Dec

22

Twitter Updates for 2008-12-22

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Dec

22

Taglines

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Advertisers know the importance of getting you to remember their products. Single lines or jingles that stick in your head like an earworm and live in there for decades. Some of them backfire. “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” is one – remembered but not for the reasons they wanted. Or the poster of the raw egg and the friend egg “This is your brain; this is your brain on drugs” gave way to the addition of “this is your brain with a side order of bacon”.

Then there’s the tv ad I just saw. The line in question is: “Nothing says date movie like a 3D ride to Hell”. The movie? My Bloody Valentine 3D. I’m never going to go see the movie – I don’t do gore horror. I’m certainly never going to forget the movie, if only because of that line. The trailer shows the characters running around, screaming in horror, about to be killed, and then they come up with that line for the advertising? I’m not sure what they were aiming for, but I’m pretty sure they failed. The date movie reference really implies comedy, but the subject isn’t really.

Tag lines are something you need to think hard about for your novel. Distill the very essence of your novel down into a single sentence. A 30 second pitch. It’s difficult – very difficult – but if you do it right, everyone will remember your book (and want to (re)read it). If it doesn’t, well, they could very well be laughing as they leave your book on the shelf.

Dec

22

Two Wolves

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two-wolvesOne evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside all people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all.

“One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

“The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee replied simply, “The one you feed.”

My dad emailed me this story, and I thought it was perfect. I don’t care if it’s real or completely fictitious. The point is the message it gives. It’s all about the choices we make. We can choose to give in to anger and guilt, or we can practice kindness and generosity.

It’s the same thing with writing. We can give in to self-doubt and the fear of rejection, or we can battle through it, with hope and faith in ourselves and our abilities.

Dec

20

Twitter Updates for 2008-12-20

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  • I can’t believe the house is compeltely quiet on a Saturday. DH has taken the munchkins out to do gift & grocery shopping. #
  • And I just realized that I don’t have the gingersnaps to make the crust for the pumpkin cheesecake. Good thing I have a recipe to make ‘em. #
  • Matt and the kids have been gone for six hours now. I hope everything’s okay – Matt doesn’t have his phone so I can’t call and check. :/ #

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Dec

18

Twitter Updates for 2008-12-18

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  • A new version of street food? http://tinyurl.com/3qz5sf #
  • Good night, all. If you live in the Midwest like I do, be safe! Don’t drive anywhere unles you have to tomorrow. #

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