Riley Adams's Blog, page 33

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 63,000 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 / MiscellaneousHow to Get Started as a Ghostwriter: @rebeccanoori @quiettypeblogPlan Your Money: Setting up Your Authorial Calendar for Success: by Stephanie BwaBwa @DIYMFAUtilizing Amazon’s Buying and Gifting eBooks for Others Feature: by Pam Hillman @SKRViLLWriters: Tips on Selling Books at Bazaars and Fairs: @LinWilsonauthorConferences and Events / MiscellaneousInternational Women's Day: Nature's First Conference on Gender Equity: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAwards: Cal Flyn Wins the UK's Young Writer of the Year Honor: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives‘IPA Academy' Program Set for a March 7 Opening: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSerbia's Aleksandar Tišma Literary Prize: Honor Without Borders: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesFrankfurter Buchmesse Fellowships: Applications Open for 2022: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @pubperspectivesAwards: London Book Fair Names International Excellence Shortlists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesShanghai International Children's Book Fair Postponed From March to July: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / First NovelsAs a Beginning Writer, Can You Trust Your Instinct? @Peter_Rey_Creativity and Inspiration / Goal settingAre You Clear on What You’re Trying to Accomplish? @LisaEBetz @A3writersSubconscious Programming Can Help You Reach Your Writing Goals: @WritersCoach5 Resolutions Every Writer Should Make: @jessicastrawser @CareerAuthors4 Truths for Overcoming Goal-Setting Resistance: by Gail Hyatt @MichaelHyattPlanning Your Writing Year: @AnneJanzerCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration50 fun group writing prompts: @nownovelCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers5 Great Blizzard Thrillers That Will Speak to Your Snowbound Soul: @hgudenkauf @CrimeReadsThe Psychic Sleuth: @ElleBurke8 @MandSMagazineCrime Fiction: Liam McIlvanney’s The Quaker: @MargotKinbergCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingHow To Find The Time To Write And Make The Most Of Your Writing Time: @thecreativepennSeven ways to build a writing habit in 2022: @WildMelissaHart @TheWriterMagHow To Actually Get Writing Done: @writingandsuchCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeLit Hub Asks: 5 Authors, 7 Questions, No Wrong Answers: @TeddyWayne1999 @lithub‘Radical Solutions' to Beat Fear, Doubt & Criticism and Thrive Creatively (Podcast): @TMitchellBooksThe Lost Art of Reflection: @SPressfieldINFP Writers and the Constant Struggle to Focus: @losapala“I’m not good at this yet”: @ChinzClaudia @WomenWritersWhy Now is the Best Time to be an Author: @dkparsonswriter @SelfPubFormA Collection of Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: @GoIntoTheStoryOn Significant Authorship: Writing as a Team: @dayna_mcconnell @WomenWritersOn Trauma-Informed Writing: @gaileyfrey @sfwaIt’s Time to Be Finished with Your Novel: @Livy_Fisher @DIYMFAHave Writing Anxiety? Intuitive Writing May Be the Answer: @losapalaGenres / FantasyHow to Create a Magic System with C.R. Rowenson (Podcast): @sacha_blackHow Do I Give a Damsel Agency? by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsGenres / HumorHow Authors Can Use Humor in Their Stories: by Doug Lewars @TheRyanLanzGenres / Memoir6 Things You Need to Know if You Want to Write a Memoir: by Debra Ginsberg @CareerAuthorsGenres / MysteryCovid “ Changes for Mystery Writers: @MoDawnWriter @A3writersWhen Time Is the Enemy: The Ticking-Clock Thriller: @AndrewBourelle @CrimeReadsName Changes as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergHow to Write Crime Novels and Thrillers: Tips from Top Authors: @damyantigGenres / Picture BooksThe 3 Levels of Picture Books: @KarenCV @FrugalBookPromoHow to Write a Children's Book: @bookhorse @thenovelryGenres / Short StoriesHow to Write a Short Story in a Day: by R.M. Archer @KingdomPenMagPromo / BloggingCreating a Plan for More Effective Blogging: @NinaAmirPromo / Miscellaneous5 Book Marketing Services Always Worth Collaborating On: @Bookgal @BowkerPromo / PlatformsEmbrace the Brand: Playing to Your Strengths: @ElleEIre @FloridaWriters1Promo / Social Media TipsGetting Started with Social Media for Writers: @GGCWrites @GoodStoryCoPromo / SpeakingNine Keys to Being Media Ready: by Lisa NormanPublishing / MiscellaneousDo I have to be a bestseller to satisfy a publisher? @Janet_ReidGraphic Novel Production Schedules Are Too Short”and the Publishing Industry Should Care About It: by Nilah Magruder @sfwaSaga Egmont to Produce Audiobooks for Irish and UK Publishers: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingA Message From Ukraine's Book Arsenal Festival in Kyiv: @Porter_Anderson @Mystetskyi @pubperspectivesRights Roundup: The Grand Agency's ‘Comedy Queen' Wins a Crystal Bear: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesDutch Foundation for Literature Offers Two Years of Sample Translations: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBIEF's Nicolas Roche on ‘Books From France' and Paris Book Market: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesIPA to Ukraine's Publishers and Booksellers: ‘Hopes, Solidarity, and Love': @porter_anderson @IntPublishers @pubperspectivesUkrainian Publisher Julia Orlova: ‘A Reading Nation' Under Attack: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBook Fairs on Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Frankfurt, London, Bologna: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesUkraine's Yulia Kozlovets: ‘Do Not Be Indifferent': @Porter_Anderson @BoChildrensBook @pubperspectives‘Russian Scribes Against the War': Independent Russian Publishers Protest: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying“I Read the Submissions Queue for a Literary Journal”: @DavidWrites1 @CatapultStoryPublishing / Process / FormattingHow to Format a Manuscript for Self-publishing: @DaveChesson @JerryBJenkinsPublishing / Process / Services to AvoidOut of the Blue, Too Good to Be True: Beware Solicitation Scams: @victoriastrauss @WriterUnboxedWriting Craft / Characters / Antagonists7 Tips to Writing Evil Versions of Heroes: @cyallowitzWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentCan I Change the Hero’s Motivation? by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsCharacter States: Orphan, Wanderer, Warrior, Martyr: @SeptCFawkesWhat are Character Archetypes? 25 Character Archetypes Explained: @themaltesetigerWriting Craft / ConflictFight Scenes With Characters in Less-than-Optimal Health: from How to Fight WriteConflict and Power Dynamics Between Your Characters: by Tara A. Lake @KiingoCreativeWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmFive Story-Telling Lessons From Urban Legends: @CelsoHurtadoJrPage One: Miller’s Crossing (1990): @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: Raising Arizona (1987): @GoIntoTheStoryStudying Aristotle’s Poetics: @GoIntoTheStoryLessons From the Vague Writing of The Remnant Chronicles: by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsHow Jane Austen Created a Shakespearean World in Pride and Prejudice: by Harold Bloom @lithubAll I Really Need to Know I Learned from ˜A Charlie Brown Christmas’: @BJHollars @The_Millions5 Reminders About Creativity From The Beatles: Get Back: @jkkalinowski @CMIContentFive Movies Audiences Loved but Critics Hated: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsStudying Aristotle’s Poetics : Complication and Denouement: @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: Chocolat (2000): @GoIntoTheStoryWriting Craft / Literary DevicesHow Symbolism Adds Depth to a Story: @AngelaAckerman @onestop4writersWriting Craft / MiscellaneousLet Your Crawdads Sing! Writers, Remember Writing Rules are only Guidelines: @annerallenWriting Relationships Between Characters: by Amy Wilson @GoodStoryCoWhat Makes a Story Feel Like a Story? @manzanitafire @JaneFriedmanOn Writing Narratives, Questioning Standards, and Oral Traditions in Storytelling: @k_villoso @sfwaWriting: More than Chronicles: @LindasclareExpansion Pack: Prologs and Epilogs: @Virgilante @StoryEmpireThe Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is the hero surrounded by people who sorely lack her most valuable quality? @CockeyedCaravanWriting Craft / PacingEditing Tip: How to Speed Up or Slow Down Your Pacing: by Bucket SilerWriting Craft / POVKeeping Readers at Arm’s Length with Distanced POV: @LiveWriteThriveWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / NamingTips for Creating the Perfect Fiction Title: @diannmills @EdieMelsonWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarEliminating “Hads” in our Writing: @apessin @FloridaWriters1Writing Craft / RevisionWriting Clean: Check and Recheck Your Work: @LindasclareNovel Revision Tip: @GoodStoryCoWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionHow To Use Sound To Make Your Writing Memorable: @ecellenbWriting and the Seasons: @dlfinnauthor @StoryEmpireUncategorizedUnique Author Branding and Content Ideas Using March Observances: @Bookgal https://t.co/mSerQWO19r

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 61,000 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.

A quick note: I'm taking the next month off from blogging, aside from the weekly Twitterific posts. I'm navigating an in-state move and have a feeling I'll need the time off to focus on it! See you on Mon. March 28.

Business / MiscellaneousDiscovering the Art of Book Coaching: @Richelle_Lyn_ @DIYMFA7 values driving good author coaching programs: @nownovelConferences and Events / MiscellaneousAwards Season: The 2022 Youth Media Award Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAwards Season: Bologna Children's Book Fair's 2022 Ragazzi Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAwards Season: Barcelona's ‘Liber 2022' Illustration Competition: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingThe Key to Achieving Your Goals: @WriteNowCoachWriting Goals: 2022: @GoIntoTheStoryEstablishing Writing Goals: @JoanHallWrites @StoryEmpireCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationUse Awe to Spark Creativity: by Christina Delay @onestop4writersHow a Sense of Awe Can Ignite Creativity: @ejwillingham @lithubMore Creative Writing Practice: @TheCaregiversR1Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers“Five Unlikely SFF Friendships That Bring Me Joy”: @ColeRush1 @tordotcom7 Novels Set in America’s National Parks: by Judy Moreno @BookTribIn The Spotlight: Molly Thynne’s The Case of Sir Adam Braid: @MargotKinberg5 Sci-Fi Books about Humans Creating Artificial Intelligence: @MelMoy @DIYMFAOn the Most Adapted Ghost Story of All Time: @AdamScovell @lithubCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingHow to Get Your Writing Done When New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work (and They Usually Don’t): @GuerillaMemoir @JaneFriedmanWriting Success: 3 Easy Steps to Developing Your Writing System: @JDEdwinAuthor @write_practiceCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeWhat Happens When I Don’t Understand My Own Novel? by Bonnie Friedman @lithubThe Future in Stories: @jimdempsey @WriterUnboxed35 Tips to a Healthier Writer You in 2022: @LynetteMBurrowsBusiness Musings: Hold Fast To Dreams: @KristineRuschCOVID is not a writer’s residency: Amanda Gorman on creating during the pandemic: @lithubSelf-Reflect on Your Past Writing Year: @JillWilliamson @GoTeenWritersDevice addiction, how we treat ‘others’, and a love of horses: @roz_morris @authorgreeneWhat would you gain if you had a week of calm? by Maddy Leslie @wearearticulateGetting Back Into the Habit of Writing Again: @BeingTheWriter @womenonwritingHow to Write (Almost) Anything: A Very Serious Guide: by Tom Bissell @lithubHow to Financially Stay Afloat Between Writing Projects: @AmandaWinsteadd @A3writersThe Idea of “Wintering” for a Writer: @RebeccaRMoodyA Brief History of Writing: by Lucie Ataya @KiingoCreativeChaos, Coherence, and the Dream of a Narrative: @Porter_Anderson @WriterUnboxedShort Stories vs. Novels: Strengths and Weaknesses: by R.M. Archer @KingdomPenMagManaging A Creator’s Public Profile and Navigating Audience Entitlement: @amber_benson @sfwaHow to Treat Your Inner Writer: @livingfreeguru @TheRyanLanzAre You a Writer Who Can’t Finish Anything? 3 Reasons You Abandon Projects: @losapalaHow to Handle the Digital Age as an Author: by Brenda Wilson @KiingoCreativeThe resilient mindset, overcoming blocks and living every moment of the creative journey: @Roz_Morris @insideyourhead0The joy of reading (and writing) about cooking: @pubcoachGenres / HistoricalWriting a Historical Novel: One Writer's Experience (Podcast): @LoriRaderDay @GrammarGirlGenres / MemoirHow to find a story arc for your memoir (video): @pubcoachGenres / MiscellaneousThe Critical Importance of Truth Christian Fiction: @CindyDevoted @EdieMelsonDoes Climate Fiction Make a Difference? @schneidermayers @lithubGenres / MysteryThe Reliability of Witnesses as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergThe Evolving Science of Detection in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinberg https://t.co/FVoBgFE5TLGenres / Non-FictionHow to Develop Content for a Workbook Based on Your Nonfiction Book: @BirdsOAFpressGenres / Picture BooksPicture Books That Sing: You Don’t Have to be a Poet to Write a Picture Book in Verse: @JoiyaE @GoodStoryCoPicture Book Lessons: @GoodStoryCoHow Much Does a Children's Author Make? How Do They Get Paid? @Write4KidsGenres / ScreenwritingDoes the hero have general rules for living that he clings to (either stated or implied)? @CockeyedCaravanPromo / Book Descriptions and CopywritingHow to Write Killer Book Descriptions with Brian Meeks (Podcast): @sacha_blackPromo / Connecting with Readers3 ways to learn what your readers want: @sandrabeckwithPromo / PlatformsEstablishing Your Personal Brand as An Author: @AmandaWinsteadd @writingcookbookPromo / PodcastsHow to Be a Great Podcast Guest: @dkparsonswriter @SelfPubFormPromoting your book on podcasts: @DanBlank @WeGrowMediaPromo / Social Media Tips11 Ways to Update Your Online Presence: @WordDreamsPublishing / Miscellaneous‘Research Pain Points': Springer Nature Opens Its ‘Crosstracts' Format: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSimon & Schuster Canada To Open a Canadian Scribner Imprint: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / AmazonSelf-publishing News: Amazon Reaches Global Agreement With Visa Ending Extra Fees and Concerns of a Ban: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIPublishing / News / International PublishingVenice's Mauri School 2022 Part One: ‘The New Future': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesTunisian and Moroccan Publishers Meet with IPA's Bodour Al Qasimi: @Porter_Anderson @Bodour @pubperspectivesA Translation Press for Women's Writings Opens in England: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectivesAbu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre Opens Digital Arabic Training: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesIn Iraq, Mosul's Library Reopens with Book Aid International Donations: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesInternational Publishers Condemn ‘Brutal Attack': Solidarity With Ukraine: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesFrankfurter Buchmesse Leadership: ‘Great Dismay' for Ukraine: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / PitchesThree Ways to Ace Your Pitch: @schriefern1Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying7 Tips for Choosing an Agent to Query (Video): @BookEndsJessica @bookendslitPublishing / Process / Translation7 Literary Translators on How They Became Translators: by J.R. Ramakrishnan @ElectricLitWriting Craft / BeginningsFlog a Pro: Would You Turn the First Page of this Bestseller? @RayRhamey @WriterUnboxedWriting Craft / Characters / AntagonistsHow to Write a Compelling Antihero: @Bang2write @onestop4writersWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentThe Keys and Cages of Our Characters: by Tara A. Lake @KiingoCreativeSix Character Archetypes for Sidekicks: by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsWriting Craft / Characters / EmotionWriting Character Emotions: @LindasclareWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmPage One: A Christmas Story (1983): @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: Citizen Kane (1941): @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: CODA (2021): @GoIntoTheStoryWhat Cozy Mystery Authors Can Learn From Ted Lasso: by Tara Lush @CrimeReadsStudying Aristotle’s Poetics: @GoIntoTheStoryStudying Aristotle’s Poetics: @GoIntoTheStoryWriting Lessons Learned from 80s Horror Movies: @AmongTheZombies @LitReactorPage One: A Serious Man (2009): @GoIntoTheStoryF. Scott Fitzgerald on How to Write Vivid Character Descriptions (Video): @NicoleJBianchiPage One: Hail, Caesar! (2016): @GoIntoTheStoryWriting Craft / MiscellaneousHow Can I Depict a Jealous Character Without Sending the Wrong Message? by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsDirect Characterization: What It Is and How to Develop It in Your Writing: @hannahxyang @ProWritingAid7 Tips to Killing Off Characters in the Finale: @cyallowitzReconsidered Writing Advice #1: Show Don’t Tell: by T.L. BodineWriting Craft / PacingWriting A Novel: Pacing Like a Pro: @LJC__Writing @TheRyanLanzWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / NamingChoose the Perfect Title for Your Novel or Memoir: 7 Authors Offer Tips: @isidramencos @JaneFriedmanWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingThe Two Halves of the Climactic Moment : @KMWeilandMyth: Keep Your Character Failing until the End: @SeptCFawkesWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarTo Comma, or Not to Comma? @LoriAnnFreelandWriting Craft / Revision7 Steps for Tackling a Revise and Resubmit (R&R): @StorytellersSK @JaneFriedmanWriting Craft / SeriesDeciding When to Stop a Series: Writing Craft / Settings and DescriptionWriting and the Seasons: @dlfinnauthor @StoryEmpireHow to Write Amazing Character Descriptions (with Examples): @DaveChessonWriting Tools / Resources16 Ways To Speed Up Your Computer: @WordDreamsResources for Fiction Authors: @kikimojo

 

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Deciding When to Stop a Series

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Writing in series can be rewarding for writers and fun for readers, too. For writers, there's often not quite as much set-up work involved because main, recurring characters have been developed (obviously, you'll need to continue development, but you should already have a good base to work from) and settings are established. For readers it's fun because they've invested time in learning the story world and the people who populate it and have the ability to see new stories set in that same world.

But eventually, there may be a time when you (or your readers) wonder if the series should continue. In the best possible scenario, it's you and not your reader wondering this.

I think about this a lot. The last thing I want is for the series quality to deteriorate. With 19 books in one series and 15 in another, it definitely makes sense for me to consider series quality with every book.

Here are some of the questions I ask myself:

Are the characters still growing without doing anything too far out of character?  You want your characters to stay consistent, but there still needs to be space for reasonable growth of some kind. If the characters are static, think of ways to shake things up a little.

Is anything about the series stale? This could be anything from the same settings to the same group of characters. Consider whether there are ways to introduce new spaces or even new characters (either sidekicks or conflict-generators) to your books.

How are my reviews? Although it's never fun to look at them, if you're writing as many books as I do, it's important to get a general feel of what readers are saying. The big thing I want to catch is if there are many readers saying that the series has slipped in quality.

How are my sales? How is reader engagement? Like reviews, these are other powerful indicators. Are sales still strong? Are readers still emailing you or contacting you on social media about them? Are they looking forward to upcoming releases?

How do I feel when it's time to start drafting a book in the series? Is it hard for me to come up with original ideas?  Is it fun anymore? Am I excited to visit the story world and its inhabitants? If I'm not, that's a bad sign.

Are my series tropes still working? Am I leaning on them too much? I wrote a post on series tropes here. They're the fun recurring rituals that readers of your series expect (maybe even just a running gag about a character's messiness, etc.) Are they becoming a crutch or do they still add some fun to the series?

And before anyone asks, I'm not stopping any of my series. :)  But I spend a lot more time on quality control than I used to.

What do you consider when looking at series length?

Questions to Ask When Deciding When to Stop a Series:
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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 63,000 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 / MiscellaneousHow Do I Get A Blurb? @HankPRyan @CareerAuthorsWhat Skills to Highlight in Your Writer Resume: @HorrorTreeWhat is a Ghostwriter? How to Make Good Money Writing: @RobynRosteWhen Are You Ready for Professional Editing? @LisaPoisso @onestop4writers3 Easy Ways for Freelancers to Defeat Creative Slumps: @RobynRosteSelf-publishing News: Book Fair Confusion: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIWriting Articles and Short Stories for Magazines; Other Questions Answered: @OrnaRoss @MichaelLaRonn @IndieAuthorALLIHow Much Does It Cost To Write A Book? @MiaJouBotha @Writers_WriteConferences and Events / MiscellaneousAwards Season: Thuy Linh Nguyen Tu Wins the PROSE Hawkins Honor: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAwards Season: The UK's Rathbones Folio Prize 2022 Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson Awards Season: In London, Eight Translation Prizes: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBologna and London Book Fair Highlight Authors Roberts and O'Farrell: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAwards Season: The UK's Yoto Carnegie Greenaway Longlists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesInterview With Bologna's Elena Pasoli: ‘The Response Is Amazing' : @porter_anderson @BoChildrensBook @pubperspectivesNorway: Guest of Honor in May at the Book Fair of Warsaw: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingYour Five-Year Plan: 5 Journaling Prompts to Get You Started: @seejavaciawriteCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersIn The Crime Fiction Spotlight: Mark Billingham’s “Their Little Secret”: @MargotKinbergThe New Generation of African Crime Writers: @JoanneHichens @CrimeReadsAbandon All Hope: Five Extremely Pessimistic SF Classics: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomSix SFF Works to Brighten Gloomy Days: by Ratika Deshpande @tordotcomCozy crime, cookbooks and a surprise hit: what we’ve really read in the pandemic: @richardjgodwin @GuardianBooksCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingThree Steps to Prioritizing Your Writing: by Monique Hall @TheRyanLanzCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeWhy It’s Okay Not To Write (and Simple Steps To Start Writing Again): by Susanne Bennet @Writers_WriteFinding the Joy of Writing: @theljsharks @DIYMFA10 things serious writers do without fail: @nownovelHow to Launch Your Book and Still Have A Life: @BookgalWant to Write Your Best? Find Your Writing Community: @ComposingAdam @DIYMFATake The Day and Make it What You Need it To Be: @PatHatt24 @TheIWSGBring Coziness to Winter Writing with Hygge: by Ambre Dawn Leffler @DIYMFABeing a Good Mentor: @BookEndsJessica @bookendslit“To Everyone Who Wants Me to Read Their Writing and Tell Them What to Do”: @JaneFriedmanDo writers get shiny object syndrome? (video) @pubcoachOn Melville, Mendacity, and Letting the Unknowable Find Its Way in Your Writing: by David Kirby @lithub5 Ways to Change the World with Your Creativity: by Angela Yeh @DIYMFAThe Two Questions Every Author Is Asked: by Victoria Thompson @CrimeReadsChoose to Celebrate Your Imperfect Writing Life: @bethvogt @EdieMelsonHow to Handle Imposter Syndrome: by Brenda Wilson @KiingoCreativeHow to Write When You’re Not Writing: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsUnusual Ways to Write (for those who don’t like writing): @WordDreamsGenres / FantasyPublishing and Writing Fantasy in Today's Market: @SchmidtJesperWhat If We’ve Been Misunderstanding Monsters? @Delistraty @JSTORGenres / HorrorFacts About the Horror Genre That Might Surprise You: by Emily Martin @BookRiotGenres / MemoirOn Creative Memoir: With Hedi Lampert: @nownovelGenres / MysteryCrime Fiction with Literary References: @MargotKinbergGenres / PoetryA Mouthful of Air: Poetry as a Spoken Artform: @markmcguinness @DIYMFAGenres / ScreenwritingUnpacking the Mysteries of Screenplay Time: @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: Burn After Reading (2008): @GoIntoTheStoryScript Analysis: The Big Sick: @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: The Cabin in the Woods (2011): @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: Call Northside 777 (1948): @GoIntoTheStoryGenres / Short StoriesAre Short Stories Worthwhile for Novelists? by R.M. Archer @KingdomPenMagPromo / Blogging5 Quick Tips for Consistently Improving Blog Post Engagement: @BirdsOAFpress @NinaAmirPromo / Book Signings and Launch partiesMaster Checklist for a Powerful Presence at Book Fairs: @leighwriting @NatalieIAguirrePromo / Newsletters“Eight Tips I Learned from Tammi, the Newsletter Ninja”: @inkbitspixels @FloridaWriters1Promo / Social Media TipsDoes social media sell books? @DanBlank @WeGrowMedia21 Twitter Strategies for Writers in 2022: @EdieMelsonPublishing / Miscellaneous“How I Created My Own Audiobook”: by Rachel Michelberg @WomenWritersMarkus Dohle Seeds New ‘Book Defense Fund' at PEN America: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / AmazonAmazon's Closure of India's Westland Books: Consternation and Confusion: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingIPA Announces a Digital ‘Inspire' Symposium on Unity and Sustainability: @Porter_Anderson @Bodour @IntPublishers @pubperspectivesIPA and Kenyan Publishers Blast ‘Unacceptable' Copyright Bill: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesItaly's Publishers Report a Crisis in Paper Costs, Art and Travel Books: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCEDRO In Spain: Tackling Book Piracy With Sports Technology: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Self-PublishingWhich Publishing Option is Best for You? by Lauren Ranalli @NaNoWriMoIs Traditional Publishing Better Than Self-Publishing? by Lucie Ataya @KiingoCreativePublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / QueryingThe Unagented Submission: by Rhiannon Richardson @GoodStoryCoPublishing / Process / Book Design10 Amazing Trends For Book Cover Design: @BirdsOAFpressPublishing / Process / TranslationRare Language Combinations: Translation in Motion's Residencies in Europe: @jaroslawadamows @pubperspectivesValerie Miles on the Craft of Curating Translators: @Milesdebosques @lithubWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentCreating Credible Characters: @ValerieHolmesUK @wvancampBuilding characters into bona fide people: @sippenator101 @TheWriterMagThe Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is the hero curious? @CockeyedCaravanWhen Characters Behave in Unexpected Ways: @MargotKinbergWriting Craft / Characters / Emotion1 Pro Tip To Create Emotional Depth In Deep POV: @LisaHallWilsonWriting Craft / DiversityHow To Write About Trans People: @uncanny_eli @ElectricLitWriting Craft / EndingsGreat Endings to Your Stories: @stacitroilo @StoryEmpireWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and Film23 Lessons from The Beatles on the Creative Process (Podcast): @DanBlank @WeGrowMediaScript Analysis: Beginners: @GoIntoTheStory7 Authors Who Write Wrongful Convictions: @Robert4Justice @CrimeReadsStudying Aristotle’s Poetics: @GoIntoTheStoryStudying Aristotle’s Poetics: @GoIntoTheStoryWriting Craft / Miscellaneous5 Simple Gender Flips To Freshen Up Your Story: @Bang2writeStuck in the Squishy Middle: by Martha Conway @WomenWritersMake Your Fictional Gatherings More Realistic: by Tara A. Lake @KiingoCreativeWriting with an Accent: by Teresa Dovalpage @CrimeReadsWriting a Consistent Tone: @LindasclareDesmond’s Drops: Respect for Your Craft, Captain Happen, and Excavating Perspective: @AuthorDesmond @WriterUnboxedStory Or Die: @LisaCron @thecreativepennWriting Craft / PacingSlow Down Your Writing: by Brenda Wilson @KiingoCreativeWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingThe Three Acts: Act 3 : @Virgilante @StoryEmpireWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarHow to Use an Ellipsis: @GrammarGirlAdverbs: by Reavis Wortham @killzoneauthorsWriting Craft / RevisionWait to Revise Your Manuscript: @FoxPrintEdFilter words: Do you need to eliminate these from your WIP? @katiemccoachWriting Craft / ScenesWhat to Describe in a Scene: by Marilynn ByerlyWriting Craft / SeriesKeeping Readers Happy With Your Novel Series: by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionLet it snow: 6 of the best descriptions of winter weather in literature: @prepartynap @lithubWriting Craft / VoiceFinding Your Voice: @whybach @trishhopkinsonWriting Tools / AppsThe Hemingway Editor: What is it and Can it Improve Your Writing? by Tami Nantz @JerryBJenkinsWriting Tools / BooksHow Many Books on Writing Do You Really Need? @Peter_Rey_Writing Tools / MiscellaneousQuick Tip for Timeline Continuity:

 

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Quick Tip for Timeline Continuity

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Keeping a timeline straight in a mystery can be a challenge. You have suspects giving alibis, victims being murdered, and other assorted chaos.

But timeline continuity is important for any writer. It's easy to start out a chapter saying it's Saturday and then twenty pages later, comment that the character, a banker, is at work the next day.

Careful reading during the editing process weeds this stuff out, but when you're also trying to look out for other errors, it can be tedious.

As far as tips go, this is a pretty simple one, but it's made a big difference for me. I go online and print out a blank calendar, like this one: https://www.wiki-calendar.com/blank-calendar.html . I like the ones that aren't specific to year. Then I just jot things down on it as I go: Jim died on Monday. His funeral is the following Monday (preventing Jim from being buried the next day despite being a murder victim, which I've written in a draft before).

The nice thing is that it helps eliminate continuity errors as you're working your way through the document.

If you're one of those writers who'd rather not stop and make notations as you write, this also helps keep your timeline straight after your first draft is finished. Just print it out and fill it in as you read through the document.

Do you have any tips you've come across to make your writing life easier?

A Simple Tool to Prevent Timeline Continuity Errors:
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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 63,000 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 / MiscellaneousStart Here: How to Write a Book Proposal: @JaneFriedmanStreet Cred: Getting Your Work Noticed: by Liza Nash Taylor @WriterUnboxed14 Fancy Copywriting Terms Explained: @officialajc @Writers_WriteShould an aspiring thriller writer get an MFA? @GervaisBooks @CareerAuthorsSelf-publishing News: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIHow Authors Can Learn to Love Amazon: @FrugalBookPromoConferences and Events / MiscellaneousBologna Children's Book Fair: Its 56th Illustrators' Exhibition Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGermany's Digital 2022 FuturePublish and Deutscher Buchtrailer Awards: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe German Book Prize Names Its Jurors, Opens Submissions: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesA Sudden Reversal: Leipzig Book Fair Is Canceled: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAwards Season: British Academy Prize Names Jurors, Opens Submissions: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesConferences and Events / NaNoWriMo10 Steps: NaNoWriMo to Publication: @PiperBayard @WriterUnboxedCreativity and Inspiration / Careers in Writing and Day JobsFrom Construction to Teaching: Seven Writers On Their Day Jobs: @emilyoalexander @lithubCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingHow to Overcome Perfectionism to Achieve Your Writing Goals: @thewriterremedy @JaneFriedmanCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationWhere Do You Get Your Ideas From? @JenniKeer @WomenWritersCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers“The Last Essay I Need to Write about David Foster Wallace”: by Mary K. Holland @lithubStop Reading like a Critic: @mattrubery @PublicBooksIt's Cold Outside. Let These Tartan Cozies Warm Your Heart: by M.B Shaw @CrimeReadsHave Cozy, Will Travel: Books in Which Cozy Protagonists Are On the Move: @JenJChow @CrimeReadsCrime Fiction: Book Within a Book Mysteries: @MargotKinbergThe Work of Living Goes On: Rereading Mrs. Dalloway During an Endless Pandemic: @colindickey @lithubCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeThree Gifts to Give Yourself Right Now: @donnajostone @A3writersWhy It's Better to Write Together: @mahsudasnaith @thenovelryHow to become better at following directions: @pubcoachWhy Writers Shouldn’t Wait for Permission to Create the Stories They Want: @JamesHannaham @lithubWriting Truth in an Age of Falsehoods: @JohnJKelley @WriterUnboxedSomeone is Publishing my Idea: @GoodStoryCoWhy Story Is Important: by James R. PrestonWhen do you Know the Story is Complete? by Randy Kraft @WomenWritersWhat Type Of Writing Prepper Are You? @MorganHzlwoodWhat to do When You're an Exhausted Writer: @acw_author @EdieMelsonCanceled and/or Beloved? @gmplano @StoryEmpire23 lessons from The Beatles on the creative process: @DanBlank @WeGrowMediaHow to Feel More in Control as an Author: @dkparsonswriter @SelfPubFormGenres / Fantasy10 Mistakes to Avoid While Writing Your Fantasy Story: by John Adams @Bang2writeGenres / HorrorThe Hunt for Horror: Using Short Fiction to Navigate A Genre: @SadieHartmann @LitReactorGenres / HumorWriting Humor: 25 Types (+ Examples): @wordswithjenn @smartbloggerhqGenres / MysteryDoomed Love Affairs as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergHow to Solve A Murder in Early 19th-Century London: @Darcie_Wilde @CrimeReadsGenres / Non-Fiction5 Steps Toward Becoming a Nonfiction Author: @BirdsOAFpress @NinaAmirGenres / PoetryHow to Develop as a Poet: @YvonneZipter @trishhopkinsonGenres / RomanceA Flirting Guide For Writers (And Real World Usage): from The Merry WriterGenres / Short StoriesTips for Submitting Short Stories: by Shannon Lawrence @TheIWSGPromo / Book ReviewsHow Writers Should Handle Bad Reviews: @LevRaphael @TheRyanLanzPromo / MiscellaneousPromo for Introverts: 22 Must-Have Resources for Book Marketers in 2022: @BookgalPromo / PlatformsWant to grow your platform? Do less. (Podcast): @DanBlank @WeGrowMediaPromo / Social Media TipsAn Agent: “The Way You Tweet Makes Me Cautious of Working with You.”: @BookEndsJessica @bookendslitPublishing / MiscellaneousScribd Offers Free Access to Banned Books: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSpringer Nature: Open Access Transformative Agreements in the Americas: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesA Merger in Self-Publishing: Draft2Digital's Acquisition of Smashwords: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesWhy You Should be Writing in Anthologies “ with Carol Van Natta: @SelfPubFormBooks To Screen Edition: Literary Agents' and Rights Directors' Deals: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPolish Producer Beata Rzezniczek on Film Adaptation of ‘Other People': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesDiogenes Reports TV Adaptations of Patricia Highsmith ‘Ripley' Books: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingSlovenian, Egyptian, Arab Publishers' Associations Meet with IPA's Al Qasimi: @Porter_Anderson @Bodour @pubperspectivesAbu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre: Activities and Online Presence: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesFrench Publishers Join Cultural Leaders on EU Digital Services Act: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Self-PublishingHow to self-publish your book: A simple guide: @nownovelPublishing / Process / ContractsWhat is an ˜Option’ in Book Contracts? (Video): @bookendslitWriting Craft / BeginningsKeeping a Scene in Focus: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsFirst Page Critique: Time to Stop Thinking And Start Screaming: by PJ Parrish @killzoneauthorsWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentUnlikeable Characters in Thrillers: @carareinard @MandSMagazineStrong Women in Fiction: The Problem With Magic Bracelets: @ElysiaWhisler @CrimeReadsThe Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the hero have an open fear or anxiety about his future, as well as a hidden, private fear? @CockeyedCaravanThe Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the hero have a false or shortsighted goal in the first half? @CockeyedCaravanWriting Protagonists Without Strong Wants or Goals: @SeptCFawkesWriting Craft / ConflictPerson vs. Fate: How to Use This Conflict in Your Writing: @hannahxyang @ProWritingAidWriting Craft / DraftsThe First Draft: Curse or Hidden Gift? by Lucie Ataya @KiingoCreativeWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and Film“After the Wedding” Scene-By-Scene Breakdown: @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: The Blind Side (2009): @GoIntoTheStoryStudying Aristotle’s Poetics: @GoIntoTheStoryThe Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is the hero’s primary motivation for tackling this challenge strong, simple, and revealed early on? @CockeyedCaravanIndie Authors: 3 Tips to Make Model Books Work for You: @LinWilsonauthorScript Analysis: All Is Lost: @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: The Bucket List (2007): @GoIntoTheStoryWhat Lovecraft Country Gave to Black Audiences: @JimMiller @lithubPutting Cinematic Technique into Your Pages via Movie Analysis: @LiveWriteThrivePage One: Blue Valentine (2010): @GoIntoTheStoryStar Trek: Enterprise Rewatch: Strange New World: @KRADeC @tordotcomPage One: The Bourne Identity (2002): @GoIntoTheStoryScript Analysis: Argo ”Scene By Scene Breakdown: @GoIntoTheStoryScript Analysis: The Artist: @GoIntoTheStoryScript Analysis: Arrival: @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: Bridge of Spies (2015): @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: Broken Arrow (1996): @GoIntoTheStoryWriting Craft / MiscellaneousMythic Structure: Refusal of the Call to Adventure: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsHow Do Authors Create Suspense? @evamarie41 @HorrorTreeHow to tell a Story: The Rule of Three: @annerallenWriting Craft / POVWhy Writing Second Person POV Appeals To Marginalized Writers: @valerievaldes @sfwaWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / ResearchWriting Horses: Saddles and Styles of Riding: @dancinghorseWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Story ConceptFive simple steps to plan your book so you can write it quickly: @cloudy_visionWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarTips for Semicolons: @GrammarGirlAm I Using Too Many Hyphens, Dashes, or Ellipses? by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsWriting Craft / RevisionDo Revising or Outlining Prevent a Work From Feeling Fresh? @Peter_Rey_How Writers Revise: Lisa Barr and the Colors of Confidence: @lisabarr18 @FoxPrintEdWriting Craft / Scenes / ConflictHow to Write Person vs. Society Conflict: @KrystalNCraiker @ProWritingAidWriting Craft / SynopsesHow To Write a Synopsis: @lily_lindon @thenovelryUncategorizedThe Ironic Twist of Age: What It’s Like to Keep Writing at 91: by Hilma Wolitzer @lithub

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Promo for Introverts

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

As if writing a book wasn't hard enough, writers are then faced with the prospect of promoting it. Since any writers are introverts, this is a pretty daunting task. And, like many daunting tasks, it can be something they put off.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to increase awareness of your book without doing the most extroverted of promo activities… festivals, book signings, and conferences.

Here are a few.

4 Ways for Introverts to Find New Readers

Add your website as an email signature.  This is an easy, passive way to raise awareness among acquaintances and others that you write books. It can be awkward to bring up writing in conversation…this is a great way to bypass that problem.

Start a reader newsletter.  Again, this is a very passive way to promote your books. Readers who want to know when you have a new release will sign up. All you have to do is come up with an engaging newsletter (fairly easy for writers). Reedsy offers a free course for setting up your newsletter, if you need help.

Have a profile on Goodreads. Goodreads can make some writers nervous and I get that. The reader reviews there can be harsh and it's never been the friendliest of environments for writers. Still…it's a great way for readers and new readers to find you. If you set your profile up there, link to your blog, add your books and series, etc., then your profile will act as a great discovery mechanism. If you want to take it a step further, you could also run a giveaway. Writer Chrys Fey has written a couple of posts for making the most out of Goodreads, here and here.

Find a social media platform that makes you feel (at least somewhat) at home.  There's no point in stretching yourself too thin. Try to find a single platform that you feel comfortable using.  If you don't feel comfortable on a platform, you're not going to spend time there. It may make it easier to schedule posts using a free tool like Hootsuite. But the point of social media is engagement, so be sure to reply to any comments you receive.

Are you an introverted writer? What tips do you have for handling promo activities?

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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 61,000 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 / MiscellaneousBusiness Musings: The If-Only Lawsuit: @KristineRusch3 Ways to Maintain a Positive Mindset as a Freelancer: @RobynRosteSelf-publishing News: Kindle Unlimited and TikTok Hint at a Future Where Creators' Earnings Potential is Capped: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIWhy Are Books Disappearing from Amazon? @agnieszkasshoes @Howard_Lovy @IndieAuthorALLIArt and Commerce Need Not Be at Odds: @poetAlbert @JaneFriedman“My 5-part System for Conducting Marketplace Research”: (Podcast): @DanBlank @WeGrowMediaConferences and Events / MiscellaneousInternational Prize for Arabic Fiction: 2022 Longlist and Jurors: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe UK's Parliamentary Book Awards' Shortlist: Purposefully Political: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesIn Italy, Bologna Book Plus Announces Some 2022 Events: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesIn London, Poet Hannah Lowe Wins the Costa Book of the Year Award: @Porter_Anderson @hannahlowepoet @CostaBookAwards @pubperspectivesOn World Read Aloud Day 2022: LitWorld's Innovative Partnerships: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe Audie Awards' 2022 Finalists: 25 Categories: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesLeipzig Book Fair Confirms a Physical 2022 Show: March 17 to 20: @porter_anderson @pubperspectivesWales' Dylan Thomas Prize Announces Its 2022 Longlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesEuropean Writers Council Withdraws from the EU Prize for Literature: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesIn France, Lyon's Comics Festival Sets June In-Person Dates: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers8 SFF Twists on Literary Classics: @cloudy_vision @tordotcomFive Stories About Living to See Another Day: @jamesdnicoll7 Excellent Escapist Adventure Fantasy Books: @AKLarkwood @tordotcomCrime Fiction Review: Sherryl Clark’s “Trust Me, I’m Dead”: @MargotKinbergTen Expansive SFF Worlds Worth Exploring: by Stubby the Rocket @tordotcom11 Literary Podcasts to Distract You from Your Life: @wynterkm @ElectricLitCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingHow to Find Time to Write: 10 Tips and Additional Strategies: @DaveChessonHow to Develop a Writing Habit: 13 Tips for Consistent Writing: @StoryHobbitYour Guide to a Weekly Creativity Time: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer's BlockDo You Suffer From Writer's Block? @jamescglass @KillerNashvilleWriter Block First Aid Kit: @IsabelleStone_Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing QuicklyHow Self-Integrity Increases Your Chances of Completing a 30-Day Writing Challenge: @NinaAmir7 Tips to Get Your Novel Written Faster: @lornafaith @createastorylovCreativity and Inspiration / SuccessThree Sentences That Will Catapult You to Success (Maybe): @apessin @FloridaWriters1Creativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeHope is an Active Verb! 5 Ways to Keep Writing: @SusanjBreen @CareerAuthorsWays to Build Your Writing Ability and Community Without Classical Schooling: by Brenda Wilson @KiingoCreativeWhose Standards Are You Judging Yourself By? @FoxPrintEdHow to Learn Writing: @StoryGridAdvice from a 19th Century Governess and How Writing About Writing Has Changed: @adearinthewoods @LitReactorBeyond the Beatles: George Harrison’s Unexpected Connections to SFF: @Repino1 @tordotcomReinvigorating That Manuscript You've Put Aside: @philipcioffari @KillerNashvilleHow to Communicate with Confidence: @writingcookbook @KristinaAuthor @LizSolarVoice5 Tips for A New You for a New Writing Year: @tickledpinktam @EdieMelsonProcrastination: A New Take on the Topic: by Deb DeArmond @A3writersStrategies to Incorporate Agent/Editor Feedback: @kris10edits @GoodStoryCoWrangling Your Writer Demons In 4 Steps: @FoxPrintEdA Love Letter to Mystery Science Theater 3000: @cloudy_vision @tordotcomHow One Author Creates Through the Birth of a Character: @riverbendsagas @EdieMelsonSix Universal Truths About Writing Novels: @CathyHayward7 @WomenWritersGenres / HistoricalWriting Historical Fiction: @JoanHallWrites @StoryEmpireGenres / HorrorTop 7 Tips For Writing Ghost Stories: @HorrorTreeGenres / HumorThoughts on Writing Comedy: @WriterFaye @WomenWritersGenres / MiscellaneousWhy It May Be Time to Rethink Genre: @IasevoliPaul @FloridaWriters1Genres / MysteryFactories as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergSmall Town Events as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergGenres / Non-FictionIn Praise of the Meander: Rebecca Solnit on Letting Nonfiction Narrative Find Its Own Way: @lithubGenres / Picture BooksWriting Graphic Novels for Beginning Readers (Podcast): @Write4KidsGenres / RomanceThe Changing Tides of Romance: by Lucie Ataya @KiingoCreativeGenres / Screenwriting5 Keys to the Screenwriting Craft: @GoIntoTheStoryGenres / Short StoriesShort Stories As The Basis To An Award-Winning Author Career: @AlanBaxter @thecreativepennPromo / Connecting with ReadersHow Authors Can Create a Reader Connection: @Bookgal @annerallenPromo / MiscellaneousHow to Market a Book Using ARCs: What They Are and Why You Need Them: @BookgalPromo / Newsletters5 Lessons Learned as a Novice Newsletter Writer: @BrendaLRech @DIYMFAPublishing / Miscellaneous5 Tips for Making the Most of your Chirp Audiobook Deal: @AudreyDerobert @ChirpBooks @BookBubNo luck submitting my book to agents and publishers – should I hire a different editor? @Roz_MorrisHachette Book Group's Pietsch Named American Publishers' Chair: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives‘LitFlation': Prizes, Awards, and Egos: @rcharkin @pubperspectivesWhen You Start an Indie Press With Your Life Partner: @BethKephart @lithubPublishing / News / International PublishingItalian Book Sales Jump 16% in 2021: Fourth Strongest Gain in Europe: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesOn the Lunar New Year: China's Book Market in 2021: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGermany's Börsenverein and PEN Demand Protection for Kurdish Cultural Property: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / QueryingWhen to Rethink Your Dream Agent: @BookEndsJessica @bookendslitCliches are a missed opportunity to add voice (query critique): @NathanBransfordPublishing / Process / Book DesignTips for Collaborating with a Cover Designer: Writing Craft / Characters / AntagonistsDoes Your Villain Twirl Their Mustache? by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsHow to Give Your Villain an Emotional Backstory That Isn’t Tragic: from It's a Writer ThingWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentLies, Secrets, and Scars Create Better Characters: @LynetteMBurrowsBuilding Character Voice (Podcast): @CockeyedCaravanGood Characters doing Bad things (Podcast): @SchmidtJesperPain for Pleasure and Character Development: by Tara A. Lake @KiingoCreativeRelationship Thesaurus Entry: Benefactor and Recipient: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersWriting Craft / Characters / EmotionWriting Emotions Right: @LindasclareWriting Craft / Common MistakesHow to Show, Don’t Tell: @ChrysCymri @TheRyanLanzTop 5 Mistakes Writers Make That Get Them Rejected By Default: @Bang2writeWriting Craft / DialogueWhere to place ‘said’ in a dialogue tag: @LouiseHarnbyWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmPixar and Visual Storytelling: @GoIntoTheStoryWhat Mystery Writers Can Learn from Hitchcock Movies: @SaralynRichardPage One: Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020): @GoIntoTheStoryGreat Scene: Shakespeare In Love: @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: Beetlejuice: @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: Dune (2021): @GoIntoTheStoryStar Trek’s Best Movie Villains: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsWriting Craft / MiscellaneousConscious Goal, Unconscious Goal: @GoIntoTheStoryThe Writing Elements Mix: Is There a Right Balance? @KarenCVWhy filter words are slowing down your thriller: @LouiseHarnby7 Tips to Using Intangibility in Fiction: @cyallowitzWriting Craft / PacingPacing in Writing: @GoodStoryCoWriting Craft / POVHow to Write Point of View: Switching Point of View: @harmony_kent @StoryGridWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / NamingHow to Come up with the Perfect Story Title: @AmongTheZombies @LitReactorWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Research5 Medical Basics Every Novelist Should Know: @DaleNatalie @shaylaleeraquelWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarThe Word That: Let’s Look at That: @ZoeMMcCarthyWriting Craft / RevisionWhat To Do When You’ve Made A Mess Of Your MS: @KMAllan_writerWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionHow to Fix Settings and Descriptions (Podcast): @sacha_black @Janice_HardyHow Can I Portray Nature Spirits in an Industrialized Setting? by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsHow to Effectively Bring Sound into Your Fiction: @LiveWriteThriveWriting Tools / ThesauriRelationship Thesaurus Entry: Stepparent and Stepchild: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersUncategorizedPage One: Before Midnight (2013): @GoIntoTheStoryFree Course: How to Write Mind-Blowing Fantasy Fiction: @ReedsyHQ https://t.co/YdlX9c8Ris

 

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Collaborating With a Cover Designer

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Working with a cover designer can be a great experience. When I was traditionally published, this was part of the process that I never really got to be part of. The most involved I ever got was when I was shown the cover for approval.

As a self-published author, I really get the opportunity to discuss elements I'd like to see on my covers. I get the chance to develop new series cover ideas. And I get to make changes, if I need to.

A Tip for Making the Process Less Time-Consuming:

My cover designer is Karri Klawiter and she does a great job getting my cozy mystery covers just the way I want them. But she's very busy (her business books up many months in advance) so I want to make sure I don't waste her time or mine. I use a sort of email template to remind me of all the different components I need to include for her to be able to start work on the project. Since there are a lot of moving parts, it definitely helps for me to list them prior to reaching out.

In case it helps you to organize your thoughts and what you need from your designer, you can find my template here.

Here are a few important things to remember:

Do a little shopping around before you choose a designer. Find covers of books in your genre that you like and see if the author has thanked the cover designer on their site or in their acknowledgments (they certainly should have).  Diana Urban at BookBub wrote a post listing 12 questions to ask when hiring a designer.

We need to know what, legally, we can do with the images designers create.  The post “Do You Know Who Owns Your Book Cover” from attorney Helen Sedwick on the Book Designer site may be helpful.

Be accessible and responsive. This is another way to get the process finished faster. Check your emails frequently on your cover design day so you can respond to any questions.

If your designer is busy, remember to go ahead and get on his or her calendar again.

Since designers are freelancers, it's important to pay promptly. 

These are my tips for collaborating with a designer. Do you have any to add to the list?

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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 63,000 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 / MiscellaneousInspiring, Encouraging, Connecting: Building a Podcast Community: by Liz Keller Whitehurst @TheIWSG8 Tips for Starting a Writing Business Off on the Right Foot: How to Train a Virtual Assistant: @dkparsonswriter @SelfPubFormSelf-publishing News: Publishers Criticize EU's Watered Down Attack on Piracy: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIOn Alarming “Copyleft” PracticesConferences and Events / MiscellaneousInternational Day of Education: Springer Nature Opens 17th SDG Portal: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesUNESCO on Education Day 2022: ‘We Must Rethink Education': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe UK's Sunday Times Young Writer Award Names Its 2021 Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesFrankfurter Buchmesse: Upgraded Cancellation Terms for 2022: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @pubperspectivesBased in Spain, Desperate Literature Prize Opens Its 2022 Program: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives‘Canada Reads' Announces its 2022 Books and Their ‘Champions': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAAP Names Its 2022 PROSE Awards Finalists and Category Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingWriting Goals for the New Year: @HowellWave @StoryEmpireCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers7 Novels and Stories That Prove Fiction Can Grapple with Illness: @wynterkm @ElectricLitFrom Paradise Lost to the Lord of the Rings: top 10 epics in fiction: @snsyquia @GuardianBooksWhy 1 Writer is Reading Instead of Writing Right Now: @DavidCorbett_CA @WriterUnboxedFive Time Travel Stories Where Things Get Rather Messy: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomIn The Mystery Spotlight: Tess Makovesky’s Gravy Train: @MargotKinberg7 Magically Mysterious Adventure Series for Middle-Grade Readers: by Chelsea Ciccone @BookTribCreativity and Inspiration / MotivationIt’s Time to Write Your Second Book (or Third ¦): by Dana Isaacson @CareerAuthorsCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingTime Management for Writers Who Hate Time Management: @Julie_GloverCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeHow to Juggle Multiple Tasks: @WriteNowCoach01/23/2022 18:05,”Older Women Writing / Writing Older Women: by Juliet Marillier @WriterUnboxedThe Art of Writing During Tumultuous Times: by D. A. Mucci @NaNoWriMoEmpathy and Trauma and Self-Editing: @FionaQuinnBooksHow to Finish Writing Your Book…Finally: @seejavaciawriteHow to start writing your novel and stay motivated: @cbcreative7 of the Best Writing Residencies in Florida: @vmblakeslee @ElectricLitWriting and the Creative Life: Why Creative People May Feel More Anxiety: @GoIntoTheStoryThe Things They Don't Tell You About Writing: by Lucie Ataya @KiingoCreativeHow Useful Are Dave Lerner’s Eight Rules of Writing? @mythcreantsHow Long Does it Take to Write a Book? @DaveChessonWrite Like No One is Reading: by Liam Cross @TheRyanLanzFrom Fiction to Creative Nonfiction: by Gigi Collins @GoodStoryCoAvoid the Comparison Trap: @AndreaMerrellHow to Take Criticism and Turn It into Growth in 5 Steps: by Daniella Levy @TheRyanLanz“Writing Advice For My Younger Self”: @helpfulsnowman @LitReactorGenres / DystopianA New World: Tips on Building a Dystopian Setting: @SeptCFawkesGenres / Fantasy7 Tips to Using Giant Monsters in Your Story: @cyallowitzGenres / HorrorDanger Zones: The Transgressive Nature of Horror: @BrianDKeiper @BDisgustingShould Horror Protagonists Be Genre Savvy? by Emily Martin @BookRiotGenres / MysteryClass in Crime Fiction: A Roundtable Discussion: @RealLiveCritic @CrimeReadsInvestigators in Crime Fiction: Passing the Torch to a Younger Generation: @MargotKinbergAn Appreciation of Genre-Breaking Mysteries: @NMamatas @CrimeReadsGenres / Science FictionHow Should I Handle Languages in My Sci-Fi Setting? by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsTeleportation in Science Fiction: @CEBwrites @DanKoboldtGenres / ScreenwritingVideo: “How I Wrote ‘Arrival’”: @HIGHzurrer @GoIntoTheStoryThe Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the hero have a default personality trait? @CockeyedCaravanAristotle and Three Act Structure: @GoIntoTheStoryPromo / MiscellaneousHow to Deliver the Lead Magnet for Your Upcoming Interview: by Patricia Durgin @A3writers5 Steps to Rethink Your Marketing Mindset: by Sue Campbell @DIYMFAPromo / PlatformsHow To Build Your Author Platform When You Have No Clue What That Means: @BadRedheadMediaPromo / Social Media TipsOn the Fence about TikTok: @cleemckenzie @TheIWSGPromo / WebsitesShould you have your own website? (video) @pubcoachPublishing / Miscellaneous2022 Publishing Predictions from Literary Agent Laurie McLean: @agentsavant @FuseLiterary @annerallen45 International lit mags seeking submissions of poetry, prose, and art: @trishhopkinsonOpen Road's New CEO on 2021: ‘We Found Ways To Grow': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAcademic Publishing Edition: Wiley's Jay Flynn on ‘Science Literacy': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAcademic Publishing Edition: Amsterdam's Michiel Kolman on Diversity in STM: @Porter_Anderson @michielams @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / DataAAP StatShot: The United States' Publishing Industry Gained 12.2 Percent in 2021: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingPoland's Authors May Benefit From Pensions, Insurance, Other Benefits: @JaroslawAdamows @pubperspectivesCautious Optimism: The UK's Copyright Exhaustion Decision For Now: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGermany's Zebralution Backs a New IPG Audio Award in the UK: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSpringer Nature Strikes Open Access Deal With Egyptian Knowledge Bank: @Porter_Anderson @SpringerNature @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Self-Publishing6 tips for aspiring indie authors: @LouiseHarnbyPublishing / Process / Services to AvoidIs That Publisher Email Legitimate? @JohnDoppler @IndieAuthorALLIWriting Craft / BeginningsFirst Page Critique: Dinner with a Celebrity: @burke_writer @killzoneauthorsWhat’s the Best Way to Create an Opening Hook? by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsHooking the Reader with a Killer Opening to Your Book: @HelenaFairfax @TheRyanLanzWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentThe Trouble with Character Flaws: @GoIntoTheStoryDeveloping Characters with the Sibling Hierarchy: by Tara A. Lake @KiingoCreativeWhat is a Flat Character? Definition, Examples & More: @themaltesetigerWriting Craft / Characters / ProtagonistsWhat makes a good protagonist? Authors share their best tips: by Jack Smith @TheWriterMagWriting Craft / Common MistakesReasons Why We Shouldn't Use Film as an Example for Our Writing: @ReavisZWortham @killzoneauthorsTop 5 Mistakes Writers Make With Plotting (According To A Script Reader): by Allan @Bang2writeWriting Craft / Flashback and Back StoryReader Question: When is the best time to reveal a character’s backstory? @GoIntoTheStoryYour Character's Backstory: @EldredBirdWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmScript Analysis: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood ”Scene-By-Scene Breakdown: @GoIntoTheStoryDoes the hero start out with a shortsighted or wrongheaded philosophy (or accept a bad piece of advice early on)? @CockeyedCaravanPage One: Atonement (2007): @GoIntoTheStoryGreat Scene: To Kill A Mockingbird: @GoIntoTheStoryHow Five Seconds in Toy Story Changed Animation Forever: by Dan Persons @tordotcomGreat Scene: Thelma & Louise: @GoIntoTheStoryWriting Craft / Literary DevicesThe Writing Craft: Literary Devices of Sound and Rhythm: @JoniMFisher @FloridaWriters1Writing Craft / MiscellaneousHow to Write Perspectives You Don’t Agree With in Fiction (And How to Write Objectionable Perspectives): @kathycowleyWriting Craft / POVViewpoint as Camera or Participant: by Marilynn ByerlyWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / OutliningPlotter vs. Pantser: When to Plot, When to Pants, and When to Combine Them: @JDEdwinAuthor @write_practiceWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingBuild mysteries around whether characters will succeed or fail: @NathanBransfordThe Three Acts: Act 2, Part 2: @Virgilante @StoryEmpireWhat Are Pinch Points and Where Do They Go? @SueColetta1 @onestop4writersWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / ResearchWriting Shooting Scenes: How Hollow are Your Points? @LeeLoflandWriting Horses: Saddles 101: @dancinghorse @tordotcomWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Story ConceptHow Do Writers Come Up With Ideas? @KenMacGregor @HorrorTreeWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarHow Can Writers Vary Sentence Structure? @robboley @HorrorTreeWriting Craft / RevisionCompression: How to Wrangle the Big Story: @dionoreilly @trishhopkinsonSurgery for the Manuscript: @authorterryo @killzoneauthorsHow To Edit Like A Pro: by Susanne Bennett @Writers_WriteWriting Craft / Revisions / Critiques5 Qualities to Look for in a Good Beta Reader: by S. T. Sanchez @TheRyanLanzWriting Craft / Scenes / ConflictNeed Conflict? Just Let Your Characters Talk: @beccapuglisi @annerallenWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionHow to Use the Environment of a Novel to Enhance Suspense: @Writer_Alice @CrimeReadsWriting Setting or Setting Goals: @Lynne_Griffin @WriterUnboxedGiving Life to Your Setting: by Jan Drexler @SKRViLLAlchemy of Place: How to Create Tension through Your Story's Setting and Atmosphere: @writeabookWriting Tools / AppsTools of the Trade to Supercharge Your Writing: by Lisa NormanInteresting tool writers might find helpful for research and more.

 

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