I’m listening to the radio and wondering. Why do Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and so many other popular singers keep recording? Don’t they have enough money already?
Then there’s the movie industry. What makes Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt keep acting? They have to be loaded by now.
I see the window display at Barnes and Noble. Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel, Richard North Patterson, Stephen King all have books out. Why? They’re rolling in dough.
There has to be some other reason besides money that drives these people. What keeps them going? Is it ambition? Is it name recognition? Is it insecurity, feeling somehow the money will vanish? Is it sharing? Is it wanting the world to know they exist? Is it addiction? Is it more than one of these?
I don’t know the whys governing these people’s actions. I only know what I would do. If I were lucky enough to be a bestselling author with no money worries, I’d still write. It’s so ingrained in me, I can’t think of doing without it. It's part of who and what I am.
Bottom line-- I’m a writer. Writers write.
What about you? If you got rich off of one or more of your books, would you stop writing? If not, what would keep you going?
Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com/
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Love Thy Neighbor By Morgan Mandel
Love Thy Neighbor
As I walked to the train station this morning, I said hello to a neighbor down the street. That simple action got me thinking. How many variations are there on a neighbor theme in a book?
Here are some:
· A mean neighbor who loves to scare kids.
· An elderly neighbor who bakes cookies for children in the neighborhood.
· A murdering neighbor who looks normal on the outside.
· An unfaithful husband or wife fooling around with the neighbor.
· A persnickety neighbor that keeps his or her property perfect & expects that of others.
· A neighbor whose home and property should be condemned.
· A rich, snobby neighbor.
· A rich, sharing neighbor.
· A poor neighbor struggling to make ends meet despite horrible odds
· A neighbor who has lost a spouse or child.
· A stealing neighbor.
· A neighbor who doesn’t control his or her children.
· A neighbor who makes lots of noise: radio, muffler, you name it.
· A neighbor who has strange looking friends.
· A neighbor who throws block parties and mingles with everyone.
· A shy neighbor.
· A helpless neighbor people feel sorry for.
From my list, you can see there are plenty of ways to fit a neighbor into a story. Think about using one of them some time.
Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com/
As I walked to the train station this morning, I said hello to a neighbor down the street. That simple action got me thinking. How many variations are there on a neighbor theme in a book?
Here are some:
· A mean neighbor who loves to scare kids.
· An elderly neighbor who bakes cookies for children in the neighborhood.
· A murdering neighbor who looks normal on the outside.
· An unfaithful husband or wife fooling around with the neighbor.
· A persnickety neighbor that keeps his or her property perfect & expects that of others.
· A neighbor whose home and property should be condemned.
· A rich, snobby neighbor.
· A rich, sharing neighbor.
· A poor neighbor struggling to make ends meet despite horrible odds
· A neighbor who has lost a spouse or child.
· A stealing neighbor.
· A neighbor who doesn’t control his or her children.
· A neighbor who makes lots of noise: radio, muffler, you name it.
· A neighbor who has strange looking friends.
· A neighbor who throws block parties and mingles with everyone.
· A shy neighbor.
· A helpless neighbor people feel sorry for.
From my list, you can see there are plenty of ways to fit a neighbor into a story. Think about using one of them some time.
Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com/
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Blog, Website, or Both? By Morgan Mandel
Lately, I've spent more time here on my blogspot than on my main website. I'm trying to get it just right so people will know more about me as a person and as an author through reading my posts. Hopefully, they'll want to look further and check out my novels. I do try to keep my website updated, but not every day.
That got me wondering...
How many people use a blogspot as a website?
How many own websites but not blogs?
How many people prefer both?
Pro Blogspot
I update my blogspot here every day by doing a new post, but can't say the same for my website.
My blogspot is a capsulized version of my website, including vital information, such as links to book excerpts, order information, other blogs, a blogroll, my website.
Pro Website
I offer lots more information on my website which I can't fit into the blog. That makes it much more diversified. It's chock full of book signing photos, other author photos and links, badges from networks I belong to, and so much more. I can add pages at will, using different layouts, backgrounds and color patterns for diversity.
Still, for someone in a hurry, my website may seem cumbersome.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks,
Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com/
That got me wondering...
How many people use a blogspot as a website?
How many own websites but not blogs?
How many people prefer both?
Pro Blogspot
I update my blogspot here every day by doing a new post, but can't say the same for my website.
My blogspot is a capsulized version of my website, including vital information, such as links to book excerpts, order information, other blogs, a blogroll, my website.
Pro Website
I offer lots more information on my website which I can't fit into the blog. That makes it much more diversified. It's chock full of book signing photos, other author photos and links, badges from networks I belong to, and so much more. I can add pages at will, using different layouts, backgrounds and color patterns for diversity.
Still, for someone in a hurry, my website may seem cumbersome.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks,
Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com/
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Iphone Culprit or Coincidence? 3G Woes By Morgan Mandel
On the way to work this morning, I inserted my A T & T network card into the laptop computer as I usually do. It takes a while to connect, but the blue flashed and then remained steady, like it was supposed to do. The bars all turned orange in the bottom tray, like they were supposed to do.
The little box telling me what was going on with the card said connected to A & T like it was supposed to do. It pulled up the Internet Explorer browser like it was supposed to do.
But…It told me the connection to the server could not be found.
What was going on?
My purse was open right next to me on the seat. Inside was my Iphone. The network was set to 3G. In desperation, I switched it off 3G to Edge.
I retried the laptop connection and it worked!!
Was that a coincidence or did the Iphone interfere with my connection? It does make me wonder. I'll need to investigate this further.
Writing tip: If you're writing a book, be wary of coincidences, even ones that have happened to you. Readers do not like them. Make sure everything follows logically.
Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com
The little box telling me what was going on with the card said connected to A & T like it was supposed to do. It pulled up the Internet Explorer browser like it was supposed to do.
But…It told me the connection to the server could not be found.
What was going on?
My purse was open right next to me on the seat. Inside was my Iphone. The network was set to 3G. In desperation, I switched it off 3G to Edge.
I retried the laptop connection and it worked!!
Was that a coincidence or did the Iphone interfere with my connection? It does make me wonder. I'll need to investigate this further.
Writing tip: If you're writing a book, be wary of coincidences, even ones that have happened to you. Readers do not like them. Make sure everything follows logically.
Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com
Monday, September 22, 2008
Say Goodbye to Randhurst by Morgan Mandel
I've heard that stories about developers changing towns are not as popular any more. Maybe so, but this particular story rings home for me, because it's true.
I had an eerie feeling as my husband and I visited Randhurst for the last time this past Saturday. As we strolled through the shopping center, oldies tunes played in the background, a reminder of the songs shoppers heard in the mall's heyday.
The stores were dark, except for a few shopkeepers waiting it out until the bitter end. One or two sold refreshments on the upper level, which at one time was jammed with hungry shoppers taking time out to eat.
The Venetial carousel played a merry tune as a handful of children rode the horses. The next day the carousel was slated to be dismantled and shipped to a mall in California, where other children would enjoy its wonders.
Further down, the play area teamed with more children having a great time. I wondered if they knew soon their playspace would be no more.
I've always loved Randhurst. It was just the right size -- Big enough to offer variety, yet small enough not to be confusing. Woodfield in all its grandeur has never been my preference.
Randhurst will be transformed into a lifestyle center, with completion scheduled for 2010. With it's departure, something fine will be lost in our community.
That's progress, I guess.
Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com/
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