Mike's Writing Nook

James Maxey and the Free Book

2009-07-10T06:14:00.001-07:00

Recently I did an interview with author, James Maxey. It was a great experience. He answered the questions so honestly and thoroughly, which really added to the experience.

The other day, I got a surprise email from James. He asked me if I’d like a free copy of his upcoming book, signed to boot! Now how cool is that?

Of course I said I’d love a copy. In fact, I was thinking about hitting my local Chapters to buy a copy of his book, but now I won’t have to. Once I’m finished the book, I’ll add the review to my book review lens I created for James’s series.

Needless to say, even two days later I’m hyped about the book. Yes, it really doesn’t take that much to make me happy.

Book Review of Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar

2009-06-15T06:48:00.000-07:00

I’ve been keeping busy and I just recently finished a book called, Lonely Werewolf Girl. It wasn’t a bad read, but I have read better. I can definitely see how some people would really enjoy this book while others wouldn’t.

If you’re looking for a book review of Lonely Werewolf Girl, click on this link and you shall be rewarded. On that site you will find a review and links to Martin Millar’s blog, website and FaceBook page, among other things.

How to Write an Article in 20 Minutes or Less

2009-06-04T05:53:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I posted a link that shows you how to write an eBook. Today I will post one that will show you how to write a decent article in twenty minutes or less. Article writing is essential if you want to market yourself, which is why it's always a good thing to brush up on your technique.

Here's the link: How to Write an Article

I hope the link helps you in some small way. I know I put a lot of effort into writing it and making it as complete as possible. In the meantime, good luck with your writing endeavours!

How to Write an eBook

2009-06-02T12:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to know precisely how to write an eBook?

If so, here’s a link for you that explains just that. I created it recently on Squidoo, and it’s getting some nice attention and hopefully giving people the confidence and knowledge to write their very own eBook.

Once you’ve read the lens, How to Write an eBook, you should be able to get a solid start on your eBook. However, if you’re still a bit confused or have a question that I didn’t cover, feel free to hit the ‘contact me’ button in my bio. It’s located on the top right hand corner of the lens. You can also leave a message or question in the guestbook located at the very bottom of the lens.

Hope you like it and good luck!

Interview with Author D.B. Reynolds!

2009-05-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had an interview with published author, D.B. Reynolds. I just finished reading her book, Raphael. Actually, I read it in less than two days, that’s how good it was. I received it Thursday afternoon in the mail, and had finished reading it by Friday night.

It’s really nice to see new authors emerging and succeeding, especially ones as good as D.B. Reynolds. I thoroughly enjoyed Raphael, and afterward I wrote up a review and landed the interview. The answers are fascinating.

If you’d like to read it yourself, come on by and tell me what you think. At the bottom of the review, there is a guestbook for readers to leave comments. Of course, you can always come on back here and leave a comment too. The important thing being that you get to read the interview and review.

Here’s the link if you’re interested: Raphael Review

April 28 and I'm Blue

2009-04-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

My laptop went on the fritz today. It just started opening internet windows for nothing. Before I could shut it down and reboot, it had opened 41 pages without my consent.

Look! You’re a machine, not the master. If I want an internet window opened, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, just look pretty and above all else, just do as you’re told.

I told it, huh?

I’m sitting here now with a pretty big headache. Nothing life threatening yet, but it’s there. However, despite my headache, I’ve managed to pump out another mini-site. Here they are:

-The Ten Best Female Rock Bands
-Top Fifteen Greatest Hits Albums of All Time

-April Fool's Day Ideas

Stop by if you’re interested. I put a lot of work into these ones, and they’re full of cool posters and pictures. I think you’ll enjoy them.

Oh, and for the female rock bands – ROCK bands is the word you need to keep in mind. Not all-time female bands, but rock bands. That means pop stars like Madonna and Cher do not count!

Take care dear reader. I’ll be back soon...once this headache lifts.

Article Writing Advice

2009-04-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

It’s been a wee bit since I last wrote in my blog. I think I’m going to open another blog that will feature Squidoo lenses by me and other people. It’s a really great community, and I’m enjoying writing up mini-sites.

In fact, I recently wrote a lens about how to write a Squidoo lens. While it was mainly for the purpose of lens creation, the tips can be applied to web writing in general. If you’re interested, check out Writing for Squidoo.

I also created a lensography. Don’t know what that is? Well, basically, it’s a little bit about me, some pictures and a categorized listing of the lenses I’ve created so far.

Moving right along...

I recently snagged a huge contract writing fitness reports. I’m super happy that I closed the deal. I won’t be looking for work any time in the near future, that’s for sure. The job consists of 18-15 page reports, and I’m very excited about it.

I recently conducted an interview with author, James Maxey. At the time, I was out of my head with excitement. It’s not every day that you get to interview a published author. Not only was he nice enough to allow me to question him, but he was an all around cool guy. He answered every question thoroughly, and I was quite pleased with the results.

Humour Writing Anyone?

2009-04-07T06:52:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy two weeks. It seems that every client in the last two weeks wants work done, but they wanted it yesterday. However, I've managed to get most of it done, which is all that matters.

I'm still working slowly...very slowly...on my ghostwriting eBook. I find it kind of funny that I can write an eBook for a client in a week or so, but I can't find the willpower to write my own!

I have kept active at Squidoo though. I'm still enjoying creating lenses. I thought the novelty would have worn off by now, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I created two new lenses a few days ago. One jumped to #6 in the humour category, and the other was blessed by two Squidangels, which made me feel good.

Want to check them out?

Here's the links: Uncool-cool people and What do Women Want in a Man?

I don't consider myself a funny writer, but so far those lenses are doing well. I've had lots of comments, which is always a good thing. I think I'm going to keep creating top ten lists that are amusing, since I seem to enjoy taking a break from the mundane writing I usually do from day-to-day.

That's it for now. I'll return and update in a few days. Thanks for reading. If actually visit the links to the Squidoo lenses, perhaps you can leave a comment here. Let me know if you liked them or didn't like them. :)

Ghostwriting and Squidoo Go Hand in Hand

2009-03-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

I'm getting more and more addicted to Squidoo. It allows me to write about what interests me, and it's a great way to meet new people. In fact, I'm now on my 7th lens! My ultimate goal is to reach Giant Squid status. To do that, I need 50 lenses and they all have to be well done.

Now I'm no Squidoo master by any means, but I do put a lot of effort into each and every lens. I try to make them full of information, appealing and useful to the reader. I also try to be as honest as possible.

If you'd like to see my new Squidoo lens, please come and visit: Bodybuilding Revealed.

On to other things now. My ghostwriting business has really exploded over the past few days. I was never out of work, but when it rains it pours. I had three large projects flood in yesterday and a few smaller ones. I should be working on them now, actually, instead of writing this blog post, but everyone deserves a break, right?

If you're reading this, I hope you have a wonderful day! I know I will.

The Godspeaker Trilogy

2009-03-23T09:25:00.001-07:00

As promised, I've read the entire Godspeaker Trilogy and here is an in depth review for you: Godspeaker Trilogy

It's been a busy few weeks. I'm still working on my book, although it's going slower than I had anticipated. It seems time is something to be cherished, and I'll admit, when I get some time off from writing, it's tough to do personal writing for myself. I've managed to write another 5 pages or so in the last week though.

I've begun using Twitter as a means to find people with similar interests. At first, I didn't think I'd like it, but I do. It's amazing how many people you can meet on there. I started out following 3 people, but my list has grown to 40. Not too shabby, me thinks.

If you'd like to follow me on Twitter, here's the URL: Twitter

And yes, if you follow me, I'll follow you in return. I like reading other people's thoughts.

I've begun reading the Night Watch series. I've heard some good things about it, so I decided to pick up the first book and give it a go.

Have you, dear reader, read the Night watch series?

If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Let me know if you liked it or hated it!

That's it for now. Make sure you visit my Godspeaker Trilogy lens and leave a rating if you like it.

Debate Anyone?

2009-03-10T16:45:00.000-07:00

I'm continuing my Squidoo journey and had an idea for another lens. I decided to start a lens that would feature controversial topics, and that's what I did. While the lens isn't doing too badly in terms of visitors, I'm sad to see that only one of them commented on the debateable issues.

I'd love to see more involvement!

If you want to have a look at the lens, you can find it here: http://www.squidoo.com/CanadianPoliticsDebate

Alright, moving right along...

I’ve read a number of books in the last few weeks, but nothing worth reviewing here. I’m having a bad streak, truth be told. The books I’ve read so far have been average at best--at least in my humble opinion. However, I’ve started a book called ‘Empress’ by Karen Miller that shows promise. I’m only on page 182 right now, but I am enjoying it.

Stay tuned and I’ll probably do a review on this book in a few days. It shouldn’t take me too long to finish, since I’m a very fast reader.

Tonight I plan on hitting the casino. And no, I am not a big gambler. Corri’s grandmother is though, so I’m going to take her out for a few hours tonight to get her out of the house. She enjoys getting out, and at age 87, she can do whatever she wants!

Dumb criminal and eBook cover

2009-03-06T05:55:00.000-08:00

The video has nothing to do with writing, but I couldn't resist. I found the video the other night, and I almost died laughing. The video itself is funny, but the guys commentary makes it even more amusing.

I love dumb criminal videos. It's funny enough seeing ordinary people do stupid things, but it's far more satisfying to see someone who deserves it do something moronic.

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the video as much as I did.

As promised, here is the rough draft of my eBook cover in 3D. I love this cover! Let me know what you think. I realize there is a comma in the subtitle that doesn't belong there. Hey, my artist is good at art, not reading and writing. Haha.

I should be getting the final draft today. Now all I have to do is finish the book. That's about it. It's a beautiful day outside. I think this is going to be a good day. I'm off to use my bowflex for a bit.

My New eBook Cover is Almost Finished!

2009-03-05T10:44:00.000-08:00

Wow! I'm so excited. I'm in the process of writing an eBook on ghostwriting; how to start up a ghostwriting business, how to find clients, what you'll need to begin ghostwriting and a whole lot more. I'm really working hard on the eBook so that it's the best it can be. I want people to read it, enjoy it and walk away with the knowledge and confidence it takes to start up their own ghostwriting business.

Right now, I have about 30 pages written. However, I hired a professional graphic artist to design my cover. The first draft wasn't very appealing, and I have to admit, I was a bit worried. I thought that perhaps I'd hired the wrong guy, but he came through big time last night. I absolutely love the cover.

I'd post a picture of it, but I've only seen the rough draft in PDF format. But as soon as I receive the final copy, I'll be sure to post it here first.

Alright, I'm going to do a happy dance now. Talk to you all again soon!

Squidoo and a Blog Move

2009-03-04T06:03:00.000-08:00

I was using WordPress as a blog platform, but it seems too complicated to use the features. I even asked my 13 year old son to help, and he couldn't figure it out. That's a bad sign. I mean, he's practically a cyborg, hooked at the wrist to his laptop! If he can't figure it out, then I have no chance whatsoever.

So, I switched to Blogger this morning. The features seem easier to use for a newb like me, and the layout looks good. I know a few people who use Blogger as a platform, and they like it. I pasted a few posts from my old blog into this one, and I'll delete the other one in a few seconds.

Squidoo

Squidoo-what fun!

I've never used Squidoo before, but on the weekend I created two lenses on writing. They can be found here:

If you're reading this, it would be wonderful if you stopped by my lenses and left a comment and some feedback. I worked on them the entire weekend. At the top of the lens, you can also leave a rating.

Squidoo rocks. It's almost like having a hobby. You can create a lens on anything you want, and it's fun to do...at least for me. I like reading the comments I get on my lenses and the people who use Squidoo seem very friendly and helpful.

I was so excited that I began my own Group called The Readers and Writers Group on Squidoo. At first I was hesitant, but I'd like to give back to the Squidoo community, and frankly, a lot of the groups are just used as promotional tools for the group leaders. I'd like to create a group that's about the members. Not all about me, but us as a community of like-minded people.

Well, that's all for now. Thanks for reading.

Three Books That Can Improve Your Writing

2009-03-04T05:59:00.000-08:00

People ask me which books I would recommend to writers. I suppose because I write full-time as a ghostwriter, and I’ve had the honour of having my short stories published several times, that my opinion might matter to some people.

This by no means makes me an expert. I’ve never published a full-length novel, and I’m always striving to improve my writing skills.

The truth is that I’ve read multiple books on writing, and most of them offered very little advice that I didn’t already know. I’ve only found three books that were invaluable, and I’ve read a few more that were helpful. This blog post is going to deal with the three books that were invaluable. If you’re a writer, I strongly recommend that you pick up one or two of these books.

On Writing

Stephen King’s book titled, On Writing is an amazing book. I’ve read it twice, and while it’s full of treasure for the average writer, it’s written in such a way that it tells a story of sorts, which makes it a very interesting read.

And let’s face it, who better to learn from than the world’s most successful horror writer!
I keep this book in my reference library. That way it’s always within reach. For fiction writers, there is no better book in my opinion.

The Novel Writers Toolkit

The Novel Writer’s Toolkit is written by bestselling author, Bob Mayer. It was the first book I ever read on writing, and I’m glad I did.

The Novel Writer’s Toolkit will educate you about almost everything a serious novel writer needs to know. For example, Bob tells us about how important a writers surroundings are, how to grasp an idea and flesh it out, how to plot your story and how to submit the final draft to a publisher.

Secrets of a Freelance Writer: How to Make $85,000 a Year

Robert Bly is one of the most successful freelance writer’s in the world. I read Secrets of a Freelance Writer in just one day, and while some of his claims about making extravagant amounts of money for his writing seem unreal, the book is chalk full of good advice.

Most of us will never earn the type of fees that Mr. Bly describes in his book. However, it did fill me with hope, and it’s full of good advice, especially if you’re a freelance writer or ghostwriter. Robert has written a number of other books on freelance writing, but I haven’t read them to date.

If you’ve read any of his other books, I’d appreciate it if you left a comment. Whether you liked it or hated it, your opinion matters.

Keep an eye on this blog. I’ll post a few more writing books that I found helpful in the near future. Again, all comments are welcome and appreciated, even if you don’t agree with my assessment of the books mentioned above.

Book Review-The Terror by Dan Simmons

2009-03-04T05:56:00.000-08:00

The Terror was absolutely amazing. I saw it at Chapters (my favourite hang-out) and I have to admit, I was a bit worried. I don’t really enjoy books that take place on ships. I find the ship-jargon confusing, and there’s really only so much that can go on in a ship. However, this book really delivered. It was exciting, and it blended fact with fiction in a mesmerizing blend that was beautiful to read.

I read half the book, and was bragging about it to my Dad, who then informed me that the book is based on real history. I was flabbergasted, but he was right. The book is about the doomed Franklin expedition of the 1840’s. Franklin was looking for the North-west passage, when his ship, and that of the Terror, become stranded in the ice.
From there, both crews face starvation, dwindling coal supplies and the elements, with no hope on the horizon. Scurvy begins eating away at the crews, and then Dan Simmon’s adds in a horror element. Not only do the crews of the Terror and Erebus have to contend with deprivation and freezing temperatures, but they also have to face a monster that seems content to pick away at their numbers.

I love being surprised by a book. Nothing is better than having low expectations, and being surprised by an author’s mastery. Dan Simmons weaves flawless story-telling, with fiction and history to produce a book that pulled me in and wouldn’t let go. I learned about history, was entertained and had the chance to live through the horrors and hardships that beset both the Terror and the Erebus during that fateful expedition in the 1840’s.

If you enjoy historical fiction—in fact, even if you don’t, but just like a good yarn, I recommend The Terror with flying colors.

Overall Rating: 5/5