Children's author, Karen Coiffi-Ventrice visits The Golden Pathway

I am pleased to host author, ghostwriter, freelance writer, and 4RV Publishing Acquisition Editor Intern, Karen Coiffi-Ventrice to The Golden Pathway today. Phew...how does Karen wear so many hats effectively? Karen and I met early on in our writing careers at the Children's Writers' Coaching Club, where we both remain members. To watch her career explode into such a success is heartwarming indeed. Without further ado, I welcome Karen.

"Writing, Accounting, and Synergy"
By Karen Cioffi
In accounting, if you (the accountant or bookkeeper) are off even one penny, you have to search and work until that penny is found – all the income, expenses, assets, liabilities of a business must all sync at the end of every month, quarter, and year. You’re monthly trail balance sheet and the balance sheet, which reflects every penny in and out, must be perfect. There is also the reconciling the monthly bank statements.
The various data from every department, such as research and development, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll, must all be included in your trail balance sheet and balance sheet.
Writing, in some aspects is similar to accounting; each element of a story - theme, setting, plot, conflict, characters - must all work together to create an error free product at the end. In other words, they must meld together to create a coherent, engaging, and interesting article or book. The end piece must have proper grammar and the correct formatting. And, if something is amiss, the author needs to find the troublesome spots and correct them.

In both arenas, details are important, as is balance.

Suppose in accounting your accounts payable far exceeded your accounts receivable, or your liabilities far exceeded your assets. This would make for a dire situation, and one that would need correction.
Well, in writing, suppose you have wonderful characters, but they have no where to go; your story lacks an engaging plot and conflict. Or, maybe you have a great storyline, but your characters are flat, they have no dimension; these situations are also cause for alarm and need to be addressed.
In writing, it’s the combination of all the elements of writing that moves a story forward and creates a page-turning adventure or emotional tie to the reader. You may have a character driven story, or a plot driven story, but in both, you need all elements of the story to weave together, to create synergy.

Synergy is a great word. It means the combination, joined forces, or combined effects of individual elements which will create an end result that is greater than the sum of their individual effects or capabilities.

I actually like Wikipedia’s definition: “Synergy, in general, may be defined as two or more agents working together to produce a result not obtainable by any of the agents independently.”
This is what the elements of writing, joined together in just the right way, produces. Theme, setting, plot, conflict, and characters combine forces to go beyond their individual capabilities. The writing synergy process creates an end result that is not attainable by any of the elements independently.

Karen, terrific article thank you for sharing.
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Karen Cioffi is an author, ghostwriter, and freelance writer. For writing and marketing information visit Karen at http://karencioffiwritingandmarketing/, and sign up for her free newsletter: A Writer’s World. You’ll get 2 free e-books on writing and marketing in the process, and two more free e-books just for stopping by.

And, Karen will be having a July Book Tour featuring her new children’s middle grade fantasy book, Walking Through Walls, which is scheduled for release the beginning of July.

You can check out information about the tour at:

http://walkingthroughwalls-kcioffi.blogspot.com/

http://karencioffiwritingandmarketing.com/


Follow the Writers on the Move tour on Thursday, June 16 when Shelby Patrick hosts Carolyn Howard-Johnson - http://writershotspot.blogspot.com/.

Thank you for your time and interest.

Have a terrific day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

NWFCC Announces Karen Cioffi's Virtual Book Tour: Writing Tips

This month I'm hosting Day 4 of Karen Cioffi's Virtual Book Tour for all the children's book authors/illustrators who are part of the October Showcase at the National Writing for Children Center. Without further ado, I'm pleased to announce: Writing Tips from Children’s Writer Karen Cioffi

I recently read a post about writing for children. It focused on the story’s characters.

Basically, the post advised to create and know your characters inside and out before beginning the story. In fact, it suggested that the author build the story around the characters once they were fully developed. While this is good advice, and many experienced authors recommend this technique, there are some authors who occasionally watch their characters unveil themselves right before their eyes.

This is such an interesting method of writing. Your character introduces himself and gradually reveals bits and pieces, and blossoms as the story moves along. I’m currently working on a middle grade science fiction manuscript that is using this style. I didn’t intentionally start the story this way . . . it just happened.

You do need to be careful with this method though, you may lose track of all the bits and pieces that make up the character. So, a good way to keep track of those quirky telltale marks, expressions, behavior patterns, and physical features is to note them on a separate page or character card as they become unveiled. You wouldn’t want your character to have brown eyes in one chapter and blue eyes in another - unless of course, it’s a science fiction or paranormal and part of the storyline.

Actually, in this particular story of mine I used the ‘seat-of-the-pants’ method of writing for the entire story. I had no idea what the story would be about until I began writing it. I’m about half finished with it, and I have no clue where it will go from the point it’s at now, but it’ll be interesting to find out.

It’s true that many authors prefer the outlined method of writing, and I actually do also. Although, it seems once in a while a story and the characters can lead the author through an entire manuscript without the benefit of a structured outline. I find it so fascinating, watching characters evolve and a story unfold. It’s almost like magic . . . characters . . . a story . . . even worlds appear from thin air.

Karen is an author, ghostwriter (for authors, bloggers, and businesses), freelance writer, reviewer, acquisitions editor intern, and on the team of DKV Writing 4 U "http://www.dkvwriting4u.com" http://www.dkvwriting4u.com. She is also the founder and manager of VBT Writers on the Move, and co-moderator of a children’s writing critique group.

Be sure to leave Karen a comment or question, she will be checking in throughout the day to interact with our visitors.

Follow all 7 authors on their 6-day Virtual Book Tours and leave comments and you could win the Giftbox Giveaway from the National Writing for Children Center.

Kep following Karen's tour on Oct 8 at http://suzannelieurance.com/ - "On the Go With Karen Cioffi"

Thank you for your time and interest.

VBT - Writers on the Move - September Tour Schedule

Well, we're back, and better than ever. We have a couple of new members also. As part of our author group, we try to provide our readers with writing and marketing information as well as updates, information, and reviews on great books.

Each day in September a different author and information will be presented. Just follow the schedule and click on the corresponding day.




Check out the schedule at:

http://vbt-writersonthemove.blogspot.com/2010/08/writers-on-moves-september-2010-tour.html

We look forward to your visit.

Thank you.

VBT - Writers on the Move - Donna McDine guest at Karen Cioffi's blog

Hello All:

Phew, is it really September 1st already. Where did the summer go. It feels like it just started and now it's coming to a rapid end.

I'm thrilled to announce I am the guest at Karen Cioffi's blog today - http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com/2010/09/all-about-author-donna-mcdine-and.html.

I'd be delighted if you stopped by.

Best wishes to a lovely Labor Day weekend.

VBT - Writers on the Move

Put your writing career in motion with our yahoo marketing group VBT–Writers on the Move. Promote your platform, yourself and your books! We utilize ONGOING feature spots for our members; link exchange; and much more to increase visibility and readership.

Visit: http://vbt-writersonthemove.blogspot.com/

To find out more contact Karen at: karenrcfv@yahoo.com.

Please put "VBT (dmc)" in the subject box.