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Poetry Postcard: Straight Up

February 26, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #PoetryPostcards #POEM:StraightUp

Posted in Exploring Possibilities, Love, Poetry, Poetry Postcards | Tagged FrancesMacaulayForde, Love, POEM:StraightUp, poems, PoetryPostcards | Leave a Comment »

Infographically Explained: Should You Self-Publish or Go Traditional?

February 25, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

Food for thought.

Publishing Insights

The Write Life publishes an infographic to help authors decide whether they should pursue self-publishing or follow the path of traditional publishing.

In a discussion of this infographic, Mutterings of a Fantasy Writer refers to July 2014 Author Earnings Report which reports some statistics about “emerging trends in the world of digital publishing”

One thing that I’ve wanted to point out is that I think there is a general misconception with traditional and self publishers about “getting the book out there.” There is no “out there.” There is only “who is for” and “how is the author cultivating and adding value for readers.” People read and share information based on trust in relationships, and we should bear that in mind when we write/publish a book.

Image Credit: The Write Life

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How Dev Petty Found a Story with Legs…Frog Legs! (plus a giveaway!)

February 20, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

I can relate; I have to get the idea straight in my head then I write a poem – too!

Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)

by Dev Petty

I wrote a whole post for this very blog some time ago about NOT writing and just thinking. I wrote about getting to the heart of your story idea in your head before you ever write a word. I believe in that process…big time. But it’s not how I wrote I DON’T WANT TO BE A FROG. That’s a different story. That’s the story of how a sort of basic story idea turned into one with legs…frog legs! In fact, it was the writing of FROG that taught me to slow down and think, to find the story thread before I started writing.

I knew I wanted to write a story all in dialogue. I wanted it to be funny. And I wanted it to be about a frog. I like frogs, it was that simple. Not much to go on, eh? Believe me, my first efforts…

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Chlamydia Rap

February 20, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

One of the most fun assignment I’ve ever had was for our largest Hospital’s Emergency Department in 2006.

Way before EK Chase (I’ve just discovered) seemed to adopt my idea for a One Direction song ; I was commissioned to write a series of 30 second ads to be played on the in-house TVs.

They wanted to get boring facts ‘out there’ to resonate with the target audience of drug users and drunks who, when inebriated practiced dangerous habits – particularly the younger ones.

Well, I’ve worked with and written for teenagers quite a bit, so I guess I was a natural choice.

SYNOPSIS:

The first five 30 second advertisement scripts generally tell the story of Chlamydia using toys as characters in a party atmosphere at the dolls house, with soundtrack music provided by —–.

Hands obviously (in shot) hold the toys as they enact the scenes: going up or down stairs, break-dancing etc. Full-sized beer cans are scattered around the dolls house.

The humorous use of toys with full sized items should provide a comedic edge together with the further juxtapositioning of a serious message in between the seemingly frivolous.

I was paid well and applauded for what I gave them, however the production team didn’t meet their criteria so in the end, my scripts weren’t actually filmed.

All that effort wasn’t wasted – I know the ideas were adapted and used in various ways for workshops and conferences etc.

My “CHLAMYDIA RAP” dissolved the whole office of Medicos into stitches (pardon the pun) – and I still like it:

CHLAMYDIA RAP

Listen here! Y’all need to know
Chlam – ydd-ee-ah Trach – o –mat – is is
as common as ‘the clap’ is.
It’s spead by sex without a hat,
don’t even know when you’re got at
– s’real dangerous for bubs ‘n testies,
‘cos it’s sneaky ‘n snarly ‘n silent as
‘til your eyes go pink ‘n your bum goes red.
Before y’know it – you’re real sick in bed.
Just pee in a cup – then give it up.
We’ll tell you by text so no-one knows
–one shot anti-be, ‘n away you go.

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #ChlamydiaRap #CommercialScripts

Posted in COMMUNITY, Scripts, Writers, Writing | Tagged ChlamydiaRap, CommercialScripts, FrancesMacaulayForde | Leave a Comment »

Kindle no more…

February 19, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

Just to let everyone know, I’m busy taking my e-books off Kindle but leaving a couple of print versions of poetry books available on Amazon.

Soon after they were published on Amazon/Kindle, I found the mss available for free download (elsewhere) on the net. I reported it to Amazon who said they had been copied illegally… (?) Not happy, Jan!

I want to try another publishing vehicle to see what their service is like and will let you know as soon as I have set it up.

#FrancesMForde #E-BOOK:E-males #E-BOOK:MeetingMrX #E-BOOK:LoveYouMum #E-BOOK:Overtime

Posted in Books, KINDLE Books, Poetry, Short Stories, Writing | Tagged E-BOOK:E-males, E-BOOK:LoveYouMum, E-BOOK:MeetingMrX, E-BOOK:Overtime, E-Books, FrancesMacaulayForde | 2 Comments »

Cat Black

February 17, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

We’ve been invited to a wedding at the end of the month, and I’m certainly looking forward to meeting all the bride and groom’s friends.

The happy couple are well ensconced in Perth’s thriving music scene, specializing in swampy, bluesy, romantic rock sounds.

Known as ‘Cat Black’ they’ve surrounded themselves with other ‘hip’ fashion designers, publishers, writers, artists and musicians and I can’t wait!

From first hearing Emma (lead singer/writer) play the penny whistle we brought her back from Ireland, to buying a copy of her first CD, I’ve watched she and partner Ryan (lead guitar) follow their bliss and explore where their talent takes them.

Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder watched the band, was wowed by Ryan and Emma, stayed for the whole session and asked for copies of their CDs. The band was invited backstage for Pearl Jam‘s concert the following night to hand them over.

I know the wedding will be beautiful and different, inspired by art, fashion and music – a veritable feast for any poet and writer.

I’ll certainly have my mental notebook pages open.

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #CatBlackPERTH #PearlJam #SwampyRockBlues #PerthMusic

Posted in COMMUNITY, Music, Writing | Tagged CatBlackPERTH, FrancesMacaulayForde, PearlJam, PerthMusic, SwampyRockBlues | 2 Comments »

Carbon

February 15, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

A diamond in the rough… great characterization in this poem!

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A day for roses…

February 14, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

For me, it doesn’t have to be the traditional red roses – or roses at all!

If I receive flowers today, I will be thrilled because I love them all but Valentine’s Day is not as hyped as it could be in Oz… and I’m lucky to have a man in my life who just enjoys buying flowers to surprise me.

But, the reason my husband and I will make a point of getting each other a card today, is because he blind-sided me by declaring his intentions on Valentine’s Day in 2002.

At the time I was just pleased to make contact with an old boyfriend from 28 years before, never suspecting or looking or even wanting that relationship again. We’d both well and truly moved on in our lives – there were continents between us.

Boy, did that all change – and I couldn’t be happier!

When I wrote this poem for a friend’s wedding, I was obviously talking about my beautiful man…

I hope you’ve got someone in your life who you love as deeply.

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #POEM:LikeDust #Valentine’sDay #Romance #Poetry #RedRoses #LoveFlowers

Posted in Love, Poetry, Romance, Writing | Tagged FrancesMacaulayForde, LoveFlowers, POEM:LikeDust, poetry, RedRoses, romance, Valentine'sDay | Leave a Comment »

Dial up.

February 11, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

Phonecall

I don’t believe

in forever

anymore.

I know

you don’t have

room in your life

for love

or me.

But friendship

is a two-way street.

I needed

to know

that somebody

cared…

that you cared.

I guess I dialled

the wrong number.

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #Poetry #1968Notebook #POEM:Phonecall

Posted in 1968 Notebook, Poetry, Writing | Tagged 1968Notebook, @FrancesMForde, FrancesMacaulayForde, FrancesMacForde, POEM:Phonecall, poetry | Leave a Comment »

Writing With Heart is Why I Write for Boys

February 11, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

Write from the heart…

Steph Olivieri Bourbon Screenwriter & Author

Hey everyone so I was at the SCBWI winter conference this past weekend in New York-oh New York, I love New York-but I digress. I was at the conference and talked to so many people about my writing, goals, stories, etc.

People kept asking me why I write books about boys (teens) instead of girls-in fact I get asked this ALL the time. I am sorry if this makes me a traitor to my gender, but I am writing what I LOVE to read, and I LOVE, what I am now (coining the phrase) calling, “boy lit” because I LOVE stories with boy/male leads the most. I always have. This is probably why my chick lit novels weren’t a huge success, my heart wasn’t there in the same way and I was writing to trend. Writing is just like anything else, when it comes from the heart it is always…

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