Riley Adams's Blog, page 154

Memorial Day Break

Hope my blog readers in the States will
have a nice Memorial Day.   

I’m taking a
break today from blogging, but will return Wednesday.

Twitterific

  by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig





Twitterific links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine
(developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 19,000
free articles on writing related topics. It's the search engine for writers.

Sign up for our free newsletter for monthly
writing tips and interviews with top contributors to the WKB or like us on Facebook.

Mike Fleming worked with author and
writing coach James Scott Bell to offer an online, interactive, writing program
to help make your next novel great. It's called "Knockout Novel" and
you can learn more about it at Knockout
Novel.com.

Big news for BEA--6 top indies have a
booth. Is the BEA ready? http://bit.ly/16em6Vl
@bellaandre @cjlyonswriter @Porter_Anderson @hughhowey

Garroting as a
murder method in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/Z7qbHM
@mkinberg



Can we love our second book as much as
our first? http://bit.ly/Z7z97L @HartJohnson
@JohannaGarth

What do authors owe publishers?Ann
Patchett's remarks in @thebookseller cause furor: http://bit.ly/12JdgKp @MickRooney7777
@Porter_Anderson



 

The need for self-pub work to be
well-produced--and the associated costs: http://bit.ly/13L23dw
@miralsattar @Porter_Anderson

Creating great blurbs from negative
reviews: http://wapo.st/18iREXv
@RonCharles @washingtonpost

How to Write a Book in 3 Days: Lessons
from Michael Moorcock: http://bit.ly/14EMh3g
via @this_distracted

3 Ways to Add Repetition That Pleases
Readers: http://bit.ly/14YQyOJ @KMWeiland

A closer look at Amazon's fan fiction
program, Kindle Worlds: http://bit.ly/11jgGp4
@flourish @scalzi @Porter_Anderson

A free directory of
cover designers, formatters, freelance editors, and more: http://bit.ly/nolbXq

The Search Engine for Writers: http://hiveword.com/wkb/search

11 Ways Stay-at-Home Moms (and Other Busy
Folks) Can Find Time to Write: http://bit.ly/10wUfYe
@KMWeiland @devtflaherty

The Reality of Writing for Content Mills
— 14 Writers' True Stories: http://bit.ly/15vRwWQ
@TiceWrites

Why We (and our characters) Fall in Love:
http://bit.ly/10wUO4v @FaeRowen

5 Writing Lessons 1 Writer Learned from
Being an Editor: http://bit.ly/15vRFJO
@diymfa @emilywenstrom

A reluctant poet: http://bit.ly/10wVarJ

The Rule of Three in Writing: http://bit.ly/15vSd2q @SKRViLL

Getting Comfy with the Discomfort: http://bit.ly/10wX2km @SarahrCallender

What 1 writer loves about notebooks: http://bit.ly/15vTkiP @Jennifer_Castle

Speculative fiction: the superset of all
possible literature: http://bit.ly/10xal4g
@shunn

Washington Post's Outlook avoids these
words and phrases: http://bit.ly/15wNPjO

Why The End Of Professional Magazines May
Be In Sight: http://bit.ly/10xNnKq

Selling Yourself as a Writer: http://bit.ly/15wO12x @robertleebrewer
@ShaunEHorton

Labels of an introverted writer: http://bit.ly/10xNJk9 @hopeclark @danasitar

The Point of the Paperback: http://bit.ly/15wOtOg @nicholebernier
@the_millions

Inventing New From Old: http://bit.ly/15wOxNQ @mooderino

3 Storytelling Methods to Improve Your
Writing or Speaking: http://bit.ly/10xO5qZ
@dennisbrooke @bloggingbistro

3 Ways to Reuse Your Research: http://bit.ly/15wOJNj

"I Love Your Story Anyway!" --
Tales From the Unintended Audience: http://bit.ly/10iAzdQ
@museinks

10 tips for handling public pressure and
online vitriol without losing it: http://bit.ly/10NQ1KG
@ajackwriting

7 Tips for Choosing Your Book Cover Art: http://bit.ly/10iAE15 @charmaineclancy

Maximizing Your Fallow Season: http://bit.ly/10NQf4u @JMHochstetler
@SouthrnWritrMag

How to Write Great Analogies: http://bit.ly/10NQUmx @ava_jae

8 Types of People Who Attend Writing
Conferences: http://bit.ly/10iBhaW
@writersdigest

Converting Posts to Resource Pages: http://bit.ly/10NRCjG @JFBookman

When The Writing Challenges Are All
Mental: http://bit.ly/10NRH7b
@nataliewhipple

Don't Be a Hater: On Lit Mags and Their
Covers: http://bit.ly/10iBsTB @grubwriters
@thereviewreview

Do We Expect Too Much Realism in Our
Stories? http://bit.ly/10NRUXW
@Janice_hardy

Robert Frost's 10 favorite books: http://bit.ly/10iBD1f @csmonitor

11 quick + dirty things about writing: http://bit.ly/10NSAwv @justinemusk

2 tips to help you build your online
presence: http://bit.ly/10iBURN
@BloggingTipsCom

Writers Writing About Writers Writing
About …  http://bit.ly/10NSO6J
@amazingstories0

What It Takes to Be a Real Author CEO: http://bit.ly/10iBYks @kristenlambtx

The Sting of a Negative Review: http://bit.ly/10NT0CY @V_Rossibooks

Busting publishing myths: http://bit.ly/10iCaQJ @rachellegardner

Self Esteem and Avant-Garde Cinema: http://bit.ly/10NTcC8 @scriptmag

Literary Agents Are Watching Blogs &
Amazon Bestseller Lists: http://bit.ly/10iChMl
@galleycat

7 Publishing Tips 1 Writer Learned at the
Writer's Digest Conference: http://bit.ly/10NTjxI

Making a Social Media Marketing Calendar:
http://bit.ly/10iCmPY @vgrefer

How To Get Honest Book Reviews: http://bit.ly/12rcgco @woodwardkaren

What do readers want from front matter
and end matter? http://bit.ly/YOxBQ0

When you don't want a blog--the basic
author website: http://bit.ly/YOyc4j
@Trucking_Lady

25 Tactics to Promote Your Blog via
Facebook and Twitter: http://bit.ly/12reh8B
@heidicohen

The Short Story on Structuring Your Short
Story: http://bit.ly/12remsV @storyfix

The Real Reason Why Science Fiction
Westerns Are Such a Hard Sell: http://bit.ly/YOytEn
@i09

An analysis of 1 book's opening: http://bit.ly/12reKaJ @Janice_hardy

Physical attribute thesaurus--head: http://bit.ly/YOyBUj @angelaackerman

Your Website Images - Be Careful What You
Delete: http://bit.ly/YOyHeH @karencv

Top 20 Greatest Sci-Fi & Fantasy TV
Show Finales: http://bit.ly/12rf75b
@sfxmagazine

Five Year Writing Plans: http://bit.ly/YOyRmc

"Most contemporary literary fiction
is terrible" : http://bit.ly/12695X5
@salon @jrobertlennon

Tips for effective linking in WordPress
blogs: http://bit.ly/10ICCJL
@BloggingTipsCom

Burning the Manuscripts: http://bit.ly/1269EjS @henriettepower

Spice Up Your Writing: http://bit.ly/10ICXMB

Trading favors and our integrity: http://bit.ly/126a5dY @KSElliott_Shark

Advice for trad. published writers now
interested in self-pub: http://bit.ly/10IDqi3
@jamesscottbell

The Numbers Game: What to do after you've
submitted a short story: http://bit.ly/10IDuy6
@amazingstories0

Fantasy Weapons – the Good, the Bad, and
the Ugly: http://bit.ly/10IE8vB @Chilari

How to move your story: http://bit.ly/126xb44 @lindasclare

7 strategies for ebook pricing: http://bit.ly/YFkQ82 @digibookworld

The Five Cornerstones of Dramatic
Characterization: http://bit.ly/126xJqK
@thecreativepenn @DavidCorbett_CA

Utopia and Dystopia – The Many Faces of
The Future: http://bit.ly/YFl27h
@VeronicaSicoe

3 Tips for Hooking Readers: http://bit.ly/126y6Se @MissyTippens

The Thin Line between Character Strengths
and Flaws: http://bit.ly/YFt2VX @jamigold

Are We Badgering Readers? http://bit.ly/10EnkBj @BTMargins
@randysusanmeyer

Creating Your Fantasy Bible: http://bit.ly/YFtfbu @ThereDraftAgain

Leave In Everything: http://bit.ly/10EnpoC @mooderino

Using Zombies To Eliminate Passive Voice:
http://bit.ly/YFtpjm

How to Stop Self-Sabotaging: http://bit.ly/10EnHvt @RealE

How to Increase Tension in your Story: http://bit.ly/YFu5VO @shalvatzis

Break the Rules to Become a Best Seller: http://bit.ly/10EnIzv @livewritethrive

5 Things Fiction Acquisition Editors
Never Say: http://bit.ly/YFubg0 @novelrocket

It's not enough to write the book.  Self-pubbed authors must think about
business: http://bit.ly/10EnNTQ
@nataliegayle1

Links to help with the querying process: http://bit.ly/YFuibD @ingridsundberg

Editors: Freelance v. In-house: http://bit.ly/10EnSa6 @fictorians

Dear author: your name is your brand.
Here's why: http://bit.ly/YFutUc
@JosieBrownCA

4 Words That are Killing Your Prose: http://bit.ly/16b7zJQ @write_practice

The Care and Feeding of Secondary
Characters: http://bit.ly/16b87iO

Algorithms—Are They Killing the
"Kindle Revolution"? http://bit.ly/13igsKD
@annerallen

3 Ways to Improve Your Author Website
Today: http://bit.ly/16b8zNV @janefriedman

Handling conflict in a virtual world
(esp. in online writing communities): http://bit.ly/16b9qOE
@Jan_Ohara

Elements that can make a story fail: http://bit.ly/YTTn4J

Know Your Characters: http://bit.ly/129iL3c

The Three Levels of Commitment: http://bit.ly/YTTxt1 @jeffgoins

5 Ways Publishers Can Be More Like
Start-Ups: http://bit.ly/129iVaO
@pubperspectives

Short story prompts: http://bit.ly/129nQbF @storyadaymay

4 Ways Blogging Will Make You a Better
Writer: http://bit.ly/104TJUm @diymfa
@danblank

Self Publishing Video Tutorials: http://bit.ly/10cxgkl @galleycat

No Matter the Genre, Many Great Books
Start With a One Sentence Idea: http://bit.ly/1422Ups
@bob_mayer

Why 1 writer chooses to write erotic fan
fiction: http://bit.ly/1423tzy @ClarionUCSD

The Writing Conference Trifecta: http://bit.ly/18Kt6I7

Write a killer first line: http://bit.ly/1423SBY @MartinaABoone
@finneyfrock

The art of story Velcro: http://bit.ly/18KtBlt @Rachel_Aaron

What Downton Abbey Can Teach us About
Tension: http://bit.ly/18KudaM
@Janice_Hardy

Agent lessons from a conference panel: http://bit.ly/1426zU6

Comparison is the thief of joy: http://bit.ly/18KuL06 @tawnafenske

Life with a Writer: http://bit.ly/18KvWN6 @GingerJohnson_

Pitching dos and don'ts: http://bit.ly/14288Bi @gordonwarnock

Should Being Creative Feel Good? http://bit.ly/18Ihv9q @brandenbarnett

Agent advice for better manuscripts: http://bit.ly/18Kwvq9

When writers hesitate to send out their
work: http://bit.ly/10ygY5j @evilwriters

What 1 writer does when she gets stuck
while writing: http://bit.ly/10yh90o
@Word_Wrestler

Instant gratification and pacing: http://bit.ly/10yhf8s @KristenJett

How 1 agent prepares for an author
submission: http://bit.ly/17uiHkG

Writers Write – Seeing the Cliché Through
New Eyes: http://bit.ly/10yhznE
@matty_gibbon

A Peek at the Real Life of That Writer
You Envy: http://bit.ly/17uiWw5 @TiceWrites

What would you write if you weren't
afraid? http://bit.ly/YMHwmS
@rachellegardner

Full Shot for Full Effect: http://bit.ly/13pqd9J @livewritethrive

The Agony and the Ecstasy:
Self-Publishing: http://bit.ly/13pqlG9
@PattiHill

The Slow Language of Sculpture, the Fast
Language of Words: http://bit.ly/13pqsBR
@the_millions

What New Skills Do Publishers Need to
Navigate in Publishing? http://bit.ly/YMI4Ju
@pubperspectives

The 3 forces that are shaping 21st
century book publishing: scale, verticalization, and atomization: http://bit.ly/13pr1LS @PassiveVoiceBlg

4 ways to improve your writing through an
online writing workshop: http://bit.ly/YMInEj
@bookbaby

How To Write Episodic/Serialized Fiction:
http://bit.ly/13prjSP and http://bit.ly/13prmhu @woodwardkaren

Storytelling--Know the Three Levels of
Tradecraft: http://bit.ly/YMIEqG
@cockeyedcaravan

The end game: http://bit.ly/14c1ety @JoeMoore_writer

When characters age in a series: http://bit.ly/14c1tVg @rachelnseigel

Writing partner etiquette: http://bit.ly/14c1LM3 @KenLevine

How to Use Stream of Consciousness: http://bit.ly/14c1SXW @kmweiland

5 Easy Ways to Overcome The Fear of
Public Speaking: http://bit.ly/14c22yy
@jesslaw

Why We (and Our Characters) Fall in Love:
http://bit.ly/1098GoW @FaeRowen

Defeat Distraction: Refocusing with
Purpose: http://bit.ly/14c2pJq @LeoBabauta

Script To Screen: "Young
Frankenstein": http://bit.ly/1098Nkt
@gointothestory

Beating Creative Block: 10 Ways to Bring
Back Creativity: http://bit.ly/1098ZjJ
@youthedesigner

How to start a group blog: http://bit.ly/14c3vEU @diymfa

The Pros of Professional Development: http://bit.ly/14c3IrO @bluemaven

How to Create an Author Page on Facebook:
http://bit.ly/1099v1f @juliemusil

5 Rules For Writing A Murder Mystery:
Keeping the Murderer Secret Until The End: http://bit.ly/109anCM
@woodwardkaren

The History of Serialized Fiction Gets a
New Chapter: http://bit.ly/109asGR
@AndrewLiptak

Owen Egerton's 30 Writing Tips: http://bit.ly/10Z28ut @woodwardkaren

Words don't exist in a vacuum: http://bit.ly/12JzVVF @lkblackburne

Why writers should use food in their
stories: http://bit.ly/10Z2n8N
@write_practice

How James Patterson Made 94 Million
Dollars Last Year: http://bit.ly/12LP9e0
@Gretchen_Archer

Three Types of Good Story Repetition

Today I'm over at
K.M. Weiland's Blog, WordPlay (a fantastic writing craft blog, if you haven't visited),

talking about three
types of good repetition for our
stories.  Hope you'll pop over.

How Convenient--Plot Contrivance

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig


Morgue File--o0o0xmods0o0o


Sometimes when we’re drafting a book or
writing an outline, we’ll run into something that needs
to happen in the plot, but is clumsy, or seems convenient or contrived.

I’m working on something now and ran into
this problem.  As a matter of fact, I’ve
run into this same exact problem in a different manuscript.  I need to have my sleuth’s home broken into.
How can I get away with that?  She has
nosy neighbors.  She’s alert.  She’s, as a matter of fact, an insomniac.  The villains in my stories are gifted
amateurs, not career criminals with a knack for picking locks. 

It’s difficult to make this break-in
happen without making my sleuth appear dumb, forgetful, careless, or generally
unfit for sleuthing.



Why would she leave a door unlocked when
there is a killer afoot?  How could my
newbie killer easily and stealthily break into her house, if she hasn’t left
the door unlocked?

How will she get away from this intruder
once he gets in?  He intends to murder
her since she’s such a pest and since she’s also discovered important
information…that she doesn’t yet even realize is important.

It’s important that whatever reason I
happen on is mentioned previously in the story. 
In other words, I don’t suddenly need to have the intruder inside the
house and have Myrtle think, “Oh no—I forgot to lock the door.”  Better to let the reader in on the forgetting
when it happens, if that’s the approach I want to take with the contrivance.

So…I make my lists.  In the hopes of helping anyone else with
their own plot holes and struggles with conveniences, I’ll share some of what
would go onto mine:

She leaves the door unlocked because
she’s lugging something heavy into the house and forgets to go back to lock it.

She absent-mindedly leaves the door
unlocked when she walks in and hears a ringing phone and then ends up on a
disturbing phone call.

She locks the door but leaves a window
cracked to let the cat in and out.

Someone she trusts comes in behind her
and Myrtle thinks the trusted friend has locked the door behind her (and leaves
later from a different door), but the trusted friend doesn’t lock it—for
whatever reason. Complex and rather messy.

The killer breaks a window quietly by
taping it with duct tape and then holding a dishtowel up to the window and
striking it with a hammer.

The intruder gets hold of a spare key or
somehow copies her key…this will require a good deal more set-up.

The sleuth left it unlocked on purpose
and lured the killer there as a trap.  
(And she has some sort of back-up—since we don’t need the additional
problem of a main character doing something stupid or conveniently reckless.)

In the for-what-it’s-worth department, my
editors views on conveniences tends to be that—as long as I’ve put some effort
into setting it up—the readers will suspend their disbelief.  In other words, they absolutely don’t want a
moment where the sleuth realizes she forgot to lock the door and that’s the
first the readers hear about it—when the intruder has entered her house. They
want the readers to see her forgetting
to lock the door. 

Is it too much of a coincidence that
she’d forget to lock the door on the very night the intruder wants to break
in?  Well, it’s definitely a coincidence.
Although I’d point out that my husband—incredibly scrupulous about locking
doors—left his car unlocked once many years ago while he carried in Christmas
presents from a shopping trip.  He forgot
to lock it later. And that was the one time in 20 years of marriage that we had
something stolen from a car. Coincidences do
happen.  I think, though, that it’s a
good idea to only have one big
coincidence in a story.

More posts
on convenience, contrivances, and more:

The Editor’s Blog--Coincidence
Destroys the Suspension of Disbelief –by Beth Hill.

The Other Side of the Story--What
a Coincidence! Creating Plots That Don’t Feel Like Accidents—by Janice
Hardy

Beyond the Margins—Managing
Coincidence—by Leslie Greffenius

Writers in the Storm--9 Plots That Rely On Coincidence and Contrivance—by
Kara Lennox

How do you handle convenience in a plot?
How much, as a reader, can you overlook in a story?

How James Patterson Made 94 Million Dollars Last Year

by Gretchen Archer, @Gretchen_Archer





I don’t have a clue. He probably doesn’t
either. I’m sure there are forensic accountants, Schedule Cs, and colorful pie
charts with the secret formula for how this man, in today’s publishing climate,
earned so much money by simply putting pencil to paper (they say he
writes-outlines-edits long hand on legal pads), but I bet there’s no
one-sentence explanation. “Mr. Patterson, it was the Alex Cross fleece booties
that shot you from Forbes Stinking Rich to Forbes Obscenely Loaded.”

The only logical answer? James Patterson
supplies a high-demand product to an eager and willing consumer. That’s how he
does it. Who’s next? Who will be the next J.K., Danielle, John Grisham? I hope
it’s not me. I don’t want to be the next Gillian Flynn or E.L. James, either,
but for different reasons, and not because I hate going to the bank, something
they must be doing a lot of, too. It’s because, having read both Ms. Flynn and
Ms. James (kudos, ladies) I know I could never do what they’ve done (in the
first place) without giving up my life. For me to go that deep, I’d have to
shut off everything and everyone, and what if, when I dug out, everything and
everyone were gone?

Which brings me to a terrible confession:
I’m not in it for the money. I write with the luxury of knowing  there will be dinner on the table and lights
on in my house if I bring in Sandra Brown numbers or, like many other happy
writers, I don’t.



I’m in it for the fun. Writing is fun.

I write, entirely, for my own amusement.
While there’s an underlying message in my Davis Way Crime Caper Series—you
can’t have something for nothing—my solitary goal, when staring at the blank
screen, is to entertain myself.

Maybe I need to get out more.

Plot is fun. For whatever reasons,
because I couldn’t drum up a hotel sewing kit if James Patterson were standing
in front of me holding a critical runaway button, I think of plot in terms of
thousands of colorful strands of loose, wispy threads all around me, and my
goal is to gather and assemble and weave them in such a way that they come
together in a strong, affecting, and charming design. (Side note: I think of
editing as someone saying the light lavender strand, that I love, and spent
forever plaiting in, looks horrible.)

Characters are fun. I have the pleasure
of taking all the good I’m surrounded by and giving it to my characters. I do
the same with my bad guys. The parents who blame everything and everyone but
themselves for their child’s rotten grades-Sailor language-haircut—in the book.
The friend who won’t stop making harrowing relationship decisions—in the
book.  The desperate man having a very
public meltdown at the bank when he’s the one who bounced the checks—in the
book.

The research is fun, because learning is
fun. For DOUBLE DIP (Henery Press, January, 2014), I learned about French food,
slot tournaments, bananas, mega churches, and waste management. Which didn’t do
a thing for my cash flow, but I really enjoyed it.

Outside of the writing process, the
people are fun. If you’re not working with people who make your life and your
work a better place, get new ones. I’m surrounded by the greatest group of
people imaginable. I’d have never met them had it not been for the writing, and
they’re worth more to me than money. Above all, they’re fun.

You’ll read next week that Mr.
Patterson’s 18th release (this year)
has been knocked out of the NYT’s #1 spot by none other than Mr. Patterson
himself, with his 19th. Be happy for
him. Go, James, go! Rake it in! 





Gretchen Archer
is a Tennessee housewife who began writing when her daughters, seeking higher
educations, left her. She lives on Lookout Mountain with her husband, son,
and a Yorkie named Bently. DoubleWhammy is her first Davis Way Crime Caper. www.gretchenarcher.com








Double Whammy: Davis Way hits the jackpot
when she lands a job at the fabulous Bellissimo Resort and Casino, but only if
she can steer clear of her ex-ex husband, her evil twin, and pesky felony
indictments.

Twitterific

 by Elizabeth S. Craig,
@elizabethscraig




Twitterific is a compilation of all the writing links I
shared the previous week. The links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base
search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which
has over 19,000 free articles on writing-related topics. It's the search engine
for writers.




Sign up for our free newsletter for monthly writing tips and interviews with top
contributors to the WKB or like us on Facebook.




Mike Fleming and author and writing coach
James Scott Bell are offering an online, interactive, writing program to help make
your next novel great. It's called "Knockout Novel" and you can learn
more about it at KnockoutNovel.com. Plus, all the data is stored in your Hiveword account for
easy access.



Strategies for Turning Impersonal Info
Dumps into Compelling Copy: http://bit.ly/18Ik5wb
@jodierennered

Stalking the Muse: http://bit.ly/13aqUa8 @ashkrafton

To Save Indies, Publishers Need to
ReConsider DRM: http://bit.ly/104KaVA
@dearauthor




Creating a reader-friendly website: http://bit.ly/11M96PW @ellenmgregg_nh

Why Literary Agents Attend Writers
Conferences: http://bit.ly/104KrHU
@KarenDionne

One Writers Conference Can Be All the
Catalyst You Need: http://bit.ly/11M9oX4
@hopeclark @bookbaby

How to Promote an Audiobook: http://bit.ly/104KBPI @dinasantorelli

Tips and an exercise for writing better
dialogue: http://bit.ly/11M9EoN
@hookedonnoir @kristenlambtx

Writing Tip: Clustering: http://bit.ly/104KQdr

Understanding screenwriting (analysis of
various movies and TV shows): http://bit.ly/11M9ONa
@slant_magazine

Using Language To Evoke Emotion: http://bit.ly/104LuaJ @woodwardkaren

Perils of the Writer: Clarity and
"Literary" Writing: http://bit.ly/11Mayln

Great Scene: "Fight Club": http://bit.ly/104LBTM @gointothestory

Book Marketing Using Paid Promotion:
Targeted Email Lists: http://bit.ly/11MaMZR
@thecreativepenn

Dealing with Bad Reviews: http://bit.ly/104LJCW @jakonrath

Creating Perks for a Crowdfunded Writing
Project: http://bit.ly/11MaUIN @jasonboog

Why Do We Keep Making Ebooks Like Paper
Books? http://bit.ly/11MbPst @gizmodo

The Joys of 1-Star Reviews: http://bit.ly/104MBHG

10 Screenwriting Lessons You Can Learn
From Forrest Gump: http://bit.ly/11Mc7zG

When is it OK to Blog Your Book? http://bit.ly/11Mcb2x @annerallen

10 Literary Beers to Drink While Reading:
http://bit.ly/104MNXl @flavorpill

I Don't Need a Hero: The Kick-Ass
Heroines of Gaming: http://bit.ly/11Mcjit
@c_morgs65

A Look at a Middle Grade Query Letter: http://bit.ly/104MWtU @janice_hardy

How to Write a Screenplay in Nine (Not
So) Easy Steps: http://bit.ly/11Mcudy
@scriptmag

Why Suddenly Is a Four-Letter Word: http://bit.ly/104MZWA @KMWeiland

100 Things for Authors To Tweet About: http://bit.ly/11McJVT @authormedia

How to Write a Memorable Beginning and
Ending: http://bit.ly/104Ngsv
@write_practice

A look at 3rd person POV: http://bit.ly/11McSc4 @fictorians

Fiction Writing Exercises: Symbols and
Symbolism: http://bit.ly/104NnEx
@melissadonovan

Comfort food for the long wait: http://bit.ly/11McY3e

Don't Write A Drama Spec: http://bit.ly/104NrnQ

Tips for better blog posts: http://bit.ly/11Mfneu @EdieMelson

Songwriting Tip: Writing The Bridge: http://bit.ly/104Ploq @usasongs

What are agents looking for in a writer? http://bit.ly/11Mfuqd @carlywatters

Synopsis Writing 101: http://bit.ly/104PFDz @MyraJohnson

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Use Relationship Marketing to Sell Books:
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The Process, or Lack Thereof

Guest Post by Mitzi Kelly, @ mitzi_kelly







I’d like to thank Elizabeth for giving me
a platform to discuss one of my favorite subjects:  the writing process. (Not!)

I have to admit, I doubt if many authors
approach a writing project with the same helter-skelter methods I use, but I’m
looking forward to the opportunity to analyze my lack of a strategy.  Or, I should say, my lack of an organized strategy.

It really is quite frustrating. From the
way I start a new manuscript, to the way it eventually ends up, are at such
different ends of the writing spectrum, it’s a mystery to me how I complete any
project.   Wait, I just thought about
something! This puzzle could provide the major plot theme in my next book in
the Silver Sleuths Mystery series!

My process really is that convoluted,
folks.  I could probably benefit from a
team of sleuths investigating it, but I’m going to give it my best shot.  Please bear with me as I try to describe my
creative process, because the key word here really is “creative.”




First of all, one of the easiest tasks
for me in beginning a manuscript is giving it a title.  In fact, in almost every instance, I have
thought of the title before I’ve even written “Chapter One.”  A fun phrase (the title) will pop into my
head, and then it’s just a case of what if
. . .

The second step for me is to clear my
desk, pull out pen and paper, and detail the physical and emotional traits of
my characters.  Yes, I actually do this
in longhand.  I use one sheet of paper
per character and I add tidbits, if necessary, as the story develops.  There’s something about writing down the
specifics that satisfies my imagination. 
Don’t ask me why because I certainly can’t explain it.

I then move on to the plot outline and a
chapter-by-chapter analysis, both of which are also done by longhand.  This is a time-consuming process, but I enjoy
it. By the time I’ve done all this ‘writing,’ I feel I have a good, strong
grasp on what my story is going to be, and it’s at this point I sit down at my
computer.

After a day of typing, that good, strong grasp feeling has evaporated
because somewhere in the middle of chapter one, my characters have taken over
and changed quite a bit of the initial outline, which also affects my
chapter-by-chapter analysis.  Out comes
the pen and, while muttering under my breath, I make the adjustments to the
story line. By the third time I have to do this, I’m no longer muttering under
my breath.  I’d be more specific, but you
get the picture . . .

And that, my dear friends, accurately
explains my writing process.  Weird? Yes.
A ton of wasted paper? Certainly. Fun? Most assuredly!  Because every writer’s goal is to get to the
point in the manuscript where you type “The End,” and it doesn’t really matter
how you get there.

Strange procedures, quirky habits and
ritualistic customs are all part of the process. A writer has to find a process
that works for him or her and just start writing. Um . . . I mean typing,
because our readers aren’t thinking about any of our strategies while they are
engrossed in our finished product.  I
mean, really, can you imagine what my readers would think if, while trying to
solve the latest crime in my novels, they knew what I had gone through to
create the darn thing!     



Mitzi Kelly grew up in
El Paso, Texas and now lives near San Antonio, Texas with her husband, John,
and son, John Lewis, and four dogs.  An
avid reader of all genres, she also enjoys intelligent political debate, and
especially time spent with family and friends.



She is the author of
the popular Silver Sleuths Mystery series published by Thomas &
Mercer.  The first two books, CLASSIC REVENGE and DEADLY POLICY are available at Amazon.com, and the third book in
the series will be released soon!  You
can contact her through her website at mitzi@mitzikelly.com.




            

What If? A Method for Developing Ideas

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig




MorgueFile--The Success


I’m one of those neighbors that would be
the perfect witness in a murder mystery. 
Because, if I’m not driving my kids and their friends around, I’m
staring blankly out the windows as I write.

One morning I saw our middle school
neighbor from across the street leave the house to walk to the school bus
stop.  His folks had put out a large
television for a charity to pick up and the remote sat on the top of the TV by
the street.  He walked past the
television, looking at it. Then he abruptly turned around, reached for the
remote, and pointed it at the television.  
You could just see what was going through his head: what if the
television suddenly turned on?

Writing is like that.  What if___happened?







You can brainstorm this way.  You can even outline this way.  You can get yourself out of plot holes this
way.

So I’m starting a new mystery.  Since I had such a disastrous pantster
experience for the last book, I’ve decided to put some time and thought into
planning this new book before I write.  I
don’t ordinarily like writing that way, but I will admit that out of the four
novels I’ve outlined, I’ve never had a major rewrite. 

This is Outlining Light.  So my process is something like this (and I
give myself permission to change it as I go along.)

I start out with my victim…because she
determines everything in a mystery.  Who
wants to kill her?  This is how suspects
are developed. What if she’s the kind of person who rubs everyone the wrong
way? What if she is responsible for breaking up someone’s marriage?  What if her neighbor was engaged in a
property dispute with her? What if she has a grown daughter living with her who
likes to cause trouble? 

The rest of the story develops in much
the same way.  What if Suspect 1 claims
she was somewhere else the night of the murder but Suspect 2 spotted her
arriving at the victim’s house when she was leaving it? What if Suspect 3 has a
secret that she’s desperate to protect…which has nothing to do with the murder?


This rambling what-if process can lead to
many different ideas.  I take all the
ideas.  I’ll take outlandish ones,
mediocre ones, great ones.  I list them
all on a separate document and look for the strongest ideas…the ones with the
most possibilities to develop.  Even
better if some of the ideas could intersect with each other in some way
(surprising connections between suspects, surprising facts about the victim
connected to one of the suspects.)

When I run into problems, I can
brainstorm my way out of it in the same way. 
In one of my recently finished books, I thought featuring two different
married couples was confusing…especially with similar motives involved.  Plus, there really wasn’t enough
conflict.  What if one of the couples
weren’t married?  What if one member of
the couple was in love and the other member just wanted out? It made the story
more complex and interesting and it was only a small tweak.

How do you brainstorm and plot?



And...I'm trying a new jump break (read more)  feature for my blog to make it easier to scroll through posts (since some posts are pretty long.)  Hoping this will make it easier for a visitor to my blog's homepage to scan blog titles.  Please let me know how it works for you.  Thanks!

Organic vs. Plotting—Waffling

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig




MorgueFile--Binks


What doesn’t matter about plotting? 
It doesn’t matter how you do it as long as it works for you.

If what you’re doing isn’t
working, have you ever tried something else?

I’ve always been a very happy
organic writer/pantster.  I make up my
mysteries as I went along.  My agent,
frankly, was rather horrified.  I’ve also
had an editor or two who were very surprised that I don’t outline. I have a
feeling that many traditionally published, prolific writers outline their books
and that I was the exception and not the rule.

I have one editor who requires
an outline for approval.  I had a
tremendous problem delivering her an outline at first.  The first outline was 24 pages long.  My poor editor.  But at first, that’s the only way I could do
them.  If I had
to write an outline, I was going all the way with it…outlining every scene.

The second outline went a lot
better.  I gave her three page “big
picture” of the story.  I left out the
minor details and just hit the high points, suspects, killer, and how my hook
(it’s a quilting mystery series) featured into the book.

The third outline was much like
the second for this editor.  The
difference was that I deviated from it nearly completely.  Once I started writing the story, it took off
into a different direction.  Wrapped up
in the story, I neglected to tell my editor about my deviation, which caused a
bit of a problem for an editorial meeting she was in and a cover meeting.  Ugh.  I
quickly filled her in and sent her the (unfinished) manuscript (which I usually
hate doing because at that point I’ve done zero editing…but it was better than
sending my long-suffering editor in blind to various conferences.)

So I’ve had some outlining
background.  And I always hated coming up
with these outlines.  But—I never ran into story issues when I’ve
outlined.  I might go off my outline, but I never end up with a huge
plot hole, a mess of a beginning, or a poorly paced book.

On the other hand, when I haven’t outlined, I’ve run into a big problem
about 30% of the time.  Not all the
time.  But enough to slow me down (and I
do hate being inefficient!)

I just had a terrible first
draft experience on a book I made up as I went along.  Bad enough that I’m outlining the novel I’m
about to start writing.  But I’m not excited about this—I’m simply thinking that
maybe it’s become a necessary evil for me.

What
I dislike about outlines:

I feel like the time spent
writing them is better spent writing the story, promoting another book, or some
other writing-related task.  This almost
embarrasses me to even admit…yes, I know outlines count as writing. But that’s
how I feel about them.

I feel that outlines have a
tendency to confine my creativity.

I don’t like picking the
murderer until the end of the story.

I don’t like picking names
until I get to know new characters better.

Outlines remind me of the more
unpleasant assignments in my English classes.

Outlining doesn’t come
particularly naturally to me.

I hate to admit this, too,
but…I can get bored with what I’m writing when I outline because I’m skipping
the process of discovery and brainstorming. 
Those are the most fun parts for me.

Pros
of outlining

I always know what I’m going to
write (I’ve always known what I was
going to write the following day, even as an organic writer.  But with an outline, I know what I’ll write
even after that.

I can immediately tell if the
story I intend to write will work or not. 
I can spot a bloated beginning, a saggy middle, and a bad ending right
off the bat.

I can tell if my original pick
for murderer will work or not.

I can keep better track of
various subplots, red herrings, clues, suspects, and other elements.

Where
I’ve made my peace with outlines:

I allow myself to deviate if
the story will benefit.

I don’t force myself to pick
character names for the outline if I don’t immediately have a name that I
like.  I put in AA or BB instead.

I brainstorm lots of
possibilities on a separate document before I start my outline.  I keep the brainstormed ideas and refer to
them in case I start running dry when following my outline.

So…this is where I am now.  Waffling back and forth between outlining and
skipping it.  Again, if you’ve got a
method that works for you—keep it.  I’m
experimenting only because my method is suddenly letting me down a little.

Do you outline?  Why or why not?

Twitterific

by Elizabeth S. Craig,
@elizabethscraig



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Differentiating Through Dialogue: http://bit.ly/123QFYC @mooderino

Crafting Teen Characters with Respect and
Authenticity: http://bit.ly/15gTXg1
@ingridsundberg

Dos and Don'ts for poets: http://bit.ly/123S5SV @poetrynews

5 Ways First Pages Go Wrong: http://bit.ly/15gUcrn @fictionnotes

Why 1 writer avoids 1st person POV: http://bit.ly/102BSxp @vgrefer

What's your vision for your story? http://bit.ly/10aeo5j @storyfix

Is craft killing your creativity? http://bit.ly/15hetfW @jammer0501

5 Common Problems in Your Young Adult
Manuscript: http://bit.ly/10zm5SH
@howtowriteshop

Top 10 Storytelling Cliches: http://bit.ly/15i5ITe @robwhart

Words to cut in our manuscripts: http://bit.ly/125kB6C @ScottTheWriter

Engaging A Reader's Interest: Offering
Something Strange: http://bit.ly/125kRCR
@woodwardkaren

Redundancies to avoid: http://bit.ly/15i6ek9 @livewritethrive

Tips for finding an agent: http://bit.ly/15i6jo9 @elisabethweed

Slicebooks Aims to Take Re-mixable Ebooks
Mainstream: http://bit.ly/15i6nEe
@pubperspectives

Unsolicited Writing Advice to Never
Follow: http://bit.ly/125lf47 @EdieMelson

Master Class: http://bit.ly/125llc9 @KHill0 @parisreview

Give readers what they want? http://bit.ly/125lqfV @rachellegardner

How to write for the jugular: http://bit.ly/125mgJF @ScottTheWriter
@write_hook

How to Read Poetry 101: Whys and
Wherefores: http://bit.ly/15i7rrM @tithenai
@tordotcom

Writing Horror: Inevitable
Misconceptions: http://bit.ly/15i8Sq4
@amylukavics

Writers who Murder Main Characters: http://bit.ly/15i8VCs

Dreams, Reality and Writing: http://bit.ly/15i8WpX @jamesscottbell

The Risky Middle Realm of Character: http://bit.ly/15i9bkQ @storyfix

Physical Attributes Entry: Cheeks: http://bit.ly/125pTiF @beccapuglisi

Libraries matter: 5  library infographics: http://bit.ly/125pZH6 @ebookfriendly

8 Dialogue Tips: http://bit.ly/125q6Cx

Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make on Facebook
and How to Avoid Them: http://bit.ly/125qf8X
@MarcyKennedy

50 Ways to Build Your Platform in 5
Minutes a Day: http://bit.ly/sTO0GA
@writersdigest

Book Launch Tips for Authors: http://bit.ly/125qoJn @jeanoram

If kittens rule the Internet, why do
puppies reign in print? http://slate.me/15i9NHh
@slate @danengber

3 steps to act on what you read in books
and blogs: http://bit.ly/125qAIO @tomewer

Using Sensory Language: http://bit.ly/15i9V9I @woodwardkaren

When you're faced with unexpected
revision: http://bit.ly/125qGQx
@robertleebrewer @NicholeLReber

Great Character: Renton
("Trainspotting"): http://bit.ly/125qKjk
@gointothestory

The Best and the Worst of the Writing
Life: http://bit.ly/15ia6li @andyholloman
@ScottTheWriter

We don't have to get it all done: http://bit.ly/125r5md @InkyBites

Songwriting Tip: The Money Angle: http://bit.ly/125r7dC @usasong

Tips for writers who need to make
introductions at conferences: http://bit.ly/125rcy5

Five Things 1 Writer Wishes She'd Known
Before Publishing a Book: http://bit.ly/125ri8R
@sarahpekkanen

7 Things Editors at Children's Book
Publishers Wish Writers Knew: http://bit.ly/11DyBmN
@write4kids

Why you'll never be ready (and what to do
about it): http://bit.ly/ZmBkTk
@FortheCreators

Cultivating The Observer: http://bit.ly/12MuNSt @BarbaraONeal

Sex and the Literary Writer: http://bit.ly/12NdeSy @the_millions

Don't think of Pinterest as social media:
http://bit.ly/ZcCVrn @rachellegardner

Courting Your Long-Lost Writing: http://bit.ly/ZcF2eM @pshares

Why you'll never be ready (and what to do
about it): http://bit.ly/ZmBkTk
@FortheCreators

Plot problems--weak black moments and
unsatisfying endings: http://bit.ly/18I5jFH
@karalennox

Everything you ever needed to know about
screenwriting: http://ind.pn/13ajVhD
@independent

Fight Scenes and Motivations: http://bit.ly/18IdEJM @Owlkenpowriter
@patbertram

5 Tips for Self-published Authors to
Maximize Rights and Licensing Deals: http://bit.ly/13anmF5
@pubperspectives

How To Start Your Best Writing Day Ever: http://bit.ly/18Ie4zL @ollinmorales

The Writer and Money: http://bit.ly/18IeCWa @passivevoiceblg

On the Exigencies of Translation: http://bit.ly/13anR1H

10 tips for better stories: http://bit.ly/18IeWV7 @joebunting

How to Write Backstory: http://bit.ly/13anYdQ @shalvatzis

The Doubts and Resolve of a Midlister: http://bit.ly/18If7Qf @davidbcoe

5 Ideas for Using Pinterest as an Author:
http://bit.ly/13ao5WI @amandaluedeke)

Reading Like A Writer: http://bit.ly/18Ig8Ym @tabithaolson

Character Archetypes--The Orphan: http://bit.ly/13aoGYB @jeanniecampbell

What 'front matter' consists of: http://bit.ly/18Igrm4 @SueCollier

Publishing poetry online: http://bit.ly/13aoPLm @poetrynews

Why Ideas Pop Into Your Head When You're
Trying to Fall Asleep: http://bit.ly/18IgD4T
@lifehackorg

Romantic timing: http://bit.ly/13aoZm3 @heroesnhearts

Create your characters from different
molds: http://bit.ly/18IgT3E
@dirtywhitecandy

Tips for better book launches: http://bit.ly/18Ih0MJ @angelaackerman

7 Reasons Your Manuscript Might be
Rejected: http://bit.ly/13apc8M
@fictionnotes

10 Benefits of Traveling to a Writing
Retreat: http://bit.ly/18IhceM

Dealing With Editorial Letters: http://bit.ly/13apjkS @emmapass

Should Being Creative Feel Good? http://bit.ly/18Ihv9q @brandenbarnett

12 Tips for Writing a Book Title that
Sells Books: http://bit.ly/13aptIZ
@authopublisher

1 writer is sick of promo: http://bit.ly/ZmLN12 @katdish

Falling in Love with Words: A Tragic
Romance: http://bit.ly/18IiFC6
@boydmorrison

When platforming overwhelms
you--floundering: http://bit.ly/13aqjFG
@StevieLibra @robertleebrewer

Is Amazon's KDP Select Worthwhile for
Writers? http://bit.ly/18IjdHV
@cjlyonswriter

Getting Started with Poetry: Make Words
Your Playground: http://bit.ly/13aqAZ2
@CMKellerWrites

How Novelists Can Steal Marketing Ideas
from Their Non-Fiction Friends: http://bit.ly/18IjF92+|+Duolit%29
@duolit

Character Types – Neanderthal to Alien: http://bit.ly/13aqGQv @scriptmag

Ten ways self-publishing has changed the
books world: http://bit.ly/18IjTgz
@guardianbooks

Why You Should Steer Clear Of Dual
Protagonists: http://bit.ly/13aqOiN






Journalism in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/ZAtfqT
@mkinberg


Execution-style murders in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/17JiTKr
@mkinberg




(Just for fun)--Having trouble writing your bio? A
generator offers help: http://bit.ly/ZMPu03 @artybollocks




Analysis of the sudden shut down of @timoreilly 's
TOC:  http://bit.ly/17JpX9Y @Porter_Anderson @brianoleary @samatlounge @EdNawotka 




What Authors Need to Know About Crowdfunding: http://bit.ly/16hotWo
@pubslush




Deep Third, Demonstrated: http://bit.ly/16hMjkV
@TamaraHogan1 




Inspiring speeches from last weekend’s Grub Street con.: http://bit.ly/13jxLhF
@AmandaPalmer @Porter_Anderson @GrubWriters




Judging Book Covers by Their Sexism: http://bit.ly/1953C5A
@Porter_Anderson @maureenjohnson @esheepcomix @mfumarolo 




Sometimes the little extras in a mystery are the most
memorable elements of the story: http://bit.ly/15voRBt @mkinberg