The sea is a shadow washing the shoreline,
filling in dents and scavenging sand,
drowning dunes in beach foam and brine.

The sea is a shadow chasing along the strand,
shattering shells and scattering stones,
casting its treasures on the bleak hinterland.

The sea is a shadow of clamours and moans,
a sobbing soliloquy borne on the wind,
stealing your breath and rattling your bones.

Kim M. Russell, 2017

My response to Sue Vincent’s Daily EchoThursday photo prompt – Empty #writephoto

So you received the dreaded rejection letter.  Well it was bound to happen.  You are in great company, and I wasn’t talking about me.  If you are a writer, then rejection will be a part of your everyday life.  Author David Eddings said, “If you don’t have callouses on your soul, writing isn’t for you. Take up knitting instead.” Funny but true.

When you get your rejection letter and odds are you will, treating it as an insult and allowing it to bring out the worst in you will stall your dream of becoming an Author.

Those who are successful as novelists recover and learn from their rejection letters. They use them as motivation to become better writers. They recognize that rejection hurts, but see it as part of the process. They also take action.

• Wallow then write – Give yourself thirty minutes or so to  get the rejection out of your system, then get…

Time is always a factorand that goes for readers too. So, make it easy for followers to follow. Here are 7 ways to keep followers following, but the most important thing is to faithfully respond in kind and don’t take anything for granted.

(The following is a post from WordPress forum: Most WordPress themes are free, but you can also buy a premium theme, which will come with better support and forums (meaning you can work out bugs more quickly), more frequent updates and more customization options.) 

1.Make sure your author name stands out or brand: Some authors also add a tagline or description that clearly describes the type of writing they do. For example, novelist CJ Lyons’ is “Thrillers with Heart.”

2.Email newsletter signup: Whether you send it once a year or once a week, start a free email newsletter to stay in touch with readers…

Since I’m participating in A to Z next month, I have to get the word out early that April is National Poetry Month.

Poetry is not something I’m good at writing so I enjoy it vicariously through online friends like this amazing poem by Diana over at Myths of the Mirror or Andrew’s (at Andrew’s View of the Week) poem about the River. I’ve been following them for several years and always find their poetry startlingly personal, quick peeks into a world ruled by emotion and heart. I’m way too structured for that so only enjoy it through someone else’s eyes.

To honor April’s National Poetry Month, here are fifteen tips from those who have no trouble delivering this concise-but-pithy form of writing:

• avoid cliches. Too often, they are unoriginal thoughts on a subject. Instead of using these pre-packaged descriptions, create your own. Instead of:

Her scowl looked…

When Charlotte heard the ring of her bookstore door, she popped her head out of the masterful novel she was perusing.

From behind the book stacks she watched the intruder slink into the aisle.