This singing group has a unique approach to their work. I’ve featured them before. In today’s video, they have a delightful take on “Looney Tunes.”
Happy Laborious Day
[I posted this piece four years ago and thought it worthwhile to repeat it.] Today is Labor Day in the U.S., a national holiday. The holiday is “a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country” (a …
Fun Fridays – August 30, 2024
Today’s video is of an 11-year-old girl typing a very long email–very fast. HA! HA! Made you look! It is actually a one-minute clip from a longer 20-minute performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s “Concerto for Piano No.1 in G Minor, Op.25.” performed by 11-year-old Alexandra Dovgan. And you can read the music while she plays. Genius! Full video linked below this one. You …
The Value of Book Awards
This topic of book awards and their value is both subjective and nuanced. It is one reason I’ve not tackled it before since it can be easily misunderstood. There are a lot of book awards in the industry, both in the general market and in the Christian market. Some are quite prestigious (the Pulitzer or the Nobel prize, for example) and others could be perceived as a scam to get unsuspecting …
Fun Fridays – August 23, 2024
I feel smarter just for watching this “Bohemian Gravity” video. I love the creator’s comments afterward, especially the understated, “Well, that took a while.” Yes, it does get weird. But then again, why are you surprised?
What Monday Looks Like
The “to-do” list is rather steep today. Photo titled “Onwards and Upwards” by Frank Kunert. Found at https://www.instagram.com/p/CNvGeAeAYbb/ – posted April 16, 2021.
Fun Fridays – August 16, 2024
I was going to do my own video of this activity, but decided to take a nap instead. There is a metaphor here, somewhere. Even world-class performers have to start with the basics. It is what they do with them that makes them world-class. See what you can do with a few words this coming week. Hop to it! You can stop after the two-minute mark as the rest is their logo on top of the music.
New Book Proposal Course
I have some exciting news to share! The Christian Writers Institute has released an all-new edition of my “Elements of an Effective Book Proposal” course. Completely revised and expanded to provide even more value and insight. Why This Course Matters I have long taught that writing a book proposal is one of the most critical steps in securing a publishing deal. Whether you’re a …
Fun Fridays – August 9, 2024
Today’s barbershop quartet is worth every one of the twelve minutes it takes to watch. It’s absolutely hilarious, and it’s made funnier because there is an explanation box on the screen to help the viewer understand the humor behind it all. To top it off, the score of their music scrolls below as they sing. It is breathtaking to see the tight harmonies and hear them at the same …
Know Your Genre When Making a Pitch
Awhile ago I received a call that illustrates a common error a writer can make when making their pitch: the problem of not knowing the genre in which they are writing. The call went something like this: Writer: I’m calling to see if your agency handles westerns. Agent: That is a tough genre to sell in the current market, but a lot would depend on how well you can write it. Writer: Some …