What do you want?

I was asked why I was doing a blog if it didn’t deal with what I’m doing and that is writing. Why aren’t you talking or showing off some of what you write? So I decided since I want to be a comic book writer (or at least it’s my main focus right now) that I would put something up for everyone to see and hear me talk about it. That I did in a previous post.

Now it's up to you!

Do you want to hear about my comic book writing or would you like to see a sample script or just other writing? Let me know in the comments below.

Becomeing a comic book writer

The video that I watched had some good steps and thoughts that I actually never took into my own thoughts about. Now when you want to be a comic book writer that I need to do them all the time, and I need to write and write, and also to read a lot of comics This I knew. However, I never thought of becoming friends or keeping up with the editor of the comics. Moreover, to write about a character that is known, but not necessarily a franchise character for that comic book company.

If you can get your writing out and become a name somewhere else this will help in the comic book writing, and so I’m going to write and try to get my name out there in any way I can.

Football

When watching football it reminds me of the knights and how, with their armor, they tried to defeat one another. It's funny how certain things can bring up other things in one's mind. Just as if it were a dream.

Memories

We should not look at the past with regrets, but as the past with memories that we will never forget.

Brad Thor Facebook Review and Other Information

When looking at Facebook and social media it makes one think of who, what, where and when. This you may ask yourself, WHAT?! Well let me explain with whom it can be who your audience is or who are you and what are you trying to get across to people (fans) that will keep them posted on what you’re doing and what you’re working on. It allows you to show where you're going with an idea and where you have been physically if you post check ins. Then it comes to when, when will your work be complete? When will you be at this or that location?

When looking at Brad Thor’s Facebook page you see when he created it, 06/09/09. Now you may ask ha HE didn’t create it someone else did for him. Well looking at his about section you get a Welcome message this makes it sound like someone else created the page. Then you go down to Biography, and then you see “me” and “I” being used. Yes, someone else could be writing this information too and act like the main man himself, but I feel that it’s Brad himself. Then we get to some personal information. It describes his education where he worked and his other novels. Then you get to his personal interests where there are quotes that HE (or someone who thinks that HE/SHE is HE):

"If you can dream it, you can do it" - Goethe

"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government." - Thomas Jefferson

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." - Ronald Reagan

All over the place, you see links to his website to get even further information about him. Brad posts political information that is close to one of his books, or he posts something that has to do with the military because well, his books all work around some sort of military operative or person. He reposts things that he has read or seen online. He has a wealth of information on his page, and if you follow him (LIKE) on Facebook then you get the most up to date information that he is reading, watching and well writing too. I have also seen him post comments to things that others have posted to his wall.

When it comes to Brad Thor’s Facebook page and others, I’ve seen they network with their fans, and some make sure to comment to them as well no matter how popular they are. Which I think is a great thing and something I look forward to doing.

Blah Blah Blah: Some other information about Facebook and how to keep your fans.

Well, you’re at the end of my blah blah blah. However, this was done as part of an assignment for a class that I’m taking at Southern New Hampshire Online. You may be wondering if there is more to this review, and I can say yes. I have researched the following about Facebook for writers, and I’m here to give you some of the main points and some of my thoughts.

It is a good practice to write in plain none complicated English. Don’t use big words that people have to go to a dictionary to find out about especially for those who are checking via their mobile phone. They don’t have the time or space to look things up.

Write compelling but clear headlines, don’t get cute. Headlines are the first thing that people see, and if it’s not clear nor short then you have a problem.

Write in the active voice, get to the point.

Online writing is visual, long, dense paragraphs turn off online readers. Create white space in your copy by keeping paragraphs short and using bulleted lists when appropriate. Use bold text to accent key information and use block or pull quotes to draw readers into the copy.

One main idea per sentence, keep sentences on point.

No sentence without a fact: Every line you write needs to move the story forward. If a sentence doesn't have a fact, cut it.

For every 1,000 or so words that you write in an online article or blog post, be sure to include:

•       Three subheads: Subheads are bold, one-line headlines that break up long chunks of text and organize information. Keep the same headline-writing rules in mind when you write subheads.

•       Two links: Links offer additional information for readers who want to go deeper, and they also give your post authenticity and transparency about where you information came from without getting into long, narrative attributions.

•       One graphical element: A photo, a chart or anything else visual helps readers. Whatever you use, make sure it advances the story: don't just put a photo in the post for the sake of posting a photo.

Strategies for Effective Facebook Wall Posts

•        Posts made between 8 PM and 7 AM receive 20% more user engagement.
•        On Wednesdays, fan engagement is 8% above average.
•        Posting one to two times per day produces 40% higher user engagement.
•        Posting one to four times per week produces 71% higher user engagement.
•        Posts with 80 characters or less receive 66% higher engagement. Very concise posts – those between one and 40 characters – generate highest engagement. Only 5% of all retail brand Wall Posts are less than 40 characters in length, even though these receive 86% higher fan engagement.
•       Ask questions to spark dialogue – “question” Posts generate Comment rates double that of “non-question” Posts.
•       Fill in the blank Posts receive 9 times more Comments than other Posts.
•       Offer fans “$ off” and coupons. Posts containing these offer-related keywords receive the highest engagement.
•        “$ OFF” offers receive twice the engagement of “% OFF” offers.
•       Avoid complicated Wall Posts. Status-only Posts receive 94% higher than average engagement

 References

Brad Thor's Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brad-Thor/83629783989

Best Practices For Writing For Online Readers. (n.d.). ReadWriteWeb - Web Apps, Web Technology Trends, Social Networking and Social Media. Retrieved October 13, 2012, from http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/best_practices_for_writing_for_online_readers.php

 Tracker., E. (n.d.). Writing Effective Facebook Posts | Social Media Today. Social media news, strategy, tools, and techniques | Social Media Today. Retrieved October 13, 2012, from http://socialmediatoday.com/bigsea/370308/writing-effective-facebook-posts

Marriage

Well, my wife and I have been together for over 7 years now and married 5. We seem to have tiffs her and there and really no explosions really. So when I was getting situated on my medication, I blew up. Then last night again I blew up. However, I more felt that she was being selfish because I told her that we went to my hometown to see my mom and possibly some friends. Well, my wife was sick of hearing about my dead stepfather and didn't want to be in the house anymore so she walked to our friends. Well, I was about to walk out the door to go home because I had school work, and the dogs hadn't gone to the "Potty" for 12 hours. Again, I just wanted to go see mom talk hang help then home. Well, my wife was at our friends, so I went over to pick her up. However, she was pissed at me because she wanted to hang with them. I yelled and told her that we don't need to hang out or see them every time we went to my home town. Well, She stormed out of car, and I drove off. I found myself wondering what I did wrong, but I felt I did nothing but yell. So I went back to pick her up. 3 hours later we finally set out to go home. I was tired as hell and worried about the dogs. She just wanted to get away from things happening around her that she felt was pushing her in a whole well I knew of some stress, but I was surprised to hear her say she didn't want to hear about death, and she has had enough death in her family. I thought isn't death a part of life, and we just need to remember but move on? Well needless to say we did talk for a while and got it out of our way. I did know marriage was daily work. I didn't know it would be a part of my life's work, but then again, there I go thinking again.

Suicide

I thought of this today "suicide" not in the way to commit it as I was to do something harmful to myself in response to life's ever evolving and ever disappointing battle. I thought of this as why do I want to destroy something that I have struggled with for many years. Do I want to give up, do I give a damn? I, however, found myself in a pit a deep one. One with many thoughts and droughts about myself. I didn't know where to turn so I opened my email read the scripture of the day and then opened my mind to the possibilities that are never ending. I wanted to commit "suicide" in the way that I wanted to give up on writing and dreaming, but then I said if I don't dream I don't hope if I don't hope, subsequently I don't believe things will change or get better. So now I dream to hope, hope to dream life will run like a river stream with bumps, ups and downs, but then I know I made it around to the other side of the river, and there I will find a calm open mind to let things flow out like a gentle breeze.