Bonfires of Passion

I'll never in my remaining life, write all the different stories that could possibly take place in any one of the settings I have developed.  You may have an idea for a story set in one of these universes, and here is your chance to develop it.  Go for it!  I grant everyone the right to work on their own story ideas in these settings with the following stipulations:  

1. You must acknowledge the universe / setting as being mine.  Try the copy and paste method of my official bi-line along with the words, Universe and setting used with permission of MD Johnson.  If you have a question, email me.
2. When you are finished, you must send me a copy to review as one of my official reviews.  I'll indicate in the review if I consider it to be an "official story" or not. I am the only authority about acceptance as an Official Story. Official Stories will be listed  on the Universe site.
   
3. If it is an Official Story, then when you publish it, let me know and I'll modify the listing to include publication information.
   

You will note, I am not asking for money, just recognition.

In his classical instruction book on making manuscripts salabe, W. N. Des Marais points out a few points to keep in mind. " Characterization is a type of situation.  Situations are not actions. Good writing weaves situations into action, Enough action becomes Drama.

Drama is what keeps readers on the edge of their seats waiting for the next word.  Melodrama is the practice of breaking the drama at the crux of a problem and giving the reader a break.  There is a reason Snidly Whiplash ties Ms Truebottom to the railroad and the author changes chapters to the situation of the hero.  That is melodrama.  And melodrama will always sell.

An author will choose a style of writing which can be classified as slant, pulp, or slick. anything else is just academic hot air. These are the only styles which get sold. 

Slant is the fall back of all editors, telling the author to read the magazine and analyze what the readers want.  The resulting story is said to be slanted toward the magazine.  Slant is the only style which can be derived mechanically by statistics about word counts, plots, themes,and with good white board.  Slant is also the only method to use when tieing in advertisers.

Pulp is a style which pushes on emotions and illustrations rather than Characterizations.  If a piece grabs your heart and makes you cry, its pulp. If a story rolls along tieing in illustration after illustration then its pulp. Pulp is characterized by heavy melodrama and person to person conflict.  Their main operation is fun and emotions.

The final style is Slick. Slick is derived from the fact that the big name magazines assign these stories to well proven Pulp freelancers or in-house writers.  Slick emphasis is on Characterization and internal conflict.  Often writers assigned these pieces go on to be "literature" authors. "

So when you see me tell you I am looking for Pulp style then you understand it should have feeling, tie drawings in, and be heavy with melodrama.

Below are links to my four major Universes.  Good Luck and Good Writing!

This is the 3rd incarnation of my home page. Each one, I've learned more about what works and what doesn't work.  I've also had to keep up with current technology in web browsers and websites.  The last incarnation was full of out of date information, and used some very old technology.   This one is as current as I can make it, and should be good for about 18 months.  That is, if it doesn't take me 18 months to get it all filled in!!

I'm trying to make this a really fun site for people.  I want you to return again and again.If you have suggestions you think will help keep it that way, then please leave me an email.

Below is my official bi-line.  When you use any of my work, you agree to show this table somewhere in your publication close to or on my work. Simply copy and paste from my website into your work. If you want to know about using my work, please see the brain dead section at the botom of this column.

Bonfires of Passion Michael D. Johnson Freelance Poet, Columnist & Novelist

MD Johnson is a mountain northwest regional freelance author, living in Payette, Idaho.  His writing interests include poetry, romance, westerns, science fiction, travel, and history. His work has appeared in a diverse range of publications including True Romance and Ballyhoo Stories.  He is currently republishing the 1935 western classic historical novel, “The Bitterroot Trail” as the anthologist. Mr. Johnson also reviews books. If you have a book or an ARC you would like Mr. Johnson to review, please address your questions to him at queries@pencraft.biz. All work © 2007, MD Johnson, all rights reserved unless noted.

Here are some different ways you can display my poetry.  These are just examples of how you can reformat and display the poetry with your own pictures.

Here is a page where you can get all of my recent poetry.  At least that poetry not sold and not in my chap book volume 1. That book is below right after my book on the Bitterroot Trail.

The Bitterroot Trail Join Bob Bainbridge! Ride again the dangerous and mountainous branches of the Bitterroot Trail with this 1935 Classic Western! After 72 years available only in rare book stores, you can now follow the crusades of Bob Bainbridge during the Idaho gold strike of the 1860's. Get your copy today.