Riley Adams's Blog, page 163
December 11, 2012
Writing in Small Chunks of Time—Pros and Cons
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I’ve mentioned before that I have a hard time sitting still. It makes me feel like I’m about five years old when I admit this, but it’s true.
This means I’ve tailored my writing routine around my restlessness.
I live by my timers (the one I use the most is a free online timer), writing straight through in short bursts of time until the bell rings. Then I usually will do either something fairly active (yard work, housework, take a walk….I have a list at the start of each day for what I need to accomplish in my non-writing time), or I’ll check in with some of my social media stuff (and I’ll set a timer to get off of social media, since it’s so easy to get sucked in there.)
I write before my kids get up—I give myself 30 minutes then.
If I’m on a tight deadline, I’ll write again in the morning, setting my timer for short periods of time until I finish that goal.
Then I write in the carpool line for about 30 minutes.
If I know that I’m going to do other things after I write, it helps me to focus on what I’m doing. It’s harder for me to know that I’m going to be writing for a couple of hours at a stretch. In fact, I won’t write for a couple of hours at a stretch unless it’s a true emergency (when I have simultaneous deadlines, for instance.) If I know I have to write for a couple of hours straight, I don’t stay at home: I’m at the library or a diner or something—I can’t stay at home with all the distractions and work.
Pros to writing this way:
Goals seem a lot less-intimidating.
I seem to get more accomplished because I’m keeping such tight track of my time. There’s no chance for social media to derail me.
I don’t get burned out.
I’ve gotten into the habit of picking up my story at a moment’s notice and working at it for anywhere from five to fifteen minutes. This is a useful skill to have. Who knows when you’ll have dead time in your day?
Cons to writing this way:
Sometimes transitions get squirrelly because I just jump right in.
I’ve found that I’m much more likely to write echoes into my writing. (Echoes are what my editors call repeating words or phrases on the same page or last couple of pages.) I think this is because a word from the previous session will stick in my head and I use it again, thinking I haven’t used it recently.
But still, even with the cons:
It all gets fixed in the edits.
So…how long are your writing sessions? Do you knock it all out at one time for a longer session? Do you break it into smaller, shorter sessions? Why have you chosen to do it that way?
I’ve mentioned before that I have a hard time sitting still. It makes me feel like I’m about five years old when I admit this, but it’s true.
This means I’ve tailored my writing routine around my restlessness.
I live by my timers (the one I use the most is a free online timer), writing straight through in short bursts of time until the bell rings. Then I usually will do either something fairly active (yard work, housework, take a walk….I have a list at the start of each day for what I need to accomplish in my non-writing time), or I’ll check in with some of my social media stuff (and I’ll set a timer to get off of social media, since it’s so easy to get sucked in there.)
I write before my kids get up—I give myself 30 minutes then.
If I’m on a tight deadline, I’ll write again in the morning, setting my timer for short periods of time until I finish that goal.
Then I write in the carpool line for about 30 minutes.
If I know that I’m going to do other things after I write, it helps me to focus on what I’m doing. It’s harder for me to know that I’m going to be writing for a couple of hours at a stretch. In fact, I won’t write for a couple of hours at a stretch unless it’s a true emergency (when I have simultaneous deadlines, for instance.) If I know I have to write for a couple of hours straight, I don’t stay at home: I’m at the library or a diner or something—I can’t stay at home with all the distractions and work.
Pros to writing this way:
Goals seem a lot less-intimidating.
I seem to get more accomplished because I’m keeping such tight track of my time. There’s no chance for social media to derail me.
I don’t get burned out.
I’ve gotten into the habit of picking up my story at a moment’s notice and working at it for anywhere from five to fifteen minutes. This is a useful skill to have. Who knows when you’ll have dead time in your day?
Cons to writing this way:
Sometimes transitions get squirrelly because I just jump right in.
I’ve found that I’m much more likely to write echoes into my writing. (Echoes are what my editors call repeating words or phrases on the same page or last couple of pages.) I think this is because a word from the previous session will stick in my head and I use it again, thinking I haven’t used it recently.
But still, even with the cons:
It all gets fixed in the edits.
So…how long are your writing sessions? Do you knock it all out at one time for a longer session? Do you break it into smaller, shorter sessions? Why have you chosen to do it that way?
December 9, 2012
Cutting the Fat from Your WIP by Gina Conroy
by Gina Conroy, @GinaConroy
When I contracted my mystery novella last year and had to cut 36,000 words from my WIP, I knew it was going to be hard. In fact, I almost bailed on submitting the anthology because I knew that would mean cutting more than half my story. The pain of deleting my brilliant prose aside, I knew it would be difficult to edit this mystery whose characters and clues were tightly woven together.
But I signed that contract, took a deep breath, and said a prayer. I could do this!
The first 10,000 words went easily when I realized there were plenty of unnecessary words I could delete. Then I started messing with my characters’ voices and that hurt. So I moved on to the boring, not so important scenes. Found a few of those. Cut a couple of fun, but unnecessary characters, and started the whole process again.
This went on for months until I was down to the last 8,000 words. I wrote to my agent telling him I was having a hard time swallowing this elephant. I couldn’t see how I could cut the last 8,000 words. He very wisely told me that when the ark is sinking, I should throw the elephant out first. In other words, find big chunks I could cut.
Problem was, I did that. Over and over again. Or did I? Sure, I got rid of the easy stuff, then the scenes I could live without, but now 8,000 words shy of my goal I had to take a closer look and go chapter by chapter salvaging the voice and heart of my story as well as cutting the stuff my book could live without. Notice I didn’t say “What I could live without!”
Was it easy? No, but I got my mystery from 56,000 down to 21,000 words. Here are some things I learned that hopefully will help you write tight and cut the fat from your WIP!
Don’t Show Everything
I know it’s been drilled into us to show don’t tell, but a wise author once said that refers primarily to emotions. I learned that I could “tell” how a person got from point A to point D and skip the details in between. Not only will it make your story move, but it will cut the word count.
Cut the Unnecessary Words
YOU KNOW that word or phrase your character ALWAYS uses all the time JUST like my character DOES. JUST cut it out ALREADY! JUST do a search for those words and CAPITALIZE them, so when you go BACK through your WIP, they jump out at you. I cut several thousand words this way.
Cut the Double Talk
I admit I’m wordy. Editing this story made me realize I often say the same thing a couple of times in different ways. For example, I might have internal dialogue and external dialogue that say similar things or my character might ask himself a question when it was already expressed in another way in a previous chapter. Not only can it be annoying to the reader, but it slows down the action. Just cut it out, no matter how much you’re in love with all the creative ways you’ve said it.
Resist the Urge to Explain (RUE)
In an effort to make my character’s motivations clear, I often tried to explain them through internal dialogue, external dialogue or both. Then I started asking myself “Does the reader need to know this now?” If the answer was no, I cut it and looked for a shorter way to weave in the motivation later. I learned, most times it was unnecessary. I had packed the scene enough that I believe the reader understood without me telling them.
Pick Your Adverbs, Adjectives, and Conjunctions Carefully
Most times, if your writing is strong, you don’t need many adverbs and adjectives. Sometimes you do. I noticed my adjectives would sometimes come in pairs. That’s when I chose one over the other. When it comes to starting a sentence, I seem to favor AND and BUT. I’m not sure why, but now that I know, I can go back and keep the conjunctions that add to the story. And I’m not talking word count.
Get Rid of Prepositions Trying to cut those last 8,000 had me looking closer at my sentence structure and prepositions. I learned by cutting certain prepositions I could save one or two words. For example, instead of “the pieces of the telescope” I could say, “the telescope’s pieces.” “Clutching a bottle of Pepcid AC” becomes “clutching a Pepcid AC bottle.” With the search and find feature, I could track down these pesky prepositions and send them packing.
Cut the Scene Short
I like to wrap up a scene sometimes with a cliff hanger, often times with internal dialogue. But if I cut the last sentence or two from the scene, it still works. Often times it reads better.
Contractions are Your Friend
This might not work for historical stories, but since my WIP was contemporary, anywhere I could use a contraction, I did. Unless your character is “proper” or foreign, most people talk in contractions anyway.
Deleting our wonderfully crafted prose is one of the hardest things we do as authors, but it’s necessary especially if you’re contracted for 20,000 words and have a story that’s 56,000. I didn’t quite make 20,000 words, but I knew my anthology partners were a little shy of their word count. I submitted 21,000…and got a note back I needed to cut another 700. How did I do it? By going back through the list above.
How do you get your word count down and what techniques have you found to make it easier?
Gina will be giving away an ebook to a randomly-chosen commenter today. Thanks for your comments!
Gina Conroy used to think she knew where her life was headed; now she’s learning to embrace life’s detours. After seven years of dream pursuit, she held her first novella, Buried Deception in the
Cherry Blossom Capers
Collection, in her hands and recently released her first full length mystery,
Digging Up Death.
Gina founded Writer...Interrupted to encourage busy writers and chronicles her triumphs and trials as she pursues her dreams while encouraging her family and others to chase after their own passions. Gina loves to connect with readers, and when she isn’t writing, teaching, or driving kids around, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter , or pursuing her new passion — ballroom and swing dancing!
Summary:
Archaeology Professor Mari Duggins is adjusting to life as a single mom and trying to balance a television career, but gets caught between the pull of her former flame, a field archaeologist, and her ex-husband who is wanted by the FBI on an antiquities crime. Then her colleague is murdered, and she gets in over her head as she searches for truth in a desert of lies. Mari Duggins’ life caves in as she tries to excavate the truth, but realizes only God can dig her out of the hole she’s created. Will Mari sort through her muddled feelings and put her trust in someone else before her world caves in? Or will the truth bury her alive?
My Novella: Buried Deception in the Cherry Blossom Capers Collection
Mount Vernon archaeology intern and widow Samantha Steele wants to provide for her children without assistance from anyone. Security guard and ex-cop Nick Porter is haunted by his past and keeps his heart guarded. But when they discover an artifact at Mount Vernon is a fake, Nick and Samantha need to work together, set aside their stubbornness, and rely on each other or the results could be deadly. Will Samantha relinquish her control to a man she hardly knows? Can Nick learn to trust again? And will they both allow God to excavate their hearts so they can find new love?
When I contracted my mystery novella last year and had to cut 36,000 words from my WIP, I knew it was going to be hard. In fact, I almost bailed on submitting the anthology because I knew that would mean cutting more than half my story. The pain of deleting my brilliant prose aside, I knew it would be difficult to edit this mystery whose characters and clues were tightly woven together.But I signed that contract, took a deep breath, and said a prayer. I could do this!
The first 10,000 words went easily when I realized there were plenty of unnecessary words I could delete. Then I started messing with my characters’ voices and that hurt. So I moved on to the boring, not so important scenes. Found a few of those. Cut a couple of fun, but unnecessary characters, and started the whole process again.
This went on for months until I was down to the last 8,000 words. I wrote to my agent telling him I was having a hard time swallowing this elephant. I couldn’t see how I could cut the last 8,000 words. He very wisely told me that when the ark is sinking, I should throw the elephant out first. In other words, find big chunks I could cut.
Problem was, I did that. Over and over again. Or did I? Sure, I got rid of the easy stuff, then the scenes I could live without, but now 8,000 words shy of my goal I had to take a closer look and go chapter by chapter salvaging the voice and heart of my story as well as cutting the stuff my book could live without. Notice I didn’t say “What I could live without!”
Was it easy? No, but I got my mystery from 56,000 down to 21,000 words. Here are some things I learned that hopefully will help you write tight and cut the fat from your WIP!
Don’t Show Everything
I know it’s been drilled into us to show don’t tell, but a wise author once said that refers primarily to emotions. I learned that I could “tell” how a person got from point A to point D and skip the details in between. Not only will it make your story move, but it will cut the word count.
Cut the Unnecessary Words
YOU KNOW that word or phrase your character ALWAYS uses all the time JUST like my character DOES. JUST cut it out ALREADY! JUST do a search for those words and CAPITALIZE them, so when you go BACK through your WIP, they jump out at you. I cut several thousand words this way.
Cut the Double Talk
I admit I’m wordy. Editing this story made me realize I often say the same thing a couple of times in different ways. For example, I might have internal dialogue and external dialogue that say similar things or my character might ask himself a question when it was already expressed in another way in a previous chapter. Not only can it be annoying to the reader, but it slows down the action. Just cut it out, no matter how much you’re in love with all the creative ways you’ve said it.
Resist the Urge to Explain (RUE)
In an effort to make my character’s motivations clear, I often tried to explain them through internal dialogue, external dialogue or both. Then I started asking myself “Does the reader need to know this now?” If the answer was no, I cut it and looked for a shorter way to weave in the motivation later. I learned, most times it was unnecessary. I had packed the scene enough that I believe the reader understood without me telling them.
Pick Your Adverbs, Adjectives, and Conjunctions Carefully
Most times, if your writing is strong, you don’t need many adverbs and adjectives. Sometimes you do. I noticed my adjectives would sometimes come in pairs. That’s when I chose one over the other. When it comes to starting a sentence, I seem to favor AND and BUT. I’m not sure why, but now that I know, I can go back and keep the conjunctions that add to the story. And I’m not talking word count.
Get Rid of Prepositions Trying to cut those last 8,000 had me looking closer at my sentence structure and prepositions. I learned by cutting certain prepositions I could save one or two words. For example, instead of “the pieces of the telescope” I could say, “the telescope’s pieces.” “Clutching a bottle of Pepcid AC” becomes “clutching a Pepcid AC bottle.” With the search and find feature, I could track down these pesky prepositions and send them packing.
Cut the Scene Short
I like to wrap up a scene sometimes with a cliff hanger, often times with internal dialogue. But if I cut the last sentence or two from the scene, it still works. Often times it reads better.
Contractions are Your Friend
This might not work for historical stories, but since my WIP was contemporary, anywhere I could use a contraction, I did. Unless your character is “proper” or foreign, most people talk in contractions anyway.
Deleting our wonderfully crafted prose is one of the hardest things we do as authors, but it’s necessary especially if you’re contracted for 20,000 words and have a story that’s 56,000. I didn’t quite make 20,000 words, but I knew my anthology partners were a little shy of their word count. I submitted 21,000…and got a note back I needed to cut another 700. How did I do it? By going back through the list above.
How do you get your word count down and what techniques have you found to make it easier?
Gina will be giving away an ebook to a randomly-chosen commenter today. Thanks for your comments!
Gina Conroy used to think she knew where her life was headed; now she’s learning to embrace life’s detours. After seven years of dream pursuit, she held her first novella, Buried Deception in the
Cherry Blossom Capers
Collection, in her hands and recently released her first full length mystery,
Digging Up Death.
Gina founded Writer...Interrupted to encourage busy writers and chronicles her triumphs and trials as she pursues her dreams while encouraging her family and others to chase after their own passions. Gina loves to connect with readers, and when she isn’t writing, teaching, or driving kids around, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter , or pursuing her new passion — ballroom and swing dancing!
Summary:
Archaeology Professor Mari Duggins is adjusting to life as a single mom and trying to balance a television career, but gets caught between the pull of her former flame, a field archaeologist, and her ex-husband who is wanted by the FBI on an antiquities crime. Then her colleague is murdered, and she gets in over her head as she searches for truth in a desert of lies. Mari Duggins’ life caves in as she tries to excavate the truth, but realizes only God can dig her out of the hole she’s created. Will Mari sort through her muddled feelings and put her trust in someone else before her world caves in? Or will the truth bury her alive?
My Novella: Buried Deception in the Cherry Blossom Capers Collection
Mount Vernon archaeology intern and widow Samantha Steele wants to provide for her children without assistance from anyone. Security guard and ex-cop Nick Porter is haunted by his past and keeps his heart guarded. But when they discover an artifact at Mount Vernon is a fake, Nick and Samantha need to work together, set aside their stubbornness, and rely on each other or the results could be deadly. Will Samantha relinquish her control to a man she hardly knows? Can Nick learn to trust again? And will they both allow God to excavate their hearts so they can find new love?
December 8, 2012
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’sKnowledge 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.
Try “My WKB”--a way for you to
list and sort articles, view your read articles, and see your search history.
Read more about it here: http://bit.ly/S9thqS.
The free My WKB page is here: http://bit.ly/PV8Ueb.
And check out Hiveword to help you
organize your story.
How to Use Google+ as an Author
Platform: http://bit.ly/UM9oDn
Is Your Dialog Doing Double
Duty? http://bit.ly/ToPoZj @sdwriter
Media Kit for Indie Authors: http://bit.ly/UM9JpM
UK agency brings UK authors'backlist to Amer. audience--via KDP: http://bit.ly/VBFiqn@Porter_Anderson @jonnygeller @laurahazardowen
An agent with 13 business
etiquette tips: http://bit.ly/ToPxMz
@rachellegardner
Manuscript Revisions –
Exposition and Incluing: http://bit.ly/UManDJ
@VeronicaSicoe
The Super Power of
Encouragement: http://bit.ly/UMaEGT
How to Generate Ideas in Your
Sleep: http://bit.ly/ToPVL0 @write_practice
More Writing Advice From Jim
Butcher: http://bit.ly/UMb5Rj @woodwardkaren
Writing as an Act of Faith: A
Case Study: http://bit.ly/ToQ2Gj
@cherylrwrites
What one writer has learned
from self-pubbing: http://bit.ly/UMjofU
@livewritethrive
Are Some Realities Too Real For
Fiction? http://bit.ly/ToT1yw
What makes a folktale? http://bit.ly/ToT6lR @bookviewcafe
L.A. Indie Book Publishers Are
Thriving: http://bit.ly/UMmuR9 @josephalapin
Is book pirating bad for
writers? http://bit.ly/UMmDUO
How to Effectively Rebrand Your
Social Media Profiles: http://bit.ly/ToU41u
@smexaminer
Your Author Central Page: Tune
Up, Tune In: http://bit.ly/UMmZdT
@WhereWritersWin
Integrating Feedback into the
Writing Process: http://bit.ly/ToUchy
How to 'Do More' with Your
Writing: http://bit.ly/ToUk0p @serbaughman
Writing Tip: Keep an Ideas
List: http://bit.ly/UMnQLR @ava_jae
A Beginner's Guide to Marketing
Indie Literary Fiction: http://bit.ly/UMob0V
@jamesccamp @duolit
5 Questions to Ask When
Choosing an Online Writing Course: http://bit.ly/UMowRg
@krissybrady
Self-Publishers Aren't Killing
The Industry, They're Saving It: http://bit.ly/UMoTLJ
@DavidGaughran
65+ apps and resources for
writers: http://bit.ly/UMpwEW
@michellerafter
Increase your blog followers
through a giveaway: http://bit.ly/UMpRaU
@nickthacker
More thoughts on libraries and
ebook lending: http://bit.ly/UMq5ie
@MikeShatzkin
30 Windows 8 Features You
Should Know Before You Upgrade Your PC: http://bit.ly/ToV6uo
@lifehackorg
16 Paintings Featuring Books: http://bit.ly/UMqm4O @MissLiberty
All about publishing auctions: http://bit.ly/S8J7A4 @sjaejones
How (Not) to Be an Awesome
Critique Partner: http://bit.ly/S8INBx
@ava_jae
What does "literary
style" mean in terms of writing a screenplay?http://bit.ly/XZmN0x
@gointothestory
Turning Fact into Fiction: http://bit.ly/Wt5qz4 @DeeWhiteAuthor
How to Take Constructive
Criticism Like a Champ: http://bit.ly/XZn3g0
@lifehacker
Tips for Self-Publishing in the
iBookstore: http://bit.ly/Wt5tuz @galleycat
4 Lessons Running Can Teach You
About Writing: http://bit.ly/XZnbMG
@writersdigest
On stealing good ideas: http://bit.ly/Wt5zCm @mooderino
In Storytelling, Emotion Trumps
All: http://bit.ly/XZnw1Y @HP4Writers
The smartest thing in
publishing is to be flexible: http://bit.ly/Wt5E9p
@booksquare
How To Get Your Readers To
Identify With Your Main Character: http://bit.ly/XZnZkH
@woodwardkaren
How To Fund Your Book Using
Kickstarter: http://bit.ly/Wt5ONU
@whiskyguyrob
Creating characters readers
love to read: http://bit.ly/TnaFyW @4YALit
Booksellers Resisting Amazon's
Disruption: http://nyti.ms/TtzRXu
@DavidStreitfeld
Dos and Don'ts of Synopsis
Writing: http://bit.ly/TtzVq2
@lynnettelabelle
How (& Where) to Get a
Short Story Published: http://bit.ly/TnbhEC
@writersdigest
How to Become a Financially Fit
Freelancer: http://bit.ly/TtG4m1
@krissybrady
Admitting Defeat to Find
Success: http://bit.ly/Tnu0Qp @ThereseWalsh
What's the Best Way to Connect
With Readers Online? http://bit.ly/TtGgll
@JodyHedlund
12 Most James Bond Worthy Tools
for Freelancers: http://bit.ly/TnuAOc
@Susan_Silver
1 writer's journey to
publication: http://bit.ly/TtGx7O
@brandontietz
You Can Write Today: http://bit.ly/TnGqbx @noveleditor
Chuck Wendig And The Battle
Song Of The Storyteller: http://bit.ly/TnGwQp
@woodwardkaren @chuckwendig
Why Did Publishers Get So Big? http://bit.ly/X3RksS @scholarlykitchn
Can You Publish Blogged
Material As a Kindle Ebook? http://bit.ly/TnGJmz
@ninaamir
When writing romantic scenes
where does one draw the line? http://bit.ly/TnGOqz
@CindyMcDonald7
Differences in male and female
POV: http://bit.ly/TnGVlP @rebeccaberto
"Eagerness to
please," and the weakness of database marketing for directing the future
of SF/F: http://bit.ly/X3S40X @juliettewade
Tips for handling publishing's
waiting game: http://bit.ly/TgO2N7 @aswinn
Synopsis writing tips: http://bit.ly/YaxLze @lynnettelabelle
All about publishing auctions: http://bit.ly/S8J7A4 @sjaejones
Top 10 Tropes in YA: http://bit.ly/ToGiII @StrangeChem
Using Excel Keep Your Novel
Organized: http://bit.ly/ToIY9n @PBRWriter
What is Science Fiction for? http://bit.ly/TwtQcA @KgElfland2ndCuz
Tips for writing compelling
antagonists: http://bit.ly/ToJowj @KMWeiland
Tips for writing scary: http://bit.ly/TwuA1i @TaliaVance
A Framework for Thinking About
Author Platform: http://bit.ly/TwuB5n
@janefriedman
An outlining technique--answer
questions to frame your plot: http://bit.ly/ToKpEB
Why one writer signed with a
traditional publisher: http://bit.ly/TwuVkE
@lkblackburne
An agent says, "There is
no time for despair." http://bit.ly/ToKRTn
@rachellegardner
How to Speed Up Your WordPress
Site: http://bit.ly/Twv0ET @smexaminer
10 Great Authors We Should All
Stop Pigeonholing: http://bit.ly/ToLcFw
@flavorpill
Answers to Questions About
Commas: http://bit.ly/Twvivk @writing_tips
The bane of
niceties--deconstructing online commenting: http://bit.ly/ToLv3g
@jodicleghorn
The Dreaded Conference
Appointment: http://bit.ly/TwvB9s
@stevelaubeagent
Tips for better dialogue: http://bit.ly/ToMosB
The rise of literary genres: http://bit.ly/Twwejs @guardianbooks
"Amazon's the devil — and
I love it": http://bit.ly/Twwtej @salon
Losing Perspective on Your
Writing: http://bit.ly/VajyOq @roniloren
When Bad Ideas Sabotage Killer
Concepts: http://bit.ly/QSdc98 @storyfix
3 agents on the changing industry: http://bit.ly/YGkJuT @NeilBlairTBP @jonnygeller @AitkenAlexander @Porter_Anderson
3 Social Media Myths that Can
Cripple Our Author Platform: http://bit.ly/VajOgt
@kristenlambtx
Read Like an Agent: http://bit.ly/QSpZIq @diymfa
Technology: Help Or Hindrance
To Writers? http://bit.ly/QSq672
@kimber_regator
Story Questions Worth Pursuing:
http://bit.ly/VaGVYn @mooderino
Secondary characters can add
dimension and tension: http://bit.ly/VaH8dU
@juliettewade
4 Things a Character List
Reveals about Your Novel: http://bit.ly/QSqlPe
@fictionnotes
Blank Page? 5 Ways to Find
Inspiration: http://bit.ly/QSqxOI @L_Meyer
Hiding in the Writing Closet:
Good or Bad? http://bit.ly/VaHKjR
@jodyhedlund
Using ancient beliefs in the
Underworld to inspire our writing: http://bit.ly/VaIfdA
@GeneLempp
A Writing Exercise For Engaging
Your Readers: http://bit.ly/RoSUUy
@writersdigest
Think Outside Your Genre: http://bit.ly/Vc2nw3 @amiekaufman
2 Ways Your Brain is Wired to
Undermine Your Story – And What To Do About It: http://bit.ly/Vc2WWz
@LisaCron
The Art and Use of Fantastic
Criticism: http://bit.ly/Vc3c80
Tips for writing dialogue: http://bit.ly/RoUfdS @JordanDane
Tips for better book signings: http://bit.ly/RoUhCx+|+Duolit%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
@duolit
How To Earn A Living As A
Self-Published Writer: http://bit.ly/Vc3wnb
@woodwardkaren
Freelancers--how to collect an
overdue payment for a story: http://bit.ly/VoNnyw
@michelleRafter
Self-publishing requires a
business mindset: http://bit.ly/Ve1OiZ
@thecreativepenn
Timeframes and The Editing
Process: http://bit.ly/VoNCtJ @LRGiles
The Business of Screenwriting:
Low-budget filmmaking: http://bit.ly/Ve1YHf
@gointothestory
Why it's Worth it to Purchase
Your Own Domain Name: http://bit.ly/Ve2btO
@HarryGuinness
An agent's tips for writing a
1-sentence summary: http://bit.ly/TEn5Di
@rachellegardner
Which Point of View Is Right
For You? http://bit.ly/TEn7v5 @woodwardkaren
How to Write a Book Proposal: http://bit.ly/TBms0x @janefriedman
Creating a Cliffhanger in 3
Easy Steps: http://bit.ly/TEnjKM
How spending even 15 min. a day
on writing can benefit your story: http://bit.ly/TBmzZO
Bringing The Theater to Your
Writing: http://bit.ly/TEnAgF
@fantasyfaction
Are You Cut Out to be an Indie
Publisher? http://bit.ly/TBmKUV @ninaamir
Creating The Perfect Villain: http://bit.ly/TEnHsw (video) @jacobkrueger
Actions Speaks Louder Than
Words…Especially in Fiction: http://bit.ly/TEnTbp
@writtendreams
Blogging a book--killing 3
birds with 1 stone: http://bit.ly/11tAN1M
@ninaamir
A Writer's Five Stages of
Rejection: http://bit.ly/11tB3xw
Cardboard Characters: http://bit.ly/11tBgB3 @novelrocket
Physical Attributes Thesaurus
Entry: Eyes: http://bit.ly/11tBs2Z
@beccapuglisi
Writing Rules and Fantasy:
Show, Don't Tell: http://bit.ly/11tBUOY
@VickyThinks
Checklist for a Helpful
Critique: http://bit.ly/Tyws7k
@howtowriteshop
10 Ways to Stay True to
Yourself in Publishing: http://bit.ly/11tCufp
@writersdigest
The Simplest Advice for Writing
to "The End": http://bit.ly/TywzQ7
@museinks
Screenwriting--script diaries: http://bit.ly/11tCOLf @gointothestory
Yes, Your Submission Phobia Is
Holding You Back: http://bit.ly/11tD0tZ
Getting your book in front of
readers: http://bit.ly/SJ4G98 @LauraHoward78
Synopsis writing tips: http://bit.ly/XlxWaS @susanspann
Self-publishing strategizing: http://bit.ly/SJ53AF @authornordin
7 Ways to Get Your Book
Reviewed: http://bit.ly/XlHmmK @LauraPepWu
8 Words to Seek and Destroy in
Your Writing: http://bit.ly/SJcuHS
@robdyoungwrites
7 Best iPad Apps for Freelance
Writers: http://bit.ly/XlHAdH @nickthacker
Tips for approaching book
bloggers for reviews: http://bit.ly/SJcGqE
@bookmarketer
A Study of Plot: Looking for
Cause and Effect in a Synopsis: http://bit.ly/XlHLW9
@janice_hardy
The transformation of
publishing: http://bit.ly/SJcKXF
@guardianbooks
Bridging the Sales – Visibility
Gap: http://bit.ly/XmKwXs @sharonbially
Freelancers--Spinning Your Way
to Profits: http://bit.ly/XmKH53 @bob_brooke
The Sensual Writer--Taste vs.
Flavor: http://bit.ly/XmKZc7
Serial Fiction: Is It
Profitable? http://bit.ly/XmL5At
@woodwardkaren
20 Ways to Use and Enhance Blog
Photos: http://bit.ly/SK1x98 @heidicohen
Forget grammar during your 1st
draft: http://bit.ly/XmLrac @GrammarGirl
Book Covers: Photography vs.
Illustration: http://bit.ly/SK1OsE
@blurbisaverb
The Perils of Internet
Information: http://bit.ly/XmMxmu
@jamesscottbell
E-Serials as the “3rd Layer” in
the Publishing World: http://bit.ly/SJTmcZ
@dcroog @pubperspectives
The recipe for writing a
bestseller [infographic]: http://bit.ly/SK26j7
@dgquarterly
A dual crime-fiction
trend--violence against women, but strong female protagonists: http://bit.ly/RBi56s @mkinberg
Crowdfunding: Is Kickstarter
Losing Its Kick? http://bit.ly/VC34yQ
@Porter_Anderson @PatrickRwrites @Suw
3 NaNo NoNos: http://bit.ly/RBwkZ4 @jemifraser
@writeangleblog
Industry expert and indie
leader on the Author Solutions deal with S&S: http://bit.ly/VBBINc
@MikeShatzkin @DavidGaughran @Porter_Anderson
Tips for collecting and organizing ideas--"couponing" for authors: http://bit.ly/VOMFr2
December 6, 2012
“Couponing” for Authors—Guest Post by J.L. Greger
by J.L. Greger
“Couponing” for Authors
Every shopper likes a good deal; every writer likes a clever idea. Most of us see lots of great ideas, but forget most of them. That’s why I “coupon” them.
Is “couponing” a real word?
One definition (found on The Free Dictionary) is the sending out or turning in coupons. That’s not the meaning I want to focus on today. I want to target all the “guides to couponing” found on the WEB and in popular women’s magazines.
Couponing ideas for writing:
I substituted the word ideas for coupons in a composite guide for couponing. My examples will focus on the development of my two novels Coming Flu , a medical thriller published by Oak Tree Press in July 2012, and Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight, a medical mystery to be published in April 2013. They are the start of a medical mystery series set in the Southwest.
Look for ideas everywhere. Printed materials, TV, ads, etc.
I like to include bits of science in my novels to add authenticity. So when I read Science and other scientific journals weekly, I pull pages that look interesting. I save maps and postcards (with notes) when I travel. Now for the hard part.
Identify a use for ideas.
Write on each saved item an anticipated use when you clip it.
For example in April 2010, I read an article “The Microbes Made Me Eat It” (Science 328: 179-180) and labeled it, in my messy scrawl, “novel on obesity.”
Focus your collection activities.
Random collections are difficult to use and bulky to store. That’s one problem with computers, most of us save too much unsorted (or poorly sorted) fluff.
Throughout 2010, I looked for and found interesting articles in medical journals on how the trillion microorganisms in our guts influence us, including our weight control or lack of it. The result was Dr. Izzy Roth and Dr. Richard Varegos, the diet doctors in Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight . Of course, Izzy is killed in the first chapter of this medical mystery and Richard is suspected.
Keep a file of quotes.
Ads and students comments in classes often provide the best quotes.
Currently I’m trying to create a character to be described by this quote from Oscar Wilde. “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.”
Don’t save stuff that is easily available on the Web.
To emphasize how difficult it is to lose weight, I set many scenes in Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight in popular restaurants in the Albuquerque area. I used the menus published on the web to give descriptions of food.
File ideas the day you get them.
This is a good idea, but I can’t give an example because I’m not that organized.
Review ideas regularly and purge.
In 2006, I started saving articles on mutations in the flu virus, the development of vaccines, epidemics, and the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act with the intent of using them in a novel. Re-examining the file when it was a half-inch thick finally gave me the incentive to start writing Coming Flu . Yes, I did use this information to create a realistic (certainly not optimal, but not a worst case scenario either) of what could happen if a new and deadly mutation of the flu virus hit a community before vaccines to the new virus were available.
Are you ready now to start couponing your ideas?
JL Greger was a faculty member in the biological sciences for more than for 25 years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also served as the associate dean in the graduate and medical medical school at UW and as VP of Research at the University of Connecticut. Now she enjoys putting tidbits of science into her fiction. She hopes her novels help to increase interest by women and minorities in careers in science.
Coming Flu (paperback and ebook versions) is available now on Amazon.
Look for Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight in March 2013.
“Couponing” for AuthorsEvery shopper likes a good deal; every writer likes a clever idea. Most of us see lots of great ideas, but forget most of them. That’s why I “coupon” them.
Is “couponing” a real word?
One definition (found on The Free Dictionary) is the sending out or turning in coupons. That’s not the meaning I want to focus on today. I want to target all the “guides to couponing” found on the WEB and in popular women’s magazines.
Couponing ideas for writing:
I substituted the word ideas for coupons in a composite guide for couponing. My examples will focus on the development of my two novels Coming Flu , a medical thriller published by Oak Tree Press in July 2012, and Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight, a medical mystery to be published in April 2013. They are the start of a medical mystery series set in the Southwest.
Look for ideas everywhere. Printed materials, TV, ads, etc.
I like to include bits of science in my novels to add authenticity. So when I read Science and other scientific journals weekly, I pull pages that look interesting. I save maps and postcards (with notes) when I travel. Now for the hard part.
Identify a use for ideas.
Write on each saved item an anticipated use when you clip it.
For example in April 2010, I read an article “The Microbes Made Me Eat It” (Science 328: 179-180) and labeled it, in my messy scrawl, “novel on obesity.”
Focus your collection activities.
Random collections are difficult to use and bulky to store. That’s one problem with computers, most of us save too much unsorted (or poorly sorted) fluff.
Throughout 2010, I looked for and found interesting articles in medical journals on how the trillion microorganisms in our guts influence us, including our weight control or lack of it. The result was Dr. Izzy Roth and Dr. Richard Varegos, the diet doctors in Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight . Of course, Izzy is killed in the first chapter of this medical mystery and Richard is suspected.
Keep a file of quotes.
Ads and students comments in classes often provide the best quotes.
Currently I’m trying to create a character to be described by this quote from Oscar Wilde. “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.”
Don’t save stuff that is easily available on the Web.
To emphasize how difficult it is to lose weight, I set many scenes in Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight in popular restaurants in the Albuquerque area. I used the menus published on the web to give descriptions of food.
File ideas the day you get them.
This is a good idea, but I can’t give an example because I’m not that organized.
Review ideas regularly and purge.
In 2006, I started saving articles on mutations in the flu virus, the development of vaccines, epidemics, and the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act with the intent of using them in a novel. Re-examining the file when it was a half-inch thick finally gave me the incentive to start writing Coming Flu . Yes, I did use this information to create a realistic (certainly not optimal, but not a worst case scenario either) of what could happen if a new and deadly mutation of the flu virus hit a community before vaccines to the new virus were available.
Are you ready now to start couponing your ideas?
JL Greger was a faculty member in the biological sciences for more than for 25 years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also served as the associate dean in the graduate and medical medical school at UW and as VP of Research at the University of Connecticut. Now she enjoys putting tidbits of science into her fiction. She hopes her novels help to increase interest by women and minorities in careers in science.
Coming Flu (paperback and ebook versions) is available now on Amazon.
Look for Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight in March 2013.
December 4, 2012
The Evolving Published Story
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I read a Salon post by Joseph Lord-- “Walking Dead” author is OK with AMC’s creative liberties"-- on Sunday that struck a particular chord with me.
The article was about Walking Dead creator, Robert Kirkman’s, thoughts on AMC’s plot changes and character changes for the series (Walking Dead started out as a graphic novel.) Basically, as the post’s title indicates, Kirkman was fine with it.
But what I was especially interested in was this statement from Salon writer Joseph Lord:
The article goes on to explain that Kirkman is creatively involved with the television show, which means he’s helping craft the changes.
What I found most thought-provoking was the attitude behind this statement—that creative fulfillment can be found by tinkering with a completed, published story.
Now, the reason Kirkman’s story is changing is primarily because it’s going from one medium to another. But I’ve also noticed this post-production editing phenomenon with the sudden popularity of ebooks. Even with some of my stories.
No matter what you might hear about traditional publishing’s superior editing process—mistakes still happen. I hate to admit that. I didn’t catch them, even though I read the manuscripts until I was cross-eyed. My editor didn’t catch them and Penguin’s proofreader didn’t, either. I’ve made small mistakes in, I believe, nearly every single one of my books. Not big mistakes—but hey…they’re all big mistakes if readers contact you over them.
And readers do contact you. They don’t look at the acknowledgments page and find the editor’s name and send her an email. Which is fine—it’s my book. I’m the public face for the book.
I’ve heard about a variety of different flubs on my part with my Penguin books. Each time I apologized to the reader who drew it to my attention, explaining that the last thing I wanted was to draw her out of the story. And…that was basically it. When the reader asked if the book could be corrected, I said if I was told it was going into another printing, I’d ask my editor to see if it could be corrected. As far as the ebooks…I’ve never heard it suggested that Penguin will correct those after the fact.
On the other hand…I’ve also heard about a couple of minor errors (still…errors…grr) in my Myrtle Clover self-published mysteries. You won’t find those errors—I removed them myself and republished the books. Again, I apologized to the readers who drew my mistakes to my attention. But this time, I had the real pleasure of telling them that I would correct the errors. And that was a pleasure. There’s nothing like fixing a problem.
That’s a big difference right there between traditional and self-published.
But, aside from proofreading….what might evolving books mean for the future?
I have some mixed feelings about changing books, post-publication. I’ve read posts where writers argue for story integrity—the story is the story. I understand where they’re coming from.
What if our story is a bit outdated? What if we mention Facebook in our ebook and Facebook goes under (oh happy day!)? Should we go back into our story and remove the reference and republish? Or will this destroy historical texture in our books? Okay, maybe we won’t do that with a Facebook reference. But what if our backlist book referred to the Twin Towers and we were republishing it as an ebook? Would we update those types of references, given the opportunity? What if Dickens and his descendants had updated his story all the way to the present day?
Of course, nonfiction might acutally benefit from this approach. Imagine creating a resource that doesn't become obsolete or outdated.
On the pro side—I don’t think I’m the only one who has ever reread an old book I wrote and wanted to make changes. A better word, a better bit of dialogue. A stronger verb. Who’d even notice the difference?
On the con side--there is such a thing as over-writing. I know I used to write the life out of my story and the personality out of my characters by scrubbing relentlessly at my manuscript over and over again...when it was really fine to begin with.
What about reader preference? What if an author read complaints about the sagging middle of his published book—then he had a fantastic idea about changing it? Should the readers influence the book’s text?
Maybe the above example was a weak one…because I think many authors would want to fix a weak scene or two if they knew how to. What if it were a more controversial change? What if a writer received complaints about the profanity in his books? Should readers get a vote on that? What if it were fifteen readers complaining? What if it were a hundred? Would that change our answer? How much input should readers have? How responsive should future authors be and what’s our responsibility to our readers, ourselves, and our story?
One other point…we do need to get on with writing our next book, don’t we? To establish a name for ourselves, income, and a career. It’s probably not in our own best interests to stay stuck on the same books…after a certain point, anyway.
Or—can we/should we, as the article stated—“revel in the opportunity to revisit, re-craft and re-create”?
How much messing with a book is too much? And y’all…I don’t have an answer for this, so I was hoping you could weigh in. Maybe our responsibility is to the reader to provide the most perfect entertainment we can and to capitulate to their requests. Maybe that's outrageous for a finished book. Maybe our responsibility is to the story itself. But...I know that when I’ve gone into my self-pubbed books to make my proofreading corrections, I couldn’t resist tinkering with other stuff, too. Where does it stop?
Image: MorgueFile: jdurham
I read a Salon post by Joseph Lord-- “Walking Dead” author is OK with AMC’s creative liberties"-- on Sunday that struck a particular chord with me. The article was about Walking Dead creator, Robert Kirkman’s, thoughts on AMC’s plot changes and character changes for the series (Walking Dead started out as a graphic novel.) Basically, as the post’s title indicates, Kirkman was fine with it.
But what I was especially interested in was this statement from Salon writer Joseph Lord:
…he doesn’t mind the implicit criticism — and revels in the opportunity to revisit, re-craft and re-create five-year-old writing.
The article goes on to explain that Kirkman is creatively involved with the television show, which means he’s helping craft the changes.
What I found most thought-provoking was the attitude behind this statement—that creative fulfillment can be found by tinkering with a completed, published story.
Now, the reason Kirkman’s story is changing is primarily because it’s going from one medium to another. But I’ve also noticed this post-production editing phenomenon with the sudden popularity of ebooks. Even with some of my stories.
No matter what you might hear about traditional publishing’s superior editing process—mistakes still happen. I hate to admit that. I didn’t catch them, even though I read the manuscripts until I was cross-eyed. My editor didn’t catch them and Penguin’s proofreader didn’t, either. I’ve made small mistakes in, I believe, nearly every single one of my books. Not big mistakes—but hey…they’re all big mistakes if readers contact you over them.
And readers do contact you. They don’t look at the acknowledgments page and find the editor’s name and send her an email. Which is fine—it’s my book. I’m the public face for the book.
I’ve heard about a variety of different flubs on my part with my Penguin books. Each time I apologized to the reader who drew it to my attention, explaining that the last thing I wanted was to draw her out of the story. And…that was basically it. When the reader asked if the book could be corrected, I said if I was told it was going into another printing, I’d ask my editor to see if it could be corrected. As far as the ebooks…I’ve never heard it suggested that Penguin will correct those after the fact.
On the other hand…I’ve also heard about a couple of minor errors (still…errors…grr) in my Myrtle Clover self-published mysteries. You won’t find those errors—I removed them myself and republished the books. Again, I apologized to the readers who drew my mistakes to my attention. But this time, I had the real pleasure of telling them that I would correct the errors. And that was a pleasure. There’s nothing like fixing a problem.
That’s a big difference right there between traditional and self-published.
But, aside from proofreading….what might evolving books mean for the future?
I have some mixed feelings about changing books, post-publication. I’ve read posts where writers argue for story integrity—the story is the story. I understand where they’re coming from.
What if our story is a bit outdated? What if we mention Facebook in our ebook and Facebook goes under (oh happy day!)? Should we go back into our story and remove the reference and republish? Or will this destroy historical texture in our books? Okay, maybe we won’t do that with a Facebook reference. But what if our backlist book referred to the Twin Towers and we were republishing it as an ebook? Would we update those types of references, given the opportunity? What if Dickens and his descendants had updated his story all the way to the present day?
Of course, nonfiction might acutally benefit from this approach. Imagine creating a resource that doesn't become obsolete or outdated.
On the pro side—I don’t think I’m the only one who has ever reread an old book I wrote and wanted to make changes. A better word, a better bit of dialogue. A stronger verb. Who’d even notice the difference?
On the con side--there is such a thing as over-writing. I know I used to write the life out of my story and the personality out of my characters by scrubbing relentlessly at my manuscript over and over again...when it was really fine to begin with.
What about reader preference? What if an author read complaints about the sagging middle of his published book—then he had a fantastic idea about changing it? Should the readers influence the book’s text?
Maybe the above example was a weak one…because I think many authors would want to fix a weak scene or two if they knew how to. What if it were a more controversial change? What if a writer received complaints about the profanity in his books? Should readers get a vote on that? What if it were fifteen readers complaining? What if it were a hundred? Would that change our answer? How much input should readers have? How responsive should future authors be and what’s our responsibility to our readers, ourselves, and our story?
One other point…we do need to get on with writing our next book, don’t we? To establish a name for ourselves, income, and a career. It’s probably not in our own best interests to stay stuck on the same books…after a certain point, anyway.
Or—can we/should we, as the article stated—“revel in the opportunity to revisit, re-craft and re-create”?
How much messing with a book is too much? And y’all…I don’t have an answer for this, so I was hoping you could weigh in. Maybe our responsibility is to the reader to provide the most perfect entertainment we can and to capitulate to their requests. Maybe that's outrageous for a finished book. Maybe our responsibility is to the story itself. But...I know that when I’ve gone into my self-pubbed books to make my proofreading corrections, I couldn’t resist tinkering with other stuff, too. Where does it stop?
Image: MorgueFile: jdurham
December 2, 2012
Trust In Your Ability To Tell A Story
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
This post has spoilers for Beth Spann. (I’ve already texted Mama and asked her not to read my Monday post—Mama, if you are reading the post, this is your spoiler alert!)
I was at a garden center last week, looking for a Christmas cactus to give my mother for Christmas.
There was a really pretty plant there—it’s in the picture, above. It was obviously the best choice for a gift.
While I was looking around, the owner of the garden center bustled around, answering questions and sounding extremely knowledgeable about plants. But by the time I’d make it to the register, she’d disappeared to a different area of the nursery. There was another lady at the register who smiled at me. “Can I help you?” she asked.
“I don’t have much luck with indoor plants,” I said. “I need to make sure this plant makes it until Christmas. Do you have any tips for me?”
The woman looked at me with wide eyes. “Let me see if I can find Sara real quick.”
She did her best to find Sara, but she was nowhere around. The woman returned slowly to the register. “I’m afraid she’s not around.”
“Do you know how much water it needs?” I asked. “I usually have problems with watering.” There wasn’t one of those little plastic stakes that usually tells how to care for the plant, either.
The woman took a deep breath, seemed to do a mental search of all her knowledge on cacti, and said, “Well….the soil should be moist, but not wet to the touch. You need to keep it out of direct sunlight and make sure it’s not under any heat vents.” She continued talking about the plant, getting more confident as she went and giving me more and more information about Christmas cacti.
I thanked her for her help, and then said, “You seem to know a lot about the plants.”
“Oh, I take care of them,” she answered.
So…she took care of the Christmas cacti every day, but didn’t seem to trust herself to explain to me how to care for them. She wanted to find the expert—the owner.
This is the way I think many of us feel when we’re writing, too. We don’t trust ourselves to tell the story. We hesitate as we’re writing, thinking we can’t tell the story the way we want it to be told.
We read up on the writing craft, but sometimes this reading takes the place of our practice time. There’s definitely a point where we need to put our how-to books aside and just write our story.
Like the lady who took care of the plants—when we practice, we learn. And once we finish our first draft, we have ample opportunity to edit our story to ensure it’s exactly the one we meant to tell.
A few tips for making sure we finish our story:
Set a manageable goal. Revisit that goal if it proves not to be manageable.
Show up. Meet that manageable goal we set for ourselves by sitting down and opening up our document.
Be flexible with our writing time and the places we write. Be open to writing on the spur of the moment.
Read books in our genre. It’s the only way to learn how to structure books, or to get a sense of the right pace for our stories. Read blog posts, books, and articles that help us improve—but don’t let the how-to reading interfere with or take the place of our writing time.
Be forgiving of our first draft.
Stop comparing ourselves to others. Enjoy others’ work, learn from it. But develop our own voice and confidence in our writing…by writing regularly.
Do you trust yourself to tell your story? How do you work through your insecurities to finish your draft? Tips for staying motivated?
This post has spoilers for Beth Spann. (I’ve already texted Mama and asked her not to read my Monday post—Mama, if you are reading the post, this is your spoiler alert!)
I was at a garden center last week, looking for a Christmas cactus to give my mother for Christmas.
There was a really pretty plant there—it’s in the picture, above. It was obviously the best choice for a gift.
While I was looking around, the owner of the garden center bustled around, answering questions and sounding extremely knowledgeable about plants. But by the time I’d make it to the register, she’d disappeared to a different area of the nursery. There was another lady at the register who smiled at me. “Can I help you?” she asked.
“I don’t have much luck with indoor plants,” I said. “I need to make sure this plant makes it until Christmas. Do you have any tips for me?”
The woman looked at me with wide eyes. “Let me see if I can find Sara real quick.”
She did her best to find Sara, but she was nowhere around. The woman returned slowly to the register. “I’m afraid she’s not around.”
“Do you know how much water it needs?” I asked. “I usually have problems with watering.” There wasn’t one of those little plastic stakes that usually tells how to care for the plant, either.
The woman took a deep breath, seemed to do a mental search of all her knowledge on cacti, and said, “Well….the soil should be moist, but not wet to the touch. You need to keep it out of direct sunlight and make sure it’s not under any heat vents.” She continued talking about the plant, getting more confident as she went and giving me more and more information about Christmas cacti.
I thanked her for her help, and then said, “You seem to know a lot about the plants.”
“Oh, I take care of them,” she answered.
So…she took care of the Christmas cacti every day, but didn’t seem to trust herself to explain to me how to care for them. She wanted to find the expert—the owner.
This is the way I think many of us feel when we’re writing, too. We don’t trust ourselves to tell the story. We hesitate as we’re writing, thinking we can’t tell the story the way we want it to be told.
We read up on the writing craft, but sometimes this reading takes the place of our practice time. There’s definitely a point where we need to put our how-to books aside and just write our story.
Like the lady who took care of the plants—when we practice, we learn. And once we finish our first draft, we have ample opportunity to edit our story to ensure it’s exactly the one we meant to tell.
A few tips for making sure we finish our story:
Set a manageable goal. Revisit that goal if it proves not to be manageable.
Show up. Meet that manageable goal we set for ourselves by sitting down and opening up our document.
Be flexible with our writing time and the places we write. Be open to writing on the spur of the moment.
Read books in our genre. It’s the only way to learn how to structure books, or to get a sense of the right pace for our stories. Read blog posts, books, and articles that help us improve—but don’t let the how-to reading interfere with or take the place of our writing time.
Be forgiving of our first draft.
Stop comparing ourselves to others. Enjoy others’ work, learn from it. But develop our own voice and confidence in our writing…by writing regularly.
Do you trust yourself to tell your story? How do you work through your insecurities to finish your draft? Tips for staying motivated?
December 1, 2012
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’sKnowledge 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.
Try “My WKB”--a way for you to list and sort articles,
view your read articles, and see your search history. Read more about it here: http://bit.ly/S9thqS.
The free My WKB page is here: http://bit.ly/PV8Ueb. And check out Hiveword to
help you organize your story.
3 Stages of Merger Reaction: http://bit.ly/TljUDw
@Porter_Anderson @eoinpurcell
Ex-pat characters in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/Tn5DCB
@mkinberg
Tips for effective action scenes: http://bit.ly/TohArF
@JodieRennerEd
Tips for developing your writing style: http://bit.ly/X3Jtvg
@aguiltymind
The Essence of Genre--At The Movies: http://bit.ly/X3WDZn
@camillelaguire
Is There
Ever a Time to Give Up On that Book? http://bit.ly/TNTiX5
@AimeeLSalter
Why is an ebook ever riddled
with typos? http://vrge.co/TNTkxZ
@laura_june
Defining genre: http://bit.ly/TNTohq @noveleditor
After e-literature, there's no
going back: http://bit.ly/S7ZCwi @salon
Do publishers hate authors? http://bit.ly/Wp8goI
@VictoriaStrauss @Business_Ghost @petermccarthy @Porter_Anderson
Refresher on semicolons: http://bit.ly/TNTxkS
How Dialogue Reveals Character:
http://bit.ly/S7ZNb7 @maria_mckenzie
Romance reader stats from RWA: http://bit.ly/S8051u
The search engine for writers: http://hiveword.com/wkb/search
iBookstore in 50 Countries: A Step-by-Step Listing
Guide: http://bit.ly/QuqeJH @lizcastro @Porter_Anderson
How to speak publisher: F is
for Flat fee: http://bit.ly/TOofu7
@anne_rooney
5 Tactics Bloggers Can Steal
from Fiction Writers: http://bit.ly/S8IhU7
@originalimpulse
5 tips for new writers: http://bit.ly/TOowNB @sierragodfrey
Who Dictates What You Write? http://bit.ly/S8IzKG @write_practice
3 Keys to Storytelling: http://bit.ly/TOoFAM @KristanHoffman
Openings that Orient: http://bit.ly/S8ICWX @fictionnotes
Balancing the Scenes that Make
Up Your Novel: http://bit.ly/TOoJjW
@kristenlambtx
What Does a Character Look
LIke? Are You Sure? http://bit.ly/TOoMw1
9 Ways to Beat Writer's Block: http://bit.ly/TOoR2N+|+Duolit%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
@WrenDoloro
How (Not) to Be an Awesome
Critique Partner: http://bit.ly/S8INBx
@ava_jae
Things Silent Movies Can Teach
us About Storytelling: http://bit.ly/TOoYLU
@janice_hardy
How to Save a Bundle on Editing
Costs: http://bit.ly/S8J2wm @JodieRennerEd
All about publishing auctions: http://bit.ly/S8J7A4 @sjaejones
Is Traditional Publishing a
Happily Ever After? http://bit.ly/S8JeM1
@LauraHoward78
How to Perfect Your Elevator
Pitch & The Low-Down on Agency Assistant Salaries: http://bit.ly/QX2HRw @breeogden
How To Maintain Steady Book
Sales at Amazon and Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/10q5y6g
@goblinwriter
Help readers keep characters
straight: http://bit.ly/QX36U5 @juliettewade
The Subconscious Storyteller: http://bit.ly/10q6t6L @mooderino
How To Make Google Love Your
Blog: http://bit.ly/QX3qCh @woodwardkaren
Does Facebook Work For Authors?
http://bit.ly/10q7fR8 @mollygreene
Using Conflicts And Setbacks To
Create Narrative Drive: http://bit.ly/XikQvT
@woodwardkaren
iBookstore in 50 Countries: A
Step-by-Step Listing Guide: http://bit.ly/QuqeJH
@lizcastro @Porter_Anderson
Tips for writing humor: http://bit.ly/UNPjLk @joebunting
8 red flag rules for writers: http://bit.ly/WmHEJC @krissybrady
The Search Engine for Writers: http://hiveword.com/wkb/search
"Songwriters on
Songwriting": Pete Seeger: http://bit.ly/Qv32Ld
@gointothestory
What Writers & Publishers
Need To Know About deviantART: http://bit.ly/Qv371x
@galleycat
Are Self-Publishing Authors
Killing the Publishing Industry? http://bit.ly/WkcdL7
@passivevoiceblg
Popular Marketing Mistakes:
Cannibalism: http://bit.ly/YatzQ2
13 Ways to Find New Readers for
Your Books: http://bit.ly/TgHYnV
@BookMarketer
How To Get Your Book Reviewed: http://bit.ly/TgIbY5 @bookmarketer
Why Indie Authors Should Have A
Facebook Interest List: http://bit.ly/YaubFj
The importance of genre zines: http://bit.ly/YauxMf
How To Record Your Own
Audiobook: Setting Up A Home Studio: http://bit.ly/Yaxb4E
@woodwardkaren
After "The End" – The
Epilogue: http://bit.ly/TgK8DS @THahnBurkett
Why and how to blog a book: http://bit.ly/Yaxw7h @ninaamir
The bookstore brain: http://nyr.kr/TgKgDv @pageturner
Synopsis writing tips: http://bit.ly/YaxLze @lynnettelabelle
Copyright for titles and ideas?
http://bit.ly/Yay3WO @behlerpublish
How authors write: http://bit.ly/TgKOJr @jason_pontin
10 Vonnegut-Centric Sites: http://bit.ly/Yayr7Q @deadwhiteguys
People vs. persons: http://bit.ly/TgKXws @writing_tips
"Whatever you have to do
to finish it, finish it": http://bit.ly/YayEYv
@gointothestory
Can sci-fi be a happy place? http://bit.ly/TgLcHV
How to Realize Your Dreams Even
If You Don't Know How to Get There: http://bit.ly/Yaz69k
@JWhite
Publisher: a new role in data
herding: http://oreil.ly/TgLqiq @JennWebb
Soft-boiled vs hard-boiled
mysteries: http://bit.ly/YazqVu
@SouthrnWritrMag
Semicolons: A Love Story: http://nyti.ms/TgLVce @nytimes
How To Buy Your Author Domain
Name: http://bit.ly/YaA8lz @authormedia
You may want to stop pursuing
publication if...: http://bit.ly/TgNMOd
@rachellegardner
Have We Already Reached
"Peak E-book?": http://bit.ly/YaCLnx
@pubperspectives
21 Unexpected Places To Find
Your Writer's Muse: http://bit.ly/TgNUNF
How to Get Your Book Noticed in
Today's Changing Marketplace: http://bit.ly/YaCReO
@StinaLL
Tips for handling publishing's
waiting game: http://bit.ly/TgO2N7 @aswinn
How To Get Honest Book Reviews:
http://bit.ly/TgOb3b @woodwardkaren
How to Attract Customers With
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/TgPfUL @smexaminer
12 Days of Book Sales: A Dozen
Holiday Book Promotion Ideas: http://bit.ly/TgPn6M
@duolit
Top 10 Wolves in Fantasy: http://bit.ly/YaJ8az @dk_stevens
Tips for your endings: http://bit.ly/YaJePd @livewritethrive
Characters--5 defining
characteristics of Alarm personalities: http://bit.ly/TgRYO6
@jeanniecampbell
Using an "Otherworld"
as inspiration for our writing: http://bit.ly/YaJvSq
@GeneLempp
Romance--examples of books
where friends fall in love: http://bit.ly/TgSfAq
@MirandaKennealy
50 Ultimate Genre Match-Ups: http://bit.ly/YaK7HI
Screenwriting--Planning Action
Sequences: http://bit.ly/TgSBHp
@gointothestory
How To Build Your Business And
Your Blog: http://bit.ly/YaKtOl
@thecreativepenn
Adaptation is Translation: http://bit.ly/TgSGLb @amazonbooks
15 Idioms for Periods of Time: http://bit.ly/YaKF0b @writing_tips
4 Writing Fears, Debunked: http://bit.ly/10sIJ2L @ava_jae
13 Ways to Know You Have the
Right Idea For Your Book: http://bit.ly/TgZKYi
@writersdigest
Romance writing--5 Fictional
Small Towns with a Difference: http://bit.ly/10sJ0md
@Janga724
How to Write Dialogue Unique to
Your Characters: http://bit.ly/TgZWXt
@marcykennedy
No Reader Left Behind: http://bit.ly/10sJmta @kristinerusch
Striving to Be a Better Writer
by Writing More: http://bit.ly/Th00X1
@KarenCV
An Agent On Using Flashbacks in
Writing: http://bit.ly/10sJIjw @kid_lit
8 Ways Authors Turn Off
Potential Readers: http://bit.ly/Th0ble
@novelrocket @cerebralgrump
Should Authors Stalk Review
Sites? http://bit.ly/10sKblL @jodyhedlund
Add a Pinch–or a Pound–of
Poetry to Your Prose: http://bit.ly/Th0kFb
@janice_hardy
Remember to celebrate your
successes: http://bit.ly/10sKA7K
Does Amazon KDP Select Drive
Away True Fans? http://bit.ly/Th0r3J
@woodwardkaren
A beat sheet for romance
writers: http://bit.ly/10sL0en @jamigold
Beware of Simon & Schuster's Archway Pub.: http://bit.ly/X4Ne3N
@Porter_Anderson @VictoriaStrauss
Scholarly writing: Open Access
— What Do Authors Really Want? http://bit.ly/Th0ywh
@scholarlykitchn
A refresher on hyphens: http://bit.ly/10sM2Xw @writing_tips
How to Write Scary: http://bit.ly/Th125w @4YALit
Choosing A Theme for Your
Author Blog: http://bit.ly/10sMG7F
Script To Screen: "The
Rocky Horror Picture Show": http://bit.ly/Th16lC
@gointothestory
Richard Burton and the Writing
Process: http://bit.ly/10sMPYv
Are You Skimming Your Story's
Potential? http://bit.ly/Th1bWu @KMWeiland
Criminal behavior info for
crime writers: http://bit.ly/10sN7yH
@KarenCV
5 WordPress Plugins for
Increased Writing Productivity: http://bit.ly/S1ZQ6W
@lifehackorg
Swearing in YA Fiction -
Authentic? Or Gratuitous? http://bit.ly/Tl2ua1
@AimeeLSalter
Idea-Stealing: How Not to Let
Your Fear Stifle Your Creativity: http://bit.ly/S1ZZr7
@diymfa
10 things editors look for in
non-fiction: http://bit.ly/Tl2E1g
@rachellegardner
World Building & Story
Creation: Use What You Know: http://bit.ly/Tl2Hdq
@woodwardkaren
Timing your book's launch date
for maximum impact: http://bit.ly/S20ame
7 Narrative Writing Tips: http://bit.ly/Tl2QO1 @thewritermama
Websites for Indie Authors: http://bit.ly/S20jGj
Writers' most common submission
mistakes — and how to avoid them: http://bit.ly/Tl2VBk
@MidgeRaymond
3 Ways to Grow Your Author
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/S20npy
@authormedia
How to Motivate Yourself to
Actually Achieve Your Goals: http://bit.ly/Tl33Ri
@lifehacker
Why do agents ask for only a
few chapters? http://bit.ly/S20wsW
@mooderino
If Self-Publishing Books Is SO
Easy, Why Do Self-Pubbers Work So Hard At It? http://bit.ly/Tl3c7g
@badredheadmedia
The Business of Screenwriting:
Low-budget filmmaking: http://bit.ly/S20DVz
@gointothestory
Empathy. It's Where Characters
Are Born: http://bit.ly/S21jtV
@DanceOfRomance
How To Write When You Don't
Have The Time: http://bit.ly/Tl3NFU
@booklifenow
Are writers too insulated from
their readers? http://bit.ly/Tl3Phb
@CerebralGrump
A Successful Author Builds a
Team: http://bit.ly/103yQHy @danblank
When you hit the brick wall
while writing your story: http://bit.ly/TOtBYG
@YAOTLBlog
Don't sabotage your writing
career: http://bit.ly/XinKAY
@jameswatkinscom
3 things your editor needs to
know: http://bit.ly/TOsDvn @wherewriterswin
10 Indisputable Signs That
You're a Writer: http://bit.ly/103wBE1
@ava_jae
Beware The False Compliments
That Are Killing Your Writing: http://bit.ly/XilZnd
@fuelyourwriting
How to Win in Amazon's KDP
Select Program: http://bit.ly/XilxFI
@tweetthebook
How To Attribute Artwork
Licensed Under The Creative Commons: http://bit.ly/ZMXX2d
@woodwardkaren
Do publishers hate authors? http://bit.ly/Wp8goI @VictoriaStrauss
@Business_Ghost @petermccarthy @Porter_Anderson
3 Stages of Merger Reaction: http://bit.ly/TljUDw @Porter_Anderson
@eoinpurcell
Revealing Your Novel's Theme: http://bit.ly/S64lxi
Why today's writers need a garret: http://bit.ly/X4zaHp
@Porter_Anderson @edcyzewski
Guide to Book Launch and
Advance Sales Strategies with CreateSpace and Lulu: http://bit.ly/RbGIGE @jfbookman
Showing emotions instead of
telling them: http://bit.ly/RbGRd0
@novelrocket
Do You Admit To Being A Writer
In Public? http://bit.ly/S656qg
@thecreativepenn
Establishing a Writing
Schedule: http://bit.ly/S65sgw @MaryKnapke
The journey to publication can
feel like a storm: http://bit.ly/S65HIr
@lydia_sharp
Character Emotion: Is It
Written All Over Their Face? http://bit.ly/RbHq6E
@angelaackerman
A Better Way to Engage Your
Readers: Go Responsive: http://bit.ly/S66klc
@nickthacker
5 Ways to Make Google Calendar
Work For You: http://bit.ly/ToLAr2
@lifehackorg
Freelancers: 8 Rules You'll
Need to Become An Editor's Go-To Writer: http://bit.ly/ULZ3HQ
@problogger
Writing To Music: Knowing Your
Characters: http://bit.ly/ToLPCq
@woodwardkaren
How libraries buy mysteries: http://bit.ly/ULZC4i
Your Must-Have Book Checklist:
From Idea to Publication: http://bit.ly/ToM3cX
@KMWeiland
Tips for writing disasters: http://bit.ly/UM0iqv @Dianapfrancis
5 Ways To Get Your First Draft
Material Out Of Your Head And Onto The Page: http://bit.ly/ToMgNb
@thecreativepenn
Scriptwriting--Great Scene:
"American Beauty": http://bit.ly/UM1eep
@gointothestory
Backlists:Authors Discover the 1978 Copyright Act: http://bit.ly/TnYi61
@jeffjohnroberts @Porter_Anderson
Why Are We Running as Fast as
We Can to Stay in the Same Place? http://bit.ly/UM1B8F
@annerallen
Sound Effects In Your Writing: http://bit.ly/ToPal1
Using book structure to create compelling stories: http://bit.ly/V9Urve
@suspense_writer
The importance of moments of normalcy to crime fiction: http://bit.ly/RnPC3V
@mkinberg
Amazon Doubles Down on Exclusivity: http://bit.ly/RoRYPT
@MarkCoker
Twitterific
is a compilation of all the writing links I shared the previous week.
The links are fed into the Writer’sKnowledge 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.
Try “My WKB”--a way for you to list and sort articles,
view your read articles, and see your search history. Read more about it here: http://bit.ly/S9thqS.
The free My WKB page is here: http://bit.ly/PV8Ueb. And check out Hiveword to
help you organize your story.
3 Stages of Merger Reaction: http://bit.ly/TljUDw
@Porter_Anderson @eoinpurcell
Ex-pat characters in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/Tn5DCB
@mkinberg
Tips for effective action scenes: http://bit.ly/TohArF
@JodieRennerEd
Tips for developing your writing style: http://bit.ly/X3Jtvg
@aguiltymind
The Essence of Genre--At The Movies: http://bit.ly/X3WDZn
@camillelaguire
Is There
Ever a Time to Give Up On that Book? http://bit.ly/TNTiX5
@AimeeLSalter
Why is an ebook ever riddled
with typos? http://vrge.co/TNTkxZ
@laura_june
Defining genre: http://bit.ly/TNTohq @noveleditor
After e-literature, there's no
going back: http://bit.ly/S7ZCwi @salon
Do publishers hate authors? http://bit.ly/Wp8goI
@VictoriaStrauss @Business_Ghost @petermccarthy @Porter_Anderson
Refresher on semicolons: http://bit.ly/TNTxkS
How Dialogue Reveals Character:
http://bit.ly/S7ZNb7 @maria_mckenzie
Romance reader stats from RWA: http://bit.ly/S8051u
The search engine for writers: http://hiveword.com/wkb/search
iBookstore in 50 Countries: A Step-by-Step Listing
Guide: http://bit.ly/QuqeJH @lizcastro @Porter_Anderson
How to speak publisher: F is
for Flat fee: http://bit.ly/TOofu7
@anne_rooney
5 Tactics Bloggers Can Steal
from Fiction Writers: http://bit.ly/S8IhU7
@originalimpulse
5 tips for new writers: http://bit.ly/TOowNB @sierragodfrey
Who Dictates What You Write? http://bit.ly/S8IzKG @write_practice
3 Keys to Storytelling: http://bit.ly/TOoFAM @KristanHoffman
Openings that Orient: http://bit.ly/S8ICWX @fictionnotes
Balancing the Scenes that Make
Up Your Novel: http://bit.ly/TOoJjW
@kristenlambtx
What Does a Character Look
LIke? Are You Sure? http://bit.ly/TOoMw1
9 Ways to Beat Writer's Block: http://bit.ly/TOoR2N+|+Duolit%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
@WrenDoloro
How (Not) to Be an Awesome
Critique Partner: http://bit.ly/S8INBx
@ava_jae
Things Silent Movies Can Teach
us About Storytelling: http://bit.ly/TOoYLU
@janice_hardy
How to Save a Bundle on Editing
Costs: http://bit.ly/S8J2wm @JodieRennerEd
All about publishing auctions: http://bit.ly/S8J7A4 @sjaejones
Is Traditional Publishing a
Happily Ever After? http://bit.ly/S8JeM1
@LauraHoward78
How to Perfect Your Elevator
Pitch & The Low-Down on Agency Assistant Salaries: http://bit.ly/QX2HRw @breeogden
How To Maintain Steady Book
Sales at Amazon and Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/10q5y6g
@goblinwriter
Help readers keep characters
straight: http://bit.ly/QX36U5 @juliettewade
The Subconscious Storyteller: http://bit.ly/10q6t6L @mooderino
How To Make Google Love Your
Blog: http://bit.ly/QX3qCh @woodwardkaren
Does Facebook Work For Authors?
http://bit.ly/10q7fR8 @mollygreene
Using Conflicts And Setbacks To
Create Narrative Drive: http://bit.ly/XikQvT
@woodwardkaren
iBookstore in 50 Countries: A
Step-by-Step Listing Guide: http://bit.ly/QuqeJH
@lizcastro @Porter_Anderson
Tips for writing humor: http://bit.ly/UNPjLk @joebunting
8 red flag rules for writers: http://bit.ly/WmHEJC @krissybrady
The Search Engine for Writers: http://hiveword.com/wkb/search
"Songwriters on
Songwriting": Pete Seeger: http://bit.ly/Qv32Ld
@gointothestory
What Writers & Publishers
Need To Know About deviantART: http://bit.ly/Qv371x
@galleycat
Are Self-Publishing Authors
Killing the Publishing Industry? http://bit.ly/WkcdL7
@passivevoiceblg
Popular Marketing Mistakes:
Cannibalism: http://bit.ly/YatzQ2
13 Ways to Find New Readers for
Your Books: http://bit.ly/TgHYnV
@BookMarketer
How To Get Your Book Reviewed: http://bit.ly/TgIbY5 @bookmarketer
Why Indie Authors Should Have A
Facebook Interest List: http://bit.ly/YaubFj
The importance of genre zines: http://bit.ly/YauxMf
How To Record Your Own
Audiobook: Setting Up A Home Studio: http://bit.ly/Yaxb4E
@woodwardkaren
After "The End" – The
Epilogue: http://bit.ly/TgK8DS @THahnBurkett
Why and how to blog a book: http://bit.ly/Yaxw7h @ninaamir
The bookstore brain: http://nyr.kr/TgKgDv @pageturner
Synopsis writing tips: http://bit.ly/YaxLze @lynnettelabelle
Copyright for titles and ideas?
http://bit.ly/Yay3WO @behlerpublish
How authors write: http://bit.ly/TgKOJr @jason_pontin
10 Vonnegut-Centric Sites: http://bit.ly/Yayr7Q @deadwhiteguys
People vs. persons: http://bit.ly/TgKXws @writing_tips
"Whatever you have to do
to finish it, finish it": http://bit.ly/YayEYv
@gointothestory
Can sci-fi be a happy place? http://bit.ly/TgLcHV
How to Realize Your Dreams Even
If You Don't Know How to Get There: http://bit.ly/Yaz69k
@JWhite
Publisher: a new role in data
herding: http://oreil.ly/TgLqiq @JennWebb
Soft-boiled vs hard-boiled
mysteries: http://bit.ly/YazqVu
@SouthrnWritrMag
Semicolons: A Love Story: http://nyti.ms/TgLVce @nytimes
How To Buy Your Author Domain
Name: http://bit.ly/YaA8lz @authormedia
You may want to stop pursuing
publication if...: http://bit.ly/TgNMOd
@rachellegardner
Have We Already Reached
"Peak E-book?": http://bit.ly/YaCLnx
@pubperspectives
21 Unexpected Places To Find
Your Writer's Muse: http://bit.ly/TgNUNF
How to Get Your Book Noticed in
Today's Changing Marketplace: http://bit.ly/YaCReO
@StinaLL
Tips for handling publishing's
waiting game: http://bit.ly/TgO2N7 @aswinn
How To Get Honest Book Reviews:
http://bit.ly/TgOb3b @woodwardkaren
How to Attract Customers With
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/TgPfUL @smexaminer
12 Days of Book Sales: A Dozen
Holiday Book Promotion Ideas: http://bit.ly/TgPn6M
@duolit
Top 10 Wolves in Fantasy: http://bit.ly/YaJ8az @dk_stevens
Tips for your endings: http://bit.ly/YaJePd @livewritethrive
Characters--5 defining
characteristics of Alarm personalities: http://bit.ly/TgRYO6
@jeanniecampbell
Using an "Otherworld"
as inspiration for our writing: http://bit.ly/YaJvSq
@GeneLempp
Romance--examples of books
where friends fall in love: http://bit.ly/TgSfAq
@MirandaKennealy
50 Ultimate Genre Match-Ups: http://bit.ly/YaK7HI
Screenwriting--Planning Action
Sequences: http://bit.ly/TgSBHp
@gointothestory
How To Build Your Business And
Your Blog: http://bit.ly/YaKtOl
@thecreativepenn
Adaptation is Translation: http://bit.ly/TgSGLb @amazonbooks
15 Idioms for Periods of Time: http://bit.ly/YaKF0b @writing_tips
4 Writing Fears, Debunked: http://bit.ly/10sIJ2L @ava_jae
13 Ways to Know You Have the
Right Idea For Your Book: http://bit.ly/TgZKYi
@writersdigest
Romance writing--5 Fictional
Small Towns with a Difference: http://bit.ly/10sJ0md
@Janga724
How to Write Dialogue Unique to
Your Characters: http://bit.ly/TgZWXt
@marcykennedy
No Reader Left Behind: http://bit.ly/10sJmta @kristinerusch
Striving to Be a Better Writer
by Writing More: http://bit.ly/Th00X1
@KarenCV
An Agent On Using Flashbacks in
Writing: http://bit.ly/10sJIjw @kid_lit
8 Ways Authors Turn Off
Potential Readers: http://bit.ly/Th0ble
@novelrocket @cerebralgrump
Should Authors Stalk Review
Sites? http://bit.ly/10sKblL @jodyhedlund
Add a Pinch–or a Pound–of
Poetry to Your Prose: http://bit.ly/Th0kFb
@janice_hardy
Remember to celebrate your
successes: http://bit.ly/10sKA7K
Does Amazon KDP Select Drive
Away True Fans? http://bit.ly/Th0r3J
@woodwardkaren
A beat sheet for romance
writers: http://bit.ly/10sL0en @jamigold
Beware of Simon & Schuster's Archway Pub.: http://bit.ly/X4Ne3N
@Porter_Anderson @VictoriaStrauss
Scholarly writing: Open Access
— What Do Authors Really Want? http://bit.ly/Th0ywh
@scholarlykitchn
A refresher on hyphens: http://bit.ly/10sM2Xw @writing_tips
How to Write Scary: http://bit.ly/Th125w @4YALit
Choosing A Theme for Your
Author Blog: http://bit.ly/10sMG7F
Script To Screen: "The
Rocky Horror Picture Show": http://bit.ly/Th16lC
@gointothestory
Richard Burton and the Writing
Process: http://bit.ly/10sMPYv
Are You Skimming Your Story's
Potential? http://bit.ly/Th1bWu @KMWeiland
Criminal behavior info for
crime writers: http://bit.ly/10sN7yH
@KarenCV
5 WordPress Plugins for
Increased Writing Productivity: http://bit.ly/S1ZQ6W
@lifehackorg
Swearing in YA Fiction -
Authentic? Or Gratuitous? http://bit.ly/Tl2ua1
@AimeeLSalter
Idea-Stealing: How Not to Let
Your Fear Stifle Your Creativity: http://bit.ly/S1ZZr7
@diymfa
10 things editors look for in
non-fiction: http://bit.ly/Tl2E1g
@rachellegardner
World Building & Story
Creation: Use What You Know: http://bit.ly/Tl2Hdq
@woodwardkaren
Timing your book's launch date
for maximum impact: http://bit.ly/S20ame
7 Narrative Writing Tips: http://bit.ly/Tl2QO1 @thewritermama
Websites for Indie Authors: http://bit.ly/S20jGj
Writers' most common submission
mistakes — and how to avoid them: http://bit.ly/Tl2VBk
@MidgeRaymond
3 Ways to Grow Your Author
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/S20npy
@authormedia
How to Motivate Yourself to
Actually Achieve Your Goals: http://bit.ly/Tl33Ri
@lifehacker
Why do agents ask for only a
few chapters? http://bit.ly/S20wsW
@mooderino
If Self-Publishing Books Is SO
Easy, Why Do Self-Pubbers Work So Hard At It? http://bit.ly/Tl3c7g
@badredheadmedia
The Business of Screenwriting:
Low-budget filmmaking: http://bit.ly/S20DVz
@gointothestory
Empathy. It's Where Characters
Are Born: http://bit.ly/S21jtV
@DanceOfRomance
How To Write When You Don't
Have The Time: http://bit.ly/Tl3NFU
@booklifenow
Are writers too insulated from
their readers? http://bit.ly/Tl3Phb
@CerebralGrump
A Successful Author Builds a
Team: http://bit.ly/103yQHy @danblank
When you hit the brick wall
while writing your story: http://bit.ly/TOtBYG
@YAOTLBlog
Don't sabotage your writing
career: http://bit.ly/XinKAY
@jameswatkinscom
3 things your editor needs to
know: http://bit.ly/TOsDvn @wherewriterswin
10 Indisputable Signs That
You're a Writer: http://bit.ly/103wBE1
@ava_jae
Beware The False Compliments
That Are Killing Your Writing: http://bit.ly/XilZnd
@fuelyourwriting
How to Win in Amazon's KDP
Select Program: http://bit.ly/XilxFI
@tweetthebook
How To Attribute Artwork
Licensed Under The Creative Commons: http://bit.ly/ZMXX2d
@woodwardkaren
Do publishers hate authors? http://bit.ly/Wp8goI @VictoriaStrauss
@Business_Ghost @petermccarthy @Porter_Anderson
3 Stages of Merger Reaction: http://bit.ly/TljUDw @Porter_Anderson
@eoinpurcell
Revealing Your Novel's Theme: http://bit.ly/S64lxi
Why today's writers need a garret: http://bit.ly/X4zaHp
@Porter_Anderson @edcyzewski
Guide to Book Launch and
Advance Sales Strategies with CreateSpace and Lulu: http://bit.ly/RbGIGE @jfbookman
Showing emotions instead of
telling them: http://bit.ly/RbGRd0
@novelrocket
Do You Admit To Being A Writer
In Public? http://bit.ly/S656qg
@thecreativepenn
Establishing a Writing
Schedule: http://bit.ly/S65sgw @MaryKnapke
The journey to publication can
feel like a storm: http://bit.ly/S65HIr
@lydia_sharp
Character Emotion: Is It
Written All Over Their Face? http://bit.ly/RbHq6E
@angelaackerman
A Better Way to Engage Your
Readers: Go Responsive: http://bit.ly/S66klc
@nickthacker
5 Ways to Make Google Calendar
Work For You: http://bit.ly/ToLAr2
@lifehackorg
Freelancers: 8 Rules You'll
Need to Become An Editor's Go-To Writer: http://bit.ly/ULZ3HQ
@problogger
Writing To Music: Knowing Your
Characters: http://bit.ly/ToLPCq
@woodwardkaren
How libraries buy mysteries: http://bit.ly/ULZC4i
Your Must-Have Book Checklist:
From Idea to Publication: http://bit.ly/ToM3cX
@KMWeiland
Tips for writing disasters: http://bit.ly/UM0iqv @Dianapfrancis
5 Ways To Get Your First Draft
Material Out Of Your Head And Onto The Page: http://bit.ly/ToMgNb
@thecreativepenn
Scriptwriting--Great Scene:
"American Beauty": http://bit.ly/UM1eep
@gointothestory
Backlists:Authors Discover the 1978 Copyright Act: http://bit.ly/TnYi61
@jeffjohnroberts @Porter_Anderson
Why Are We Running as Fast as
We Can to Stay in the Same Place? http://bit.ly/UM1B8F
@annerallen
Sound Effects In Your Writing: http://bit.ly/ToPal1
Using book structure to create compelling stories: http://bit.ly/V9Urve
@suspense_writer
The importance of moments of normalcy to crime fiction: http://bit.ly/RnPC3V
@mkinberg
Amazon Doubles Down on Exclusivity: http://bit.ly/RoRYPT
@MarkCoker
November 29, 2012
Using Book Structure to Create Compelling Stories--Guest Post by Terry Ambrose
by Terry Ambrose, @suspense_writer
Purchase here
The
epiphany, the “aha” moment, the smack on the side of the head. No matter what
we call it, that moment when the last piece of the puzzle snaps into place is
an amazing moment. In this case, that moment had to do with writing a
compelling story.
Let’s face it, some writers are just masters at
creating a story that readers can’t put down. For me, that’s the ultimate
compliment and the holy grail of writing mysteries and suspense. I’ve studied
and practiced the craft of writing for many years and became a fan of Jack M.
Bickham’s scene and sequel writing theory for some time back. In my opinion,
most fiction writers would benefit just by learning Bickham’s theories about
how to structure a novel.
Scenes and
sequels
When I read Bickham’s “Elements of Fiction
Writing: Scene and Structure,” I realized that my writing had subconsciously
been moving in that direction for years. Bickham’s guidance was what I needed
at precisely the right moment. It gave me questions to ask before I started
laboring over any new scene. In short, it gave my writing structure.
•
Everything
that happens in a story is based on a stimulus and for every stimulus, there
will be a character response.
•
Scenes
advance the story through establishing character goals, generating conflict,
and taking characters one step forward, two steps back with major and minor
disasters.
•
Sequels
provide the reader an opportunity to get closer to the characters by showing
why they took an action and what emotions they felt. The sequel also sets up
the next action in the story.
The “next”
paragraph, from structure to compelling
My second “aha” moment was pure serendipity. I’d
just attended a meeting where bestselling author Kelley Armstrong talked about
plotting. She gave a number of tips to help writers move their plots forward
more quickly. That, as the saying goes, “primed the pump.” The real smack on
the side of the head came when my wife brought home an old Greg Isles book that
she came across while working at the Friends of the Library bookstore.
“Black Cross” hooked me with the first sentence.
So far, good job Mr. Isles, you made me want to finish the paragraph. At the
end of the first paragraph, I had to read the second. Then the third. By the
end of the second page, there was no question that this was what a compelling
read was all about—the next paragraph. The epiphany—it’s all about playing
dirty.
Playing
dirty
Whether I’m writing a funny Hawaiian mystery
like PHOTO FINISH or a suspense novel like my upcoming release, my goal is to
get the reader to the next paragraph. If I write each paragraph with a
mini-hook at the end, I’ll have done my part. Perhaps someday I’ll have another
moment like “the next paragraph” moment. Will it be days? Months? Years? I have
no idea. What I do know is that instead of using a hook at the end of each
chapter, as I did before, I’m now taking that concept to the paragraph level
and treating each paragraph as though it might be a chance for the reader to
put down the book. Sorry, readers, but I’m determined to play dirty and not give
you that chance.
About the
author
Terry Ambrose started out skip tracing and
collecting money from deadbeats and quickly learned that liars come from all
walks of life. He never actually stole a car, but sometimes hired big guys with
tow trucks and a penchant for working in the dark when “negotiations” failed.
In his debut novel PHOTO FINISH, a former skip
tracer meets a beautiful con artist in Honolulu and finds trouble almost too
hot to handle. Terry’s next novel, LICENSE TO LIE, will be released in mid
December. It’s about a $5 million con gone bad and the harshest lesson of
all—never trust a soul…even your own.
Learn more about Terry on his website at terryambrose.com
or on his Facebook author page at facebook.com/suspense.writer.
November 28, 2012
Honing and Developing My Personal Writing Style--Guest Post by Kellie Larsen Murphy
by Kellie Larsen Murphy, @aguiltymind
Purchase here
I have always been a writer. In high school, I served as yearbook
editor. In college, I sequenced in a series of English classes. Early in my
business career, I took creative writing after work. In recent years, I've
worked for several magazines as a freelance writer. So, writing a novel should
have been easy. Right? Hmmm. Not so much. Actually, writing the novel was not
the hard part. Writing a good novel was.
Don't Get Upset. Listen
When I wrote my first manuscript, I was very excited. I sent
out query letters. I attended writing conferences. I got some interest. Hooray!
But then I came down to earth. How do I know the book wasn't very good? Well, the
rejection slips were one way but more importantly, an agent was kind enough to write
me a long letter and tell me specifically what was wrong with it. First, she
said, the book was too long. In fact, that manuscript was twice the length of
what most debut novels should be. Second, she said the story was interesting
but the pacing was slow and the action took too long to happen. Finally, the
chapters were overly wordy and (surprise!) too long. But, she also said there
was potential in my writing. I had just buried it in too many words. Thankfully, I listened.
To learn to use words economically, I entered short story
contests and, happily, earned some awards. I truly believe this is a great
practice for writers who are developing their writing style. Not only will you
challenge yourself, you will get honest feedback from the judges. Choose
contests with varying lengths. Can you tell your story in 2500 words? 1500? How
about 500? I also took on freelance writing assignments that were often limited
to 1000 words. Essays, too. Today, I find word limits easy but only because I listened to constructive criticism
from someone who was in a position to give it.
My new novel, A GuiltyMind , is built on short chapters to create suspense. This aspect of my
writing style is the direct result of the work I put in on contests and
freelance assignments. And how do I know it works? Well, I have been fortunate
to speak with several book clubs that have chosen A Guilty Mind and one recurring comment is how they enjoyed the
short chapters. As a writer, I love when someone says, "Well, I was super tired
but the chapters were short so I thought I'd stay up and read just one
more…"
Don't Be Intimidated
and Test Your Work
Sometimes, it's easy to be in awe of another writer's ability
and lose faith in yourself. I once took a creative writing class where one of
the students was so good, such an intuitive writer, that the rest of us hung
our heads. Our work probably wasn't all that bad but when she read her stories
out loud, she took us all to another place and time. Yet, in spite of her
skill, I've never heard of her again and don't know if she is still writing
today.
Don't be intimidated by rejections either. Try to learn where
you can improve your style. While your friends and family are wonderful, they
may not be qualified to tell you where your style needs work. Test your style on your writing group, beta
readers, or even your book club if they are willing. My own book club read
the first draft of A Guilty Mind and
their feedback, questions, and criticism helped shape the final manuscript.
Don't Be Afraid to
Start Over
Starting over can be anything from a rewrite to starting an
entirely new novel. This is what I did. While I haven't permanently abandoned that
first manuscript, a new story was buzzing in my brain and I couldn't wait to
write it - especially with all that I had learned. That story, A Guilty Mind, was born. Still, it
wasn't a cakewalk. I wrote several drafts. I chopped chapters. I added an
entirely new character in one of the later drafts. The point is, don't be wedded to the words. Starting
over, whether it's just a paragraph or several chapters allows you to tell the
story in the best way possible, always honing and developing your style over
time.
Your Style Will be
Your Own
While finding the time to work on my next novel is sometimes
a challenge, finding my style isn't. Writing this book in a voice that fits the
genre and me is easier than ever. All it took was listening, practicing, and
not giving up.
Kellie Larsen Murphy is a
freelance writer for several regional and southern magazines. An avid reader
and book club enthusiast, she'd enjoy meeting you on her
blog where
she posts about her publishing journey. A Guilty Mind , the first in a series
of psychological suspense novels featuring Detective Michael Cancini, was
published in September. You can follower her on twitter @aguiltymind.
Purchase here
I have always been a writer. In high school, I served as yearbook
editor. In college, I sequenced in a series of English classes. Early in my
business career, I took creative writing after work. In recent years, I've
worked for several magazines as a freelance writer. So, writing a novel should
have been easy. Right? Hmmm. Not so much. Actually, writing the novel was not
the hard part. Writing a good novel was.
Don't Get Upset. Listen
When I wrote my first manuscript, I was very excited. I sent
out query letters. I attended writing conferences. I got some interest. Hooray!
But then I came down to earth. How do I know the book wasn't very good? Well, the
rejection slips were one way but more importantly, an agent was kind enough to write
me a long letter and tell me specifically what was wrong with it. First, she
said, the book was too long. In fact, that manuscript was twice the length of
what most debut novels should be. Second, she said the story was interesting
but the pacing was slow and the action took too long to happen. Finally, the
chapters were overly wordy and (surprise!) too long. But, she also said there
was potential in my writing. I had just buried it in too many words. Thankfully, I listened.
To learn to use words economically, I entered short story
contests and, happily, earned some awards. I truly believe this is a great
practice for writers who are developing their writing style. Not only will you
challenge yourself, you will get honest feedback from the judges. Choose
contests with varying lengths. Can you tell your story in 2500 words? 1500? How
about 500? I also took on freelance writing assignments that were often limited
to 1000 words. Essays, too. Today, I find word limits easy but only because I listened to constructive criticism
from someone who was in a position to give it.
My new novel, A GuiltyMind , is built on short chapters to create suspense. This aspect of my
writing style is the direct result of the work I put in on contests and
freelance assignments. And how do I know it works? Well, I have been fortunate
to speak with several book clubs that have chosen A Guilty Mind and one recurring comment is how they enjoyed the
short chapters. As a writer, I love when someone says, "Well, I was super tired
but the chapters were short so I thought I'd stay up and read just one
more…"
Don't Be Intimidated
and Test Your Work
Sometimes, it's easy to be in awe of another writer's ability
and lose faith in yourself. I once took a creative writing class where one of
the students was so good, such an intuitive writer, that the rest of us hung
our heads. Our work probably wasn't all that bad but when she read her stories
out loud, she took us all to another place and time. Yet, in spite of her
skill, I've never heard of her again and don't know if she is still writing
today.
Don't be intimidated by rejections either. Try to learn where
you can improve your style. While your friends and family are wonderful, they
may not be qualified to tell you where your style needs work. Test your style on your writing group, beta
readers, or even your book club if they are willing. My own book club read
the first draft of A Guilty Mind and
their feedback, questions, and criticism helped shape the final manuscript.
Don't Be Afraid to
Start Over
Starting over can be anything from a rewrite to starting an
entirely new novel. This is what I did. While I haven't permanently abandoned that
first manuscript, a new story was buzzing in my brain and I couldn't wait to
write it - especially with all that I had learned. That story, A Guilty Mind, was born. Still, it
wasn't a cakewalk. I wrote several drafts. I chopped chapters. I added an
entirely new character in one of the later drafts. The point is, don't be wedded to the words. Starting
over, whether it's just a paragraph or several chapters allows you to tell the
story in the best way possible, always honing and developing your style over
time.
Your Style Will be
Your Own
While finding the time to work on my next novel is sometimes
a challenge, finding my style isn't. Writing this book in a voice that fits the
genre and me is easier than ever. All it took was listening, practicing, and
not giving up.
Kellie Larsen Murphy is a
freelance writer for several regional and southern magazines. An avid reader
and book club enthusiast, she'd enjoy meeting you on her
blog where
she posts about her publishing journey. A Guilty Mind , the first in a series
of psychological suspense novels featuring Detective Michael Cancini, was
published in September. You can follower her on twitter @aguiltymind.
Developing Conflict and Tension
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
One of the best ways to make sure readers keep turning pages is to include plenty of conflict and tension in our story.
Today I’m over at F.C. Malby’s blog with some tips for developing conflict and tension in our books. Hope you’ll pop over.
One of the best ways to make sure readers keep turning pages is to include plenty of conflict and tension in our story. Today I’m over at F.C. Malby’s blog with some tips for developing conflict and tension in our books. Hope you’ll pop over.
