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Blog Award For The Story Ideas Virtuoso
By Deb Gallardo
I just discovered that I won an award this summer (um…who says news always travels fast on the internet?) for my “creative blog.” Woohoo!
The Arte y Pico award was created for bloggers who inspire others with their creativity and their talents, and for contributing to the blogging world in whatever medium. I’m not sure exactly what other medium one can use to contribute to the blogging world, but that’s what the promotional copy says. We are to pass on the award to 5 other blogs, linking not only to them, but to Arte y Pico (opens in new window) and to the blog passing on the award to us, as well as showing the award graphic. (I’m planning to email the people I giving the award to, not assuming the backlinks will catch their attention.)
The 5 blogs and bloggers whom I choose to honor with the Arte y Pico award are (links open in new windows):
Dan Goodwin at http://www.coachcreative.com/blog/
Suzanne Lieurance at http://www.suzannelieurance.com/
MeghnaK at http://thewritingpages.blogspot.com/
Jackie Wilson at http://jackiewilson.blogspot.com/
Charlotte Rains Dixon at http://www.wordstrumpet.com/
I encourage you to read all five of these blogs. I know many bloggers are selfish about including links to other people’s sites, and perhaps it’s a tactical error on my part for sending people away from my blog to find other good content I’ve uncovered. Silly me. I operate under the assumption that my readers are looking for information, so if I can point them there, my hope is that they will remember that it was *I* who sent them there, and maybe — just maybe — be grateful enough to become a loyal reader. (No, I don’t believe in the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. *grin*)
Story Idea Takeaway: What if a character received an award and didn’t learn about it until after the fact? What if the award had a financial component? (Gee, that would have been nice for me. *sigh*) What if there’s a time limit that’s almost up? Or what if there are some funky requirements to accept the award? Depending on your favorite genre, how you approach this and what happens can vary dramatically. Here are three examples:
*
If you turn this into a mystery, is the award, in fact, nothing more than an elaborate ruse to entrap your main character or even the setup to murder?*
If you prefer romance, is the award legitimate or just a ruse for another character to get close to your main character? Or if the award is on the up-and-up, does romance blossom, fade and then re-bloom as a result of the people your main character meets as a result of the award?*
If Sci-Fi or Fantasy is your genre of choice, the sky (no sci-fi pun intended) is pretty much the limit. Make a futuristic twist on awards. Make a low-tech, agrarian/guild society-type fantasy twist on awards.The award could be the catalyst for the story or simply an element in the story. It could be a main focus or a peripheral “b” storyline.
So celebrate with me and help yourself to a free story idea in the process. Now start writing. Don’t just think about it or dream of “someday” doing it. Write right now!
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3 Comments »
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Hi Deb,
I;m utterly honored to have my blog in your list. I am gratefully thanking you for the award
Thanks a lot!
The story writing tips at the end are very innovative. As soon as I come up with a write-up, you’ll be the first one I share with!
Thanks once again
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Meghna,
You are more than welcome. You deserve this award for all that you do on your blog. I’m happy to spread the joy and the kudos.
Enjoy!
Deb
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:33 am
Hey, Deb,
Wow! Thanks for the award. That’s super! I’ll spread the word!
Happy holidays!
Suzanne
Suzanne´s last blog post..Writers – Make 2009 Your BEST Year YET!