Are You a Brand in the Making or an Artiste?

I've struggled with the concept of self-branding, so much so that I've opted to use a pen name for a few of my intended projects. Our current social order focuses intently on categorizing everything. While it serves a function on my favorite playground, the Internet, it also makes it difficult to express myself as a writer; I'm an eclectic melange of ideas, interests and  projects. I also recognize that many web surfers have keyword searching down to a science. If I want to be discovered in web searches, I need to offer searchable content. In order to receive maximum benefit (site traffic) from this situation, I must make my content and projects part of a consistent theme and approach, a brand. I'm resistant to this. I have many things to say on many topics. I found myself nodding and pounding my desktop while adding a few cries of "Hear, Hear!" as I read Maureen Johnson's post on BlogHer, regarding the heavy push for self-branding on the Internet.  What do you think? Have we (writers--any type) over extended the concept of branding in an effort to keep our coffers full?

Rediscover the Basic Joys of Storytelling

Writing Inspiration

During a recent family movie night, my son exclaimed,"Now that's a climax!" The movie had reached its apex and begun its descent to the end. For him at least, the story portion of the film accomplished every story's underlying purpose. It used a series of engaging events to create anticipation then guide the viewer to the main event of the story. It seemed like he enjoyed the experience more since he knew the parts, much the same way music gains depth and meaining for educated listeners.

When writing fiction, a writer must effectively provide an exposition, a series of ascending events, a climax and a fitting resolution. All of these elements comprise the "plot" of a story.  The simplicity or complexity of the plot must be dictated by the story itself--how the development of each element most effectively relates to the story told.

Writers must exploit these elements to the best advantage of each story they write. My son's observation reaffirmed the importance and significance of knowing the technical parts of a story well. Films, books, operas even video games--the best begin with a really great story. This knowledge enhances a reader's or viewer's appreciation of a story, because they can sense and discern the elements moving in concert. 



Craft

Who remembers diagramming sentences? If you ever completed such an assignment,  I commisterate with you. It was tedious; it was a pain; and it worked. You may not have mastered dangling participles, but you definitely know the basics, subject, verb, adjective and adverb. You probably could even still identify direct objects, prepositions and prepositional objects in a pinch, because you learned sentence structure.

Here's this month's challenge: create a story diagram. Take one of your previously written pieces preferrably a short piece or one of your favorite short stories. Make copies and then diagram the parts of the story. Mark the exposition, the ascesnding events, the climax, any descending events/resolution and the end. Does the story move clearly and effectively through each phase of the plot? Is it well paced? Does the story move too quickly or too slowly at any point? Is the climax fitting or does it underserve the building events, creating an anti-climax?

Have fun. I'll post my efforts to diagram one of  my short stories at the end of the month.

Resources

The Oxford University Press has just launched a new version of its Oxford  Dictionaries online.  Check out the quotes, games, reading and writing articles and many other offerings that can improve your reading and writing experiences.

Booktrib.com compiles posts and reviews from book blogs across the internet. They also offer a weekly book giveaway.

On my bookshelf

Book Review: 31 Bond Street

31 Bond Street by Ellen Horan


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The humble origins of iconographic places often get lost beneath the layers of time and change. In the late 1800s, the streets of New York City still used cobblestone paving. The Jersey shore still had lots for sale. Shanty towns peppered the city and wooded areas still bordered the city. However the life changing opportunities and unforgiving competition for position and power which personify New York were well on their way to being fully formed. New York society teamed with economic and cultural growth as well as political power. Ellen Horan captures the burgeoning persona of New York in her novel, 31 Bond Street and offers up an enticing drama filled with murder, intrigue, greed and betrayal.

Horan’s novel retells the murder trial of Dr. Harvey Burdell, a dentist, a respected citizen of New York and a man who dabbled in local real estate. She brings the city of the era clearly and engagingly to life. Her vivid descriptions, characterizations and believable imagining of the events preceding and following the murder trial clearly illustrate her skill as a writer and the depth of her research.

The novel opens in the winter of 1857. Burdell has been viciously murdered in his home. Emma Cunningham, the widow who resides there with her two daughters and manages his home is the primary suspect. She finds herself being tried in the court of public opinion as the Coroner Edward Connery conducts a highly questionable inquest in the Burdell home; she may receive a guilty verdict before her case makes it to trial.

Recognizing her precarious position Cunningham sends a note to Henry Clinton a popular New York attorney known for taking on worthy and challenging cases. When he accepts her request, he learns that his professional rival, New York County district attorney, Abraham Oakley Hall seems to intend to use the trial to raise his public profile and further his bid for the mayoral seat of New York.

Using these dynamic historical figures and equally intriguing fictional additions, Horan weaves a solid story of murder, personal betrayal and political ambition. 31 Bond Street is not an edge of your seat page turner to be bolted down in a few sittings. It’s a meal to savor much like the one described in a scene during which Clinton and his junior partner discuss trial strategy. The meal is served in sumptuous and fully articulated courses meant to be weighed and appreciated to the last bite. This novel deserves the same.

View all my reviews >>

E-Book Market Current Events

Is it worth the price?

E-books are convenient for a person like me who tends to read multiple texts at the same time. I also spend alot of time on the go, so having the option of reading via laptop, e-reader or other mobile device really appeals to me; it allows me to maintain a portable library.

That said, I do not want to get locked into one retailer for my e-book purchases. I have to admit some confusion regarding which option, Sony e-reader, Nook or Kindle, etc.,  will give me the most bang for my buck. The cross platform options have improved but they are still not optimal.

The big guys, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple, want to corner the e-book market, or at least, control it in some measure. As a consumer and self publisher, I find the prospect of any of them managing to accomplish this goal extremely unpleasant. Check out this story: eBook Market Needs Transparency, and Fast at Digital Book World.

What do you think? Do you read e-books? If so, which e-reader or portable devices do you recommend?