Three Times And It's True

Y’all have heard me gripe and groan about content thieves until you’re probably tired of it but here’s something I noticed recently. We know people tend to believe what they read. 

If it’s in print it has to be true, right? 

One of my stories was stolen twice, then because people saw it in three places I saw parts of it quoted elsewhere as gospel. Luckily, I research my work before putting it in print but not everyone is as conscientious nor do they even care if the information is fact, they only care about making money so they just empty their brain and post it on the Internet. 

Unfortunately not everyone double checks that what they read is true. 

The world is already full of people that aren’t terribly bright but now we have bad information out there that some gullible fools are taking for fact. 

I’ve even seen friends on Facebook say they don’t believe something unless they read the story in a few different places. Well, that’s all well and good but there are those that just copy and paste so you aren’t always getting truth even if you see it thrice. 

There are those that will tell you, “Oh, I only read reputable news sites so I know it’s true.” 

Really? A few years ago a fellow blogger had a newspaper steal one of his stories and print it without his permission. He sued the paper and got compensation but the point I’m trying to make is that not all journalists gather their own work. They get tired, lazy or run out of time so they just “borrow” someone else’s research. Maybe it’s accurate and maybe it’s not. Who knows? 

News has become more like gossip. One person starts the story, it snowballs and by the end it becomes blown out of proportion to the point it doesn’t even resemble the truth.

Snopes is a good website to verify urban legends but I’ve even seen a few comments by people that don’t think they are completely flawless. 

There are actually websites that purposely post lies to be humorous but regrettably there are many that believe the words they read there and pass it along to anyone who will listen. 

So the next time you read a story or even see one on a news channel take it with a grain of salt because not everything you read or hear is completely true. All articles are biased with other people’s opinions and none give the complete story. 

Women Writing Gay Fiction

Why would a straight woman want to write novels about homosexual men?

I pondered this question myself until I read a few… now I’m hooked.

It's like straight men who like to watch lesbian porn. We are voyeurs looking in a window of something we cannot take part and in reality most of us wouldn’t want to but it is still titillating. There are no women in the way, only hot guys and who could complain about that?

There’s nothing wrong with female/male romance my house is full of them as well but male/male romances are different. You are probably thinking, well duh but aside from the obvious body parts and how they fit together the emotions are different. They don’t have the cattiness and mind games you find in your typical romance with a female main character. Women think differently (again, obviously), they don’t behave the same way and there isn’t the same chemistry. 

How do gay men feel about reading fiction written by straight women? 

Most of them love it at least the well written books. I’ve read many reviews and comments by men that are positive. When you have more writers you have more books and a greater variety to choose from so the majority of guys aren’t complaining.

With that said there are a few gay men who aren’t happy about it and refuse to read anything written by a woman but these guys are in the minority. Huffington Post has an article written by an angry gay man who is unhappy with women encroaching upon their domain. You can’t please everyone.

The few that scoff are of the opinion a straight woman can’t possibly know what a homosexual male feels much less thinks and they are correct but most authors must get enough of it right otherwise men wouldn’t read them at all. 

Sneaky Writers

Some female writers use a male sounding pseudonym and give a vague bio so that people might not notice. The guys that are adamant at only reading work written by men may be misled into buying their work but in the end it never works. Eventually the truth comes out and in my opinion they are better off being honest. There are enough readers out there that don’t care if the books are written by a squirrel in the woods as long as it’s a good story.

Who wants a pissed off reader? When feeling deceived they may give a bad review out of spite even if the story is good and none of us needs a bad review.

And speaking of reviews it appears that a large number of the readers are also women unless the male readers are too busy to write a review.

It’s kind of like men who write romance novels for women. Some use a fake name but these days it isn’t really that important. Most people have tossed out prejudices and don’t care who wrote what as long as the book is good.

Acceptance

With more m/m novels saturating the market it’s kind of like gay marriage and other equality issues. The more you see the more mainstream it becomes. I’m not saying there won’t still be those ignorant people who bash, snub and are otherwise rude. We all know Rome wasn’t built in a day. What I’m saying is when you see more of something it becomes normal. Look at interracial marriage and multicultural schools. Once we rub elbows with people who are different we don’t notice their differences quite so much.

I Don't Believe In Soul Mates

Soulmate: The belief that two people are two halves of a same whole as in Eve being taken from Adam’s rib and when they find each other they are reunited. There’s also a fable in mythology that says we were all four legged beings that were halved and when we find true love it’s our other half of our body and soul.

This all sounds great but what about people who have loved more than once? Some people love more than one person at the same time as in polyandry (having more than one husband) and polygamy (having more than one wife). I doubt they love one spouse any less than the others. They may have a favorite but they still love the other parts of their union.

For those of you who have never heard of polyandry, there are a few tribes left in China, India and Africa that participate in this practice. There also used to be Native American tribes that were matriarchal and some had multiple husbands.

And of course y’all already know about the Mormons and Middle East practices of having more than one wife.

Do you think those people believe only one of their spouses is their soulmate? I doubt it.

Then there is the fact that women tend to outlive men. I’ve known many elderly ladies that have had more than one husband over the course of their lives. When asked which husband they loved the best most cannot give an answer. They loved them all in different ways and for different reasons. Saying one was their soulmate would take away from the love they had for their other husbands.

I’ve known men who had several wives throughout the years and depending on the situations after they divorced many of them still hold a fondness for their ex-wives even though they are no longer together.

So you see why I have a problem with the whole soulmate idea? Yes, some people find only one person in this life to love and they stay together until death do them part after one is left behind that person never remarries and lives alone and probably sad.

The whole “Death do us part” implies that once one person passes the contract is null and void meaning the union is finished. One soul has gone on to heaven, reincarnation or if you are atheist then you probably believe the energy within is simply extinguished and the body becomes dust. If you believe in an afterlife it implies half a soul is left behind leaving half a person. I don’t like to think they are less than whole.

This would also imply that all single people are not a full individual and are somehow lacking. Those who have decided on a life of singlehood would beg to differ with you on that point.

I like to think we are all whole entities with endless amounts of love we can share with as many people as possible all at once or one right after the other; whatever floats your boat.

I’m married to one man and one is quite enough to clean up after so I’m not into polyandry and I don’t share so polygamy is out of the question. Just so you know, I’m not into that sort of thing just giving you something to think about.

Is Pararnormal Fiction Coming To An End?

I don't think so and I'll tell you why. Even though it's been around for quite some time I don't see any sign of it waning. After a couple decades I thought surely folks would tire of witches, vampires and shape shifters but not only do I continue to see it on bookshelves but flip through the television channels and you'll see "Once Upon A Time," "True Blood" and  "Grim" among many others.

Either we all have a wild imagination or people are a messed up bunch these days. I tend to believe it's a little bit of both. 

You also don't have to stick to the rules. Dracula couldn't look at a crucifix, see his reflection or be seen in daylight but look at all the new vampires and you'll see all sorts of changes. Some quite silly but none the less you can have your creatures do just about anything you want these days. 

When writing we must keep up with what is popular but don't let that limit your imagination. If you want to write something no one else is attempting by all means go for it. You just might come up with the next break out genre or have a story that overshadows anything else that is out there.

Those of you writing about dragons and demons wondering if by the time your story is finished there will still be an interest, have no fear. The snowball that J.K.Rowling let loose in the 90's has gained momentum and doesn't appear to be crashing yet.

I truly believe there will always be people who enjoy reading fairy tales and as long as you write a good one someone will read it. Writing well is the key. Just because you put a vampire or fallen angel in your story doesn't mean people will buy it and if they do buy it and it's bad, they'll certainly let you and everyone else know about it. Read Amazon reviews when you have some spare time and you'll see just how verbal people can be about what they like and detest.

I read a blog a while back by a writer who was taking a break from fantasy stating that she felt readers were tired of that genre. No, I think the writer exhausted her ideas and her readers could tell.

The problem with writing the same genre all the time is eventually all writers run out of steam. When you see them adding really weird stuff that's a clue they've come to the end of that road. It doesn't mean her audience no longer wants to read that genre it means she needs to take a break and try her hand at something else for a while. Don't stop writing just write something else.

Agents and editors make a mistake when they tell an author to only write more of what has already sold. Some authors use a different pseudonym so they can work on other things because they get burned out. Yes, writing more of what already sold sells books but eventually all wells go dry.

If you love paranormal and enjoy writing it then keep going. If at some point you feel you've exhausted your ideas, move on. There are dozens of genres out there and new ones being created all the time.

I read an article recently that a new growing niche of books are for college age kids. I thought most books were for the 20 year old age group but apparently not and agents are looking for books written for those just out of high school and finding themselves. I forgot the name of the genre but it has it's own title now. So if YA isn't cutting it for you perhaps you might move up a few years and try your hand at writing for college students.

Don't Give Up- Resolutions, Goals and Getting Back On Track

Over the years I've made a few resolutions and usually keep them. In 2007 I vowed to walk three times a week on my treadmill and I'm still doing it. My treadmill is sounding really loud so I suspect I'll have to replace it soon. Treadmills aren't just for holding clothes, who knew?

Last year I didn't really make a resolution but in November of 2010 I changed my diet to exclude and include a few foods to help my health and have stuck to it. When it comes to health I've always been good at sticking with a goal.

For this year I can't really think of anything I want to change or improve on. I always try to work on my writing and continue to improve where I can. I started this blog in 2006 and have had times where I updated it on a regular basis and then there would be a lull. My life isn't terribly interesting so it's not always easy to come up with ideas that wouldn't bore my readers. Some of you are probably nodding off as I type.

A resolution should be something you can achieve. Some people go overboard and write up a long list of things they will do trying to completely change their life and in the end don't keep any of them. One or two is much better. Trying to completely overhaul yourself is overdoing it and you are surely to fail.

Some goals are big enough in themselves like not smoking or losing weight if you are obese.  If you achieve one important thing that is great.

If you can make it fun that will help you stick with it. Exercise doesn't have to be a chore, eating healthy can be enjoyable and not smoking or drinking can also be turned into a game. Look at ways to attain your end results.

Find delicious recipes that incorporate dishes that are low calorie. You might take up cooking classes as well as losing weight. That would be fun and you might even meet new people.

What is it about drinking you enjoy? Is it the cocktails, the socializing or the taste of beer? Dissect your reasons. There are non-alcoholic beverages and beers that taste pretty good. Experiment and find a recipe that suits your palate and you'll be more apt to stick to it. When you go out carry your recipe with you, give the bartender a copy and in most cases he'll be happy to mix it up for you.

Cayenne pepper and jalapenos replicate the bite of alcohol if you want to add some zing to your drink.

If it's the socializing you crave then ordering a soft drink or juice will suffice. You can still go out with friends you just won't be getting sauced and the good news is you can be a designated driver. I have a friend who has been sober for years but still goes to parties and out with friends. He says he enjoys himself as much or more because he gets a kick out of watching intoxicated people.

To help stop smoking you might try the electronic devices they have out now. Some people chew gum or suck on lollipops. With more and more campuses becoming smoke free it's a good resolution to make. Think how much money and time you'll save not purchasing nicotine not to mention helping your health.

I know a woman who put money in a jar for every pack of cigarettes she didn't buy. Every month she counted her savings and put it in the bank. Having visual results of her self control helped her continue.

If you can get a fellow smoker to stop at the same time you can help each other during the hard times. Think of how much better you will feel. Try to concentrate on the positive effects of not smoking instead of what you are giving up.

I've had some people tell me that they find walking on a treadmill boring and want to know how I have kept it up. It is a repetitious exercise lacking in excitement so you have to do something else at the same time like reading a book, listening to audio books or watching television. You can talk into a recording device if you are a writer, dictate a novel or an article or you can just make lists of things you will accomplish later. You can borrow educational videos from the library and learn a new language, skill or information.

Don't simply walk...learn. Walking increases blood flow to our brain helping us think better and it's a good time to exercise our mind at the same time we help our heart, muscles and joints.

When you rethink the task at hand it brings it to a new prospective and just possibly will help you achieve that goal you set.

If you are trying to get a book published watch this next video and never give up. Even the big time authors were rejected, some many, many times.

I'm Worried About The Next Generation

 The news is enough to scare the daylights out of me.

We’ve got a couple down in Texas tying their four children to the hood of their car and driving down the road. I guess they didn’t have enough room for the kids to ride inside or maybe they were misbehaving.

Some of us have joked, telling our kids if they didn’t be quiet we were going to tie them on top or make them walk. This couple looked high so maybe their doped up brains didn’t realize you don’t really do crap like that.

Then we’ve got a woman in another state, I didn’t catch the location but it doesn’t really matter people are nuts all over, who was wrestling with a police officer while pregnant with her sixteenth child.

Sixteenth? Why in God’s name would you have that many kids?

Anyway, they tased her, not sure if they didn’t realize she was pregnant or not, but now she’s complaining about them endangering her unborn child. I guess she thinks wrestling with cops isn’t harmful to babies. What I want to know is who was taking care of the fifteen kids still at home?

Then there’s a story about the growing obesity problem in America (could be why the police didn’t know that woman was pregnant) and how it’s costing our country billions of dollars.

It’s not safe to send our kids to school because of the teachers trying to have sex with them (I’m talking about female teachers).

We had a case recently of a woman teacher who was taking indecent pictures of little girls at an elementary school and sending them to some pervert in another state.

What does she possibly get from a sick relationship like that? He’s obviously not interested in her and after seeing her picture I can see why but what does she get out of this; his attention, even though he’s only using her for child pornography?

Women used to have more sense. If they couldn’t get a man they took up knitting or quilting, they didn’t find the first pervert that gave her half a minute’s worth of attention and ruin her life. Now that teacher has lost her job, her credentials and she’s going to spend a lot of years in jail.

We’ve got babies wandering the streets unattended in nothing but a diaper and parents with the morals of an alley cat.

Maybe we need to bring Home Economics back to the schools. Someone needs to teach kids how to take proper care of babies, their parents aren't doing it.

You don’t strap children to hoods of automobiles, babies can’t take care of themselves and you don’t let your ten year old drive you home when you are drunk.

Here’s a website full of bad parent pictures. It seems to be “in style” to be lazy, lousy parents and proud of it.

http://www.badparenting.org/

 Oh, America isn't the only screwed up country. In India they have baby tossing day where a holy man throws infants from a roof to people waiting down below. If these kids grow up afraid of heights we'll know why. 

Basil Had His Wart Removed

About a year ago my Boston terrier Basil developed a wart on his forehead right between his eyes. I took him to the vet because at first I didn’t know what it was and thought it could be a tumor. Dog’s get cancer and growths just like people.

The vet said it was just a wart and nothing to worry about so we left it alone. Problem was, it kept growing and he would bump it and make it bleed, not a lot but just enough to make it look sore.

So I decided to have the vet take it off so it wouldn’t bother him anymore. My oldest son will be pleased because he says, “it’s ugly.” It isn’t pretty but it didn’t bother me near as much as it bothered my son.

They had to put Basil under anesthetic to remove the wart and since he’s so old I didn’t want to put him in any danger but it became a problem so yesterday morning Mr. Warty Head went in for minor surgery.

We’ll have to stop calling him Warty Head or Warty Headed Dog now but since he can’t hear he won’t know the difference if we forget and use those old pet names.

We’ve made jokes about him trying to turn into a unicorn since it’s right in the middle of his forehead and getting bigger. You can make jokes about dogs and they don’t care, they love you anyway.

He will be thirteen May 30, which is coming up pretty soon. Humans have work done when they get older so I guess he’s no different. He never looks in the mirror and doesn’t really care how he looks; smell is all he cares about. Actually, he can stink quite a bit and not mind that either.

We have a big backyard so taking him for walks was never an issue but he’s less active and has been putting on some weight. Neutering him last year probably didn’t help that matter any. He no longer marks his territory (why bother?) and all he has to live for is food. He has arthritis and it probably hurts to lift his leg.

He takes glucosamine chondroitin every morning for joint pain, which helps but you reach an age where you have ailments and there isn’t a whole lot you can do about it. The reason for this last bit of ramble is to tell you I’ve started taking him for walks at the park.

The first time we went he wasn’t thrilled especially since I didn’t let him go where he wanted so he walked a few yards, turned around and went back to stand by the car. “I’m ready to go home.”

I took him back the second day and he did better. I let him go where he wanted which at first confused him. He's used to me tugging on the leash telling him where to go. We walked about ¾ of a mile and then I could tell he was wearing out and took him back to the car.

When he was younger he could jump right into the car which isn’t really a car, it’s an SUV, not a large SUV at least not by Oklahoma standards but still a bit high off the ground for an old Boston Terrier to jump into.

Here he is with his wart.

 

Here he is without his wart. He has stitches but you may not be able to tell with my sorry picture taking. I couldn't get a good one without the possessed eyes either but hopefully you get the idea. 

He won't win any beauty contests but I love him anyway. 

Who Makes The Most Money Writing Online?

There was a time, many moons a go, when most writers were gray haired men in ratty tweed jackets pecking away on a typewriter. Sorry girls but most women were at home being wives and mothers, nothing wrong with stay at home moms but that was how it was.

Now days, it seems that everyone is writing: teenagers, grandmas and office workers bored with their duties. Everyone has something to say and want people to read it.

There is so much competition that many have resorted to methods a bit unconventional and even unethical to get their work noticed.

So who gets the most notice these days? Women with sexy avatars. That’s right, doesn’t matter if they are good writers or know what they are even talking about, they get the most attention.

I have read some really bad stuff that is misspelled, grammar errors abound and no common sense to the article but they have a huge audience.

In the old days most people that read were intellectuals with money to buy books. The poor didn’t have enough funds and many couldn’t even read. Move forward several decades and now most people in America are literate, at least at a third grade level and books, newspapers and the Internet are all free with the help of our local libraries.

The majority of people aren’t interested in intelligent conversation and they don’t even care if the facts are accurate. I’m going to give you American statistics because that’s where I live. These will vary in other countries.

Most Internet users, about 70% depending on whose findings you read, are male and around the age of 36 give or take.

Some of the statistics I’ve read say most have had some college and are upper income but I think that is inaccurate. From the people I talk to, I think less people have gone to college and most fall into the lower income bracket, here’s why. All you have to have these days is a smart phone to access the Internet. Some of these websites are assuming people have a computer and pay for service, I don’t think that is true but I digress.

Back to my point, young men are easily influenced by pretty women, especially if they give them half a minutes worth of attention, some women have figured this out using it to their advantage.

Are you ready for this? The people making the most money from online blogging and article writing are (or at least want you to think they are) young attractive women. Some market savvy women use it to their advantage.

I know women who have an avatar of a girl in a bikini or sexy clothing, their writing is atrocious and yet they get many comments, views and their income is much higher then many of their peers simply due to their picture and a bit of flirting in the comments. It works, they know it and they are cashing in at the bank.

Here’s the kicker, most of those avatars are not the writer’s own picture. They borrow them from stock photos or some other source knowing they’ll get more readers then if they use their own image because many of them are middle age women who look nothing like the pin ups they are portraying.

I even know a couple men (Don’t worry guys, I won’t blow your cover) who use a female pseudonym and avatar so they can make it in the writing world.

Sure there are still intelligent people out there that want to read articles written by people who know what they are talking about and can give them good information but for the mediocre journalist it’s not so easy to get noticed.

So, should we all use cleavage shots as our profile pictures and flirt to get attention? Of course not. I know a couple young women writers who didn’t even use revealing photos but were stalked and traumatized by strange men who became enamored with them. We can’t be too careful these days.

Write well written, informative articles and you’ll get an audience, it might not be huge and you probably won’t get rich but at least you know you did it on your own merits and not by false means.