Phillip T. Stephens's Blog: Wind Eggs, page 20
February 12, 2017
Three Tips For Writing Humor by Phillip T. Stephens
This has been a good week for me: an interview on Aurora Jean Alexander’s site and a post for #MysteryThrillerWeek. I write about writing often, but rarely about humor. It’s very difficult to teach well.
Still, I taught myself to transition from telling jokes to writing humor, so I met as well sure a few tips. #MTW
Three tips for writing humor
An often told proverb claims, “dying is easy, comedy is hard.” Writers struggling to write comedy find it equally apropos.
Novice writers who want to add a comic flair to their prose, especially fiction, often read the prose of accomplished comic writers and wonder, “How do they do that?”
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Author Spotlight – Phillip T. Stephens
Thanks to Kristen Twardowsky and Aurora Jean Alexander for promoting #MysteryThrillerWeek by interviewing one of its participants: Me. #MTW
Welcome!
Glad to be here.
When did you start writing?
The first story I remember writing was a parody of Miles Standish for a fifth-grade assignment. It went over well enough to encourage me to finish the parody of the entire book. I was inspired by a stage-based spoof of Gun Smoke called Pistol Mist that my dad wrote for the church youth group. He repeated it at every church he ministered so it had a great impression on me.
The long version was terrible, which taught me some projects have a limited span. Before that, however, I wrote comedy sketches for my tape recorder and tried to convince my sisters and friends to perform.
No one cooperated.
I wrote seriously in high school, including a novel (75 pages). My creative writing teacher hated everything I wrote. She wanted flowery prose sprinkled liberally with Latinate words. I preferred…
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SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Calls for Submissions, Contests and other News and Information
If you’re looking to broaden the range of publications you wish to submit to, Jaime Dedes offers a list to review.
CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONSOpportunity Knocks
LITTLE RED TREE PUBLISHING is accepting unsolicited full-length manuscripts of fiction and creative nonfiction throughout the year. Translations and bi-lingual manuscripts are considered, but all work must be in the English language. There is a reading fee. Details HERE.
BERLIN REVIEW OF CULTURE, BERLIN QUARTERLY accepts submissions of previously unpublished work. Submissions of poetry, fiction, essays, photography and pitches for reportage, nonfiction and interviews should be uploaded through Submittable HERE. “BERLIN QUARTERLY is a European review of long-form journalism, literature and the Arts. It’s a new cultural journal with global perspective. It combines in-depth reportage, literature and visual culture. BERLIN QUARTERLY aims to bring you insightful and inquiring reportage and stories from around the globe. At their best, journalism, literature and the visual arts can be keys to mutual understanding, allowing us to interpret the past and to prepare ourselves for the challenges of…
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February 11, 2017
Calling All Creative Minds/Peace lovers/dreamers/finders of hope to our creative collaboration – Tales of Love
Contribute to this online anthology. Even if you’re not a poet, I’m sure a prose poem would be welcome.
You’re safe from censorship. Trump won’t Tweet about your poem because he doesn’t read poetry
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He may not know what poetry is.
You may end up on a watch list.
Hello Everyone,
Please join us as we celebrate this month of ‘love’ with love that goes beyond time… Love for humanity, love for our beautiful planet, love for our mother, our father, our brother, our sister, our friends, our partners and for each other, love for peace, and love for hope…and share these tales of love in a mini collaboration brought to you by the #PoetsforPeace trio – Michael, Marie and Neha.
If you haven’t taken part in our previous collaboration before, you can see our #Poets for Peace Collaboration here. Stay tuned for more information on our grand collaboration later this year, #PoetsforPeace2017.
This will be at a much smaller scale; however, will have a similar feel and flow.
Below are the rules to participate:
Please place your contribution in the comments section (We will accept all contributions except for any that we deem hateful or inappropriate) Make…
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February 10, 2017
If you’re a fantasy author with an unpublished book, Plai...
If you’re a fantasy author with an unpublished book, Plaisted Press might be interested in you for a one-year fellowship. I’ve worked with Claire. Her press seems reasonable for a hybrid collaborative press. Check it out.
Sponsorship Program NOW OPEN
Are you a Fantasy Author? Do you have a book Unpublished, a one-off or the start to a series. Then this could be what you need.
Below are the details for submissions – it is FREE to enter.
The doors are now open for submissions for our yearly Sponsorship Program. This program is sponsored by Plaisted Publishing House in conjunction with Lynzie Fitzpatrick – Editor, Fantasia Covers & KKAssist – Promotions Manager.
The genre for this year is FANTASY with all sub genres. What you will need:
An Author Bio, Synopsis and First two Chapters of your novel. You will need to submit via the link below. Submissions will close on May 31 st 2017.
Your novel is to be no more than 90K words and unpublished. Only book one of a series will be accepted as a submission.
February 7, 2017
$25 Amazon gift certificate to five readers
I intend to finish the adult version of my novel Seeing Jesus by the end of the March. The YA version just won three Indie Publisher awards for Human Relations.
In the next three weeks, I’d like to find five readers to send me discussion group questions for the end of the book.
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I’m preparing to release the extended adult version of Seeing Jesus and looking for readers to help me write questions for discussion at the end of the book.
The questions will involve practical topics for parents such as bullying, when teachers single out your child as well as more broad topics such as the role of faith in the public arena, civic responsibility, and awareness to detail.
I will send interested readers a copy of the book in .pdf format. The first five readers to send ten good questions will receive an eBook copy of the YA version and a $25 Amazon (or iTunes) certificate.
Your names will also be listed in the book’s Acknowledgments section for your editorial services. When I release the adult edition, I’ll send an autographed copy of the paperback.
Please avoid obvious questions like, “Who bullied Sara in chapter 3?” I want questions that adults can discuss over coffee and that parents can discuss with their teenaged children.
Questions could cover any of these topics, or more:
The effect of different relationships on characters’ personal growth.
Ways in which parental and guardian relationships (such as teaching) turn abusive or neglectful.
Mr. Fisher’s influence on Sara and others around her
Mr. Fisher’s methods of teaching Sara v. other possible mentoring methods.
How characters illustrate ethical, or spiritual principles.
I have some readers on-board but am looking for five. (I will accept one or two more if the questions are really good.) Please indicate your interest in the comments section and I’ll get in touch with.
A later review of the book isn’t necessary but would be appreciated.
The YA version of Seeing Jesus took three Human Relations Indie Book Awards
Pre-Teen/Teen Human Relations Gold
Self-Esteem Gold
Family Human Relations Bronze
Check out the YA version and download a free sample.
Book Reviews
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check out my books at Amazon.com
February 6, 2017
Pack Your Virtual Bags for MysteryThrillerWeek #MTW
On Sunday, February 12, the inaugural MysteryThrillerWeek festival launches with books and audio books, interviews, reviews, blogs, contests and giveaways. That’s just the start. Fans and writers will find anything their heart desires. This is your chance to meet dozens of new writers and maybe win some of their books.
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MysteryThrillerWeek #MTW hopes to introduce readers to writers and writers to new fans.
Love thrillers? You’ll find military, political, crime thrillers and even thrillers with alien visitations. Prefer cozies? Put your kettle on the stove, grab your quilt and grab a hard drive full for a week-long marathon on your couch. Straight mysteries. Buy a new notebook. You’ll fill it cover-to-cover with clues.
Want writing tips? Not only will you find books on the writer’s craft, you find enough blogs with practical advice to keep you taking notes for a month. Want to learn more about an author? Check out the author interviews.
My books will be there, not to mention the première of at least three reviews, including:
M.A. Phipps, Ultraxenopic, February 13.
Jane Suen, Children of the Future, February 15.
Alexia Gordon, Murder in G Minor, February 17.
With luck, we’ll run into each other.
Book Reviews
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check out my books at Amazon.com
February 3, 2017
Save Money on Professional Edits—6 Easy Ways to Clean Up Your Own Manuscript
Kristen Lamb offers a few insightful, and spot-on tips to help you edit your prose. (Hint: “His eyes flew across the room” is not a metaphor. It’s physically impossible.)
Over my career I have literally edited thousands of works, most of them written by emerging writers. My greatest frustration always was (and still is) when I couldn’t even GET to critiquing the deeper story elements because I was too distracted by these all too common oopses.
Good editors are NOT cheap. There are also many editors who charge by the hour. If they’re spending their time fixing oopses you could’ve easily repaired yourself? You’re burning cash and time. Yet, correct these problems, and editors can more easily get to the MEAT of your novel. This means you will spend less money and get far higher value.
#1 The Brutal Truth about Adverbs, Metaphors and Similes
I have never met an adverb, simile, or metaphor I didn’t LOVE. I totally dig description, but it can present problems.
First of all, adverbs are not ALL evil. Redundant adverbs are evil. If…
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Explore your writing style, improve your writing
Many writers never take the time for self-reflection. They think about their work, but not their writing process. Consider Tarah Benner’s quiz as a starting point for reflection.
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Entertainers can be spontaneous and funny but may need coaching to craft concise, crisp prose. (Image courtesy of Tarah Benner)
I started writing seriously in college in the seventies. If I took this quiz then, I would have been a nonconformist. Fortunately, I took writing classes, journalism classes and participated in writing groups and conferences. I experimented with a number of recommendations and never blew criticism of my work off. Forty years later, my answers dot the questionnaire with As, Bs and Cs. (Even those answers depend on the project I’m undertaking.)
If you don’t use this survey as a moment to ask what you can do to improve your writing, you’re missing a wonderful opportunity. It’s not perfect, no quiz is, but it’s a good starting point.
What Type of Writer Are You? (And How to Make It Work for Your Content)
January 29, 2017
Author Services and Promotion Sites
Sally Cronin provides a list of author services
“I hope that you will find this list of author services and promotions sites of use to you. I have recently removed and updated. Obviously, it is up to you to research thoroughly any service that you…”
Source: Author Services and Promotion Sites
Wind Eggs
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