Graphic created by E. Jessie Monaco

We asked the Writer's Relief staff what their favorite costumes and candies are. Tell us your favorites by posting a reply! 

Dan
Costume: Ninja. Low maintenance, high recognizability. Plus black works well on Halloween.

Candy: Milky Way. I could make up some fake answer about the galaxy, endless possibilities, or something equally ridiculous, but really it’s just chocolate + nougat + caramel = win.

Frank
Costume: Years ago I had a clown suit with tan and red stripes. The big, red nose wasn’t necessary.

Candy: Dark chocolate.

Hermine (Guess who she is related to!)
Costume: Black French Poodle—all handmade, very creative.

Candy: Chocolate-covered marshmallow ghosts by Russell Stover.

Joi
Costume: I love Roseanne, and that show had the best Halloween episodes. One, in particular, that sticks out is when Roseanne and Dan dressed up as a dead ventriloquist and his dummy. They performed onstage for their friends, and when the song ended, Dan drank water and it came pouring out of the holes in the dummy's (Roseanne's) body. LOL…

Candy: That's easy. Candy corn. It's awesome, heavenly, and oh, so bad for you, but it makes me happy. So, please, everyone…LOTS OF CANDY CORN.

Jon
Costume: Honestly, I love ghost costumes, the real simple ones with just the two holes for eyes and a giant sheet over your body. It’s so simple yet it freaks me out! It reminds me of the original Halloween movie.

Candy: I love pumpkin spice chocolate…it’s just perfect for the season, and it makes me feel cozy.

Kriste
Costume: Little Orphan Annie—I dressed up as Annie when I was in grade school, and everyone loved it because I had the dress and big, curly wig. I should totally have my mom see if she can’t dig out one of those pictures. It was a hoot!

Candy: Candy corn—Pure sugary goodness!

Lisa
Costume: One year my dad made these hot-pink earrings that attached to a battery pack and blinked on and off. Unfortunately, they kept short-circuiting and shocking my earlobes. But I was determined to keep them on—it’s all about aesthetics!

Candy: Snickers.

Liz
Costume: Hmm… I like it when people dress as inanimate objects, like, say, a box of crayons. And homemade costumes are, by far, superior. I think it shows off creativity and dedication to the sport of dressing up.

Candy: Happy Apples by Laurie’s Candies (local homemade candy). Happy Apples are apples dipped in caramel, enrobed in chocolate, and decorated with a candy face (like M&M’s for eyes and candy corn for a nose, licorice whip for a mouth). You may not find them by going door to door, but Laurie’s Candies has made these treats for the past 15 years—or, at least, that is as long as I can remember! When I see those smiling treats in local markets, I know October has come and my favorite holiday, Halloween, is around the corner. When I lived in Boston, my parents would send me Happy Apples in care packages to remind me of home. I look forward to their arrival every year as a gentle reminder that some things don’t change!

Margaret
Costume: Ghost.

Candy: 3 Musketeers.

Maria
Costume: (This is hard because I like more than one) Elvis.

Candy: (Ditto) Snickers bites (dark chocolate).

Marissa
Costume: My favorite Halloween costume was one my mom made. She teaches elementary school and, therefore, dresses up for her kids each year. A few years ago my mother poked two holes into the bottom of a trash bag for her legs, stepped inside, filled it with fallen leaves, and tied it loosely at her waist. She made a sign that she wore around her neck that read "Tuesday's Pick Up" since that's when the yard waste was picked up…

Candy: My favorite Halloween candy is ANYTHING that involves peanut butter.

Matt
Costume: Undead Lincoln (Abraham Lincoln as a zombie), Robin Hood, Ghostbuster.

Candy: Chocolate Peanut Butter Marshmallowed Candied Apple.

Meg
Costume: Witch (I love the hair).

Candy: Candy corn.

Pamela
Costume: For Halloween when I was in seventh grade I dressed up as a “Widow’s Web.” It was basically a long, black dress and had a black, sheer shawllike piece with pointed edges, a high collar, and white silk screen print (made to look like a spiderweb) that went over it. Included in my ensemble was makeup (black lipstick/nail polish and white face paint) and a hair clip that had a big, creepy-looking spider on it. I wore my hair half up in a bun, with the spider clip over the bun. I loved that costume and so did my fellow classmates! From the back it really looked like a creepy spider perched high in its web, waiting to attack!

Candy: Snickers fun-size bars are my favorite Halloween candy. Snickers bars are my favorite everyday candy, so getting them on Halloween is always a plus! There’s just something about getting the fun-size bars on Halloween that makes them taste better than the regular size on an average day (kind of like how turkey on Thanksgiving tastes better than a turkey dinner on any other day of the year), not to mention they are a perfect-size chocolatey snack for any time of the day.

Ronnie
Costume: The black Poodle costume my mother made for me when I was a child. It was passed around to many children over the years and won lots of prizes! Must have made an impact on me. I continue to love Poodles, and two of our office mascots are proof (Bella, a standard apricot, and Teddy, a rescued mini apricot). They’re scary smart!

Candy: Anything with chocolate and NO peanuts. I also love homemade popcorn balls.

Shawn
Costume: My favorite Halloween costume would have to be Dorothy from The Wizard Of Oz. I have a complex, what can I say? Oh, wait…am I supposed to be picking my favorite male costume?

Candy: I’m going to stand up for candy corn here as my favorite Halloween candy, simply because almost all other candy is available year-round. And because I happen to think it’s delicious (we’re a small, small army, we candy corn lovers).  

Simone
Costume: Ghost. It's invisible.

Candy: Werther's hard candy caramel drops. It sticks to the roof of my mouth and I love the buttery caramel flavor.

Steve
Costume: Mick Foley (Pro wrestler also known to be Cactus Jack, Dude Love, and Mankind); Superman (with Superdog); Ninja Turtle; Bob Dole.

Candy: Smarties (Nestlé Smarties), only sold in Canada and Europe, similar to M&M’s.

Wendy
Costume/Candy: My parents really rose to the occasion for Halloween—very creative types. Long, long ago, when I was a wee child, they totally knocked themselves out and constructed an unusual costume for me: a small tabletop complete with a Halloween tablecloth, party favors, etc., featuring a pumpkin centerpiece (my head in a pumpkin mask). The absolute BEST THING about this outfit was that the little paper party cups were filled with CANDY CORN, my favorite Halloween candy. Pure bliss!

Although you didn’t ask, my least favorite costume? Mom and Dad’s version of the Pied Piper of Hamelin: I was forever tripping over the fake rats attached by fishing line to my shoes!

Find out what your favorite candy says about you by taking this short survey: http://www.blogthings.com/whatdoesyourfavoritecandysayaboutyouquiz.

These words were written by Karen Wendy Gilbert who had been a client of Writer’s Relief for ten years. She passed away on September 30, 2008 in Beth Israel Hospice. We’d like to thank her for sharing her writing and some of her time with us. Our own words don’t seem adequate, and so we are choosing to share HER words with you (with her permission). Karen was a courageous and talented woman.

Karen: We send you love, love, love, and more love.

With appreciation of your gift,
                        Ronnie and the staff of Writer’s Relief
____

On a clear, cold, God-given morning,
the sky was the original shade of blue
before doubt or cloud or second-thoughts
were invented.
____

Words like
“Incandescent,” “entropy,” and “implicate,” thrill me.
____

Amidst the material left as the waves recede are some man-made objects.
An occasional condom, the plastic casing of a tampon, the postage stamp-sized
Ziploc baggie that once held crack. Why anyone would need the rush and crash
Of crack here beside the rush and crash of the tides I can’t imagine,
Although, one is as likely to lead a life of soul-sucking desperation here as anywhere.
I, who know my days are numbered, am at peace here,
As nowhere else. The endless repetition of the waves,
Of the tides, of the flotsam and jetsam lend a soothing sameness to my days.
I repent nothing,
and hurl myself onward,
as fast as my lead shoes allow me, into the yawning abyss
(in my new sunglasses I look just like Grace Kelly).
____

With red-rimmed eyes and dark-brown skin,
His pores smelling like sweet wine,
The rain falling on his head and face,
He asked me for a quarter.
 
While I fished in my pocket,
He said, “God, what I really need is a hug.”
I looked up—startled,
And he, afraid he’d lose his quarter
Said—to me, to the rain, to the red traffic light
That kept us both at that corner,
“Now I’ve scared you.”

But he hadn’t.
And in my pocket I found two quarters and a dime,
And gave it all to him.
As well as the hug.

HOT OFF THE PRESS! We love to share our information with writers, and we’re happy to pass some of these INSIDER’S SECRETS along to you. This FREE newsletter may help improve your writing and your acceptance rate! Feel free to print these articles to use as references. These posts are packed with great information this month. DEADLINE-DATED lists of anthologies, theme issues, and contests are included at no charge!
 
In this issue:
 
* * We’ll help you finally get to the end in TAMING THE BEAST—REVISING YOUR NOVEL.
 
* * Lose or loose; i.e. or e.g.? Answers to these and other quirky word and usage questions in ODDS ’N’ ENDS, PART TWO.

* * WANT US TO CREATE YOUR COVER/QUERY LETTERS? We know writers hate to create cover/query letters, so we have created a new A La Carte PLUS service just for you.
 
* * Read our LATEST E-book, entitled UNTANGLING WEB SUBMISSIONS: ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO PUBLISHING YOUR WRITING ONLINE.  
 
* * LOTS OF HELP for CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHORS—100 CONTACTS and Everything You Need To Know To Submit Your Children’s Book. 
 
* * We’re giving away a FREE REPORT that outlines industry-standard Manuscript FORMAT Guidelines when you order our E-book entitled REJOICE IN REJECTION. 
 
* * THIS MONTH’S WRITING PROMPT may help you create a glass half full from a glass half empty.
 
* * If you haven’t put the finishing touches on your Web site (or haven’t even started one) and want a great author’s Web site, read PROMOTING YOUR WORK—CREATING THE ULTIMATE WEB SITE.

* * You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming ANTHOLOGIES, SPECIAL-THEMED JOURNALS, CONTESTS, and EVENTS.

↓Scroll Down to Read These Exciting and Useful Articles!!↓

A good novel is often revised several times before it makes its way to publication. As daunting as this seems, revision is simply part of the process of taking that first draft and turning it into a polished and coherent novel and, hopefully, one that will make you a star.

If the process seems intimidating, break it down into manageable steps. Some writers make one thorough sweep, and others make multiple passes, concentrating on different areas each time (characterization, plot, theme). However you work best, take the time to find those weaknesses that could halt the flow of your plot or take credibility away from your main character.

Set a date. Give yourself a firm deadline, and break down what steps you need to take and when. Stick to your deadline.

Take a break. Now, walk away from your masterpiece, and let it sit untouched for at least a week or two, longer if you can stand it. Give your brain some time to remove itself from the process for a more objective view.

Print it out. Have a double-spaced copy of your manuscript in hand, with two-inch margins for note-taking. A spiral-bound notebook and a few pens of different colors can help you stay organized. For example, use a red pen for deleting words or sections, a blue pen for additions, and use the notebook for more detailed revisions or notes to yourself.

Revision. As you go through your novel chapter by chapter, ask yourself the following questions:

1) Story line
• Is my plotline solid all the way through?
• Are there any holes that leave the reader confused?
• Is the story set in an appropriate time, place, season?
• Is my theme resolved at the end?

2) Point of view
• Is the point of view effective in telling my story?
• Is the point of view consistent throughout?

3) Characters
• Do my characters stay consistent throughout the story? If not, have I developed situations that account for any changes in personality?
• Are my characters flat or one-dimensional, or are they believable and richly developed?
• Are my characters unrealistic or stereotypical, or are they realistic, with flaws and idiosyncrasies?
• Do my characters evoke emotional responses from the reader?

4) Scene
• Are my scenes predictable?
• Do I provide concrete details or vague generalizations?
• Do they contain a good mixture of dialogue, action, narration, and introspection?
• Is each scene relevant to the story (moves the story forward) or could it be considered filler?
• Are my scenes bogged down by too much narrative (“telling”)?

5) Dialogue
• Is my dialogue practical and does it accurately reflect the character speaking?
• Is the dialogue essential to the scene?
• Is my dialogue weighed down by “he said, she said” construction?

Line-by-line editing 
 
Once you’ve resolved plot, character, and scene issues, make a final pass through your manuscript with an eye toward the basics: punctuation, grammar, word choice, and sentence structure. Run a spell-check and keep an eye out for embarrassing typos as well. (At this stage it is often helpful to have a well-versed grammarian and objective reader take a stab at this.)

• Have I repeated a favorite word or phrase too often?
• Is my sentence structure varied and interesting, or do I use the same length and phrasing throughout?
• Do I rely on clichés?
• Have I used gender-neutral language?
• Have I stayed consistent regarding hair color, age, dialect? Are my characters’ names spelled consistently throughout?

And, finally, once you’ve made these revisions, take a little break and then reprint your masterpiece (with one-inch margins). One more pass through should reveal how effectively your revision strategy has worked. When satisfied take time to revel in the moment. You’ve accomplished a monumental task.

Mantel or Mantle?

Use “mantel” when referring to the shelf above a fireplace. Use “mantle” to refer to a cloak or loose garment worn over other clothes. “Mantle” can also be used as a verb, as in to cover with (or as if with) a mantle.

Lose or Loose?

Use “lose” as a verb. You can lose a bet, lose the game, or lose your mind, but you can’t “loose” any of your faculties or possessions. “Loose” can be used as a verb too, as in “Use the hook to loosen the knot,” but, for the most part, use “loose” as an adjective. You can have a loose tooth, a loose screw, and loose change; you can have loose pants and loose morals, but don’t worry, it won’t make you a “looser.” 

For example…i.e. or e.g.?

The abbreviation e.g. stands for the Latin exempli gratia, which means “for example.” It must be followed by one or more examples. However, using e.g. does not mean that the list is a complete one.

We have several breeds of puppies available; e.g., Hounds, Labs, and Poodles, and there are several mixed breeds as well.

The abbreviation i.e. stands for the Latin id est, meaning “that is.” It should be followed by an explanation rather than a list of examples.

Don’t forget to attend the greatest match of all times. Come support the pride of Utah; i.e., the Howlin’ Huskies, on Saturday afternoon.

• Don’t forget to use a period after each letter; both are abbreviations.

• Use a comma after i.e. or e.g.

• You may use either abbreviation at the beginning of a sentence or in a parenthetical statement.

• If either abbreviation is used within the body of the sentence, use a semicolon before the expression and a comma afterward.

Hopefully (adverb)
 
 1) in a hopeful manner
 2) it is hoped; I hope; we hope
 
Hopefully, this drought will end soon.
 
According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary:
 
In the 1960s the second usage of hopefully underwent a surge in popularity and was then followed by a flood of criticism. But the word in question belongs to a class of adverbs called “disjuncts,” which serve as a means by which the author or speaker can comment directly to the reader—usually on the content of the sentence to which they are attached. Many other adverbs are used in a similar fashion, such as frankly, luckily, unfortunately, but “are so ordinary as to excite no comment or interest whatsoever.” The second usage of hopefully is considered to be standard.

In the heat of the moment, do you find the right words hard to come by? After an argument or disagreement with your significant other, boss, or parent, do you find yourself going over the conversation but adding the words you should have said? Have you decided that “Yeah…well…you’re wrong!” was perhaps not the best response? Can you rewrite your part of the dialogue? Outline a conversation but add what you would like to have said instead of your less-than-perfect, heat-of-the-moment words. Perhaps you can move some of the negative thoughts and words to a more positive outcome.

First of all, don’t be intimidated by this task. It is no longer necessary to be a Web designer to create a classy, interesting Web site to showcase your work. A great site can also help you sell books, gain readership, and create a Web presence. There are several hosting programs that are inexpensive, professional, and user-friendly. And, if you get stuck, there are always computer-savvy college students willing to help out for a few bucks.

Some tips:

Choose a domain name that accurately reflects you and your work. Use your own name or your pen name. If your name is very difficult to spell or pronounce or if it’s already been claimed, you may want to use the name of the work you’re promoting.

Keep it clean. One of the quickest ways to lose a reader’s interest is to force him or her to scroll through miles of text, navigate blinking graphics and pop-ups, and struggle to turn down the volume of your favorite techno beat just to get to the heart of the matter—you and your work. If your content is simple, keep it all on a single page, in an easy-to-read format. (By easy-to-read, we mean no white text on black backgrounds.) Additional content? Create and post links on the (front) home page; for example, one can click on Publication Credits and Educational Background, which will lead readers to this information about you.

Speaking of keeping it clean… Unless your site is promoting colorful picture books for children, stay away from using too many font styles and sizes or bright-pink and purple backgrounds. Don’t let your graphics and layout distract the reader from the important stuff. However, feel free to use a nice, large, and prominent font when displaying your name on your home page. Being shy won’t help your readers remember your name.

YOUR HOME PAGE:

Contact information.

Make it a snap to contact you. At the very least use a professional-sounding e-mail address with your name or pen name (no cute monikers, please). Some writers include a phone number, but you can decide what other contact information to post.

Ordering information.

If you have books to sell, make it as easy as humanly possible for people to buy them. If you aren’t set up for credit card processing and your books are only available through Amazon, for example, provide a link directly to it. Feature a picture of your book’s cover, a very brief summary, and a great review or recommendation if you’ve got one.

Make sure links to additional pages are prominently displayed.

ADDITIONAL PAGES:

Samples of your work.

If your site is dedicated to promoting your published work, be sure to post excerpts from your work as text. Choose scenes that are sure to pique the reader’s interest. You may also want to include excerpts from other as-yet-published work, either as text or as downloadable files. You may also use this section to promote future projects.

Bio page.

Include a page that describes who you are. Describe your background, interesting facts about your life, your professional credentials—anything that ups your credibility as an author. Include a professional photograph to make it more personal.

Do you give motivational speeches? Organize workshops? Provide editing or mentoring? List any other services you provide here.
 
Blog or journal entries.

If you write a regular blog or journal entry, keep your audience in mind, and give them relevant information—or make them laugh or cry or identify with you in some way. Keep the content new and fresh and update frequently.

Testimonials.

Let ’em fly. Do not hesitate to fill the entire page with glowing praise about your work.

Media room.

If members of the press wish to contact you, make it easy for them. Use this page to display your contact information (again), and include downloadable photographs, press releases, a bio page, and a link to the testimonial page.

OVERALL:

Keep your audience in mind when designing your site. Instead of creating a sales site (Buy now! You won’t regret it!), let your personality shine through, and hook your readers with what makes you and your work unique. Give them something to take away from your site. For example, you can share some of the publishing pitfalls you’ve run into and how you dealt with them. Offer links to sites that have helped you with grammar or finding a literary agent or that inspired you on days when the muse flew the coop or the rejection letters overwhelmed you.

Above all, have fun with it. Your readers will notice!

The Road Taken: An Anthology, edited by Cyndy Muscatel, is now available for purchase on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Road-Taken-Anthology-Eric-Spitz/dp/0595499163.

Check out Susanna Rich’s one-woman, audience-interactive poetry performance at Seton Hall University in New Jersey on November 11-12. More information at www.susannarich.com.

Are you looking for some other great resources on essay- and fiction-writing, blogging, and maintaining a Web site? Laura Milligan has compiled a list of 100+ Free Open Courseware Links. Take a look!

If you're seeking a "kinder and gentler" publisher, check out http://www.thewildrosepress.com/. They publish romance, short stories, and full-length novels.They are accredited by the Romance Writers of America.