Riley Adams's Blog, page 42
March 21, 2021
Handling Perfectionism
by Elizabeth Spann Craig, @elizabethscraig
I'm a very type-A person, but I feel very fortunate not to be a perfectionist.
However…I'm married to a perfectionist. And both of my kids are perfectionists. Every time I see them struggle with it, it reminds me just how fortunate I am. I've seen my husband, an excellent writer himself, wordsmith emails into the ground. There's rarely an email I spend longer than 5 or 6 minutes on. I can't completely relate, but I do sympathize.
If you're someone who struggles with maintaining forward motion in your writing, here are a few ideas you could consider trying:Don't read your manuscript until the first draft is done. I know this can be hard, but I try never to do it. That's mostly because it rips me completely out of right-brain creative mode and directly into left-brain editing mode. For a perfectionist, it could be tough to move forward when you see the mistakes or rough writing in your first draft.
Set shorter writing sessions. I mainly work in short sprints, which keeps me focused on the immediate task at hand: getting through the next couple of pages as quickly as possible. If you'd like to log-in to some live sprints with other writers, try subscribing to different AuthorTube writers.
Focus perfectionism on other aspects of the story…editing is a great choice. There are definitely times when being a perfectionist comes in handy. I appreciate having book editors who are perfectionists. They fix my typos and other mistakes. Tell yourself your wordsmithing can come later.
Use lists to keep yourself on track. I love lists. And I think perfectionists do, too. To stay focused on moving forward, a short list for every writing day can help. Something as basic as “write description of Sally” or “Jim talks to Lee about the strange call he got” works fine.
Call it what it is. It's perfectionism. It's not that your story is bad. K.M. Weiland has a great post where she talks about the benefits of “professionalism” over “perfectionism.”
Remember self-care and be forgiving to yourself. Self-care is probably the easiest thing for writers to skip when faced with a big to-do list and family obligations. But it's incredibly important to at least remember the basics: stretch, hydrate, get enough sleep, and exercise. And remember to be kind to yourself. I always try to remember the advice to talk to yourself as you'd speak to a friend. Writer Colleen M. Story encourages writers to include a number of self-care activities and routines in a day, instead of just ticking self-care off the list after doing one thing for themselves.
Do you struggle with perfectionism? How do you deal with it?
Tips for Dealing With Perfectionism:
Click To Tweet
Photo credit: CEThompson on VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-ND
The post Handling Perfectionism appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
March 20, 2021
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 59,000 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.
Thanks to Hank Quense for featuring my upcoming mystery on his blog! I'm getting excited for the March 30 release!
Business / MiscellaneousEnter Writing Contests and Succeed: @Lgood67334 @WomenWritersPersonal Finance for Indie Authors in 2021: @sacha_blackCould I have a career as a writer? @katysegroveAre Bookstores Worth it for Indie Authors? @DebbieYoungBN @IndieAuthorALLIFreelancing: 7 Tips For Managing Client Expectations: @ashleygainerThe Differences Between Line Editing, Copy Editing, and Proofreading: by Sandra Wendel @JaneFriedmanHow to Start a Writing Career: 7 Bright Ideas: @nownovelTeaching Writing: Personal Writing Calendars for Each Student: @BethMooreSchoolConferences and Events / Miscellaneous‘Canada Reads’: Joshua Whitehead’s ‘Jonny Appleseed’ Is Its 20th Winner: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe US-Based Lambda Literary Awards Program Names Its 2021 Finalists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingIt’s Never Too Late. How To Achieve Your Goals At Any Age With Kate Champion: @thecreativepenn5 Items for #GoalTopia Inspiration: @DebraEckerlingThe subtle art of goal setting: @KMcCaughrainHow to write around the planning fallacy: @pubcoachCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration50 Essay Topics for Kids: @BrynDonovanCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersWomen in Crime Fiction Who Don't Accept the Status Quo: @MargotKinbergCrime Fiction Characters Who Don't Learn From Their Mistakes: @MargotKinbergOn Imagining Gatsby Before Gatsby: @michael_f_smith @lithub“Five of the Best SFF Books I Never Meant to Read”: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomCrime Fiction With Less-Than-Tidy Endings: @MargotKinbergWhy Do We Keep Reading ‘The Great Gatsby’? by Wesley Morris @parisreviewCreativity and Inspiration / MotivationTips for Maintaining Motivation as a Writer: @sebrooks81 @A3writersCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingHow to Maintain Creative Momentum With Habit Tracking: @kristen_kiefferCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeChoosing to be a Flexible Writer: @bethvogt @EdieMelsonThe Nervous Novelist: @thenovelryHow Do You Know? On Dubious Faith And Intermittent Certainty In Writing: @GraMurphy @WomenWritersFall Back in Love With Writing: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors5 Ways to Have More Fun Writing: @jessicastrawser @CareerAuthorsProse Mechanics Evolution: How the Writing Process has Changed Over 45 Years: @RonaldKelly4 @Night_WormsWhat we can learn from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's years in lockdown? @FionaRSampson @GuardianBooksThe Writing Life: Never Paint with a Dry Brush: by Jeanette the Writer @DIYMFAIn a Writing Slump? Try a Little Exercise: from Black Château EnterprisesShut the Door, Writers: @WriteToSellWriter Health: Is the Pandemic messing with your teeth? @LindaKSienkwiczGenres / Horror3 Ways To Make Familiar Horror Monsters Scarier: by Pekoeblaze @TheRyanLanzWriting Collaborative Horror: @ChadLutzke @timmmeyer11 @thebookdad @LitReactorGenres / MemoirHow to Turn Your Memoir Into a Short Story: @JunetaKey @TheIWSGGenres / PoetryIn the Service of Poetry: by Sara M. Robinson @SouthrnWritrMagGenres / Science FictionBefore Home Video, Science-Fiction Fans Worked Harder to Keep Fandom Alive: @yipp33kiyay @StarTrekGenres / ScreenwritingThe Queen's Gambit: Writing the Limited Series: @thejkstudioMovie Story Type: Contained Thriller: @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: The Autobiography of Malcolm X: @CockeyedCaravanPage One: ‘When Harry Met Sally…’ : @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: American Hustle: @CockeyedCaravanGenres / Young AdultThe Value of Writing Young Adult Literature: @ecellenbPromo / NewslettersHow to Start, Build, and Grow Your Email List: @KMWeilandPublishing / MiscellaneousOn Adaptations of Books (Podcast): by Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle and Wes Matlock @mythcreantsMcGraw Hill’s Digital Learning Tools See Strong International Uptake: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAmazon Pulls Book, Saying It ‘Frames LGBTQ+ Identity as a Mental Illness’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAudiblegate: ALLi Campaign Update: @OrnaRoss @IndieAuthorALLIPublishing / News / AmazonSelf-Publishing News: Amazon takes on Libraries: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIPublishing / News / International PublishingPublished Digitally: The Spanish Banipal Magazine of Arabic Literature: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesWords Without Borders for March: Translations of Galician Writings: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Hybrid PublishingNavigating the Parallel but Uneven Ecosystems of Traditional Publishing and Self-Publishing: @EvanWinter @AmazingStories0Publishing / Options / Self-PublishingNine Characteristics of a Successful Self-Publishing Mindset: @OrnaRoss @sacha_blackWhy 1 Writer Decided to Go Indie After Being Trad-Pubbed: @DwallacepeachPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying“How Edgar Allan Poe helped me get a book deal and could help you, too”: @Greedzilla1On Querying 100 Agents: @ChelseyDrysdale @brevitymagPublishing / Process / FormattingHow to fix book typesetting and layout issues in InDesign: @BookDesignBookWriting Craft / BeginningsWIP Diagnostic: Is This Working? A Closer Look at a Fantasy First Page: @Janice_HardyWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentRelationship Thesaurus Entry: Protagonist and Crush: @beccapuglisiHumanizing Characters and Overcoming The Limits of Empathy: @KiingoCreative5 Ways to Add Depth to Your Characters (by Getting to Know Yourself): @writingcookbookDeveloping Characters in Fiction: @Peter_Rey_Writing Craft / ConflictFive Popular Stories With Conflicts That Are Too Difficult: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsWriting Craft / DialogueThe 7 Principles Of Strong Dialogue: by Oliver Fox @Writers_WriteWriting Craft / DraftsHow to Move From First Draft to Second Draft to Publishable Book: @GuerillaMemoir @JaneFriedmanWriting Craft / EndingsHow To Write a Conclusion In 3 Simple Steps: @themaltesetigerTips for Writing A Not-So-Happy Ending: @10minnovelistWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmWriting Tips from Elmore Leonard’s Boyd Crowder: @SueColetta1 @killzoneauthorsWriting Craft / MiscellaneousOn Leaving Easter Eggs for Readers: by Jamie Harrison @lithubGuide to Writing Episodic Plot Structure: @writingandsuchQuick Publishing Tip: Don’t Bury Your Gold: by Bucket SilerWriting Craft / PacingHow Do I Give My High-Paced Story Time to Breathe? by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingIs Your Plot Going Somewhere Readers Will Follow? @Janice_HardyWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / ResearchUnderstanding Horses: Calculated (and Uncalculated) Risk: @dancinghorse @tordotcomWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarWho Are We Talking About? Using Pronouns and Antecedents: by Dayna Betz @A3writersWriting Craft / RevisionRevision Search Patterns: @PhilAthansWriting Craft / Revisions / CritiquesWhich Way Do I Go? Critique Groups, Critique Partners, or Beta Readers: @JoanHallWrites @StoryEmpireWriting Craft / ScenesScene vs. Summary & When to Use Which: @SeptCFawkesWriting Craft / Settings and Description10 Questions to Help Fiction Writers “Set the Stage”: @LiveWriteThriveWriting Craft / Word CraftingThe “Green” Test for the “F” Bomb: @davidfarland
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
Click To Tweet
The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
March 14, 2021
5 Ways to Add Depth to Your Characters (by Getting to Know Yourself)
by Kristina Adams , @writingcookbook
We all want characters with lots of depth, right? Characters our readers love so much they keep coming back for more?
For me, there’s no bigger compliment than when a reader says that my characters feel real to them and they want to spend more time with the people I’ve created.
One of the most important techniques in my character creation arsenal is an understanding of psychology. It’s something I’ve always been fascinated by. Why do people do what they do? Why do they feel the way they feel?
And, most of all, are they even aware of any of it?
Truth is, most people don’t know themselves as well as they like to think.
A prime example is when someone says they have empathy, then responds by telling you how they feel in a situation, not how you feel. That’s projection, not empathy. They’re confused pretty regularly.
If someone confuses projection and empathy, it shows they’re out of tune with themselves and other people. It takes a serious level of self-awareness to notice when you’re projecting, and even more to stop yourself from doing it.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. How do these things help you add more depth to your characters?
Self-awarenessSelf-awareness is a really important – but less considered – step toward writing better characters.
I wrote recently about how self-awareness makes you a better writer, but let’s look at it from a character point of view for a minute.
If you understand your behavior – the good and the bad of it – you can view it objectively.
Not only does this allow you to heal from negative experiences more easily, but it also means you can analyze what you’ve been through, too.
It’s this analysis that allows you to understand how your past shapes you, and how you could use your experiences to shape your characters.
Because you’ve been through an experience yourself, the situations your characters find themselves in will be more real, since you already understand exactly what it feels like to be there.
To achieve all of this, though, it’s time for:
Studying psychologyStudying psychology can sometimes be horrifying because of what it reveals about yourself, but it’s also a great way to add depth to your characters. That’s because it teaches you the significance of cause and effect.
When someone is growing up, most situations are new to them. Those situations will therefore shape who they are, and how they feel about related situations in the future.
For instance, a child who grew up worrying about a parent picking arguments with them is more likely to be observant later in life, but may also be highly anxious.
Three-dimensional characters are defined by their past, just like we are (even if we loathe to admit it).
You don’t need to know your characters’ life histories to start writing, but knowing at least something about their past will mean you can bring it out at key moments. This will then make what your characters go through more believable and realistic.
Facing your demonsWhen you suppress one part of yourself, you suppress the rest unintentionally, too. You can’t feel the good emotions without fully feeling the bad. That means your characters can’t either.
You’ve buried things for a reason. Facing them is terrifying. I get that.
But what’s more important to you?
Suppressing something which can’t hurt you anymore, or helping other people face their own demons through the honesty in your writing?
Fiction can be just as therapeutic as nonfiction to read.
I recently read Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams, and the mental health journey she went on really helped me to deal with some of my own issues.
But, as it was done in a fictional environment, it felt like a safer space to confront those issues.
While I hadn’t intended to face them when reading the book, I appreciated the journey I went on with Queenie, and that book will always be important to me for that reason.
As writers, we have a responsibility to accurately represent what mental health conditions are really like. We can’t do that if we haven’t dealt with our own.
Reading about mental health conditions also helps us to explore the language that can be used to explain it in our own writing, helping to make it more accurate and believable. And helping us claw our way out from our own relapses in the future.
Doing expressive writingI can’t rave about expressive writing enough. It’s helped me through so much.
Expressive writing is like free writing on steroids. You pick a person, event, or situation that you’ve been bottling up, or which troubles you, and write about how it makes you feel.
Not what happened – we’re not documenting it here – but how it makes you feel. It’s amazing how much we suppress our emotions without even realizing it.
At the end of an expressive writing session, you destroy what you’ve written. If you’re on a device, that could mean closing the window without saving anything. If you’ve handwritten it, you could rip it up or set it on fire (somewhere safe!).
Writing something that isn’t meant to be read – and that never will be – is very freeing. It gives us a lot more freedom to explore those things we wouldn’t usually say, and sometimes don’t allow ourselves to think.
Understanding emotionsBy facing those negative emotions we bottle up, whether that’s anger, fear, or something else, we can translate our understanding of those emotions – what they look like and feel like for us – in a more real way than if we were just writing what we think something should look or feel like. This adds more depth to our characters, makes them more memorable to readers, and, for many of us, becomes the foundation of our writing careers.
Building real connections with characters isn’t about your book’s genre. Sure, that might be what lures people in. But it’s emotions that create real connections.
And emotions don’t change.
They’re universal, even if your story is set in 2133 on a spaceship. Even if you’re writing about a centaur on another plane.
Love, hate, grief, anger, lust, desire – we all feel them.
And we all deal with them differently.
But until we explore those emotions fully, we’ll never be able to give our characters as much depth as we long to.
ConclusionGetting to know yourself allows you to really understand people and their motivations. It gives you a deeper grasp of language, as well as how certain emotions – that we often bottle up subconsciously – feel. It’s unlocking these suppressed emotions that are key to getting to know yourself and adding more depth to your characters.
Whatever genre you write, the emotions characters feel are universal. These are the key to creating memorable characters that stay with your readers long after they’ve finished your story.
Kristina Adams is the author of twelve books and too many blog posts to count. She helps writers overcome their creative obstacles on her blog, podcast, and courses, over at The Writer’s Cookbook. When she’s not writing, she’s inflicting cooking experiments on her boyfriend or playing with her dog, Millie.
5 Ways to Add Depth to Your Characters by @WritingCookbook :
Click To Tweet
Photo by Caroline Veronez on Unsplash
The post 5 Ways to Add Depth to Your Characters (by Getting to Know Yourself) appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
March 13, 2021
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 58,000 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.
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
Click To Tweet
The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
March 7, 2021
Tips for Easier Launch Days
by Elizabeth Spann Craig, @elizabethscraig
When I was traditionally published, launch days felt incredibly stressful to me. That's because the publisher had a lot riding on the release…and for a fairly short period of time before bookstores started sending off returns. Penguin liked to know what my plans for the launch were, how big my audience was, and if I needed the to schedule a blog tour.
While launches as a self-publishing author aren't nearly as stressful (and that's a good thing…I had 6 books release last year), they still create a real mix of feelings in me. What I'd like to focus more on is the feeling of celebrating finishing another book. Maybe that should be a goal for this year.
Here's how I've tried to relieve the launch day pressure as much as possible:Make a list. Actually, a checklist and one that you can use for future releases is probably best here. I'm going to share my updated release day checklist on the blog in the next week or so. This way you can make sure you don't forget anything (I've had too many nights in the past where I woke up at 3 a.m. remembering I forgot to send thank you copies of the finished book to betas) and that alone is a big stress-reducer.
Schedule as much as possible in advance. This mainly pertains to social media or any blog posts you're doing to announce the release. The last thing you want to worry about on your launch day is tweaking images on Canva. Use a free program like Hootsuite to help you schedule ahead.
Write the all-important newsletter in advance. I do this wayyy in advance. My newsletter does promote the new book, of course, but I also use it as a way to share good books I've read and films I've watched, as well as a recipe. So when I do read or watch something great or make a good meal, I go ahead and save it as a draft in my newsletter. (I'm currently using MailerLite.)
Get everything else in your life under some semblance of control. The thing about releases is that they can be all-consuming if you let them be. But we still have life going on in the background. I try to make sure that I'm caught up on any housework and errands and that there's food ready to eat in the fridge. It just means less stuff to worry over.
Have scheduled times of day to check in on social media. One of the things in the past that I've found most stressful has been staying on social media for too long during release days. It's great to quickly respond to reader comments, but then we can fall down a social media rabbit hole. Having planned times to check in on social is a great balance. I find I do better if I completely close the social media tab and not have it run in the background.
Remember how important self-care is. This is probably the most important tip of all. If you know you're going to feel stressed (even happy stress), be sure to get enough sleep the night before, exercise the morning of the launch, eat well, and hydrate. It can help…a lot.
One additional important thing to remember is that publishing has a “long tail.” Our sales will take place over a long period of time…over the years of our careers. Yes, the launch day is a big day, but not if we look at it as a small part of a big picture.
How do you handle launch day stress? Any other tips I've missed?
Tips for Reducing Release Day Stress:
Click To Tweet
Photo on VisualHunt.com
The post Tips for Easier Launch Days appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
March 6, 2021
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 58,000 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: Reading and Ebooks (2020 in Review): @KristineRuschWeb Writing: How It's Unique: @kwidenhouseFreelance Writing: The One Point Rule: @kwidenhouse5 Steps to File Cabinet Organization in Your Life and Small Business: @MaddyOsmanThe Magic Phrase That Let's You Say No to Copywriting Clients: by Belinda WeaverWhy Your Book Needs a Manuscript Critique: @abaileywritesHow to Get Your First Writing Sample: @ashleygainer8 Project Management Tips for Frustrated Freelancers: @BlackFreelance15 Benefits of Working with a Writing Coach: @writingcookbookFreelancers: When Should You Write for Free? @ashleygainerFindaway Voices Steps in for Indies in Wake of Audiblegate: Self-Publishing News Podcast: @agnieszkasshoes @Howard_Lovy @IndieAuthorALLIThe Top Ten Publishing Trends Every Author Needs to Know: @claytonnoblit @WrittenWordMWhat Writers and Editors Do: by Karl Ove Knausgaard @parisreviewConferences and Events / MiscellaneousInternational Prize for Arabic Fiction Names Its 2021 Longlist: @Porter_Anderson @Arabic_Fiction @pubperspectivesA Digital Jerusalem International Book Forum Opens for 2021 Registration: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Goal setting31-day Practice and Suck Less challenge: @austinkleonCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersOn the Long Walk to Audiobooks: @rcharkin @pubperspectivesPassing Noir: Nine Novels That Explore Secrecy and Deception in Racial Identity: by Zach Vasquez @CrimeReadsHas the Parent Plot Ousted the Marriage Plot in Contemporary Fiction? by Peter Ho Davies @lithubFive SFF Characters You Want to Trust, but Probably Shouldn’t: @StinaLeicht @tordotcomUnwanted Outsiders Working Cases in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinberg“I Loved These (SF) Books as a Teen — Do They Hold Up as an Adult?” by Amber Troska @tordotcomCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeUsing Writing Groups for Motivation: @davidfarland3 Ways Freelancers Can Reduce Stress: @quiettypeblogHow to Create a Personalized Writer's Notebook: @thenovelsmithy70 Encouragements/Tips For The Writer: from It's a Lil ThingYou Are Not Too Old to Freelance : @seejavaciawriteTop 5 Reasons to Keep Writing Even When You Don't … Feel It: @hmgardner @TheIWSGBest Writing Approach: Routine or Ritual? @GoIntoTheStoryGenres / MysteryDisgruntled Employees and Unscrupulous Manufacturers as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergRunaways as Elements in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergGenres / Non-Fiction3 Rules of Business Book Writing: @_GinnyCarterGenres / RomanceHow To Write A Shippable Romance Novel: @WritersEditGenres / ScreenwritingHow to write a TV series outline: @YVONNEGRACE1Writing the Television Pilot: 1st 10 Pages: @YVONNEGRACE1Screenwriting: How to Write a Treatment and Structure Series Narrative: @YVONNEGRACE1Page One: ‘Unforgiven’ (1992). Written by David Webb Peoples: @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Thor: @CockeyedCaravanPromo / Blogging5 WordPress Site Settings Necessary for Successful Blogging: @NinaAmirHow to Encourage More Comments on Your Blog Posts @NinaAmirPromo / Connecting with ReadersResponding to Readers: Tips: Promo / MiscellaneousFonts – What Marketers Need to Know: @BakerviewConsulHow to Promote a Book in 2021: @BookgalPromo / Social Media TipsHow to Grow a Facebook Group Quickly and Effortlessly: @DanaMalstaff @SMExaminerPromo / Video21 YouTube SEO Tools to Boost Your Video Rankings: @ab80How to Write Engaging YouTube Video Scripts: – @SirAmirrPromo / WebsitesWhat Winnie the Pooh Teaches You About Your Website: @PaulineWilesPublishing / MiscellaneousNYU Center for Publishing Announces Diversity Scholarships: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesReleasing a Book Into the Pandemic: ‘A Time of Anti-Science’: @Porter_Anderson @PeterHotezUK Author Unions Launch Investigation Into ‘Partner Publishing’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesFamous first words: how celebrities made their way on to children's bookshelves: @siancain @GuardianBooksBookstores in Québec: ‘We Learned to Reinvent Ourselves’ in the Pandemic: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingSpain’s Publishers: COVID-19 Boosted Readership to a Record High in 2020: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesIndustry Notes: Spain’s New Platform, Frankfurt’s Translation Program: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @fbm21 @ANTAJM1971 @pubperspectivesGermany’s ContentShift Accelerator Opens Its 2021 Program: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @ShiftingContentSpain’s ‘Rolling Pages’ Names Its 10 Books-to-Screen Contenders: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe UK/Ireland World Book Day Emphasizes Family Reading: @Porter_Anderson @WorldBookDayUK @pubperspectivesRussian Market Looks to Children’s Books for 2021 Growth: by Eugene Gerden @pubperspectivesEngland’s LoveReading Opens a New ‘LitFest’ for Consumer Subscription: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesRights Roundup: Early Spring Titles From Seven Markets: @Porter_Anderson @AHLaestadius @lawrenceschimel @psicologomilano @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / PitchesOne Writer's Pitch Wars Experience: @daniellewrites7Picture Book Pitch Ideas Revised by an Editor: @MiraReisbergPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / RejectionsRejection Letters – The Brighter Side: by Roy StevensonPublishing / Process / ContractsDo You Need a Freelance Contract? @kat_boogaardWriting Craft / BeginningsHow To Make The First Time We Meet A Character Epic: @MiaJouBotha @Writers_WriteWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentMake Things Hard for Your Character: @kathycowleyCharacter Goals and Stakes: @LindasclareWriting Craft / Characters / Supporting CharactersWriting Meaningful Secondary Characters: @chrismlaporteWriting Craft / DiversityDiversity Plus: Diverse Story Forms and Themes, Not Just Diverse Faces: @HenryLienAuthor @sfwaWriting Craft / Drafts7 Steps To Plan & Organize Your First Draft: @WritersEditWriting Craft / MiscellaneousShould My Novel Have An Epilogue? @WritersEditTips on Writing an Action Scene: Star Trek The Wrath of Khan VS Star Trek Into Darkness: @chrismlaporteHow to Write a Dramatic Climax: by Abbie Emmons8 Strategies That Will Help You Improve Your Writing Skills: @NicoleJBianchiKnow the (Writing) Rules to Break the Rules Well: @PeggySueWells“But” Gets a Bad Name – But Writers Love Words to Show Contrast: @kwidenhouseIntroducing Unique Story Elements without Confusing Readers: @beccapuglisiThe Magic of Motivation in Your Novel: @SarahSallyHamer @EdieMelsonWriting Craft / PacingCraft Chat: Pacing: @MastersReviewWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / NamingTips for Naming Characters: @daniellewrites7Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingThe Main Plot Problem: @KiingoCreativeWriting Craft / RevisionSelf-Editing Secret: Listen Carefully: @pcalhenry @CareerAuthorsPlaying Tricks With Editing: @authorterryoWriting Craft / ScenesTypes of Scene Objects: @KiingoCreativeWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionThe Paradox of Experiencing a Place (Antarctica!) So You Can Write About It: @eatthedogs @lithubWriting Craft / SubtextSubtext Can Arise From Avoiding Open Conflict: @KiingoCreativeWriting Craft / TensionUsing Casablanca to think about tension: @Janet_ReidWriting Tools / AppsHandy Apps for Authors: @PaulaKrapf @Nessgraphica“Why I love Scrivener”: @AuthorMarileneWriting Tools / Books3 Creative Self-Help Books: @PennyDolan1
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
Click To Tweet
The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
February 28, 2021
Responding to Readers
by Elizabeth Spann Craig, @elizabethscraig
I think writers have a lot of understandable angst when it comes to responding to readers. We care a lot about what they have to say and we don't want to make a misstep.
And responding to readers is definitely tricky. Here are some different areas where you might run into reader comments and my thoughts on handling it.
Areas Where Readers Often Reach OutSocial Media: I get pinged on Facebook fairly regularly, less so on other sites. I try to respond as quickly as I can and apologize when a comment falls through the cracks. It's important not to write things that could be misconstrued on social media, so I'll re-read a post a few times before I send it.
Book Reviews/Book Bloggers: When book bloggers reach out to me to share a review, I always thank them and will usually share it with a comment on my social media. If they haven't reached out to me to share it, I don't comment on the review, but I may link to it on my book page, etc.
Emails: This is definitely my favorite way for readers to reach out. I can give more thoughtful answers and they're not shared on a public platform. I generally respond fastest here, too.
Reader Comments on Platforms like Wattpad: If a comment is directed to me, I always respond to it. Sometimes, though, the comments are directed to other readers or even just function sort of as marginalia on the site…for the reader's own records. If I think a comment from me might function as author intrusion, I leave it alone.
Short Reviews on Platforms like BookBub: BookBub pings me on these, and I'll “like” them as they come in, although I don't comment.
Reviews on Goodreads: I'm generally wary on this site since in the past it hasn't proven especially author-friendly. I do appreciate the reviews I get there, but I don't read them and definitely don't comment on them.
Customer Reviews on Amazon: Same rule applies here as on Goodreads. I do read my reviews on Amazon, since they can help inform direction for my books, but I never respond to reviews there. I do take my best reviews and copy-paste them into a folder on Evernote to brighten up tough writing days.
Writer Jody Hedlund made a good point about responding to readers:
“The more visible and relatable an author remains the better. Think about what happens when we’re closed off, silent, and unavailable on our social media sites. People might begin to think we’re stuck up, that we think we’re too good to talk to anyone but our closest circles of friends. Such an aura (even if it’s not true) could send out negative vibes and alienate our readers. Why take the risk? Why not remain humble, available, and responsive?
Yes, it takes some time. But, if we’re not prioritizing our interactions with readers on social media, then what’s the point of it all? Isn’t that why we’re on social media in the first place?”
I totally agree…as long as we're careful and professional while we're responding.
For me, this has been the safest approach to handling reviews and reader comments. But I'm curious to hear from you. How do you handle reviews and comments on retailers, book blogs, and social media?
Tips for responding to readers:
Click To Tweet
Photo on VisualHunt
The post Responding to Readers appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
February 27, 2021
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 58,000 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 / Miscellaneous9 “Other” Jobs of a Full-Time Freelance Writer: by Tom MeitnerSuccessful Freelancing in 2021: @teachandprofitu @ProWritingAidGet Busy on Your Waiting (Writing) List: @khogrefeparnell @EdieMelsonGrowth Mindset for Indie Authors in 2021: @sacha_blackTravel Writers Mistakes: 5 Errors that Will Keep You from Success: by Roy StevensonConferences and Events / MiscellaneousUS Black History Month: Macmillan Learning Awards ‘Black Stories’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesFilm and Television Rights: Frankfurt’s ‘Books at Berlinale’ March 4 and 5: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesWaiting for the Plane Tickets: Rights Pros on Digital Events: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBritish Book Awards: Bookstore, Small Press Shortlists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe UK’s IPG Opens Registration for its International Publishing Forum: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCundill History Prize Names Michael Ignatieff To Lead Jury: @Porter_Anderson @M_Ignatieff @CundillPrize13 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Book Fair: @inkbitspixels @FloridaWriters1Audio Publishers Association Names the 2021 Audie Awards Finalists: @Porter_Anderson @audiobooks @pubperspectivesPublishing’s Specialized Digital Events: Piling Up Higher and ‘Heyer’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingKeep Your New Year's Writing Resolutions: @thejkstudioCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationWriter Rhiannon Gelston on How a Creative Life Informs Her Writing: 5 Creative Ways to Help You Get Writing: @LiveWriteThriveCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersThe Pleasures and Punishments of Reading Franz Kafka: by Joshua Cohen @parisreviewNine Great Science Fiction Thrillers: @_NickPetrie_ @CrimeReadsTop 10 most dislikable characters in fiction: @louise_candlish @GuardianBooks7 Literary Translators You Should Know: by J.R. Ramakrishnan @ElectricLit27 Debuts to Look Forward To in the First Half of 2021: @vitcavage @ElectricLitChekhov’s Three Sisters: Comedy, Tragedy, or Foreshadowing of the Bolshevik Revolution? @thejackewilson @lithubA Lifetime of Lessons in “Mrs. Dalloway”: by Jenny Offill @NewYorkerCanadians in SF as Written by Non-Canadians: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomYoung Adult Mystery and Suspense to Read: @harddays_night @BooksThatThrillCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer's BlockThoughts on Procrastination, the Writer’s Block, and the Writing Process: @Peter_Rey_Creativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeThe Great Writer Who Never Wrote: @emmagarman @parisreviewNine Truths for Roleplayers Who Start Writing: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsHow to be a writer with young kids in the house: @pubcoachGetting to the truth about strong women and troubled teenhood – novelist, playwright, essayist, writing coach Martha Engber: @Roz_Morris @MarthaEngberDon't start a new book. Finish the old one: @AlexSokoloffHow Attached Are You To Your Characters? @CreativeScreenManifestation Journal Ideas: @BrynDonovanAn At-Home Writing Retreat: @aprildavilaGenres / FantasyWhere Fantasy Meets Reality: The Magic of Libraries: by Rachel Ayers @tordotcomGenres / HorrorScary Emotions: The 10 Most Potent Horror Movies About Grief, Mourning, and Loss: by Marcus Shorter @BDisgustingA Dark and Wicked Year: How Horror Saved 2020: @chadiscollins @DreadCentralGenres / MysteryClassic Mystery Novels That Wouldn't be Filed Under “Mystery Fiction”: @WritesHeather @BooksThatThrillCrime Writing: The Effects of Death on a Body: @LeeLofland‘Funny, How?’ Why Comedy is Crucial in Crime Writing: @Peculiar @CrimeReadsCrime Writing: Criminology v. Criminalistics: @JChaseNovelistCozy Mysteries Aren't Going Anywhere. In Fact, They're as Popular as Ever. @oliviablacke @CrimeReadsRio de Janeiro: Brazil’s Great City of Crime Literature: @chinarhyming @CrimeReadsGenres / Non-FictionHow to Render Epiphanies in Nonfiction Without Getting Didactic: @RandonNoble @lithubGenres / PoetryHow to Write an Erasure Poem: @lidywilksGenres / RomanceTwelve Signs a Storyteller Is Building Romantic & Sexual Chemistry: by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsGenres / ScreenwritingA Selection Of Creative Screenwriting Magazine Interviews With TV Screenwriters: @CreativeScreenScreenwriting: Mean Girls: @CockeyedCaravanGreat Scene: “The Shawshank Redemption” : @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Do I need to move to L.A.? @GoIntoTheStoryHow to Structure Story for a TV Drama Series: @YVONNEGRACE1Screenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Spider-Man @CockeyedCaravanPromo / AdsMarketing Self-Published Books on Amazon with Amazon Ads: @BookgalPromo / BloggingWhy You Should Start a Blog: @BeingTheWriter @womenonwritingPromo / Crowdfunding5 Reasons Self-Publishers Should Crowdfund Their Books: @shaylaleeraquelPromo / MiscellaneousHow to Boost Your Backlist Sales: @dkparsonswriter @SelfPubFormBest Book Promo Sites [2021 Edition]: @DavidGaughranPromo / Social Media TipsWriters Don't Need Social Media: @helpfulsnowman @LitReactorPublishing / MiscellaneousSpringer Nature: A White Paper on Researchers and Gold Open Access: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives5 Great Podcasts for Writers: @youfirstwriterRooting out racism in children's books: by Lindsay Pérez Huber @ConversationUSEverything published in “the greatest year for books ever” is now in the public domain: @knownemily @lithubPublishing / News / DataAAP StatShot: US Trade Book Sales Up 9.7 Percent for 2020: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingChina Bestsellers in January: ‘Autobiographical Fiction’ Sparks Debate: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGeorgian Publishers and PEN Center Protest Nika Melia’s Arrest: @Porter_Anderson @GPBAOFFICIAL @IntPublishersDenmark’s Lindhardt & Ringhof Reports ‘Vast Growth in Revenue’ in 2020: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGerman Ministry Funds Knowledge Unlatched Open Access Project with Von Humboldt Institute: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesDenmark’s Saga Egmont Acquires Mexico’s Cuántica Activa Audiolibros: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying18 Experts Share Their Submissions Pet Peeves: @Bang2writePublishing / Process / FormattingHow to Format a Book in Word: @NataliaALeighShould A Novel Be Double-Spaced? @WritersEditPublishing / Process / TranslationSheikh Zayed Book Award Announces Its First Translation Grant of 2021: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesWriting Craft / BeginningsFive Musts for Writing a Compelling Story Beginning: @KimberlyNLozano @DIYMFAHow To Write An Epic First Line: @MiaJouBotha @Writers_WriteWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentWriters on Characters. Quotes from professional writers: @GoIntoTheStoryMake Your Character Want Something: @kathycowleyCreate an External Journey for Your Character – Katherine Cowley @kathycowleyWriting Craft / Characters / ProtagonistsSeven Common Reasons Protagonists Are Unlikable: by by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsDo I Have to Kill One of My Protagonists? by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsGetting Passive Protagonists to Act: @SeptCFawkesWriting Craft / Common Mistakes5 Popular Mistakes with Comic Relief Characters and How To Fix Them: by Chelsea Hindle @KingdomPenMagWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmAnalyzing “Gone Girl” – Middle Build Two: @TheWritership @StoryGridThe Best Crime Shows of the Decade: @DwyerMurphy @CrimeReadsBuilding Arrakis: How Herbert Sabotaged His Own Ideas: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsThe Annotation Project: The Hobbit: @CockeyedCaravanThe Many Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons (Fifth Edition, that is) : by Andrew Zimmerman Jones“My Little Pony Taught Me To Write Fluffy, Glittery Violence”: @seananmcguire @tordotcomWriting Craft / Miscellaneous7 Tips to Writing Characters with Anxiety: @cyallowitzWriting Craft / POVAn Easy Fix for a Tighter Point of View: @Janice_HardyWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept7 Straightforward Tips For Turning An Idea Into A Story: @ClaireABradshaw @WritersEditWriting Craft / RevisionSelf-Editing Explained: How To Edit A Book Yourself: @DavidGaughranWriting Craft / ScenesSet the Shot of the Scene: @KiingoCreativeWriting Craft / VoiceWorking on Your Author's Voice: @Shutta @FloridaWriters1Writing Craft / Word CraftingWhat Is a “Whatsit”? On Kadigans, or Placeholder Names: @UselessEtyWriting Tools / Services for WritersBest Courses in the Industry: @DaveChesson
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
Click To Tweet
The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
February 21, 2021
How My Creative Pursuits Inform My Writing
by Rhiannon Gelston
I consider myself a rather creative person. Not just in what I do, but in how I view things.
My mom is extremely creative and I do think that it is something that might just be inherent in me from her, but I won’t get into a big nature vs. nurture discussion. I do know I came from someone creative and so it was appreciated while I was growing up. I was exposed to creativity and given some freedom to develop that side of me. We were always making something. I wanted to be an artist and could lose myself (still can) in drawing, painting, coloring, and creating. All of the kids in my family, when creating, knew how to pay attention to the details that mattered and to let the other ones go.
In creating, there is a point where you just have to let go and do it. I also tend to be very in-tune with what is around me. I notice things. I try and make time to notice things. I think that is at the heart of all creativity – noticing things. Writing is just one expression of that, one way to capture those moments.
When I write, I throw myself into the moment I am trying to describe and let my imagination and senses take over. I see the colors, I hear the sounds, I feel all the feelings. I love art and the visually stimulating scenes that I see around me on a daily basis, whether on a canvas, or in mother nature. I love music and can lose myself in the sounds of a favorite song, or just as easily in the sound of one of my kid’s big belly laughs, which is also music to my ears. My senses are ready to soak it all in.
These observations of the senses are at the core of my writing. I think everything we do is a creative pursuit in some way. Whatever it may be, how we approach it, how we do it, how we interpret it, and how we remember it, it is all unique to the individual. All of these moments I have lived and noticed, both the big and the small, are the creative pursuits that inform my writing.
***
I’m delighted to be participating
in author Rhiannon Gelston’s blog tour for her latest release, LARK AND
THE LOON.
◊ Genre: Memoir with a Twist
◊ Publisher: WiDo Publishing (July 17, 2020)
◊ Print & eBooks
◊ Paperback: 284 pages
◊ ISBN-10: 1947966251
◊ ISBN-13: 978-1947966253
Lark and the Loon follows
the adventures of a tentative boy named
Lark, as he is catapulted out of all that he
knows, into a courageous journey beyond his wildest
imagination.
Upon receiving a special gift
from his Gramps, Lark embarks on a reflective journey of self-discovery as the
innovative story weaves the true-life memoir of his mother (the author) in with
a fantastical journey. With some special new-found friends, Lark travels back
and forth from a symbolic tree to his mother’s true memories of life and death
moments, and simple moments, found everywhere from wild Africa to their very
own living room. Lark and his friends must ascend this tree and gain the
important life lessons offered along the way if they ever hope to find their
way out. Within this journey, Lark finds these lessons, and ultimately himself,
in the space between imagination and truth in this wild tale.
The story explores friendships,
philosophies, and everyday challenges and joys, both from a child's perspective
and from a parent's perspective. This memoir with a twist results in a coming-of-age
story that ultimately leads to a new understanding of self, others, and the
world that surrounds us.
LARK AND THE LOON is
available at AMAZON * Barnes & Noble * WiDo Publishing. Also, be sure to add it to your TBR List
on Goodreads.
Meet the
Author
RHIANNON GELSTON loves to
lose herself in all things creative. She enjoys writing, painting, live music,
traveling, sports, being outdoors, exploring, playing, spirituality, and energy
work. She has a BA in English and an MS in Occupational Therapy with a
pediatric focus. Rhiannon just had her first novel published. It is a memoir
with a twist called, LARK AND THE LOON, available wherever books
are sold.
Rhiannon grew up on Spa Creek in
downtown Annapolis. Home for Rhiannon will always be the sound of the halyards
hitting the masts on a breezy day, a pile of crabs saturated in Old Bay,
raft-ups with friends as kids cannonball off of the stern, and time with family
and friends, in, on, and around the Chesapeake Bay.
She lives in Annapolis with her
husband, their five lovely and lively children, and their black lab, McNasby.
Connect with Rhiannon on Facebook and Instagram.
Writer Rhiannon Gelston on How a Creative Life Informs Her Writing:
Click To Tweet
Be sure to enter the tour wide
giveaway. It ends May 3. The grand prize is a $25 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook
of LARK AND THE LOON. The second-place winner has to be a US
resident as the gift is a signed copy of LARK THE LOON. The third-place
prize is an eBook that two winners will receive. If the Rafflecopter widget
doesn’t work, you can still enter by clicking HERE.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Doesn’t this sound like an intriguing memoir?
Photo on Visualhunt
The post How My Creative Pursuits Inform My Writing appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
February 20, 2021
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 58,000 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 / MiscellaneousNot making enough money, freelance writers? @pubcoach7 Freelance Writer Website Examples to Help Create Yours and Get Clients: @dorakardoslatif @copyfolio_How To Write A Fiction Book Proposal: @alexadonneConferences and Events / MiscellaneousHow to Maximize Book Readings and Signings: @CathyFyock @EdieMelsonUK: Rathbones Folio Prize Names Its 2021 Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @RathbonesFolio @CalebFemi_ @elainefeeney16 @moniqueroffey @rachelnalong @carmenmmachado @aminamemory @DoireannNiGWales’ 2021 Hay Festival Returns in an All-Digital Format: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing Scotland Announces £23,000 in New Translation Grants: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @PublishScotlandVenice’s Mauri School 2021: ‘The State of the Book’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersWinter Sports as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergA Crime Reader's Antidote to Valentine's Day: @mollsotov89 @CrimeReadsCrime Fiction: Reader Pet Peeves: @MargotKinbergFiction to look out for in 2021: @ahmpreston @GuardianBooksThe Skill List Project: Reading Voraciously: @jamesagardNonfiction to look out for in 2021: @MsRachelCooke @GuardianBooksEnigmatic Characters in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergAccidental Snooping in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergSeven Cozy Poems of Winter: by Angela Yeh @DIYMFAThe Best Loved Detective Agencies in Fiction: @Tess_Amy_ @CrimeReadsIntense Crime Thrillers for Fast Reads: by Sarah Ciacia @BooksThatThrillOn the Darker Standalone Novels from the Baby-Sitters Club Author: @NewberyTarts @lithubWhy Classic Crime Fiction Was Obsessed With Fashion: @Tara_Moss @CrimeReadsCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing“Nine Guiding Principles To Order My Steps As A Writer in 2021”: by Jeanine DeHoney @womenonwritingCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer's BlockResistance to Writing and Dreams: @SPressfieldCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing QuicklyHow to Be a Writing Machine: @MichaelLaRonnCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeA Mindset Shift for Writers: @ChadRAllenHow To GTD A Moleskine Notebook: Step-By Step: @BryanJCollinsStory as Shopping: @annehawkinson @FloridaWriters15 Ways Journaling Improves Your Daily Life: by Jo Wnorowski @DIYMFADumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: The Six Word Test: @GoIntoTheStoryWhy You Shouldn’t Live with a Fictional Romantic Hero … During a Pandemic: @TaraSparling @annerallenAll is Fair in Love and Noir: 10 Destructive Romances for Valentine’s Day: by Zach Vasquez @CrimeReads‘I can cry just thinking about it': the most romantic moments in literature: @GuardianBooksThe “Book Two” Syndrome: by Niki Kantzios @FloridaWriters1How Building Your Self-Awareness Makes You a Better Writer: @writingcookbook“The Story We Know”. Reflections on a poem: @GoIntoTheStoryA Semi-Colon Moment: @ThereseWalsh @WriterUnboxedNutty Reader Emails: Writers Review Readers: @RuthHarrisBooks @annerallenKwame Alexander on Learning, from a Young Age, to ‘Use His Words’: @kwamealexander @FirstDraftADOW @lithubHow Your Writer's Intuition Knows Which Advice Works-: @LauraHighcove @DIYMFABest Music for Writing: @mindofkyleam @ProWritingAidWriting: Finding Community and Support: @debluskin7 Ways to Stay Sane When Working by Yourself: by Tom Meitner @ProWritingAidWhat Do I Do When My Story Isn't Going Anywhere? @10minnovelistGenres / Literary FictionHow to Promote Literary Fiction: @JaneFriedman @AuthorMediaGenres / MysteryWhat goes into a good cozy mystery novel: @ReadAlessandra @AuthorsAiCrime Writing: The FBI Does This, But Not That: @LeeLoflandCrime Fiction: Characters Who Keep Being Pulled Back Into a Criminal Life: @MargotKinbergGenres / ScreenwritingThe Theology of Cinema: Grace: @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Page One: ‘The Hateful Eight’ (2015) : @GoIntoTheStoryInterview With the Vampire Shows the Strengths and Weaknesses of Adaptation: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsScreenwriting: Page One: ‘The Princess Bride’ (1987): @GoIntoTheStoryInterview (Written): The Filmmakers of “Soul”: @GoIntoTheStoryPixar’s Soul Aims to Spark an Appreciation for Life: by Andrew Tejada @tordotcomWonder Woman 1984 Is Bursting With Unfinished Thoughts: @use_theforce_em @tordotcomGenres / Short StoriesA Short Story Writing Checklist: @cleemckenzie @TheIWSGPromo / ImagesBook Mockup Generators: 5 Free Tools for Promo Images: @Self_Pub_SchoolPromo / MiscellaneousBook promotion tips: Promo Stacking: @DavidGaughranCreate a Better Amazon Book Promotion with a Pre-Order: @Bookgal20 Ways to Get Yourself Out There as a Writer: by Kelly D. Smith @TheRyanLanzPromo / NewslettersAuthor Newsletter: How to build an email list: @SmartAuthorsPromo / PlatformsYour platform is an experience to create: @DanBlankPromo / Pricing9 Ways To Unleash The Power of Free In 2021: @DavidWalker1201Promo / Social Media TipsBest Facebook Author Pages: 16 Examples That Inspire: @miblart7 Things To Do When Social Media Frustrates You: @EdieMelson @SouthrnWritrMagPromo / SpeakingPolish that PowerPoint Presentation to Perfection: by Rod Martinez @FloridaWriters1Promo / WebsitesA Checklist to Update Your Blog and Website: @EdieMelsonPublishing / MiscellaneousHow to Get the Best Out of Your Publishing Team: @dkparsonswriter @SelfPubFormUSA: Princeton University Press Opens Diversity-Driven Development Grants: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @PrincetonUPressComing in March: A New Platform for the Pubeasy Ordering System: @Porter_Anderson @rschild @nielsen @pubperspectivesAn Editor: “Asking the Question I Can’t Answer “: @noshingshiksa @brevitymagPublishing / News / International PublishingRights Outlook: Books From Québec Flourishing in German: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying“How I Landed a Book Deal Via Twitter—Unintentionally”: @nerdseyeview @JaneFriedmanPublishing / Process / Services to AvoidPique Literary: Unmasking a Fake Literary Agency: @victoriastraussWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentLimits of the Warrior Archetype: @SPressfieldWriting Craft / ConflictAre Conflicts Based on Misunderstandings Always Contrived? by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmHow Chekhov Cuts to the Heart in Uncle Vanya: by Jacke Wilson @lithubWriting Craft / MiscellaneousQuick Writing Tip: Accents: by Bucket SilerFive Ways to Build Your Storytelling Muscles: by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsUtilize the Power of Breath Units to Write Masterfully: @LiveWriteThriveWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarGrammar Vs Syntax: What Every Writer Should Know: @BryanJCollinsThe Em Dash and I—A Love Story: @jamesscottbellWriting Craft / RevisionA Story Revision Checklist: @LinWilsonauthorWriting Craft / ScenesScene Dynamics: @ZaraAltairA 5-Minute Fix to Jump-start Your Scene: @Janice_HardyWriting Craft / SeriesOn Writing a Book Series: @PaulaSMunier @CareerAuthorsWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionHow to Fictionalize Your Town in Your Novel: @ZaraAltairWriting Craft / TransitionsNothing Like a Smooth Transition: @61647Edge @FloridaWriters1Writing Tools / MiscellaneousHow to Write More in Less Time with Voice Recognition: by Jenna HarteThe Ultimate Guide to Tools and Tech for Indie Authors: @OrnaRoss @IndieAuthorALLI
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
Click To Tweet
The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
