Dare I upgrade this one before I figure out what happened on the other one?…. ehhh…. no.

So, what did I do? In writing first person narrative I was so fussy in making sure I stayed in first person (which I HATE to write) that I missed a small action that was GLARING as soon as I hit send and could no longer fix it.

The problem… well… I was adding to a write along story over at Writing.com and added a sequence where a character is reacting to another one and I typed…

(drumroll please)

……………………
“I know it sounds dumb, Jake,” Max’s eyes roll toward the ceiling, “but you’re two inches tall. How do you explain it?”
…………………….

Yes, that character’s eyes just popped out of his head and rolled through the air toward the ceiling. Or at least that is how it reads. ::pounding head on desk:: Why, oh why, do I only see things like that when I can no longer fix the error of my tiredness?

I think I best go sleep now. You can read the whole scene I wrote, or better yet, read and add to the entire interactive story at Writing.com yourself.

As always, one of the favorite investments for me to look at is Gold. Gold is one of the few investments most people feel confident in the long term investment value of, which makes it the perfect way to diversify a portfolio, particularly one intended to provide for a retirement. The price of gold has steadily risen over the years, so that even with occasional declines, it is still far more valuable by the ounce than it was twenty years ago.

Those looking to diversify their portfolio might buy gold coins to be put in their private collection or deposited in a bank or depository.

The United States Gold Bureau, a precious metals investment company headquartered in Austin, Texas, can assist investors in buying gold and other precious metals in coin or ingot form, with the coins being available for personal delivery or the hard asset professionals an assist in arranging for storage in an independent bank or depository.

This post sponsored by United States Gold Bureau.

The comic focus on the character Ianto Jones, and was written by Gareth David-Lloyd, the actor who portrayed the character in the series.

In talking about the focus of the comic David-Lloyd says, “I feel I know this character implicitly. The narrative of this comic focuses predominantly on Ianto, and integrates a number of characters who have been missed by Torchwood’s ardent followers.”

The comic is illustrated by Pia Guerra, and is a two part comic with the first part in the April 15th issue of the Official Torchwood Magazine.

I plan to pick up my copy today.

The issue has tips and information from current Torchwood writers and information on how you can write a short story, 1,000 to 1,500 words in length, for publication in Torchwood Magazine.

Check your local retailer for issue 20 of Torchwood Magazine or Titan Magazines – Torchwood Magazine.

See the magazine for details of how to enter.

If you would like to find out more about Regency and what their campuses are like, take a look at the information they provide for their Madison or Greenfield cosmetology school in Wisconsin. Regency campuses mirror upscale salons, and provide students with cosmetology training that is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS).

Regency Beauty Institute got its start in the 1950’s as Myndall Cain Beauty Academy, assuming the name of Regency in the 1980’s. Regency got its latest makeover in 2002. A fully accredited cosmetology school, Regency is able to offer federal financial aid to those who qualify.

This post sponsored by Regency Beauty Institute

The Internet is a huge place, with uncounted writing opportunities, so it is only natural to wonder just what the ideal length of an online article is. As a general rule online articles should be kept to an average length of 300 to 500 words, with some leeway for shorter or longer works depending on the topic.

Why 300 to 500 words? Quite simply because it is long enough to actually say something about the subject you are writing about, and brief enough that your reader can read it in just a few minutes. This is by no means a hard and fast rule, since online discussions have proven that even those who are writing articles for websites have a difference of opinion on how long an article should be. 250 to 11,000 words, less, more… It all focuses around one general rule. Write how much you need to write to inform the reader, no more.

Don’t create a dark shadowy figure that lurks in the shadows of an alley. Create a real character that watches your hero from the gloomy depths of the alleyway.

Rather than a busty blond or nondescript brunette taking your hero’s order in the cafe, maybe their order is taken by a young man that has traces of grease under his fingernails from his second job as a mechanic.

A danger zone is in too much detail, however, which can be just as bad as a character that is too classic a stereotype. Yes it might be stereotyping to have a meek bespeckled librarian, but just as dangerous is to toss out all of the traits of your stereotypical librarian. There should be aspects of the character that, while not what one might expect from the role, are also universally expected.

For example, a librarian might be different in their body builder physique, but they likely still love books or they would not have become a librarian.

A good exercise is to take a sheet of paper and write the kind of character you are creating at the top. Then draw a line down the middle. On the left write everything you think of when you think of that particular type of person, including and especially stereotypes for them. Then on the right side of the paper write all of the things you need for the character in your story. From these two lists you can create a character that has the traits of both what you need and what you expect, and from that you can create a non-stereotypical character or your story.