Category: Author

How to Increase Your Word Count

When students tell me they “can’t” reach the word count for an essay, I often smirk. Yes, I smirk. I don’t just “smile – it’s a full-on smirk because I know some tips and tricks in writing that will get them to their goal, and they’ve presented me with an opportunity to talk about what I love to discuss most … communication in writing. Sit back and relax, students. Here comes some life-changing information. For school, this is packaged nicely in a handout. For this space, here are my 4 strong ways to increase your word count for school or for work sans the PDF file.

  1. BE DESCRIPTIVE.
    • Utilize the Rule of 3’s – for any item that needs describing – if your reader MUST know how that chair looks or how this thing smells or what that bird sounds like, then DESCRIBE it. Use the 5 senses to create a description, but give the items being described no more than 3 bits of description each.
    • Imagine your reader as ignorant of what you know; most often, the reader is, in fact, ignorant of what you know. Never assume they know what you’re seeing in your own mind. Be descriptive. It adds to the word count too. Win!
  2. INCLUDE EXAMPLES: STORIES AND STATISTICS.
    • To strengthen an idea, include stories (Pathos) and statistics (Logos). Be thorough.
  3. USE A SIGNAL PHRASE FOR ALL QUOTES/PARAPHRASES.
    • To strengthen your argument. Random quotes carry little to no weight. If you explain who said what’s coming and why their word is important, all of a sudden, the quote carries weight to your argument. Example: Stephen King, author of many short stories, including “The Man Who Loved Flowers,” gave an example of repetition in that particular short story that is bone-chilling; he wrote, “And he swung the hammer. Swung the Hammer. Swung the hammer. As he had done five other times” (King).
    • To mark boundaries: Signal phrases mark boundaries between your words and the source’s words. By marking the boundaries, you also provide a smooth transition for the reader between your words and the source.
    • To emphasize the source: Call attention to the author or source being used. In some cases, such as a literature review or the use of a well-known author, specific information about the source is important for the reader to know. Give adequate and specific details regarding the source – add to its credibility.
    • To avoid plagiarism: All source material must be cited, and signal phrases are one way to cite a source—however, additional citation formatting may be necessary depending on your citation style. Signal phrases are used WITH in-text citations. Both are necessary for proper source citation.
  4. INCLUDE OPPOSING PERSPECTIVES IN YOUR ARGUMENT.
    • To create an effective argument essay, including opposing perspectives can double the word count. This is a simple concept.
    • It strengthens your argument as well. It builds credibility (Ethos) when you, the writer, are willing to admit there are other perspectives than just your own.
    • State what the opposing perspective(s) is/are and argue it in the paper, combating it with your own research and opinion. Show that you understand the opposing perspective by the seriousness with which you treat the addition of that information into your essay. Let your own argument meet the opposing perspective at every point. This is exciting and makes you credible.

These things work. In fact, #4 on its own has the capacity to double your word count. Your essay will go from being dry and short to lively and lengthy – you will find yourself having to cut your word count at times. Never cut what needs to be part of your argument. Always keep your audience in mind – and write the argument in a way that they will not feel attacked, nor will they shut you off because you are one-sided. Be open, be reflective, be fair, and be knowledgeable. Logos, Pathos, and Ethos must thread through your entire argument. Do this by following these 4 steps. Win. Win. Win.

Winning.

how-to-increase-your-word-count-1Download

Giraffe to be Kidding Me! – Available on Amazon.

Giraffes are people too! Don’t believe it? Look at the pictures we found of giraffes doing people things.

https://a.co/d/dgWLyRf

“Giraffe to be Kidding Me” is a coloring book – full of giraffes doing normal everyday people things.

Illustrated by Kennedy Inman and edited by Dacia Cunningham (Kennedy’s mom).

The American Queen is Live!

“The American Queen” is available now on Amazon! This is a story I am proud of and excited to share. It was originally published in 2013, but the publishing company went out of business a short time later – and not because of this story. Wink, wink. In the years since that unexpected loss of publication, my life became tumultuous, and I was unable to put pen to paper, much less resurrect my previous works. Recently, my ability to focus returned, and I discovered that once a book has been published through a publishing house, most other publishers are not interested, so I reworked it and self-published it on KDP – Amazon.

Here is the prologue for the story – which explains how “The American Queen” came to be.

On July 29, 1981, Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and I watched. At nine years old, I had no need for Disney Princesses because I had Princess Diana to look up to and emulate. Her kindness and grace were a model for me as I moved into my teenage years and young adulthood. When she died on August 31, 1997, I stood with a month-old baby girl in my arms and cried over the loss of my Princess. I watched the news, saw the footage, and wrestled with what I heard. Skeptical me always believes nefarious things may be afoot, so a strong part of me desires to believe she’s still alive – despite the crunched car, despite the broken body, despite the witnesses, and the extensive news coverage. Call me a conspiracy theorist; I’m cool with that because my heart cannot believe that my Princess Diana is gone, so I picture her somewhere lying on a beach, living a life of freedom – laughing and loving as she deserved – living as she never could have as part of the royal family.

On January 20, 2009, Barak Obama became the President of the United States. Having always been a news junkie, I watched CNN and FOX throughout his Presidency – always observing his body language and those around him. The non-verbals of politicians and celebrities became a fascination for me, and I studied them – I became most fascinated by Michelle Obama, the First Lady of the United States. It is possible that I was/am way off base with what I’m about to say, but that holds no bearing on the end result of my supposition. It became my firm belief that Michelle Obama was unhappy – for whatever reason – but I surmised that being the First Lady of the United States was a position that came with not only a lack of privacy for the rest of her life but also pressure and danger like most other people on the planet cannot fathom. Her husband was the leader of the free world and either loved or hated the world over. I watched her smiles – in most pictures and video clips, her smiles appear forced. I did not observe movement near her eyes which would indicate true smiles. And I began to toss around thoughts about what it would be like to be the First Lady of the United States … and my consensus after some thought was no, thank you. That’s definitely not for me.

My musings on Princess Diana and Michelle Obama formed a story idea.

Alice Hatcher is the First Lady of the United States, married to the most powerful man in the world. She has everything – or so people believe. She speaks on issues of education and kindness; she wears designer clothes, her husband is powerful, her children have the best education, and people love her. More than love, the people adore her. She and Don make a striking couple, and their faces grace the covers of magazines worldwide. Her life is glamorous, and women everywhere wish to be her or, at least, be her friend. Only, she wishes not to be her. The spotlight is not something she ever wanted. A secret service agent convinces her that her death can be faked, and Alice takes the risk. She wants the freedom to live according to her own desires, do what she wants, live quietly, and be out of the spotlight, never to be on the stage again with flashing lights blinding her as the paparazzi swarm. Once “dead,” Alice discovers freedom is not always what it seems, people are not always who they claim to be, and someone knows she’s alive! She sets off to chase her “freedom” ….

The Devil’s Promenade

This afternoon I found myself seated among other English professors, student writers and artists, and other staff and faculty from Tulsa Community College. We collected together in an auditorium space for the Tulsa Review Launch Party – TCC’s online Literary Magazine/Journal. Student readers and a colleague of mine read selections from this year’s edition located at http://www.tulsaccreview.com. The majority of the read-aloud pieces were all student submissions to the journal, and it was a thrill to hear their works read out loud and see the visual arts submissions flashing across a screen above where the readings took place.

One young lady sat next to me – and with pride, she pointed to her painting when it was displayed on the screen. It was lovely, and I asked her if it were a self-portrait. She said that she’d seen the photo and wanted to duplicate it as a painting because she’d found it so lovely. This is her piece which is in this years’ Tulsa Review edition:

Chidera Nwachukwu | Lady with a White Scarf
(The woman/student I sat next to)

As I sat there listening once the “party” started – and the introductions were made by my colleague Josh Parish, also an English Professor at TCC, I realized that I had accomplished something big here! Yes, there were student submissions, but the Tulsa Review also accepts and publishes general submissions worldwide. This year, I anonymously submitted – I’d thought about submitting a piece the two previous years, but I second-guessed myself and did not do it. Why? It’s been a “minute” since I submitted a written piece and was published by a magazine or an anthology – the past few years of my life stunted me and kept me from creativity. No longer! My piece, “The Devil’s Promenade,” was chosen for publication by the review board of TCC student editors. How exciting! I am excited and honored to have been chosen – and I’m planning what I might submit for the next edition! For now, though …

“The Devil’s Promenade” is a ghost story mash-up of Joplin Spooklight legends and my own experience visiting Spooklight Road in Seneca, Missouri, with my cousin and two of our friends. After reading the legends surrounding the Spooklight, I had to write a ghost story. Had to. This is one of my favorite pieces that I’ve written – and I’m excited to point you to it.

The visual art accompanying my short story is by a TCC student – James/Jaime Cunningham. Not related that I know of … and neither are our works; they are not connected beyond being linked together in the lit magazine. James’ picture is made of small pieces of paper collected to form the larger “painting” of Cain’s Ballroom. Lovely.

I hope you enjoy “The Devil’s Promenade.”

The Devil’s Promenade

Author Conversations Collection!

It occurred to me a few weeks ago that my novel writing course could benefit from insights other than my own and the assigned textbooks – which are “On Writing” by Stephen King, “Structuring Your Novel” by K.M. Weiland, and “No Plot No Problem” by Chris Baty. We have reached the point in the semester where my voice is no longer the new professor’s voice but more akin to the nagging mom who gets half-listened to … I say this tongue-in-cheek, but at the same time, I know it’s true. They get comfortable, and life distracts them from focusing on the course when things become routine. Now, I’m not much for routine, and I was thinking – how do I keep this class moving and spice it up, make it enticing and challenging both … tap your resources, came the reply inside my head.

My thoughts turned to my colleagues and author friends in St. Louis, and I got excited. I reached out to several and scheduled a couple of author interviews, which I am calling “author conversations” because once talk of writing begins between writers, the ‘interviews’ become fluid, unstructured, and wonderful. I have three more St. Louis-based author interviews in the works, but I also decided to see who I could drum up in Tulsa – and I reached out to the Tulsa Nightwriters writing group. The response has been incredible! Thus far, I have collected 7 “author conversations” and have 2 more scheduled to be posted to my Novel Writing course shell and Youtube. There looks to be a total of 10 of these author conversations collected by the end of the semester! How exciting!

Author conversations posted to Youtube thus far include:

Each of these conversations is informative and entertaining. Topics cover a broad range of writing topics from the writing process to publishing ins and outs. Lots of talk about editing and character development, writing groups, and the necessity of critique. Some are Pantsers, and some are Plotters. And all love the craft of writing – all have passion for their stories and for their readers … It is about influencing and engaging the reader and fulfilling a driving need that we, as writers, have to create.

We invite you to give each author’s conversation a listen – there are nuggets of advice for every writer at all stages of writing. I cannot just keep these for my students – writing is for everyone!

What if the cops had come?

It is my strong opinion that reading a story the way the author intended its message is important in the classroom. This is what I do; I am an emotive reader.

Today, I read “So What Are You Anyway?” by Lawrence Hill. https://mryathonsroom.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/9/1/119190447/whatareyouanyway.pdf

After class, the man whose office is next door to my classroom stopped me in the hallway to ask if everything was okay. He stated that he had almost called the campus cops to help in my classroom as there sounded like trouble in the ranks! … but he noticed mine was the only voice he heard, so he hesitated, but was bothered by what possibly might be occurring. He waited by the door for me to leave my classroom.

I assured him all was well, and I told him I was reading “So What Are You Anyway?” by Lawrence Hill, and that I am an emotive reader ~ that I want my students to feel and experience the story as it would have come from the mind of the author.

I said he should read the story for himself – also giving him a rundown of the story. The section of the story that had concerned him and stuck in his mind, and he quoted at me, which I had read quite strongly was when Carole screams at Mrs. Norton … “Leave me alone!”

“How would you like it if that happened to you?” Carole says. “So what are you, anyway? What are your parents? How would you color them? Well, I don’t care! I don’t even care!”

My Carole was in near tears, and apparently, quite loud. All students’ eyes were on me as I read. It was electric. And apparently … convincingly worthy of dialing 8888. The campus cops.

Y’all … I think this is funny. Should I think it’s funny? Poor guy. I had him panicked. I really want to giggle. And … I must say, it feels rather like a Mr. Keating moment to me.

Oh man. What if the cops had come? I probably would have invited them to pull up a chair. 🤣🤦‍♀️😎💥

A Kiss in The Rain

It’s surreal to be sitting here looking at copies of my novel. They’re so pretty on my coffee table, and don’t get me started on how they feel! It’s a matte cover, and it feels so nice. To say that I’m pleased with the final product does not encompass how exciting this is! And the smell! Y’all! Each has that intoxicating new book aroma.

Ahhhhhhh …..

https://www.facebook.com/102921678713515/posts/118980790440937/?d=n

My First Novel is Out!

In all the hub-bub, I neglected to announce this fantastic news in my blog space! Good grief! 😁

“A Kiss in the Rain” is now available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. And, I said “First Novel,” which is true. However, this is its third time in publication. Twice it has been with small publishers, and I value those experiences. When the second one closed its doors, I found myself having to start from square one with an original manuscript. What an experience for me! A little over a year passed while I edited and added, edited and removed. The story is not changed, but many scenes are altered. In the years since I initially wrote “A Kiss in the Rain” much has happened in my own life that now shapes and colors my writing from new perspectives. So, for those who have read it before, you will find the story refreshed and, hopefully, more mature.

Friendship is the building block of this story which follows two women who meet in a grocery store line. Each woman is confronted with ‘life’ in its ugly and joyful forms, and it is their friendship which sees them through. For me, it was a digging into the possibility of a friendship with a checker I knew in St. Louis named Joan – every time I went, I chose her line no matter how long it was, just so I could talk to her. That, combined with a photo I found on the internet of this old lady sitting in a windowsill; she was dressed in brilliant, obnoxious colors, and a giant cigar hung from her mouth. Instantly, I knew I wanted to be her when I grew up. Minus the cigar. So, my mind wandered and combined these two women. Joan and the old woman with the cigar. She became Adeline. And I, in some ways, was/am Danielle.

In some sense, this is a romance novel, but it is more an inspirational fiction story. These two women struggle, laugh, dance, and cry through the events that unfold, one holding firm to faith, and the other learning to lean on faith as her roller coaster journey sweeps her along. Both women experience romance and lack of romance in relationship. For instance, Danielle’s love is lost to her at a young age, and she endeavors to create a life for herself without him; she discovers that God has other things in store. Adeline’s story is much more colorful, attributed to the fact that she is much older, and she has lived an incredibly full life, though keeping herself from happiness because of what she perceives as unworthiness.

Readers have expressed to me that they want stories now about the lives of more of the characters from this novel. I’m toying with that idea, though for me, the central characters are Adeline and Danielle. Writers will understand this. Readers too. These women are my friends, and I know them. The other characters are not engrained in my heart in the same way as these women are. I’m not saying I’ll not consider the possibilities of stories evolving from Victoria Clark or George or Lynne Gunnison, but I will wait for them to tell me their full stories over a tall glass of Diet Soda, since I don’t drink coffee. Insert a smirk here.

All of this to say – if you are an empathetic person, grab some Kleenex. Even I, the author, cried when I read this story back through. Several times. No, truthfully, it was multiple times that tears flowed down my cheeks as I edited and rewrote and flushed out scenes through the nearly 300 page novel. The overarching idea that friendship can come to us in many forms touched me deeply, and even I, as I made my way through the manuscript, was reminded to embrace friendship and care for it, to let people love me and enrich my life. I am grateful for “A Kiss in the Rain,” and it is my hope that it can be a blessing to you.

https://www.facebook.com/thecunninghamcollection

Resume Writing & Editing – A Challenge and a Thrill

Spent my morning involved in a favorite activity – editing resumes.  Taking a person’s professional information and making it not only visually pleasing but precise and easy to read is something that thrills me. Each time it is a challenge, and it provides a rush to my spirit – an adrenaline kick that what I can do may indeed help the individual achieve their professional goal is AWESOME.

Over the years of my teaching career, I have written and edited hundreds of resumes.  It started at Vatterott College around 2011 when I taught Composition II.  Without all the detail as to the why it began, I started teaching my Comp II students how to edit their own resumes after conducting extensive research into resumes and their production, what the business world needed, and what it wanted.  I desired for MY students to find success after completing their educational journey.  Their resumes needed to look professional and like they were worth talking to/consideration for the jobs they trained for.  So … it began – soft skills training – resume writing and interview skills preparation.

Resumes are a living document.  Therefore, it is best to create one from scratch sans the templates inundating the internet.  To be able to edit – manipulate – per job and add information over time is essential, and a crisp, clean Word document provides that means.

Each job an applicant applies for should have a revised copy of a resume – one that is tailored specifically to the job desired – containing work experience, terminology, and educational experience directly relating to the position the person is applying for.   A template makes this … let’s use the word ‘difficult’ at best.

Keeping each resume labeled with specifics and saved to the computer and an internet drive is important.  In my own personal files, I have multiple copies of my resume, each edited according to the position applied for and labeled according to each opportunity/company name with dates of application/edit.  This is the same for each cover letter, letter of recommendation, and reference sheet.  Having these saved nice and neat in my Google Drive provides the opportunity to work further on my information at any time or place necessary.

So, it’s been an invigorating morning – enjoyable for the simple fact that my ability to edit and write may be the catalyst each of these two wonderful people needed to get the attention/interviews for the jobs they desire.  THAT is cool.  I am grateful to play this part. In lieu of that, I feel compelled to jot down a few (not all naturally – for that would take away the need for my eye and services) items for job seekers to bear in mind as they approach resume writing.

  • Do not put the year of high school graduation on the resume.  Avoid age discrimination.  It is no one’s business how old the candidate is before an interview is scheduled.
  • Do not take that personally.  If you had job-applicable activities/coursework in high school years, then those can be used, just no dates attached.  Bear in mind that the name of the high school attended can also help and/or detract from job seeking.
  • A street address in the header is not necessary.  It is, again, no one’s business where the applicant lives, whether it is rented or owned, etc.
  • Make sure the email address provided is professional.  Don’t use something like … axlrosefan88@whatever.net.  Now, I made that one up.  It would describe me, for sure, and it would give an employer insight into who I might be, but it is not professional.  Stick to the candidate’s name as the meat of the email address.
  • Bullet points are essential.  They make a document easy to read.  Remember that an employer spends an average of 6 seconds scanning a resume for pertinent information before deciding whether to look at the document deeper.  6 seconds.
  • Put all dates on the far-right side of the resume page and in bold print.  Research shows that an employer will look across the top 1/3 of the page and down the right side of the resume before looking into the center or left side.  Have those dates of employment and education stand out!
  • Read the ad well and research the company you are applying for.  Use their terminology and keywords in your resume.  Make the resume ‘match’ their needs.
  • Understand the majority of resumes should be no more than 1 page.  There are instances where a longer resume is required.  Education and ministry are in this category.  But, on the whole, a resume is to be 1 page.  It should contain only the information regarding the candidate that is pertinent to the job being applied for.
  • How can you accomplish that?  Create a LinkedIn page online.  On your LinkedIn profile, house all of your work history, recommendation letters, and important contacts.  At the top of your 1-page resume, post your LinkedIn ID so that an employer will know there is further information to be read concerning your professionalism and abilities.
  • Use crafted verbs.  Each bullet point under job achievements/duties should begin with a new verb.  Do not over-use verbs.  Active verbs are necessary and must be in the proper tense for the job’s dates.  If it is a present position, then verbs should be in present tense.  If it is a past position, ensure that verbs are in past tense.  There are abundant lists of Active Resume Verbs on the internet.  Google one.  Use a thesaurus.  Get crafty.

These are a few suggestions for resume editing and writing.  I cannot give away all of my thoughts.  No, it’s more that I won’t give away more at this time.  When I teach resume writing and cover letter preparation to students, the actual lesson can last 2 hours or longer.  There is a vast amount of information to share and for folks to add to their job readiness arsenals. What a thrill!

Some of my favorite resume editing challenges are when I am presented with a two or three-page (a couple of them have been longer) resume and the candidate says there’s no way I can get it to one page.  Watch me – it will happen.  There is a learned skill involved in manipulating Word and making text comply with what I need it to do.  I have not been bested by a resume yet in this challenge, and the competitor in me will work to ensure that I win.  It’s me against the information, and I am armed with manipulation and word skills.  Bring it on.

It is noon now, and I am charged up, ready to work on another resume.  At the close of each semester, I tell my students I will be available to them for the rest of my life as their own personal resume editor.  Friends, family, folks … come one, come all.  Alas, I don’t have one to work on.  They will come, just not at this moment.  So, I will settle for opening one of my manuscripts and jumping into that sort of editing.  Grammarly Premium and I have work to do on “A Kiss in the Rain.”  Ah … that’s a whole nother blog post.