Month: January 2020

Celebrating 300 Followers!

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 7 Comments

Hello writer bees!

This week, the Lady Jabberwocky blog reached 300 followers!

I’ll be honest, I try not to be a numbers and stats person. But my boyfriend tells me to celebrate even the smallest accomplishments. And today, I am celebrating.

Thank you guys so much for all the love and support, it truly does mean the world to me. Lady Jabberwocky is a labor of love. Every like and comment makes it all worth it.

To commemorate, I’d like to announce a new series (or two) coming to the blog. Based on a recent Twitter poll, I’ll be sharing my writing goals the first week of each month. Then, at the end of the month, I’ll do a recap post, to see if I achieved my goals. It’ll help keep me accountable and on track while sharing my writer journey with you guys.

Also, I may start a mystery series soon, updating with new chapters monthly. If you haven’t read it, check it out, I need honest opinions.

Seriously though, thank you all so much for all the support. It’s you lovely followers that keep Lady Jabberwocky going.

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Bianca and the Mysterious Happenings (Mystery Short Story)

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 9 Comments

“You suffered a serious loss this summer, Bianca. The school faculty was concerned, even the principal wanted me to check up on you.” Let me assure you, I did not have time to have a conversation with the school’s psychiatrist. Sitting amongst a sea of throw pillows in a cramped office, I adjusted my Edgar Allen Poe patterned socks. On his desk, a wooden crane dipped up and down, moving on its own accord.

“Oh I’m fine.” Reassuring others that I was fine seemed to become a common occurrence nowadays. Students treated me like I was some tragic mess, fragile and ready to crumple at any moment. Hardly. There’s more to my story than that.

“It appears so.” The therapist shuffled his paperwork. My life condensed in a manilla folder. “Excelling in all of your classes. Writing for the school newspaper. Volunteering in the school play.”

My shoulders bounced. “I try to keep busy.” And Chester always did like the theatre.  

“This is a safe place to talk about him.” Mister Raphael reminded.  Yes, because the motivational poster of a polar bear climbing a mountain really made me feel safe to express my feelings. “Grief takes many forms.”

Fingers fidgeted with the sleeve of my wool sweater. My eyes kept glancing at the clock. This meeting lasted 6 minutes and 47 seconds, 5 minutes longer than necessary. Why did I give up free period for this?  Although my jaw tightened, I forced a smile. “He was my boyfriend since freshman year. We were planning to go to the same college together. Get married. Kids. White picket fence.” Excuse the cynicism, it had been a long semester, with more sympathetic looks than I could count. Some of them didn’t even know Chester.

“He’d want me to keep going.” Not very poetic, but very true, nonetheless.

After a couple seconds of silence, I informed Mister Raphael about the pieces I planned to write for the school newspaper. I had a journal filled with notes and outlines for possible articles. While talking about news topics, an eagerness returned to my voice. Are the tofu burgers in the cafeteria really vegan? Did last year’s valedictorian cheat on his SATs?

“And I’m also looking into the recent disturbances at the graveyard.” Mysterious happenings were happening in the Westminster Cemetery. The reporter in me must investigate. The ceiling light flickered above.  “Or maybe I should write about the school’s faulty wiring.”

We share an uneasy, cordial laugh. Then, It was time to leave. “Well, my door is always open, if you need an ear.” 

With my chin raised and a sigh of relief, I exited the office. Ponytail swishing from side to side. The halls were mostly clear, except for a few lingering students and a security guard distracted by his smartphone.

“Grief takes many forms.” Those empathetic words felt lackluster on my lips. I stared at my reflection in the vending machine window. “How am I supposed to grieve when you won’t quit bothering me?” One of the metal rings in the machine spiraled, releasing a snack from it’s grip. A bag of honey wheat pretzels, my favorite.

I couldn’t help but smile. What a charmer, even in death.

Hey Writer Bees! Hope you enjoyed this little scene. Lately, I’ve been playing around with the idea of a having fiction series on this blog, updating with a new chapter each month. This is just a snippet of a mystery plot, following Bianca, the school reporter, and the unusual events happening in Baltimore.

Want to read more of this story? How do you feel about a regular series on this blog? Be honest, and let me know what you think in the comments.

Write with heart,

Lady Jabberwocky

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What’s in a Name?: Tips on Naming Characters

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 9 Comments

Hello hello writer bugs!

I don’t know about you guys, but for me, naming a character is like naming a child.

Whether it’s for a main character or a background character, the names you choose should be significant. Names can tie characters to the setting, to their roots, or just hold a greater symbolic meaning. How do you find the perfect name for a character? I’ve got some tips that are sure to help.

Baby Naming Websites

Baby naming websites for mommies-to-be are actually really helpful. Check out the extensive lists and dredge up some ideas for names. If you are looking for a name that begins with a certain letter or a specific cultural origin, you’ll be able to search names that fit your criteria.

A Name with Meaning

Sometimes, names have a deeper root meaning. And those meanings can fit into a character’s personality. You’d be surprised what some names translate into. Not every reader is going to make those connections, however, you, as the author, will know. A meaningful name may influence a character’s identity.

For my MC, his first name is Graham, which means ‘grey home’. That image really connects with his gloomy and mysterious personality.

Historical Context 

If your story takes place in another time period, keep in mind the historical context. Names that are common today may not have been 100 years ago. Find out what names were common at the time. If you Google something like ‘names from 1920s’, a list of popular names from the 1920s will probably pop up.

Also, check the Social Security Administration website for ranked list of common names of the decade. It’s pretty useful, and it’ll give you a feel for the time period and what inspired names during that era.

Sound it Out

When in doubt, sound it out. Say the name out loud. If it doesn’t sound right, or its difficult to pronounce, or just sounds like a mouthful, then something’s off. Keep trying. Once you’ve found a name that suits your character, it should just click. Like, “huh, that one sounds right.”

Consider the Entire Cast

Try not to have characters’ names sound similar, or readers may be confused. Think about your fictional crew as a whole and note if names sound too alike. By differentiating characters, readers will have an easier time following the story and connecting with individual characters.

One time, in fiction writing class, a classmate had two characters named Flip and Clip. Unironically. Don’t have a Flip and Clip in your story. I’m still confused about it.

How do you go about naming your characters? Lemme know in the comments!

Write with heart,

Lady Jabberwocky

Become a Patron! // Writing Services // Follow Me on Twitter

How to Pitch Articles Like a Pro

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 3 Comments

Hello writer bees!

With the start of a new year, it’s time to take charge of your freelancing endeavors. How can you achieve the perfect pitch? And no, I don’t mean musically. A pitch, by definition means “words used when trying to persuade someone to buy or accept something.” Sometimes, freelancers must sell their ideas for articles to potential buyers. It’s all about that hustle.

So, let’s talk about creating an eye catching pitch. This could be for a publication you regularly write for, or, if you are gutsy, a website that you’ve never interacted with before.

Research Beforehand

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So important. Know what this potential buyer is looking for. Get a feel for their tone and their content. What kind of topics do they post about? Is the tone formal or informal? Do they include pictures and jokes? Understand their readership as well. Who is their target audience? What message do they wish to present to the world.

Here’s a pro tip; Make sure you read articles from the publication. And yes, I mean it. Actually read, don’t fib about being a “big fan” of their site. Come on, we’ve all done that.

Also, make sure you go over their submission guidelines. Just about every online publication has a guidelines page, some even show their pay per article upfront. And some editors have specific rules that they want followed, like a certain style or word count. Try to make the editor’s job easier and cover all the bases.

Know What Every Great Pitch Needs

Next, let’s break down all the essentials needed for one amazing pitch. Here’s the recipe for greatness.

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  1. What type of material?: Article? Listicle? Essay? Interview? Editors like to know the format you, as the writer, is aiming for.
  2. Potential Title: Don’t just say the topic is about “tacos”. Instead, try possible, attention grabbing headlines like “Crunchy vs Soft Shells; Which are Superior?” or “Veggie Add-ins for Taco Night.” Be aware, titles sometimes change during the editing process, don’t sweat too much!
  3. Impact: Talk about why readers would be interested in what you have to say. Give them a compelling reason why your piece fits their publication. If you know specific viewership numbers, provide a guesstimate of how many readers might read your article.
  4. Stance: If it’s an argumentative piece, discuss your perspective on the subject. Be careful of being too controversial. Always stay fact based in your opinion and cite sources when needed.

Short and Sweet

Image result for pitch idea gif

Imagine you’re in an elevator and only have a couple sentences to convey your idea. Because a great pitch only needs a few sentences to hook someone’s attention. Keep your pitch brief. Be clear and be focused. At the end of a day, a proper pitch should only be a couple hundred words, (~200-300 words).

And consider including your portfolio or publication history and a brief introduction of yourself. Don’t go overboard, we’re keeping things short, remember? But still, try to sell yourself and your talents quickly yet effectively.

Fortune favors the brave, so be brave when pitching article ideas. Best of luck with your pitches, writer bees!

To all the freelancers out there, how do you hustle in your work? What’s your advice on sending the perfect pitch?

Write with Heart,

Lady Jabberwocky

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My Writer Goals for 2020

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 9 Comments

Happy new year, writer bees!

Hope you all had a fantastic holiday. In the spirit of the new year, I’m sharing my hopes for 2020. Cross your fingers and toes for me, I’m feeling hopeful and ambitious this year. Or it could just be the wine talking. Nevertheless, onto this writer’s New Year’s resolutions.

Write More Often

Sometimes, my writing progress is sporadic. I would like to write more consistently. Like to set aside some time to write, as often as I can. To have a real writing routine and to stick to it. Or maybe even commit to a weekly word count goal. No matter what, I want to push past writer’s block and get motivated again.

P.s. – That also means producing engaging content on this blog as well as posting regularly on Twitter.

Read More

You ever heard the saying “you are what you eat”? Well I’ve always thought “you write what you read”. I tell aspiring writers to read everything. And frankly, I haven’t been reading much of anything lately. I’d like to read more. Lots of books on my shelf need attention. So I’ll try fitting reading time into that writing schedule I talked about before.

Finally Finish my Novel

This goes along with the whole ‘writing more’ goal. If the stars align, I’d want to complete my first novel this year. That would mean being finished writing and editing the entire story of my WIP. A complete manuscript by the end of the year would be amazing. It’ll be a lot of work, but it’s my dream to publish a novel someday, so it’ll all be worth it.

Eat Healthier

At the end of the day, a writer needs to take care of themselves. This might be the year of looking after my physical wellness. I want to cook more and eat better. Healthier snacks, more veggies etc. At this point, I’m basically considering becoming a part time vegan. Don’t tell my meat lover boyfriend. If you have suggestions for food blog/recipes, let me know in the comments.

Be More Positive

Just like my physical wellness is important, so is my emotional wellness. Staying positive and patience is difficult. I’m doing my best, even though some days are hard on my heart. I hope to savor the happy moments and to celebrate every small victory and to not be so critical of myself. Yeah, It’s a tall order, but I’m working on it and that’s all I can do, right?

What are your goals for 2020? What do you hope to accomplish in the new year? Talk to me in the comments! I love to hear from you writer bees.

Write with Heart,

Lady Jabberwocky

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