. . . And the Envelope Please – Versatile Blogger Award

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Bloggers, blogging, Versatile Blogger Award, writers, writing

What a lovely way to start my weekend. Pete Denton nominated me for The Versatile Blogger Award. I am honored and flattered. Thank you Pete!

Blogging can sometimes feel like you are writing in a vacuum so it is nice to know there are people out there reading it and affirmation is always good for one’s spirits.

The rules of accepting the nomination are as follows:

1. Thank the person who nominated me. Done.
2. Include a link to his/her blog. Done.
3. Nominate fifteen blogs I enjoy and follow. See below.
4. Lastly, tell you seven things about myself. Yikes. I hope I can come up with seven interesting things to say. You be the judge by reading on.

Seven things about me you ask?

1. I cried when I typed the last word in my novel In Search of Beef Stroganoff. Not sure why.
2. I’ve been married for thirty years and have three beautiful daughters.
3. Feeding people feeds my soul. Hence, food is a central theme in my book.
4. I love to travel and would hop on the next plane if you handed me the ticket. Especially if it is a ticket to Paris.
5. I hate people who are cheap with their time and their money.
6. I will look up a word in the dictionary with the least provocation.
7. I love The Beatles.

And now it is my honor to nominate other bloggers. Check them out by clicking on their links.

Steel City Writers

Corey M. P. 

Random Olio

Photobotos

Nail Your Novel

Dotty Headbanger – Notes from a She-Hermit

ChristieAdams23

The Ugly Moose

Kate Arms-Roberts

Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

The Blabbermouth

Persephone

Bucket List Publications

The Hyperteller

The (Writer’s) Waiting Room

Thank you again Pete!

Book Giveaway Winner and Awards

Tags

Blog Awards, Book Giveaway, John R. Trimble, Kreativ Blogger Award, Reader Appreciation Award, writers, writing, Writing with Style

As promised, today I am announcing the winner of my “Name that Restaurant” contest. If you missed the post about the contest, click here. The lucky winner gets a copy of John R. Trimble’s book Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing.

Wow. I came to the right group of people when I asked for help naming the restaurant in my novel. The entries were fantastic and I am now forced to weave in 36 more restaurants in the story so I can use all the names!

And the winner is . . .  “Reverie” submitted by Jodie at One Writing Life. Congratulations!

Isn’t the restaurant name lovely? Jodie didn’t know this when she submitted Reverie, but here is a passage about my main character in my book:

“I grew from maestro at opening a tin of tuna for dinner to someone who derives tremendous pleasure from cooking. I even daydream about food when I am at work.”

So Jodie, here is my email address: robincoyle@gmail.com. Send me your address and I will ship a copy of Writing with Style to you.

The second part of this post is to acknowledge three blogging awards I received recently. The awards are Kreativ Blogger from The Wanderlust Gene, Reader Appreciation from J. Keller Ford, and  Tag! You’re It!” (more of a game than an award) from Fly Away Home Book. Thank you ladies!

Here I go again, but I am breaking the acceptance rules ~ except for making my nominations for the awards. As my thanks for playing the “Name that Restaurant” contest, all of the contestants are my nominees! Below are the links to their blog, along with the names they suggested. To celebrate, I say we all meet at Reverie for a drink and a bite to eatl.

This a talented bunch. Please check out their blogs; you won’t be disappointed!

One Writing Life ~ Reverie

Laura Stanfill ~ Cherie, The Snuggery, The Snug Eatery, Adam’s Corner, The Cozy Fox, Rustic, Rustica

4 am Writer ~ The Chef’s Table

Polly Robinson ~ LHAT (The acronym for “Life Happens Around the Table,” a sign over the restaurant’s fireplace.)

Vanessa Chapman ~ La Nappe Blanche (The White Tablecloth)

Ella Dee ~ Adamantine

Freelance Writer and Author ~ Interdit Desirs (French) or in English, Forbidden Desires

The Wanderlust Gene ~ Adam’s Table, Adam’s Kitchen, Round the Table

JM McDowell ~ Temptations

Richard Coyle ~ Bistro Richard (Ha ha, very funny honey. Just because your are my husband, it doesn’t mean I am naming Adam’s restaurant after you.)

The View Outside ~ The Fishbowl, The Alchemist, Enchanted, Valentines, Ravenous, Eve’s, Wicked

Zen Scribbles ~ Le Fruits du Paradis, Sinful Fruits

Legion Writer ~ Baby Lucy’s Bistro

Fly Away Home Book ~ Adam’s Place

Just Words ~ Felicia’s (or Alma’s) Tabella (She tells me the name Felicia in Italian means happy and Alma means giving nature.), Adam’s Tabella, Adam’s Basket

The Write Transition ~ Pain du Paradis

John the Aussie ~ Magirepse Me Tin Kardia Sou which is Greek for Cook with Your Heart.

Roll Out The Red Carpet Please . . .

Tags

blogging, Blogging Awards, writers, writing

~Actual photograph of Robin Coyle. My what a big mouth you have Grandma.

I am remiss in not acknowledging a fair few blogging awards.  My apologies go to the lovely (and astute, I might add) fellow-bloggers who deemed me worthy.

Because I need to remedy this situation, I am accepting all the awards at once. I know, I know. I’m breaking the rules.  But I like to think I am bending, not breaking.  My mother wouldn’t approve if I broke them.

The awards’ rules are similar so I am mushing them together.

1. Add the award to your blog. To be done.

2. Thank the bloggers who gave them to you and include a link to their blog. Check.

3. Mention random things about yourself. See below.

4. List the rules. You are reading my mushed version of them.

5. Give the award to more bloggers. See below.

Random Things you ask?

• I hate bringing in the garbage cans. Random enough?

• My uncle was a stage manager, actor, and director on Broadway. As a result, love the theater and know the words to the songs of every Broadway musical ever made. Except for the production of Spring Awakening from three years ago. I hated it.

• My dog William sits on the chair behind me while I write.  On MY chair, not another chair. His choice, not mine.

• Most of my education comes from crossword puzzles. I know more about history, the bible, Shakespeare, etc. from the Wall Street Journal and New York Times’ crossword puzzles rather than from university.

• I’ve solved several world problems while puttering in the garden. Best productive thinking time ever. Mr. Obama should call me.

• I call myself a book-lover, but don’t allow myself much time to read. What is up with that?

• I make a mean guacamole. Wanna come over for margaritas and chips for my award ceremony?

My nominees you ask with bated breath? The lovely people who nominated me for the awards!

Shian Writes  – Versatile Blogger award. Shian is a writer, poet, and movie buff, but she is keeping the rest a secret.  Shhh . . .

Before I Forget – Liebster Award. You never know what you are going to get here – music, cartoons, writing, thoughts about her classroom, etc. – but she always amuses.

Fly Away Home Book – Liebster Award. Maggie is a Jersey Shore girl (no, not the TV show) transplanted in Norway and a published author. Oh, and she is delightful.

All Things Boys – Kreativ Blogger Award. The title of Arnel’s blog is misleading. She shares her humorous take on LIFE.

C.B. Wentworth – Kreativ Blogger Award (Hey, shouldn’t it be “Kreativ Speller Award?”). Here you will find essays, poetry, music, travel, and a potpourri of other fun or interesting reads. Or both.

Sara Flower’s Blog – Beautiful Blogger Award. Sara is a fellow writer and inspiration. Plus, she described me as beauty with brains so I think I am in love with her.

Mike is Happy. Relatively. – Beautiful Blogger Award. I laugh out loud at every one of Mike’s posts. Roll on the floor laughter.

Ella Dee – Thank You Award and ABC Award. Ella Dee’s blog tag line is “I like words. My favourite word is happy.” Gotta love someone like her.

Fear No Weebles – Sunshine and Beautiful Blogger Award. Another fellow writer and her blog is just plain fun. Watch for her “Hot Dead Guy” contests.

Fashion and Style Guru – Very Inspiring Blogger Award and One Lovely Blog Award. They blog about, well . . . fashion and style, but it is more than an issue of Glamour Magazine. By the way, the photo at the top of their blog is me.

The View Outside – Reader Appreciation Award. Vikki makes me think about writing and the process of writing. Always a good thing.

Wanton Creation – Reader Appreciation Award. As per his “About” page, “I read, write, teach, love, fly, timetravel…ahem…and I live in Australia. Sometimes I like to travel by kangaroo (this is a lie, nobody actually does this).”

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the awards. I’m blushing.

Note to the nominees ~ don’t feel you need to accept and nominate others again, unless you want to!

Affirmation is a Lovely Thing

Tags

Affirmation, Blogging Awards, Sunshine Award, Versatile Blogger Award, writers, writing

selosunshineaward (Photo credit: zizabra)

The Versatile Blogger Award (Photo credit: nhighberg)

How cool is this? I had the honor to receive two blogging awards in just as many days.

The first was the Versatile Blogger Award from the lovely Nicola at What’s it all about and other stories. Sarah, the delightfully Introverted Blogger nominated me for the second honor  – the Sunshine Award. Both of their blogs are spot-on and you should check them out!

Since I already accepted the Versatile Blogger Award and because the “rules” are similar, I’ll simply give you my responses to the Sunshine Award.

The rules:

• Include the award’s logo in a post or on your blog. Happy to!
• Answer 10 questions about yourself. See below.
• 10-12 other fabulous bloggers must be nominated. Also see below.
• Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.  Will do.
• Share the love and link the person who nominated you. See above. Thank you guys! I am honored and pleased as punch.

And now my answers:

• Favorite color: Any shade of blue.
• Favorite animal: Dogs.
• Favorite number: 5 because I was born on September 5th and there are 5 people in my sweet family.
• Favorite non-alcoholic drink: Diet Coke to a fault.
• Prefer Facebook or Twitter? I have a love-hate relationship with both.
• My passion: Do I have to pick just one? To heck with the Sunshine-y rules . . . my family, reading, writing, gardening, travel, and being in the mountains.
• Prefer getting or giving presents:  Both.
• Favorite pattern: Paisley?
• Favorite day of the week: Friday because the weekend lies ahead.
• Favorite flower: All.

And now my nominees (this was hard – too many good ones to pick from!):

• Nolan Parker – Two writers who write about getting their first book published.
• Harper Faulkner at All Write – Harper is a reader, writer, and traveller.
• Tilly Bud at The Laughing Housewife – Guaranteed to make you smile.
• Subtle Kate – Interesting posts on just about everything.
• Vanessa Chapman – A freelance writer and actor.
• Tess Kann at Let’s Cut the Crap/How the Cookie Crumbles – She shares her irreverent view of life after sixty-five.
• Kreda at Just Words – You never know what you are going to get but it is always fun.
• JM McDowell – An archaeologist turned novelist.
• Judith Adwood at Diabetic Redemption – Don’t let the name of the blog fool you. Judith writes on all sorts of topics.
• Sarah at Sarsm – A English born, Scotland raised writer living in Germany.
• Ella Dee at Ella Dee Words – Her tag line is “I like Words. My favorite word is happy.” Gotta love that!
• Brad Geagley – One of the lucky published writers out there.

Blogging can feel like speaking (er, writing) in a vacuum. It is lovely to receive affirmation that someone out there is listening (reading) and liking what they hear (see). Thank you all!

Strong vs Weak Words ~ Part 39 ~ The Order of the Story

Tags

editing tips, Self-editing, Storytelling, Strong vs Weak Words, Strong Words, The Order of the Story, Weak Words, writers, writing, writing tips

As you might recall, I attended the Writer’s Digest Conference in Los Angeles in September. I learned a thing or two and felt all grown-up and writerly sitting among real writers.

In one of the sessions, author Steven James spoke about the “Six Secrets to Novel Writing No One Ever Told You.” One of the secrets was the proper handling of cause and effect in your storytelling. Huh. Never thought about that.

Mr. James said, “Everything that happens in a story is caused by the thing that precedes it.” Huh, again.

His premise is you should tell your story in the order things happen. Why make your reader circle back, retrace their steps, and need breadcrumbs find their way back to the trail of the storyline.

Sure, there are places for a flashbacks and circular storytelling if you are so inclined. But that is a topic for someone smarter than moi to tackle.

It is better to propel the story forward, rather than explain what just happened. The difference is subtle, but there is a difference.

For example . . .

Instead of: Main character did yadda, yadda, yadda because something, something happened.

Try: Something, something happened so your character did yadda, yadda, yadda.

In many cases, it is simply a matter of switching the order of your sentence, or sentences, by using “so” or “and” rather than “because” and “when.”

Let’s see if I can make more sense here with some examples.

Charles Dickens squealed with delight when he discovered Robin’s blog.

Chuck squeals?

Charles Dickens discovered Robin’s blog and snorted in disgust.

~~~~~

William Shakespeare followed Robin’s blog because her words are riveting.

 Mr. Shakespeare is Robin’s biggest fan.

Robin writes nonsense so Billy-boy Shakespeare unfollowed her blog.

 ~~~~~

“You are one smart cookie,” Robin said to John Steinbeck when he praised Robin’s blog.

He must have been hitting the bottle.

When John Steinbeck wrote a scathing review of Robin’s blog, she said, “How could you be so cruel, John-John?”

~~~~~

How about a longer example in a non-Pulitzer-worthy paragraph form . . .

Robin put a shelf up for all the new awards she was sure would come her way because she wrote what she thought was brilliant blog post. She screamed in horror when there was a mass exodus of followers because of the drivel she wrote. Moments before, she was happy as a clam at high tide. Embarrassed, she took down her blog and faded into blogging oblivion. Robin’s post offended many bloggers.

In the above example, here is the order of what happened.

Put up a shelf
Wrote a blog post
Screamed
Mass exodus
Was happy
Quit blogging
Offended bloggers

Robin wrote what she thought was a brilliant blog post. She was happy as a clam at high tide and put up a shelf for all the new awards she was sure would come her way. But her drivel offended many bloggers and there was a mass exodus of followers from her blog. When she saw people leaving in droves, Robin screamed in horror. Embarrassed, Robin decided to give up the ghost.

In that example, the order is linear.

Wrote a blog post
Was happy
Put up a shelf
Offended bloggers
Mass exodus
Screamed
Quit blogging

See the difference?

For the record, I have 148 “because-s” in my novel. I’m off to see what I can do about that.

Don’t forget I put all of the Strong vs Weak Word posts under a link on the left sidebar in case you need a cure for insomnia.

Are You Kidding? 2012 Blog of the Year?

Tags

2012 Blog of the Year, blogging, Blogging Awards, writers, writing

Hello folks . . .

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It is official; the holidays are here. They were heralded in by 5,000 calories on a plate, Uncle Joe sleeping it off in front of the football game, and crazy people shopping door-buster deals at 3:00 am. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a fist fight over a flat-screen TV.

All jokes aside, I received an early Christmas gift from my friend Maggie Myklebust at Fly Away Home Books. Granted, she was in a post-virtual-cocktail-party-stupor when she gave it to me, but I am thankful nonetheless.

In all her foggy-headed wisdom, she bestowed this blog with the 2012 Blog of the Year award. I can hear Maggie saying right now, “I did whaaaaaa? Someone hand me the Pepto.”

Who, me?

The timing of her misguided generosity in naming this humble blog as a 2012 Blog of the Year is in sync with a post rattling around in my head. I recently asked in an unscientific study:

Why did you start a blog?

Why do you keep blogging?

What do you want/get out of blogging?

Price Waterhouse analyzed the answers and reported the results to me in an envelope sealed with a cool gold sticker. Just like at the Academy Awards.

To a man, woman, and child, we started blogging for different reasons, but we KEEP blogging for the same reason  . . . the wonderful community spirit and fellowship we’ve found in the blogosphere. Ella Dee said it best when she described it as a “WordPress Community Garden.”

We talk about the aura, feel, and appeal of blogging. It is mysterious and hard to name. However, I have concrete examples of the magic that has happened to me because of my blog. I bet you have similar stories.

In a comment conversation with Mike Allegra on his blog Hey Look a Writer Fellow, I jokingly asked him to do one of his cute doodles for my daughter in the Army. Bam . . . two days later this was in my mailbox.

BCGs are Birth Control Glasses. No need for Birth Control when you wear these!

Mike did this doodle even though he was busy swimming upstream in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy’s deluge. While doing the backstroke, he made sure it arrived in time for Veteran’s Day. How is that for community spirit?

While I was in the throes of my dad in critical condition in the hospital, Unfettered BS, T.W. Dittmer, All Things Boys Blog, and Maddie Cochere at Breezy Books, sent emails to check in on me. (My apologies if I am forgetting anyone.) Paula Acton sent me a letter in the mail from jolly old England. These folks don’t know my dad or me. But their kind and caring spirit shined through their words. Their notes came at opportune times for me . . . when I was at my lowest point.

All Thing Boys Blog and Corey, M.P. became beta readers of my novel after I bribed them with chocolate. I’m kidding. They volunteered. Like they don’t have enough on their plate. Their comments and suggestions were invaluable.

Carrie Rubin at The Write Transition mentioned my Strong vs Weak Word series in the acknowledgements of her freshly published novel Seneca Scourge. If that wasn’t enough to make my button burst, she sent me an autographed copy of her book. She didn’t need to do that; even though it may be the only time I see my name in print.

On a similar note, Maddie at Breezy Books gifted me a copy of her book after she stumbled upon my Strong vs Weak Word series. I suspect it was a bribe to keep me from doing any further posts in the series.

Pete Denton was smart crazy enough to give this blog its first award. Pete’s kindness gave me the confidence to keep going at a time when I thought, “Why the heck am I doing this?” and was ready to toss in the towel and keyboard.

A happy-go-lucky and witty blogger started a private blog as a place to share the darker side of her life story. I was one of the first people she invited to her private blog. I am touched that she feels safe in sharing her world with me.

Over the summer I posted the letters our daughter Amanda sent us from Army Basic Training and your heartfelt support of her commitment to our country made me cry more than once. Let’s not forget the dozens of letters my bloggy friends sent to her platoon. No one needed to do that, but you did.

Then, there are the faithful followers, likers, and commenters who play along with me even when my post is lame-o.

There are many more examples of “the magic,” but I’ll leave it at that for now.

The rules of accepting this award aren’t fair. One of the rules is to NOT alter the rules, to which I say:

Dear Thinker-Upper-of This-Award:

You ask the impossible in telling me to single out blogs for this award. Ergo, I won’t. The list of my nominees would too long and the post would set a world’s record for “Most Links in one Post.”

Respectfully,

Robin “The Rule Breaker” Coyle

Thank you Maggie for this honor. I am blessed to have you, and all my other blogging friends as, well . . . friends.

What magic has happened to you because of your blog?

P. S. My dad is back in the hospital. I’ll be in and out of blogging and reading blogs once again.

Strong vs Weak Words ~ Part 33 ~ Tautologies

Tags

editing, editing tips, Overused Words, Self-editing, Strong vs Weak Words, Strong Words, Weak Words, writers, writing, Writing Advice, writing tips

This isn’t a Strong vs Weak Words post. It is more like a “Why Use so Many Words?” post. We use these expressions every day, but the words are redundant. The writerly term for the phrases is “tautology.”

If it is out of stock, we don’t have it! (Photo credit: quinn.anya)

According to Mr. Wick E. Pedia, a tautology is “using different words to say the same thing, or a series of self-reinforcing statements that cannot be disproved because they depend on the assumption that they are already correct.

Here are seven examples for you. I will share bunches more in future posts, but I can’t wait to see what you have to add. Comment here and I will do a post summarizing your “ack” phrases.

 

It takes a great amount of time to read Robin’s blog.

Why, why, why bother?

It takes time to read Robin’s blog. 

~~~~~

Each and every time I log-on to Robin’s blog, I learn something new. 

Robin Coyle? You are kidding, right?

 When I read Robin’s blog, I want to tear out my hair. 

~~~~~

It is a true fact Robin knows what she is talking about.

Amen, sister!

Robin doesn’t know what she is talking about.

~~~~~

The one and only blog I read is Robin’s.

Again, why waste your time?

One blog I avoid is Robin’s incessant blah, blah, blah, barf. 

~~~~~ 

Robin wore a dress green in color to her award ceremony.

She looks good in green. Matches her skin. 

Robin’s green dress was a fashion mistake. 

~~~~~ 

Robin approached the stage to accept her Pulitzer at a great rate of speed.

Is the nomination committee on drugs? 

Robin’s speed as she took the stage took out an old lady.

~~~~~

In my personal opinion, Robin is the best blogger on the planet. 

Are you on drugs?

My opinion? Robin can’t write her way out of a paper bag.

Is there any other kind of access? (Photo credit: mikecogh)

Two Guardian Angels for Moi, a Writing Contest Loser

Tags

ABC Award, blogging, writers, writing

My bitter disappointment (ooh . . . look who is being dramatic) over not winning the writing contest (see previous post) was pacified when two guardian angels swooped down and handed me the ABC (Awesome Blog Content) Award. What a lovely consolation price. Don’t you just love it when guardian angels are all swoopy-?

My angels, Corey at Corey M.P. and Ms. Katykins at Come and Check This Out are delightful and I owe them a debt of gratitude.

The award asks the recipient to name 26 alphabetical things about themselves and then nominate other bloggers. Here we go!

Me from A to Z

A = Adaptable (I was tempted to say “Adorable” but decided I should remain humble lest you un-follow and delete me.)

B = Blonde (At least I used to be.)

C = Cheerleader-to-all (You guys rock!)

D = Dedicated (And Determined.)

E = Efficient (I am the Tasmanian Devil of the To-Do list.)

F = Feeding people (Come over for dinner!)

G = Germy (I have a cold . . . sniff.)

H = Humble (See Letter A above.)

I = Interesting (At least I strive to be.)

J = Joyful (Yup.)

K = Kind (Yup.)

L = Loving (Except when my mother-bear comes out.)

M = Mom (Three beautiful daughters.)

N = Nature-lover (Give me the mountains and I am happy.)

O = Organized (My husband and kids think I am the Google Maps app for locating everything in our house.)

P = Planner (I am in my element when I have something to plan.)

Q = Queen (Oops. Make that Quaint.)

R = Reader (But not enough time.)

S = Sensible (Except for when it comes to shoes. I love a good pair of uncomfortable heels.)

T = Tenacious (Watch out when I latch on to a project.)

U = Unique (Don’t read that as weird please.)

V = Virtuous (I don’t know any other way to operate.)

W = Writer (My kids would have said “Worrier.”)

X = X-Ray-able (Sorry.)

Y = Yacky (Love a good conversation.)

Z = Zippy (Well, that sums it all up.)

And the nominees are . . .

Hover Craft Doggie is a treat for the eye. They are architects and post one stunning photo with a pithy title that draws you into their blog.

Dodging Commas is always fun and thought provoking.

Lime Is Better makes me want to be a part of their blog so I can ask, “Better than what?”

Sadie and Daisie posts three themed-photos and I am moved to comment every time they post.

Blurt is an irreverent and amusing blogger and takes me by surprise. Ask him about his job.

Ella Dee is a sweetheart and everyone should read her blog.

Wanderlust Gene shares insight, humor, and lovely photos from far away lands.

Thank you again for the ego-boosting award Corey and Katykins . . . aka my angels.