Riley Adams's Blog, page 155

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.


When Something Changes Mid-Draft: http://bit.ly/11fHyCg
@stdennard




The only benefit of trad. pub. is print distribution?
Agents disagree: http://bit.ly/15CLSBv @Porter_Anderson @EkstromRachel @Janet_Reid




Self-pubbed authors take spotlight at the #LBF ...& a
reminder for them to stay grounded: http://bit.ly/13sCEDy @Porter_Anderson @OrnaRoss 




Shakespeare's influence on crime fiction: http://bit.ly/ZOkg3Y
@mkinberg




Is there a turning point in the us-vs-them acrimony of
trad pub and self-pub? http://bit.ly/13xjpsJ @Porter_Anderson @barryeisler




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







Easy Steps to First-pass Revision: http://bit.ly/11qExPW @lindasclare

Screenwriting--how to create a TV show
(blog series): http://bit.ly/Z93MZM
@cockeyedcaravan

The 6 most common logline weaknesses: http://bit.ly/11qEUd8 @CrackingYarns

3 Tips To Help You Contact Book
Reviewers: http://bit.ly/11qLlgm
@badredheadmedia

Social media malpractice (knowing what
platform-building advice to ignore): http://bit.ly/Z9eLCn
@annehill

When it's Okay to Say No to Conventions: http://bit.ly/Z9eW0r @reudaly

Fighting writing resistance: http://bit.ly/Z9fNOP @JennaAvery

Writing routines--word counting and other
habits: http://bit.ly/11qMLHQ @nealasher

10 Questions You Need to Ask Your
Characters Before They Can Stay In Your Story: http://bit.ly/Z9gqb9
@amazingstories0

Tips for teaching writing: http://bit.ly/Z9gzv4 @nadinekenney

The importance of a logline: http://bit.ly/11qNicQ @TheWrookie

Offset Printing for Self-Publishers: http://bit.ly/11rjRat @jfbookman

6 questions for an editor of Sleet
Magazine: http://bit.ly/12vGhty

Ways To Tap Into Your Creative Juice
Reserves: http://bit.ly/11rkelw
@theheraldryang

"Save the Cat" Beat Sheet Cheat
Spreadsheet: http://bit.ly/11rkkth

5 Tips For Finding Your Pirated Novel
Online: http://bit.ly/12vGzRk @jeanoram

The fantasy language problem: http://bit.ly/11rkqBc @DjangoWexler

An author and book blogger with tips for
authors on handling reviews: http://bit.ly/12vHAIU
@SweetMarie83

Beware of instant conflict: http://bit.ly/11rlKEc @cockeyedcaravan

A checklist to help you write your story:
http://bit.ly/11rmXLC @storyfix

How to use 'telling' to get the most out
of a scene: http://bit.ly/12vJfyd
@mooderino

How to improve your working habits: http://bit.ly/11rncX9 @AwfullyBigBlog
@nicolamorgan

Tips for getting to know your characters:
http://bit.ly/12vJpFR @noveleditor

The secret to subplots: http://bit.ly/11rnr4m @crackingyarns

25 Insights on Becoming a Better Writer: http://bit.ly/12vM1n4 @99u

Logline library with examples of winning
loglines: http://bit.ly/11rqrhf
@TheScriptLab

3 things 1 agent found surprising about
publishing: http://bit.ly/12vMR37
@RachelLKent

Flash Fiction: Writing with Restraint(s):
http://bit.ly/12vMW70 @EDFsChronicles
@salesses

Tips for making a living as a writer: http://bit.ly/12vN4nd @rachellegardner

Why 1 writer doesn't self-pub: http://bit.ly/11rro9i @cstross

Only 15.5% of Readers in Survey Do Not
Intend To Read eBooks: http://bit.ly/12vNeL8
@galleycat

How to Increase Creativity with Ambient
Noise: http://bit.ly/12vNk5q @lifehackorg

Use a Mood Board to Boost Your Writing: http://bit.ly/11rrz4o @diymfa

Need a Creativity Jolt? Drop by a Modern
Art Show: http://bit.ly/12vNude
@creativitypost

Publishing excerpts from your book to
build a platform? http://bit.ly/11rrNIM

How Humor Can Make You a Better Writer: http://bit.ly/12vT13p @kmweiland

5 Red Flags Your Story Needs Revision: http://bit.ly/12vTouT @kristenlambtx

Why 1 writer disagrees with part of the
Hero's Journey: http://bit.ly/11rxyGh
@crackingyarns

Is Fifty Shades of Grey Literally Making
Romance Sexier? http://bit.ly/11aP4OP
@AaronStanton

How to write a logline: http://bit.ly/15vkntC @crackingyarns

Story Problems? Maybe You Need a Good
Piece of Device: http://bit.ly/11aPc0x
@AlisonAtlee

You Are Here: The Road Map of Writing: http://bit.ly/15vkwxb @christicraig

Why You Need to Be Excited About Every
Single Thing You Write: http://bit.ly/11aPlBc
@kmweiland

Writing From an Authentic Teen Viewpoint:
http://bit.ly/ZdsJ5o @Lydia_sharp

Students' Recollections of Authors as
Professors: http://bit.ly/11Wv0kK
@theatlantic @flavorwire

Writers, Are You Wasting Your Time
Submitting to Agents? http://bit.ly/ZdtiMu
@goblinwriter

When to query an agent after meeting one
at a conference: http://bit.ly/ZcKWkr
@mayaprasadwrite

Tips for overcoming writer's block: http://bit.ly/11WFS1X @RuthHarrisBooks

Top 10 worst celebrity books: http://bit.ly/ZcLmY3 @telegraph

Using project binders to organize our
writing: http://bit.ly/11WH0Tf
@StephanieLMcGee

Five ways to keep up your motivation: http://bit.ly/ZcLYg5 @janelebak

8 Sneering Synonyms for
"Obvious": http://bit.ly/11WHOrt
@writing_tips

Do you need a web presence before
querying agents? http://bit.ly/ZcMg6T
@mayaprasadwrite

Folders: The Computer's Version of
Project Binders: http://bit.ly/11WIAo8
@StephanieLMcGee

The Art of Pacing in a Novel: http://bit.ly/ZcMJpA @elissacruz

Entertainment vs. Truth: http://bit.ly/yIwrHM @donmaass

You Signed With An Agent! ...What Now? http://bit.ly/ZcN77B @nataliewhipple

9 Essential Things Most Author Websites
Need And Don't Have: http://bit.ly/11WJYXU
@jeanoram

Physical Attribute Thesaurus Entry:
Fingers: http://bit.ly/ZcO7sb @ BeccaPuglisi

Tips for Writers on Working Smoothly with
a Graphic Artist: http://bit.ly/11WMCNk

Ebooks: newspapers should capitalize on
their archives...it could mean their salvation: http://bit.ly/ZcOFhP
@guardianbooks

Hooking a Reader While Establishing the
Story World: http://bit.ly/11WN1PQ
@Janice_hardy

How many different types of queries
should you write? http://bit.ly/ZcOZx9
@mayaprasadwrite

How to avoid info dumps: http://bit.ly/11Zlw8k @americanediting

Why novelists should read obituaries: http://bit.ly/17QCXvz @nailyournovel

4 things to understand about character
emotion: http://bit.ly/11ZnDZZ

How to Support Authors You Love Without
Spending A Penny: http://bit.ly/17QDrSi
@sarah_nicolas

5 writing tips from an award-winning
biographer: http://bit.ly/11Zovh0
@PublishersWkly

The rise of the Amish romance novel: http://bit.ly/17QDH3M @salon

Do You Need an Agent? http://bit.ly/11ZsVVm @bob_brooke

No matter what happens with publishing,
books will remain: http://tcrn.ch/11ZtmyJ
@TechCrunch @rezendi

How an enhanced ebook is being created
[infographic]: http://bit.ly/17QFvtE
@ebookfriendly

Tools For Writers: Using Dragon Dictate: http://bit.ly/11ZtA9l @catrambo

3 SEO Myths That Scare Writers (And How
to Use Them to Your Advantage): http://bit.ly/17QFLJ4
@robertleebrewer @alexisgrant

What makes a book YA versus Adult? http://bit.ly/11ZugeS @rhapsodybooks

Writer's Block aka The Dead End: http://bit.ly/17QFXYI @fantasyfaction
@DEMEmrys

Author Blogging 101: Creating Income by
Recommending Resources: http://bit.ly/14IWUpc
@jfbookman

5 things 1 self-pubbed author learned in
the last year: http://bit.ly/ZIVRgh
@JadeKerrion

A POV Guide – With Graphics And Examples:
http://bit.ly/ZIVWAA @VeronicaSicoe

Setting Up Your Story – Your 3 Point
Terrain: http://bit.ly/14IXjYS

How to submit short fiction: http://bit.ly/ZIWdn4 @amazingstories0

7 Starting Tips for Adapting Your Own
Novel: http://bit.ly/14IXvqS
@ChuckSambuchino

How to Improve your Outline: http://bit.ly/14IXAep @SHalvatzis

The Indie guide to Audiobooks on ACX: http://bit.ly/ZIWGWs @chaseadventures

3 writing commandments, in order of
importance: http://bit.ly/ZJLIA2
@JennyHansenCA

When agents should follow up on
submissions: http://bit.ly/ZJM6yq
@janet_reid

5 Underrated Artistic Qualities: http://bit.ly/14JGDQU @annieneugebauer

Make Your eBooks Rock by Breaking All the
Rules of Creating a Book: http://bit.ly/14JGPzw
@danasitar

Character Archetypes 101: http://bit.ly/ZJNqBi @jeanniecampbell

As long as you have a word, there's never
a blank page: http://bit.ly/14JHDV7

The New Yorker Rejects Itself: A
Quasi-Scientific Analysis of Slush Piles: http://bit.ly/17efx1L
@thereviewreview

Picture Books Are Not Just for Children:
10 Reasons Why: http://bit.ly/Y0hrTg
@writersdigest

8 Common Creative Writing Mistakes: http://bit.ly/17efJhD @melissadonovan

Writing Action Scenes: http://bit.ly/17efR0p @AJHumpage

5 Red Flags Your Story Needs Revision: http://bit.ly/17efUcS @kristenlambtx

Goals for You and for Your Characters: http://bit.ly/Y0hBKi @plotwhisperer

Why the Reader Is Your Co-Writer: http://bit.ly/17eg184 @kmweiland

How to Write a Short Story: http://bit.ly/Y0hEpA @jamesscottbell

How to Organize Time for a Dramatic
Story: http://bit.ly/17eg5Vo @BrianKlems

Is it Really Time for Authors to Stop
Blogging? http://bit.ly/Y0hJcP @annerallen

Conflict – The Foundation of
Storytelling: http://bit.ly/15CGfmI
@scriptmag

Ten Deadly Sins of Pitching: http://bit.ly/11fHimP @lizlip

Using Nuances and Subtext to Bring
Characters and World To Life: http://bit.ly/15CGrCH
@BryanThomasS

Repairing a 'broken' manuscript: http://bit.ly/15CH4ff @carlywatters

Gordon Ramsay's Novel-Writing
Instruction: http://bit.ly/11fIhTX
@hookedonnoir

Children's Nonfiction Publishing Comes of
Age: http://bit.ly/15CHp1F @pubperspectives

One Simple Trick That Makes Editing Less
Painful: http://bit.ly/11fItCP @jodyhedlund

The Trouble with In Medias Res: http://bit.ly/15CHwKG @kristenlambtx

5 things necessary for a writer's
survival: http://bit.ly/15CHIJG
@DoSomeDamage @jcharbonneau

Bookshop browsing vital for publishing,
research finds: http://bit.ly/17UUmTF
@thebookseller

Are the French Preparing an E-Book
Revolution? Mais Oui! http://to.pbs.org/17UUq63
@mediatwit

Plot – What Happens Next? http://bit.ly/13sAzaE @scriptmag

What Do Readers Really Want From Literary
Adaptations? http://bit.ly/ZmiQ6n
@JoshACorman

Why Zombies? A Defense of the Z Word: http://bit.ly/13sAJio @amazonbooks

5 self-pubbing mistakes 1 writer made
last year: http://bit.ly/17UVB5u
@mollygreene

3 Tips for Developing Enthralling
Characters: http://bit.ly/13sAVOE
@jodyhedlund

Writing A Setting For a Locale You've
Never Visited: http://bit.ly/17UVSoP

The five biggest bullies of writers: http://bit.ly/17UVXZO @wendypmiller

Dos and don'ts for screenwriters: http://bit.ly/13sBnwu @scriptmag

All about writing serials: http://bit.ly/13sBzf6 @susankayequinn

12 Ways To Ensure You're Legally Using
Online Photos: http://bit.ly/17UWydR
@12most

Deep Worldbuilding and POV Preparation: http://bit.ly/13sBFDx @juliettewade

3 things you need for a successful book: http://bit.ly/17UWFX0 @rachellegardner

Tips for Writing and Working Full-Time: http://bit.ly/13sBNmr

After the Editorial Letter: a peek at
pass pages and beyond: http://bit.ly/17UWV8i
@erin_bowman

DeviantArt's New Service Turns Users Into
Massive Outsourced Creative Team: http://bit.ly/137ZkNd
@Wired_Design @passivevoiceblg

A New Question to Ask Your Characters: http://bit.ly/ZCvF77 @jeanniecampbell

Write About What Scares You: http://bit.ly/13sCZWQ @write_practice

10 Screenwriting Lessons You Can Learn
From Ghostbusters: http://bit.ly/13sD50T

How Boxing Can Make Us Better Writers: http://bit.ly/13sD6BK @kristenlambtx

5 things 1 writer learned from her
editor: http://bit.ly/13sDikt @DonnaGalanti

6 Things Readers Want from Your Author
Website: http://bit.ly/17UYqU4 @authormedia

How much should we worry about word
count? http://bit.ly/13sDnoq @noveleditor

Writing Contests – When to Enter, When to
Run: http://bit.ly/13sDqjT @hopeclark

Why plot milestones might not be equally
spaced – and why that's good: http://bit.ly/YPKzfg
@dirtywhitecandy

What is a story? http://bit.ly/XGoDBu @scriptmag

Writers and Journals--and Online Journaling

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig




OhLife


I’ve always loved keeping a journal and started keeping one when I was in fourth grade.   

There's nothing fabulously interesting in my diaries, but it provides snapshots of long-forgotten days.

I wrote daily as a teenager.  I read those posts now and I can barely identify with the content or the person who wrote the entries.  Was that me?  It’s a horrifying, fascinating read in a
deer-in-the-headlights kind of way.

Since having children, my journaling has
been sporadic.  I would love to say that
I have a wonderfully detailed account of my children’s early years.  I don’t.  And I've meant to journal more.

While reading blogs last month, I came
across a post by Hannah Braime on the Lifehack site:  5
Killer Online Journaling Tools You Should Try Out.  One of the journaling programs they mentioned
was the free site OhLife.  She hooked me when she used the word simple to describe it.  Who has time for complicated when you’re trying to establish a new habit?

Once you sign up, the site sends you an
email every day (at whatever time you specify) and asks “how did your day
go?”  You email it back and it stores the
information privately on a cloud.  At the
bottom of the emails they send what you were doing that time last week (or last
month or last year, if you’ve been with the journal that long.)  OhLife also encourages you to write only a
sentence if that’s all you want to write…and to 
skip days, if needed.

You can attach a picture to each post, if
you want to enhance your post.

You can also download a .txt version of
your journal if you want to make sure you have a backup in case for some reason
the site discontinues.  I ordinarily
wouldn’t even think about this possibility much, but the sudden discontinuation
of Google Reader has made me a paranoid user in all aspects of my online life.

I've really enjoyed OhLife and have recommended it to several of my family and friends. I've apparently become an OhLife evangelist.

Getting the emails seems to do the trick
for me in terms of keeping up with it. I haven’t missed a day yet. I type
quickly and it’s much easier to remember to write an entry if I’m being
reminded each day.  And it’s not like I
don’t check my emails. :)  Although I
like the idea of writing in a physical
journal each day and I still love pen and paper…it just doesn’t seem to come
together for me or fit into my busy schedule like it used to. 

Journal uses for writers?  For one, establishing a daily writing habit, if you’re
not a daily blogger.  Journaling can help
you warm up, too, if you write afterward. Introspection.  It can be therapeutic, if you sometimes
have stressful days.  You could also use
it to track progress on various projects…meeting your daily word count goal or
looking into finding a cover designer and formatter, or tracking queries.

Or, if you’re like me, it’s nice to have
a searchable memory.  :)  My memory is abysmal and is certainly not
getting any better the older/busier I get.

One thing I know as a lifelong
diarist—don’t try to catch up.  It’s just
too frustrating to try to cover everything
in a journal.  Just jump in where you are
now. Sometimes simply making a list of the day’s highlights is a nice change,
if you don’t have much time.

Do you keep a journal?  Ever used an online journal?  If you do journal, what do you get out of it?

Updates on ACX Audiobooks and a New RSS Reader

  by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig



Just thought I'd write an update today on a couple of
different topics that I’ve mentioned recently.

One topic is ACX,
the audiobook distributor.  I’d mentioned
in
this post that I 'd made my self-published books available for auditioning to narrators
and outlined the process I'd gone through to get to that point.

I’ve found narrators for all three of
those books.  Once you listen to the
auditions on the ACX site, you make an offer to one narrator (there’s actually a ‘make
an offer’ link right underneath the audition) and send a note to the others, to
let them know.

A pop-up window will ask you to specify your terms for the contract.  Most of the contract is
set by ACX, but they’ll point out the areas you’ll need to give input (like the
payment arrangements…by the hour or royalty share…and your deadlines for
completion of both the first fifteen minutes and the project itself.)  Then you hit send and the contract goes off to the
narrator.

ACX asks that if we do any contract-type
negotiation or make specific arrangements or notes for the narrator, that we do
it through the ACX message system.  That
way there’s a record of our conversation in case there are any questions or
problems later.  In their words:

IMPORTANT:To be sure that you end up with a binding contract,
please work out all details of your Offer via ACX, using our internal
messaging system (simply by clicking “Send Message” on the Producer’s
profile). If you negotiate and agree to details via some other
channel—phone, video chat, whatever—those details aren’t going to be
reflected in our system, and you might not end up with the contract you
want, or any contract at all. And that’s not the safest way to work.

If the narrator is interested, he or she will accept the offer
through the ACX site.  Once the first fifteen
minutes are completed, the narrator uploads the audio to the site (and,
once again, we get a notification email. 
I rather like these notification emails, though, since audiobooks aren’t
the only thing I’m working on.)  If we
accept their first fifteen minutes, we click the ‘accept’ link under the
audio.  We can also send a message to the
narrator with specifics regarding their narration. 
This way, if we’re not all on the same page, we can make sure we ask for
changes before the narrators  invest time in the rest of the book.

This is where I am in the process…I’ve
approved two of the three books’ first fifteen minutes now.  Each book has a slightly different
feel/narration to it since I’m getting all of the books done at once for the sake of
time.  But each sounds good.  Slightly campier sound to Dyeing Shame so far, but it’s a much campier
book than the other two.  The narrator
nailed that aspect of it.

On to the
other topic I’ve mentioned lately (or fretted over in the comments): the
fact that Google is pulling the cord on Google
Reader in July.  I was pretty exasperated when the news broke. It does bring up (as many others have
said) the issue of whether we can trust Google, or really any of these online cloud services.  We
believe they’ll continue a service, we invest time in it…and they discontinue
it.  

Since I subscribe to
2346 blogs to curate writing links for Twitter, I’m considered a
power-user.  I was a little concerned
about the process of migrating to another reader service and the possibility of
losing folders or blog subscriptions and having to face a time-sucking
challenge of restoring data or organization. 

I exported to several different readers,
but quickly found that my favorite was Feedly.  It was organized much the same way as Google
Reader (or, at least, we could configure it to be very much like Reader).  Here’s the big thing—it hasn’t crashed yet.  With the number of blogs that I work with on
the site, Google Reader would frequently crash—either freeze up, slow down
tremendously, or need to refresh, and I’d lose my place as I was working through the list of posts.   This hasn’t happened with Feedly
yet.  (Yes, I’m knocking on wood as I
type this.) It hasn’t crashed, despite a tremendous amount of influx by new users via the  exodus from Google Reader
(at one point, over
500,000 users migrated to Feedly in a 48 hour period.)

All of my folders transferred over and I
didn’t lose any subscriptions en route to Feedly. 

I can read blog posts by title, if I want
to (that’s usually how I like reading them). You can also choose other views…a
tile-type view, full post view, etc.  Go
to “prefs” on the left-hand side of the screen, under your name, to make
adjustments to your settings.  You might
want to change the Feedly default settings if you’re used to Google Reader.

One irritating thing is that Feedly isn’t
supported in Internet Explorer/Windows. 
That’s the only irritant so far, however.  You can use it on Firefox and Chrome or
Safari…I’m using it in Firefox.  Firefox
and I sometimes don’t get along, but it’s worth putting up with some conflicts
to get Feedly. 

Have you checked out ACX yet (US-only
right now, but I believe they have plans to be worldwide)?  Found a new RSS reader?Do you read blogs with an RSS reader?

10 Book Club Tips: Guest Post By Dina Santorelli

 by Dina Santorelli, @DinaSantorelli







To promote Baby Grand, my debut novel, I’ve done all
kinds of appearances. Bookstores. Libraries. Assisted living communities.
(Street corners.) 




But probably my absolute favorite thing to do is attend book
club meetings. Sitting in a casual circle, talking about the book that I wrote
and everyone read, eating, drinking and, most importantly, seeing up close how
readers have responded to my book, how they’ve taken ownership of the
characters and defend them, fight for them, question them, hate them, love
them. It’s pretty cool. But in addition to being a great way to spend an
evening, book clubs offer tremendous marketing opportunities. Here are 10 ways
authors can make the most of their book club appearances.

1. Put together discussion questions. Whether
the book club has a facilitator or asks you to serve as facilitator for
the evening, bring handouts for all the members that include discussion
questions and distribute them before the meeting gets started. This will
eliminate any worries of “what will we talk about?” and also gives members
a heads-up on what kinds of things you have in mind to discuss, which
gives them a chance to think about their comments (some people get stage
fright).






2. Distribute contact info. I like to maintain
relationships with book club members long after the meeting, so I give out
my contact information (email, Twitter, Facebook, etc.). I
usually include this on the handout I’ve distributed, but you can also use
business cards or bookmarks, if you prefer.






3. Post/pass around a mailing list sign-up sheet. As an
author, you may (should) already have a mailing list—an opt-in list of
folks who have agreed to let you send them your news. Book clubs are a
great place to grow your mailing list, because they offer readers who not
only are familiar with your books, but like them enough to have you appear
at their discussions. You can put your mailing list sheet—mine is usually
attached to a clipboard, looks more official that way—in an accessible
place, perhaps near the room entrance, and ask people to sign up if
they’re interested in receiving more info about you. However, I find the
better way to go is to pass the clipboard around the room while we’re all
sitting in a circle—many times readers are interested in signing up, but
once the discussion gets going they often forget about the list, so
getting the mailing list out of the way or while the discussion is getting
started is more advantageous.






4. Bring a camera. Local newspapers are always looking
for news, and sending a photo of a local book club appearance is not only
exciting for the book club members, but it can help spread the word about
your book. I usually gather the members around for a group shot sometime
after our discussion and before dessert, so that we don’t have cookie
crumbs on our lips or lapels.






5. Bring copies of your book—and at least one Sharpie. While
dessert is under way, I usually pull out a Sharpie and begin an autograph
session. Many of the book club members will already have purchased my book
in order to participate in the discussion, but I find that sometimes
members want copies for friends, family members or colleagues. Or, if
they’ve bought the eBook, they might want an autographed hard copy as
well. Work closely with your book club contact to gauge how many books you
should bring. I usually bring 15 to 20 copies. Also, one Sharpie should
do, but it couldn’t hurt to have a back-up in case that one runs out of
ink.






6. Sell your book at a group discount. I offer Baby Grand at a book club discount for groups
of 10 or more. I find that, in addition to helping to sell books at the
actual book club events, a discount helps to entice book clubs to take on
your book as a reading selection in the first place — because book club members
are buying books all the time, they appreciate the opportunity to save a
few bucks where possible.






7. Suggest a theme for the meeting based on your book. Lots of
book clubs like to have theme-based discussions and often ask members to
bring food or desserts that cater to that particular theme. For example,
in keeping with the “mob” storyline of Baby Grand, one club
had a theme of “Everything Italian,” and the book club organizer asked
members to bring wine, food and beverages that fit the bill. So there was
pizza, mozzarella and tomatoes drizzled with balsamic vinegar, Italian
chocolates and pastries, cannoli, espresso. It was so fun. And delicious.
And it got everyone in the mood for the book discussion. Reach out to the
organizer of the book club you’re planning to attend to see if they’re up
for some fiction-inspired fare.






8. Give ’em the inside scoop. Make your author appearance
special for the folks who are there, and let them in on some proprietary
info about your book. Give them the lowdown on how your book came to be,
some behind-the-scenes information or a preview of the book’s sequel.
Reveal what celebrity your villain was based on (mine was inspired by
Robert De Niro) or why you chose the book’s setting. Think of the stuff
you would like to know if you were meeting an author, and then go ahead
and spill your guts.






9. Publicize the events on social media. I often
post photos I’ve taken, an insightful comment a reader made, or a themed
food served at the meeting on my Facebook page, or my blog. I also
spotlight a book club of the month in my monthly newsletter.






10. Have fun. This is probably the most important
tip. Be yourself. Let your hair down. Have a cannolo. Guffaw, if you dare.
For many of us, this is the reason we became writers: To have the
opportunity to share stories with readers. What’s more, after a night of
laughter and silliness and debating which one of us will be running away
with one of the main characters, I’m often approached to appear at another
book club (many readers are in more than one). If readers are having a
good time, then they’re apt to tell their reader-friends that they did.
And the best part? You get to do it all over again.

Dina’s bio:

Voted one of the
Best Long Island Authors for 2013 (Long Island
Press), Dina Santorelli has been a freelance writer for over 15 years
and has written for Newsday, First for Women and



CNNMoney.com, among
other publications. 




Her debut novel, Baby Grand,
is a Top Rated Mystery & Thriller on Amazon Kindle. Among her nonfiction
work, Dina served as the “with” writer for the well-received Good Girls Don't Get Fat and most recently
contributed to Bully, the companion book
to the acclaimed documentary. Dina is also the Executive Editor of Salute and Family
magazines for which she has interviewed many celebrities, including James
Gandolfini, Tim McGraw, Angela Bassett, Mario Lopez, Gary Sinise and Kevin
Bacon. Dina blogs about the writing life at http://makingbabygrand.com.
and will teach a publishing course this summer for Hofstra University’s
Continuing Education department. For more information about Dina, visit her
website at http://dinasantorelli.com.




Social media:

Blog: http://makingbabygrand.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DinaSantorelli

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dinasantorelliwriter

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dinasantorelli

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/dinasantorelli




BABY GRAND summary:

In Albany, New York,
the governor’s infant daughter disappears without a trace from her crib at the
Executive Mansion. Hours later, newly divorced and down-and-out writer Jamie
Carter is abducted from the streets of Manhattan. Jamie is whisked upstate, where
she is forced by her captor, Don Bailino, a handsome, charismatic ex-war
hero/successful businessman, to care for the kidnapped child in a plot to delay
the execution of mobster Gino Cataldi – the sixth man to be put to death in six
years by hardliner Governor Phillip Grand. What prevails is a modern-day
thriller about family ties, loyalty, murder, betrayal, and love that’s told in
deftly interweaving narratives that follow the police investigation of the
missing Baby Grand, the bad guys who took her, and the woman who found the
strength to protect her.

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.





Keeping the
murderer's identity a secret until the end of the book: http://bit.ly/YQoH3v @PriceMcNaughton




The one subplot you
really need: http://bit.ly/12vJWrf
@crackingyarns




The London Book Fair
is disseminated for writers by @Porter_Anderson for @thebookseller: http://bit.ly/XSJofK and http://bit.ly/XSJmEx




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




Pros and Cons of
Being a Plotter: http://bit.ly/12TzwR1




Finding Your Writing
Rhythm: http://bit.ly/122P1Y1 @erikwecks




How To Write Every
Day: Turn on a Dime: http://bit.ly/12TA49w
@cockeyedcaravan




A Dreadful Fear of
Clichés: http://bit.ly/122Pjhu
@thisishorror




Different approaches
to plotting: http://bit.ly/122PxVL @fcmalby




Is writing faster,
better? http://bit.ly/12TAJaY @roniloren




Everything Will Take
Longer Than You Think It Will: http://bit.ly/12TARY5
@blurbisaverb




What Are the Best
Day Jobs for Writers? http://bit.ly/122PQ32
@galleycat




7 tips for tapping
into childlike creativity: http://bit.ly/12TBDnL
@JWhite




7 Amazon Tools To
Help Market Your Book Like A Professional: http://bit.ly/12TCrt0




Cover Images: http://bit.ly/12TCVzb @authopublisher




Screenwriting
Traits: Consistency: http://bit.ly/12TEaOO
@gointothestory




Heighten Your
Novel's Emotional Connection: http://bit.ly/122RW2F
@lindasclare




The creative edit: http://bit.ly/12TEEEN @BenArtsEngine
@emilywenstrom




Formatting for
CreateSpace: http://bit.ly/122Srdl
@indiadrummond




Recording our ideas:
http://bit.ly/15fFv73




Do Authors Need a
Website and Blog? http://bit.ly/11gU1GY
@jamigold




The Western Hero in
Speculative Fiction: http://bit.ly/15fGt2X
@kgelfland2ndcuz




The Two Pillars of
Novel Structure: http://bit.ly/11gVhtV
@brianklems




Why Facebook is
@HughHowey 's favorite promo tool: http://bit.ly/15fGOmp
@galleycat




Project Management:
How to Start: http://bit.ly/11gWd18




Setting, Landscape,
Atmosphere--How Are They Different? http://bit.ly/15fH3O8




Is Baby Boomer Lit
the Next Hot Genre? http://bit.ly/15fH9Wb
@pubperspectives @claudenougat




The truth about
tropes: http://bit.ly/15fHjNk
@fantasyfaction




A closer look at the
@paidcontent and #lbf13 cons : http://bit.ly/Z0F25N
@Porter_Anderson @katiefehren @AndrewRichard @tferriss




Getting It Up,
Keeping It Up: The Conundrum for Indie Authors: http://bit.ly/15fHtnK
@bob_mayer




Does Your
Protagonist Have Amnesia? http://bit.ly/11gXIwi
@lisacron




Einstein Was the
Luckiest Science Fiction Writer Ever: http://bit.ly/11gY4mE
@tordotcom




Do Not Compare
Yourself Unto Others: http://bit.ly/15fHMPu
@Julie_gray




Publisher's Weekly
picks "worst book cover ever": http://bit.ly/15fHSqn
@publisherswkly




How To Beat Writer's
Block Forever: http://bit.ly/11hCBdi
@jonathangunson




Blunt force trauma
in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/15g1FG9
@mkinberg




The Slow Path to
Writing Success: http://bit.ly/11hDdj2
@jeffgoins




Screenwriting
Traits: Flexibility: http://bit.ly/11hDmmG
@gointothestory




The Agony and
Ecstasy of Book Reviews: http://bit.ly/15g27UZ
@MariaZannini




A Map to Get Out of
Writer's Block: http://bit.ly/15g2wGZ
@NYBookEditors




Putting Together A
Launch Plan: http://bit.ly/11hEzdH
@inkybites




Slow Down Your
Hectic Writing Life With a 'Pause' Button: http://bit.ly/15g2T4j




Rounding out main
characters: http://bit.ly/15gdg8e
@glencstrathy




On Keeping a
Notebook in the Digital Age: http://bit.ly/15gduMr




The Art of Writing
Misogynists: http://bit.ly/11i03XX




How To Write Every
Day: Work on Multiple Projects: http://bit.ly/15ge0di
@cockeyedcaravan




The Little Reasons A
Story Works: http://bit.ly/11i0H7W
@mooderino




On Writing Special
Effects: A Little Goes a Long Way: http://bit.ly/11i10zp
@thecreativepenn




7 Secrets To Writing
A Story Your Readers Won't Be Able To Put Down: http://bit.ly/11i1aXx
@woodwardkaren




Make Your Character
Walk Naked Through Times Square: http://bit.ly/11i1uWd
@NYBookEditors




Can Social Media
Tools Make us a Social Tool? http://bit.ly/15gelNp
@kristenlambtx




The End is the Whole
Book: http://bit.ly/11i1TYV




Making the Science
Work: Freedom through Limitation: http://bit.ly/15gesIx
@fictorians




8 Writers Over 80: http://bit.ly/17fQDgz




Fast-drafting
editing: http://bit.ly/17fQKbR




Commas and Feelings:
http://bit.ly/17fRg9S




It's Time for (Many)
Experienced Writers to Stop Blogging: http://bit.ly/137VYtj
@llbarkat




Refresher on
capitalization: http://bit.ly/17fRvSh
@livewritethrive




Great Character:
Matty Walker ("Body Heat"): http://bit.ly/17fRFsT
@gointothestory




5 time-management
tips for writers who work at home: http://bit.ly/137WtUe
@bookbaby




5 common obstacles
for finishing and publishing your book: http://bit.ly/17fS8uX




POV: Choosing Whose
Head To Be In: http://bit.ly/137WLdO
@SharlaWrites




Looking for a
critique group? http://bit.ly/17fSp1c
@Janice_hardy




Misplaced and
Dangling Modifiers: http://bit.ly/17fSCBw
@JordanMcCollum




10 frequently
misused words: http://bit.ly/137YL5N
@writerscramp1




Hugh Howey's 3 Rules
For Writing: http://bit.ly/17fUsCj
@woodwardkaren




Publishing Reversion
Clauses: http://bit.ly/17fUv0M
@deanwesleysmith




7 Types of Narrative
Conflict: http://bit.ly/137Z2pk
@writing_tips




Screenwriting
Traits: Persistence: http://bit.ly/17fUFFs
@gointothestory




DeviantArt's New
Service Turns Users Into Massive Outsourced Creative Team: http://bit.ly/137ZkNd @Wired_Design
@passivevoiceblg




Your character's
profanity says a lot about them: http://bit.ly/17fVf6e
@VioletteMalan




"Indie
First?" What Is Best In Publishing? http://bit.ly/1380bxa
@chuckwendig {lang}




Too old to write a
bestseller? http://bit.ly/17fVWMP @yeomanis




Repeating events in
each Throughline: http://bit.ly/119xj11
@glencstrathy




Screenwriting--Writing
A Groundbreaking Game: http://bit.ly/YOrD0u
@fastcocreate




Arguing for a
Disempowered Protagonist and Sadistic Fate: http://bit.ly/YOrSIS
@scriptmag




5 Ways to Self-Edit
Your Writing: http://bit.ly/119zphe
@JulieBMack




Hacks for Hacks: Top
5 Affectations Every Writer Should Adopt: http://bit.ly/119zDoH
@BillFerris




Essential and
Non-essential Elements: http://bit.ly/119zMZn




Kindle's Book
Publishing Requirements: http://bit.ly/YOvY3M
@authropublisher




Top 10 plotting
problems: http://bit.ly/YOwcIg @aliciarasley




Meet the Reader: 10
Points to Ponder When You Write: http://bit.ly/119A7eC
@scriptmag




On Writing And The
Fear Of Judgment: http://bit.ly/11ahib5
@thecreativepenn




Tips for writing
query letters: http://bit.ly/YPJioE
@noveleditor




The Perils of Pure
Pantsing: http://bit.ly/11ahszc
@jamesscottbell




Why plot milestones
might not be equally spaced – and why that's good: http://bit.ly/YPKzfg @dirtywhitecandy




It's ALL writing: http://bit.ly/YPL1KE @YAHighway




Taking care of
yourself as a writer: http://bit.ly/YPSYzi
@jcharbonneau




Hybrid Authors: The
Best of Both Worlds: http://bit.ly/11ap4lg
@amazingstories0




Revising When Your
Head and Your Heart Agree: http://bit.ly/YPYcLF
@MartinaABoone




How to get laughs
without writing jokes: http://bit.ly/YPYCSc
@kenlevine




Finding Your Middle
Grade Voice: http://bit.ly/11aqdcA
@Janice_hardy




Great Scene:
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off": http://bit.ly/11aqpss
@gointothestory




A Different Type of
YA Hero: http://bit.ly/11arRuF
@Suzanne_writer




Top 10 Girl-Power
Moments in Science Fiction and Fantasy: http://bit.ly/YQ2OkK
@sciencefiction




Reclaiming Airships
for Epic Fantasy: http://bit.ly/11asyo1




Creating Memorable
Characters: http://bit.ly/YQ3M0q
@hayleymckenzie1




To Blog Or Not To
Blog: http://bit.ly/11asODe @woodwardkaren




Resurrecting the
Literary Dead: http://bit.ly/11asSTE
@amazingstories0




10 Screenwriting
Lessons You Can Learn From Fight Club: http://bit.ly/11at4Cv
@Scriptshadow




What authors want
and how publishers sometimes don't deliver: http://bit.ly/1002AlU
@jonnygeller




Chuck Wendig On
Story Structure: http://bit.ly/1002Jpj
@woodwardkaren




Dealing with
character trauma: http://bit.ly/1002I4H
@ajackwriting




What is a story? http://bit.ly/XGoDBu @scriptmag




Want to Use Song
Lyrics in Your Novel? 5 Steps to Getting Rights to Lyrics: http://bit.ly/1002Zoj @annerallen




Types of story
planning for writers: http://bit.ly/10038Z3
@mythicscribes




10 Proofreading Tips
For Self-Publishers: http://to.pbs.org/XGpa6H
@completelynovel




10 Tips for the
Debut Author: http://bit.ly/10h9p9V
@KelseyBrowning




The Battle of
Science and Magic: Nostalgia and the New: http://bit.ly/10h9U3K
@VickyThinks




How to Get Over Your
Public-Speaking Nerves: http://bit.ly/10ha0bG
@menwithpens




6 key factors in
dystopian fiction: http://bit.ly/17oMKWC
@zujava




6 tips for
writers--from telling a story to promoting it: http://bit.ly/10hbjYg




Screenwriting Advice
From The Past: The Final Close-Up: http://bit.ly/10hbK4O
@gointothestory




How can you turn an
audience from observers into participants? http://bit.ly/17oNKdh
@scriptmag




Sci-Fi Romance: 10
Star-Crossed Lovers: http://aol.it/17oOI9s
@moviefone




A screenwriter's
approach to writing: http://bit.ly/10hdGtU




Characters: Static
or Dynamic? : http://bit.ly/ZCvmJf @ava_jae




First Drafts:
Spaghetti Problems: http://bit.ly/Z6GNNR
@fictionnotes




A New Question to
Ask Your Characters: http://bit.ly/ZCvF77
@jeanniecampbell




Juggling
Genres...Brilliance or Pure Folly? http://bit.ly/Z6HhDD




The Writer's Author
Rank Cheat Sheet: http://bit.ly/ZCvNDE
@copyblogger




5 Tips for Tighter,
Cleaner Writing: http://bit.ly/ZCwQ6v
@kristenlambtx




Be Your Own Book
Doctor: http://bit.ly/Z6JkHP @Janice_hardy




3 Reasons Action is
Important, 3 Reasons It's Not: http://bit.ly/ZCxrFk
@victoriamixon




3 tips for better
guest posts: http://bit.ly/Z6Jnnb




5 Industry Trends
Requiring Every Writer's Attention: http://bit.ly/ZCxwsx
@janefriedman




When Writing Is A
Full Body Workout: http://bit.ly/ZCxAsn
@OrlyKonigLopez




Why we should always
carry a notebook: http://bit.ly/Z6JDm3
@melissadonovan




3 Twitter tips for
writers: http://bit.ly/ZCxKjj @junglereds
@dorieclark




What's In A Genre? http://bit.ly/Z6K9jV @fictorians @sarahahoyt




Using 'me' and
'myself': http://bit.ly/ZCy6X8 @jodycalkins




Tax tips for
writers: http://bit.ly/Z6KnHG
@rachellegardner




DeviantArt's New
Service Turns Users Into Massive Outsourced Creative Team: http://bit.ly/137ZkNd @Wired_Design
@passivevoiceblg




A Map to Get Out of
Writer's Block: http://bit.ly/15g2wGZ
@NYBookEditors




The Year of the
Author? http://bit.ly/12Tz4SG
@passivevoiceblg




Why Write Book
Reviews? 5 Five Payoffs for Authors: http://bit.ly/ZLkVmp
@janvbear




An agent on whether
you still need an agent: http://bit.ly/Z6LDur
@SaraMegibow @lisagailgreen




Konrath on KDP
Select: http://bit.ly/176LOb5 @JAKonrath




Worldbuilding: Hard
and Soft Imports: http://bit.ly/Z72xJq




Screenwriting Skill
#1: Talent: http://bit.ly/176LUiO
@gointothestory




What 1 Writer
Learned About Critiquing From Her Editors: http://bit.ly/Z72GwC
@lkblackburne




When the Hero is His
Own Worst Enemy: http://bit.ly/176M5L1
@kristenlambTX




Keeping your reader
on a need-to-know basis: http://bit.ly/Z90ftl




How to Connect with
Readers Using Wattpad: http://bit.ly/11rHbmT
@goblinwriter




Methods of
cataloging your ideas: http://bit.ly/11rHu0U
@creativesomething




5 Unexpected Lessons
From Inside the Iowa Writers' Workshop: http://bit.ly/Z90Bjz
@jessicastrawser




When the Hero is His
Own Worst Enemy: http://bit.ly/176M5L1
@kristenlambtx




Do You Write from
Experience or Imagination? http://bit.ly/Z90Zyy
@write_practice




New Publisher
Authors Trust: Themselves: http://nyti.ms/11rIySv&
@nytimes




Then and than: http://bit.ly/11mwCUT




What Type of Writer
are You? http://bit.ly/14CJtHr




Finding scene goals:
http://bit.ly/11mwWTK @JordanMcCollum




The (Submission)
Grinder Is A Free Database Of Fiction Markets: http://bit.ly/14CJFpW
@woodwardkaren




Pros and Cons of
Being a Pantser: http://bit.ly/11mx9WR
@LynnetteLabelle




How Verbs Become
Adjectives: http://bit.ly/Z92RZj
@writing_tips




When good writers
write bad books: http://bit.ly/11qEbca
@kristinerusch




How 'Same Old, Same
Old' Can Make You a Successful Writer: http://bit.ly/Z93lP8
@menwithpens




Wrap-up of the
Digital Minds Con: start-ups, industry metaphors, copyright...& few
publisher reps: http://bit.ly/YPPCfH
@Porter_Anderson

Working on Multiple Projects

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig





Image: MorgueFile: haphthat


I don’t go to a lot of
conferences or give a lot of talks.  When
I do give a talk though, and it’s time
for an audience q&a, I know which question I’ll be getting.

“Do you work on all
three series at once?”

It used to be that I’d
get the famous “where do you get your ideas from” question most often, but this
new one has definitely surpassed the other. 


And I don’t really
know why people are interested in this. 
Maybe they’re looking for tips for juggling their own stuff.

Here’s the answer—not
unless I have to.

The reason—I get very
confused.

The series are very
different.  My protagonists are very
different. But…when you’re writing humorous cozy mysteries set in Southern
towns, there’s enough similarity there to get your mind boggled.

The toughest is when
you’re working on more than one first draft at a time.  I avoid doing this at all costs! If I've got to, then I try to work one day on Project A and the next day on Project B.  I would rather have a “if it’s Tuesday, it
must be a quilting mystery” scenario than a “if it’s 2 p.m., it must be
quilting, if it’s 3 p.m., it must be barbeque mysteries” scenario.

It’s even easy to get
confused when you’re drafting one book and doing edits on another.  I just got an email on Thursday that the
proofreader had found an error on the page proofs and my editor asked me to
correct it.  Now I know that working on page proofs means that
the text is already set…any corrections need to have the same number of
characters as the original to prevent text reflow.  But I’d already forgotten that we were in the
pass page stage of the process since I’m busily drafting another book.  I sent in a broad correction (I deleted most
of a paragraph) and emailed it to my editor. She emailed me back a very patient
reminder.

This week, though, I
came across a post that actually recommended working on multiple projects
simultaneously.  I read the post with
interest since this is a blog that I regular follow and tweet and have found
some great information on: Cockeyed
Caravan.  The blog’s author is Matt
Bird, a screenwriter.  Matt says:




Writing a few pages of
another project is helpful in multiple ways:

It
buoys you up out of that sinking sensation and allows you to start fresh
on new challenges.
It
reminds you that not everything is riding on your main project, so it can
be what it needs to be, instead of being all things to all people.
It
allows you to move that big problem to the back of your mind, but it keeps
working the muscles that you need to solve it, which makes it more likely
that you’ll have that “Eureka!” moment, when a solution for the supposedly
forgotten problem suddenly flashes into your head.  If you take days
off to just think about the main problem, it’s more likely that you’ll
forget it entirely.


He’s specifically
talking about writer’s block in the post. 
Writer’s block isn’t something that I have a problem with.  But I can see his point—working on more than
one project means that when you reach a stumbling block with one book, you can
make headway on the other and feel like you’re not missing your goal.  It could be a good way for some writers to
stay motivated and keep a creative spark.

For me, though…there’s
always that temptation to cheat on my current project with a new project.  It’s known as Shiny New Idea Syndrome.  Plus, for me, there’s that aforementioned
confusion factor.

Sometimes, though, I
do have to work on multiple projects at once. 
Whether you’re working on more than one book by choice or because of
publisher-set deadlines, here are a few tips:

Keep a style sheet or series bible for
your series/each project.  A style sheet
listing character names, short descriptions, setting names, character traits and quirks,  and relationships
between characters can help you keep organized and jump back and forth between
projects much easier.

It can be easier to
edit one book while drafting another…the processes seem to use different parts
of our brain.  If you’ve got to work on
two books at once, see if you can avoid drafting
two different projects at once.

If you’re writing
series, it’s helpful to keep the old Word documents of already-published
previous books in the series.  That way
you’ve got an easy way to quickly search a book for details you might have
forgotten (or have forgotten when working on the other project.)

Noting where you left
off with each story is a helpful way to quickly jump back in the next day.  If you’re writing Project A and it’s time to
move to Project B, do a one-line recap to refresh your memory when you return
to the book the next day: Myrtle finished
questioning Sybil and now plans to talk with Lucas about the argument he had.  

One more tip--if you're working on multiple projects, you might want to take care to carefully put everything on your calendar and make lists for all your non-writing-related activities.  I've dropped the ball in a spectacular way several times when I was working on two books at once.  Your mind is just so thoroughly engaged in the two worlds that it's hard to remember the dentist and doctor appointments, the carpool you're supposed to drive, etc.

And take care of yourself if you're working that hard.  Remember to eat and sleep and exercise.  Those things are also easy to forget when we're busy.

Have you ever worked
on multiple projects before?  Did you
enjoy it?  How did you make it work and
keep it all straight?

Why Some Traditionally Published Writers Aren’t Self-Publishing

by
Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig







Image by Purpleslog, Flickr


Sometimes when I’m scanning my blog reader or reading
through some of the messages from writer loops I’m on, I’m stunned by the lack of recognition
or acknowledgment of the rapidly changing industry on traditionally published
author blogs.  This applies to some agent
blogs, too, although certainly not all of them (among agents, Rachelle Gardner
is probably the very best at addressing the topic.)




These authors will write about the writing craft, querying,
the waiting period before their books release, promo…nothing about switching to
digital or any of the upheaval they must surely be experiencing aware of in
their dealings with traditional publishers.




I’ve
certainly seen changes in publishing and I haven’t been in the business nearly
as long as some other writers.  For one
thing, it used to be fairly standard with paperback mysteries that contract
extensions were in 3-book increments. 
Now you’ll frequently get a contract extension one book at a time.




In my online interactions, I’ve been surprised at the lack
of conversation regarding switching to digital and POD. 
From time to time, a traditionally-published writer will get in touch
with me when they’re exploring going to self-pub…but only to ask if I know
cover designers or editors, never to ask my opinion on making the switch.  This is interesting to me, considering I’ve
got a fairly high profile as a hybrid writer.




Occasionally, I’ll rock the boat a little.  I’ve urged writers I know to experiment—to try
putting something up as a self-published book or short story.  This is met by a variety of reactions…many
times negative ones.




I’m just surprised there aren’t many other hybrid writers
like me.  There are more every day, but
not nearly the number that I’d expect.




Here’s
what I think is going on:




The main excuse I’ve heard for not exploring self-publishing
is time.  Some writers have got contracts
for several years into the future and don’t see themselves starting another
series for self-publishing. One writer told me that she just didn’t have the
time to write anything other than the series she was already working on (and
was contracted out for years for.)




I’ve also observed a sense among some authors that if they’re
publicly vocal about self-publishing that it will somehow hurt their
traditionally published career…that it will hint at their unhappiness with
traditional publishing or imply criticism of it when they don’t actually feel
that way.




Some writers aren’t connected enough with the writing community
to know how best to approach self-publishing or see it as a huge time-suck of a
challenge.




There also seems to be a preconception that self-publishing
is for projects that aren’t commercially viable. If they have something to
publish, they’re hoping to shop it to traditional publishers—they think it’s too
commercially attractive to self-publish it.




For some, there still seems to be a stigma attached to
self-publishing.  Some writers appear to believe
that self-publishing would make it appear that they were dropped by their
publisher or that their series were discontinued.  




Some are so used to having the production process taken care
of (titling, copywriting, editing, design, formatting, and interior design)
that the thought of taking on these aspects of the business are completely
overwhelming.




Others seem to be running into non-compete clauses.  More on those contract clauses in this post
by Kristine Rusch: “Competition.”




And here’s just a general observation: the group that seems
to be most enthusiastically making the leap to self-publishing (and with the
most commercial success) appears to be the romance writers.  Frequently, these are really savvy writers. Many
of the romance writers that I’m acquainted with are older writers (middle aged
and up) who have been in the business for decades and have huge backlists.  They’ve very nimbly adapted to the changing
industry and are finding significant commercial success…sometimes for the first
time in their careers.




This topic might engender some discussion…the reason I’m
bringing it up at all (since I’m not exactly the type who wants to be a lightning
rod of any kind) is out of concern for these writers, moving forward. And the fact that I'm somewhat frustrated and mystified.  If these writers are
simply satisfied with their current situation…I’m wondering how long that’s going
to continue being true as advances decrease and bookstores close. As publishers
tighten their belts and take on fewer manuscripts. As publishers merge or close
their doors.  I’m wondering why they aren’t
testing the waters and exploring a bit.  I think many of the above reasons for not exploring self-publishing
are hooey.  I worry these writers are burying their heads in the sand and some of them are great writers--I would miss their stories.




If you’re really cautious about self-publishing and you’re
traditionally published, there are ways you can minimize your risk. Write under
a pen name.  Write a short story or
collection of shorts as an experiment.  Spend
time each day developing a new project for self-publishing. Or spend time
figuring out if you can get the rights back to some of your backlist.   Start
reading up on industry changes, if you haven’t already. Read blogs by writers
and industry insiders like Jane Friedman, Porter Anderson, Mike Shatzkin, and
Kris Rusch. 




Consider your career...this is a business. Tune in.




That is all. :)

Keeping the Murderer Secret until the End

By Price McNaughton, @ PriceMcNaughton






When I first began writing
murder mysteries, my biggest fear was that I would reveal the murderer too
soon. I hate books that make the perpetrator evident from the moment he/she
steps onto the page. I didn’t want to be guilty of the same! 

Every time I slipped
in a clue, I felt that I had just shone a spotlight on the guilty party. Some
authors try to protect their antagonist by refusing to leave any clues that
lead to him/her, but I was never comfortable with this strategy. There are
better methods of protection.

I’m the first to admit that I
have never formally studied writing murder mysteries, though I have read
hundreds of them and written a few. Instead, I followed my own rules, which I
have listed below.

You must decidedly know who your murderer is and why
they did it. This seems obvious, but I’ve read many books that do
not explain the why factor. It seems as if the author has no idea who
their antagonist is or what motivates them. I’ve actually read a couple of
books that disintegrate to the point that the ending is… drumroll… why
he/she did this remains a mystery. 

The murderer admits to killing everyone, but gives no examples as
to how he/she committed these crimes or why he/she did it. This leaves the reader feeling confused. One of the main
reasons that a person reads a murder mystery is to find out what would
motivate someone to commit the crime. The author can always explain what
has occurred, but at the very least the detective must have a theory as to
why someone would commit such a crime OR the killer must explain why.

Good example: It was obvious
now that Mr. Smith had been jealous of his wife’s first husband. He feared that
his wife still loved him and that the man would return and put an end to his
happy marriage. Mr. Smith felt that he was left with only one choice. Murder.
And so that was what he did.




Bad example: “Yes, I killed
him.” Mr. Smith said.

“But why?” Mrs. Smith asked.
She did not receive a reply. It remains a mystery to this day. The End.

 

Quick tip: Know your murderer inside and out. 




You must leave clues. How many of you have read
a book that gives absolutely no clues as to who committed the crime?
Believe or not, I have a read a few and they are very frustrating. The
clues do not have to be obvious or even fully explained. In fact, fully
explaining the motivation of every character gets old very quickly. Leave
some mystery in your mystery!



Good Example: Mrs. Smith’s
face contorted briefly in an expression of deep sadness as her fingers trailed
over the lovely lace edging the material of the gown. Mr. Smith pressed his
lips together in dismay as he turned away.

“I hate seeing her so upset.”
He said as he left the room.

Anger flickered briefly in
Mrs. Smith’s eyes as she jerked her hand away from the soft fabric.




Now all you have to do is drop a line here or there in the
book that could explain her feelings, such as “Mrs.
Smith was left at the altar once several years ago, but you would never know
it; she’s so happily married now.” This could
explain why she acted as she did earlier in the book and ends up fully
explaining the mystery. Mrs. Smith still loved her ex and Mr. Smith killed him
because he feared he would lose Mrs. Smith. Mr. Smith didn’t know that Mrs.
Smith was also angry with her ex for some reason, but the reader does. The
anger might make some readers suspect Mrs. Smith of the murder.


Bad Example: Mrs. Smith’s
face contorted briefly in an expression of deep sadness followed by anger as
her fingers trailed over the lovely lace edging the fabric of the gown because
she was left at the altar some years earlier.

 

Quick tip: Try to never use because when explaining a
character.

Reread your book and add in clues as you see fit. If you
know your character and their motivation, it’s easy to pick out places to
drop extra clues while rereading your book.

Example Sentence: Mrs. Smith
said she spent the day reading. Her half-opened book lay on the table.

Added clue/red herring: Mrs.
Smith quietly informed the officer that she had spent the day reading. The
detective paused in his questioning as his gaze fell onto the open book on the
table.

“Were you as surprised as I
was when Sarah died?” the detective asked.

“What?” Mrs. Smith replied,
distracted.

“In the book?”

“Oh, yes, quite.” Mrs. Smith
smiled sadly. “I’m afraid my mind was elsewhere.”

“I understand.” The detective
replied as he returned the book to the table. “I would be, too.”




With the extra information above, the observant reader now
has some doubt in their mind as to whether Mrs. Smith was actually reading the
book as she said.




Quick tip: Red herrings are much easier to add in after the
book is written as long as you don’t write yourself into a corner with your
characters, such as explaining everything they do and why.

Let your characters LIVE. Life is a mystery. Let
your characters retain some mystery. No one can ever be fully explained,
should your characters be any different? The answer is no. I try to write
my mysteries where anyone could have
committed a crime, but most are unlikely to have done so. Many people have
experiences or motivations in life that could lead them to crime, but do
not because of the person’s psychological makeup/ upbringing/ etc. People
are more complex than heroes and villains. Characters should be as well.

Example: Tears welling in his
eyes, Mr. Smith reached for his wife’s hand as she stared into the casket. “I’m
sorry you have to go through this,” he said as he held her hand tightly. The
dark bags under his blue eyes revealed the fact that he had spent the night sitting
up with his inconsolable wife.

“I know.” Mrs. Smith replied,
squeezing his hand in response. She felt his arm slip around her shoulders as
he supported her small frame.




He is sorry she has to
go through the situation he created. He’s just more concerned with losing her
than with her facing loss. He’s selfish.




Quick tip: You can’t ever go wrong with making your
characters human and therefore both good and bad.

Let your protagonist think. Create questions in the
readers’ mind that you would consider if you were in the same situation.

Example:  Is Mrs. Smith happy in her marriage? Does a part of
her still dwell on her past love? Would she be unhappy enough to kill over it?
The detective wondered as he studied the couple before him.


Quick tip:
It’s okay for a protagonist to be unsure.

The perfect murder mystery is
very obvious when the reader reflects on the information they were given. What
didn’t stand out before becomes central to the plot line. I love a book that
redirects the thought process and when analyzed, the information shifts into
focus much like a puzzle picture when the last piece is added. I think most
readers agree with me. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but these are
the methods I use when writing. I do believe, if you follow these rules it
helps in keeping the murderer secret until the great reveal at the end.

What rules do you follow when
writing your murder mystery? Do you already have a story in your head
concerning Mr. and Mrs. Smith? Visit my blog to learn more about writing your
own fan fiction regarding the Smiths’ and be eligible to win an ebook copy of
both of my books.




Price
McNaughton was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee. A childhood
steeped in the stories and legends of her ancestors as well as the southern way
of life led her to carry on the tradition and become a storyteller herself.
After years of traveling and working at a variety of jobs, she has finally
returned to her roots and devoted herself to writing. She is the author of A
Vision of Murder and Murder is Ugly as well as The Ruby Necklace (a
mini-mystery).






Murderis Ugly : When Jinx Delaney agrees to spend a horse-filled, relaxing summer with
her old friend and sorority sister, Brynn Brookefield, in her exclusive
community, she never suspects that murder will be the second house guest. Set
in a beautiful neighborhood in the Deep South among carefully restored,
historic homes and nosy neighbors, Jinx finds that looks can be deceiving and
murder truly is ugly.







Book review blog: http://www.talebearers.com/

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16301315-a-vision-of-murder

Twitter:https://twitter.com/PriceMcNaughton

Gacebook:
https://www.facebook.com/PriceMcnaughton?ref=hl

Recording Our Ideas

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

 



I was on my way to a meeting last week and was perfectly on
time.  The meeting was a bit off the
beaten path, out of the city, and down a road I wasn’t familiar with. 




The landscape changed from businesses to a combination of
very nice homes and dilapidated homes to stables to silos.




But when I passed the house pictured above, I knew I had to
turn around and go back.  I had to take a picture.  It was going to make me a little late (and I’m
practically OCD about being late, as I’ve mentioned here before).  But I had
to take the picture. The discarded door propped up against a column, the ruined
and overgrown landscaping, the boarded-up windows….it gave the house the
perfect, haunted feel.




I’m very fond of Southern Gothic,  even going so far as to daringly insert as
much of the element as I could get away with in
a cozy that’s coming out this December for Penguin.  So having an inspiration file that includes
real examples of Southern Gothic homes (the kind of places that William
Faulkner would have set stories around.) 




The pictures I took went into a special file that I keep for
story inspiration.  Pictures are a big
part of it.  Description is not my strong
suit, but looking at pictures of settings and potential characters makes the
process a lot easier. Once I was so stunned at a restaurant by running into one of my characters (someone I'd made up...who looked--in my mind--exactly like the stranger in front of me), that I ended up sneaking four or five photos of them with my phone. I'm hoping they just didn't notice what I was doing.  Otherwise they likely thought I was completely insane.




Idea files are, in my way of thinking, completely
necessary.  And not only for the work we’re
currently writing, but whatever else we might be interested in writing down the
road. 




Some writers are using Pinterest
for inspiration: pinning images of people who look like characters they’re
developing or settings they’re using in their story.  Writer Karen Woodward has a nice post on
other ways of using Pinterest to help us write our books in “Using
Pinterest To Help Build Your Fictional Worlds.” 




But there’s no need to use Pinterest if you don’t want
to.  The important thing is just to respect
our ideas enough to record them.  There
have been many, many times when I
thought I’d remember my great idea…and then completely forgot them.  




Evernote is a free,
handy way to record and search our ideas. 
There is a desktop version as well as an app (and you can sync them to
each other, if you like.)  You can use it
to store pictures and text, or email files directly to the app.  Organizing the ideas is easy if you tag your
entries or assign them to notebooks. 
Then you can search for the tags when you’re ready to write.




Voice recorders.  I
use Smart
Voice Recorder—a free app for my phone.  It’s just another way to capture thoughts for
later.  The reason why sometimes I like
using a voice recorder for ideas is because occasionally I’ll get an idea so
nebulous that I can’t even really describe or pin it down at that point.  So I’ll explain what I was doing and who was
around and voice as much about the idea or feeling as I can.




Word docs work well, too and are a good repository for random bits of ideas.  We should back these up the same way we do our stories.




I probably go the old-fashioned route and use pen and paper most often.  The most important thing I’ve
learned about this cheap and portable way of recording ideas is that I need to
collect all my scraps of paper at the end of the day and either catalog them
on a computer or at least put them in a central location so I can locate them
when I need them.




How you do record your ideas and find them again later?

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.

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

An argument that publishers care more
deeply about writers, books, and readers than Amazon: http://bit.ly/16xuXhh @futurebook

Field Report From the E-Book Revolution:
The New Equilibrium: http://bit.ly/11otWH2
@jamesscottbell

The Bad PR Hangover (and How to Avoid
It): http://bit.ly/16xv6Bg @SharonBially

Motivation-Reaction Units: Cracking the
Code of Good Writing: http://bit.ly/11oub52
@kmweiland

The #1 Reason for #QueryFails: http://bit.ly/16xyMD4 @annerallen




Writers are ready
for a digital/transmedia future--who will guide them? http://bit.ly/10Qijrp  @Porter_Anderson @JaneFriedman @AndyHunter777



 Backlist Then and Now: http://bit.ly/11oCsG8 @JAKonrath

Payment in Advance: http://bit.ly/11oDhhX @bob_brooke

Edit A Novel In Four Months: http://bit.ly/16xzdxd @woodwardkaren

Writer, Storyteller, Author? http://bit.ly/11oDBgN @fictionnotes

What Worries Publishers Most? http://bit.ly/107HX7S @bmorrissey

How to Begin a Short Story: http://bit.ly/YRrWSK @amazingstories0
@Sales_Source

Tips for an inexpensive book launch
party: http://bit.ly/11NM5Nc @aishahmacgill

Why 1 writer exercises and then writes: http://bit.ly/16xBgSa @TheAtlantic

Creative Intersections: Pacing and
Plotting: http://bit.ly/11oIHcP @davidbcoe

How to Create a Workshop From Your Ebook:
http://bit.ly/16xBBEh @MenwithPens

The Basics of Scene Description: http://bit.ly/11oJpqG @SHalvatzis

The Battle of Science and Magic:
Particles and Pixie Dust: http://bit.ly/16xBRmS
@fantasyfaction

Creative Writing Exercise: What's Your
Superpower? http://bit.ly/11oJQRR
@melissadonovan

Areas to cut back in a manuscript: http://bit.ly/16xC2hX @lydia_sharp

5 Ways To Add Sparkle To Your Writing: http://bit.ly/11oKiPU

The Elements of a Good Mystery: http://bit.ly/16xCf4E @fictorians

Clarity In Writing & The Curse of
Reader Assumption: http://bit.ly/17eWqWn
@yeomanis

Maturing a Character Across a Series: http://bit.ly/ZapjeU @LaurelGarver

How Romance Writers Create the Perfect
Leading Man: http://bit.ly/17eWQMu
@MtnMoxieGirl

How 1 Writer Published and Launched an
Ebook for Under $150: http://bit.ly/17eWWDU
@danasitar

The Travel Writing Advice You Don't Want
to Hear: http://bit.ly/17eX1Hz @alexisgrant

The Funny Thing About Thrillers: http://bit.ly/ZapNSd @Brad_Parks

What Should You Do About a Bad Review on
Amazon? http://bit.ly/Zaq4EQ @BookMarketer

When you Really, Really Care: http://bit.ly/17eXw4l

Books That Inspire: http://www.publishingcrawl.com/2013/03/11/pay-it-forward-books-that-inspire/

How to Find Time to Write: http://bit.ly/17eYi1l @write_practice

Down the rabbit hole of research: http://bit.ly/17f07LF @JustBethann

10 Reasons Writers Should Claim Their
Google Authorship Markup: http://bit.ly/ZatyHl
@demianfarnworth

Why Do Writers Trash Their Efforts? http://bit.ly/ZatHud

Pitch Tip: Remember Your Stakes: http://bit.ly/17f0nKA @ava_jae

Reasons to Self-Publish: http://bit.ly/17f0x4K @behlerpublish

Voice as a tool: http://bit.ly/ZatZRP @jonclinch @btmargins

Tips & Tricks for Writing on the Go: http://bit.ly/Zau8EU @MarcyKate

Real, Consistent and Authentic: A
Discussion of Voice: http://bit.ly/17f13jl
@btmargins

11 tips to solve bloggers block by
solving reader problems: http://bit.ly/11wC4p1
@problogger

iPhone apps for writers: http://bit.ly/Z6nJeT @mediabistro

Hero's journey--pros and cons: http://bit.ly/Z6p854 @VeronicaSicoe

Promoting Your Book on Twitter: An
Intermediate's Guide: http://bit.ly/11wGgoH
@chrisrobley

Deciding to Self-publish After Rejection:
http://bit.ly/11wGBHW @CriticalMargins

Getting the most out of a beta read: http://bit.ly/11wGWui @tsbazelli

Why do writers plagiarize? http://bit.ly/Z6pB7t @wordforteens

Use Twitter like Margaret Atwood: Social
Media Advice for Writers: http://bit.ly/11wHr7K
@chrisrobley

Tracking the Hybrid Author: http://bit.ly/11wI40W @passivevoiceblg
@DigiBookWorld

9 Itty Bitty Literary Crafts: http://bit.ly/11wIOmV @bananasuit

Investing in yourself: http://bit.ly/11wXUbR

The Fine Art of Bookselling: http://bit.ly/Z6wzt1 @fcmalby

How to support writers and help build a
writing community: http://bit.ly/11wYkiD
@carlywatters

Screenwriting Traits — Passion: http://bit.ly/Z6xPMT @gointothestory

Breaking in: The Pie Chart: http://bit.ly/Z6xZUA @julie_gray

Common legal mistakes mystery novelists
make: http://bit.ly/11x2qaq

Delivering on your opening's promise: http://bit.ly/Z6yq0X @swlittlefield
@martinaaboone

Writerly Uses for Excel: http://bit.ly/Z6ywWm @JennyHansenCA

How to Read a Book Contract – How Long
Does It Last? http://bit.ly/Z6yDS3
@passivevoiceblg

3 Tips for Researching Your Next Project:
http://bit.ly/11x4a3s @YAHighway

Write a Deeper Character: http://bit.ly/Z6yY7e @lindasclare

Problems with Your Story's Climax: http://bit.ly/11x4sas @americanediting

When To State The Obvious In A Story: http://bit.ly/Z6z6na @mooderino

Fantasy Settings: Finding the Right
"Ethos" for your Setting: http://bit.ly/ZjDZPK
@LBGale

2 Simple Ways to Give Your Stories
Sparkle: http://bit.ly/10lbwpp @yeomanis

Pitches Are Fantasy, Pages Are Reality: http://bit.ly/ZjEM3g @CockeyedCaravan

Character Introductions: http://bit.ly/10lcORe @julie_gray

Explaining the Joke: http://bit.ly/ZjFDRq @Kid_Lit

Writing tough characters who are
physically unimposing: http://bit.ly/10ldwxW
@ajackwriting

Writing a memoir: Intersecting memory and
story: http://bit.ly/ZjG8ec

Embracing your inner editor: http://bit.ly/10lgfrj @lilylefevre

The Winchester Mystery Story (that lead
somewhere): http://bit.ly/ZjIXMn
@JordanMcCollum

3 Answers to Questions About
Capitalization: http://bit.ly/10lhkPR
@writing_tips

Writing And The Monomyth: http://bit.ly/ZjJkXh @woodwardkaren

Will Authors Get Compensated for Used
E-Book Sales? http://to.pbs.org/10lhZAX
@mediatwit

The importance of building an email list:
http://bit.ly/XlQcQp @pushingsocial

Reasons to self-pub--control: http://bit.ly/10tzdfj @behlerpublish

All about anime: http://bit.ly/XlQpTH @fictorians

Be a copycat: http://bit.ly/10tzQFT @KeithCronin

Your cover is killing your book: http://bit.ly/XlQVRz @acwainwright

The Key to Successful Storytelling: http://bit.ly/10tAQtv @jodyhedlund

When you receive a rough crit: http://bit.ly/10tCVFI @bluemaven

What Writers Need To Know About Tumblr: http://bit.ly/XlS8bI @galleycat

John Cleese on Storytelling: http://bit.ly/10tDIGL @JudyLeeDunn

Further and Farther: http://bit.ly/XlSkI6 @write_practice

Screenwriting Traits—Courage: http://bit.ly/10MlnEO @gointothestory

An Overview of SF/Horror Literature: http://bit.ly/Ybcx50 @amazingstories0

What Makes "Doctor Who" The
Best Title In The History Of Television? http://bit.ly/YbcHt3
@goodinaroom

How (and why) to remove posting dates on
WordPress blogs: http://bit.ly/10MJ1AU
@authormedia

What To Do When Your Book Has Been
Pirated On Amazon: http://bit.ly/XzMuVI
@jeanoram

Canned responses from agents: http://bit.ly/10MJl2C

How WOOL Got A Unique Publishing Deal: http://bit.ly/12CyjkD @passivevoiceblg

Conquer your fear of attending your first
blogging or writing event: http://bit.ly/12CypZu
@michellerafter

What can keep you writing? http://bit.ly/10PqHEK @rxena77

The Harlequin Survey: http://bit.ly/12CyLiX @jakonrath

Choosing the Right Ghostwriter: http://bit.ly/10PqTns @ivinviljoen

Things to keep in mind while editing: http://bit.ly/12Cz8Kc @PegEditors

The Opening Image: http://bit.ly/10Pr2Y8 @Julie_Gray

7 Deadly Sins of Self-Editing: http://bit.ly/12Czq3F @writersdigest

5 Indie Author Tips For A Successful Live
Ebook Launch: http://bit.ly/10PreXs
@ornaross

Dread Writing Sexy Scenes? 5 Tips for
Success: http://bit.ly/ZLkxEv @jamigold

Smart Book Marketing Includes Going
Offline: http://bit.ly/14UrWcw @jfbookman

Why Serious Books Need Humor and Levity
to Work: http://bit.ly/ZLkCIz @Sarah_Skilton

Insights regarding establishing shots: http://bit.ly/ZLkIjl @livewritethrive

The Art of Asking and the Economics of
Writing: http://bit.ly/14UskrE
@kgelfland2ndcuz

Why Write Book Reviews? 5 Five Payoffs
for Authors: http://bit.ly/ZLkVmp @janvbear

Write it Badly Today So You Can Write It
Better Tomorrow: http://bit.ly/14Uszmv
@cockeyedcaravan

10 Ways to Avoid Gender Bias: http://bit.ly/ZLkZ5R @writing_tips

How to Read a Book With a Flashlight: http://bit.ly/14UsE9P @BooksAreMyBFs

How To Use a Kindle as a Bookmark: http://bit.ly/ZLl6y8 @galleycat

An interview with 2 talented
screenwriters: http://bit.ly/ZLla11
@gointothestory

You Can't Talk About Your Own Culture in
Science Fiction: http://bit.ly/14UsVJU
@silviamg

The Writing Prep Zone: http://bit.ly/14Ut1B3

Writers' Guides of the Past: http://bit.ly/ZLlqgp @SophieMasson1

Be A More Productive Writer: Use A Voice
Recorder: http://bit.ly/14UtaEE
@woodwardkaren

The Story Milestones… and Beat Sheet: http://bit.ly/14BLgLZ @storyfix

5 areas you need to learn to write better
copy: http://bit.ly/10ryNVf @ntaylor1981

8 pics and videos that describe what DRM
is about: http://bit.ly/11ot4Cp @namenick

The Basics of Scene Description: http://bit.ly/11oJpqG @SHalvatzis

Creative Writing Exercise: What's Your
Superpower? http://bit.ly/11oJQRR
@melissadonovan

What Should You Do About a Bad Review on
Amazon? http://bit.ly/Zaq4EQ @BookMarketer

Why do writers plagiarize? http://bit.ly/Z6pB7t @wordforteens

Tracking the Hybrid Author: http://bit.ly/11wI40W @passivevoiceblg
@DigiBookWorld

How to Read a Book Contract – How Long
Does It Last? http://bit.ly/Z6yDS3
@passivevoiceblg

Explaining the Joke: http://bit.ly/ZjFDRq @Kid_Lit

Writer, Storyteller, Author? http://bit.ly/11oDBgN @fictionnotes

When a Self-Published Author Has a No. 1
Best-Selling Book: http://onforb.es/122NPUu
@forbes

Character Clinic: Preventing Whiny
Characters: http://bit.ly/12TxLTU
@jeanniecampbell

Publishers are reshaping themselves: http://bit.ly/122O4yW @MikeShatzkin

Characteristics of a bad crit partner: http://bit.ly/122OepS @kristenlambtx

A writer's courage: http://bit.ly/12TyJ2v @LawrenceBlock

Picture Books: Trust the Writing Process:
http://bit.ly/122OyoC @fictionnotes

The Year of the Author? http://bit.ly/12Tz4SG @passivevoiceblg

3 Ways to Make Your POVs Equally
Interesting: http://bit.ly/122OK7t
@kmweiland







How To Write
While Cleaning Your House: http://bit.ly/Yaib7h
@storyadaymay




How to Fix
Unrealistic Dialogue: http://bit.ly/YbbhyN
@p2p_editor




A wrap-up of the
Writer's Digest conference--agents address the changing industry and
self-pubbing: http://bit.ly/10MMiAk
@Porter_Anderson 




Different ways
of handling suspense in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/10JuZ3x
@mkinberg




The importance
of building a brand: http://bit.ly/ZnBRk3
@BeateBoeker