At any rate: Here it is: Fostering The Female Fanbase: A Dempsey Racing Primer

I’ve attached a PDF of the article on my portfolio page.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the newest thing in business marketing that we forget the old-fashioned, tried and true ways to be successful. Sometimes we just need a reminder.

Unlike Facebook where there is SO MUCH to do, I think Twitter works really well for professionals and businesses because tweets are so consise and your page isn’t bogged down with applications (though if you follow a big tweeter you might get bogged down with their tweets).

I’m liking Twitter! For the Record, my twitter name? WriteMichelle

I remember that feeling. It is frustrating because you know that you are a writer and yet others might not classify that as your ‘job’ because you are not earning money. It’s too bad that we can’t claim satisfaction and enjoyment as a valid form of payment.

Today I am working on an assignment that is a little outside my realm of writing expertise but I am excited to expand my horizons. What I realized today is that I get paid to do what I love. I might not always get to write about what I love (that novel is a long way comin’) but not many people can say that they get paid for one of their most loved hobbies/activities. I am lucky.

One day, I will be at the stage in my freelance writing career where I can pick and choose which stories I want to do, but until then, I am very aware that it doesn’t really matter. I am lucky.

Not to mention, it is great practice for being concise – - which is always a good thing.

Stein’s novel is told from the perspective of the family dog, Enzo.  (At one point in the novel, one of the characters comments on the dog’s name.  I had to google it.  While I was pretty sure it had something to do with car racing and/or cars I wasn’t sure.  Google brings up some pretty fancy Enzo Ferraris – a car.  Lo and behold – the car is named after the founder, one Enzo Ferrari!  You learn something new everyday!).  I have read other books that are told from the dog’s perspective (Shakespeare’s Dog: A Novel by Leon Rooke being one that has marked me – it was funny and fun and entertaining all in one) which is a unique way to tell a story.  Racing in the Rain’s Enzo is a very humanistic story-teller and I loved reading the story of Denny, Eve, and Zoe (and of course Enzo) from his point of view.  

The novel provides surprises at every turn and showing Denny’s life against the philosophical musings of car racing was a very thoughtful touch.  I, for one, would love to see this novel turned into a movie.  It isn’t your typical love story or piece of dramatic flair.  It is a heartwarming look at lives that are ripped apart by illness and some of the realities of adulthood and how things are pieced back together again.  And, it  is an excellent look at what happens when you give a dog a voice! 

I love novels that tell a compelling story.  Even more, novels that are well-written are even better.  Racing in the rain completes the trifecta by nailing the perspective and voice as well!

What makes a good query letter? Well it has to grab attention from the get-go. Has to be in a tone suitable for the magazine in question. Has to outline the article, sources, etc. And basically showcase your writing, experience, and give enough reason for the editor to not only want your story but to want you to write it.

I should be working on a query right now. I’ve got several outstanding ideas on the go, have some super-good subjecs willing to be interviewed, just did a fantastic phone interview on Tuesday, and instead I’m writing about why I have a hard time writing a query. Happens every time!

That being said, the dictionary and the thesaurus are my friends.  I no longer use the ratty well-used paperback versions that have since lost their once coveted spot on my desk.  I now use sites such as dictionary.com, thesaurus.com and wikipedia.  It’s really handy to have such a tool at your fingertips when you need proper spelling (spellcheck can be wrong), proper usage, a definition, or synymoms. 

For instance, today I was working on a wordplay and needed to check the usage for a pretty common word.  After all, what good is a pun if you don’t get it right?