Riley Adams's Blog, page 181

Eliminating Unnecessary Plot Complications

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Penguin has asked me to write a fourth Memphis Barbeque book. It was great to hear that I'd have a reason to spend more time with the characters in that series.

I also had an idea for something I wanted to do with the plot—I wanted to feature the huge Memphis in May festival that's such a big event there every year.

My protagonist and sleuth for the series is Lulu Taylor, who owns a barbeque restaurant. I decided to make Lulu a judge for the event. There are many different foods to judge at the festival—everything from slaw to sauce to the barbeque itself.

I got deeper into the research on being a food judge. I realized there were different rules these judges have to follow to keep the competition fair. I saw that there was a good deal of training that went into being one. I felt, also, that this would be something I'd need to make sure I represented well in the book, since there are people in Memphis who read this series…and I wanted my information to be correct and not something that I changed for my own purposes.

I could also tell that Lulu would be kept very busy as a judge.

As I got farther into the book (this is one that I'm working on now), I realized I was making this mystery unnecessarily complex. And confusing. And, really, having Lulu be a judge was going to tie up a lot of her time and make her less available to investigate a murder.

This wasn't a book about judging barbeque competitions. This was a mystery. And my sleuth needed to solve the mystery, not pick the top baked bean winner.

These were some of the questions I asked myself before I decided to demote Lulu from judgeship:

Does this forward the plot? Is it necessary?

Am I including research simply to show off how well I've researched?

Will this complication confuse readers?

Are there other, simpler ways to accomplish the same effect?

What's the basic reason I'm including this complication in the book?

For me, I decided the whole point I'd made Lulu a judge was to put her on the scene at Memphis in May. But wouldn't she already be there? Her best friends have a booth at the festival. It's the biggest Memphis event of the year. And Lulu has two grandchildren begging for her to take them there.

Why wouldn't she be there? The whole complication of Lulu being a judge just wasn't needed. It only made the plot more convoluted for readers and tougher for me to write. And required a great deal of research.

Do you ever notice, like me, that you're making things complicated for both yourself and your readers? How do you simplify unnecessarily convoluted plotlines?

Nice Bloggers Don't Get the Girl

by Steven Lewis, @Rule17

Being raised English presented considerable disadvantages to me as a writer and a blogger. The greatest of them was the English pride in understatement and self-deprecation.

Promoting my blog and my books has required me to re-educate myself. It hasn't been easy to unprogram a lifetime's teaching. Only the other day my wife took me aside after I was asked how sales of my new book Hot Silver - Riding the Indian Pacific were going.

"I'm no Bill Bryson," I'd said.

With a stern look she pointed out that I was number three in the Amazon bestseller list for my category. Why on earth didn't I tell people that, she asked. Well now I have and that's what I'm learning to do with my blog as well.

Taleist runs under the slogan "Helping writers become published authors". It's true, that's what the site is about, but it seems wrong to shout about it. I was a long time before I put the tagline up.

The truth is that nice bloggers don't get the reader. You have to talk about your virtues and strengths. You need to tell people what your site is good at because you can't count on them investing the energy in finding out themselves. You need to back yourself, to become your cheering section.

Certainly word-of-mouth is crucial, especially people using their social networks to share your content. But you set the tone. Your self-belief leads others to believe in you.

The trick is to find the line between confident and obnoxious. Whatever our cultural background there is a line between someone we admire for his or her self-confidence and someone whose arrogance grates. That line is in a different place for everyone so you're also going to have to grow a thick enough skin to cope with that.

You won't be loved by everybody but it's better to loved passionately by a few than to be a source of indifference to many.

Some of the things I've learned to do to promote myself assertively are:

To have an elevator pitch. As well as "helping writers become self-published authors" Taleist is "well-regarded internationally by self-publishers". Both these statements are true but previously I wouldn't have said them out loud, I'd have hoped someone else would say it or you'd find it out some other way. Having those phrases ready in the wings means I don't need as much mental energy to say them out loud when the opportunity arises. (Note I still won't say I'm helping authors or well-regarded.)

To use testimonials. I'm lucky enough to have found some credible people who like what I'm doing. When they say something nice about the site/the books/me, I ask to use their words. That way I don't have to assert these things myself and it doesn't look like I'm the only person who thinks I'm useful or I write well.

To ask for what I want. No reader is as committed as the reader who has subscribed to your blog by email. I work hard to build my subscriber list, including having a pop-up window that appears on the site and asks visitors to sign up. Many people instinctively recoil at the idea of these windows. Me, too! How obnoxious they are. But they work: I've had triple digit percentage growth in my mailing list since introducing them. If you don't ask, you don't get.

I haven't got all the answers and there are things I still need to work on. I think Copyblogger is essential reading, for instance, but sometimes I find their tone relentless and their content contrived. Their success suggests, however, that they're onto something!

Most of all, after writing for newspapers and magazines for 15 years and having seven books on Amazon, I'm surely entitled to say "writer" when asked what I do. So why can't I? Yet.

Steven Lewis writes the Taleist self-publishing blog, where you
can sign-up for his social media check-up, a free email course showing you easy ways to make sure you're using social media to maximum effect in promoting your books.

Twitterific

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Below are the writing-related links I tweeted last week.

The free Writer's Knowledge Base search engine, designed by software engineer and writer Mike Fleming, makes all these links (now over 14,000) searchable. The WKB recently celebrated its one-year anniversary.

Sign up for the free monthly WKB newsletter for the web's best links and interviews:http://bit.ly/gx7hg1

The best structure for your book: http://bit.ly/wNBEjW @originalimpulse

Storytelling & Literary Techniques: http://bit.ly/yLESh2 @writersdigest

Facebook danger, smutty & genre e-reading, library ebook lending update, ind. news & views from @Porter_Anderson: http://bit.ly/AqoK4O

The problem with free: http://bit.ly/zCLzUh @kristenlambTX

Do Blog Tours Sell Books? http://bit.ly/wH83ZX @roniloren

Violence and Gore in Fantasy: http://bit.ly/AugebL @AmyJRoseDavis

Tips for good book endings: http://bit.ly/z02UYr @TaliaVance

Love Story Elements: http://bit.ly/zuVWMF @AlexSokoloff

5 ways to bust through your freelance fears: http://bit.ly/ycEDGW @stephauteri for @MichelleRafter

A notice to publishers from a librarian: http://bit.ly/zge5nk @TheLiB

20 Pairs of One-Word and Two-Word Forms: http://bit.ly/xzjwTV @writing_tips

Why people use ghostwriters: http://bit.ly/wRprfK @storykim

How Should Writers Research? All at Once or As Needed? http://bit.ly/AheLTV @JodyHedlund

Stay with the agent or the agency when your agent moves? http://bit.ly/yBLZ60 @JordynRedwood

The Role of Editors: A Writer's Viewpoint: http://bit.ly/ArED4J

How to Create and Host a Blog Carnival: http://bit.ly/wUZVWm @problogger

What Makes You Feel Legitimate? http://bit.ly/ABroQO @jamigold

Digital textbooks challenge from US government: http://bit.ly/xAymUW @JohnP_Education

The Key to Distraction-Free Writing: http://bit.ly/xGebQ0 @jeffgoins

Set Up Your Author Pinterest Profile In 10 Easy Steps: http://bit.ly/AsaxzM @authormedia

Quick Tips for Improving Your Blog's Navigation: http://bit.ly/A7LiaO @pushingsocial

Dealing with chronological breaks in your story: http://bit.ly/yyi1kS @juliettewade

What Non-Fiction Authors Can Teach Novelists: http://bit.ly/y9dFbN @KMWeiland

Varying sentence length: http://bit.ly/xaVjNc

7 Truths About Writers: http://bit.ly/xhgfnu @thecreativepenn

Are online ads a good choice for authors? http://bit.ly/ytI39P @Beth_Barany

Editor Alan Rinzler with tips for writing genre crossovers: http://bit.ly/yg2syQ

Critiques, Another Angle: http://bit.ly/yEN2Pz @HeatherMcCorkle

Are Tablet Computers Right For Writers? http://bit.ly/zjjYiW @ChandlerWrites

The Nuts and Bolts of: Impressions, Clicks and Free: http://bit.ly/zMVZeO @JenTalty

Ways writers jolt readers out of the story: http://bit.ly/wwdOAJ @EdieMelson

Artistic Freedom, Fame & Finishing, No Matter What: http://bit.ly/w847mq @Aristonian for @the99percent

A Quiz on the Treatment of 75 Compound Words: http://bit.ly/Alvxmb @writing_tips

The stories inside our story: http://bit.ly/ym3wr5 @storyfix

Print Books: The New Vanity Publishing? http://bit.ly/ybLdFC @thecreativepenn for @jfbookman

Non-traditional ways to market: http://bit.ly/x49wy0 @LauraPauling

Permanence, Capitalists, and Ebooks: http://bit.ly/A8lxMJ @scholarlykitchn

Using the Evil Overlord List to Write More Interesting Villains: http://bit.ly/w9vnmt

Keeping Track of Character Knowledge: http://bit.ly/zh3F2S @Janice_Hardy

Writing + baby = ? http://bit.ly/xgv5a8 @thatleila

Making time for : http://bit.ly/wv3GEq @jodicleghorn

The Ins and Outs of Critique Groups: http://bit.ly/xOqZSO @loislavrisa

4 Tips to Avoid Blogging Burnout: http://bit.ly/zfgr3g @krissybrady

10 Ways to Improve Your Online "Likability Quotient": http://bit.ly/A1A8wN @KristenLambTX

Amazon inheriting the Earth – how does this affect their authors? http://bit.ly/yiW2C6 @behlerpublish

An Agent Explores the Difference Between Young Adult And Middle Grade: http://bit.ly/xW7A4S

Planting the Hook: Getting Readers Past the Opening Page: http://bit.ly/wObSVq @janice_hardy

2 views of video game writing: http://bit.ly/ze7Vo6

How to Effectively Create More Time to Write: http://bit.ly/wZJbRO @KrissyBrady

A link roundup on and delivering speeches: http://bit.ly/xE0CXk @speechwriterguy

Hulk Eat Bacon--The Effect of Mood-Altering Substances on the Creative Mind: http://bit.ly/wJdnIP @gripemaster

75 Synonyms for "Hard": http://bit.ly/zj4YRs @writing_tips

The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing a Book that Doesn't Suck: http://bit.ly/yl6U3d @jeffgoins

Will Print Books Become Obsolete? http://bit.ly/zdEvab @ava_jae

Tips for headline writing: http://bit.ly/zD7Ptd @JulieBMack

Relief for the Writing Rules Obsessed: http://bit.ly/zHXFgw @keligwyn

How to become a writer who matters: http://bit.ly/AfzudK @krissybrady

Tips for dealing with rejection: http://bit.ly/w9ENSS

Make sure your book's setting isn't missing: http://bit.ly/AC9FAp @KMWeiland

What should writers blog about? http://bit.ly/yPBNmk @annerallen

Being a Success, Without Being a Bestseller: http://bit.ly/zyLr1w @DanBlank

Prologues: please use responsibly: http://bit.ly/zoQfy4 @dirtywhitecandy

Links for locating book reviewers: http://bit.ly/xEk6PU @DebraPurdyKong

How to Have a Successful KDP Select Campaign: http://bit.ly/zjY1Cj @TweetTheBook

Is Your Author Photo Sending the Right Message? http://bit.ly/zufXqN @KMWeiland

Tips for successful scene execution: http://bit.ly/zW3Z0s @rebeccaberto

Descriptions that pack a punch: http://bit.ly/wXo5W8 @PBRWriter

7 Tactics for a Successful Guest Post: http://bit.ly/zRHW7c @BlogTyrant

When is it all right to call an agent? http://bit.ly/xpdB9J @rachellegardner

Both Convergent and Divergent Thinking are Necessary for Creativity: http://bit.ly/z3Y9a3 @creativitypost

4 Reasons It Pays For Songwriters To Be Patient: http://bit.ly/ABwuK9 @cliffgoldmacher

What's the Right Price for an E-Book? http://bit.ly/wrmrsT

Make Your Own Luck In Social Media: http://bit.ly/zBx8fo @AlexisGrant for @thecreativepenn

A quiz about missing connections in our writing: http://bit.ly/A3CvV8 @writing_tips

The importance of keeping in touch with our readers: http://bit.ly/xP0iNT

Love means never having to say you're sorry (to your characters): http://bit.ly/w7vzek @SouthrnWritrMag

A New Approach–The Concept Critique: http://bit.ly/wvjfur @KristenLambTX

What a communications workshop can teach you about writing: http://bit.ly/zMCH3t @CAMorganti

Creativity Tune-up: http://bit.ly/wVkScO @bookemdonna

What Moves You The Most Right Now? Go With It. http://bit.ly/A7vndq @OllinMorales

A publisher on social media: http://bit.ly/ydinKH

The benefits of not planning a world: http://bit.ly/zlnpZD @Mazarkis_W

Why (not) tell the story in present tense? http://bit.ly/yYc0Xf @juliettewade

Are Sub Genres Digital Publishing's Secret Weapon? http://bit.ly/wfgOZf @ebooknewser

Knowing What to Capitalize: http://bit.ly/w1Orio @janice_hardy

Ebook Pricing: Why 99 Cents Might Be a Mistake for You: http://bit.ly/zBLR5u @goblinwriter

Promoting your book--what *not* to do: http://bit.ly/wdNnMJ @BryanThomasS

Reasons Why Some Books Never Sell: http://bit.ly/zBRVrl @robeagar for @writersdigest

Why Being a Jack of All Trades Isn't All It's Cracked Up to Be: http://bit.ly/wq5MS5 @jeffgoins

Self-destructive characters in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/zs4C5d @mkinberg

Happy Valentine's Day, Hogwarts Style: http://bit.ly/wbOvhi @HP4Writers

10 Ways to Love a Writer: On Valentine's Day and Forever: http://bit.ly/yeIMsQ @ainegreaney for @womenwriters

Why Romances Are Valid Literature: http://bit.ly/wiVrgK @JodyHedlund

A few tips for writers planning romantic evenings: http://bit.ly/wC0296 @MistyMassey

Literary Pick-up Lines for Valentine's Day: http://bit.ly/y9Sae4 @galleycat

10 Lies to Twist a Love Story: http://bit.ly/AcKvMP @CherylRWrites

How To Write A Kissing Scene...Valentine Edition: http://bit.ly/xlqt9P

Showing Valentine's Day Love to Writers: http://bit.ly/A96mTZ

Feeling the Love: http://bit.ly/xBoEvC

5 things 1 writer learned from Shirley Jackson: http://bit.ly/A2xHv5 @victoriamixon

Answers to writers' legal questions: http://bit.ly/yx2ArU @DIYmfa

How to Overcome Writer's Block: http://bit.ly/xjqUQU

Writing and the Ugly Duck Syndrome: http://bit.ly/wjqhTB @mooderino

Writer Confidence—Too Much or Too Little: http://bit.ly/xBBQ8u @pattyjansen for @BryanThomasS

6 Tips for Creating a Blogged Book Manuscript: http://bit.ly/zw8Pgl @NinaAmir

Book Publishing and ISBNs … Do You Need Them? http://bit.ly/AmfgYB @mybookshepherd

50 Synonyms for "Idea": http://bit.ly/xUhX1T @writing_tips

The Most Important Part of the Creative Life: http://bit.ly/wef5BQ @jeffgoins

7 Free E-Books for Writers: http://bit.ly/A1n3Ds @janefriedman

Writing Lessons from The Hunger Games: Stakes and Characterization: http://bit.ly/xogWpv @4kidlit

5 Reasons to Embrace the Brave New World: http://bit.ly/xkGxWw @rachellegardner

6 Tips To Resuscitate a Dying Author Blog: http://bit.ly/yz2zQF @ChuckSambuchino

Self-Publishing Is Easy (and Other Myths): http://bit.ly/xyGV62 @talliroland

A list of great blogs for writers to follow: http://bit.ly/xHJ8CU @robertleebrewer

Making the Most of Endorsements: http://bit.ly/xbjjVu @MuseInks

Book Covers: Are They Important in the Digital Age? http://bit.ly/wCh3ZZ @jodyhedlund

"Speechtags are of the Devil," he said: http://bit.ly/yVWWMf @janice_hardy

Why Agents Edit: http://bit.ly/y3YhDR @bookendsjessica

One Size Fits Some: http://bit.ly/A04X5P @eMergentPublish

8 Quick Tips for Writing Bullet Points People Actually Want to Read: http://bit.ly/zKaTlI @copyblogger

Who's Whose: More Help With Pronouns: http://bit.ly/wTlDRO @write_practice

Confessions of a Newbie Independent Bookseller: http://bit.ly/wYb7OI @deadwhiteguys

Fuel your writing by penning a manifesto for your book: http://bit.ly/xIVImA @originalimpulse

Tips for Finding inspiration: http://bit.ly/wXWGIV

Suspended Perceptions: http://bit.ly/wBT1h1 @Ravenrequiem13

Fast Drafting: A Word Count Builder: http://bit.ly/wkrqR8 @LynnetteLabelle

9 truths about ebook publishing: http://bit.ly/xbPygF @thefuturebook

Comics to relieve writing stress--from @inkyelbows: http://bit.ly/zIUg4K & http://bit.ly/xHUToR & http://bit.ly/yP4tic

It's tough for writers to escape from stories: http://bit.ly/x9qGFZ @TamarMek

The role of attorneys in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/zw0DR9 @mkinberg

A different take on copyright from author James Hutchings for @MasonCanyon: http://bit.ly/zR5ukd

5 Hidden Benefits of Writing Slowly: http://bit.ly/yOcFBs @ollinmorales for @thecreativepenn

How an agent evaluates book blogs: http://bit.ly/xblfmH @SaraMegibow

Crawling Into a Writer's Cave: http://bit.ly/AhdpnY

How To Jumpstart Your Creative Career in a Bad Economy: http://bit.ly/yePBir @the99percent

16 Misquoted Quotations: http://bit.ly/zRaenf @writing_tips

8 Reasons Your Self Published Novel Won't Sell: http://bit.ly/yy8lzK @ajackwriting

8 Things That Surprised 1 Writer About Book Launches: http://bit.ly/AvZXA4 @Julias__Child for @BlurbisaVerb

Charles Dickens and the Facebook generation: http://bit.ly/xbr559 @Salon

6 Ways to Energize Your Writing Naturally: http://bit.ly/xN1ldd @ChrystleFiedler

5 Tips on Plot Twists: http://bit.ly/wkYK5r

Interesting discussion in the comments: Fiction and Social Justice ~ Can They Coexist? http://bit.ly/Av5Y06 @PassiveVoiceBlg

Defaulting to the Protagonist: http://bit.ly/yUWxyB

To Champion Worthwhile Books: http://bit.ly/wrqADT @rachellegardner

Music that helps with the dreaming stage of a novel: http://bit.ly/Ae5WWn @reclusivemuse for @byrozmorris

Disdain for authors?, Amazon absence, relevance through SEO, & other thoughts from/on #ToC from @Porter_Anderson: http://bit.ly/wd8yMD

Writing on the Ether by @Porter_Anderson features @SourceFabienne @KatMeyer @diannadilworth @bsandusky @cjoh @ikert http://bit.ly/wd8yMD

Mystery Writer in the Family. Blogger in the House.

by Anora McGaha, @anorawrites

Mysteries scare me.

As a girl, I started with Nancy Drew. Loved her curiosity. Her intelligence. Her courage.

But I would get scared and have to close the book. Wait until another time.

Read in the living room when others were around.

Couldn't stay away long though. Always wanted to know what happened next.

Balancing fear and curiosity. Curiosity and fear.

Before grade school was done, I put mysteries aside. For decades. Just didn't need to risk the tension of fear.

Then my aunt wrote a mystery. Her first book. And another, and another. She found what she called a "sleezy" publisher who paid mere pennies a sale, but it was a start. The Trouble With... series was launched.

A novelist in my own family. Leading the way. I had to pick up a copy and risk the fear.

Murder always gave me the creeps. It's horrific. In the news every day. Why would anyone want to take it on for leisure?

C. Crespi, as she called herself at the time, wrote light mysteries. She named her characters after her pets. She drew from experiences in the big Apple. Wove her sweetheart into the tales.

They were filled with fascinating details about life in the city, a quirky detective, with an international background like her own. Yes there was always a murder, but most of them weren't scary. The stories were delightful.

Getting an agent was awful though. So many unanswered letters and emails.

Disappointments. Until the one acceptance that made it all worthwhile.

I was grateful to hear the reality of being a writer. Not sure I'd have the stomach for it.

Camilla broke into the big time - selling a few books to a major publisher, Harper Collins. Hardbacks. Book tours. Publicist. The works.

I was so proud. Excited too because she was paving the way for my own writing. Not by opening doors, but by doing it, simply showing it could be done.

Her writing stepped up. She wrote a psychological thriller. The Price of Silence was literary fiction. A gripping story. Stirring. Questions that beg an answer from the first page. Catch a reader by the first paragraph and keep us wanting answers until the end, and, beyond.

Having an agent for one book doesn't mean an agent for every book. The agony of the search. Finally one. A sale to Soho Press. Now publishing under her own name, Camilla Trinchieri.

Then presto. Price sold across the ocean. In Italy, where her father, my grandfather

was from. Where she had lived for years, and I too, for a few.

Il prezzo del silenzio. A direct translation of her title. Marcos and Marcos press.

Completely different cover. Picking up on the Chinese thread. A launch in Rome, Florence. Sardinia. Radio interviews. Magazine interviews.

An American. A New Yorker. Translated into Italian. Fluent in Italian, half Italian really. Welcomed. Celebrated. A prodigal daughter.

I had just discovered the power of blogging in 2008. Excited about what was possible, I launched a publicity blog for her.

She wasn't into blogging. She stays focused on writing books. (A good focus for a writer, one I should take a lesson from.) But I scoured the Internet for everything I could find about her American edition, and then scoured the Italian Internet for everything in Italian about her. Google.it shows different results than Google.com.

Hours and hours of wonderful work, researching every result of thousands

month after month. Discovering all kinds of reviews and comments. Discovering that her books were sold online in dozens of countries around the world. South Africa. India. England. Australia. Germany. France.

After adding a Feedjit widget on the sidebar, we could see that visitors were landing on the blog from all over the world. Whether or not any books were sold, people were visiting, and the posts were a wonderful public record of all her events and all the reviews she'd received.

Mysteries are still not my cup of tea. Too scary, still. But I know this much. Every book could take a lesson from the genre. Hook your reader with intrigue from the start, tantalize with unanswered questions, leave subtle clues that sneak up and surprise us, and leave us dying to know more.

Anora McGaha is a poet, non-fiction writer, author of Social Media for Business and personal essays in three anthologies. She is the editor of Women Writers, Women Books at www.booksbywomen.org . @anorawrites is her writing handle on Twitter, and @womenwriters is the handle for her online literary magazine for women writers.

6 Ways to Energize Your Writing Naturally—by Chrystle Fiedler

by Chrystle Fiedler, @ChrystleFiedler

It's fun to take a break from writing and visit Elizabeth on her blog! Thanks Elizabeth! I thought it would be fun to write about natural remedies since my new book Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery features a holistic doctor who dispenses natural cures. I also thought that readers might be interested in natural ways to boost energy when it comes to writing.

I don't know about you ut the best time for me to be productive and hopefully brilliant! is in the morning from 9 to noon. But once I have lunch, I feel less energetic. However, if I'm under a deadline I need to power through less productive times and write throughout the day. That's when I turn to my favorite natural remedy – coffee! I buy mine from 7-11 because home brewed just isn't strong enough.

I interviewed a doctor at Harvard Medical School years ago for an article and he told me that coffee at 7-11 and Dunkin' Donuts is 8 times as strong has home brewed! Not only does coffee give me a much needed pick-me-up, I've found it also boosts my mood (recent research shows that coffee can help with mild depression) and helps me see things more clearly. In addition, these natural cures can make you more alert and focused, with writing or whatever you need to do!

1. Sip small amounts of chilled water every 30 minutes. Studies show that when you consume small amounts of chilled water every 20-30 minutes during the day, it sends a clear and immediate signal to your brain to increase alertness and energy.

2. Smell peppermint. According to a study in the North American Journal of Psychology drivers had more energy when exposed to this scent. Peppermint increases alertness and decreases fatigue. Chew a nice strong peppermint gum or peppermint mints while you write or drive to decrease fatigue and increase alertness.

3. Use acupressure on your outer ears. Applying pressure to acupressure points all along the outer ear helps to clear the head, gets rid of dull pain above the neck and charges up your entire energy system. Just take your thumb and first finger and go up and down the entire outer ear two or three times and give it a good brisk rubbing.

4. Drink green tea. Green tea has some energizing caffeine, but it also contains theanine, an amino acid that has a stress-reducing effect on your brain. It calms you while giving you mental clarity, leaving your mind clear and sharp and alert.

5. Inhale Eucalyptus or spearmint essential oil. The nose is the only part of your brain that extends to the outer environment is your sense of smell so it's very charged. Volatile oils such as eucalyptus or spearmint stimulate a part of your brain that triggers alertness. For a natural pick-me-up place a few drops of eucalyptus or spearmint essential oil on a tissue and inhale deeply.

6. Eat Dark Chocolate. Although it's weaker than caffeine, the chemical theobromine in chocolate is a mild stimulant. Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine, (PEA) which is a feel good mood elevator. Choose a high quality, imported dark chocolate with 70% or more cocoa content. It has less sugar and its rich flavor will satisfy you with less. Aim for 1 ounce of dark chocolate a few times a week.

What is your writing routine?

About Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery:

Dr. Willow McQuade, N.D., a twenty-eight-year-old naturopathic doctor specializing in natural remedies, has decided to take sabbatical and visit her Aunt Claire, the owner of Nature's Way Market and Cafe in idyllic Greenport, Long Island. But the idea of rest and relaxation is quickly forgotten when Willow arrives from a morning meditative walk to discover her Aunt Claire dead in the store, a strange almond-like smell emanating from her mouth and a bottle of flower essences by her side.

Despite her Zen nature and penchant for yoga, Aunt Claire had a knack for getting into confrontations with folks. An activist, she held weekly meetings for different causes every week in the store. The police want to believe the death is accidental—but Willow thinks she may have been poisoned.

Things get worse when Aunt Claire's valuable recipe for a new natural age-defying formula, Fresh Face, is stolen during a store break-in, and an attempt is made on Willow's life. Desperate for a way out of the mess, she turns to a handsome young cop Jackson Spade. Together the two set about solving the case the natural way—through a combination of hard work, common sense, and a dose of luck.

Praise for Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery:

"With a terrific premise and an interesting topic, Fiedler's debut shows promise." - Library Journal

"An engaging investigative thriller…an enjoyable whodunit." The Mystery Gazette

Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery is available for pre-order now and on sale February 21st . To order please visit www.chrystlefiedler.com.

Chrystle Fiedler is the author of DEATH DROPS: A NATURAL REMEDIES MYSTERY (Gallery Books/Simon and Schuster) which will be published on February 21st 2012. I'm also the author of the non-fiction title THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO NATURAL REMEDIES (Alpha, 2009), co-author of BEAT SUGAR ADDICTION NOW! (Fairwinds Press, 2010), currently in its fourth printing, the BEAT SUGAR ADDICTION NOW! COOKBOOK (Fairwinds Press, 2012) and THE COUNTRY ALMANAC OF HOME REMEDIES (Fairwinds, 2011). Chrystle's magazine articles featuring natural remedies have appeared in many national publications including Better Homes and Gardens, Natural Health, Vegetarian Times and Remedy.

Love Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry (to Your Characters)

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!  Today I'm over at the Southern Writer's Magazine blog with a post on torturing our characters…for their own good. 

Hope you'll be able to pop by.   Have a great Valentine's Day!

Keeping in Touch with Readers

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

[image error]Hope you'll join me today over at A Good Blog is Hard to Find.

I'm on the rotation for this blog of Southern-US writers and my topic today is keeping in touch with our readers (or future readers)—why it's important and basic ways to open up the lines of communication.

Twitterific

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Below are the writing-related links I tweeted last week.

The free Writer's Knowledge Base search engine, designed by software engineer and writer Mike Fleming, makes all these links (now over 12,000) searchable. The WKB recently celebrated its one-year anniversary.

Sign up for the free monthly WKB newsletter for the web's best links and interviews:http://bit.ly/gx7hg1

Midpoint, & Second, Third Plot Points: http://bit.ly/xc2rUE @rebeccaberto

New Facebook data: Be topical, ask questions, and tell jokes to win audience: http://bit.ly/wbWvJz @niemanlab

The problem with using dialogue to dump backstory: http://bit.ly/zq7T5e @theresastevens

A post with some guidance on copywriting rates: http://bit.ly/xSiUA0 @MichelleRafter

The importance of opening up a vein when we write: http://bit.ly/y1bIpJ @sarahahoyt

5 Attitudes Toward Publishing You Should Avoid: http://bit.ly/A8dBhd @JaneFriedman

The best writing advice you'll never get: http://bit.ly/yoB6GL @ejcop for @junglereds

Ebooks--are we still in the Stone Age? http://bit.ly/zc9QUR @jfbookman

When you want to stray from your current manuscript: http://bit.ly/zltXjj @Mommy_Authors

Art History Through Sci Fi-Colored Glasses: http://bit.ly/A51asf @IreneGallo

The importance of building readership and maintaining the relationship: http://bit.ly/y8PLqL @KristineRusch

Freelance Writing 101: Overcoming Where-do-I-begin-itis: http://bit.ly/AfyVr7 @krissybrady

Before and After: Reveal Character: http://bit.ly/xaOPxH

Why a Book Editor Becomes a Literary Agent: http://bit.ly/zInl2K @oliviasnaije

A checklist for novelists: http://bit.ly/z2VnHc

What Do You Love About Your Characters? http://bit.ly/Ao61Ow @mooderino

A checklist for self-publishing: http://bit.ly/xFYfba @goblinwriter

One Author's First Month in KDP Select: http://bit.ly/xFWiVk @victoriastrauss

When promoting, remember not to trivialize your story: http://bit.ly/zgWYfe @behlerpublish

Some agencies wanting a 15% commission on self-pubbed books? http://bit.ly/z9QmY9 @theresastevens

Outlining your novel: a method: http://bit.ly/xVtvQH

A scene checklist: http://bit.ly/wCdSwS @janice_hardy

The DNA of a Book's Beginning: http://bit.ly/Au2HnR @BretBallou

Desensitizing your inner censor: http://bit.ly/zSq1Kl @eMergentPublish

Top 5 Tips Writers Can Learn From Reality TV: http://bit.ly/Ak44Sm

4 ways your protagonist can learn the truth: http://bit.ly/wbw0Sq @jammer0501

Learning the Writing Craft--of Magicians, Wizards, and Apprenticeships: http://bit.ly/AdVxqW @gary_author for @jhansenwrites

Gaining Something From Fairy Tales and Mythology: http://bit.ly/AokIp3 @greyhausagency

25 Reasons Why Google Hates Your Blog: http://bit.ly/zELRrn @problogger

Self-Editing: Back to Basics, Part 2: http://bit.ly/xYEtz9 @authorandeditor for @DavidGaughran

Character Development: Fear: http://bit.ly/za3aHm @ava_jae

Seth Godin's thoughts on beating writer's block: http://bit.ly/wZiRJL

An agent with a reminder about keeping it professional on social media: http://bit.ly/yGeYEx @literaticat

Making time to write: http://bit.ly/AgkAUj

3 Steps to Freedom–Grab Hold of Your Brilliant Future: http://bit.ly/zsAlTs @KristenLambTX

Tips to Make Selling Your Fiction a Reality: http://bit.ly/zG8BN9 @robeagar

100 Words for Facial Expressions: http://bit.ly/wkDGqX @writing_tips

Novel Plotting Worksheets: http://bit.ly/zQVPuf @AnnieNeugebauer

How To Sell 130,000 Books Without A Publisher: http://bit.ly/xxwE8F @thecreativepenn

Wanting to have your book published? A beginner's guide: http://bit.ly/yIAlzW @janefriedman

Heightening the Tension and Emotion in Your Scenes: http://bit.ly/zGPrxF @janice_hardy

How 1 writer tripled her daily word count with Google+: http://bit.ly/AmgLVv @phoebenorth

How to Get Out of Your Own Way: The Secret to Becoming a Successful Writer: http://bit.ly/yRYTE3 @annerallen

7 Tools for Tracking Ebook Sales: http://bit.ly/xmmY03 @PYOEbooks

The empty world – is your novel eerily deserted? http://bit.ly/zTdp7e @dirtywhitecandy

Watermarking ebooks instead of using DRM: http://bit.ly/AEZDUx @matteoberlucchi

Create An Inner Dialogue Within your Hero, and Your Villain: http://bit.ly/xgaQbf @storyfix

10 Types of Wordplay: http://bit.ly/yfraBt @writing_tips

Why 1 writer hates grammar Nazis...but is one: http://bit.ly/xGX2Od @KMWeiland

Tips for instant networking: http://bit.ly/z5tnyD @MrBuzzFactor

YA writers--know today's schools: http://bit.ly/zInByQ @StevenPiziks

Tips for dealing with Sock-Puppet Cyber Bullies: http://bit.ly/z4Igjs

Gender Issues In Publishing. Using Initials As A Female Thriller Writer: http://bit.ly/xEuJey @thecreativepenn

When Your Critique Partner's Career is on the Move and Yours is Standing Still: http://bit.ly/AkUkdw @AdriennGiordano

All about pen names: http://bit.ly/A0rIhi @deanwesleysmith

All the links I shared on Twitter last week: htp://bit.ly/xbDL7L

Your Book Tour: Seize the Opportunity to be Memorable: http://bit.ly/y079W0 @RCchrps

About book tagging: http://bit.ly/wlv4Yk @judy_croome for @JFBookman

How to start building your platform: http://bit.ly/xEChjX @chrisbrogan

Writing a 1-2 punch at the end of your story (using a middle grade book as an example): http://bit.ly/xBWJbb @laurapauling

Handling changes in the publishing ind: http://bit.ly/xjg86m @ericavetsch

4 Ways to Find the Right Freelance Editor: http://bit.ly/AjjrTx @cslakin for @janefriedman

Crafting Your 90-Second Pitch: http://bit.ly/wnHLPK @marcykennedy

Think Backward to Write Meaningful Metaphors: http://bit.ly/wJCagX @serbaughman

A look at agents' quick impressions on queries: http://bit.ly/xUNBvt @sierragodfrey

'Social' media: What isn't in a name: http://bit.ly/wxpBAQ @PorterAnderson

Use strong nouns: http://bit.ly/yNY3lB @janice_hardy

Imagining Multiple Platforms: http://bit.ly/xWMnkO @Kid_Lit

Reverse Outlining: http://bit.ly/xvPWUQ @KMWeiland for @angelaackerman

Time for publishers to get (even more) social (a look at Google+): http://bit.ly/ywJr9t @thefuturebook

Using projection/anticipation to improve your manuscript: http://bit.ly/yVdPvg @juliettewade

Writing is More than the Writing: http://bit.ly/z2faOC @KristenLambTX

10 habits for a positive workshop experience: http://bit.ly/wTvXeD @CAMorganti

Links to help create a book trailer: http://bit.ly/ynyUwN

Truth is stranger than fiction--http://bit.ly/xvDrUV

Working with images for more emotion: http://bit.ly/AgJoT9

The Two Most Important Things About Writing a Book: http://bit.ly/Af42av @bookemdona

Exercising for writers: http://bit.ly/yhosps

Infringement, Fair Use and Derivative Works: http://bit.ly/AyMNtV @diymfa

How To Develop a Subplot: http://bit.ly/Ak7tuW @ClaireAshgrove for @roniloren

Tips for author photos: http://bit.ly/Ato5lb

Scene execution http://wp.me/p1WPf3-ag @rebeccaberto

Scriptwriting: The Power of the First and Last Image: http://bit.ly/zvLJZH @jacobkrueger

7 things 1 writer has learned from Stephen King: http://bit.ly/wivL7y @victoriamixon

What Can We Learn from JA Konrath's $140,000 E-Publishing Sales Month? http://bit.ly/ABGe1l @goblinwriter

The art of being an introvert creative (forced to cope with social media): http://bit.ly/ACPmyd @justinemusk

Why Every Entrepreneur Should Self-Publish a Book: http://tcrn.ch/AeTOIU @jaltucher for @techcrunch

Pros & cons of social media for writers: http://bit.ly/xuZus4 & http://bit.ly/yzJI0f @JulieBMack

Go to a Workshop? No Thanks: http://bit.ly/xtAzId @geardrops

No Website: The Biggest Mistake Most Writers Make: http://bit.ly/yWAMrL @seanplatt

Author anxiety: http://bit.ly/y6aCWO @Ravenrequiem13

What to Do When Your Writing's Worst Enemy Is You: http://bit.ly/yCDrcw @krissybrady

Effective openings for your book: http://bit.ly/zumf1Q

Superhero stories: Creative Ways to Use Supersenses: http://bit.ly/ygyuoB

A Quiz About Misplaced Modifiers: http://bit.ly/waxFaK @writing_tips

Setting: It's in the Details: http://bit.ly/wgyO8r @yaHighway

Author blogging 101--platforms: http://bit.ly/xjgGzZ @JFbookman

10 Tips to Avoid Clichés in Writing: http://bit.ly/wHBYzu

Narrative Tense—Right Now or Way Back Then: http://bit.ly/A5Uqlw @noveleditor

3 Numbers That Matter to Your Platform: http://bit.ly/xrd0uU @JaneFriedman

Drawing on Literary Traditions: "The Hunger Games" and "The Maze Runner" as Case Studies: http://bit.ly/z8dt2h

Pitching Is A Job Interview: http://bit.ly/xOAQ4k @greyhausagency

Will Only Those Who Shout the Loudest Be Heard? http://bit.ly/yrzmYH @JodyHedlund

DRM, "social DRM," and the madness of publishers: http://bit.ly/zctopB @doctorow

Never Enough Conflict: http://bit.ly/wNHz7t @mistymassey

Advantages of a small press: http://bit.ly/ykaGIc @aliciarasley for @HP4Writers

5 techniques for writing poetry: http://bit.ly/z93hoJ @writersdigest

Changes in the crime fiction genre: http://bit.ly/yR0aKZ @mkinberg

More changes in the crime fiction genre over the years: http://bit.ly/z62UYW @mkinberg

Writing and a busy life? 4 tips for making it work: http://bit.ly/zBJ66P @WomenWriters

Keys to a Reasonable Blog Schedule: http://bit.ly/xLsU3Z @EdieMelson

Ways to View Your Manuscript with Fresh Eyes http://bit.ly/yGkSu4 @CherylRWrites

Facebook danger, smutty & genre e-reading, library ebook lending update, ind. news & views from @Porter_Anderson: http://bit.ly/AqoK4O

Writing on the Ether's @Porter_Anderson features @AndrewRichard @RebeccaBricker @philipdsjones @ScottDAnthony http://bit.ly/AqoK4O

The Pacing Triad: http://bit.ly/zvkQT2

Facing (and Writing) the 2nd Novel: http://bit.ly/As5kaa @BTMargins

Prepare 5 articles when you submit 1: http://bit.ly/wU5oXn @GLeeBurgett

10 Tips for Submitting Short Stories: http://bit.ly/yTzLdi @writersdigest

Tips for a Successful Public Presentation: http://bit.ly/yjFH6d @WriteAngleBlog

Visible Plot Goal Gets a Twist: http://bit.ly/A5prhW @LiveWriteThrive

Chinese Element Personality Types for Writing: http://bit.ly/y1iCf5 @FaeRowen

An explanation of speculative fiction: http://bit.ly/y3faKc @theskypirate

Don't pick typefaces and sizes strictly "by the numbers": http://bit.ly/z0b1PZ @jfbookman

Differentiating Your Blog and Your Writing: http://bit.ly/y87DA9 @julien for @NinaAmir

50 Musical Terms Used in Nonmusical Senses: http://bit.ly/x419hC @writing_tips

The Fictional Family: No character is an island: http://bit.ly/yuspaQ

Preparing for a writers conference--the pitch: http://bit.ly/xALoJt @Bob_Mayer

Tortured Language – Discerning Ebook Rights in Ancient Publishing Contracts: http://bit.ly/yZEvQc @PassiveVoiceBlg

Forensic Evidence of Motive, Means, and Opportunity: http://bit.ly/w9mWDf @AuthorTomAdair

Research vs. Observation: http://bit.ly/wSGXGf @DonMaass

7 Book Marketing Tips for Writers: http://bit.ly/zFO0bZ

Don't hit your reader with repeated strong emotion in your book: http://bit.ly/xRkWWC @Kid_Lit

Top 10 Self-Editing Tips: http://bit.ly/zOjKzT @janice_hardy

The Secret to Writing a Standout Picture Book: http://bit.ly/zkQiRo @writersdigest

Author's Guild Argues That Amazon's Dominance Comes From Antitrust Laws: http://bit.ly/AcE3Yk @ebooknewser

Don't Even Think About Using First-Person Unless...: http://bit.ly/Aqz5Cx @KMWeiland

Who, Whom, and How to Misuse a Pronoun: http://bit.ly/y5Rc5m @write_practice

An agent critiques a query: http://bit.ly/wUxKXM @bookendsjessica

Authors need intent, reminds an agent: http://bit.ly/zACAhj @greyhausagency

How Choreography Helps a Scene: http://bit.ly/ylBkuH @RavenRequiem13

Why Some Book Buyers Are Increasingly Resistant To E-Readers: http://bit.ly/yVaA6Y @laurahazardowen

3 Ways Authors Can Use Pinterest Guilt Free: http://bit.ly/zF2UE2 @AuthorMedia

Worldbuilding--cities: http://bit.ly/zh1Se1 @JulietteWade

3 ways 1 writer judges contest entries: http://bit.ly/xP2utq @LadyGlamis

The fallacy of creative success: http://bit.ly/woAT5S @tannerc

Dig Up and Rebuild Writing Platforms: http://bit.ly/wTJKdT

Using Social Media Effectively: http://bit.ly/xhNibP @AnnetteLyon for @pegeditors

What's Good Controversy? http://bit.ly/xMSeY2 @Beth_Barany

Licensing vs. Work for Hire: http://bit.ly/wmYnao @DiYMFA

Thinking Like a Reader

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Sometimes I like to drive to uptown Charlotte to have lunch with my sister, who works up there. We usually go to the same few restaurants, so I was excited to see an article in the entertainment section of the newspaper that was all about lunch options in the city.

I was less excited when I saw that there was no mention of what the parking was like at these restaurants. Even when I pulled up the restaurants' websites, I frequently couldn't find mention of what the parking was like.

This is an area where parking can either be expensive or nonexistent. Some restaurants have their own lots. Some pay their diners' parking fee. But you want to know what you're getting into before you go over there. The restaurants and the newspaper weren't thinking like diners.

It's just as important for us to think like our readers. What questions could they have when they read our book?

Who are these people again? If you've got characters who have been offstage for a while, consider giving them an unobtrusive tag.

Who are these people again, part 2. If you've got characters with similar names (that either start with the same letter or sound alike—Sally and Molly for instance), consider changing them up for the sake of clarity.

What's happening here? Can readers follow your plot? Are there so many twists and turns that a reader might have to keep going back in your book to reread sections? If so, consider writing in some short explanation or reminders as to what's going on.

Why is this character suddenly acting like this? If you've got a character who previously seemed shy/easygoing/friendly/reserved and they suddenly start acting completely different to help the plot along, there needs to be a good explanation for the change (introduction of some backstory or a scene that shows the change).

This wouldn't happen in real life. We usually count on readers to suspend their disbelief sometimes. But repeatedly asking them to suspend it, or asking them to suspend it on something really big isn't going to work.

Why is this character being so stupid? It's frustrating when a character we like and respect does something dumb just to further the plot. Either think up sound reasons why the character would behave this way (they've been tricked, they think they're safe doing what they're doing, they believe they're meeting their friend in the creepy alleyway), or else figure out another way to get the plot where you want it to go.

Everything was so complicated—and it wrapped up a little too neatly. Either brainstorm alternate endings for your book…coming up with a list of as many as you can imagine (from the clever to the absurd) or consider leaving room for a sequel to the book.

What ended up happening to that subplot storyline? Did it fall through the cracks? Double-check for loose ends. Did you introduce anything that needs to be wrapped up?

I know what's going to happen next. This might be a good time to consider a plot twist…something unexpected to make the plot more complex or to add depth to a character.

This book is too intense/too goofy/too…. If the book seems too intense, can you write in some lighter moments? If the book is too campy, can you write in something that's more serious or thoughtful or sweet?

Nothing is happening in this book. I'm getting bored. Do you have too much exposition? Too many scenes without conflict of some kind? (Conflict can even be represented by two characters who rub each other the wrong way…it doesn't have to be something huge.) Too much description of setting? Did you lose your way in the middle of the book? Were you trying to bump up your word count and added too much flab (consider taking it out and writing in a solid subplot that can tie into the main plot.)

As a reader, what bugs you most? As a writer, do you try to read your manuscript as one of your readers would?

Writing and a Busy Life? 4Tips for Making it Work.

I've written a guest post that's up today at the Books by Women blog . I've posted a few tips for meeting our writing goals while juggling everyday life (it's not always easy!)

Hope you'll come by and visit.