This post is a followup to previous Ampersands cartoons discussions.

My granddaughter had seen my Ampersands on my computer and the other day
she asked me if I had any more Ampersand stories. I did. So I got it up on her
computer and “PLOP” she was on my knee and wanting to read the dialogue
with me. Interesting idea for a parent or for teachers (absent the knee “touching”).

When we finished I asked her if she liked that - of course, she did- it was her idea!
Then she surprised me by indicating she’d like to do it. “Do what?” I said. She had
already written up a “newspaper” in her own handwriting and drawing with the
Ampersands - so that was what I thought she meant. NO, she wanted the
cartoon strip with blank balloons that she could fill in. So for me a new challenge.
How to get them printed out in workable order - - working on it.

My questions for you parent or teacher - Could you make use of such a product-
either a how-to-do-it for yourself or a block of cartoon templates with blank
balloons for the kids to fill in.

Writers? What is in there in this example and model that is of benefit to you?
I would imagine writers for children might find it somewhat interesting but what
about you more “advanced” writers - any use to you?

Take look and tell me what you think. Parents especially - what about this as an
addition to your rainy day activity arsenal? Imagination, writing, storytelling/
speaking, relationship skills, what else can you think of that might be a benefit?
Here goes…

Lunch time in the schoolyard.

What ideas pop into your head? Can you see yourself making use of writing exercise
like this for your children or students?

Writers - are you looking for a product model to develp for a new income stream?

Let me know what you think? I’ll keep at it and learn more about the most efficient
ways to get these cartoon blanks to you (and F*r*e*e!).

Tell me a story, _________, pleeease!

_ Val Spangler

Tweet me @SeniorTweet

The Ampersands, Rhoid and Rah, Can they stimulate your writing?

What gets your writing juices flowing? Take a look at this blank cartoon template
and get into the characters enough to develop a brief exchange that you think
would begin to build their identities.

What does it mean to be an ampersand?

What’s in a name? Why Rhoid? Why Rah?

What do you think of the comic strip layout? Confining? Challenging? what does it
do to your thinking, if anything?

If you are active on Twitter, can you see the parallels between the 140 limit and
getting what you want to say inside the balloons?

Do you think this kind of a device would work well in the classroom? What level?

Please share your thoughts.

Tweet me on Twitter - @SeniorTweet

Thanks for visiting. Hope this was of some value to you and your writing.

- Val Spangler
Mister Senior Blogger
Senior Writer Blog (you are here)
@SeniorTweet on Twitter
Comics Cartoons and Creativity

One of my backburner projects is a “how-to” ebook for teachers
called, “Cartoon Writing Prompts”.

After putting a few cartoons on my relatively new blog,
Comics Cartoons and Creativity ( http://ccandcblog.com ),
I have gotten some good response (Tweetbacks) on Twitter.
Well, I said to myself, “Why not do it for other writers?”
So here is my last creation. Tell me what thoughts and
writing it prompts, if any …

Was any writing prompted?

I waited to give the title, ‘Dealing with One’s Identity’ to you so your response
would be a more wholistic one to the whole cartoon experience. The whole idea
is to create a different experience for the viewer, whether writer or not.

Well, did the cartoon content or the characters, Rhoid and Rah, stimulate any
thoughts? Any writing ideas? Did you begin to get a feel for the characters,
Rhoid and Rah? Ladies, did you identify with Rah? Any, “been there, done that”
kind of feelings evoked? Describe them in writing for yourself …
(and then comment for me).

Web designers and bloggers need feedback too. Yours would be appreciated.

Would you consider including any comic strips or cartoons in any of your articles
or other writing pieces? I’m working on a how-to ebook on how to simply create
cartoons and comic strips even with very limited artistic ability. (You can see
that’s my condition - nothing fancy in my cartoon figures.) Would you be
interested in such an ebook? (Again, comment and let me know - include the
kinds of writing you do.)

Got an extra minute or two? Take the extra step and …

Follow SeniorTweet on Twitter.

Would Shakespeare Twitter?  Probably not.  But I do.  Do you?

Earlier today I got an email from one of my favorite bloggers, Gobala Krishnan. wherein
he somewhat skeptically asked, “Do You Really Use Twitter?”. He has gotten some
interesting responses. Mine may not get published (it was a bit long). However, since
I took the time to respond, I want to get my somewhat creative response published.
So here tis (and it is best read aloud with tongue in cheek).

Having taken the time to read this little ditty, you may be in the mood to be a little
witty.So take out your notebook and put your witticisms in there for future use.
Then, putting your inner critic aside let’s talk, not about Twitter, but about the use
of this little cartoon or image device to repurpose your content and extend the “reach”
of your writing.

Once you learn how (if you don’t already know how) to use the software SnagIt, you
will be able to put your wit and creativity to use multiple times with the same basic
message. However, that message will be in the graphic or cartoon balloon safe from
Google’s critical duplicate content bots. Thus, you are able to just modify the textual
content surrounding the graphic or cartoon to fit the keywords and context of the
new location. Basically, as they say in the repurposing world, “create once, use many”.

By doing this you make more efficient use of your time and creative resources. A
good example of this is the creator of the For Better or Worse comic strip. She no
longer draws the comics. She reuses her old drawings with new dialogue to fit a
new generation.

My cartoon/comic strategy is basically the same only for blogs and not the comics
section.

I use templates (or create new ones) that I then fill in the textual content for the
balloons. The content in the balloons may be reused and modified by the surrounding
content. Or, you can change the content in the balloons as well. For this process
I rely primarily on the Techsmith software, SnagIt. Although I do have my own
cartoon creations and templates to use, one can use the image capture capability
of SnagIt to “snag” any image for use. Remember, copyright laws may apply -
so know your limits (legal and risk-wise.)

So, back to the image - - the use of the bird image is in keeping with the nature
and “tweet” aspects of Twitter. The poetic text is, if not a defense of Twitter and
twittering, it is, at least, a fan’s supportive showing of his reasons for using Twitter.

However, … as poor William turns in his grave, about this play on his words, I
remind you, that it twas meant to be in fun for the edification as well as enjoyment
of the reader. Twas just a poor poor minor minor poet’s possible explanation of why
people Twitter. It’s the human thing to do - a digital rendition - of everyday
conversation in an abbreviated format. (One blessing in disguise … at least it
reduces the obnoxious repetition of that ghastly habit of people prefacing every
other sentence with, “Ya know …”. Thank goodness for small blessings!

Perhaps that is the best way to view Twitter: Thank goodness for small blessings!

- VS
PS: I am working on a tutorial report/video on how to use SnagIt (or other capture
software) for these purposes - stay tuned for its release.