Branding Blunders! The Martha Stewart Saga...

 

This post was unplanned. But, like most creative folks, I am motivated to write as my muse inspires...and sometimes she's more generous than others. So here we are. I particularly enjoy seizing opportunities to pen pieces that I feel are purposeful with an educational component. 

I hope you find today's post to meet that criteria. I invite you to grab your favorite brew and read on. And if you have thoughts on this post, l would really dig it if you would leave a comment to share your feedback.

This week, while tuning into the daytime talk show, The View, one of the hot topics was lifestyle diva, Martha Stewart and her recent disclosure of infidelity with her former hubby. To say that I was stunned would be an understatement. I felt as disappointed as a kid first learning that there's no Santa Claus.

For the record, I have been a huge Martha Stewart fan for decades. I've watched her career over the years; written about her in numerous articles; followed her recipes; and purchased her products. I believe in her brand. In her quality standards. In her integrity.

But, much like Joy Behar (one of the hosts of The View), I am totally baffled as to why Martha would make the decision to go public about something so private.

Don't get me wrong. My position here is not to judge her. Nor to serve as her image consultant. Instead it's to use this as a teachable moment for those of us who have professional careers in the public and platforms. You with me here?

THE MORAL OF THE STORY...

Even when it's not intentional or strategic, whether you sell books, create blogs, or have tangible products in a store, your collective efforts over time are building a brand. This includes your business cards, your social media threads, your online image, your books, etc.

It takes a lot of hard work to build a solid brand; yet it can be dismantled with one simple act or bad decision. Freedom of speech is not always free. Hello?

I understand that sex sells. I understand that controversy sometimes garners followers, and the more followers one has, the greater the potential to sell books, make money, close deals. But, is it worth it? Consider the people that could be potentially damaged by it. Be it your family members, friends, fans or stakeholders.

Some things private should stay that way. Leave confessionals for your priest or your personal diary. Unless what you're sharing is something intended to give someone else struggling with the same challenge encouragement, hope, or courage.

Like battling a disease, dealing with loss, or increasing their faith and spiritual walk.

That's my take on the topic. What's yours?

How to Write Flash Fiction For Fun & Profit

Flash Fiction is the label literary folks have put on fiction that’s super-duper short. Ask 100 editors what the word count is, and you’ll get 100 different answers…200 if you come back a year later and ask again. Generally, we can assume anything under 5,000 words might count and anything under 500 words definitely counts. My flash fiction newsletter, Flash in a Flash, cuts it off at 1,000 words. 

Jennifer invited me to come on today and talk a bit about why flash fiction is fun, why authors might want to try some out, and a few places that might pay for yours. 

Sound fun? Good. Let’s get started. 

Why Flash Fiction is Fun

Readers enjoy flash fiction for different reasons, but a few things keep popping up when we ask. 

● It’s quick to consume, something people can dip into on a work break or riding  public transportation. On days when time isn’t there to read a chapter in a novel, we can still get our reading fix in.

● It’s punchy. The form forces authors to get to the point quickly, and deliver the feels. Flash fiction often hits harder than longer works because of this. 

● Instant gratification isn’t just for video games. Dopamine is real, and flash fiction delivers. 

● It offers a lot of different reading experiences in a short time, for readers who like variety.

● It’s mobile-friendly as compared to longer phones: just the thing to bring up on your phone while you’re out in the world.

There are as many other reasons as there are readers, but those are the top five. They explain why flash has been enjoying a bit of an ascendance over the past five years or so.

Why Authors Should Try Flash Fiction

The most important fun aspect of flash fiction (for me, at least) is that you get to be creative. You’re not bound by genre for most markets. You’re not bound by a commitment to a long piece. You can play with style, structure, voice, and weird concepts that came to you in the shower that one time. 

Almost every author I’ve ever met has a notebook of ideas they’ve never gotten around to working on. Given the “I should write that” pile most of us have, we never will. Flash fiction is an outlet for those ideas, a set of literary monkey bars too few of us take the opportunity to swing on. 

It can also give you immediate feedback. Flash fiction sites tend to have a rapid publishing schedule, and the stories take only a short time to read. You’ll hear what people think of your work early and often, which is a welcome change for many of us. 

Flash fiction is an opportunity to get loose, get weird, and get feedback. More of us should take that chance. 

How to Win Fans and Thrill Audiences

It’s possible I’ve suggested that writing flash fiction is easy. It’s not. It can be fun, and it doesn’t take a long time, but telling a complete and compelling story in just a few hundred words is a challenge. A few tips to start out:

● Start in the middle (or the end) of the action. Let the readers imagine and intuit what comes before. 

● End as soon as the crux of the story is over. Never provide an epilogue, or explain the consequences.

● Focus on a single event, moment, or emotion. These stories aren’t the place for sweeping exploration.

● Make every word count by trimming all the fat and using the most powerful vocabulary you can manage.

● Don’t just make tension the core of the story, make it the whole story.

● Make the ending surprising or resonant.

● Edit with absolute ruthlessness. Cut your prose to the bone. 

An overarching method is to leave much more to the reader’s imagination. Rather than spell out all but the most essential details, imply the depth, breadth, past, and future. This freedom for the reader is one of the reasons flash fiction is so effective and popular. 

A Few of My Favorite Markets

If you’re not convinced you want to try writing some flash fiction, that’s okay. You do you. I’m not mad…just very disappointed. If you would like to give it a shot, here are some places that buy great flash from great authors. 

● Vestal Review does two tiers of flash: those up to 500 words, for which they pay $50, and those in the 500 to 1,000 word range for which they pay $25. I guess they really buy into that Twain quote about writing a long letter because he didn’t have time to write a short one. They prefer stories with a twist.

● Flash Fiction Online accepts stories in the 500 to 1000 word range, and pays $80 for them. They accept all genres, though your chances are better with literary or speculative fiction and pretty slim for graphic horror and erotica. They are a higher-paying market, so expect tighter competition than with other options. 

● The Molotov Cocktail goes darker and edgier than most but is a good home for stuff you might not want to show your mom. Word count limit is 1,000. They pay $10 to $20 per story, and have themed contests with higher payouts to the winners.

● Flash in a Flash. I mentioned this one earlier, because it’s my own project. We publish two stories a week and an annual anthology. Word count limit is 1,000. At present we pay $5 for the newsletter, and another $5 if your story gets picked for the anthology, and plan to increase that as we grow enough to get some ad revenue.  

● Brevity. The market is smaller, but some sites like Brevity pay for nonfiction flash. If you’d like to give that a try, they pay a “modest honorarium” for slash nonfiction of 750 words or less.

One Last Little Thing…

I’m going to put my marketing hat on here for a second and talk about one final advantage of writing flash fiction from time to time. It’s an opportunity to A/B test some of your ideas. 

Generally, we shouldn’t “write to market” and instead follow our passions. But if you have a couple of ideas for your next book, and you’re genuinely equally (or almost equally) into both of them…write a few pieces of flash fiction related to both and put them out into the world. Whichever one generates the strongest response is the book you write next. 

BIO

In the 22 years of his professional writing career, Jason Brick has been involved in over 100 books and written more than 6,000 articles for online and print publications. He is the skipper of Flash in a Flash, a newsletter delivering flash fiction to subscribers twice every week. He lives in Oregon where he practices martial arts, plays tabletop role-playing games, and spoils his wife and sons. 

Thoughts, readers?

Image credits: Freedigitalphotos.net

My Summer Blog Break...A Recap in Photos

 

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Welcome back, readers!

It's a pleasure to be back on the blog scene and reconnect. As many of you are aware, June 2024 marked my 15th year anniversary here at Pen & Prosper. This important  milestone ushering in and underscoring the need for a much-deserved break. But a break is not always the same as a vacation, in my estimation. 

Anyhow... I had an interesting summer, filled with highs and lows. One thing became increasingly clear, in the interim. One of the best ways to keep this blog going and to combat writer's block in general, is to engage in things that feed the mind, body, and spirit. Wouldn't you agree?

See people. Go places. Read more. Take in some sun. Discover some new dishes. Embrace daily blessings.  Expand your horizons. To write is to live.

With this in mind, today I'm sharing some pics of my summer. Please note that my photography is not as developed as my writing! Pun intended.

Activities included backyard parties; local food fests; grilling good grub; shopping; reading in the sun; drinking lots of green tea; etc.

...

Feel free to share some of your summer highlights and lessons in the comments section.

Thanks for reading!

Want Greater Writing Success? Shift Your View!

NORMAN SHABEL

A fundamental question many people grapple with at all stages of life is: what brings me purpose and meaning?

From a young age, one answer stood out to me: writing fiction.  By the time I was in my twenties I had drafted several novels. Eventually, I penned 7 plays and 8 novels. Putting stories on paper then bringing them out into the world has always brought an unparalleled level of meaning to everyday life.  

But knowing what brings meaning is just one side of the equation. Finding ways to engage in meaningful activities amid life’s multiple constraints is another altogether. When I was just starting out, I was extremely busy building a career as a plaintiff’s attorney and prosecutor and raising a family.  I often squeezed writing in while I was hunched over my desk waiting for a jury verdict to come in.  Today, life is calmer and yet, there are always constraints. I no longer have the adrenaline of youth. My family has grown to include grandchildren. Traveling to see them, as well as to spend time with the many other people I care about, keeps me busier than I anticipated. There’s always something.

So, I have found a new way to keep the meaning of writing alive. That is, focusing my energy on sharing the stories I wrote in the past. In many respects, this has proven to be the most meaningful part of my writing journey.

Why?

First, my inspiration for writing was initially sparked by seeing the prejudices and injustices that riddle our legal system while I was practicing law.  These include judges’ and juries’ unconscious biases.  There are also hidden agendas that guide the decision-making process, and alliances between judges and defense lawyers, mayors, police and others in power.  All of this can shape what a jury hears in a case, therefore greatly influencing the outcome - and justice.  In writing legal thrillers, I wanted to show this to the world.  And I did.

For example, my novel Four Women is about four elderly women struggling to retain their homes in Miami despite greedy builders attempting to remove them to make a profit.  The protagonist -- their lawyer -- also represents a young father who fell into a vat of boiling sulfuric acid at the factory where he worked. He couldn’t sue his employer for negligence because the workers’ compensation laws in Florida favor the employer.  Both situations reflect incidents that, as a lawyer, I saw time and again.

These issues are still prominent in our legal system today, and I am still just as passionate about telling the world all about these behind-the-scenes forces.  Sharing my books allows me to do so.  Knowing that readers will learn from them, becoming more aware as citizens and empowered to take action to fight such injustices wherever they can brings me a tremendous sense of fulfillment.

Perhaps more importantly, I am deeply gratified to share the legacy of the real-life people -- women in particular -- who inspired many of the characters in my fiction. For example, my mother, Jeannette, who married at 14 and raised four children alone after my father was severely injured in a work accident. Her personal struggles as a welfare recipient inspired her to fight for the rights of others in New York’s welfare system. 

My Aunt Helen, too, had a formidable spirit, fighting for tenant rights in Coney Island after witnessing landlord neglect.  Aspects of their stories are woven into various novels and plays I have written, including Four Women.  It is immensely gratifying that by sharing my books, I am keeping their legacies alive.

So if you have found something that brings you meaning -- whether a hobby, a cause, a learning experience or a creative endeavor -- but fear that life’s constraints will hold you back from engaging in it, I invite you to shift your perspective.  

The imperatives of reality never go away; they merely evolve.  Instead of abandoning meaningful pursuits or giving up before you start, you can adapt them. For example:

• Break them down into a series of smaller steps and take them one step at a time.  

• Focus on the process and the parts of it that you enjoy instead of the end goal.

• Remind yourself why the activity brings you meaning and continue nurturing the aspects most closely related to this.  

In my case, the ability to share my stories has always been a key ingredient of the meaning writing brings me.  Today, I consider it a privilege to be able to focus on this aspect one hundred percent.

BIO

Norman Shabel is the author of eight novels, praised by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano as “terrific, fast-paced reads about the dark side of law enforcement and the judiciary.”  Many of his stories are inspired by his 55-year career as a plaintiff’s attorney and prosecutor, where he witnessed injustice and oppression on a daily basis; others draw on his experiences of Jewish family life and his astute observations of its unique, often hilarious, dynamics.  His novels include The Aleph Bet Conspiracy, Four Women and The Badger Game.  Also a prolific playwright, Shabel has written seven plays, three of which have been produced off-broadway in New York City, Philadelphia and Florida to rave reviews. Among them are A Class Act, Marty’s Back in Town, and Are the Lights Still on in Paris?  Born in Brooklyn, NY, Norman is retired from law and splits his time between New Jersey and Florida. He finds much joy spending time with his adult children, and his grandchildren.

For more information about Norman Shabel, his books and his plays, please visit https://normanshabel.net/.

 

Pen & Prosper Turns 15 on the Blogging Scene!

It's a beautiful spring day in the big city, and it's a pleasure to welcome and rejoin you here. As I count my blesssings, I count you among them. June, 2024 marks fifteen years in the blogosphere here! Yay!

I started this blog back in 2009 to share my love of the written word, share my writing experiences, learn, laugh and navigate the publishing industry.

A humble blog that started with a dozen or so readers has blossomed into a go-to site for writers of every level and genre, boasting numerous online awards and recognition.

Many of you have read faithfully, placed comments, sent questions, submitted guest posts, and cheered me on. Thank you. This would not be possible without you.

Blogging for 15 consecutive years is no small task. Believe me. I've seen many bloggers come and go.

Here are some fun facts in this 15th year of Pen & Prosper...

• According to my stats, Pen & Prosper has over 9,000 subscribers to date.
• It has been recognized as a "top blog for writers" over a dozen times, by other respected websites and media outlets.
• The blog has received 8,650 comments here.
• There have been over 920 posts.
• Pages viewed are 854,443.
•  Some of my most popular posts have been written by guests.
• Karen Lange has posted the most comments.
• Pen and Prosper has gone from weekly posts to monthly.
• Other than brief vacation breaks, this blog has never not been published on the regular, in 15 years.

ON ANOTHER CELEBRATORY NOTE..

Pen and Prosper is happy and proud to honor Black Music Month. Initially established and recognized in 1979 by President Carter, it recognizes the many contributions to the industry by people of color. Chances are, no matter what you like to groove to, someone of color has influenced, shaped, produced, or performed a few of those favorites.    

Below are some of my most enjoyed (and most played) Black musical artists:

JOHN LEGEND

TEMS

ARETHA FRANKLIN

THE WHISPERS

INDIA ARIE

ANITA BAKER

JILL SCOTT

NINA SIMONE

Any of your favorites listed on my list? Do tell.

Thanks for reading, folks!

Please note: Pen & Prosper will be on blog break until September, 2024.

Have a great, safe summer!

Image credits: Pixabay.com

Motivational Quotes For May* Spring Forward!

 

Greetings, readers!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend, full of good fun and good food. As we approach mid-year (in a few days) I wanted to share a few quotes to keep you inspired and informed for the dog days of summer.

I love motivational quotes.
I like to think of them as "Cliff Notes" to better living.
They can inspire, entertain, educate and uplift, with a few carefully chosen words.

So, if you're on board, let's begin!

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES & POINTS TO PONDER...

  "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train."

---OSCAR WILDE

"Talk low, talk slow, and don't say too much." 

---JOHN WAYNE 

"The reward of a thing well done, is to have done it." 

---RALPH WALDO EMERSON

"Whatever sentence will bear to be read twice, we may be sure was thought twice."

---HENRY DAVID THOREAU

"Poor companions are like the buttons on an elevator. They will either take you up or take you down."

"Handle them carefully, for words have more power than an atom bomb."

"When things go wrong, don't go wrong with them."

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

---Eleanor Roosevelt

What's your favorite quote?

Any exciting vacation plans? Do share in the comments.

Image credit: Flowers* David Lange--Coffee cup* Pixabay.com

A Book Review* From Crook to Cook by Snoop Dogg

 

Snoop Dogg really brings the "heat" with this fun, fierce cookbook with platinum recipes from every corner and every culture that he has created in his own kitchen. As most of you who have followed my blog on the regular might remember, I am a true foodie through and through.

I love to cook, entertain friends, and I love to eat. Matter of fact, one of my hobbies as well is collecting cookbooks. And my kitchen cookbook library is indeed impressive.

Anyway, I digress here. But, this book? This cookbook has fast become one of my favorites. To quote Snoop: "It's off the hizzle fo' shizzle" my peeps!

When it arrived courtesy of Amazon this week, I was geeked. Even before the big reveal. And trust me, it did not disappoint. It is beautifully designed with a rich black and gold cover, eye-appealing photos, and boasting pages of bright colors.

Also worth noting is the fact that the book is generous in terms of its assortment of eclectic recipes and page count. There are about 190 pages, divided into six chapters: breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, drinks, and parties.

All the recipes are family friendly and range from the silly (fried bologna sandwiches) to the sensational ( mixed cocktails and Thanksgiving meals).

The icing here, are all the interesting stories surrounding his travels and happenings from the hood. And recommendations of his favorite snacks when he has a munchies attack, ya' dig?

I would give this cookbook **** stars out of 5. Definitely an exciting, inviting read. Even as a collectible or as a conversation piece for your next party!

And with the Memorial Day holiday just ahead, you could be a big hit.

I'm just sayin'! Thanks for reading. And have a great, fun Memorial weekend.