Maine Writer and Photographer

Occupy Wall Street -- Reggae (Live Recording)

2011-12-19T13:39:00.000-05:00

We're getting there! While the numbers on YouTube take their time catching up to the "real" amount of hits, we're at 700 for just two weeks and should be close to 800 by tonight anyway, even though it won't show that until tomorrow or the day after.
Here's our video. Please share, place on your FB pages, etc. Thank you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFV7MOAW0wc

OCCUPY REGGAE -- WE'RE THE 99 (OFFICIAL)

2011-12-04T23:48:00.000-05:00

Please check out our video and please put it on your Facebook. Let's get this message out there. Let's get this video around the world and back! Thank you for your assistance in promoting this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFV7MOAW0wc

Writing Tips for Freelancers

2011-11-30T20:14:00.000-05:00

Here is a new article: http://writinghood.com/writing/tips-for-freelance-writers-seeking-work-on-the-internet/

Maine : A Winter Destination for More Than Skiing

2011-11-29T13:33:00.001-05:00

The article I wrote with the above-listed title can be found here: http://trifter.com/usa-canada/maine-a-winter-destination-for-more-than-skiing/

A Unique Gift For the Person Who Has Everything

2011-09-15T21:27:00.017-04:00

A UNIQUE GIFT FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING
Are you looking for a gift idea for the person who has everything? Here's a unique gift idea--a personalized poem for a special occasion or for a special person. Personalized poetry can be written for any occasion, including birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, parties, Valentine's Day, romantic occasions, Christmas, retirement, graduation, baby showers, bridal showers, bachelor parties, bachelorette parties, and so on. The list is endless. It's easy too. All you have to do is provide some information about your recipient and a custom poem will be written for that person or occasion. The customized poetry can be read aloud to a group. It can also be sent or given to your recipient as a gift. The website is http://www.poemsforalloccasions.com/. I can be reached at poet@poemsforalloccasions.com for any questions. The poem can be emailed to you, or I can mail it, either on plain card stock paper or on design paper. If I need additional information, I will email you for clarification.

A GIFT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS EVERYTHING
This is a gift that will be long remembered. It shows that you care and that you put some extra thought into your gift. Don't know how to say what you want to say? Let me say it for you with a poem for the special occasion. I can also write prose, including marriage proposals (unless poetry is desired for the proposal), letters, speeches, toasts and stories.

Poetry Reading in Tenants Harbor, Maine, Friday August 19 at 5:00 p.m.

2011-08-18T15:05:00.003-04:00

This poetry get-together features four outstanding poets whose styles are different, but you're bound to find a few that get your attention. This is the 15th annual poetry reading in Tenants Harbor. There is no admission fee. The poets' books will be available for sale, and there are some anthologies, including a new one, featuring these poets. It's always refreshing to hear Mary Burchenal read her poignant or hilarious poems. Watching Elizabeth Gordon McKim, a performance artist, has become an annual ritual. Also reading will be David Riley, whose poems have been published in various anthologies and poetry journals, and Chris Fahy, author of fifteen books including a collection of poems. The reading begins at 5:30 but it's best to get there earlier if you want to park in their small lot (there is street parking available). Also, at 5:00 you can enjoy light snacks and buy any of the poets' books or anthologies. This event is always well-attended and is a popular event and fun evening. The reading usually finishes around 7:00 p.m.
Location for event: http://knox.villagesoup.com/ae/story/poets-mark-15th-summer-of-readings/432632

PoemsForAllOccasions.com has been busy!

2011-08-03T02:23:00.000-04:00

Thanks to you, my personalized poetry website has been busy with requests for birthday and wedding poetry and poetry for other occasions. It's fun to write a poem that will make someone smile, laugh or react because of the poem's personalization. I will be adding to the site so you can contact me more easily. My email on the site is poet@poemsforalloccasions.com. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. Customized poems can be written about any subject and can be written for any occasion.

Working on Mystery :)

2011-07-10T00:29:00.004-04:00

I'm very excited to be working on my mystery set in Maine. I had written an outline a couple of years ago and wrote a few chapters. I put it aside for awhile because I needed to think some more about it. I realized that now is the time to write the book. Sometimes we have to take a step back from our projects, think them through, and think of what will work best. I'm looking forward to continuing this project. My characters are starting to have a life of their own and I'm looking forward to each day's adventures with them. In Stephen King's book, On Writing : A Memoir of the Craft, he suggests writing 2,000 words each day if you can. Sometimes this is a monumental amount, while other times the words just flow and I find that I've written more than that. Here's to mystery in Maine, with a bit of adventure and current topics thrown in. I've written a novel before, but shelved it because 9/11 happened--I lived in NY at the time and my book seemed trivial compared to what was going on around me. Now I hope to get this published and with persistence I know I can do it. BTW Stephen King's book is an excellent resource for writers.

FREEZE FRAME (formerly Mid-Coast's Undercover) TO PLAY AT THE 4TH OF JULY FESTIVITIES IN THOMASTON, MAINE AT 5:00-9:00 pm - Monday, July 4, 2011

2011-06-20T12:13:00.001-04:00

FREEZE FRAME, which was HOT for the Summer Solstice--until the rainstorm, when all the bands had to take cover and protect instruments--will be the featured band for this year's 4th of July celebration in Thomaston, Maine. FREEZE FRAME features all kinds of music, from rock to classic rock, disco, country, blues, r&b, funk, soul and old standards. The lineup includes a female lead singer; female on keys/synth/organ; two saxmen who play: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, congas, bongos, timbales, flute and clarinet; bass; guitar; and drums.

FREEZE FRAME will have you dancing and singing. We are available for all types of events, including but not limited to weddings, parties, outdoor events, corporate events, and whatever else you can think of. Our website will be going live soon. If interested in booking a party, event or wedding, please call 207-689-7809 and ask for Harry. We play anywhere in the State of Maine.

FREEZE FRAME (formerly Mid-Coast's Undercover) TO PLAY AT SUMMER SOLSTICE, ROCKLAND, MAINE JUNE 18, 2011

2011-06-03T19:10:00.004-04:00

What could be better than music, dancing in the streets, lobstah, shopping and desserts? You can find it all at the Summer Solstice in Rockland, Maine on June 18, 2011. The band FREEZE FRAME will be playing. This show/dance band is a must-see. The lineup includes two saxmen who also play congas, bongos, timbales, flute and clarinet as well as soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone; keys/synth/organ; a fabulous female lead singer from the Portland area; guitar; bass; and drums. Everyone in this 7 piece band sings, so the harmonies are incredible.
Come bring your dancing shoes to this great event. Most stores are open late, and the street will be closed to vehicular traffic to make room for dancing.

FREEZE FRAME is available for weddings, parties, outdoor events, corporate events, and any event where you need a pro band that can do it all -- music is: rock, classic rock, blues, rhythm & blues, soul, funk, country, old standards, etc. The website will be live by the end of June, 2011. For bookings, please contact Harry at 207-689-7809.

Writing Services Available

2011-05-18T21:54:00.001-04:00

I'm pleased to offer writing services at reasonable rates. Need help writing content for a brochure, a website, or need help with a business letter? Why not let me do it for you? My background includes a B.A. in creative writing and in English; a J.D. with extensive legal writing, including writing effective business letters and other documents; and many years of writing everything from articles to professional bios. If interested, you can contact me at mainewriter4U@gmail.com. I will work with you to ensure your satisfaction with the finished product. Email me so that we can discuss what type of writing you need. Quick turnaround time. Will have website completed soon; right now I will be taking orders by email. I will contact you after I hear from you so we can discuss the direction of your project and so that I can get details, your goal, etc. Please send phone number and indicate what type of writing service you need.

Writing Class: www.ed2go.com

2010-12-28T11:37:00.002-05:00

This website was an incredible find. Ed2go at http://www.ed2go.com/ offers classes on many subjects, including writing. I took a few courses with instructor Steve Alcorn, who taught more in an online semester than I had ever learned in college. There are basic writing courses, advanced courses, courses in mystery writing, resume writing, technical writing, and dozens of other courses. If you are interested in writing fiction, I highly recommend Ed2go and Steve Alcorn's classes. The classes last for approximately six weeks and yes, there is homework, but the learning experience is great. You get to interact with your teacher and with other students in the class. You will have help with your ideas, book or whatever you are writing, and there are materials available for downloading or printing. I was disappointed when my classes ended. This website also offers courses in computers, language, and just about any subject you can think of. Highly recommended.

MWPA: Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance

2010-12-09T21:37:00.000-05:00

MWPA, or the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance (no apostrophes) can be found online at: http://www.mainewriters.org/. It is a dynamic group for published authors, wannabe authors, poets, publishers, and people interested in supporting a writing organization. MWPA offers many different events during the year, such as writers' conferences, a chapbook competition, awards for non-fiction, fiction, poetry, etc. to authors who are members, pitch-to-agents conferences, writing retreats, and it provides lists to many literary events in the State of Maine. It offers a website complete with a forum and guest blogging. It also has a quarterly newsletter called Maine in Print which features some outstanding articles and interviews with successful and some well-known authors.
The Facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56419552174.
Please check out this non-profit organization which has done so much for writers in this state. If you live elsewhere, check Google (use state name and the word "writers" and either "group" or "association") for a similar organization in your state. For example, North Carolina has The North Carolina Writers' Network; Connecticut has Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. Some states have more than one such group.
Many of these groups are non-profit organizations. Maine's MWPA has been in existence for thirty-five years.
For more information, contact www.mainewriters.org or call 207-228-8263. MWPA is offering special membership discounts (December, 2010) for gifts and referrals. See website for details.

PoemsforAllOccasions

2010-12-08T11:56:00.001-05:00

Please check out http://www.poemsforalloccasions.com/. This is a chance to have a poem, toast, speech, roast or story made for a friend or loved one for a special (or ordinary) occasion. You provide the information, and we'll provide the poetry or whatever you'd like. This can be printed out on your end or we can send it on special designer paper, with or without a frame. Inexpensive and thoughtful gift.

Writer's Digest Magazine: A Must for Writers

2010-12-07T14:43:00.005-05:00

If you are serious about writing that novel, non-fiction book, or book of another genre, you should consider subscribing to Writer's Digest. It is chock-full of information about crafting characters, prompts, ideas, creating villains, genre writing, how to get agents, how to get your book published, best websites for writers, how to get your poetry published, interviews with successful writers and how they achieved their success, and helpful information about writing, freelancing, and other types of writing such as copy writing.
I just looked at the issue from May/June 2010 again and was amazed at how many useful and informative articles there are about the craft (art) of writing, websites, and lots of the above. It gives a generally quiet profession--with the exception of your children or barking dogs in the background--some much-needed company. Sit with a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate and get some great tips that you might not have gotten anywhere else.
Also, check out http://www.writersdigest.com/ (without the apostrophe). It is chock-full of writing advice for established and new writers. The website is invaluable; used in addition to the magazine, you are armed for the serious business of writing.

Pingy Web Application

2010-12-07T14:10:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I stumbled across a site that listed this blog, www.mainewriterphotog.blogspot.com, as something to check out. My blog was listed in the #1 spot with three others. Not bad for a site I hadn't heard of. Thank you!

It's called Pingy, and its purpose is to help you promote your website. While there are ads on Pingy, you can skip the ads and download an application to help promote your site. Pingy's website is: http://www.pingywebedition.somee.com/. It doesn't cost anything and it may help with promotion. I got more hits yesterday than any other day, probably because of Pingy.

The steps to download this application are listed. Follow them and you should be ready to have Pingy help you even when you're away from your website. Check out http://pingymasspingtool.blogspot.com/p/promote-your-site-with-pingy.html which is the promotion page.

Tess Gerritsen and Gerry Boyle - Mysteries, Thrills & Crime Novels

2010-12-05T21:11:00.001-05:00

Maine is blessed with probably more writers per capita than most states. If you walk in "downtown" rural Maine, chances are you're literally surrounded by writers.
I wrote about Gerry Boyle previously. He's an outstanding mystery writer who doesn't have the following he deserves. He lives in the next county, I've seen him several times, and he knows I'm a huge fan. In fact, I have every one of his books, all autographed. He made "the drop" to my husband and teased about wearing a trench coat to do so -- my husband met him off Route 17 and picked up autographed copies of his books to complete my Gerry Boyle library. If you haven't read anything of his, I urge you to do so. His site is http://www.gerryboyle.com/. He has two new books from two different series: Damaged Goods is his latest of the Jack McMorrow series -- engaging characters, descriptive passages, excellent dialogue, terrific plots. You can learn a lot about writing by reading any of Gerry Boyle's books. His other recent book is Port City Shakedown, which was very well received. He's an outstanding writer and a super person, and I'm happy to call him a friend. His books Cover Story and Port City Shakedown were excellent and I'm now reading an older one entitled Bloodline.

Tess Gerritsen is another sweetheart who lives nearby. I've seen her at readings a few times as well. She is super-talented: a writer, an accomplished musician and also a medical doctor. Not bad credentials! She now has a TNT show based on her characters Rizzoli and Isles. Check out her blog at http://www.tessgerritsen.com/. People comment and she will often answer if there are questions, as she reads her blog frequently. I was at a book signing at the Owl & the Turtle Bookstore in Camden, Maine, where she announced the Rizzoli and Isles show on TNT; the audience was thrilled for her. Rizzoli and Isles is now playing in France, Sweden and Australia as well as the U.S., and it's going global all the time.

Speaking of thrills, she writes medical mystery/thrillers, which sound a bit unusual and definitely have a different twist and perspective than most authors. Her latest, Ice Cold, is in my bookcase begging to be read, and I have a bunch of her books, all autographed. She hands out promo cards and is a great public speaker. Her books are page-turners and can probably be called mysteries, medical thrillers and crime novels. Harvest was an excellent book. Tess Gerritsen is a writer who keeps getting better and has you hooked before you know it, usually on page 1.

Maine is blessed with many famous authors, and many of you have heard the name Tess Gerritsen. If you like a good story, plot and are into mysteries, her books and Gerry Boyle's books are must-reads.

Writing Gigs: Textbroker and Caveat Emptor Again

2010-12-02T00:39:00.002-05:00

Here's another online writing mill that actually involves copy writing rather than writing articles. There are some articles that are needed, but primarily the site involves copy writing, from my experience with it. Here's the problem with this site. I figured there were probably a few catches and there are. The pay? Oh, do we get paid? You can write a 400 page copy ad for sneakers or whistles or whatever other product the client is selling and make anywhere from $1.25 to maybe a whopping $7.00 for your efforts. On one occasion, when I wrote about a law-related topic, the pay was about $15, but that's the most I've ever been paid on that site.

The site "rates" your writing skills by some method, and you can bet it's subjective. The highest score you can get is a 5. That is when you start making some money on this site. However, the editors tell you that a "5" writer has to be absolutely perfect, no exceptions. Apparently there are a bunch of people who are rated 2s and 3s and probably a lot of 4s. I received a 4 and wrote my initial five articles/ads for clients. I worked hard, double-checked everything and tried to move up in ranks. I was told that it is possible to move up, so I went for it. I was also told that since there was no COMMA in the first sentence, which was really one of those debatable uses of a comma, that I had to stay as a "4." A comma? Give me a break. Their answer to me was that "it has to be perfect." I would love to hear from the few people who have been rated "5." I don't think most authors would get that rating; certainly not Grisham or other best-selling authors who write well but then again, nobody is perfect. (I wonder who decides who garners this number).

In any event, Textbroker is okay if you get a client who likes you and you can set your own price. I set my own price although of course they can get someone to do the same thing for a lot less than what I am asking. I'm not asking a fortune either, but I'm asking for a respectable amount of money, still lower than what I should be asking for.

When freelancers ask and get so little (see yesterday's entry on Examiner.com), we have to ask ourselves why we are paid so little and why we accept it. We wouldn't accept it for anything else. It's not a fair price for the work. Do freelancers value their work so little that they take scraps? I won't do it. It's not worth it. I'd rather work in some other aspect of writing, such as resumes or definitely legal writing. My time is worth more than Textbroker is willing to pay. If I hear from a client, great. Two of them said they were interested but I haven't seen any orders yet and I might not. After all, they can get lesser quality work for about $3.00.
Not interested.

Freelancers - we need to value ourselves more. Ask for more. Demand more. If not, move on to something better.

All the best in writing,
Ronna

Writing Gigs: Caveat Emptor Examiner - Bugs, Kinks, and Will We Be Paid?

2010-12-01T01:14:00.001-05:00

A writer can find many outlets for the art or craft of writing. As a New York attorney, I do most of my writing for appeals, writing legal briefs. It's not a novel but it's still writing and I love it. With apologies, that is why I have been absent from this blog for the last month. I was served with a 59 page "brief," which is the largest I've ever received. I've been busy doing research and writing and am close to finishing my own brief in response. It's been a challenge keeping it short because of the six days of trial testimony. This is probably my favorite type of writing and I wish I could get more of it. I do have another brief to do in December but will try to write on this blog daily.

In the meantime, I wrote an article tonight for Examiner. Why? Not sure. The "new" Examiner is nothing like the Examiner I initially signed up for. Mind you, not that that was great either. I see articles with misspellings, poor grammar, and one woman was given several columns and she writes like this! and like this!! and like this!!!! This isn't writing--it's butchering language. What my "colleagues" do at Examiner is not a reflection of my work, but it does not speak highly of Examiner, so it is little wonder that the online writing content mills are not highly regarded.

Examiner wasn't good. Now it's worse. The Pub Tool has so many problems they can't even keep up with it. Tech support gets back to you a month later. Photos fail to upload. The kinks and bugs in the Pub Tool come with sincere apologies from administration. Who cares? While I'm trying to throw my computer out the window, they're telling me they're sorry it took me 4 hours to write an article I can usually write in a half hour.

The new Examiner also comes with new legalese. This is right up my alley, of course. So I read the new legal jargon, which I understood, and noticed that there is no guarantee of payment in the new rules and regs. Great. So now there is this possibility that I might not get paid for my writing.
Writers should not value our writing so little that we accept pennies for our articles, or less than pennies for our articles. The only reason I wrote an article for Examiner tonight was to get paid--if you haven't written in a month, you cannot get paid the following month. I haven't written in awhile and I'm still owed money from August. Well, I'd like to get paid, so I figured I would write one article, publish a few photos, and then maybe write an article a month in the future if I feel like it.
A lot of "Examiners" are leaving Examiner. It's a shame, because there are some great writers, albeit not too many, on the site. However, the Pub Tool and the possibility of NO PAYMENT should make everyone think before writing for Examiner unless their articles garner lots of $ and readership. Mine are specialized: New England Landmarks (listed under Travel) and Cooking, which competes with 5000 other cooking titles, so I don't get the numbers that some other writers do.
This is for people who are thinking of joining Examiner or who already are Examiners and haven't read the fine print. Caveat emptor -- buyer beware -- because you might not be paid, and you might just get paid LESS than a penny a click IF you get paid. Good luck to Examiner in its new form. It's going to need it.

Tomorrow: What's up with Textbroker?

Writing Gigs: Copy writing, Copy editing and Resume writing

2010-10-05T23:23:00.004-04:00

Writing online articles for a few pennies here and there isn't the only way to make or sweat over money. There are some lucrative writing gigs such as copy writing, copy editing and resume writing. You probably never looked at any of these as writing, but they can be quite successful. You may have to come in on the ground floor if you don't have experience. However, English majors should have some experience. Offer to volunteer for some copy writing or editing jobs. Do a friend's resume and see if you like it. I did a resume for a friend who eventually got the job he was going for. Now I'm looking at resume writing in a whole new light. It's nothing I would have considered previously, but here I am, face to face with it.
Of course, don't give up your day job until these take off. Keep writing those articles (I know, I owe a bunch) and keep writing those legal briefs for those of us who need to do that too. These are just some suggestions that some of the seminars/webinars gave me so I thought I would pass them along. There are copy writing jobs, copy editing jobs, and resume jobs that you can apply for on the Internet. Let me know if you are looking for anything specific. In the meantime, there are places listed on this blog for websites for online jobs. If you need help, let me know and I can list some more job links. Happy writing. PS - copy writing is supposed to be lucrative. If you enjoy it, it could be your ticket to staying home.

Due soon - personalities of those in charge. Don't even get me started.

Writing Gigs: Websites and Hubspot

2010-10-04T21:11:00.000-04:00

If you haven't found Hubspot yet, you're missing a great tool for your website. Hubspot will rate your website and your blog, as it's doing on this page. The numbers change depending on traffic and a variety of other factors. Hubspot also has many webinars to help you maximize your website and "landing potential" among other things. This webinar is at: http://www.hubspot.com/webinars/the-science-of-lead-generation/?source=email-20101004a-lead-gen . There are other webinars listed with it. Get to know Hubspot and I hope it can help you with your website. There are a lot of "help gurus" out there, but Hubspot is a good place to start.

Writing Gigs: Free Newsletters

2010-10-03T20:12:00.000-04:00

The author of the Wealthy Freelancer has a site which sends free newsletters to your email address. I just received my first one. It's short but informative. Check out http://www.thewealthyfreelancer.com/. There are other goodies besides a free newsletter. This is an informative blog about writing, projects, how to deal with rejection, etc. Do not feel that you have to buy the book unless you want to. The first three chapters are, however, available for downloading if you want to check it out. This is a worthwhile link to add to your favorites list.

Freelancing and Payment: Videos

2010-10-03T19:58:00.000-04:00

There are videos available from the International Freelancers Day which can help you with your freelancing career. Video #6 deals with how to get paid faster. The link is: http://www.internationalfreelancersday.com/videos/pre-event-training-video-6/
You can pick and choose which videos to watch.

Writing Aids: Webinar Sept. 30 at 12 pm EST

2010-09-30T00:24:00.003-04:00

There is a webinar tomorrow at 12:00 pm EST until 1:30 pm about cover letters. The link to join is: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/join/819292846/106350392 . It is a free webinar and if you are job hunting, it might be valuable. This link will direct you to "come back" at 12 pm on Thursday, Sept 30, so I would suggest getting there a little before 12 to make sure you can sign in.

Writing Gigs: Worldwide Freelance Writer

2010-09-27T21:36:00.001-04:00

If you're looking for a free newsletter in your inbox which, I believe, comes on a monthly basis if not more often, try the Worldwide Freelance Writer. Their website address is http://www.worldwidefreelance.com/. There are articles, newsletters, writers' markets, freelance jobs, and a whole bunch of goodies for freelance writers. Sometimes the newsletters are great, and sometimes there are one or two useful articles. Overall, I look forward to receiving it and getting some welcome advice.