Riley Adams's Blog, page 11

Be Kind to Your Future Self

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

From everything I’ve seen online through the years, I’d say one of the biggest issues writers face is procrastination. I think the reasons behind the procrastination vary from writer to writer. One of the reasons could be perfectionism: you don’t think you can make the story in your head come alive on the page the way you want it to. Another reason could be the thought of what might seem like an insurmountable task.

I recently read an interesting article about procrastination, which I thought might be helpful for some writers. It was by Hal Hershfield, a behavioral scientist and professor at UCLA. Studies have shown that people who procrastinate have little regard for what was called “their future self.” In other words, present-day John Smith was not considering future John Smith when procrastinating; instead, he was selfishly kicking the can down the road. He was ensuring that his future self would be either stressed out under a deadline, or disappointed by his lack of results.

As Hershfield puts it:

When we’re faced with an unpleasant task—say, folding the laundry or finally making that appointment with the cardiologist—and we decide not to do it, we prioritize our present self’s desire to avoid negative emotions. We get anchored on our feelings in the present. But procrastination presents an additional wrinkle: in putting something off until a later point in time, we’re also failing to consider how much our future self will want to avoid the same negative emotions that we’re trying to avoid right now.

Hershfield interviewed Tim Pychyl, a Canadian psychologist who’s studied procrastination. He asked the professor if he ever engaged in procrastination.

“Almost never! I know my future self isn’t going to want to do this thing any more than my present self does. And I have empathy for my future self: he’s going to be under enormous amounts of stress, so let’s just do this thing now.”

This makes a lot of sense to me. I’ve always been a big believer in making things easy for myself farther down the road. When I put away Christmas decorations, I think about how to make the decorating process easier for myself next year and put favorite ornaments in a Ziplock bag. When I know I’m going to have a crazy day, I’ll put supper together in the slow cooker early in the morning.

The concept works well for writing, too. It could be tough, like any big task, to avoid procrastinating. But if you remind yourself that your future you will be delighted you put in those five or ten minutes a couple of times a week, you might be able to push through the urge to procrastinate.

Are you a procrastinator? How do you combat the urge?

Be Kind to Your Future Self:
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LitLinks

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

Have you visited the WKB lately?  Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox!  Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB on Facebook here.

Business / MiscellaneousThe Rise of Direct Book Sales: A Game Changer for Authors: @evan_gowManaging Two Author Profiles: @RobertaEaton17 @storyempire6 Things to Keep in Mind As You Begin Writing Freelance Articles: @LindaGilden @EdieMelsonConferences and Events / MiscellaneousBeijing’s 2024 Book Fair Closes, Some 300,000 Attending: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesLondon: The TLS Ackerley Prize Names Its 2024 Shortlist: by Porter AndersonCreativity and Inspiration / First NovelsHow to Write a Novel: A 16-Step Guide: @septcfawkes @davidfarlandCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingWhy You Need Realistic Writing Expectations: @AndreaWriterleaCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Edmund Crispin’s The Moving Toyshop: @margotkinberg9 Novels About Grand Homes Brimming with Secrets: by Chanel Cleeton @crimereads8 Magical Libraries in Literature: by Douglas Westerbeke @electriclitFive SF Novels Inspired by Disproven Scientific Theories: @jamesdnicoll @reactormagCan a Book Really Be For Everyone? @mollytempleton @reactormagCreativity and Inspiration / SuccessDefining Success as a Writer: @terahsharris @writerunboxedCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeWhat Fiction Writing Shares With Psychotherapy: @EmilyHthinks @lithubThe power of a fake morning commute: @pubcoachWriters With ADHD: Strategies for Navigating the Writing Process: @KMWeilandCharlie Huston On Writing His Way To Sobriety: @crimereadsTide In, Tide Out: Anne Lamott on Growing Old and Making Peace with Death: @lithubSurprising Lessons on the Book Writing Path: @LisaTenerReal People, Real Pain: On the Ethics of Telling True Stories of Trauma: @phileil @lithubThe Dream of Writing a Novel: @AprilDavilaWhy Do You Write? @LilkaRaphael @EdieMelsonTwo Things You Can Do When You Can’t Write: @BethVogt @EdieMelsonGenres / Middle-GradeThe Differences Between Middle Grade and Young Adult: by Lee Wind @scbwiGenres / MysteryHow to Write a Whodunit: @davechessonGardening as an Element in Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergMessy Lives as Elements in Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergGenres / Non-FictionHow Writers can Use Disappointment to Motivate New Action: @ninaamirGenres / Poetry50 Ways to End a Poem: by Emily SkajaGenres / ScreenwritingHow a Book Really Becomes a Movie: @jeannevb @victoriastraussPromo / AdsTurn your book cover into a killer Facebook Ad with Canva: @DavidGaughranPromo / BloggingWhy You Need to Publish Your Content on Your Blog: @ninaamirPromo / MiscellaneousLearning to Love Book Marketing (Not Just Writing): @TrishCrisafulli @CareerAuthorsPromo / SpeakingHow Not to Speak in Public: @jamesscottbellPublishing / MiscellaneousQuarto Schedules Richard V. Reeves’ ‘Yes, Boys Can!’ for Frankfurt: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesWibke Grutjen to Lead S&S Global Marketing and Communications: by Porter AndersonPublishing / News / International PublishingPublishing: Mentoring Matters: @arpitayodapress @pubperspectivesSwitzerland’s Frontiers: Its $3.3 Million ‘Planet Prize’ Winners: by Porter AndersonSouth Korea-Owned Webtoon Entertainment Launches Its IPO: by Porter AndersonPublishing / Process / Book DesignWhat Self-Pubbing Authors Need to Know About Getting the Best Book Cover: @losapalaCreative book cover treatments: @BookDesignBookWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentCharacter Type & Trope Thesaurus: Hotshot: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersWriting Craft / Characters / EmotionThe Most Important Thing to Include in Your Story: @angelaackermanWhat is an Emotion Amplifier? @beccapuglisiWriting Craft / Flashback and Back StoryHow Backstory Creates Story: Building Forward: @foxprintedHow to Deliver Backstory Without Confusing the Reader: @janefriedman @foxprintedWriting Craft / MiscellaneousTry This Trick for Writing Metaphors: @BrynDonovanAgency – What Is It and Do Your Characters Have It? by Michael JamesHandling an Important Event in Your Story When Your Narrator is Absent: from Fix Your Writing HabitsWriting: Digging Up Your Lede: @lindasclareTrusting Your Voice as an ESL Writer: @evolveon @sfwaThe Importance of Body Language: from Fix Your Writing HabitsWhat Do You Get When You Cross the Contemporary Novel with Nature Writing? @FeeWilliams75 @lithubHonoring Your Voice: @TheDEBMethodWriting Tricks: Coincidences – Do’s And Don’ts: @KMAllan_writer5 Secrets To Writing A Strong Inciting Incident: @AnthonyEhlers @writers_writeIs Your Story Drowning in Details? @annehawkinson @FloridaWriters1How to “Show, Don’t Tell”: @ChrysCymriThe Art of Showing Vs. Telling: by Liam CrossSchrodinger’s Writer: How To Break Out This Destructive Mindset: @bang2writeSpotting Bad Writing Advice: from MythcreantsWriting Craft / POVRise of the Omniscient Voice: by Henriette Lazaridis @writerunboxedWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / OutliningOutlining Finesse: @StephenGeez @StoryEmpireWriting Craft / RevisionWriting Fast or Slow, Deep Editing is the Way to Go: @MargieLawsonWriting Craft / Series / Series BibleTop Story World and Story Bible Tips: @SueColetta1 @onestop4writersHow to Create A Series Bible for Your Fiction Series: @lornafaithUncategorizedDig into Your Character’s Taboos: by
Kathryn Craft @writerunboxedFrench Publishers: New Titles Down 18 Percent in Five Years: by Porter_Anderson

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The Most Important Thing to Include in Your Story

by @AngelaAckerman @WriterThesaurus

Writing is no easy task, especially as it means juggling dozens of story elements at once: characters, plot, setting, dialogue, description, pacing, symbolism, you name it. And when we become so focused on bringing these things together, we may lose sight of our most important job: getting readers to bond with our characters.

Our fiction can have a larger-than-life cast, a crazy-twisty plot, and fantastical setting elements, but none of this will matter if we fail to get readers to care about and invest in our characters. Luckily, writers are subject matter experts in one area that consistently hooks readers no matter what form it comes in: common ground.

The Power of Common Ground

On the surface it might seem like a story’s job is to entertain, but it’s so much more than that. Throughout the ages, people have used story to communicate, share ideas, learn about the world, and understand themselves. People are psychologically wired for story, and so they come to our books looking for connection, insight, and experiences. Common ground can give them these things.

We have an ocean of things in common with readers. Here are three biggies to work into your story:

PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology is the study of mental processes and behavior to understand why people think and behave as they do, so you can see why this one makes the cut. Certain psychological processes steer us, even though we may not realize it, shaping how we respond to life’s ups and downs, our behavior toward others and ourselves, the goals we seek, and more. Anything so fundamental to who we are should be present in our characters. Not only will this make them feel authentic and relatable, but it will give readers a sense of “sameness” as characters process, reason, and behave in familiar ways.

Let’s take a common psychological process: Cognitive Dissonance. This is the inner discomfort we feel when confronted with something that conflicts with a personal belief. For example, imagine you discover a terrible secret about a close friend: they’re siphoning money from their bookkeeping clients. Your friend begs you to not tell anyone and this causes a moral struggle between conflicting beliefs as you decide what to do: be a loyal friend or stop something that is hurting others.

This leads to another process: Emotional Reasoning, where you weigh and measure all the factors of this situation to help you decide what to do. For example:

How close is this friend? (Have they been there for you in ways others haven’t, or not?)
Who’s being hurt? (Are the innocent small business owners, or tax-dodging mega corps?)
What’s the money for? (Are they saving for a trip or paying off a child’s cancer medical bills?)
What can I live with? (Hard decisions mean looking in the mirror afterwards.)

Now, imagine this isn’t about you, but your character. If your story, readers may have never been in this exact situation, but they do know what it is like to be pressured into doing something they didn’t feel right about and will recognize that feeling of inner tension (dissonance). This common ground will trigger kinship and empathy, and bonus, readers will experience tension themselves as they wait to see what the character decides to do!

There are many mental processes we’re familiar with even though we may not know the psychological term for them. So, use what you know—show how your character reasons, the weight of their inner struggles, and the burden of difficult decisions or realizations. Readers will be drawn in through this psychological common ground.

    2.EXPERIENCES

When readers are brought in close to a POV character, they get a chance to share their experiences. It might be tempting to only write situations that expose readers to new, exciting things, but to fast-track connection and empathy, we want to use common ground experiences they’ll relate to. For example:

Making a mistakeFailing at somethingThe rush of being right when others doubtedEnjoying it when someone gets what they deserveReluctance over asking for helpBreaking a promiseExperiencing a moral dilemmaTrying something new and being terrible at itNot giving upBeing too quick to judgeMaking a choice even while suspecting it’s the wrong oneDoing the right thing when it’s hardMaking a sacrificeGiving in to temptationHaving to let someone goStruggling with forgiveness

These are all common life experiences, meaning readers will relate to a character navigating it. And, as they read, that feeling of sameness bleeds through, perhaps due to the same emotions experienced, the way the situation was handled, or how this moment led to growth or change.

   3.  EMOTION  

For readers to relate to and care about characters, we need emotion most of all. Emotion is part of our essence, giving each moment of our life meaning. We crave it, connect over it. So, when we expose our character’s raw emotions to readers, we open a private window into who they are, revealing their hopes, dreams, insecurities, and deepest needs.

Unfortunately, while emotions are powerful common ground, they come with a baked-in problem: characters like to hide what they feel.  It’s not their fault, either – they’re just doing what we do in the real world. Emotion makes us feel vulnerable at times. So, if we feel unsafe to share, are worried about being judged or being viewed as weak, we hold our emotions in. Characters will do the same, and this can make it hard for readers to interpret what they are feeling.

A Backdoor to Your Character’s Emotions: Amplifiers

Characters who hide their feelings also control their responses, meaning readers won’t be able to pick up on their emotions through body language, vocal cues, expressions and actions. Not only that, but when characters self-regulate their emotions, they’re in control, meaning they rarely make missteps or mistakes. And let’s face it, in a story, we want them to screw up—it generates conflict, complications, and forces the character to make necessary changes to avoid painful mistakes down the road.

It’s not in our best interest to let characters hide their feelings for long, so we need to do something to make them lose control. Believe it or not, another type of common ground can help us: emotion amplifiers.

Emotion Amplifiers are states and conditions like pain, attraction, scrutiny, and hunger which act as an additional burden the character must cope with on top of everything else. It erodes their ability to manage everything, and as the strain intensifies, they become emotionally volatile.

Take pain for example—we all know what that feels like. The stronger it gets, the harder it is to not become impatient, lash out at people around us, or act rashly.

Or what about competition? When a rival enters our space, we become sensitive, hyperaware, and it can disrupt our focus when we need it most.

Deploying an amplifier against our character not only brings their emotions into view, it hits on common ground in that readers will recognize and empathize with the strain it causes.

Emotion Amplifiers are versatile and can elevate your story in many ways. To find out more about them check out The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility.

What type of common ground do you include in your story? Let me know in the comments!

 

 

Angela Ackerman is a story coach, international speaker, and co-author of the bestselling book, The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression, and its many sequels. Available in nine languages, her guides are sourced by universities, recommended by agents and editors, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, and psychologists around the world. To date, this series has sold over 1.2 million copies. Angela is also the co-founder of the popular site Writers Helping Writers®, as well as One Stop for Writers®, a portal to game-changing tools and resources that enable writers to craft powerful fiction.2.

 

 

 

The Most Important Thing to Include in Your Story by @AngelaAckerman @WriterThesaurus:
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LitLinks

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

Have you visited the WKB lately?  Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox!  Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB on Facebook here.

Business / MiscellaneousFinding Cover Designers and Editors, and More Self-Publishing Questions Answered: @MichaelLaRonn and @sacha_black @indieauthoralliThe surprising secret to writing a bestseller: @_GinnyCarter10 brand design tips for editors and proofreaders: @louiseharnby7 ways for editors to get paid faster: @louiseharnbyThe Wonderful World of Freelance Editing: 5 Fabulous Perks of Freelance Editing: @writer_faithWriting with Purpose: A Guide to Defining Your Authorial Goals: @TheLeighShulmanTips for Writing a Multi-Author Series: @Dwallacepeach @storyempireConferences and Events / MiscellaneousSharjah Book Fair Signs Morocco as Its 2024 Guest of Honor: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSpain’s Liber 24 Issues a Book-to-Film Adaptation Award: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesUK: The Society of Authors’ 2024 Award Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBritish Academy Prize: ‘Courting India’ With a Photo Project: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGermany’s ContentShift Accelerator Names Its Five 2024 Finalists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingSet Your INTENTION to Achieve Your Goals as a Writer: @SarahSallyHamer @EdieMelsonCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationWhere to Get Ideas for Fiction: @MandSMagazineCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Melissa Nordhoff’s Last Will and Puzzlement: @margotkinbergFive Great Murder Mysteries Set in College Towns: @Harry_Dolan @crimereads8 Books about the Interdependence Between Humans and Animals: by Erika Howsare @electriclit8 Novels Inspired by the Author’s Day Job: @AlexiaCasale @electriclitSix of the Best Campus Crime Novels: by Ali Lowe @crimereads7 Books About Women Who Put Friendship at the Center of Their Lives: by Zoë Eisenberg @electriclitCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingProcrastination: How to Stay Motivated in Your Writing Task: @katy239Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing QuicklySay Anything: Using Dictation to Boost Your Writing Productivity: @writenowcoachCreativity and Inspiration / Writing Life100 Tips That May (or May Not) Improve Your Next Novel: by Ryan Chapman @lithubDon Winslow Reflects on Writing His Final Novel: @nkolakowski @crimereadsDeciding between projects? 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Self-Care “Menus”

by Elizabeth S. Craig @elizabethscraig

I’m not really sure that “self-care” was in my vocabulary 20 years ago. I would have understood the concept of it, sure, but it never would have really occurred to me to devote any time to it. At that point, I’d have had a six-year-old and a two-year-old. I was writing, squeezing it in when I could, and juggling lots of other things, too.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started putting self-care on my to-do list. That’s primarily because, despite my empty nest, it’s still very possible for me to get burned out . . . primarily on writing, but also with managing family life and helping with care-giving for my mother.

I’ve made some realizations along the way. One of them is that self-care isn’t something that just needs to happen after you’re burned out. It really needs to function as a preventative mechanism. It’s sort of like what sleep doctors say about sleep: you can’t just go, go, go all day long and then expect to fall asleep in five minutes when it’s bedtime. We can’t operate that way and not expect to get burned-out, either.

Another realization I’ve made is that self-care doesn’t have to be something big or expensive. It doesn’t have to be a vacation (although that would certainly be nice). It can be something as small as a piece of chocolate or a cup of tea or a phone call to a friend.

I read an interesting article a while back by Katlyn Duncan on the Alliance of Independent Authors blog. She had a different approach to self-care that I found very compelling, since I’ve always been something of a clock-watcher. She says:

When you are feeling stressed out about personal or professional issues, choose an item from that menu that aligns with the time you have available. Whether it’s a quick five-minute breathing exercise, a 20-minute walk in nature, or an hour of dedicated reading time, having a self-care menu makes it easier to prioritize self-care in the moment.

Another, similar, thing I do is to make sure it’s easy for me to pick up an interesting book or watch an interesting show or movie. I carefully curate my to-be-read and my viewing watch lists. That way I can always easily jump into something that I’ve already vetted as something that seems interesting to me.

Do you take time for self-care? What’s on your “menu?”

Self-Care “Menus”
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LitLinks

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

Have you visited the WKB lately?  Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox!  Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB on Facebook here.

Business / MiscellaneousWhat to Do After Receiving an Offer of Representation: A Comprehensive Action Plan: @_KaseyLeBlanc @writerunboxedConferences and Events / MiscellaneousHosting Successful Author Events: Interview with Robin Kall: @LisaTenerRights Roundup: Bologna Hosts Book Fair Directors: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesRights Edition: Frankfurt Rights Meeting 2024 Opens Registration: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesFrance’s Cécile Wajsbrot Wins the Aleksandar Tišma International Literary Prize: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesChristina Morina Wins the €25,000 German Nonfiction Prize: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBeijing International Book Fair Announces 2024 Conferences: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPrix Albertine Jeunesse 2024 Honors 3 Children’s Book Translations: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe UK’s Women’s Prize: V.V. Ganeshananthan and Naomi Klein: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / First Novels10 Common Challenges Many New Novelists Face: @WritersCoachCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationThe Reading-Writing Connection: How Mixing It Up Can Supercharge Your Work: @KBullockAuthor @writerunboxedFoods To Spark Creativity and Relaxation: by Kelsey Gooden @LittleInfinitePay Attention to the Obsessive Workings of Your Mind: @lynnschmeidler @JaneFriedmanWriting Quotes, Inspiration, and Life Advice From Famous Authors: @SueColetta1Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / QuotesWise Words: Quotes to Help the Writer: @sfletcherauthor @womenwritersCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers7 Novels About Unconventional Serial Killers: @JoWallaceAuthor @electriclitCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: John Scalzi’s Starter Villain: @margotkinbergFive Mysteries and Thrillers with a Reality TV Twist: @hgudenkauf @crimereads6 YA Thrillers Featuring Daring Escapes: @booktrib9 Books that Center Deaf and Hard of Hearing Characters: by Sarah Marsh @electriclitBooks in Which Children Go Missing: @crimereads @lynliaobutlerMysteries Featuring Young Adults at a Crossroad: @margotkinberg @JanetRudolph7 Very Short Books That You Can Read in One Sitting: by Michael Jeffrey Lee @electriclitCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingMy Writing Process: Without Morning Writing, Daily Word Count Goals, and Excel: by Jacque RosmanWriting Sprints: Strengthen Your Writing With This Exercise: @seejavaciawriteCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s BlockThings That May Be Causing Your Writer’s Block- and How to Beat Them: from Fix Your Writing HabitsCreativity and Inspiration / Writing Life13 Lessons From 13 Years of See Jane Write: @seejavaciawriteWhat I’ve learned about writing from my spin class: @nathanbransfordMindset — Emotional Intelligence of Writers: @SueColetta1 @storyempireWhy It Doesn’t Matter What You Think of Your Writing: @colleen_m_storyWhat the books you’re giving away on the sidewalk say about you: @JamesFolta @lithubAlexandra Tanner on Vulnerability, Making Money as a Writer, and Taking Literary Shortcuts: by Sasha Fletcher @lithubSet Up a Writing Date: @AHuelsenbeck5 reasons to make sleep a top priority: by Ann Gomez @pubcoachWhat you can learn from a broken treadmill: @pubcoachBe You in a Trend-Obsessed World: by
Kathryn Magendie @writerunboxedWhen You’re Very Unhappy With Your Draft: from Fix Your Writing HabitsDevelop a Healthy Perspective on Writing Contests: @EdieMelsonVonnegut’s Rules for Writers: @jamesscottbellHow to survive the afternoon slump: @pubcoachGenres / HumorHow to add humor to your novel: @Only_LucyScore @AuthorsAiGenres / MemoirUsing Beat Sheets to Slant Your Memoir’s Scenes: @LisaEllisonsPen @JaneFriedmanMemoir vs. Self-Help: Choosing the Right Genre for Your Book: @bookgalGenres / MysteryY’all Means All: On the Growing Diversity of Southern Gothic and Rural Noir: @crimereads @bobbymathewsYoung Women Trying to Be Stars as an Element of Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergThe Importance of a Great Setting in Crime Fiction: @ACliftonWriter @crimereadsGenres / Non-FictionToo Many Ideas to Cram into One Nonfiction Book? @lisatenerGenres / Screenwriting3 Ways Contest Feedback Can Positively Impact Your Screenplay: by Cory Milles @savethecatPromo / Book ReviewsHow Writers Should Handle Bad Reviews: @LevRaphaelPromo / MiscellaneousWhy You Should Use Story Marketing as Authors: @diymfaPros & Cons of Book Giveaways: 27 Authors Weigh In: by AJ Yee @bookbubDifferent Ways To Market Your Book: @thecreativepennPromo / Social Media TipsIs social media a wise investment for Writers? @EdieMelsonPromo / WebsitesThe Truth About Website Growth: by Lisa NormanPublishing / MiscellaneousWhy Book Publication Dates Get Delayed: @BrynDonovanPRH Expands Its Indiana Center, Continues Plans for UK Center: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingInterview: Literary Agent Urpu Strellman Returns to Publishing: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesElsevier: Gender Diversity in World Research Publishing: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesUK Writers Guild Releases Pre-Election Manifesto: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives wkb64The UK’s Conway: Election Platforms Show Awareness of Publishing: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesUK Publishers Association’s Conway: Upbeat on Labour’s Manifesto: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Self-PublishingThe Most Important Question to Ask Before You Indie Publish: @jennwindrowPublishing / Process / Book DesignUsing your PowerPoint slides to illustrate your book is a terrible idea: @jbernoffWriting Craft / BeginningsFull Circle – From First Page Critique to Publication: @burke_writerGive anticipation room to breathe (page critique): @nathanbransfordWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentCharacter Type & Trope Thesaurus: Jock: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersWriting Craft / Flashback and Back StoryWriting the Perfect Flashback: @DiAnnMills @EdieMelsonHow Do You Know What Backstory to Include? @FoxPrintEd @JaneFriedmanWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and Film37 Days of Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra: @cockeyedcaravanWriting Craft / MiscellaneousThe Difference between a Plot Turn and a Plot Twist: @septcfawkesWrite Like a Magician: Creating the Illusion of an Unseen Character: @MarissaGraff @onestop4writersWriting: How Waiting Improves Your Message: @lindasclareDo You Need a Prologue? Take the Test: by Julie Artz @onestop4writersHow to Write Barbs and Banter That Aren’t Mean: by Chris WinkleWhy Nothing Good Ever Happens in an Interlude: by Oren AshkenaziBe Specific With Your Writing: @LinWilsonauthorHow to Make an Old Plot New: @AndreaWriterlea wkb89Writing Craft / POVSensory details in deep point of view: @LisaHallWilsonWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / NamingThe Name Game: Tips for Naming Your Characters: @EldredBirdWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / OutliningHow to Outline: For Beginners to Writing Veterans: from Fix Your Writing HabitsWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionHow to Choose Story Settings: The 4 Basic Types of Setting: @KMWeilandWriting Tools / AppsComparing 5 top editing tools for authors: @jdlasica

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My Writing Process: Without Morning Writing, Daily Word Count Goals, and Excel

by Jacque Rosman (Jacqueline Corcoran)

People often ask me, “How do you do it all?” I’ve published 20 textbooks, over a hundred journal articles and book chapters, and I’ve written countless book-length fiction manuscripts. Out of these, my Academic Mom Mysteries were just launched with the first in a 5-book series, MURDER IN GEORGETOWN.

The secret behind my productivity is that I generally work all the time. To be fair, I knew what I was getting in for, and I even chose my academic career partly because I had vague notions that professors were always working on an article and had some freedom to choose different activities based on their proclivities. As one of my colleagues joked, yes, we are free to do the kind of work we want, but that means we are also free to work all the time.”

At this point, I juggle so many projects that I never stop and count/recount them to others, as it would take too much time and energy away from actually trying to get those items done. My process is to prioritize work on deadline as this provides a sense of excitement. At any given moment, copyedits and proofreads on article and book manuscripts are due. These are some of my least favorite tasks; by this time, I’m pretty sick of the manuscript and am still seeing words and phrasing that I would change.

Tip: Prioritize deadlines

My next priority goes to projects that capture my fancy. Here, I’m fortunate in that I have flexibility, and work isn’t being imposed upon me. I might be in the mood to work on fiction. In addition to the Academic Mom Mysteries (I’m writing the third one currently), I have a couple of other fiction projects—a low magic, romantasy, and a cozy mystery set in the Shenandoah Mountains. Then, I grind to a halt sooner rather than later because I don’t know what comes next. I’m more on the side of a pantser than a plotter, but I’ve suffered all the drawbacks that come from writing that way, such as being stuck for months at a time, throwing plot at my characters rather than having plot interact with a character arc, and being frustrated at feeling so stuck. When I’m stuck on my fiction, I turn to academic writing. Not as much is required craft-wise (description, tell-not-show, original imagery), and, more importantly, I’m typically synthesizing knowledge that exists already. I am not pulling ideas out of thin air, which sometimes feels impossible.

Tip: Go to where you feel inspiration, even just a little.

I used to have critique groups/partners so that I could keep up the accountability. Because I wasn’t getting paid to write fiction, it was sometimes hard to build up the necessary motivation and justification. Critique groups kept me to a schedule. At this point, from teaching for decades, I read, edit, and evaluate so many papers that I can no longer do the swap manuscript trade-off anymore. I’m at the point now where I would rather pay to have someone read at the level of a critique partner (let’s call it beta reading) on chapters as they develop to see what’s working, what’s not, what am I overlooking? If I don’t get feedback, I feel a bit like I’m stumbling around in the dark rather than being productive and moving forward.

Tip: Get early feedback

One piece of advice that almost everyone spouts is to write first thing in the morning.

In the morning, my level of creativity is like a heavy shovel trying to dig into dry dirt. Just the tip of the shovel goes in, and a little dust flies up. I’m better in the later parts of the day for creativity.

Tip: Write toward your peak energy levels. For many people, it will be the morning when they’re fresh.

Even for someone relatively self-disciplined, the social media sirens are a constant curse. Whenever I hit a roadblock, grinding to a halt and wondering what I should write next, I click on Facebook or “check e-mails.” This can be the escape hatch I was seeking. Don’t feel bad about being distracted by online content. It is designed using behaviorist principles to train us with hits of dopamine. We want to escape the work and we don’t even have to budge to distract ourselves. We can fool ourselves that since we have been sitting here for so long, we give credit for “working.” Understand that another behaviorist principle is that if we use something (online distractions) as a way to escape or avoid, we are actually strengthening that impulse through negative reinforcement. That’s the way it becomes a pattern of behavior that’s difficult to break.

Tip: Do what you can to avoid online distractions as it’s a hard-to-break habit, having been designed that way.

When I start to get serious, I write a list. I inevitably have already done a couple of the items, but I write those down, too. I also make sure to break tasks down into small pieces. It’s not “do reference list,” but “do ref #1,” “put citation #1 in text, etc. Sometimes in a day, I can reach 30 or more items this way. I give myself credit for each little task by scribbling it out furiously after I’m done.

Tip: Use detailed lists to avoid spinning around, doing nothing.

Word count is a popular goal-setting method these days, as is tracking them on Excel spreadsheets. You might think from the level of compulsivity that I would like such a logical tracking device, but the rows and columns don’t fit my frame. Personally, I only do word count goals in writing challenge months. I do National Novel Writing Month and the April and July camp versions. I used to do a Twitter writing monthly channel fairly regularly. These challenges motivate me for word count because of the camaraderie, the competitive aspect, and the group energy that carries a project along.

Tip: Use Writing Challenges

For the same reasons named above, I attend three different write-ins a week. These involve meeting with a group on Zoom for a specified time to write. Usually, the first 5-10 minutes is spent with introductions and goal-setting for the writing time. Then, we go dark for a period of time that is agreed in advance to write the goal. I co-facilitated the National Novel Writing Month Washington DC region, and we gathered on early evening Sundays for local bookstore write-ins; the testimonial there was that everyone beat their daily word count goals in those spaces.

Tip: Use Write-Ins

These are some of the ways that I am productive. I aim for 8 hours of sleep every night, so this routine doesn’t cut into sleep. Could I improve on my process? Absolutely! I could work for shorter bursts and keep my attention on the big picture rather than getting lost in detail, but that’s a topic for another day. Do you find any of these tips among your repertoire? What do you do that keeps you productive?

 

Jacqueline Corcoran of The University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice

 

Jacque Rosman is the pen name for Jacqueline Corcoran for the Academic Mom Mysteries, with the first in the series Murder in Georgetown. https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Georgetown-Academic-Mom-Mysteries/dp/1645409031/

Like her protagonist, the author lives in the DC area with her husband, two children, and three rescue pets. By day, Jacqueline is an Ivy League professor. She likes hikes, tennis, writing, and sunshine. Follow her at https://www.facebook.com/JacquelineCorcoranAuthor

 

 

 

 

 

 

Productivity Tips for Writers from Jacque Rosman:
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LitLinks

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

Have you visited the WKB lately?  Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox!  Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB on Facebook here.

Business / MiscellaneousI work for the author. Period. @jbernoffConferences and Events / MiscellaneousThe UK’s Royal Society of Literature Names an ‘Encore’ Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesHow to Choose Your Next (or First!) Writers’ Conference: @annkroekerThe UK’s Society of Authors 2024 Portfolio: £140,000 of Shortlists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGermany’s ContentShift Accelerator Names Its 2024 Nominees: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationHow Does a Writer Find Stories? @AneMulligan @EdieMelsonCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Barbara Vine’s A Fatal Inversion: @margotkinberg6 Recent and Upcoming Haunted House Novels: @cinapelayo @crimereadsExploring Nordic Speculative Fiction in Five Novels: @RGeirsson @reactormagTime-Slips and Body Hopping: Eight Great Novels of Time Travel: @goodhand_james @lithubFalling in Love With Speculative Poetry: @QuotidianWriter @reactormag9 Memoirs That Reveal the Mental Health Challenges of Athletes: @jmkliegman @electriclitA.I. Chatbot, Will You Be My Friend? Seven Stories of Robot-Human Relationships: @SierraGreer87 @lithubCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingAccountability Allies: Navigating Effective Partnerships for Writers: @TheLeighShulmanCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeDon’t be the Person “Getting Ready to Start”: @RyanHolidayLibrarians: The Unsung Heroes of Our Communities: @aprildavilaThe Writer Next Door: My Life As Joyce Carol Oates’ Neighbor: by Mia Manzulli @lithubTake Yourself Out of It: @jcbaggott @writerunboxedHow Writing a Novel is Like Wandering a Flea Market: @iamlisako @lithubLiterary Necromancy: Resurrecting Your Dead Manuscript: @mindofkyleamWhat artists in their 90s are teaching me: @danblank @wegrowmediaEvery reader counts: @danblank @wegrowmediaWriting Dreams Do Come True: by Yvonne Osborne @annerallenHow an Author Can Prevent Burnout: by L.L. Barkat @TSPoetryStyle As Survival: On Writing After Death: @JoyelleMcS @lithubGenres / MysteryCold Cases as an Element in Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergInvestigating Agatha Christie: @KdibiancaAccidental Involement in Murder as an Element in Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergGenres / Picture BooksHow Putting Together a Picture Book is Like Managing a Baseball Team: @johnbriggsbooksPromo / AdsTips For Selling And Marketing Direct Using Meta Ads With Matthew J Holmes: @thecreativepennPromo / SpeakingThree Steps for Crafting a Compelling Speaking Presentation: by Lori Hatcher @EdieMelsonPublishing / MiscellaneousWhat Does “Inspired by a True Story” Mean? by Jo Salas @careerauthorsTips for Writing a Multi-Author Series: @Dwallacepeach @StoryEmpireMajor Publishers Sue Google Over Ads for Pirated Ebooks: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / DataAudio Publishers Association US 2024 Survey: 9-Percent Growth: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingSwitzerland’s Frontiers: Academic Freedom and the EU Elections: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesEuropean Publishers Issue an EU Elections Manifesto: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesUK: Faber in Partnership With English PEN for the Pinter Prize: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGermany’s ResearchGate and the UAE’s Bentham Science Publishers in Partnership: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesIndia’s Ishita Gupta on Italy’s Torino Professional Program: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesItaly’s #IoLeggoPerché Announces Dates and Plans for 2024: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesKazazhstan’s Foliant Books: Expanding With Stores and Exhibitions: By Eugene Gerden @pubperspectivesPublishing Scotland’s 2024-’25 Translation Fund: First Round Opens: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / RejectionsHow to Handle Rejection, Like a Grown Up: @aprildavilaWriting Craft / BeginningsShow Us the Good Stuff: @jamesscottbellWriting Craft / Characters / ArcFrom Lead to Gold: The Alchemy of Character Arc With Carl Jung: @KMWeilandWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentCharacter Type & Trope Thesaurus: Reluctant Hero: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersWriting Craft / DialogueMastering the Art of Dialogue: from Slaying FictionWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmGhostbusters Beat Sheet Analysis: @DonRoff4 Writing Lessons from J.R.R. Tolkien You Really Don’t Want to Hear: @AnnieCosbyWriting Craft / MiscellaneousStruggling with Setting and Plot: from Fix Your Writing Habits6 Tips to Become a Better Storyteller: @getfreewriteBlake Snyder’s genres: @AuthorDesmond @writerunboxedWriting Tricks: Assumptions: @KMAllan_writerExplaining Your Hero’s Secret Parentage: by Chris WinkleWhy Obsessing Over Theme Will Make You Ruin Your Story: @bang2writeWriting Craft / POVTwo Elements of Point of View: @karencvWhen Multiple Viewpoints Actually Work: from MythcreantsWriting Craft / RevisionMotivational editing checklist: @jbernoffWriting Craft / SubtextUnveiling Subtext: The Power of Indirect Communication in Story: @ZenaDellLowe @EdieMelsonWriting Craft / TensionHow to Build Tension to Keep Readers Hooked: @JerryBJenkinsWriting Craft / TransitionsWays to Skip Time In Your Stories: from em-dash-pressWriting Craft / VoiceI Found My Voice by Blogging to an Audience of Two: @MegDowellWriting Craft / Word CraftingWords That Pack A Punch: @JanSikes3 @storyempireWriting Craft / World-Building7 Tips to Designing Fictional Plants: @cyallowitzWriting Tools / AppsAutoCrit Author Tool Inventory – What’s New in 2024: @KMazeauthor

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The Pros and Cons of Using a Pen Name

by Rose Atkinson-Carter, @ReedsyHQ

Pen names have been around for as long as writers have been writing and getting published. From the days of Samuel Clemens (more widely known as Mark Twain) to the ever-elusive likes of Elena Ferrante today, there are times when writers would prefer to keep their real identities a secret.

Whether it’s to separate your literary career from your everyday life or to preserve your privacy, a good nom de plume has many uses. Before you spend time brainstorming the perfect pen name, consider the following pros and cons of having one.

Pro: You can separate your different writerly identities

Not all authors stick to writing in one genre. Their interests might span the board, and they could be just as invested in writing the next great American novel as crafting a horror story that’ll scare your pants off. It’s in cases like these that a can come in handy.

If you’re someone who likes writing across genres that are a little at odds with each other and that don’t have much of a crossover audience, it can be helpful to keep those identities separate. You don’t want your literary fiction audience to be confused when they see your name on a horror novel or vice versa. And you might not want the interviews where you’re talking about blood and guts to appear in search results when someone is looking for your literary work!

Authors who write fiction and nonfiction often use pen names for similar reasons, especially if they’re publishing professional work in academic journals alongside their literary pursuits. It’s a way to keep their professional and “personal” lives distinct and to not have one work affect the other.

Pro: It can be easier to write when you’re someone else

Sometimes, a fear of judgment can keep us from writing. What if your published work receives a bunch of bad reviews that’ll come up whenever someone searches your name? Suffice to say, it’s a big deal to put your name to something and claim it as yours.

The anonymity a pen name provides can’t be understated. For a writer at the start of their literary career, it can be a boon that gets them past writer’s block and anything else holding them back. You can pretend to be someone different — what does it matter if what you’re writing isn’t perfect? You’re not the one who wrote it in the first place, so this person can handle whatever criticism the world throws at them.

Sometimes, what you need to get words on the page and put your work out into the world is a degree of separation between your everyday self and your writer self.

Con: You can lose recognition for your work

There are some downsides to using a pen name, though. As an author, your name is your brand. If you write under a pseudonym, you can’t attach those works to your own identity.

Say the books you wrote under your pen name do well and you establish a decent-sized audience. If you then decide to publish some work under your real name, it’s unlikely those readers will follow. You can’t attribute your successes as Writer Anonymous to Cecilia B. Baxter or vice versa, so you’ll essentially be starting over as a debut author.

Con: Maintaining multiple identities can be difficult

This only applies if you’re publishing under multiple names or trying to balance a professional career with a literary career; however, there’s a lot of admin and coordination that goes into doing so. You’d need separate social media accounts for every identity that you have to keep updated, multiple mailing lists to write and distribute, and you might even need to use a different tone or style if you’re writing for different audiences. That means you’re doing double the marketing and promotion, all while trying not to confuse your various personas.

And if you then decide that you’d rather publish under only one name, consolidating all those different accounts into one can be a hassle. There’s also no guarantee all your readers will follow, and they could even get confused by the sudden name change.

Ultimately, whether or not you should use a pen name depends on your specific circumstances and the vision you have for your writing career — just be sure to carefully consider both what you’d be giving up and what you’d be gaining.

Rose Atkinson-Carter is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace and blog that helps authors with everything from finding the best writing apps to writing the perfect picture book query letter and more. She lives in London.

The Pros and Cons of Using Pen Names by Rose Atkinson-Carter @reedsyhq:

 

 

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

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LitLinks

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

Have you visited the WKB lately?  Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox!  Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB on Facebook here.

Business / MiscellaneousThe Power of Author Education: Why it can Save you Money and Help You Succeed: @bookgalThe Importance of the Book Pre-Order to Authors: by John BriggsEvery Writer Needs a Facelift on Occasion: @TickledPinkTam @EdieMelsonConferences and Events / MiscellaneousHow I Sell More Books at Live Events: by Ben WolfImpromptu Book Signings: by Sophie Masson @writerunboxedAt WEXFO: IPA Names Its Prix Voltaire 2024 Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration10 Character Ideas You Can Use For Inspiration: by Angie AndriotCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers7 Novels About Women on a Journey to Figure Out Who They Are: by Phoebe McIntosh @electriclitFour Things I Miss From the Golden Age of Paperbacks: @jamesdnicoll @reactormagCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Kevin Wilson’s Now is Not the Time to Panic: @margotkinberg8 Dark Science Mystery Novels: by Nova Jacobs @crimereadsFive Works of Old-School Romantasy: @jamesdnicoll @reactormag7 Books That Show Storytelling Has Consequences: by Toby Lloyd @electriclitCreativity and Inspiration / SuccessSeven Keys for Becoming a Successful Writer: @KHutch0767 @EdieMelsonCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeHow and Where to Build Your Literary Community: @starwuerdemann @JaneFriedmanWhy So Many People Write at Starbucks: @Larry_KahanerWriter’s Self-Care – Friends and Family: @JoanHallWrites @storyempireWhy I hope my parents won’t read my novel: @rokwon @guardianbooksHow Translating a Novel About Emily Dickinson Got Rhonda Mullins Through the Pandemic: @lithubNew on the Outliers Channel: Get To Know Best-selling Author/Blogger Elizabeth Craig: @DPLyleHow to know when you’re really ready to submit or publish: @NathanBransfordFeeling comfortable with discomfort: @pubcoachFive Things Grief Taught me about Writing: @swetavikram @womenwritersThe Virtue of Slow Writers: @lauren_alwan @the_millionsGrief Memoirs Are for the Living: @JeanValjenny @electriclitTake the next small step: @AnneJanzerFinding Inspiration in New Horizons: Moving to Create Your Ideal Writer Space: @AmandaWinsteaddSo You Think You Can’t Write? by Christopher SlaterStory versus Storyteller (Or Why I’m Mad at Gus Van Sant): @foxprintedGenres / FantasyHow Can Space Monarchies Arise? by Oren AshkenaziGenres / MysteryInner Circles as an Element in Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergPromo / BloggingWhy Blogging is Important for Writers: by Shelley WidhalmPromo / Book Descriptions and CopywritingThe Secret To a Compelling Author Bio: @bang2writePromo / MiscellaneousMarketing to the Agents and Traditional Editors: @KarenHWhiting @EdieMelsonEmbrace the Journey: A Guide to Author Empowerment and Book Marketing: @FauziaBurkePublishing / MiscellaneousChallenging US Book Bannings: A ‘Right To Read’ Event in Miami: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesHow Things Have Changed Through the Decades in the World of Publishing: by Crystal Bowman @EdieMelsonThe Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Publishing: @RCharkin @pubperspectivesOxford University Press Study: Academic Writers Using AI: @Porter_Anderson @PubperpectivesA Simple Guide to Book Advances and Royalties: @GarySmailesPublishing / News / International PublishingUK: Jude Gates Leads the PA’s Sustainability Task Force: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesToday: Norway’s World Expression Forum Turns to Publishing: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesIn Prague, a Second Year for a Central European Emphasis: @duperico @pubperspectivesThe UK’s Bloomsbury Buys the US-Based Rowman & Littlefield: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesUK Audio Platform Sounded Opens a Partnership with Dreamscape: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSouth Korea’s Webtoon in Partnership With Thales’ ‘InFlyt Experience’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesChina Bestsellers in April: ‘Insensitive Force’ and Expression: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Self-PublishingI’m Selling Books, but Am I Making Money? @wctracy @sfwaPublishing / Process / Book DesignNot Just Covers, But Every Page: Why Writers Should Talk About Book Design Early On: @debbieberne @lithubPublishing / Process / Services to AvoidWriters Beware: The Impersonation List: @VictoriaStraussWriting Craft / BeginningsEvery detail matters in an opening (page critique): @nathanbransfordThe Pain of First Pages: @Julie_GloverWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentPolarize Characters, Energize Your Novel: by Kathryn Craft @writerunboxedMake Your Characters More Relatable: by Rainey Hall @RMFWCharacter Type & Trope Thesaurus: Adrenaline Junkie: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersWriting Craft / Characters / ProtagonistsI Wanted My Hero to Make a Mistake. It Didn’t Go Well: by Oren AshkenaziProtagonist: Definition, Types, and Examples: by Polly WattWriting Craft / DraftsJournaling to Productive First Drafts: @kris10edits @GoodStoryCoWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmThe Housemaid Novel Beat Sheet Analysis: @marilynbrantWriting Craft / Literary DevicesHow to Use Irony in Fiction: @Nicholas_RossisWriting Craft / MiscellaneousDouble Trouble, or Making the Same Point Twice: @nlholmesbooks @floridawriters1What Is Register and How Do Writers Use It? by Susanne Bennett @writers_write1 Weird Trick To Avoid Using The Passive Voice In Your Writing: @bang2writeWhy “Show Don’t Tell” Can be Dangerous Advice for New Writers: @annerallenBig Truths in Fiction: @msheatherwebb @writerunboxedHow To Use White Space: @SueColetta1Should we include emotional triggers in our stories? @gmplano @storyempireWriting the Other: 4 Not So Easy (But Doable!) Steps: @sblaircameron @JaneFriedmanSelf-Reference: by Dave King @writerunboxedI Want More Of You In Here: A Guide to Interiority In the Personal Essay and Memoir: @alexandercheeHow to Fix Over-Writing: @lindasclareWriting Craft / POV4 tips for rewriting in deep point of view with examples: @LisaHallWilsonWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / NamingTitle Trouble? 6 Tips for Picking the Perfect Title: by Brian Andrews @careerauthorsWriting Craft / World-BuildingCreating Fictional Plants: 9 Times Out of 10 They’re Carnivorous: @cyallowitzUncategorizedBeguile Your Readers with Tension, Suspense, and Conflict: by Lynette M. Burrow

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