We Are Taking a Break...

To our faithful fans of the JLB Creatives Blog and to all of you who are stopping in for the first time... 

BLOG UPDATE: 

What is the blog looking like for 2017? Here's the scoop...

Due to our recent success and wildly full schedule, the JLB Creatives Blog will be taking a break and will be posting their updates and news on other social media sites. To keep up with us on a current pace we encourage you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and/or our websites. Below is the list of places you can find us and our creative divisions around the web. Click on any of the links to visit us on Social Media. 

JLB Creatives Publishing: book publishing 
URL: www.JLBCreatives.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/JLBCreatives
Twitter: @JLBCreatives (encompasses all JLB Creatives Divisions)
Instagram: JLBCreatives (encompasses all JLB Creatives Divisions)
Pinterest: JLBCreatives (encompasses all JLB Creatives Divisions)

Journey to Publication: writing curriculum
URL: www.JourneyToPublication.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/JourneyToPublication

BeaslePunk: steampunk, fantasy, science fiction - art, cosplay props, jewelry, and more
URL: www.BeaslePunk.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BeaslePunk

Multi-Tech Productions, Inc.: audio visual system consulting, design, training
URL: www.MultiTechProductionsInc.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/MultiTechProductions

Scenic Nature Photography: nature photographer Janet Beasley
URL: www.Flickr.com/JanetBeasley

We want to thank all of you who share our enthusiasm and continue to support this art-filled business and its artists. 

Sincerely, 

Your JLB Creatives Team 

The Importance of a GREAT Book Cover

What draws your attention to a book on a shelf? Is it the colors? The font? The cover illustration? The blurb? The author bio? Awards the author/story have won? Reviews? Or a combination of any or all of these?

If your front cover (or the spine) catches a potential buyer's eye, you have about 3 seconds--yeah, that's all--before he/she turns the book over and looks at the back cover. If you lose him/her in that first 3 seconds, your chances of making a sale are pretty slim. But don't give up all hope yet; you still have a chance if the material on the back cover is intriguing enough to pique the person's interest. 

I'm sure you've heard the expressions, "Different strokes for different folks," and "You can't please all of the people all of the time." Truer words were never spoken. That's why it's so important to make sure your book cover is attractive to a wide variety of people--if you want to attract their attention to it so you can make sales.

Earlier this year we covered the art of writing an author bio. If your potential reader can identify with you, you have a much better chance to make the sale. Your blurb (which we'll cover in a couple of weeks) is of utmost importance in snagging a buyer. At any rate, you have to make sure a person cannot possibly leave the bookstore without your book. 

Each printing company has a list of requirements which they call "Guidelines" for setting up your cover. They are not usually in a common vernacular, so it's much easier if you hire a graphic artist to do the setup/layout for you. I have seen far too many really good authors place their books on the market with covers that appear amateurish. And quite frankly, people avoid those books. After all, if the cover doesn't appear professional, how can the interior of the book be any better? 

From the Nose of Our Kayak Chapter 20

Janet & Don Beasley

Welcome back! We've returned and are ready to bring you more awesome chapters to our FREE blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." So let's get started and pick back up where we left off....

...Hello and welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog, where you'll find an array of creative features from a hand-picked group of creative geniuses. 

Wednesdays on the JLB Creatives Blog are set aside for our blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." JLB Creatives CEO, Janet Beasley, and her husband, Don, have been kayaking for nearly 10 years. Together they are excited to share with you, their awesome experiences that they have encountered. In this Wednesday feature you'll find kayaking stories, scenic nature photography from their outings, and some helpful tips when it comes to maneuvering your "butt sleds" (aka kayaks) on your journeys.

So if this is a topic that interests you, you'll want to be sure and become a follower of the JLB Creatives Blog, and stop in on Wednesdays each week for the latest chapter in Don & Janet Beasley's adventure blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." 

Previous chapters can be found in our blog archives.

We began the series on June 1, 2016.

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From the Nose of Our Kayak

Don & Janet Beasley

Chapter 20: A Beautiful Day...What Can We Say

The reason you either live or travel to Michigan's U.P. is to experience days such as these. The sky was bluer than any we'd ever seen, the cloud formations were unique, and the wildlife was plenty. 

We launched our kayak into the Tahquamenon River once again. We took our time flowing downriver, paddling only when we wanted to as we wanted the day to last forever. 

Our first glance from the nose of our kayak on the river was awesome. The water had no ripples...it was actually a mirror.

The brackish water was clear, and the sights beneath its crystal top were as beautiful as the sky. The vegetation laid in the direction of the water's flow. Lilly pads came into view and we stopped to gaze upon their serenity. 

As we coasted a bit farther down river we began to see flocks of one of our favorite birds, cedar waxwings. Something about their striking appearance, perched among the red berries of the ash trees, against the blue sky.  

The cedar waxwings were flying in and out of the trees above. The air was thick with these amazing winged creatures. 

Cedar waxwings are plentiful year around in Michigan's U.P. Their diet consists of berries that the either perch, pick and swallow whole, or snag as they hover, fluttering in flight. Their coloring is distinct, and a treat for any birder when they spot them through their binoculars. The are a tannish color with vibrant outlines in black, yellow, and red. Their tufted crests are similar to that of a cardinal's. The black "mask" across their eyes gives them away at a closer glance. They normally flock, and will nest in woodland areas. 

Next up we came across teal wing ducks. Floating quietly down a river has its advantages as we came upon a flock of ducks swimming their way across the river. One, most likely papa duck, brought up the rear and we were able to snap a shot of him and his brilliant coloring on his wing.

Once the ducks had made their way across we looked up, only to find a sky filled with clouds that change shapes in a hurry. We kept snapping the camera to capture all of the wondrous shapes and patterns that continued to change with every bend in the river. HINT: We've added all of our cloud photos below.

After the clouds came a turtle...resting like none we'd ever seen! As we zoomed in with the camera we soon realized he was balancing on his under-shell atop a piece of wood protruding from the water.

The day lingered, but not nearly long enough for us. But the good news is, we made it back to the dock before dark, and were able to load up with ease. 

On the way home we were even graced with a beautiful sunset that showed-off some rain clouds we couldn't believe even existed on that awesome day.

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Kayak Tip of the Week: Always keep a pair of binoculars in your dry bag. You never know what you may find in the distance that deserves a closer look. 

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Excerpt Extravaganza! and...BeaslePunk and the World of Steampunk

Hello blog fans! So glad you stopped by today. 

We will soon be changing up the Monday posts to bring you news that has to do with our BeaslePunk division. For a few weeks we'll be sharing all kinds of cool news from a sub-culture that is sweeping the globe with its stunning fashion, weaponry, and stories.

So get ready...starting next Monday we will begin to share the splendid-ness of this creative world.

Your steampunk blog hosts for this segment will be BeaslePunk's foudners/owners and award-winning steampunk artists, Don and Janet Beasley. 

We look forward to seeing you here!


In the meantime...here's this week's excerpt. It comes from the Hidden Earth Series. Janet Beasley's third volume released on November 4th, 2016. So here it is...straight from Volume 3 Planet Water ~ Draugar of the Abyss.

“Here it comes!” shouted Meilí. Arrowanna looked up as he and Torleik threw a large empty basket over the edge; it was tied to a heavy rope. Arrowanna felt her hair swish from the breeze of the dropping basket. It came to an abrupt halt just below Sidra.   

Arrowanna shouted, “You need to raise it a bit. I can’t get her into it down there.” The basket swung and banged into the side of the ship as her twin brothers pulled it upward. The wind blew the cold waters of the deep even worse as the tall ship rose and fell through the massive swells. Arrowanna feared the basket would hit Sidra and knock her from the rope ladder. Arrowanna shouted to her brothers, “Hold it there. That’s a good height.” She turned her focus to Sidra and lowered her voice to a soothing volume. “Now, we’re going to play the game we used to play back home with Poppie’s seaweed baskets. You’re going to step into this magic basket and make a wish, and see if it comes true.” Arrowanna held Sidra’s hand so tight it was turning white. She hated seeing the rope burns around Sidra’s wrists and ankles where she had been tangled up and thought, That must sting something awful. Arrowanna watched Sidra put one leg over the basket’s edge.

Sidra said, “Sis, it’s too big, I can’t get my leg in it. I can’t touch the bottom! Can I just make my wish now?”

“Oh, Sidra, sweetheart. You have to climb into the basket, or your wish won’t come true.”

“But we don't have any flower petals either.”

Arrowanna thought quickly and answered, “We can sacrifice a couple of things and your wish will still come true. I’ll come and lift you in, and we’ll use imaginary flower petals. I’m not going to let you miss a chance to make a wish.” Arrowanna struggled against the violent movements of the rope ladder while still holding Sidra’s tiny outstretched hand in her clutches.

Sidra screamed.

Arrowanna felt Sidra lose her footing; she now dangled by one arm.  Arrowanna’s adrenaline surged. She yanked Sidra closer to her, relieved that she had not let her baby sister fall into the depths. In one more swift move Arrowanna lifted Sidra into the basket.

“You did it Sis! I’m in the magic basket. Can I make a wish now?”

Crying through a hint of laughter, Arrowanna said, “Wait, we need to sprinkle you with the imaginary petals!” Arrowanna made quick movements and said, “Já, now you can make your wish.”

“I wish...” Sidra did not finish her wish, but rather screamed at the top of her lungs along with Meilí and Torleik as a wave caught the rope ladder just so, sending Arrowanna plummeting into the icy water. Arrowanna heard Sidra’s screams, and between the fifteen-foot swells, she saw her baby sister in the basket being raised to safety by her twin brothers. Now all they have to do is save me, she thought. She felt herself rise again and be pushed forward from the force of a wave, and the wave behind it came crashing over her.

Arrowanna disappeared.

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To discover more about this author and the Hidden Earth Series click here.

Author Quotes

Sometimes it's nice just to sit back and reminisce. A photo album of past experiences and acquaintances can somehow put things into perspective. That is also true for books; it's good to learn what other authors have said about writing and literature in general. So today we're going to take a look at literary quotes, some from long ago, some from more recent times. 

“Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary.” 

                              ― Boris Pasternak

“One glance at (a book) and you hear the voice of another person - perhaps someone dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, the author is speaking, clearly and silently, inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people, citizens of distant epochs, who never knew one another. Books break the shackles of time.” 

                               ― Carl Sagan,Cosmos

“I have a realistic grasp of my own strengths and weaknesses. My mind is my weapon. My brother has his sword, King Robert has his war hammer, and I have my mind… and a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge. That’s why I read so much...” 

                               ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

“A great book is a homing device 

For navigating paradise. 

A good book somehow makes you care 

About the comfort of a chair. 

A bad book owes to many trees 

A forest of apologies.” 

                             ― J. Patrick Lewis

“Weren’t all books ultimately related? After all, the same letters filled them, just arranged in a different order. Which meant that, in a certain way, every book was contained in every other!” 

                               ― Cornelia Funke, Inkdeath

“Walking the stacks in a library, dragging your fingers across the spines--it's hard not to feel the presence of sleeping spirits.” 

                             ― Robin Sloan, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

“I don't know where people got the idea that characters in books are supposed to be likable. Books are not in the business of creating merely likeable characters with whom you can have some simple identification. Books are in the business of creating great stories that make your brain go ahhbdgbdmerhbergurhbudgerbudbaaarr.” 

                            ― John Green

"From the Nose of Our Kayak" will return November 16, 2016...

Hello fans of our free blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." 

Just a friendly reminder...JLB Creatives and its divisions are entering a busy fall season and will be taking a break from their Wednesday blog posts.

But not to worry..."From the Nose of Our Kayak" will return NEXT WEDNESDAY November 16, 2016. with Chapter 20.

If you're new to the blog and are interested in reading our #FREE blog book, "From the Nose of a Kayak," Chapter 1 can be found in our archives starting in June 2016. 

Monday and Friday posts will continue on the blog so be sure and stop back to catch our latest excerpts and writing tips! 

Excerpt Extravaganza! This week's author is J.D. Karns

Welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog, where an eclectic team of creative geniuses share their fantastical imaginations. 

On Mondays we are featuring an excerpt from one of our creative authors. And what makes this feature so fun is that we publish a wide range of genres. You'll never know what to expect for the excerpt.

To read all of our excerpts thus far, we invite you to visit our blog archives and look for our first Excerpt Extravaganza! that began on August 1, 2016.

Enjoy!

All previous excerpts are available in our archives. We began this series on August 1, 2016.

Today's excerpt is from author J. D. Karns. His historical fiction novel, "28 Months of Heaven and Hell" has peeked the interest of veterans nationwide.

During the fifteen days Chester was home Sue spent most of her time at our house. I couldn’t always tell whether she was there or not when I got home from school, because her sweet perfume lingered pleasantly in the air regardless. 

Chester treated Mike and me to a very special evening on Saturday. He took Sue and us to see a picture show, “Two Girls and a Sailor.” There was something about that big screen that made Ava Gardner, June Allyson, Van Johnson, and Jimmy Durante look amazing. And to top it off, we had a detailed presentation of the newsreel before the main feature; Chester told us bits and pieces about the war as the pictures appeared. I remember that trip to the box office being a real eye-opener. I wondered how many other guys were home on leave and telling their families about the war as the images jittered on the silver screen. 

Fifteen days seemed like fifteen minutes. But those few days created memories that would last forever. When Chester finally had to go back, it didn’t seem as hard for me to say goodbye. But Sue clung to him like a bee on honey. I can’t say as though I blamed her, and Chester certainly wasn’t telling her to let go! 

He dished out the remaining hugs and made certain to muss up my hair. I laughed at that. He walked out the door and waved. We watched him until he once again disappeared out of sight as he went to the corner where the bus would pick him up. Mom shut the door, and we all looked at each other. I saw Mom holding back tears. I noticed Mike was maintaining his composure with a bit more strength this time.
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To discover more about J.D. Karns or to purchase his historical fiction novel visit his author page on JLB Creatives. 

Novelette and Novella

Sometimes I have a story in me that is not long enough to be a novel, but it is too long to be short story. That is when I write a novelette or a novella. The word novella is Italian, the feminine form of novello, meaning "new." Not only is it longer than a short story, but it is also more complex. It is usually comprised of approximately 20,000 to 50,000 words. In The New Yorker on October 29, 2012, in a article titled "Some Notes on the Novella," Ian McEwen made the following comment: "To sit with a novella is analogous to watching a play or a longish movie."

The novella's origin dates back to the early Renaissance in Italy and France, and it became legitimate literature in the late eighteenth/early nineteenth centuries. It was originally governed by precepts and rules and was limited to a single event, situation, or conflict. It was usually based on realism and presented a logical ending. In today's literary world, it lacks the subplots found in novels. Its main objective is to center around personal and emotional development of the characters. 

Some examples of novellas are: Animal Farm, George Orwell, The Call of the Wild, Jack London, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway, and The Time Machine, H.G. Wells.

The novelette is a work of prose fiction, longer than a short story but shorter than a novella. It generally consists of 7500 to 20,000 words. Its origin stems from the novella. At first it was considered to be sentimental and trivial, often regarded as something only women who were unsatisfied with their private lives would care to read. It was expected to present a love triangle and was quite predictable. It ALWAYS had a happy ending so as to restore people's faith in love and to leave readers with a feeling of security in an otherwise rebellious world. Critics used to label the novelette "vulgar" and "primitive." In short, the novelette badly influenced literary style, and in its day, those critiques may have been well founded. 

But the novelette has undergone an evolution. It has evolved into a story that contains all of the things found in a novel, only shorter, and its reputation has improved. Today we find it in nearly every genre with exceptional popularity in fantasy (especially dark fantasy), sci-fi, romance, and horror. In fact, it is sometimes referred to a "mini novel." It is perfect for both writers and readers who do not have the luxury of spending the time necessary to complete an entire novel. Society has become more sophisticated, so the old requirements for writing a novelette have gone by the wayside. A happy ending is no longer necessary, and a writer can now decide how to end it, even leading to everyone's deaths! 

Writing these "between" stories (referring to the length being between that of short stories and novels) means they no longer contain poor language and no style. They now contain solid construction with valid stories and plots, they now follow the rules of good writing, and they contain a less complex plot that fits the smaller length without forfeiting quality. The main focus is on writing a well-put-together story that readers will love.  

Excerpt Extravaganza! Today's Excerpt from "Maycly the Trilogy Book 2"

Welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog, where an eclectic team of creative geniuses share their fantastical imaginations. 

On Mondays we are featuring an excerpt from one of our creative authors. And what makes this feature so fun is that we publish a wide range of genres. You'll never know what to expect for the excerpt.

To read all of our excerpts thus far, we invite you to visit our blog archives and look for our first Excerpt Extravaganza! that began on August 1, 2016.

Enjoy!

All previous excerpts are available in our archives. We began this series on August 1, 2016.

Today's excerpt is from author Janet Beasley's "The Hidden Earth Series: Volume 1 Maycly the Trilogy - Book 2 The Battle of Trust and Treachery." 

Swinging the stick over his shoulder Charleo returned to the foyer. He flipped to the last page of the tablet and pulled from it the note he had written to Marlen. He laid it on the small table next to the door and placed a dancing-daffodil from her garden atop the note. He opened the front door and turned to take one last look at his home in its current state. Through the tiny window in the kitchen he could still see Marlen in the back yard. The boys skipped and jumped like boys do. He knew it would be a long time before he would ever see his home and family again...and he knew it would be different in the days to come on Maycly. 

The door squeaked and latched behind Charleo as it always had. Rascally stood near the gate attached to the wagon. The horse pawed at the ground and whinnied low. Charleo approached him and gave him a quick pat on the nose. “Not this time big fella. I be a-goin’ on foot. I'll be aseein' ye again, but not fer a long time. Ye watch o’er Marlen and the boys fer me. Take ‘em ta town by way of the scenic 8 HIDDEN EARTH Volume 1 MAYCLY The Trilogy route, eh?” Rascally nickered softly and shook his mane so that it brushed Charleo’s face. Charleo could not help but cry. Rascally rubbed his cheek on Charleo's and dried the tears. 
------------------- To discover more about this author, read 5 star reviews,  view book trailers, and/or purchase a print or ebook copy please visit Janet's author page on the JLB Creatives website by clicking here.

Excerpt Extravaganza! Today's Excerpt from PCL Anthology

Welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog, where an eclectic team of creative geniuses share their fantastical imaginations. 

On Mondays we are featuring an excerpt from one of our creative authors. And what makes this feature so fun is that we publish a wide range of genres. You'll never know what to expect for the excerpt.

To read all of our excerpts thus far, we invite you to visit our blog archives and look for our first Excerpt Extravaganza! that began on August 1, 2016.

Enjoy!

Today's excerpt is taken from the Pickford Community Library's Young Writers Workshop 2012-2013 Anthology. The author of the excerpt is Taylor Green.

Change. We all go through it, the good and the bad. It seems things never stop...well...changing. My first memory of a big change happened at age five when I got a new baby sister. At age ten I had to take care of her and my younger brother every day while Mom sucked down a few packs of smokes and a fifth of whiskey. And while Dad was at work, I had to look for food in our small mountain-ofdirty-clothes-and-trash house. 

I tried my best to act like a mom for those two kids, but I was too young to know how. My efforts always ended in fights with them, and eventually I'd give up, especially after being told, “You're not my mom!” I tried to reason with them. “I know, but I'm the oldest, and Mom's passed out.”

 This is my story. I'm Darcy, now 15 years old. Some people say my life has already had more ups and downs than my share, and I've been hiding a lot of them. I'm ready to come out with the truth now and share a story I've always been a bit ashamed of, but it's time for change. I can remember nearly every event during the time things started to turn for the worst, as if it were yesterday. I was in the fifth grade.
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To download this free anthology visit the JLB Creatives JTP Ebook Shoppe. 

Tools of Language and Expression - 3

Some tools of language and expression are not considered "good" writing but can be excellent tools if used properly and not overused, for grabbing a reader's attention, developing a particular type of character, expressing exasperation, etc. Let's take a look at alliteration, for instance. This is the practice of repeating a consonant sound in close proximity to others...

                                ...or beginning several words with the same vowel sound. 

It's truly a fun thing to write alliteration, but if overdone it can be a real annoyance to a reader, and it can also appear comical in certain situations, possibly where you DON'T want it to do that. 

Cacophony is the harsh grouping of words wherein the writer makes a phrase intentionally unpleasant to the ear when the spoken aloud. This practice is used to jar the dialogue or make a phrase particularly difficult to speak aloud. 

Another tool that is considered generally "bad" in writing is an anachronism, which is placing a person, event, item, or verbal expression in the wrong historical period. Example: one would be hard-pressed to hear an Irishman in 1920 saying, "That's like totally awesome, dude!" Likewise, it seems pretty impossible that the ship in the photo below could actually be sailing on such a tiny trickle of water.

You can probably see how these tools could either hinder your story if used incorrectly or overused, or embellish your story if used properly. 

Excerpt Extravaganza! Today's Excerpt Is From "Parallel Infinities"

Welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog, where an eclectic team of creative geniuses share their fantastical imaginations. 

On Mondays we are featuring an excerpt from one of our creative authors. And what makes this feature so fun is that we publish a wide range of genres. You'll never know what to expect for the excerpt.

To read all of our excerpts thus far, we invite you to visit our blog archives and look for our first Excerpt Extravaganza! that began on August 1, 2016.

Enjoy!

All previous excerpts are available in our archives. We began this series on August 1, 2016.

Today's excerpt is from author Honnah Patnode. Her novella is titled, "Parallel Infinities." Honnah is an accomplished writing enthusiast from the Advanced Journey to Publication Writing Program Curriculum.

The knocking sound rattled sharply within her skull again, faster and more insistent this time. The silver cord tugged at her, insistent to stitch soul and body together once more. Rosetta shook her head. Nothing made sense. No one could see her when she traveled like this, not ever. Not even those who joined her in an ethereal state of being could see her as more than a shadow, a footprint of her true self and no creature in a physical form was capable of peeking through the veil set between the skeletons and the souls. Who was this man? What was he? And why on earth had she felt so drawn to him when his voice had wrapped itself around her lungs and stolen her breath away? 

"How is this possible?" The inquiry came out a whisper, and the unfamiliar man squinted at her with a mix of confusion, fascination, and curiosity swirling in his eyes. He should not be able to see her. She should not be able to interact with him. She wanted to believe that something was wrong, but it did not feel wrong. In a strange way, there was a certain gladness she felt at the thought of a soul that she could see. 

The persistent knock tore through her mind again, loud enough to be a scream as it tumbled around inside her skull like boulders crashing down a mountainside. Rosetta tried to cling to the fabric of the fantasy, tried to snatch a piece of a world she could not touch and hold onto it until all waking moments left her to the blissful nothing in peace forever, but it was like trying to keep a dream in one's head after being forced to abandon it for the drudgery of morning. The waking world did not permit such things.
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To read more about Honnah and download her novella for FREE visit Honnah's Author Page on JLB Creatives.

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Tools of Language and Expression - 2

This week's two tools are simile and metaphor. They are a super way to compare items in literature. The first, simile, makes the comparison by using the adverbs "like" or "as." For instance, "That wide receiver can jump like a gazelle." Or "Andy's knee swelled up until it was as big as a watermelon." 

A metaphor makes the comparison without the use of those words. Instead, a writer compares the items through the use of implication. In other words, he/she uses one object as another. As an example, we can indicate that a child often repeats the actions of his/her parents by saying, The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree. An old metaphor that comes to mind is the one that describes a person who ridicules someone else's physical fault when, in fact, the person speaking suffers the same physical anomaly. As an example: 

In Greta's opinion, Wendi was an obese slob, but Greta was at least 50 pounds overweight herself. So when she said, "Wendi should take some advice from the diet ads on TV and lose that extra flab," I thought, Well, if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black! That's a really good metaphor because it compares the two overweight girls to two cooking utensils that both hang over the open coals and are covered with black soot. But the pot remarks that the kettle is black, as if the pot refuses to recognize its own soot-covered blackness. 

In the current book you're reading, or in the next one you pick up, see if you can identify the similes and metaphors used by the author. Then try to come up with a couple of similes and metaphors on your own. For some reason, people have a tendency to confuse similes and metaphors. I have my own way of helping me remember which is which. If a sentence says one thing is the same as (or if I can substitute the word "like" for "same as") I know it's a simile. If one object is used to mean another, I know it's a metaphor.

Excerpt Extravaganza! Today's Excerpt Is From "Protective Measures"

Welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog, where an eclectic team of creative geniuses share their fantastical imaginations. 

On Mondays we are featuring an excerpt from one of our creative authors. And what makes this feature so fun is that we publish a wide range of genres. You'll never know what to expect for the excerpt.

To read all of our excerpts thus far, we invite you to visit our blog archives and look for our first Excerpt Extravaganza! that began on August 1, 2016.

Enjoy!

All previous excerpts are available in our archives. We began this series on August 1, 2016.

Today's excerpt is from author Jessica Arman's Protective Measures. Jessica is an accomplished writing enthusiast from the Advanced Journey to Publication Writing Program Curriculum.

The bell sounded to mark the beginning of afternoon sector work. The morning was all classes, and after lunch everyone had to go to work in the jobs they chose. Taryn, Laiken, and Ryker were all in building, which is where they had met.

“I guess I’ll see you guys when I’m done with Garn and her boys,” Taryn said as they split up at the doors. She watched them leave, pushing each other and laughing. She loved seeing them together, just like brothers. When the boys rounded the corner, she made her way back to the classroom.

Before she even reached the classroom she knew something was wrong. The hallway was too empty and too quiet. She walked into the room to find most of the teachers present, and at the very back stood the master, Alloy. He was short and heavyset. His black suit fit like a second skin. He had bleached blond, slicked-back hair, and his face was always tight and emotionless. Taryn knew this could not end well. She put on her best “I don’t care” face and stood in front of the assembly.

“Do you know why you’re here, Ms. Bicks?” Alloy asked.

“I left class without being dismissed. Since when is that something you get involved in?”

“That is one reason you are here, but there are many more. I have been keeping my eye on you and have found that you are a leader for some of these students—too much of a leader. They seem to think that when you are around they can get away with more. Not to mention your constant misbehavior anyway. We are going to put a stop to that.” 

Alloy said. He grabbed the intercom mic and made the announcement, “All students must now report to the auditorium. Please sit in your rank order, with the highest in the front.” He clicked off the intercom and faced Taryn again.

“Now, Taryn if you would follow me to the auditorium, we can get this over with and put you back in your place.” Alloy's face sported a devilish grin.

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If you would like to discover more about this author and/or download her novella for FREE visit Jessica Arman's author page at JLB Creatives Publishing online. 

Tools of Language and Expression - 1

We're going to spend the month of October discussing the devices writers use to express ideas, develop characters, introduce conflicts, entertain the reader, etc. We refer to these devices as tools of language and expression. You will need to learn to recognize them in others' writing as well as be able to use some of them in your own writing. Some of the tools are so common that you may not even realize you're already using them. We'll start with some of the most familiar ones. 

American English is a tool of literature and expression. Those of you who live in North America are probably using American English. This is the language that developed from British English (used in the British Isles), especially in terms of diction, spelling, and differences in the use of grammar. No matter where you live, you are undoubtedly using collocation--the natural tendency to put certain words together. For instance, it sounds strange to a person who speaks American English to hear someone say, "A high gentleman is scaling the tall mountain," instead of, "A tall gentleman is scaling the high mountain." Diction is the art of choosing a particular word from a variety of words so you can create a specific effect. Word choice determines the reader's reaction and contributes to the author's style and tone. But don't confuse diction with dialect, which is the type of speech of a particular group or class of people. It usually distinguishes people who are geographically or socially recognized. Dialect often employs the use of words that create a special effect. For instance, a character who resides in the west may, upon meeting a woman, say, "Howdy, ma'am." But an eastern character would probably say, "Hello, madam."  

See.....we've already covered five tools in just one paragraph, and you have probably used them in your writing without even thinking about the fact that they're tools of language and expression. Along the same lines, you are most likely using idioms--expressions in one language that cannot be directly translated word-for-word into another language--without realizing it. For instance, if you say, "She was green with envy," someone who speaks another language would not understand, in his/her own language, the inference it makes to those of us who speak American English. 

What about onomatopoeia? Gulp, murmur, and splash are examples of this tool; they are words that mimic the sound they represent. And how about a great oxymoron, a contradiction in terms that actually makes sense in an odd sort of way. For example: jumbo shrimp, Little Big Man, military intelligence (my favorite), or the ones in the cartoon below: 

Do you think you would enjoy reading nearly so much if writers ignored the use of tools of language and expression?