How to Write a Limerick

We often hear people talk about limericks but the word seems foreign to us and we wonder what a limerick is.

Well, a limerick is a type of poem. Sometimes referred to as the "nonsense poem" a limerick is filled with humor and wit. While the poem is meant to cheer you up and make you laugh, it can also leave you thinking and inspire you too.

How to Write a Limerick

A limerick consists of five lines with a rhyme scheme of AABBA. Each of the lines has a specific meter measure. The 1st, 2nd, and 5th lines have three feet, three syllables each, while the 3rd and 4th lines have two feet, three syllables each.

There are two types of "feet" in a limerick: either anapestic (two short unstressed syllables and a long stressed syllable) or amphibrachic (one stressed syllable and two unstressed syllables.

An easier way to illustrate this is to think of a rhythm that sounds like DA-DUM. One "foot" of an anapestic meter will have a rhythm of DA-DA-DUM, while one "foot" of an amphibrachic meter will have a rhythm of DA-DUM-DA.

When you finish writing your limerick read it with the DA-DA-DUM or DA-DUM-DA sounding rhythm. Your 1st, 2nd, and 5th lines, which are three "feet," should have three sets of DA-DA-DUMs or DA-DUM-DAs each. Your 3rd and 4th lines, which are two "feet," should have two sets of DA-DA-DUMs or DA-DUM-DAs each. If the lines sound like this then you've nailed the form. If your lines don't sound like this you may have to tweak the poem a bit. I am not sure if it is a must for the lines to strictly follow this rhythm/meter pattern to still be considered a limerick but it is best to adhere to the rules.

While a limerick consists of five lines you can have a long limerick poem that consists of many stanzas each one its own limerick poem. In this case the poems will most likely be of a similar nature or of a similar theme. Writing limericks in this way is both interesting and fun and a little more challenging. Once you figure out what you want to write about, writing a limerick is not that difficult to master, regardless of what kind it is and how long you intend for it to be.

Even though limericks are meant to be humorous you can still use poetic techniques in the poem such as metaphor, simile, personification and alliteration. Do not hesitate with experimenting with poetic techniques when writing this type of poetry. It will be more creative and challenging and you will be able to expand yourself as a poet and writer.

Example of a Limerick

A fellow I know bought a suit
I think it was made out of jute
The colours were mellow
It was red, green, and yellow
He looked like a large bowl of fruit

This limerick is an excerpt from a long limerick poem "Get a Load of This" written by the talented poet Regis Auffray. He published his limericks on the AuthorsDen site and has published three limerick books.

Some interesting facts about Limericks

• Edward Lear made this poetic form popular in this book Book of Nonsense, which he published in 1845. The origin of the name references the county of Limerick, which is located Ireland.
• They were used during World Word II to gain higher priority when it came time to get new guns fitted to the Dutch sloop known as Soemba.
• Poets tend to write limericks about a person or a place and they introduce that specific person or place in the first line of the poem.
• Limerick poetry is a play on words.
• Limericks can be turned into songs and it's been done in the past and present. Just add a refrain verse (chorus) between each five-line limerick and you got yourself a limerick song.
• Some people write limericks using the required meter but refrain from using the required rhyme scheme of AABBA. These types of poems are referred to as "anti-limericks." People like W.S. Gilbert have written "anti-limericks."

I will admit that I wasn't a big fan of limericks at first. After helping my friend Regis Auffray with his limerick books I fell in love with limericks and have even written a few of my own. Now I am a limerick fan. Limericks are certainly an addictive form of poetry. So, I will definitely be writing them from now on. Thanks to Regis I have written many limericks and even published a limerick book of my own Scenes from a Quirky Life.

No Place Like Home: A Look at My Hometown

I have lived in the United States for 23 years, so it is my new home now. My true home, however, is somewhere far away across the Atlantic Ocean in Eastern Europe, in my homeland of Minsk, Belarus. No matter where I go, I carry the memories of where I came from. The images, sounds, and aromas are still vivid in my mind. They make me feel as if Minsk is right here, just a grasp away. And sometimes I feel as if I am right there in the midst of all the action and adventure that this city has to offer.

Transportation

Minsk is the capital of Belarus. It is a busy city with lots of activity, yet it's never too crowded on the streets. No matter where people want to go they've got lots of ways of getting there. Among the modes of transportation are the bus, the subway, the trolley bus (the electric bus), and the tramway (runs on rails). With so many convenient and inexpensive ways of moving around and about the city, there are 

many places to see and visit.

The Bazaar

One interesting and delicious place to visit is the bazaar, otherwise known as the food market. Every day it is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables so aromatic that your mouth starts to water and your stomach growls, and the smell of freshly butchered meat, and raw fish wafts through the air. The burst of activity and the crowd of curious, hungry shoppers is a scene one can never forget. Voices ring in the air as people scurry through aisles of nutritious treasure, hands occupied with grocery bags, buying the necessary ingredients for creating a feast.

When I was little, I loved going to the bazaar. Whenever my parents or grandparents went shopping to the bazaar I always went with them. It was an adventure for me. My mom even told that a few times she went to the bazaar on high heels with me in her arms carrying huge grocery bags. And actually there were plenty of women who went shopping for food in high heels.

Belarusians Love to Eat

Belarusians love to eat, and they consume a great deal of food, especially at dinnertime. The table is never empty when people come together for a celebration or just to enjoy a meal together. Come to think of it, the table has so much food on it that by the time people are done eating, their stomachs are so full that they can't get up.

To start of the meal, there are a variety of appetizers. The popular and also my favorite salads are olivye made from potatoes, carrots, pickles, canned peas and mayo; shuba, which is a layered salad of potatoes, carrots, onions, herring and beets topped with mayo, and carrot and mushroom salad. There are also a variety of freshly oven-baked breads, cold cuts, herring and red and black caviar, which is very popular. And this is just the beginning. Then comes soup.

The two popular soups are cabbage soup made from green cabbage, carrots, and potatoes, and beet soup made from beets and potatoes. And if that isn't enough there are also a number of main entrees that are served. Among them the popular ones are fried chicken cutlets with mashed potatoes, or fried pork chops with fried potatoes. As you can tell potatoes are very popular. Actually people love potatoes so much that they eat them mashed, fried, boiled, sautéed, or baked. They can even eat them for breakfast, dinner, or supper. You would think that this is the end of the meal. But finally, there are fruits and dessert with tea or coffee. This looks more like a royal feast than a regular dinner but this is the way that Belarusians eat when they get together.

Since bread and pastries are an important part of dinner, the bakery is another place that cannot be passed up. Walking along a street, even feet away, one can taste and inhale the rich aroma of baked goodies that leave one's taste buds hungry for more. Bakeries always draw in a huge crowd that sometimes it gets so big that a line forms on the sidewalk waiting to get that piece of wholesome goodness.

I remember when I was little I loved going to the bakery. Fortunately it was across the street from my apartment so I didn't have to go far. My favorite bread was Narachansky, which was made with molasses and dried mashed potatoes. It was so delicious that one slice was just not enough. Luckily I've found a bakery here in Brooklyn that bakes that bread so I always buy it. It brings me closer to home and reminds me of the bakery I always visited.

Popular Foods in Belarus: 

Beet Salad with Prunes, Carrot Salad with Raisins, 

Herring, Syrniki, Vinegret, Stuffed Bell Peppers, 

Cabbage Soup, Okroshka, Cold Borscht

Mushroom Picking

One of the popular activities to do in Belarus is going to the forest for mushroom and berry picking. It might seem a bit weird to a foreigner but it is fun. When people go picking for berries and mushrooms they actually eat them afterwards. (The mushrooms are cooked of course before being consumed.) There is no fear of getting poisoned because people know what to look for and can tell the difference between something poisoned and something edible.

This of course was one of my favorite activities. Many times I went with my brother and parents to pick berries and mushrooms in the forest. The berries that we picked were blueberries, raspberries and wild strawberries (my favorite). Wild strawberries are so delicious that they melt in your mouth. Sadly they don't grow in America although I've found a few in upstate New York.

One time when I was in Latvia with my family we decided to go mushroom picking. We ended up collecting a big bucket of mushrooms, which we later brought to the restaurant where we had dinner and asked the chefs to fry them for us. The mushrooms were so good that we ate them all. That is an experience I will never forget.

The Weather

Oh and one can never forget about the weather. Each season carries with it wonder and surprise.

Winters can be rather brutal with temperatures falling way below freezing and the cold snow reaching heights of people's knees. But even this rather unpleasant work of Mother Nature is a beautiful, mesmerizing masterpiece. Bare streets and naked trees are blanketed in fluffy white sheets of snow, sparkled by the faint glow of the sun peeking from the light gray sky. The howling of the wind and the sting of the frost paints people's faces with pink dots, and fogs windows. With children playing in the snow and rows of snowmen, the streets are never lonely. Belarus stands for "white Russia" in the Belarussian language, so maybe the nation got its name from its white snowy winters.

Lasting through months of freezing cold the body craves for warmth and so spring brings with it warmer temperatures. Yet everything is not calm because sometimes, heavy rains storm into the city creating puddles that turn into small rivers. The air is fresh with each rainfall refreshing the body and soul.

Summer throws upon us hot temperatures but it is never too humid so the atmosphere is pleasant. It is a great time to bask in the sun and relax at the beach. So people don't have to be stuck indoors in front of an air conditioner to stay cool.

Autumn colors the streets with rainbows of fallen leaves rustling under moving feet. Cooler temperatures relieve us from the power of the heat.

So each season gives people something to look forward to. It unveils a beauty all its own. Sometimes it seems as though the scenery in front of one's eyes is not real but a painting. That is what makes the seasons in Minsk exhilarating and unforgettable.

Minsk, Belarus is an interesting place to visit. The experience is wonderful and mesmerizing. There is plenty to do and plenty to see. It's been a while since I left Minsk, Belarus, but unveiling these memories of my homeland make me want to say that there is no place like home.

My Trip to Ontario Canada

One year, instead of spending Labor Day weekend at home my uncle decided to make a trip to Ontario Canada. He didn't want to stay at a hotel or a b&b and decided to rent a cottage. After doing a Google search he found a cottage in St. Catherines, Canada on Nokara Farms and that is where we went.

We left to Canada on Friday morning and returned back home late Monday night. We drove around St. Catherines and went sightseeing to Niagara-on-the-Lake during the day and to Niagara Falls at night, when everything is lit up.

It was a great, fun, and memorable trip and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I sure hope we return to this cottage and to this part of Canada soon.

Nokara Farms Cottage

The cottage we stayed at was located on Nokara Farms (St. Catherines, Ontario). It was a cozy two bedroom cottage with a large living room, a fully equipped kitchen, a roomy bathroom, and a large porch. The cottage overlooked Ontario Lake and the view was breathtaking.

I never thought that I'd be living on a farm, surrounded by fruits and vegetables, overlooking Ontario Lake, but it happened and I am so thrilled that it did.

Instead of sleeping in the bedroom I decided to sleep in a pullout couch in the living room. Why did I do that when I could have slept in a cozy bed? Well, I did it all for the view. Lying on the couch and looking straight out the window I could see Ontario Lake, the picturesque skies above, the rustling leaves of the trees and the birds flying overhead. Pure bliss and worth the discomfort of sleeping on a pullout couch. Actually, it wasn't that uncomfortable but of course a bed is always the better choice. In this case the view won me over and nothing else mattered. I wish I could wake up to this kind of view every morning...

The View from the Cottage

The view from the cottage was breathtaking. I am glad that I didn't forget to bring my camera along with me. I was able to take some amazing photographs of the lake and the sunset... Below are some of these photos.

Picking Fruits and Vegetables

There was no way we could have left Nokara Farms without going fruit and vegetable picking. The owner of the farm took us on a tour of the farm land and then allowed us to pick fruits and vegetables. By the time we were done we had baskets loaded with plums, peaches, pears, tomatoes, eggplants, onions, red peppers, and melons. We asked how much we owed for all these delicacies but the owner said we owed him nothing.

Visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a town in Ontario Canada and we went to visit it on our trip. It had nice buildings and stores and a beautiful park. I also noticed that there were flower arrangements situated throughout the main street of the town. Even in the middle section of the road that divides the two-way street there flowers galore.

While walking along the main street I saw a couple that was dressed up like someone from the olden days, which was interesting to see. They were nice enough to let me take their picture. I didn't ask them. They just saw me taking pictures and posed for me.

I also came across a lady walking a poodle. I've never seen a dog like it. He was so unique, so beautiful that I had to take a picture. Another amazing thing that I saw was a monument of sorts that listed the names of the people who swam across Ontario Lake. It showed how old the people were when they made that swim, where they were from, and the length of the swim.

Visiting Niagara Falls

I have been to Niagara Falls in the past but I have never visited it in the evening when everything is lit up. This time I got to do just that. It was really a sight to see. So majestic, so magical, especially with the fireworks overhead.

I tried taking pictures but it was hard to get any great ones because it was so dark. I guess my Nikon camera is not designed for taking night pictures. I managed to take a few that weren't that bad though, which I am happy about.

I am not sure what the occasion was but there were too many people visiting Niagara Falls that night. It was way overcrowded. It gave me a feeling that something big was going to happen. And that's when the fireworks started. The downside was that the fireworks lasted for only a few minutes. I would have thought they'd be for at least twenty minutes, if not more. Oh well. Even the few minutes brought with them lasting memories.

My trip to Ontario Canada was an amazing experience and one that I will never forget. I definitely want to return there in the future, hopefully in the near future. And as far as where to spend the night, I'd prefer to stay at a cottage on Nokara Farms than at a hotel or a bed and breakfast.

Tips on How to Overcome Writer’s Block

Writers, no matter how great they are, face writer's block at some point during their writing journey. Either they sit staring at an empty page not knowing what to write about; or they sit there writing and reject everything that makes it onto the empty page. Writer's block is not only annoying but it also prevents writers from from creating amazing pieces of writing and getting it done in time.

Being a writer, I know how annoying and frustrating it can be to be faced with writer's block, especially when you have a deadline for something that you have to write. And not being able to write when you really want to write is just as annoying and frustrating.

I decided to put together some tips on how to overcome writer's block. Perhaps you will find them useful. And if you have your own tips to share, please do. Writers should always help each other improve their craft...

If Writing Isn't Working Take a Break...

If you ever start writing something and end up hating or rejecting everything that you write STOP WRITING. I don't mean stop writing for the rest of your life. Just put the writing aside and come back to it at a later time. If you keep on at it and force yourself to continue writing (when it's clearly not working out for you) your work will suffer and so will you for that matter. There is nothing wrong with pausing, taking a breather, and returning to your creation at a later time. If you do that, if you return with a clearer head and a calmer being, you will see that your words will start to flow and you will accept what you write. You will begin to appreciate the words you lay onto the empty page. Things will fall into place...And before you know it an amazing piece of writing will emerge. How much time should you take off from working on that piece of writing is really up to you. You may take a break for a few minutes, or maybe a few hours or even days will be best. Try it out and see what works best for you.

Where to Draw Your Inspiration From...

Everything that surrounds you is a great source of inspiration. You just have to be open to it. You have to want to accept it and embrace it. Don't let anything pass you by. Always have a pen and paper ready to jot down those ideas. They will come in handy when you have writer's block. And they will also be useful because they may result in great pieces of writing. You don't necessarily need a pen and paper. You can use any other medium to record all the ideas that pop into your head. As long as you have a recording device that is all that matters.

Nature is a great source of inspiration and it is full of stories waiting to unfold, even if it is used metaphorically to tell a larger story. For example, you may be strolling through the park and notice an elderly man sitting on a bench with his young grandson feeding the birds, which may bring you back to a time when you were a kid and when you used to go to the park with your grandfather... Or you may spot a tree and it may trigger a memory of a time when you sat under it with your love...

Dreams can be a great source of inspiration. When you wake up in the morning, try to remember bits and pieces of the dreams you had and jot them down. It doesn't matter if they are vague. They can still help to give you ideas on what to write about. You never know what pieces of writing your dreams can inspire so pay attention to your dreams and if anything sticks in your head when you wake up put it on paper so you can later work on it and develop it into a complete body of work, be it short or long.

Where and How to Get Ideas For Your Writing...

If you are sitting there not sure of what to write about there's lots you can do... Think back on your recent or past experiences and write about those. Think about what matters to you, what touches your heart or moves you, what you are passionate about, your dreams and aspirations. Ponder about these things a little and ideas will start to emerge in your head.

Read on for more useful information on where and how to get ideas for your writing...

Ask Yourself a Series of Questions

You can ask yourself a serious of questions that will help get you on the track to starting your piece of writing. Here is a list of some of them that you'll hopefully find useful.

• Have you seen a movie or show on TV, read an interesting book, or listened to a song that connected with you and spoke to you in some way?
• Who is your idol and why is that person your idol?
• What does friendship mean to you?
• How would you describe unconditional love?
• Is there anything that you are afraid of that keeps you (or kept you) from doing what you've always dreamed of?
• Did you face any challenges in your life and how did you overcome them?
• Have you ever felt like an outcast, like you didn't belong amongst a group of people?
• What are your fondest childhood memories?
• Are there any special moments in your life that you will never forget?
• How did you cope with the loss of your loved one?

There are many more questions that you can ask yourself...So jot down a list of questions not worrying about their content and something will surely make you want to write and create something of great importance.

Come Up With a List of Titles

Come up with a list of potential titles for a piece of writing...

When you do that, something in that list will catch your eye, or ignite a spark, and ideas or even complete lines will emerge from your head...Before you know it a piece of writing will come together and one you will surely love.

When creating a list of potential titles keep in mind that the final titles for your work may change. So, don't dwell too much on the titles you come up with as they are there to spark your imagination, to get your mind working, to bring a story to life, no matter what style of writing it's in.

Besides coming up with your own titles you can also look at titles of movies, books, and songs, that have been released by others. That may inspire you as well. Even lines in books, songs, or movies can resonate with you and bring forth great ideas for writing or even complete works.

Some examples of titles:

• The Sound of Good-Bye
• A Moment in Time
• Stains on My Heart
• A Bed of Roses
• Awakening
• Keep on Running
• Heart of the Ocean
• Eternal Beast
• Filling in the Rainbow
• Eternal Changes
• My Every Color
• Pieces of Me

Come Up With a List of Words

If your goal is to write a poem or a lyric and you find yourself blocked go ahead and come up with a list of words. The list doesn't have to be long. Having six words in the list is a good enough number from personal experience. Once you've got your list together go ahead and open up that empty Word document, or take out a pen and paper, and start writing your poem or lyric making sure to include all the words from your list in there.

When you are creating your list the words don't have to be related to each other. They can be as far away from each other as you want. And that may actually be to your advantage because having a list of words (for example: bear, banana, dream, vacation, tongue, daisy) that are not related to each other in any way will get your creative juices flowing, in turn getting rid of that writer's block and helping you to write something and something you will actually like rather than reject. The piece will turn out to be an interesting one and may even result in you getting more writing ideas.

You can try using this technique/approach when writing prose as well. It can be just as effective. But I use it more for poetry and lyrics than anything else.

Take a Look at Pictures

Take a look at pictures in a magazine, book, newspaper, Internet or photo album and see what ideas come into your head from looking at those images and write about them. This will help you create the beginnings of stories (whether fiction or non-fiction) that you can later develop into full stories for others to enjoy.

Remember that the stories you write don't necessarily have to be about exactly what is depicted in the pictures you look at. Images can very well trigger something entirely different in your mind and memory and still help you bring to life works that will have meaning, depth, and emotion.

Set Up Five Minute Exercises

Another great thing you can do to help cure writer's block and get yourself to start writing is to set up five minute exercises. Simply set a timer for five minutes and start writing. Before setting a timer, however, first look at an image, think of a sound that speaks to you (roar, cry, boom, meow, laugh, trickle, bang, etc.), or a phrase that resonates with you (it can be a title) and then set the timer and write. You will be amazed at what you can come up with in those five minutes.

When you write, forget about everything that's running through your head and just let the words flow, let the pen glide across the paper without questioning anything you write at the moment. Don't pause and think. Just write. Doing this will make for a more meaningful, more effective body of work.

When the timer beeps signaling the end of five minutes put down your pen and read what you've written. Then go ahead and revise what you think needs to be improved or removed. You don't have to do it right away. You can set the work aside and come back to it at a later time. Of course, you may find that revision is not needed. Most likely though that is not the case.

A piece of writing can always use a little revision. Set it aside and come back to it at a later time. Doing so you will find that you'll want to change something in your piece, be it a few words, or a few sentences. You may even find that there is a lot more to tell in this story. If that is the case, go ahead and continue developing it. Just make sure you don't stray too far away from the original as it has the most energy in it. Also, be sure to keep the original version as you may need to go back to it at any moment.

Where to Tackle Writing?

Every writer works differently and writes best in different settings. Some prefer to write at a desk in a closed room; others outdoors or at an open space; others at a library; others with music in the background, etc.

I think one great place to write is when you are sitting on a bench, a light breeze is blowing, and you hear the waves as they hit the shore. This can bring forth lots of beautiful, moving, and amazing pieces of writing, regardless of what type of writing it is - poetry, lyrics, prose, etc.

I've done this many times and it has really helped me write. Not only is this setting inspiring but it also helps to clear your head, which improves writing and makes it easier to figure out what to write about as well.

Writing in your room (on a computer perhaps) can also work. Just make sure you have a window open or the AC on. If the room is hot and stuffy and it's hard to breathe your writing will suffer and so will you.

You might think it's funny but great pieces of writing can come about while you taking a shower or sitting on the toilet doing your business. They may not be complete works but at the very least they will be great ideas. I've written many pieces (poetry and lyrics) while taking a shower and while sitting on the toilet - some were lines or ideas while others were complete works. There is one downside however. If you are taking a shower, you can't take a pen and paper and write things down. You have to rely on your memory. So if you get ideas or even complete lines in your head, while taking a shower, you will have to repeat them over and over so they are committed to memory and will not vanish after you get out of the shower and can finally write them down. I hope this hub will be helpful in your writing journey. I hope it even inspires you in some way. Feel free to share your own tips for overcoming writer's block and for figuring out what to write about... As always, I look forward to hearing back from you.

The Story Behind "Nowhere to Be Found"

On August 24th, 2011 at around 8:30 in the morning Adam Lambert's chorus from "If I Had You" (my ringtone at the time) started blasting from my cell phone. This is one of my favorite songs, yet hearing it then didn't bring a smile to my face, especially when I looked up the caller ID and saw that it was my paternal grandmother calling. I wondered why she was calling at such an early hour. Something just didn't seem right. She never called this early.

I picked up the phone expecting to hear my grandmother's voice. Instead I heard the voice of her home attendant telling me that she had come in to the house, so still and quiet, to find my grandmother unmoving in her bed, my grandfather lying beside her, his hand stroking her head. I managed to hold it together while she was on the phone with me - telling me the sad, shocking news and then complaining about how she couldn't get a hold of my parents for a long time. She had every right to complain because the body had been lying there for hours and needed to be moved to the funeral home. But that was not something I wanted to hear. I had to try to get a hold of my parents but more importantly I wanted to go and see my grandmother for the last time and say my good-bye.

After I hung up the phone the waterworks started. I was shaking and I couldn't stop crying. I could not believe she was gone...

It was hard for me to find out that my grandmother was no longer with us. It tore me up inside and for a long time I could not come to terms with her passing. For a while it felt as if she were still with us. More than once I had the urge to pick up the phone and call her, or stop by her house for a visit, but of course there was no one to call, no one to visit. She was gone and nothing would bring her back.

One day I came to the cemetery to visit my grandmother. I scanned for her grave, scanned for that little name tag (the monument was not up at the time) to let me know where she was peacefully dreaming, but it was nowhere to be found. I looked everywhere near where her grave site should be but it was all in vain. I started to panic; wondered about what happened to her, and why her grave was nowhere in sight. Then this thought came into my mind - why am I looking for her here in the cemetery when I should be visiting her in her own home? She isn't dead. She is in her bed peacefully dreaming...

With a burial taking place nearby I had no choice but to stop looking for her and go home. Before leaving I went into the management office and told them that I couldn't find my grandmother's grave. They took out a map of the grounds and showed me where it was. Turns out I didn't look far enough. I let out a sigh of relief that she was all right but then it dawned on me that I had come to the right place after all. She was not in her bed peacefully dreaming beside her husband. She was here, alone in this cold underground lair that has become her new home...

This incident inspired me to write an emotional poem about the loss of a loved one called "Nowhere To Be Found", which is featured in an e-magazine called In the Gesture of Words. I am very honored to have this poem be chosen to be a part of this magazine.

Below you will find this poem. I hope that it touches you in some way.

Nowhere To Be Found

I come to visit you
Amongst the tombstones and piles of dirt
To place some carnations and stones
Onto your new underground lair
To reminisce about the days that passed
And talk of days to come

I come to say hello
Come to say how much I miss you
How much I love you
My eyes scan for your name tag
But it is nowhere to be found

I wonder if you’ve been
Evicted from your new home
Or if I’ve simply come to the wrong address
Perhaps you’re still there in your old home
Lying beside your husband peacefully dreaming

Tips on Publishing and Promoting Books

So you've spent a lot of time writing that interesting novel or a batch of short stories or perhaps those moving poems and lyrics, now what? Sure you can join a writing site or start a blog and post your work there but it is better to publish your collection of writing and/or your novel in a book. That is a huge achievement, gives you something to brag about and be proud of, and it can potentially bring you some income (regardless of how big or small it may be).

Two Ways to Get Your Book Published

There are two ways you can go about getting your book published. You can get an agent and have him/her submit your manuscript to traditional publishers until one of them finally decides to publish your book. You can try to submit your manuscript to traditional publishers without an agent too, but these days more of these kinds of publishers won't even look at your work unless you have an agent.

The downside to trying to get your book published with a traditional publisher is that you will most likely face rejection and lots of it. That doesn't mean that the book you have written is crap or of bad quality. It just means your book is not what the publishers are looking for at the moment, or perhaps they just fail to see how great it really is. In the end, all they care about is making money and if they feel that your book won't sell out, they won't bother with you.

Trying to get your book published with a traditional publisher is a very stressful and downing process and is something that you can avoid if you go the self-publishing route.

Going the self-publishing route will mean that your book will less likely get rejected, if at all. Your book will be published faster and available as POD (print on demand). POD books are printed only when they are ordered, which means you never have to worry about where to store your book and how many copies to order, and you never waste any money. If you want to order copies for yourself and your friends you do so whenever you want and as many times as you want and you only have to pay what it costs to manufacture the book.

When you do go the self-publishing route you have to be careful though. There are enough publishers ("vanity press" and such) who will offer to publish your book and they will charge a hefty fee for the service. And they may not even give you a hard copy of your book without charging you the full retail price for it.

You should not have to pay to publish your book. If anything, they should be the ones to pay you for having them publish your book. If it weren't for you they wouldn't have a new client or a new book to potentially earn from.

There are many self-publishing companies out there and those that are actually "vanity press" publishers. Some of these are Lulu, Kindle Direct Publishing (formerly Create Space), Xlibris, Publish America, Author House, and so on. I am not familiar with the publishing requirements and rules of any of them but Kindle Direct Publishing and Lulu are the only publishers that don't charge you a fee for publishing a book with them. It's great that it costs you nothing to publish a book with these two companies. And the fact that both are POD is a huge benefit.

How Do You Actually Get Paid For Your Books?

Traditional publishers pay you an advance. It can be in hundreds of dollars, or thousands, or even millions. Then once your book sales have reached the amount they paid you as an advance you will get a % of the book sales.

With self-publishing there is usually no advance (unless perhaps it is a "vanity press") and you get paid a percentage of each book sale. For example, with Lulu you get 80% for each book sale. So, if your book sells for $20 then you will get 80% of that when someone buys it. Others pay different percentages, so you have to check with them before you publish your book.

Can Your Self-Published Book Be Sold on Amazon and Other Online Retailers?

If you want your book available online on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other sites you can still self-publish your book. Your book will be distributed to these retailers if all the distribution requirements are met. Your book may even be submitted to a place from which physical bookstores can order your book if they so choose. The self-publishing company may charge a fee to have your book distributed outside of their website but it should not be a very high fee. If the fee is very high go for another publisher.

I have published my books with Lulu and distribution is free.

Is It Best to Self-Publish a Book or Go with a Traditional Publisher?

If you publish your book with a traditional publisher marketing and promotion for your book is done by them and at no cost to you. If you self-publish your book then all the marketing and promotion for your book falls on your shoulders. You can hire a marketing/book promotion expert (which will cost you probably hundreds of dollars) or you can do it yourself for free, or at the very least for a cheaper cost. 

In my opinion it doesn't matter how you publish your book (publish with a traditional publisher or by self-publishing). What matters is how you market and promote it across the web and in the real world.

Just because a book is published by a traditional publisher doesn't mean it will sell out and just because a book is self-published doesn't mean it won't sell out. With the right marketing and book promotion plan and techniques any book can sell and sell well.

What Book Formats Should You Publish?

When you write and publish a book it is best to try to cater to everyone. Therefore, the best thing to do is to publish a paperback, a hardcover and an e-book version of your book. You can even try publishing a Large Print book if you'd like. The more formats your book is available in the better chances of increasing your sales.

If some people prefer to read only e-books and your book is only available as a physical book most likely they will not buy it and you will therefore miss out on new fans and new sales. The same thing goes for people that only read physical books. If your book is only available as an e-book you will again miss out on new fans and new sales.

You don't necessarily have to release all the formats at the exact same time, but best to have all of them available at some point.

It's a little bit trickier with e-books as there are kindle e-books, nook e-books, e-books that are just PDFs, etc. One format may not support another so you may have to have more than one e-book format of the same book.

Ways To Promote Your Book Online and Off

There are many ways to promote your book online and off. And you don't even have to lash out lots of money to do it.

Create a website for yourself where you will talk about yourself, your writing, your book and where to buy it. If you are not sure how to make a website no problem. You can create a Google blog and use that as your website. And there are probably sites that let you create a website for free and without the need to know HTML or any other programming languages.

Join social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok. Create profiles there with a link to your website and provide info on your books and where they can be bought.  

Post links to your social networking pages on your website. Also post links on each of the social networking sites to the other social networking sites. For example on your Facebook page post links to your Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok and do the same with the other ones.

Start a blog and in your profile info let people know about your book and all its relevant info you want them to know. You can even add a signature to all your blog posts that will have the link to your books. 

If you start a blog be sure to provide the link to your blog both on your website and on the social networking sites.

Join social bookmarking sites like Digg, Delicious, Reddit and mention in your profile that you are an author and that you have published a book and where people can find out more about it.

Join writing communities such as authorsden.com, and writing.com and post samples of your writing there, while also talking about your books and where they can be previewed and purchased. 

If you join authorsden.com you can also create a book ad for your book that will be displayed on their website and visible for all to see. You will need to upgrade your membership to a Silver membership or higher to be able to create a book ad. 

If you join writing.com you can add your book to the My In Print area and so whenever people visit your portfolio they will see an image of your book along with its price and when clicked on they will be taken to the book page on Amazon. When you add your book to the My In Print area you will need to know and provide the ASIN of your book for it to be displayed. ASIN is a 10/digit ISBN. You can locate it on your book's Amazon page under product details.

Join book sharing sites likes weread.com and goodreads.com, create your author page on these sites and talk about your book. If your book is not found on those websites you can manually add it to the site; that is add the title of the book and your author namer, the book cover, publishing info (year, publisher, isbn, etc.), number of pages, book description, and so on. You can even include links where to buy the book.

Print out bookmarks and flyers and hand them out to people. Be sure to include info about your book and about yourself and where the book can be bought.

Try to set up book signings/readings. If you can't do it yourself, or if you don't feel comfortable setting it up, ask a friend or someone you know who may be able to help you.

Attend book fairs and let people know about your book there. Ask if you can even set up a tent there and showcase copies of your book.

Let your friends know you have published a book and ask them to spread word about it to other people they know.

Add a signature to your email that will include links to your website and to where your books can be purchased. Every time you send an email to someone they will see the links and may go check out your book and even buy it.

Talk to your local library and see if maybe they will want to have a copy of your book. Maybe they will even allow you to have a reading or a book signing there.

Contact small bookstores and see if they may be interested in selling copies of your book. See if you can put up posters of your book anywhere around the neighborhood.

When you tell people about your book—if you self published it—don't tell them that it is self-published. When most people hear that a book is self-published they immediately think that the book is self-published because no one wanted to publish it, which means it is crap, boring, or of bad quality. They will not even want to glance at it or read a few pages. And that is a terrible thing.

Also if you self-publish a book (with a self-publishing company) be sure to include their name on the spine of the book and in the copyright page. Seeing a publisher's name will make these people think that the book may be worth browsing through or glancing at, if not reading. And chances are they won't even know that the company is a self-publishing company. Don't even tell them that it is. They don't need to know that. 

I hope these tips will help you on your book publishing journey and I hope they will help you increase your sales and expand your fan base. I wish you much success in getting your book published and selling it to the world!

Writing as a Form of Therapy

Writing can be a very useful and effective form of therapy when you are dealing with things in your life that are complex, hard to deal with, or are filled with pain and sorrow. No matter what you are going through at any given moment in time, writing it all down—whether in a journal or diary, in a blog, on a computer, or just on a piece of paper—can help you make sense of things. It can also help you cope and release all the emotion that is dying to come out. At times it can even help save your life.

Don't Just Write When Things Are Bad in Your Life

You don't have to turn to writing only when something bad happens in your life. You can also write about the positive things, the things and the moments that fill your life with joy, excitement, wonder and love. You can write about things that take you to the highest highs, that make you feel like you are on top of the world. That is also a form of therapy. It will make you realize that not everything will always be negative and filled with pain and heartbreak. It will reinforce that with the bits of negative there will always be bits of positive. That is the way the world works. That is how things are kept in balance. You can't always have the negative and you can't always have the positive. There has to be a bit of both.

Writing Is a Snapshot of Your Life

Writing is a snapshot of your life. It is a way for you to capture the things that you go through at any given moment in time, both physically and emotionally. It is a look back at everything that you've been through, both the good and the bad. It is your journey through life. You don't have to be an excellent writer to sit down and write. You don't have to be the most talented person out there or be at the top of your game when it comes to writing. All you have to do is pick up a pen and paper or sit down at a computer and let the words flow out of you. You'll be surprised at what you will bring to life.

There Is Nothing to Fear. Just Write!

You shouldn't have to be afraid to pick up a pen and write. You don't have to worry about people judging you or your writing. For the time being the only person who will get to read what you write is you. Yes, you may end up judging yourself, may end up being your own worst critic, but don't worry about that. Just pick up a pen and let your heart and mind do the talking. Don't think about anything else but what your heart and mind are filled with. Let it all out. Release everything that needs to be released.

Only when you are done writing for the moment should you even consider judging your work. If you do it while you are writing then your writing will suffer. Everything that needs to come out won't come out. And everything needs to come out because one thing will lead to another. What you write will trigger something else in your heart and mind, in your memory, and a new chain of writing will emerge. It is a never-ending process. And it is not only therapeutic but it is also creative and inspiring. It may even result in a published book or a published piece of work in some publication or even simply on a website.

It doesn't matter which style or form of writing you write in. Just write! You can write poetry, lyrics, prose, whatever it may be. It doesn't matter so long as you pick up that pen and write.

Don't Let the Negative Feedback Get You Down!

If you choose to share that which you have written with others and happen to get negative feedback don't get discouraged. Don't let the negative feedback get you down! I know it is hurtful and may cause you to stop writing, as I've been down this road, but don't let it get to you. Brush it off! It is only the opinion of a few people. Just because they give you negative feedback doesn't mean that what you wrote sucks. Your work can in fact be brilliant but those people just fail to see that.

If you do get negative feedback try to turn it into a positive. See if there is anything in the feedback that can be useful for you in your writing journey. Try to see if there is anything that can help you improve or steer you in a better direction. Don't ever tell yourself This is the end! I am done! It is not worth it. Writing is a part of you and it will be with you till your dying day.

You may think that writing is not your thing. You may even think that you hate writing! But if you get into it your perceptions and assumptions will change, if not right away then with time.

There Is a Writer in Each and Every One of Us

There is a writer deep within each and every one us that is dying to come out of hiding. It is up to you to decide whether you want that writer to come out or to stay hidden within you for the rest of your life. It is really up to you.

The best thing to do is to let that writer out. It will open up so many doors for you—doors to your emotional healing, to your physical well-being, to your spiritual journey, to the expansion of your thoughts, to the creation of new ideas and new discoveries. Writing can do so much, even when it seems like nothing can come out of it. Writing is and always will be a form of therapy, whether you realize it or not.

My Experiences Singing and Performing

While I was in college I joined Chorus, which is similar to a Choir or a Glee Club. We spent the semester learning songs and then at the end of it we put on a show. It was the one "class" that I looked forward to the most. And it gave me an easy A. But I didn't join the Chorus for the grade or the boost in my GPA for the semester. I joined because singing is a huge passion of mine and I love every minute of it.

It was a thrill being up on that stage, singing my heart out with the rest of my Chorus members. We only got to perform about 4 or 5 songs (with the exception of a solo or two) so my time on stage sadly was very short. Still, it was an experience I will never forget. Unfortunately, I only got to take Chorus for four semesters - my junior and seniors years - as I didn't know about it the first two years of my college career. But at least I got to be a part of it for a short while, which to me is a blessing.

Me singing at a cruise talen show

Me behind the piano (wasn't actually playing)

Dancing, Singing, Performing

I love singing and I love performing. Besides, being part of Chorus I have performed a few times in talent shows on cruise ships and have done karaoke too. It was a lot of fun and definitely created lasting memories.

I also love dancing. And when I hit the dance floor at parties and dance the night away I always sing at the same time. When I do this I feel like I am performing, like I am putting on a show for people, especially when there aren't that many people on the dance floor at the moment. I don't mind people watching me. I actually welcome it. And it feeds me with energy to keep on doing it.

Once I get on the dance floor it is hard for me to stop dancing and leave the dance floor. I am that passionate. I am that hooked. Usually the only thing that will get me off the dance floor is if a slow song comes on and no one offers to dance with me, or I am so tired that I feel like I will collapse at any moment.

Dancing makes me so energized and full of life. It also sets me free and lifts my spirits. Not that long ago, I had joined a Latin dance class (Latin Dances: Joyful, Healing and Empowering) that deals with energy. Whenever I had left that class I always felt so energized. Sadly it was only a five session class. I had enjoyed this class so much that it was bittersweet when the last class came to an end. I would love to have an on-going class like this, sadly the place where I took it doesn't have classes like this anymore.

I wish I could dance every day... And maybe I can. I don't need a dance class to dance. I can do it at home... So what if am dancing alone? I will still enjoy it a lot. And it would make for great exercise and will leave me energized too.

Singing and Writing Songs

Singing is a huge part of my life. I sing every day whether aloud or to myself, sometimes without even realizing it. Sometimes I sing songs written and recorded by others, but sometimes I sing the songs I've written myself.

Sometimes I may burst into song out of the blue, singing whatever pops into my head. When that happens a new song will come to emerge. I have written many songs in this way and they turned out great in the end.

That's probably the most fun thing to do. Not to sit at the computer and think about what song to write... but to actually start singing whatever comes into my head at the moment and have a song emerge from it...

I wish the songs I have written actually had music set to them. Unfortunately, I don't play any musical instruments for that to happen. But I do have melodies in my head for these songs and sing them whenever I feel like it. I have written over 350 songs to-date. With so many songs written I decided to publish them in a book. So now I have three lyric books published (Soundtrack of My Life: Volume 1, Soundtrack of My Life: Volume 2, and Melodies of the Heart). I am very proud of these accomplishments and it would be a huge honor if some of the songs would get recorded by others and made into hits. That would really be a dream come true.

My Trip to Fallingwater

 

Fallingwater

This summer my aunt and uncle took me and my parents to see Fallingwater. It is an experience that I will never forget. Since driving to Fallingwater takes many hours we dedicated two whole days to the trip. On the first day we went to see the famous city of Bethlehem, located in Pennsylvania. Then we stopped to have some fun at the nearby casino, after which we headed to our motel.

Our drive to the motel was quite an adventure and one that I will never forget. We were driving there in the evening and the weather was fine but then all of a sudden things changed. It started raining very hard, the thunder began to roar, and flashes of lighting covered the sky. It was very hard to see and I was praying that nothing would happen to us on the way to the motel. The weather was that brutal.

The highway we drove on (somewhere in Pennsylvania) had three long tunnels going through it and it was amazing how we would leave the rain and thunder behind when ducking into the tunnel and then it would all return once we exited the tunnel. And it happened three times as there were three tunnels that we had to pass through.

I was on the edge of my seat the whole ride to the motel. When we finally got to our destination for the night I gave a sigh of relief. We had made it safely to our destination. We went to get some food and then got together in my motel room to have supper and watch the women's gymnastics Olympics qualifying round. It was also my dad's birthday so we made a few toasts to him. Then we headed off to bed as we had to get up early the next day to head to Fallingwater - our main destination.

We went there in the morning and spend a few hours sightseeing, after which we headed on home. The weather behaved itself this time and the trip wasn't stressful for me at all.

What is Fallingwater?

Fallingwater is a house that was built for the Kaufmann family by a famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. This house - which was meant to be a summer home for the family - is considered to be one of the best architectural creations of the 20th century and is Wright's finest work.

Millions of people come from all over the country (and maybe even the world) to see this architectural masterpiece. And that is not surprising in the least.

Fallingwater is built on a waterfall and is in perfect harmony with nature as it's surrounded by it on all its sides. Lush greenery, rich trees, and beautiful flowers grace the surroundings of Fallingwater and its territory.

Even inside the house you can feel the presence of nature as it's incorporated in the interior design of the house. And the view from the house is breathtaking.

Imagine waking up in the morning and looking out the window... You are surrounded by trees stretching far and wide, the skies are a clear blue, the birds are chirping away beautiful melodies, you see a waterfall down below and its sound along with the gentle breeze blowing through the open window soothes you all over. It is nature paradise, nature heaven. I am sure that is what the Kaufmanns experienced every morning, and even throughout the day.

I love nature and wish I could experience all this every morning that I wake up, every night before I head to bed, and every time I look out the window or head out the door. That would be a dream come true.

Pictures of Fallingwater

Below you will find some pictures that I took while visiting Fallingwater.

I really wanted to take some pictures from inside the house so I could capture its interior but sadly photography inside the home was not allowed. You will have to visit Fallingwater yourself to see what wonders lie inside. So the next time you are thinking of having a sightseeing adventure consider going to Fallingwater. I am glad that my aunt and uncle took us there. It was an experience I will never forget.

Location of Fallingwater

Fallingwater is located in the Laurel Highlands of southwest Pennsylvania, on PA Route 381, between the Mill Run and Ohiopyle villages. It is only ninety minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. Since millions of people visit Fallingwater you should purchase your tickets before heading out to this magnificent place. That is what my uncle did. This will ensure that you will be able to come and see the house and its surrounding territory and that the place actually will be open for visiting.

You can find out more about Fallingwater, how to get there, and how to purchase tickets by visiting their website - fallingwater.org.

How to Write an Unforgettable Song Without a Musical Instrument

You don't need to know how to write music or how to play a musical instrument for you to write an unforgettable song. All you need is a pen and paper (or a computer) and your voice.

Here is a breakdown of how to write an unforgettable song that will hopefully get stuck in your head and in the heads of others.

Coming Up With a Topic

Before you start writing a song make sure that there are no distractions around you and that the atmosphere is not chaotic - be it a television or a radio turned on high volume, kids running around, arguments among people, appliances turned on, etc. Make sure there is nothing to distract from your song writing project. When you've found yourself some peace and quiet you can begin to craft that unforgettable song.

Before you start writing think about the things you have gone through or witnessed with your very own eyes. Writing from your own personal experiences will make you more connected to the song and will make it connect with others as chances are they have gone through similar things or can picture themselves going through similar things. Think about what it is that you want to express in your song, what story you want to tell. Try to be as specific as possible as being too general can throw you off track.

For example, don't just say you want to write a love song, as that's too general...Think about what aspect of love you want to dive into and what scenario you want to bring to life. Maybe you want to talk about the first time you fell in love with someone and how hard it was for you to let that person know how you felt. Maybe you were scared that if you spilled out your feelings to the person that you would find out he doesn't feel the same and you would lose that person forever.

Coming Up With an Initial Melody/Beat

Once you have come up with the specific topic you plan to write about, spend some time coming up with a melody or a beat or both. If you don't play a musical instrument or own one, or if you don't know how to write music just use your voice. Hum a melody aloud or in your head. And for the beat simply bang your hands (or a pencil or chopsticks) against your legs, a kitchen counter, a shelf, a book, a pot/pan, a glass, etc. Anything that you can hit against will do the trick.

When you have a sense of a potential beat and melody for your song, writing the actual lyrics will become a bit easier.

Feel free hum or sing songs that you've listened to on the radio to give you ideas on potential melodies and beats. Remember, the final melodies and beats may change after you've written your lyrics.

Writing the Lyrics

As you write the lyrics don't worry about getting the words perfect. Focus on spilling your emotions and your experiences onto the paper. Bring that story that you want to share with the world to life. You will get the chance to edit it once you've finished telling the story.

As you are writing keep in mind of the format of a song. Usually a song has two verses and a bridge with a repeating chorus in between each one - verse 1, chorus, verse 2, chorus, bridge, chorus. But there are many other formats to use. You can start out with a chorus, or instead with a few spoken or maybe even sung lines before diving into the actual verse. The chorus can be slightly different after each verse but with the same melody. There can be a pre-chorus before the chorus. The bridge can be turned into a rap verse rather than one that will be sung. The possibilities are endless.

When writing the lyrics you don't have to rhyme the verses, chorus, or bridge. When you do use rhyme, however, especially in the chorus, it makes the song catchier and easier to remember. I love using rhyme in my songs (lyrics). They are more fun to write and actually get stuck in my head faster.

Here's an example of a (song) lyric that I wrote...

Won't Stop (Till I Rise to the Top)

[Verse 1]

I want to reach that door

I want to grab that key

I want to walk right through

Rewrite my history

I know it can be done

And so I'll never stop

Oh no I'll never stop

Until I reach the top

[Chorus]

I'm gonna shine like the stars in the sky

I'm gonna soar like a bird flying high

I'm gonna climb to the mountain top

And I won't stop till I rise to the top

[Verse 2]

There is so much that I

Have yet to bring to life

So much in store for me

So much I've yet to write

I know it can be done

And so I'll never stop

Oh no I'll never stop

Until I reach the top

[Chorus]

I'm gonna shine like the stars in the sky

I'm gonna soar like a bird flying high

I'm gonna climb to the mountain top

And I won't stop till I rise to the top

[Bridge]

There's so much that I want accomplish

There's so much that I've yet to do here

And no matter what happens I'm not gonna stop

Till I reach to the top

[Chorus]

I'm gonna shine like the stars in the sky

I'm gonna soar like a bird flying high

I'm gonna climb to the mountain top

And I won't stop till I rise to the top

Tips on Writing the Lyrics

I would start the lyric writing process by first writing the chorus. The chorus is very important as that is the part of the song that keeps repeating and is one that people remember and are attracted to the most. Make sure people won't be able to get it out of their heads and want to sing it over and over. Once you come up with a great chorus then you can build the rest of the song around it. Write the verses next and then the bridge. Remember the bridge should have a slightly different feel and melody than the verses.

One good thing you can do, while keeping in mind the melody and beat you came up with earlier, is to just start singing whatever comes into your head related to what you want to write about. Make sure to record yourself so the words don't vanish from memory after you are done singing, so you can later transcribe them on paper. Don't worry about the notes and whether you are on correct pitch. Just focus on getting those words out. If you don't want to do that you can just let the words flow onto that piece of paper, keeping in mind the melody, and not worrying about typos or flow. You can fix that later.

After you have written your song be sure to sing every line to make sure there are no flow issues. The flow has to be smooth throughout. Once you start singing the words you may find that the melody you originally came up with is a bit different. That is okay and is common as words bring a vibe and a melody all their own. You may even find that you want to change some words or lines in the lyric. That is okay as well.

When you write a song it may not be perfect from the first try. Don't get discouraged. Keep on working on it until you feel it is the best it can be. Don't be afraid to show your lyrics to others to get their opinion as there can be something in the song that you've missed that should be altered. You can even sing the song to those people and see what they think.

How to Record the Song You've Written

With the lyric written, the story told in the best possible way, and a melody for the lyrics (a way to sing them) brought to life it's time to record the song. You can use the sound recorder that comes installed on your computer or you can download software that lets you record. I have used audacity for recording my songs, but there are plenty of others. When recording make sure that it's very quiet in the room as any unwanted noise will also appear in the recording. You may want to close the door and the windows in the room before proceeding.

We all know that having music to go along with those lyrics is much better than just singing a capella. What can you do about the music if you don't play any musical instruments? Well, you don't actually need musical instruments to make music or to accompany your vocals. You can use objects around you to create a musical accompaniment. One thing you can do is just bang a beat using either your hands, or chopsticks, etc. like I've talked about before. For different sounding beats you can use pots and pans, wine glasses, cutting boards, cheese graters, etc. You may even tap your feet against the floor or snap your fingers. You can even make the faucet drip a little or a lot and keep turning it on and off as needed. Or you can just run the faucet or the shower without turning it off. This will create a great special effect. Be as creative as you want to be when creating musical accompaniment and you'll invent something fun and original to go along with your vocals.

Be sure to practice all the beats and sounds (and their patterns and rhythms) before recording the actual song to make sure you are getting it right and that it sounds good to the ear and actually goes along with the lyrics you've written. You may want to first record yourself "drumming" and creating "musical" sounds and giving the recording a listen before doing the actual song recording. This way you will see if anything needs to be improved in any way.

My Songwriting Experiences

I started writing lyrics back in 2001 while I was waiting for the laundry cycle to come to an end. I wrote my first song "Don't Tell Me" with the washing machine spinning in the background. Since then I have written hundreds of lyrics and have published and released three lyric books: Soundtrack of My Life: Volume 1, Soundtrack of My Life: Volume 2, and Melodies of the Heart. I have definitely evolved as a lyricist or as a songwriter, as I call myself. One doesn't have to play actual instruments to be a songwriter. Coming up with a melody, a way to sing the lyric is a songwriter in my book.

I have always wanted to turn my lyrics (the words I've written) into actual songs and record them. I've done that with a few of my lyrics and while I am not a pro I am still proud of what I've been able to accomplish, especially since I don't own or know how to play any musical instruments, and my voice is the only instrument I use. No matter what happens in my life, I will never stop writing lyrics or singing them. That is my ultimate passion and something I can't live without.