Posted November 17th, 2009 by Blog Editor

By: Katherine Angela Yeboah

  Los Angeles…a city of high-rises, palm trees and sunsets that melt you on the inside. I first set foot here in the early 1990s and instantly fell in love with the place. During one of many visits, I was staying in an inn for young travelers. It was a wild place, with fascinating characters coming and going by the van-load and parties that never seemed to end before the dawn broke. The names and the faces of some of these curious people have long since been forgotten. But the conversations I had with them are imprisoned in my memory for good. I recall being shown how to use the Ouija board in a drafty dining room at two in the morning. I recall being instructed on how to astral travel…and how to lucid dream.

  After deciding to stay in L.A. permanently, I moved into a third floor apartment with a view of the Hollywood sign through the bedroom windows. The past-its-prime building had creaky wooden floorboards and poorly lit corridors and a roof that would leak every time the rain fell. It was the perfect setting for a mystery story. The perfect abode for a carefree, young college student named Sloane, the main character in my novel, ‘Lucid’.

  It was in this ancient, red-brick building that I had my first lucid dream. In the dead of night, I ‘found myself’ in the corridor outside the apartment. My mind drifted back to one of those conversations I’d had during my travels. I had been told that, if I ever suspected I might be dreaming, I should center all my attention on my hands. I later learned that this ‘reality check’ is a widely recognized technique for confirming that you are dreaming and therefore inducing a lucid dream. So as I stood there in the hallway, I raised my palms toward my face and peered intently at them until they came into focus. And as soon as they did, everything appeared to change. This was no longer just your everyday, garden-variety excursion into dreamland. This was unlike any dream I had ever had before. The world around me seemed to intensify, to liven before my eyes, and I understood instantly what lucid dreaming was.

  I continued to concentrate on my hands, not wanting to let the dream slip away. Brushing my fingertips over the uneven surface of the wall as I wandered up and down the corridor. I awoke…my dream went no further. But the character from my story, ‘Lucid’, is not so lucky. Although her first lucid dream begins harmlessly, as mine did, Sloane’s dream quickly turns into a horrific nightmare. She gets a glimpse inside her neighbor’s apartment…and a glimpse at the dirty, little secret he’s been hiding there. Is her mind playing tricks on her, or are her dreams actually based on reality? Is her neighbor as ordinary as she once thought him to be, or is he really the savage monster who haunts her nightmares?

  It was the strange and vivid dreams that I’ve been having for as long as I can remember that inspired me to write my first novel, ‘Lucid’. In fact, more than half of the dreams described in the book are based on dreams that I actually experienced.

  Lucid is out now in e-book edition and Amazon Kindle edition. For more information, please visit my website: katherineangelayeboah.blogspot.com

Posted November 4th, 2009 by Blog Editor

    There is currently running a free-to-enter short story contest on BookRix for writers and readers. The theme is “Travel Stories”.

  Prizes on the line include $1.800,00 in prize money for writers, “fame!” and Amazon vouchers (each worth $20) for voting readers.

  The 10 best-rated stories will be given to an independent jury consisting of BookRix and the Georgia Writers Association.

  Perhaps you want to submit your own story into the competition or become a judge and vote for others to win great prizes. If so, please go to the following contest pages:  http://www.bookrix.com/precontest.html?show=BX_1256740851

  Good luck to you!

Posted October 1st, 2009 by Blog Editor

 By: Sandra Yuen MacKay

  – “There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” – Alexander The Great –

  Believing in your abilities goes a long way as a writer. I posted this quote on a sticky note beside my computer. It comes in handy when the agony of writer’s block takes over. I procrastinate, distract myself and find twenty things to do other than write. The screen remains blank until my muse returns.

  This saying is also useful when I receive rejection letters from publishers. Writing the “Great American Novel” is a desirable goal. However, how many of us invest the time and effort to make this dream a reality?

 One of my first creative writing instructors told me that my work was good enough to publish. I sent out submissions to magazines and journals.

  I was having coffee with a friend who asked me how the writing was going. “I don’t think I’m cut out to be an author,” I said. “I got rejected three times from this art magazine.”

  She shook her head. “You’re giving up after three rejection letters? Go and talk to them. Introduce yourself and keep sending them your writing!”

  Soon after I was published in that magazine and other print publications as well. I also taught creative writing and began to write more complex, longer works.

  It’s great to have the talent to write, but monetary success partially depends on marketing skills. It would be a perfect world, if we all had agents and publishers looking out for our best interests. However, the reality is no one will know you as a writer unless you put yourself out there. In ways, it’s like running a business.

  So you’ve fostered your writing and found a unique voice. Perhaps you’ve shown your stories and/or poems to fellow writers and received advice and suggestions. You’ve taken writing courses and participated in writers’ forums. Now is the time to approach publishers if that is your goal.

  Make sure your work is the best it can be. Judge it not as the author, but as a skeptical reader. What makes it memorable? What is not essential? Who is your audience?

  Skill as a writer can be learned. Natural talent puts you in good company. There are good writers who aren’t published and there are not so good writers who are published. Don’t be afraid of failure but treat it as a learning experience. If you’re going to dream, dream big. Your goals in writing are within your grasp. It may take time, but nothing is impossible.

Posted September 29th, 2009 by Blog Editor

  Our free short story writing contest “Rain Stories” enters a crucial stage as we are about to reach halftime…

  More than 50 stories are in the competiton already and our discerning readers on BookRix.com started to choose who shall win. So far it’s a close race.

  Please vote for your winner.

  On the line: $1800 prize money for writers, “fame!” and Amazon vouchers (each worth $20) for voting readers.

  Your goal: To choose the best story, considering content, style and spelling. The polls close 15th of October at 3pm, GMT London.

  Check out the participants, who are allowed to register more than just one rain story, as readers are welcome to vote for more than one book: Click to see all  Rain stories in contest

  In the meantime, stay tuned to the BookRix.com forums to track your candidates’ discussions and progress.

  Supporting colleagues & fairness: Good luck to all!

  _______
  BookRix – your place to read, write and network free literature on the internet…

Posted September 24th, 2009 by Blog Editor

By: David Wood

   – Look into my eyes, look at the hypnotic essence of my stare. As my strong but gentle hand scoops you up, and we begin to glide over the dance floor, like the fog does over the water. My hot breath breathing on your neck, ear lobe. Not letting you go, as you stare into my hypnotic eyes. Your arm over my shoulder, the other holding my face near yours. As you bring up a leg while I steady your balance, I slide a open hand across your shin, like that of a violin. We begin bringing the audience’s stare, as they are captivated by our dance. We are performing the “Love Makers Dance” as we take over the dance floor. Like a hot fever leaving them breathless and thirsting for more. -

Posted September 18th, 2009 by Blog Editor

The Plight of an Incomplete Hero

By: Tyrone Vincent Banks

 
  They lurk in the darkest crevices of our subconscious without form and without purpose. They were sired by some of our darkest fears, dreams and wishes. Before they were formed their creators spent hours, days, weeks and even years contemplating who and what they’d be. They knew in advance the exact map of their genetic code, their lineage, their culture, their life’s mission and how they’d end their life. They were given dreams; goals and ambitions – yet – some of them will never see the light of day or spend one glorious day in print.

  Are you guilty? Have you started to create a character when your enthusiasm was at its highest level and allowed him or her to fizzle out as you lost interest? I’m guilty and a lot of my characters are trapped in an odd place between my mind and the keyboard. If I really think of my unfinished works there are about twenty different characters that I’ve left in this state. There are some created as lead actors while the others are just “stand-ins” – who are trapped in some most unfortunate predicaments.

  I can recall the creation of an inventor on the verge of starting a revolution. I can vaguely remember a warrior just inches away from his enemy’s spear. There’s even a guy out there about to tell his leading lady that he loves her for the first time. Some of my characters have been formed internally while they lack hands, feet, eyes and bodies. So, what are we going to do about it?

  I have a suggestion, actually I have two suggestions; either finish what you have started or at least develop your characters and find somewhere nice for them to wait for you to stop by and make them whole. Writer’s block can be a challenge and it even kept me away from a project for eight years. Can you imagine… eight years of my character’s life unaware of his purpose and lifespan? Eight years of writing and rewriting and even inventing a character on page 10 and finishing a book without mentioning him or her again!

  While we wait for inspiration our creations call out; “Rescue me!” Set them free today because there’s a whole world waiting to meet them.