Riley Adams's Blog, page 21

Twitterific Writing Links

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 65,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you're there, check out the Writer's Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

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

Business / MiscellaneousSelling a Million Books: What Worked for Us (and Can Work for You, Too): @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersBusiness Musings: AI, Copyright, And Writers: by Kristine Kathryn RuschHow you share is a craft: @DanBlankBest Practices for Selling More Books: Writer Tip: How To Figure Out When You’ll Earn Out Your Advance: @K_Hana_Lee @NatalieIAguirrePart-Time or Full-Time Self-Published Author? What Does it Take? @IndieAuthorALLIBoost Your Book Launch by Perfecting Distribution and Metadata: @Wogahn @JaneFriedmanConferences and Events / MiscellaneousCanada's International Cundill History Prize Names Its 2023 Jury: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesJennifer Homans Wins Biographers International's Plutarch Award: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe 2023 Bilingual ‘Prix Albertine Jeunesse': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesConferences and Events / NaNoWriMoAbu Dhabi Arabic Language Center Waives Exhibitor Book Fair Fees: @porter_an @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersFive SFF Stories With Interesting Takes on Mass Media: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomWhat I Need Is a Literary Mood Ring: @mollytempleton @tordotcomThe Only Way Out Is Through: Getting Past Your Reading Slump: @mollytempleton @tordotcomWhen the Setting Is as Creepy as the Story Itself: @SallyHepworth @CrimeReadsFive Great Novels Inspired by Real-Life Crimes: @vanessajcuti @CrimeReadsEight SFF Books Written in Verse: by Stubby the Rocket @tordotcom6 Books to Help Heal from a Traumatic Past: by Wyatt Semenuk @BookTribOne great short story to read today: Alice Munro’s “Wenlock Edge”: @knownemily @lithub7 Poetry Collections That Capture the Beauty and Brutality of the South: by David van den Berg @ElectricLitSeven Stories About Scary (and Possibly Sentient) Plants: by Lorna Wallace @tordotcomCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingHow to Start a Writing Routine That Actually Works For You: @ByMichelleReneeWhy Can’t I Write Whenever I Want To? @StoryADayMay @WriterUnboxedHow to write when you don't want to: @pubcoachIt's All About Momentum – Writing Effectively and Productively Amidst a Busy Life: @Corrine_A_Kumar @sfwaCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer's BlockDoes Writer's Block Really Exist? @ScreenWryter13Writer’s Block? Maybe You’re Writing in the Wrong Format: @aprildavila @JaneFriedmanCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeThe writer is the composer, the reader is the musician: @austinkleonWhat Educators Can Learn from Jessica Fletcher’s Critical Pedagogy: @sdraucker @lithub2 second way to find a book on Amazon: @WordDreams5 More Things to Do When You Can’t Attend a Writers Conference: @LoriHatcher2 @EdieMelsonWriter Rebecca Ley Shares Her Writing Journey: @thenovelrySo Where’s the Novel? @JSWalkerAuthorGetting Unstuck: Characters, or Getting to Know You: by Jen Dupree @MastersReviewRichard Charkin: On Becoming an Author: @rcharkin @pubperspectivesHow to Choose Which Writing Idea to Pursue When You have Too Many Options: @EdieMelsonWhat Emojis Can’t Express: How Handwriting Reveals Our True Selves: @NeilServen @lithubThe Hole in Your Goal: @theladygreer @WriterUnboxed“It’s Not All Over…” On Persisting in Writing and in Life: @MarkEPothier @lithubHow to Unlock Your Full Potential: @ChadRAllenGenres / DystopianDystopias Are Necessary Escape Fantasies: @clevercreatures @tordotcomGenres / MemoirFive Tips for Memoir Writing When the Words Feel Too Hot to Touch: by Emily Henderson @NaNoWriMoGenres / MiscellaneousKnow Your Genre: @bookendslitL.R. Lam on Writing Across Genres: @thenovelryGenres / MysteryPop Culture in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergTwists in Legal Thrillers: @MandSMagazineAnd Your Little Dog, Too: Incorporating Real Fears Into Your Fiction: by Taylor Adams @CrimeReadsCoffeehouses in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergGenres / Short StoriesHow to Develop Characters in a Short Story: @ByMichelleReneeMatty Dalrymple and Mark Lefebvre: Reaching More Readers with Your Short Fiction: @IndieAuthorALLIPromo / BloggingWhy Blogging is Important for Writers: by Shelley Widhalm @TheRyanLanzPromo / MiscellaneousHow to Market a Book by Following the “Rules” for Success: @BookgalPromo / NewslettersThe State of Author Newsletters: Data from 500+ Authors: by AJ Jack @BookBub5 Tips to Improve Newsletters: @SueColetta1Promo / PlatformsCreate a Theme for your Author Platform: @LinWilsonauthorPromo / PricingHow to Market a Book: 7 Tips for Strategic Pricing @BookgalPromo / WebsitesThe Essential Elements of an Author Website: A Guide for Writers: by Ayanna Coleman @scbwiBuilding Your Website: Expert Advice for Every Stage: by Ayanna Coleman @scbwiPublishing / MiscellaneousIOP's New Journal Coincides With Readmagine Focus: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSelf-publishing News: Could Carbon Labels Be Coming to Books? @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIPublishing / News / DataCircana's US Report for May: Sales Down 1.5 Units from April: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesMarch StatShot: US Industry Up 3.2 Percent Year-to-Date: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingDosdoce: Growing Sales in Spanish-Language Audiobooks: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesJerusalem International Book Forum: Sharon Katz Is Now Director: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesNew Scottish Books Showcase: Focus on Germany: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAbu Dhabi Arabic Language Center: MOU With Al Owais Foundation: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAccessibility in Books: Australia's New Publishing Guide: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Process / Services to AvoidThe Book Marketing Scam That Went the Extra Mile: @IamAlinaAdams @victoriastraussCall For Change: Current and Former New Leaf Literary & Media Authors Speak Out: @victoriastraussWriting Craft / BeginningsFirst Page Critique from author Henry McLaughlin (@RiverBendSagas) on @EdieMelson Don't rush to the inciting incident (page critique): @NathanBransfordFive Ways to Write an Opening that Shines: @SarahSallyHamer @EdieMelsonWriting Craft / Chapter EndingsHow to End a Chapter: @GoodStoryCoWriting Craft / Characters / AntagonistsHow To—Writing the Baddies: @EliasJMcClellanWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentScooby-Doo and the Gang: A Character Case Study: Part 1: and Part 2: https://buff.ly/43JzfnP @TheOnlyRedWolfUsing Wound Categories & Pointed Questions to Identify a Character’s Past Trauma: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersWriting Craft / Characters / EmotionEvoking Emotions Through Objective Correlative (External Objects): @kathycowleyWriting Craft / DialogueHow to Write Concise Dialogue that Rings True: @FearlessProseWriting Craft / Flashback and Back StoryThe Backstory Drip: @KMWeilandCharacter Change and Backstory: by Marilynn ByerlyWriting Craft / Literary DevicesTheme and Symbolism in Fiction in a Nutshell: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writers @annerallenWriting Craft / MiscellaneousThe Allure of Toxic Relationships (as a Voyeur and a Writer): @msheatherwebb @WriterUnboxedWriting Fiction Like Nonfiction: @EricaVerrilloThree Different Sorts of Readers: by Dale Ivan Smith @killzoneauthorsRaising the Stakes in Your Story: by Susan Koehler @FloridaWriters13 Ways To Mess Up Your Character’s World And Hook Your Readers: @KMAllan_writerEffective Ways to Use Foreshadowing: @ecellenbPlot Twists: @HowellWave @StoryEmpireOn Brevity: @jessicastrawser @CareerAuthorsCharacters need to prioritize coherently: @NathanBransfordWriting Craft / PacingPacing Your First Chapter: @MorganHzlwoodWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / OutliningOutlines, AI, and Stormy Daniels: @RuthHarrisBooks @annerallenWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Story BeatsPuss In Boots: The Last Wish Beat Sheet Analysis: by Cory Milles @savethecatWriting Craft / VoiceThoughts from the Intern Slush Pile: Is Your Voice Up to Snuff? by Ava JaeWriting Craft / World-BuildingProcess for Fantasy World Building : by Casey Cooper @DIYMFA

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Best Practices for Selling More Books

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I've noticed through the years that some writers get very discouraged when their book doesn't generate many sales. This discouragement can make them wonder if they should even continue writing. Many times these writers have put everything they have into a single book.

While there's no magic bullet, there are some things you can do to make it easier for readers to find your books.

Go wide: This means not putting all your eggs in the Amazon basket. It's the best way to hedge your bets and make sure your income is protected if and when Amazon makes changes to its algorithm or even backs out of selling books altogether. How can you go wide? An easy way is to go through a aggregator like Draft2Digital.  You can find other ideas in this post of mine from 2019.

Write more than one book: There are many reasons why you should do this. One good reason is that it will stop you from being over-sensitive and anxious about book one. Another good reason is that the more books you've written, the more real estate you have online, so to speak. That can make readers find you easier. One excellent way to write more books is my next point:

Write in series:  You've all heard me talk about this a lot. I have three active series currently, and I love the way series engage readers. It's also less work. You've already created the setting and readers are familiar with it.  You've already developed the main characters and the huge amount of work that goes along with that is mainly finished. The groundwork has been laid and you can focus on other aspects of your story. Plus, once you've hooked readers on book one, you'll be able to funnel them into the other stories. After all, readers have also made an investment in your stories, time-wise, and it makes sense for them to continue in the same story world they've gotten used to.

Update your Amazon book page and author page:  Although it's important to go wide, it's also important to make sure your spot at Amazon is updated. This means both your author page (bio, links, etc.) and your book page (make sure your books are all listed under your name). Find more ideas for taking care of this basic chore on this post I wrote for the IWSG.

Be consistent with your metadata: Is your series name the same across all retail outlets? Is your author name? Although it seems like a small thing, it works much like an old-fashioned card catalog. If something's different or flat-out wrong, it can hinder discovery. Ingram Spark puts it well: 

One mistake self-publishers make is—believe it or not—their name. If you use your middle initial or a hyphen in your author bio, spell it exactly the same way on your book cover. This creates more links to you and your book, and the more links there are, the more you and your book will appear in searches.o

Categories and keywords matter: Your keywords don't need to stay static. Reader interest changes and so do the terms they search for. Find out the most popular searches by either manually typing terms into the Amazon search box, or using a tool like KDP Rocket. Dave Chesson explains both methods in his post, here.  Categories are also vital for reader discovery. Are yours as narrowed down as they possibly can be? It would be tough for readers to find me under the huge “mystery” category, but they have a better chance with “cozy mystery-animals.”

Create a newsletter:  This doesn't need to be a rabbit hole you fall into. Put a sign-up link on your website. When you have a new release, email the folks who sign up. It really can be that simple. See more at this recent post on my blog.

What have I missed?  What other best practices do you follow to help readers find your books?

Best Practices for Selling More Books:
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Image by Charles Thompson from Pixabay

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Twitterific Writing Links

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 65,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you're there, check out the Writer's Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

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

Business / MiscellaneousHow you can stop editing email: @pubcoachSelf-publishing News: New Version of EPUB Bakes in Reader Accessibility: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLICollaboration Tips For Comic Writers: @breadincbooks @sfwaConferences and Events / MiscellaneousTurkish Publishers' ‘Freedom of Thought and Expression' Award: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives6 Steps To Prep As A Convention Panelist: @MorganHzlwoodJoanna Kusiak Wins the $100,000 Nine Dots Prize, Cambridge Book Contract: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesIn England: The CLPE Children's Poetry Award Names Its Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSheikh Zayed Book Award Adds New Category, Opens Submissions: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesIn Hamburg: Ewald Frie Wins the 2023 German Nonfiction Prize: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesIn Paris, BIEF Celebrates Its 150th Year: ‘An Open Marketplace': @OliviaSnaije @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationVision Boards For Writers: 3 Ways To Achieve Your Dreams: by Sarah RexfordA Writer’s Idea Germinator: @TimSuddeth @EdieMelson5 Creative Writing Prompts: @mahsudasnaith @thenovelryCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersFive Books About Magical Teachers and Mentors: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcom7 Books About Women Fighting for Survival: @Luidas @ElectricLitFive SF Stories Set in Eco-Friendly Futures: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomFive Space Books to Send a Chill Down Your Spine: @readingtheend @tordotcomFive Science Fiction Stories That Look Like Fantasy: @jamesdnicoll6 Books That Center a Close-Knit Group of Women: by Megan Beauregard @BookTrib8 books that demand to be read outside: @knownemily @lithubHow We “Island” Our Writing: A Deep Dive Into Pacific Islander SFF: @HeinrichManuia @apexmag8 Books that Use Direct Address Storytelling: @threepenny @ElectricLitIn The Spotlight: Peng Shepherd’s The Cartographers: @MargotKinberg7 Novels About Selling Your Soul : @jenniferbanash @ElectricLitCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingTen tricks For creating time to write: @Dwallacepeach @StoryEmpire by Crystal BowmanHow to Develop a Daily Writing Habit (for the Long-term): by RadekCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer's BlockNavigating and Seeing Beyond Writers’ Roadblocks: by Mary McDonough @WriterUnboxedCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeHow to be a more adaptable writer: @pubcoachWriting: How to be Best: @Lindasclare10 Things Writers Forget to Celebrate: @bookendslitWhy You Need Realistic Writing Expectations: by Andrea Lundgren @TheRyanLanzWhy Kindness Matters: @aprildavilaIn writing, flow is everything. Here are 8 ways to get it: @jbernoffHow to Restart Your Creative Flow: @Howard_Lovy @IndieAuthorALLIFive Ways to Get through a First Draft: by Ren DeStefano @DIYMFAHow to Survive Today's Market: @LauraDrakeBooksWriting Etiquette: @SueColetta1 @killzoneauthorsYes, I Know How Hard It Is by Julianna Baggott @WriterUnboxedWhy Deadlines are Important, Even for Pre-Published Writers: by Erica Vetsch @SKRViLLA Lesson in Backing Up Your Books @AuthorSATChakras For Storytellers: The Practice: @adchristiano @DIYMFAThe big idea: can writing make you healthier? @d_a_robson @GuardianBooksIdentify Your Allies: @WriteNowCoachNeed Organization Help? Try Trello: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersSeven Stories About Fictional Writers That Need a Reality Check: @randeedawn @tordotcomWriting By The Seat of my Yoga Pants: by Donnaldson Brown @WomenWritersHow to Take a Spiritual Approach to Your Blogging and Writing: @NinaAmirGenres / FantasyFantasy Writing Advice: Creating a Magic System: @AuthorMarilene7 Tips to Writing Touch Attacks: @cyallowitzHow Well Do These Oppressed Mages Work? by Oren AshkenaziTraining vs Experience in a Story: @cyallowitzGenres / HorrorExploring Social Issues Through Horror: @MedinaNickAdult Readers Will Devour These Middle-Grade Horror Novels: @RAforAllGenres / MemoirFive Tips for Writing a Tough Memoir: by Francesca Miracola @DIYMFAGenres / Middle-GradeMastering Middle-Grade: Elements That Work: by Lori Z. Scott @A3writersGenres / MysterySuccessful Business Executives in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergTravelers Who Decide to Travel With People They've Just Met in Mysteries: @MargotKinbergWhat Makes a Meta Mystery? by Oren AshkenaziDomestic Psychological Thrillers : @MandSMagazineGenres / Picture BooksMarket and Sell Children's Books: A Comprehensive Guide: @KimberleyGrabasGenres / RomanceHow to Write a Romance Novel: 8 Top Tips: @thenovelryGenres / Science FictionFive Ways to Justify Huge Rocks Smashing Into Earth (in Spite of Science): @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomGenres / ScreenwritingDoes the scene utilize “re-blocking”, including the literal push and pull between scene partners? @CockeyedCaravanAre objects given or taken, representing larger values? @CockeyedCaravan5 Things Writers Can Expect When Your Screenplay Starts Filming: @RuthTrippitt @Bang2writeAs a result of this scene, does at least one of the scene partners end up doing something she didn’t intend to do when the scene began? @CockeyedCaravanDoes the outcome of the scene ironically reverse and/or fulfill the original intention? @CockeyedCaravanPromo / AdsBookBub for Authors: Tips From a Veteran Writer: @BookgalPromo / BloggingHow to Write Your 1st Blog Post: by Nancy P. Howard @A3writers9 ways to leave the right comments on blog posts: @HughRoberts05Promo / Book Descriptions and CopywritingFive Pieces of Book Description Advice You Should Avoid: @JessieCunniffe @WrittenWordMPromo / MiscellaneousBook Marketing: How To Get Publicity For Your Book With Halima Khatun: @thecreativepennPromo / Social Media Tips5 Best Tips to Help Writers Add Text to Images: @AneMulligan @EdieMelsonPromo / WebsitesSEO for Your Author Website: @dkparsonswriter @SelfPubFormPublishing / MiscellaneousUS Market: A Mother's Day Bump That ‘Didn't Materialize': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPEN America Tracks ‘Educational Gag Orders': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @PENamericaHow to Reduce Print Costs on Amazon: A Complete Guide: @StoryHobbitAnthology Calls—How to Write to Theme, and Stand Out in a Crowd: @richardgthomas3 @LitReactor‘Of Boys and Men' and Publishing: Richard V. Reeves: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBook Formatting: @dlfinnauthor @StoryEmpireFive Things I Wish I Knew Before Publishing: @jennapodjasek @WomenWritersReadmagine: ‘Human-Centric Digital Innovation' in Publishing: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe Seven Processes of Publishing: Book Production: @IndieAuthorALLIExclusive: Martin Predicts Carbon Emission Labels on Books: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBattling Literary Censorship: New Court Action: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / DataBooknet Canada: Comics and Graphic Novels Gained Popularity in 2022: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesUS Book Publishing Revenues in 2022 Were $28 Billion: AAP: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAPA Report: Audio Sales in Double Digits for 11th Year: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingThe Italian Publishers Association's Ricardo Levi's Resignation: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / PitchesHow to Pitch to a Literary Agent: @carlywatters @lithubPitching a Book for Film Rights: What Should You Expect? @BookgalPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / QueryingWhat does the protagonist need to do? (query critique): @NathanBransfordPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Rejections5 Rejection Letter Nos—and Career Authors' Advice on How to Pivot: by Dana Isaacson @CareerAuthorsPublishing / Process / Book DesignBook Cover Design & Blurb: Agony or Ecstasy? @AnnaMHolmes_Publishing / Process / Formatting(Nearly) everything that can go wrong with graphics in your book: @jbernoffPublishing / Process / LegalitiesLegal Aspects Of Generative AI And Copyright: @KathrynGoldman @thecreativepennShould Writers Use a Pseudonym? 5 reasons to use a pen name: @NathanielTowerWriting Craft / Arc3 Steps to Crafting a Story Arc that Sucks Readers In: @Janice_HardyWriting Craft / BeginningsA good page made needlessly confusing (page critique): @NathanBransford10 worst ways to start a book: @AuthorMarileneWriting Craft / Characters / ArcCharacter Redemption Arcs: @TuesWithLaurie @WomenWritersDo Character Arcs Actually Matter? @PhilAthansWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentUsing Character Sheets: @KarenCVHow to breathe life into your fictional characters: @HelenaFairfax“Lack of Character Development” is Not Always A Problem: by Peter Derk @LitReactorCharacter Profile: What is it and what to do with it: @ByMichelleReneeWriting Craft / Characters / Supporting CharactersAre Secondary Characters Needed? @KarenCVWriting Craft / Common Mistakes52 Common Writing Errors (Examples and Tips): @nownovelWriting Craft / ConflictDo Superpowered Characters Need Combat Training? @cyallowitzWriting Craft / DialogueWhat I Learned From My Editors: Dialogue Attribution: @JillWilliamson @GoTeenWritersWriting Craft / DiversityHow to Avoid Token Representation: by Nayantara @NaNoWriMoOn Diverse Storytelling: @Bang2writeWriting Craft / DraftsA Framework for Moving Beyond Your First Draft: @amylbernstein @JaneFriedmanWriting Craft / EndingsGetting Unstuck: Endings: @MastersReviewExit Strategies: So How Are You Supposed to End a Story? @allegra_hyde @lithubWriting Craft / Flashback and Back StoryHow to Write a Backstory Using One Surprising Story Element: by Iris Marsh @write_practiceWriting Craft / Literary DevicesUniversal Themes That Can Be Found in Movies: @LiveWriteThriveWriting Craft / MiscellaneousWhich Writer Rules Are More Like Guidelines? @MorganHzlwoodWriting the RIGHT Details: @SeptCFawkes @davidfarlandThe Boogeymen of Suspense: @MandSMagazineRedundancy – why you should avoid it: @pubcoachAre You a Skilled Enough Writer to Put Your Readers to Sleep? @EdieMelsonAngst: How to Hurt Your Characters and Make It Count: @LizGenerally @NaNoWriMoWriting Craft / POVMany Voices, One Song: How Writers Meet the Challenge of a Multi-POV Novel: by Barbara Linn Probst @WriterUnboxedFirst Person Point of View: Definition and Examples: @StoryGridWriting in First-Person: @JerryBJenkinsWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarAnalyzing your punctuation tendencies: @jbernoffHow to punctuate dialogue broken midstream by an action beat: @LouiseHarnbyWriting Craft / RevisionRevision and Omar Khayyam: @Kdibianca
@killzoneauthorsHow Writers Revise: Camille Pagán and Betting on Herself: @FoxPrintEdWriting Craft / ScenesDiscover Your Scene: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsClassic Tips: Scene Writing Must-Haves: @LindasclareWriting Craft / Series / Series BibleHow to Organize Your Story Details into a Story Bible: @LynetteMBurrowsWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionHow Much Description Should You Put in Your Novel or Memoir? @annerallenElements of Setting: Attitude: @stacitroilo @StoryEmpireThe Writer’s Adventure of Using Sensory Perception: @DiAnnMills @EdieMelsonWriting Craft / TransitionsQuick editing tip: Passing time: @bucketsilerWriting Craft / VoiceFinding Your Writing Voice: Actionable Tips for Developing Your Unique Style: @NathanielTowerWriting Craft / Word CraftingOn Choosing the Right Word: @nlholmesbooks @FloridaWriters1Homonyms with Harmony: American and British English Conventions: @harmony_kent @StoryEmpire

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

Twitterific Writing Links

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 65,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you're there, check out the Writer's Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

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

Hope everyone has an enjoyable and meaningful Memorial Day weekend! I'm taking tomorrow off, but will be back here with Twitterific next week.

Business / MiscellaneousCopywriting: the unexpected pricing mistake that turns clients away: @copywritemattrsWhy Make KidLit Graphic Novels or Hybrids for Different Ages? @MiraReisbergHow to Gift Your Author Estate – Writing to Retire: @KMazeauthorEstate Planning, Copyright Registration, and More Questions Answered: @sacha_black @MichaelLaRonn @IndieAuthorALLITen Creative Planning Principles: Creative Self-Publishing Podcast: @Howard_Lovy @IndieAuthorALLIHow to manage a hectic editorial business schedule: @LouiseHarnbyHow to Protect Yourself and Avoid Plagiarizing: @LisaTenerConferences and Events / MiscellaneousInternational Prize for Arabic Fiction Names Omani Novelist Zahran Alqasmi Its Winner: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAbu Dhabi International Publishing and Creative Industries Congress: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAt Norway's WEXFO: Mazin Lateef Ali Wins the IPA Prix Voltaire: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAbu Dhabi's ‘Spotlight on Rights' Grants Program Opens: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesItaly's Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torino: 215,000 Attendees: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGospodinov and Rodel Win the 2023 International Booker: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSpain's Liber 2023 Announces Guest of Honor Poland: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationHow to Come Up With a Book Idea: 16 Tips [And Why You Needn’t Worry]: @StoryHobbitSix Fun Ways to Amp Up Your Creativity: @magpie0218 @RMFWritersEmotional Keys to Creativity: @AnneJanzerCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersFive Books Filled With Existential Anxiety: by J.S. Dewes @tordotcomCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Viviane Serfaty’s Murders in December: @MargotKinberg5 Deliciously Dark Novels that Explore the Sinister Side of Marriage: @azmadar1Six Memoirs That Redefine Faith After Life in the Spotlight: @BookTrib7 Novels Overgrown with Plants: by Katy Simpson Smith @ElectricLit11 Books About Women on the Brink: by MS Coe @ElectricLitIn The Spotlight: David Briggs’ The Direction of Our Fear: @MargotKinbergFive SF Works That Predicted a Very Different End to the Cold War: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomMysteries for Romance Fans: by Mary Winters @CrimeReadsFive SFF Sports I Would Try in a Heartbeat: @ColeRush1 @tordotcomCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeWho's Your Muse? – 9 Greek Goddesses Of Art And Science: by Kelsey Gooden @LittleInfiniteHow Long Does It Really Take To Write a Novel? @KAMcClearyWriters Don’t Have to Suffer: @aprildavilaCrosswords and Writing: 6 Reasons Why The One Helps The Other: by Elaine DodgeSome Word Trivia: @TheGrammarDivaDon’t Give Up on Your (Writing) Dreams: @mike54martinThe Best Writing Advice: Rescue Your Stalled Book with One Word: @RuthHarrisBooks @annerallenWhat Preys on Your Fiction? @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsDesperately Seeking a Writing God: @jan_ohara @WriterUnboxedDecisions and Sacrifices for the Writing Life: @TheNormanNation @WriterUnboxedHow to Survive the Singularity of Rapid Technological Change: by Lisa Norman5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Writing My First Novel: by Luke Lovelady @LiveWriteThriveHow Archetypes Changed My Life and My Writing: @KMWeilandAre You Ready to Write a Novel? @richardgthomas3 @LitReactorFinding Connection: On Writing about Chronic Pain: by Francesca Louise Grossman @WomenWritersA Writer's Guide to Beating Perfectionism: @ChadRAllenAI as intern: @austinkleonSelf-Care for Writers in a Pseudo-Dystopian World: @KBullockAuthor @WriterUnboxedPoints mean pages: why I’ve embraced the world of online reading challenges: @JoannaCannon @GuardianBooksFive Lessons Outrigger Canoe Paddling Has Taught Me About Writing: by Kate Elliott @tordotcomHow I Used My Characters to Travel During Lockdown: by
Amulya Malladi @CrimeReadsWriters Often See The Dark Side: @DeanWesleySmith7 Tips to Relieving Stress: @cyallowitzReclaim Your Author Career with Claire Taylor: @sacha_blackGenres / HorrorHow to Write Horror: The Basics of Crafting Terror: @StuartConover @HorrorTreeGenres / MemoirEp. 457: Take the Leap: Write a Memoir — with Leslie Karst: @DIYMFAGenres / MiscellaneousShould Christian Authors Write for Secular Readers? by Jan Drexler @SKRViLLWhat is psychological fiction? @CastleWallsEdit
@TheStoryEditorGenres / MysteryWhy Are Audiences So Captivated by Locked-Room Mysteries? @GigiPandian @CrimeReadsIn Praise of The Cross Genre Novel: by Jacqueline Winspear @CrimeReadsComedians in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergSubgenres of Mystery: by Kay DiBianca @killzoneauthorsBlood Ties in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergScandinavian vs Southern Noir: @MandSMagazineGenres / Non-FictionHistorical Nonfiction: Definition and Examples: by Polly Watt @TheStoryEditorThe Art of Creating a Narrative Persona in Nonfiction: @sleclercauthor @TheStoryEditorGenres / Science FictionScience Fiction Story Ideas: 50+ Ideas to Get You Started: @DaveChessonFive Plot-Friendly Ways to Isolate Planets and Space Colonies: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomGenres / ScreenwritingTop 5 Reasons Producers Don't Like Your Pitches: by Charlotte Atkinson @Bang2writeIs the suppressed conflict (which may or may not come to the surface) implied through subtext (and/or called out by the other character)? @CockeyedCaravanAre the characters cagey or in denial about their own feelings? @CockeyedCaravanPromo / CrowdfundingLessons Learned And Tips From Pilgrimage, My First Kickstarter Campaign: @thecreativepennPromo / ImagesDeveloping Your Book Marketing Aesthetic: Creating Images: @IndieAuthorALLIPromo / MiscellaneousHybrid Author Events: Clever Ideas for Promoting a Book: @Bookgal @BowkerPromo / PlatformsWhat ChatGPT Taught Me About My Author Brand: @AuthorSATPromo / PricingHow to Sell Your Book at the Correct Price: @BookgalPromo / Social Media TipsTikTok Tips For Writers: by Alex J. Coyne @Writers_WriteTips and Results for Writers After Experimenting with Marketing: @KarenHWhiting @EdieMelsonUsing TikTok to Sell Books in a Niche with Rebecca Thorne: @sacha_blackPromo / VideoHow To Create A Book Trailer: by Elaine DodgePromo / WebsitesBroken Links: How Often Should You Check And Fix Them On Your Blog? @HughRoberts05Publishing / MiscellaneousW3C Issues a Recommendation for EPUB 3.3: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingPartnerships: Germany's Bookwire To Distribute Arabookverse Content: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGermany: ‘IGLU' Shows Primary-School Reading Skills Lagging: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBerlin's De Gruyter eBound Foundation Supports Ukrainian Publishing: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / QueryingRein in your plot description (query critique): @NathanBransfordPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / RejectionsRebounding from Rejection: A How-To Guide To Survive the Emotional Turmoil That Is the Writing Business: @JenBraaksma @WomenWritersPublishing / Process / Book DesignHow to communicate to get the best book cover design: by Vasalysa Zaturets @annerallenPublishing / Process / LegalitiesDo you need permission for epigraphs? @pubcoachRights vs. Copyright: Untangling the Confusion: @victoriastraussWriting Craft / ArcHow Story Arc Works For Your Characters (With Examples): @Bang2writeWriting Craft / Characters / Development7 Tips to Writing Student Characters: @cyallowitzGiving Your Characters Room To Grow: @MorganHzlwoodCharacter Type and Trope Thesaurus: Caregiver: @AngelaAckermanGet That To-The-Bone Feel For Your Characters: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsWhat Is a “Character Driven” Story? by Oren AshkenaziCreating Compelling Characters: The Importance of Flaws and Vulnerabilities: @gilbertbassey7 tips for writing a killer cast of characters: @sleclercauthor @TheStoryEditor5 Ways to Crash Your Character’s Pity Party: @MarissaGraff @onestop4writersCharacter Creation Questionnaire: 50 Questions You Should Be Asking: @thenovelsmithyWriting Craft / Common MistakesMistakes I’ve Made So You Don’t Have To: Trying To Make My Book Be About Too Many Things: @StephMorrill @GoTeenWritersFive Types of Annoying Cliffhangers: by Oren AshkenaziWriting Craft / ConflictCharacter vs Character: Type of Conflict: by Polly Watt @TheStoryEditorWriting Craft / DialogueWrite Convincing Dialogue: @aprildavilaHow to Use Regional Dialect in Fiction Writing: by Heather Wood @TheStoryEditorCreate Effective Dialogue by Asking the Right Questions: @FoxPrintEd @JaneFriedmanWriting Craft / Flashback and Back StoryHow to Write Flashbacks: by Polly Watt @TheStoryEditorFlashbacks, Yes or No? by Marilynn ByerlyWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmThe Eighth Wonder: Why ‘Kong’ is Still King 90 Years Later: @Brianwaves42 @BDisgustingAdapt and survive: why Dickens still endures on page, stage and screen: by John Mullan @GuardianBooks6 Bits Of Writing Advice From Mickey Spillane: by Alex J. Coyne @Writers_WriteEssential Scenes: Midpoint of Beauty and the Beast: @abigailkperry @DIYMFAWriting Craft / MiscellaneousHow to Define Character Goals: @LindasclareThe Last Word: Epilogues by Sophie Masson @WriterUnboxedWriting a Child Character's Emotional State: from Write WorldThree Ways to Pull from Within to be Authentic and Real in Your Writing: by NajlaWriting to Understand: @ShanDitty @GoTeenWriters7 Tips to Writing Teachers in Fiction: @cyallowitzEngland and America: Different Words for the Same Thing: @TheGrammarDivaDo You Have a Great Story on Your Hands? @thenovelry @TheIWSGSuspense vs Surprise: The Difference Explained: by Heather Wood @TheStoryEditorWhat’s Chekhov’s Gun and How Can You Use It In Your Writing? by Gabi James @thenovelryMetaphysical elements in writing – essential oils and herbs: @JanSikes3 @StoryEmpirePrologues vs. Flashbacks (Backstory Techniques): @KMWeilandHow Poetry Can Help You Strengthen Your Novel: @SaraTantlinger @LitReactorTea with Scones: An Introduction to Writing Essay: by Kamm Prongay @DIYMFAHow Critical Distance Improves Writing: @SueColetta1Plinko scenes: @NathanBransfordHow to Make Productive Use of ChatGPT: Q&A with Elisa Lorello: @elisalorello @JaneFriedmanFinding The Beginning: by John Gilstrap @killzoneauthorsWriting Craft / PacingPace Your Writing: Withholding and Foreshadowing: @LindasclareWriting Craft / POVWhy You Should Try Writing in Second Person: @melissatydell @write_practiceWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / NamingTips for Choosing Character Names for the Stories We Write: @AneMulligan @EdieMelsonWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingHero's Journey: Stages and Structure Examples: by Lisa Taylor @TheStoryEditorWriting Craft / Revisions / CritiquesHow To Tell SomeoneThat Their Baby Is Ugly: by PJ Parrish @killzoneauthorsWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionHow to Describe Music in Writing: Creating Wonderful Melodies in Your Reader's Mind: by Heather Wood @TheStoryEditorEssential Reference for Angry Expressions and Angry Body Language: @BrynDonovanWriting Craft / Word CraftingHomonyms, Homophones, and Homographs: @harmony_kent @StoryEmpireWriting Craft / World-BuildingA Guide to Worldbuilding in Fantasy, SciFi and Beyond: by Craig Leyenaar @thenovelry

 

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Don’t Give Up on Your (Writing) Dreams

 

by Mike Martin, @mike54martin

I have been a writer all of my life. As long as I can remember I was captivated by the magic and wonder of books. And I wanted to be a writer, a published writer, part of that community. But I did not come from a family or an environment where that was even considered as a career possibility. It was great that you could sing in the choir, but don’t even think about doing that for a living. Not for you. Same with writing. Great that you got an A on that essay, but keep studying and go to school for a real job.

So, I did what I could, tucking my writing dream under my hat as I took on all kinds of jobs and responsibilities in what my parents would call the ‘real’ world. But even as I did this I found a way to write in just about every job I found myself in. Along the way I wrote policy papers and backgrounders and then speaking notes and speeches, graduating to ghost writing editorials and opinion pieces for the big cheeses I worked for. What I found was that this sustained me, kept me going, kept my writing dreams alive.

It wasn’t until much later in life, maybe in my mid-forties that I had to write more. I just had to. That’s when I turned to freelance writing. For newspapers, magazines, business publications. Sometimes I had a by-line, but mostly it was anonymous, under-paid and under recognized work. But I was still writing, I told myself. That’s what really mattered.

But underneath all of this, the writing urge was not just percolating, it felt like a volcano was erupting. I couldn’t afford to quit my day job, so I started writing at night. Short stories, story ideas, poetry, screenplays, it didn’t matter. Slowly, over time I turned my career into part-time and writing into my vocation. I wrote and published a self-help book which to my embarrassment is still in publication. Needless to say, that was not enough to quench my writing thirst.

Finally in my early fifties, the idea for writing a book came into my mind and five years later at age 55 I published The Walker on the Cape, the first book in the Sgt. Windflower Mysteries series. And I have never looked back. This month I am celebrating the launch of Book 13 in the series, All That Glitters, and I already have Book 14 just about finished. I don’t how much longer I will continue, but at this point, it doesn’t matter. I have succeeded in achieving my writing dreams. And so can you.

I don’t have a lot of advice to offer. But I do know that writing and publishing a book takes time and determination. You have to have the physical time and space to be able to create. That will come. At some point in your life you will have that. The determination, the drive has to stay with you and that is what will propel you over the finish line. Every author I know has projects and plans and half-finished books in their writing file. Those who succeed in making them a reality are those are determined and never give up on their writing dreams.

All That Glitters is available in fine bookstores all over Canada and around the world on Amazon

 

Mike Martin was born in St. John’s, NL on the east coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a long-time freelance writer and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in the United States and New Zealand.

He is the award-winning and best-selling author of the award-winning Sgt. Windflower Mystery series set in beautiful Grand Bank. There are now 13 books in this light mystery series with the publication of All That Glitters.

A Tangled Web was shortlisted in 2017 for the best light mystery of the year, and Darkest Before the Dawn won the 2019 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award.

Some Sgt. Windflower Mysteries are now available as audiobooks and the latest A Tangled Web was released as an audiobook in 2023. All audiobooks are available from Audible in Canada and around the world.

Mike is Past Chair of the Board of Crime Writers of Canada, a national organization promoting Canadian crime and mystery writers and a member of the Newfoundland Writers’ Guild and Capital Crime Writers.

You can follow the Sgt. Windflower Mysteries on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/

 

Have Writing Dreams? Don't Give Up (by @mike54martin ):
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Image by bess.hamiti@gmail.com from Pixabay

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Twitterific Writing Links

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 65,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you're there, check out the Writer's Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

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

Business / MiscellaneousBusiness Musings: The Importance of Ship Size (Yes, This Is Related to AI Audio): by Kristine Kathryn RuschWhat Is Short Form Content? @kwidenhouseWhen and How Physical Books Became Digital Data: by Dana Isaacson @CareerAuthorsHow to Write for the Web: All Writers Need to Write Web Content: @annerallenSelf-publishing News: Kindle Unlimited Raises its Price: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIIs a Copyright Needed for Each ISBN? by Digi-Rights @BowkerUltimate Guide to Selling Print Books Direct from your Author Website: @IndieAuthorALLIWhat is Ghostwriting and How to Get Started: @LindaGilden
@EdieMelsonWhen is a price for editing ‘too low’? @LouiseHarnbyConferences and Events / MiscellaneousRights in Reykjavik: An International Literary Festival Discussion: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAbu Dhabi International Book Fair Readies Its 32nd Edition: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSheikh Zayed Book Award Names Omar Khairat Its Cultural Personality: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe British Book Awards Honor Salman Rushdie: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesLondon Book Fair Recap: by Shane Millar @IndieAuthorALLIAnatomy Of A Book Signing: by @JohnGilstrap201 @killzoneauthorsAbu Dhabi: The Golden Narrative Award's New Higher Committee: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / First NovelsThere’s No “Magic Formula” to Write a Book: by Tamara Sanderson @WomenWritersHow to Start Writing a Book: @thenovelryCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers10 Books to Chase Those The Last of Us Vibes: @QueenOfRats @tordotcom“Snow White” and the Seven Retellings: by Rachel Ayers @tordotcom5 Unconventional Fantasy Heists: @mariond_d @tordotcom8 Novels Featuring Endearingly Messy Queer Characters: @jinwoochong @ElectricLitNothing Makes Me Read Faster Than an Underwhelming Book: @ColeRush1 @tordotcom8 Novels With Characters Who Go to Therapy: by Lisa Zhuang @ElectricLitBad Seed Novels: A Deeply Unsettling Literary Tradition: @NathanMOates @CrimeReadsCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingAre You Struggling to Make Time for Writing? @LisaTenerDo Less Than Your Best: @FoxPrintEdCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeBecoming a Writer, after a Career of Writing: @whitneycubbison @DIYMFAHow to restart a stalled book: @pubcoachAuthor Fashion: The Fabric of Language, or What to Wear on Book Tour: @jgerstenblatt @WriterUnboxedWriting By The Seat of my Yoga Pants: by Donnaldson Brown @WomenWriters10 Ways to Avoid Writing Insecurity: by Sean PlattWhat To Do With Abandoned Manuscripts: by Susanne Bennett @Writers_WriteAre You Giving Yourself Writing Credit? @jaconoley @JaneFriedman“I Write Because I Want My Mom’s Death to Mean Something”: @AuthorSATLosing My Hearing Showed Me a New Way to Write About the Self: @smalllights @lithubHow to Write with a Newborn in the House: by Repo Kempt @LitReactorTo All the Novels I Never Published: @Literotaur @The_MillionsWhen Literary Legends Meet: @RickMofina @CrimeReadsGetting Past the Blank Page: by Dana R. Lynn @SKRViLLFinding My Writing Tribe: @ConstanceEmmett @DIYMFAHow to Support Your Fellow Writer: @dlfinnauthor @StoryEmpireGenres / FantasyAdvice for Creating a Magic System: @AuthorMarileneGenres / MemoirWriting Nature Memoir: @MerrynGlover @thecreativepennGenres / Middle-GradeWhich Is It – Middle Grade or Young Adult? @KarenCV @FrugalBookPromoGenres / MiscellaneousAdventure Book Ideas: 20 Prompts for Survival and Adventure Stories @suelweems @write_practiceFinding Your Niche and Genre: @DancingLemurPre @TheIWSGWhat Digital Comics Readers Really Want: @helpfulsnowman @LitReactorGenres / MysterySpeaking Truth to Power as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergThinking Independently in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergFive Tips to Writing a Realistic Legal Thriller: @adammitzner @CareerAuthorsGenres / Non-FictionThe “All Is Lost Moment” in Nonfiction: @SPressfieldGenres / Picture BooksPodcast Interview with Peter H. Reynolds, Picture Book Author and Illustrator: @peterhreynolds @GoodStoryCoBeginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing a Picture Book by RC Chizhov: Genres / PoetryCharif Shanahan on Making the Unseen Seen through Poetry: @lithubGenres / RomanceAdvice on Writing a Kissing Scene: @AuthorMarilene6 Tips for Writing a Great Romance: @VictorineLieske @davidfarlandWriting Feminist Romance: @MarinaBarakatt @DIYMFAGenres / ScreenwritingIs there at least one nonplot element complicating the scene? @CockeyedCaravanDoes each scene both advance the plot and reveal character through emotional reactions? @CockeyedCaravanGenres / Short StoriesHow to Write a Short Story Spin-Off from Your Novel: @RayneHall @Janice_HardyPromo / Book ReviewsHow To Read Bad Reviews of Your Book Without Ruining Your Life: @helpfulsnowman @LitReactorPromo / MiscellaneousUmbrella Marketing Strategies for Authors: @KarenHWhiting @EdieMelsonBooks PR and Marketing Questions Answered: Take Inventory: by Ann Marie Nieves @WriterUnboxedPromo / NewslettersHow Writers Can Generate Revenue from Their Email List: @SusanNealYoga @EdieMelsonPromo / PlatformsThe Ultimate Guide to Building Your Author Brand Online: @BookgalPromo / SpeakingTips for Better Public Speaking: by Reavis Wortham @killzoneauthorsPublishing / MiscellaneousMasterclass vs Skillshare: Which Online Learning Platform is Better? @DaveChessonLuma Al Adnani on Edutainment: Abu Dhabi Congress Interview: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesHow to Publish a Book on Amazon: The Full Step-by-Step Guide: @DaveChessonAmazon's Rafid Fatani on Artificial Intelligence: Abu Dhabi Congress Interview: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBook Banning: PEN America Sues a Florida School District: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @PENamericaAt Canada's Wattpad, Publishing Chief Ashleigh Gardner Steps Down: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @wattpadRichard Charkin: ‘A Publishing House Is a Field': @rcharkin @pubperspectivesPublication in a peer-reviewed journal: @pubcoachPublishing / News / International PublishingArabLit Opens a New Monthly Newsletter for Rights Professionals: @oliviasnaije @oliviasnaijeRights Roundup: A Busy Nordic Spring: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe IPA Releases a New 25-Year Retrospective Book: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @IntPublishersHakawati's Karim Beidoun: Abu Dhabi Congress Interview: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesTorino's Rights Center Expands Its International Reach: @JaroslawAdamows @pubperspectivesAt Torino: Italy's Bookshops Surge to a 58.3-Percent Share: @JaroslawAdamows @Porter_Anderson Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / QueryingCan You Query a Self-Published Book? @bookendslitPublishing / Process / Book DesignAn Author’s Guide to Stock Photos for Book Covers by Johnathan GreenWriting Craft / BeginningsFlog a Pro: Would You Turn the First Page of this Bestseller? @RayRhamey @WriterUnboxedWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentUsing the Big Five Personality Traits for Character Development: @GarryRodgers1 @killzoneauthorsDirect vs Indirect Characterisation: Differences and Examples: by Lisa Taylor @TheStoryEditorThe Craft in Writing Characters with Messy Psychology: by Suzanne Berne @ElectricLitFear Thesaurus Entry: Being Taken Advantage Of: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersHow To Read Body Language: @SueColetta1 @killzoneauthorsCharacter Type and Trope Thesaurus Entry: Jester: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersWhy Readers Love Anti-Heroes: @SueColetta1 @onestop4writersWriting Craft / Characters / ProtagonistsHow to Create a Hero: Tips and Ideas: @sleclercauthor @TheStoryEditorWriting Craft / DialogueWriting Dialogue Worth Quoting: @PeggySueWells @EdieMelsonWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmWhat Writers Can Learn From Sunset Boulevard: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsFive Stories That Undermine Their Own Stakes: by Oren AshkenaziEight Weeks of Art Horror That Will Make You a Better Storyteller: @leggomymeag0 @CrimeReadsWriting Craft / Literary DevicesTheme and Symbolism in Fiction in a Nutshell: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writers @annerallenWriting Craft / MiscellaneousPassive Voice in Fiction Writing: Should you use it? by Lisa Taylor @TheStoryEditorWriting a book: 5 expert tips to finally make it happen: by Heather Wood @TheStoryEditorDo you want to use quotes? @pubcoachSix Stories With Poorly Designed Factions:  by Oren AshkenaziA Glimpse at Dual Timeline Novels: @MaeClair1 @StoryEmpireTighten Up Your Writing: @julietk @sfwaProlific Writing, Diversification, And Using Emerging Technologies With Joseph Nassise: @thecreativepennPut Some Saga in Your Stories: @jamesscottbell4 Great Tools for Creating Dread in Fiction: @amychristinepar @DIYMFAYour Story Is Amazing. But Does It Actually Make Sense? @manzanitafire @WriterUnboxedHere Are Two Ways to Write Organic Themes: @KMWeilandOverused Techniques and Genres? I Think Not: @beemweeks @StoryEmpireEscaping the Wilderness and the All is Lost Moment: @SPressfieldElements of a Dual Timeline Novel: Character Development: @MaeClair1 @StoryEmpireThe Reading Game: How Not to Lose Readers: @AnneJanzerWriting Craft / POVThird Person Point of View: Omniscient, Limited, or Objective with Examples: @StoryGridHave You Chosen the Right POV Character for Your Story? @KMWeilandWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / OutliningQuick Outlining Tip: Writing Craft / Settings and DescriptionThe Writer’s Adventure of Using Sensory Perception: @DiAnnMills @EdieMelsonWriting Craft / World-BuildingDeciding What’s Possible in Your World: @IWriteToo @RMFWriters

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Quick Outlining Tip

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Although I started out with a pretty antagonistic relationship with outlining, I've learned to both make my peace with it and to find ways to make it work for me.

The nice thing is that we can customize our outlines to make them more useful. Sometimes this means having just a bullet-pointed list of where the story is going next. Sometimes it means sketching out entire scenes throughout the book.

I write five or six in-depth outlines every year. Each time I've tried to make them more useful to me when I'm using them. They're supposed to function as tools, after all, and figuring out ways to make them work harder for me is definitely worth it.

My latest discovery is that I can use my outline to help me move faster through the toughest scenes for me to write. My toughest scenes vary. They used to be endings, for instance. Now, for two out of my three active series, the toughest things to write are my transition scenes and my subplots.

Whatever the area of concern is, I make sure to focus on it while creating my outline. For transition scenes and subplots, for instance, I'll first brainstorm possible subplots and tie-ins to the mystery, then I'll add them in as much detail as possible in the outline.

This helps in a couple of different ways. For one, it helps me move faster through my manuscript. If I know I take twice as long writing those scenes, an outline really helps me move quickly through it. For another, it gives me confidence that I won't run into time-consuming issues when I start to write. That confidence ensures that I'll be eager to open up my laptop the next day and start another writing session.

For more on how I use outlines, see:

Eliminating plot holes.

Lengthening a manuscript in a meaningful way.

Using them as cheat sheets before speaking to a book club.

Mini outlines.

Do you outline? What's your process for planning a book?

Using Outlines to Help With Your Problem Areas:
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Image by Лариса Мозговая from Pixabay

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Twitterific Writing Links

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 65,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you're there, check out the Writer's Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

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

Business / MiscellaneousFour Steps to Advance Your Writing Career: @Lilka_Raphael
@EdieMelsonAffording a Book Tour with Family Priorities In Mind: @WriteEdit4u @WomenWritersHow to Find a Book Editor: by Jeanette the Writer @DIYMFASelf-publishing News: Are Younger Adults Reading More? @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIIs ChatGPT creative? An exploration with book titles: @jbernoffHow to Survive Editing: @pubcoach @JaneFriedmanConferences and Events / MiscellaneousPublishing Scotland: New 2023 Fellows Named for August Program: @PublishScotland @pubperspectivesFrankfurt's ‘The Hof' Features Kyiv's Yulia Kozlovets: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe French-American Foundation Names its 2023 Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesWales' Dylan Thomas Prize Nigerian Arinze Ifeakandu Its 2023 Winner: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersI May Be Trying to Read Too Many Books at Once: @mollytempleton @tordotcom8 Ways to Love Little Women: @HindsJess @lithub10 Novels About Bees That Teach Us How to Be Human: @juliecardalt @ElectricLitMoms are superheroes? Yes, here’s 11 books to prove it: @janetmanley @lithubCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: J.R. Rain’s Dark Horse @MargotKinbergCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeImproving Your Home Office: by Amber Ramsey @TheGrammarDivaThe Power of a Writing Routine: 9 Habits for Writing Success: by Jessica Majewski @getfreewriteFive Ways to Reduce Writer Anxiety: by Julie Slaughter @DIYMFAThe Seven Signs of Publishing Resistance: Creative Self-Publishing Podcast with Orna Ross and Howard Lovy: @Howard_Lovy @IndieAuthorALLIWays to Do Morning Pages: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsFor Better Creativity, Spring Clean Your Brain: @KelseyAllagood @WriterUnboxedDealing with Self-Doubt as a Writer: @SeptCFawkesOur Family Secret Was Embedded in My Writing Before I Knew the Truth: @danijshapiro @lithubWhy Fear Is a Terrible Friend … and How to Crush It: by Nicki Howell @LiveWriteThriveContent For Everyone: Accessibility For Authors With Jeff Adams: @thecreativepennWhy Retreats: Isn’t Writing Supposed to Be Solitary? @amylizwrites @WomenWritersInspirational Indie Author Interview: Julia Boggio. Photographer Pictures New Life as Indie Author: @juliaboggio @Howard_Lovy @IndieAuthorALLI30+ Types of Poetry to Try: by Kelsey Gooden
@LittleInfiniteGenres / Horror20 Spine-tingling Horror Story Prompts: @suelweems @write_practiceHow to Write Horror: 8 Crucial Components to Terrify and Delight: @sarahstyposGenre Tips: How to Write Horror: by Oliver Fox @KMWeilandGenres / MiscellaneousWriting Graphic Novels and Comic Strips: by Alex J. Coyne @Writers_WriteGenres / MysteryFame as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergGenres / RomanceLet’s Talk About (No) Sex, Baby: Writing Closed Door Romance: @AnnieRainsBooks @WomenWritersGenres / ScreenwritingBook vs. Film: “The Stars At Noon”: by Christopher Shultz @LitReactorPromo / Ads5 Reasons Your Amazon Ads Aren’t Drawing in Readers: @BookgalPromo / CrowdfundingCrowdfunding for Authors: Advanced Self-Publishing Podcast With Orna Ross and Joanna Penn: @thecreativepenn @IndieAuthorALLIPromo / PlatformsTop 5 Ways To Build Your Writer Platform In 2023: @Bang2writePromo / Social Media TipsGet Noticed on Social Media: @TammyLoughBooks @DIYMFABook Marketing: Beating the Algorithm: by Diana HurwitzPromo / WebsitesTurning Your Author Website Into A Direct Sales Bookstore: by Paul Hobday @WrittenWordMPublishing / MiscellaneousGetting Down To Business: by Densie Webb @WriterUnboxedAI and the Book Business: Association of American Publishers: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesReactions to ‘Artificial Intelligence': Scribd Alters Its Terms: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesOpen Road's ‘Free Voices': Selling Banned Books in a New Initiative: @Porter_Anderson @OpenRoadMedia @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / DataUS Market in April: Down 2 Percent in Print Unit Sales: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesUS February Statshot: Audio in Adult Titles Surpasses Ebooks: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingGermany's ResearchGate: Now Integrated With ‘GetFTR': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe 90th Anniversary of Germany's Book Burnings: ‘A Terrible Attack': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesNorway's New ‘WEXFO Youth' Program Comes of Age: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / QueryingIt's not a publishing convention to capitalize character names in a query letter: @NathanBransfordKnow Your Story's Selling Points: @PaulaSMunier @CareerAuthorsLiterary Agent Interview: Ellen Goff Interview and Query Critique Giveaway: @NatalieIAguirrePublishing / Process / Book DesignBook Covers: Our Biggest Pet Peeves @BookgalPublishing / Process / Contracts7 Tips for Negotiating a Literary Agent Agreement: by Joseph Perry @annerallenWriting Craft / Characters / AntagonistsHow Do Villainous Aesthetics Work? by Oren AshkenaziWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentFear Thesaurus Entry: Conditional Love: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersBirth Order and Character Development: the Middle Child: @gmplanoThe Unlucky Lucky Character: @cyallowitzWriting in the South—About Southern Women: @kbirdwrites @CrimeReadsHow To Find a Charming Narrator in a Self-Conscious Age: @cathleenschine @lithubWriting Craft / MiscellaneousRetreats, Short Stories, and Networking: collected by Dale Ivan Smith @killzoneauthorsThe Darkest Hour for your Protagonist: by Coffee Bean WritingTimelines and Datelines in Books: by Lynne Benton @AwfullyBigBlog3 Ways to Write Better Stories with AI: @PS_HoffmanWhy We Don’t Need “Heroines”: by Marcie Geffner @WriterUnboxedWriting Craft / PacingPacing a Novel: Practical Tips and Techniques: @Anna_Mazz @thenovelryWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / ResearchThe Joys of Researching Your Next Novel: @CSullivanBooks @CrimeReadsWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Story BeatsEverything Everywhere All at Once Beat Sheet Analysis: by Cory Milles @savethecatWriting Craft / RevisionHow to Self-Edit Your Novel: What You Can Learn from Professional Editors: @WintersEditing @IndieAuthorALLIHow to self-edit your novel: @NathanBransfordHow Not to Lengthen Your Novel: by Marilynn ByerlyWriting Craft / ScenesWriting How to: Piecing Together the Perfect Scene: @LoriAnnFreelandWriting Craft / SeriesTips for Writing and Promoting Series: @TheIWSGWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionWriting Tips: Setting And Sense Of Place: @thecreativepenn

 

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Writing and Promoting Series

Hi everyone! Today I'm guest blogging over at The IWSG. The topic today is on series: why they're great, tips for writing them, and how to promote them. Hope you'll hop over and join the discussion!

 

Image by Silvia from Pixabay

The post Writing and Promoting Series appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

Twitterific Writing Links

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 65,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you're there, check out the Writer's Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

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

Business / MiscellaneousALLi Income Survey Has Good News For Indie Authors; Also, Can You Sue ChatGPT for Libel? @agnieszkasshoes @Howard_Lovy @IndieAuthorALLISFWA Members Weigh in on AI & Machine Learning Applications & Considerations: @sfwaWill AI Change How Writers Work? @A_B_LeeWriting And Investing For A Long Term Indie Author Career: @GoblinWriter @thecreativepennSuch a Deal! Bundling Your Ebooks: by PJ Parrish @killzoneauthorsTo Give It Away or Not to Give It Away: @kimcanrite @JaneFriedmanBusiness Musings: AI Audio: by Kristine Kathryn RuschConferences and Events / MiscellaneousSelf-publishing News: Selfies Awards Winners Announced at London Book Fair: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLI @LondonBookFairSharjah's Booksellers Conference: ‘A Bright Future': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThessaloniki International Book Fair's ‘Dialogue': A New Rights Center: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCroatia's Martina Vidaić Wins the European Union Prize for Literature: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSheikh Zayed Book Award: The 17th Edition Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPhotos: Sharjah Booksellers Conference Workshops: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAnimation Conference Opens in Sharjah With Film Music: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesA Wrap-Up: 20Booksto50k Holland: by Melissa Addey @IndieAuthorALLICreativity and Inspiration / InspirationThe Writer's Curiosity and the Key to Keeping Your Imagination Open: @TimSuddeth @EdieMelsonHere's why you should doodle: @pubcoachCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Marco Vichi’s Death in August @MargotKinbergThe Best Books With Unreliable Narrators: @HorrorTreeOn the Mundane Letters of John Keats: @GeoffreyDMorri1 @lithubCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Jean Hager’s The Spirit Caller: @MargotKinbergCreativity and Inspiration / MotivationMaking Lists More Motivating: Creativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeFor Love of the Pencil: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsCan Writing Heal Physical Pain? @SueColetta1What It’s Like To Write About the Same Characters For Over a Decade: by Rachel Joyce @lithubFive Ways to Rediscover Your Writing Joy: @theladygreer @WriterUnboxedWhy productivity is personal: @beprolifikoFear of Judgment: @aprildavilaMy DIY Writing Retreat: What it Taught Me: @AhPlotts @DIYMFAClear the Weeds and Make Time to Write: @AnneJanzerWrite Like There’s No Tomorrow: @IWriteToo @RMFWritersIf Doctors Make the Worst Patients, Do Editors Make the Worst Authors? @JennyeJackson @lithubFeatured Writer on Wellness: Brandon Ying Kit Boey: @BrandonYKBoey @colleen_m_storyThe Top 10 Lies Authors Tell Themselves: @bookendslitNavigating the Road from Journalist to Novelist: @kcraftwriter @WriterUnboxedGenres / HumorComedic Writing: How to Write a Funny Story: @nownovelGenres / Literary FictionGenre Tips: How to Write Literary Fiction: @KMWeilandGenres / MemoirWhat is Autofiction? Should You Novelize Your Memoir? @annerallenGenres / MysteryMaps as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergLessons from Raymond Chandler: @LauraKellyRobb @MandSMagazineRomance as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergGenres / Non-FictionNonfiction Writing: Balance the Elements: @LindasclareGenres / Picture BooksFollowing the Tracks of a Story Idea: @jacquelinejulesGenres / ScreenwritingThe Second Act of a Screenplay: @flyingwrestlerPromo / BloggingUsing Your Career as a Blogging Tool: by Rachel CarringtonHow to Get Started With Guest Posting: @quiettypeblogPromo / Book ReviewsHow to Ask for Book Reviews (& Why You Should): @LizAlterman @onestop4writersPromo / MiscellaneousBook Surveys: How to Use Surveys to Sell More Books: by Brandon Cullum @DaveChessonReader Magnets: The Secret to Attracting More Readers: @StoryHobbitPromo / PlatformsHow to Build Your Author Platform: A Simple Guide: @KimberleyGrabasPublishing / MiscellaneousEngland's Emerald Research Publishing Names Teleen North American President: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesI Never Made a Living Wage When I Worked in Publishing: @bethanyaball @ElectricLitTaylor & Francis Continues Open-Access Partnership With Knowledge Unlatched: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThree Little Pigs by AI : @robincurrie15 @A3writersHow Bad Publishers Hurt Authors: by Gemma Whelan @JaneFriedmanPublishing / News / DataPost-Easter US Print Sales Up 5 Percent in Late April: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingGerman Study: Young Book Buyers' Activity is Up: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesLatin America: MVB Signs Mercado Libre, the E-Commerce Platform: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesChina Bestsellers in March: Adaptations on the Rise: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Self-PublishingSelf-publishing News: Bookseller Survey Exposes Reality of Being a Traditionally Published Debut Author: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / QueryingHow to Write a Query Letter in 8 Simple Steps: @ReedsyHQDo not worry about spoilers in a query letter: @NathanBransfordWriting Craft / BeginningsHow to Start a Story: 5 Tips on Opening Strong: by Rose Atkinson-CarterFirst Pages Critique: How to Better Establish Your Setting: @sangeeta_editor @JaneFriedmanWriting Craft / Characters / AntagonistsVillain Archetype: Definition and 10 Examples of an Antagonist: @StoryGridWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentFear Thesaurus Entry: Being Labeled: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersMentor Archetype: Definition, 10 Examples and How to Write: @StoryGridHero Archetype: Definition, 10 Examples and How to Write: @StoryGridAllies Archetype: Definition, 9 Examples, and How to Write: @StoryGridWriting Craft / Flashback and Back Story5 Ways to Avoid the Dreaded Infodump: @BrynDonovanWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmStar Trek’s Mediocre Antagonistic Species  by Oren AshkenaziTop 10 ‘Unlikeable' Female Characters In Movies & TV: @Bang2writeWriting Craft / Literary DevicesA Pig with a Thematic Purpose: @LiveWriteThriveWriting Craft / MiscellaneousThe Little Details Checklist: @KMAllan_writerHow Beth O’Leary Writes Bestsellers: @thenovelry5 Keys to a Satisfying Denouement: @SeptCFawkes @davidfarlandYou Have One Chance: @JoanHallWrites @StoryEmpireDialect Writing Tips For Fiction: by Alex J. Coyne @Writers_WriteHow to Write with the Inverted Pyramid: @themaltesetigerEgo and Self in the All is Lost Moment: @SPressfieldHere’s what readers really hate: @evmysterywriter @killzoneauthorsWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / OutliningShould I Outline Even If I Enjoy Pantsing? by Chris WinkleWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / ResearchWriting About Recruitment for the Intelligence Community: @PiperBayardWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarBad Grammar and Punctuation in Songs: @TheGrammarDivaAssuaging the Pain of Punctuation: @FoxPrintEdWriting Craft / RevisionHow to Edit a Manuscript: Story Grid Diagnostic: @StoryGridHow to Edit a Manuscript: @StoryGridWriting Craft / Scenes / Conflict7 Tips to Writing About Blunt Weapons: @cyallowitzWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionEnhance the Setting of the Story You're Writing: @PeggySueWells @EdieMelsonChoose effective verbs to enhance description: @StephenGeez @StoryEmpireWriting Craft / TropesUsing Tropes To Lift Your Plot: @LPOBryanWriting Craft / VoiceHoning Your Author Voice: @msheatherwebb @CareerAuthorsWriting Tools / Books9 Grammar Books You’ll Actually Enjoy Reading: @jenabrownwrites @LitReactor

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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