eight o’clock, but he got here an hour early, so he orders his beer and slips off his coat. It’s been a long day. He helped move his parents into an over-fifty-five community even though they’re well over fifty-five, more like almost seventy, but he was glad they finally sold the house. He and his sister, Emme, helped with the clean out and hooked them up with a real estate agent they trusted—a friend of Emme’s. He knew this was the right thing, but even he had to admit it was difficult to say goodbye the only home he ever knew growing up, a big traditional home with a wrap-around porch in Murray Hill. He wished he could have bought it from them, but he hadn’t saved enough…didn’t have enough. Sometimes he felt as if he just wasn’t good enough. He takes a swig of his beer as he watches the Redskins quarterback get sacked again. Someday this team will be good, he thinks.
©Stephanie Verni, All Rights Reserved
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Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She has authored five works of fiction and one academic text on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are typically set in Maryland to showcase the beauty of her state. Connect with her on Instagram at stephanie.verni or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at Stephanie Verni, Author.
January 27, 2020
Podcast 4 – Addressing Some Questions From Last Week’s Book Talk
[image error]Hi All!
Today’s podcast begins with a review of some of the questions I received at last week’s book talk at the library. I’m hoping the answers will help you as you continue your writing journey.
Let me know if you have any other questions — I am HAPPY to help in any way I can.
Happy writing, and thanks for listening!
xx,
Stephanie
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https://stephsscribe.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/podcast-4-stephs-scribe-12720-3.32-pm.mp3
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Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She has authored five works of fiction and one academic text on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are typically set in Maryland to showcase the beauty of her state. Connect with her on Instagram at stephanie.verni or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at Stephanie Verni, Author.
January 24, 2020
Fashion Friday
It’s been quite a long time since I’ve shared some of my fashion photos. For fun, I like to share some of my outfits on Instagram, and I do have a passion for fashion. I’ve always loved clothes and dressing to suit either my mood or my personality. And I often wear black, which started to get on my nerves, but then I searched Jennifer Aniston on Pinterest and realized that she also embraces her love of the color black. And writers—we writers just love to wear the color black. So, I just gave up on trying to become more colorful with my garments…and will continue to strive to be colorful with my personality. LOL.
Today I’m sharing some of my recent stuff from Instagram. For more about each item of clothing and where I shop, visit my IG feed at stephanie.verni.
Have a great weekend!
xx,
Stephanie
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Love this faux fur leopard sweater.
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Dress from Francesca’s.
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Top Vici Dolls; hat Kohl’s. Shoes Nine West. Jeans White House Black Market.
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Wore this Lucky Brand dress to the White House.
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Marc Jacobs jacket. Books on Amazon!
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Plush velvet top for the holidays. Braid from Madison Braids.
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Never too old to wear corduroy overalls. Right?
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Michael Kors top and purse.
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These camo pants! From Macy’s.
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Ann Taylor velvet dress for Christmas Eve.
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Vici Dolls Top. My favorite thing I purchased this winter.
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Loft shift; Banana Republic turtleneck.
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Suede for the Christmas Tree Farm.[image error]
Red raincoat from Express.
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Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She has authored five works of fiction and one academic text on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are typically set in Maryland to showcase the beauty of her state. Connect with her on Instagram at stephanie.verni or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at Stephanie Verni, Author.
January 22, 2020
What I Didn’t Say About Life as an Author
Last night, I was honored to have been asked to do a book talk at my local library in Severna Park. I gave a little background on my writing, shared my books, and talked about what it’s like to be an indie author. I said a lot. I answered questions. I was positive.
But there was much that I didn’t say…and I feel obligated to share it here. Full disclosure. Complete honesty. So, here it goes.
What I didn’t say was…
I didn’t say how hard it is to wake up every day and be consumed by what you can do to sell one book. Just one.
I didn’t say that promotions and marketing take up an inordinate amount of your time, so much time, that you often feel overwhelmed by it.
I didn’t say that you have to have a strong constitution and a wee-bit of bravery to continue to publish, purely because you love it.
I didn’t say that the hurdles are many, but you continue to attempt to scale them.
I didn’t say that you rely on the help of others, the kindness of others, to write a review—just one little review—on Amazon or Barnes & Noble to help you spread the word about your books.
I didn’t say that a reader sharing a post on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook can garner you a few more readers and helps spread the word.
I didn’t say that when you love writing, when it is a true passion, you work hard to fit it into your life wherever and whenever you can.
I didn’t say that balancing work, family, friends, and your writing life is challenging each and every day.
I didn’t say that you write for the money. You don’t.
I didn’t say that there have been times…countless times…that you think about throwing in the towel, completely giving up, or taking up crocheting or knitting only to realize that your love for storytelling won’t allow you to do so. It never will.
I didn’t say that some days you walk around desperately wanting to write but have absolutely no idea what in the hell to write about. And so you keep thinking. And thinking. And thinking.
I didn’t say that you have the goal to tell a good story that people will love to read for years. For a while. For a long while.
I didn’t say that you second guess your work all the freaking time. Even when you’re sleeping.
And I didn’t say that asking people for help is easy.
Those are a few of the things I didn’t say last night.
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Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She has authored five works of fiction and one academic text on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are typically set in Maryland to showcase the beauty of her state. Connect with her on Instagram at stephanie.verni or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at Stephanie Verni, Author.
What I Didn’t Say
Last night, I was honored to have been asked to do a book talk at my local library in Severna Park. I gave a little background on my writing, shared my books, and talked about what it’s like to be an indie author. I said a lot. I answered questions. I was positive.
But there was much that I didn’t say…and I feel obligated to share it here. Full disclosure. Complete honesty. So, here it goes.
What I didn’t say was…
I didn’t say how hard it is to wake up every day and be consumed by what you can do to sell one book. Just one.
I didn’t say that promotions and marketing take up an inordinate amount of your time, so much time, that you often feel overwhelmed by it.
I didn’t say that you have to have a strong constitution and a wee-bit of bravery to continue to publish, purely because you love it.
I didn’t say that the hurdles are many, but you continue to attempt to scale them.
I didn’t say that you rely on the help of others, the kindness of others, to write a review—just one little review—on Amazon or Barnes & Noble to help you spread the word about your books.
I didn’t say that a reader sharing a post on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook can garner you a few more readers and helps spread the word.
I didn’t say that when you love writing, when it is a true passion, you work hard to fit it into your life wherever and whenever you can.
I didn’t say that balancing work, family, friends, and your writing life is challenging each and every day.
I didn’t say that you write for the money. You don’t.
I didn’t say that there have been times…countless times…that you think about throwing in the towel, completely giving up, or taking up crocheting or knitting only to realize that your love for storytelling won’t allow you to do so. It never will.
I didn’t say that some days you walk around desperately wanting to write but have absolutely no idea what in the hell to write about. And so you keep thinking. And thinking. And thinking.
I didn’t say that you have the goal to tell a good story that people will love to read for years. For a while. For a long while.
I didn’t say that you second guess your work all the freaking time. Even when you’re sleeping.
And I didn’t say that asking people for help is easy.
Those are a few of the things I didn’t say last night.
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Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She has authored five works of fiction and one academic text on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are typically set in Maryland to showcase the beauty of her state. Connect with her on Instagram at stephanie.verni or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at Stephanie Verni, Author.
