Author Archives: Betsy

Tips for Newbies: Anatomy of a Book 2–Title/Copyright

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Betsy

In the previous entry, we described Front Matter. The mandatory parts of the Front Matter are the Title/Copyright pages. This can be the first page in your book.  The title page should be on the right side when you view … Continue reading →

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Tips for Newbies: Anatomy of a Book

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Betsy

So, you’ve decided to self publish a paperback using POD (Print on Demand) technology. Here are some basics you need to know in order to fill out the forms properly. [My comments are based on using CreateSpace as a POD … Continue reading →

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X-File #227: Last Words

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Betsy

This is the first place entry from the February Aspiring Writers Flash Fiction contest on LinkedIn. The challenge was genre: fantasy, theme: paranormal encounter at a ski resort, highlight: a cell phone. Length: 600-715 words. X-file #227: Last Words “Mulder, … Continue reading →

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On Being Bionic

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Betsy

These days I have medical devices attached to my body 24/7 because of my diabetes. I like to think of it as being bionic.   I first started using the term bionic when my husband got his pacemaker. “Needing a machine … Continue reading →

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Initial Success

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Betsy

This entry won third place in the Aspiring Writers contest for the first half of January 2012. The genre was fiction: suspense, theme: first day on the job, highlight: an email you received in error. Length: 600-715 words. Natalie was … Continue reading →

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House Rules

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Betsy

We all have house rules, although we may not think of them that way. House rules are the ways we do things at OUR house. Our house means our rules. We don’t care how you do things at your house. … Continue reading →

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The Best Present Ever

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Betsy

This memoir took second place in the Aspiring Writiers December Competition. Once upon a time, toys were few, and mostly handmade. Imagination was what made them fun. In “Little House in the Big Woods”, set in the 1800s, Laura Ingalls … Continue reading →

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Curiosity Kills

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Betsy

This is the winning entry from the November Aspiring Writers Competition. The constraints were, genre:Murder Mystery, theme: Thanksgiving, focus: Body in a Closet, limit: 715 words. The year’s winners will be published in an anthology by Lebrary. When I found out … Continue reading →

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Are Stories Metal or Wood?

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Betsy

Jeffrey Forker posed this question on LinkedIn, after hearing two friends argue about the mechanics of writing. Apparently one referred to “tightening down the screws” on a story, and the other retorted “bolts”. That really got me thinking about how … Continue reading →

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Let’s Celebrate Creativity

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Betsy

This is a good time of year to celebrate creativity. First came Halloween, where people strive to be creative in their costumes, yard decorations, and treats. My favorites are the “scavenger hunt” costumes, where people decide at the last minute … Continue reading →

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