I have a premium membership on writing.com

I have had a premium membership on writing.com for several months. On October 15, I used some of the Gift Points in my account extended the membership another month, so my present membership is due November 15, 2009. Therefore, between now and November 15, I am going to enter as many writing contest as possible. I will also do a lot of reviewing.

I am looking forward to the reviewing because of the reading it involves. I read a more stories and poems online then I do off line. In fact, the only thing I read off line is scripture. I cannot remember the last time I read a poem or story off line.

I have a new book

I have a new book called 100 words every word lover should know From the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. This book contains 100 different words with the definitions, pronunciations, etymologies, and other important information. This is a book that every writer should have because of the information it gives about the words.

Some of the words in this book are snakebite, juxtaposition, and koan. All words that a writer and author can use in stories or poems. I am going to have fun reading this book and finding ways to use the words in my writing.

Everglades Fishing the Dream of a Life Time

Everglades Fishing is the dream of a life time. Everglades Fishing is on my list of nineteen things I want to do before I die: "I want to go everglades fishng in Everglades National Park". I always liked the idea of sitting on a boat in the Everglades holding a rod and reel and then casting the line into the water.

So the minute my Everglades Fishing Charter was confirmed I began my preparation. I bought a new journal and a digital camera to document my everglades fishing adventure. I even brainstormed some blog entry titles for my blog posts about everglades fishing.

I chartered an everglades fishing boat from Captain Tony Polizos an experienced everglades fishing guide. I chose Tarpon for my everglades fishing adventure because fighting a Tarpon is the ultimate everglades fishing experience.

My everglades fishing Tarpon outfit consisted of a 15 lbs. monofilament braided line with a 50 lbs. breaking point. The day I went everglades fishing, the Tarpon were striking at live bait. There is nothing like feeling the a 243 lbs. Tarpon striking your bait in water that is 3 feet deep and less then 100 feet wide.

I want to go everglades fishing again, but the next time I want to fish for another species of fish. Right now I am considering either Snook or Redfish for my next everglades fishing adventure, but Spotted Trout also sounds like an interesting everglades fishing experience.

Sponsored by evergladesabsolutefishing.com

Planning my writing week on Saturday

It's Saturday and I'm planning my writing week. This is the day, I review the past week's achievements and plan next week's actions to complete or begin projects. There are specific actions I have to take in the coming week, which have little or nothing to do with writing projects. However, these actions make creative writing easier.

One of the actions I have to do is carry the trashcans to the curb on Tuesday night. Trash pick up day is on Wednesday and Saturday, this particular Saturday is recyclable collection day. Therefore, I don't take the regular trashcans to the curb because I like to focus on getting all the recyclables out.

This coming week I have to complete my edition of the February writing.com fantasy newsletter. I have to finish the letter from the editor and decide on the editor's pick stories. I also have to finish my "Dear Me" entry, post it in my port, and submit it to the contest.

These are the first items on my "to do list" for the coming week. In addition, my mother has an appointment with an eye doctor. Since we are going to have to wait a while, I'm going to take a book to read. I know I have more items for the "to do list", but I can't think of them right now.

A new Nineteen days of writing begins

Jamál (Beauty), 1 Kalimat (Words), 165 BE – Sunday, July 13, 2008 abut 5:38 AM PDT

It is Sunday July 13 and a new nineteen days of writing begins. My total word count goal for each day is between 2,500 and 5,000. During those nineteen days, I intend to complete a novel, a short story, write a poem each day, and make at least one daily entry in this blog.

I am working on a poem manuscript called The Year of the Poem, which consist of 365 poems written from March 21, 2008 to March 20, 2009. After I complete the manuscript, then I will begin the rewrite on it. In the mean time, I have to rewrite a novel in addition to the one I am completing.

Besides writing, I work part time outside the home, all though, I am not sure that I should call it work. I enjoy my part time job, so it does not feel like work. There has to be a term for a job that you enjoy and get paid for at the same time. Perhaps, I am still dealing with issues I learned growing up, which was that you did not enjoy your job. That is something I am going to deal with in my off line journal Writing My Spiritual Journey.

Writing is a thankless job

Fidál (Grace), 9 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Tuesday, May 6, 2008 about 6:29 PM PDT

Writing is a thankless job, but somebody has to do it. Sometimes it seems I am not getting anywhere. I write and write without ever knowing if someone reads what I write. Then unexpectedlyI receive a comment on something I have written. Someone reads a poem or a story or a blog entry and comments on it.

I get a comment and it gives me a boost. I get a positive or a negative comment and I realize someone is reading what I am writing. A comment encourages me to continue to write. The comments I have received are rare, but that does not matter. The realization that someone read what I wrote and took the time to comment encourages me.

Before I go any further, I want to thank those who have commented on my past writings. Sometimes I am remiss at sending thank you to those who comment. I am not sure why I do not say thank you. This is something I need to explore in my off line journal. Once I have figured out the reason then I can either blog about it or write a poem on the subject. In this entry, I want to admit that I am remiss in saying thank you and apologize to those who have commented and not received a thank you reply.

I will attempt to do better, of course. I am not sure how well I will succeed. Everyone attempts to do better when catching themselves in bad habits. Everyone attempts to do better, but not everyone succeeds. That is part of being human, but we have to continue to try to do better. We have to continue to try because sometimes a person succeeds in changing a bad habit into a good habit. We have to continue to try because that is part of being human.

I'm Doing it Again

Fidál (Grace), 3 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Tuesday, March 4, 2008 about 12:41 PM PST

I am participating in the Follow the Leader: Redux contest on writing.com again. This is the second time this year I have entered the contest. The concept of the contest is leading entries. Each participant is assigned a day to do a leading entry. The subject and them of the leading entry is up the "leader" for that day. The rest of the group responds to the leading entry.

I am using my regular writing.com blog Snow Melt for my leading and response entries in this contest. This edition of the contest begins Thursday, March 6, and ends Wednesday, March 26. My leading entry is scheduled for Monday, March 10. Since March 10 is going to be a busy day for me, I am going to be in and out of the house all day. I will compose the entry and post it at midnight Eastern Time, which is about 9:00 PM Pacific Time.

Mixing and Matching the Themes

Fidal (Grace), 18 Sultan (Sovereignty), 164 B.E. - Tuesday, February 5, 2008 about 7:13 AM PST

I am going to start mixing the themes an putting them on different days. Perhaps even skipping one and putting something else in its place. I am going to use more prompts to write and demonstrate more poetry forms. Discuss different methods of writing on a prompt. All right, I got bored having a specific theme on a specific day. My muse bulked at having to work that way.

I think one thing I will do is mix and match the themes, if I am writing about a contest then I will do a short review of the web site where I found the contest. I enjoy contest because they all have something different to offer a writer. Some contests have themes, while others require specific forms. It is fun and exciting to come up with a poem or story that will be appropriate for a contest.

Flash Fiction Friday: Shadows

Istiqlal (Independence), 7 Sultan (Sovereignty), 164 B.E. - Friday, January 25, 2008 about 9:59 AM PST

Daily Writing Practice Prompt for January 25, 2008 - Shadows

Evening's shadows cast their long fingers across the valley. The western mountains seemed particularly foreboding tonight. A shiver ran up Rena's spine as she began to ascend the pass that led into the Daughter Mountains. She remembered all the stories her mother had told her about those mountains and the ancestors who passed through them on their journey to the Valley of the Lavender Lilies.

As she climbed Sarn's Pass, the shadows seemed to gather around her like fog coming in from the inland sea that washed against the Valley's southern boarder. The shadows seemed oddly protective, as if there was something beyond them that stalked her, but needed an even deeper darkness to conceal themselves. Rena instinctively knew, that whatever stalked her would wait until full darkness to attack, but she would reach the crest of the pass before the sun had completely set.

At the crest Rena took the firewood stacked beside Sarn's Mound and build a fire. She had reached the point of now return, the grave of her ancestor who had defended the fleeing tribe as they entered the Valley of the Lavender Lilies. If she did not return to the Valley at dawn, there would be no going back because none of her kin would accept her back in their midst.

"Daughter," came her mother's voice from one of the surround caves, "it's safer within the cave. Join me in my exile."

Rena added another piece of wood to the fire. A shadow that resembled her mother stepped out of a cave and beckoned to her. Responding to the shadow would only draw it closer, so Rena took a honey cake from her pack and began to eat. She ate the cake slowly as she scanned the entrance to the other caves. Apparently only one of the caves was inhabited, but Rena was not sure what dwell in the cave. She knew only that it was not her mother.

"Please, Rena, I am Jura, your exiled half-sister, join me."

At least now, Rena thought, I know what I'm dealing with.

"No, Jura," she picked up a burning log and threw it toward the shadow, "I'll not join you. Return to your chosen exile." The shadow of her half-sister fled into the cave.

Website Wednesday: Lots of Writing Websites

Istiqlal (Majesty), 18 Sharaf (Honor), 164 B.E. - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 about 7:49 PM PST


There are numerous writing websites out there. Some of them specialize in one genre of writing and some cover the range. Many of these websites have contests and give writing advice in the form of articles. A writer should look at all the writing related websites she or he encounters. Read the article and even try the writing prompts.

I enjoy the writing prompts they give me good ideas to write about. Writing prompts also give a writer a chance to work in other genres. They give a writer a chance to get out of the usual rut and find a new voice. Trying something new keeps the muse running. It never hurts to attempt something new once in a while. I enjoy looking at new writing websites.

2007 Holiday Flash Fiction Challenge

13 Masa'il 164 B.E. - Sunday, December 23, 2007 about 7:22 PM PST

I entered the 2007 Holiday Flash Fiction Challenge on writing.com. The Holiday Challenge is a bit different from the ordinary Daily Flash Fiction Challenge. In the Holiday Challenge the flash fiction story must be related, in some way, to the other story before it.

The book I'm putting the holiday entries in is Flashes of Holiday Lightning, but I'm thinking of changing the name. I want a name that is appropriate to the theme of the stories. I haven't thought of one yet. I expect to come up with an idea soon.

I'm not entering the Daily Flash Fiction Challenge right now because the prompt for the Daily Challenge is the same one used for the Holiday Challenge. I'm just not up to writing two different stories addressing the same prompt. One story is difficult enough sometimes.

Go to my writing.com port and check out both Flashes of Lightning and Flashes of Holiday Lightning. Prosperous Snow's Port The theme of Flashes of Holiday Lighting is the crash of an alien ship on earth.

Reviewing on writing.com

5 Masa'il 164 B.E. - Saturday, December 15, 2007 about 6:02 PM PST

I've did a lot of reviewing on writing.com the last couple of days. My upgraded membership is up today and I needed the giftpoints to upgrade for another month. I'm getting there, but not as fast as I'd like. I'm going back in a few minutes to do more reviews. I actually don't have that many points to acquire, but I just had to stop for a little while and do something else. So instead of writing reviews, I'm writing a blog entry. I suppose that's one way to do it.

I could go take a walk, but it's cold outside. So I think I'll hold the walk until it gets a bit warmer or maybe tomorrow. I'm going to make Mom and myself some soup in a few minutes and then hot chocolate later on. In the mean time keep writing.

The Arctic Express

16 Qawl 164 B.E. - Friday, December 7, 2007 about 7:28 PM PST

The arctic express went through my neighborhood today. The wind bent some of the trees almost double and kicked the electricity off for an hour or two. The wind is still blowing, but not as bad as earlier in the day.

I'm a bit chilly, but that could be because I'm drinking ice water. I drink ice water winter and summer. I like my water as cold as it can possibly get without freezing. I know there is a title to a poem or story in both of these items, I'm just not sure yet how to go about it.

The Arctic Express sounds like a good title for a short story or piece of flash fiction. I've written a lot of flash fiction lately. There is a Daily Flash Fiction Challenge on writing.com I've managed to enter several day in a row this month. I believe I've missed only one day entering it. Each day a different prompt is posted and you write a story in conjunction with the prompt. The day I missed posting to the challenge, I wrote the story. I just finished it too late to enter it.

Ice Water on a Cold Day would make a good title to a poem. Growing up, my grandmother always gave us water with ice in it winter or summer. I think she did this because all our drinking water came from the kitchen faucet and the ice cubes made it taste better.

Another good title for a poem is Saying Grace, this was how my grandparents referred to the blessing said at meal time. Most of the time my grandfather said grace, but sometimes my grandmother would say the prayer. Grandma usually said grace with grandpa was working and wouldn't be home for lunch.

The proper way to refuse an invitation

10 Qawl 164 B.E. - Saturday, December 1, 2007 about 5:00 PM PST

Daily writing practice prompt for 12/1/07: Write about an invitation refused.

"There are two ways to refuse an invitation," said Lisa studying the wedding invitation in her right hand. "This one is for your Aunt Rita's wedding," she glanced at Gina, who lay in her bassinet giggling at her mothers voice. "We, of course, are not going and we're not sending a gift. At least, not a wrapped expensive gift."

Laying the invitation on the desk, Lisa reach over and stroked her daughter's baldhead. "How do I refuse this invitation, without insulting your aunt and having to send an expensive gift?"

The doorbell ring and picking up the baby, Lisa went to the door. Looking through the peephole, she smiled when she saw the UPS delivery man. Opening the door, she signed for the packaging and had him sit in inside the front door.

"It's for you sweet one, it's from your gramma and granpa."

Going back to the desk, she lay the baby down and pick up a fountain pen. "I think I'll tell your Aunt that we are going to my high school reunion. The reunion is across the country from your Aunts wedding and I don't have to deal with question concerning your father's release."

NOTE: This is a short example of Flash Fiction. I think I need more conflict and a bit more description.

What is Flash Fiction?

3 Qawl 164 B.E. - Sunday, November 25, 2007 about 3:29 PM PST

One of my 101 Things to do in 1001 Days is to write a Flash Fiction story everyday. This brings up the question "What is flash fiction?" The website http://www.writefromhome.com/writingtradearticles/197.htm defines Flash Fiction as a story of 500 words or less. Since this type of story contains all the elements that a longer story or novel does, you have to incorporate those elements quickly and compactly. This is sometimes difficult and sometimes easy.

Writing flash fiction is fun. I have found that it focuses your attention on the elements and nutshell descriptions. Long descriptions use words that aren't available in this type of writing. This means that sometimes you have to presume that the reader knows a little about the surroundings. For instance, if you are writing a story about turkeys you have to believe that the reader has some idea of what a hen house, poultry enclosure or barnyard look like.

Writing flash fiction helps improve your technique. When writing conversations the word "said" can't be used all the time. If you have to indicate who is talking then use the character's name with some sort of action that carries the plot along. For anyone who has never written flash fiction, I suggest trying it. Do not give up if your first attempt exceeds the word limit. Simply rewrite. Remember it is easier to cut then to add words later.