Riley Adams's Blog, page 43

How Building Your Self-Awareness Makes You a Better Writer

by Kristina Adams , @writingcookbook

Self-awareness helps us to recognise our positives and negatives without being harsh or judgmental. We know things are what they are, and we know that if we dislike something, it’s completely within our power to change it.

It can help us deal with stress, anxiety, depression, and even physical health conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. (I know this as a sufferer of all of the above for many years).

Some people are naturally more self-aware than others, but, like everything in life, it’s a skill that can be learned.

Sometimes self-awareness comes from trauma, counselling, or a treatment programme for a health condition. Occasionally it comes from a desperate need to improve ourselves.

But one important thing to remember is that you can’t think your way into becoming more self-aware. Reading tips on how to do it is a good starting point, but it’s the actions you take that will build your self-awareness.

Now, how does this all tie into writing?

Well, let’s take a look at how self-awareness makes you a better writer:

You’re more objective

One of the best things about self-awareness is an ability to pull yourself out of your own mind and see things more objectively.

Objectivity is a really helpful tool to use when facing our emotions, but it’s also helpful for facing our writing.

Editing can be an expensive and time-consuming process. When you’re more self-aware, you’re more open to the fact that your first draft (or even your finished book) won’t be perfect—there will always be things you can do to improve.

Not in a “your writing sucks” kind of way, but in a, “writing is a journey, and each book is a stop along that journey” kind of way.

When you view your own work objectively, you’re more likely to read it critically, like a reader, reviewer, or editor would. That makes it easier for you to spot plot holes, unintentionally flat characters, and overly used phrases. All these things make for a better finished story by the time you’re done.

You learn to spot areas for improvement

Everyone has areas they can improve on. If none of us did, our lives would be super boring.

There’s always a new skill we can learn, a new approach to an old technique, or a new way of looking at a problem. This endless sea of writing techniques is one of the great things about writing—it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been publishing for, there’s always something to learn.

Self-awareness means you don’t mind that you have areas to improve on. Your relish in those areas because they’re a new challenge.

Facing—and overcoming—new challenges builds our confidence, our resilience, and yes, our writing skills.

You’re comfortable in who you are

Nobody is perfect, but self-awareness means we’re not hard on ourselves for just being, you know, ourselves.

It’s really easy to get into a vicious cycle of self-hatred and self-loathing, especially when so many of us can’t go outside right now, but the more you ruminate on these feelings, the worse you’ll feel and the less you’ll get done.

And the further away you’ll push your writing, because you don’t feel worthy of doing it.

Self-awareness means you can identify these feelings, learn the ways to healthily pull yourself out of them, and face them faster.

It’s not about fixing your life’s problems—it’s about acknowledging that they’re holding you back, but you’ve totally got this. When you acknowledge problems—even ones outside of your control—it’s much easier to let them go.

You understand emotions

Well-articulated emotions are key to readers developing a close relationship with your characters. But to be able to write emotions in depth, you need to understand them.

If you’re constantly pushing your emotions away, bottling them up, or refusing to acknowledge that you even have them…how can you write about them?

Readers can’t get emotionally attached to characters they don’t know that well. The deeper you explore your characters’ emotions, the more your readers get to know them. They’ll then be more invested in your story and want to buy more of your books.

Some of my favourite authors do this suuuuuper well, to the point where I’ve almost been crying when the characters cry in the book. These deeper emotions make your reader feel like they’re living those emotions alongside your character—they’re in your character’s red stilettos or scruffy Converse—and they just need a good cry. Or kiss. Or mystery solved. You get the idea.

You know your triggers

We all have triggers. Sometimes they’re triggers that stop us from doing the very thing we want or need to do; sometimes they cause a panic attack; sometimes they make our chronic pain flare up; sometimes they give us writer’s block.

You can’t overcome your triggers if you don’t know what they are. Noticing them, and acknowledging them, helps you to face them. You can train your brain to not associate exercise with pain, or a blank Word document with writer’s block.

We become who—and what—we think we are, and so the more we ruminate on things that we think trigger us, the more likely they are to trigger us.

When you offer yourself some comfort, whether that’s some time with a good book, your favourite TV show, or a walk with the dog, it calms your brain and stops it from associating an event with a specific feeling.

One way to comfort yourself, if you find yourself struggling, is to talk to yourself. Remind yourself that you’re OK, you’re safe, and you’ve totally got this.

It sounds bonkers, but I’ve used this technique many times and found it one of the best ways to deal with my anxiety, anxiety-triggered fatigue, and chronic pain.

You’re kind to yourself

Most of us are too hard on ourselves.

Self-awareness teaches you when you need to be kind to yourself, and when you can push yourself further.

Take my new exercise regime as an example. I’m incredibly unfit thanks to asthma and chronic pain. I tried to do ten minutes a day for three days in a row, and by the end of day three, I couldn’t walk. I hadn’t listened to my body’s protests as I walked down the stairs, when it was telling me I needed to lay off the exercise so that it could recover.

I ended up walking down the stairs swearing for almost a week.

Take two: I’m going to alternate exercise days, to give my body time to recover. And also alternate types of exercise—walking the dog is a lot less strenuous than weights or core.

The pain in my legs was my body’s way of telling me I needed to slow down, but I hadn’t listened to it.

Sometimes, when you’re stuck, it can be your brain’s way of telling you to rest. One of the ways I identify this, is when it feels like something is buzzing in my brain. Like there’s a bee there, and it won’t go away.

Other times, my eyes tell me by making the words on the screen blurry.

Or sometimes it’s my hands, when typing becomes painful during a long writing session.

Our body warns us to slow down in a variety of subtle ways; we just don’t always listen to it.

But take it from someone who’s burned herself out more times than she can count: you’ll achieve more by slowing down now, than by forcing yourself to keep going and hitting breaking point.

You know when to challenge yourself

While being kind to yourself is important, you won’t grow if you don’t challenge yourself. Self-awareness teaches us what those slow down warnings look like, so that we know when it’s actually a situation we can push ourselves through.

Many, many things in life are mind over matter. Ask any personal trainer and they’ll tell you that most people can exercise more than they think, but they’re scared to push themselves beyond their comfort zone and feel the burn the next day. Writing is similar.

Sometimes we’re afraid of writing about something that’s a new experience to us, or we’re afraid of going to that deep, dark place in our character’s minds. Since we have to go to that place in our own minds in order to write, and edit, it.

But when we tap into those places we’re afraid to go to, the outcome is amazing.

One of my friends is about to publish her first book. When she was editing it, she knew that it was missing how cold the main character needed to be for the story to work.

So I set her a challenge. I asked her to go to the darkest places in her mind and write about how angry past people and events made her. She was afraid of the exercise, but she did it.

And when she came out the other side, she felt like a different person. She was no longer afraid to tap into those dark places, because she’d done before and survived it. There were no repercussions to her exploring her full depth of emotions. She needed to know and accept that before exploring it in her fiction.

There’s no shame in feeling what you need to feel, nor is there shame in not being ready to face something that’s happened to you. But the longer you put off facing the inevitable, the harder it becomes to challenge yourself, and the further away you are from your writing goals.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 Ways Building Self-Awareness Makes You a Better Writer (by @WritingCookbook ):
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The post How Building Your Self-Awareness Makes You a Better Writer 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 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.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Business / MiscellaneousStart the New Year Writing Articles: @LindaGilden @A3writersFour Ways to Build a Business Case for Your Content Writing: @brotzel_fiction @hopeclarkTips for Avoiding Zoom Fatigue: @hopeclarkSelf-publishing News: Findaway Voices Reaches out to Disgruntled ACX Authors: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIAudiblegate: where we are and where we’re going: @SusanMayWriter @IndieAuthorALLIHow Audiobook Authors and Narrators are Paid by Audible-ACX @colleenxcross @IndieAuthorALLIConferences and Events / MiscellaneousSheikh Zayed Book Award and NYU Explore ‘The Nights': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGerman Book Prize Names Its 2021 Jury, Opens Submissions: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesEgypt's Naguib Mahfouz Medal Releases Its First Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesNorthern Finnish Literature: An Online Event for Publishing Rights Players: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPEN America Literary Awards Announces Its 2021 Finalists: @Porter_Anderson @anthony_cody @mbsycamore @azemezi @incrediblekdub @PENamerica @pubperspectivesThe UK's Society of Authors Awards Names Its Translation Prize Winners: @Porter_Anderson @Soc_of_Authors @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingWriting Goals: 2021: Trust the Process: @GoIntoTheStoryConnect Your Assets: @WriteNowCoachCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationDoes exercise improve creativity? @pubcoachStuck in Your Story? Try This Fun Exercise to Shake Up Your Muse: @Janice_HardyCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersHow Should We Read? @wself @lithubDigressions and Side Trips in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergEight Amazing Novels About Female Superheroes: @SamMaggs @tordotcomBooks That Grab You: by Jo Walton @tordotcom6 Books Featuring Transformative Female Friendships: @BookTribFour-Legged Friends: 5 Healing Stories Featuring Animal Companions: @WF_Writers @BookTribCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingProductivity Hacks of Bestselling Writers: @KMazeauthorCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer's BlockDumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Plot Backward: @GoIntoTheStoryCreativity and Inspiration / Writing Life5 Ways to Talk About Writing with Non-Writers: @amymarieayres @DIYMFAWriting about Tough Subjects: Award-Winning Debut Memoirist Shares Her Process: @KatherineQuie @writeabookHow to Beat the “I-can’t-do-this” Mindset: @JodyHedlundFive ways to give your shiny new writing project a long life: @Undomestic_Mag @TheWriterMagStories, Short and Not: @Porter_Anderson @WriterUnboxedForward Planning in Marketing and Writing: @KarenHWhiting @EdieMelsonHow writers can cope with a long, dark winter spent indoors: @SKoutlaki @TheWriterMagA Writing Process Is Like Building a House: @jordynhtaylor @WomenWritersRumaan Alam on Writing a Book That Doesn’t Explain Itself: @Rumaan @lithubA Place to Write: @JoanHallWrites @StoryEmpireNatasha Trethewey on Public Grief in Poetry and Memoir: @NTrethewey @esglaude @lithubThe Worst Literary Adaptations of the Century (So Far): @bmanuel @ElectricLitGenres / FantasyWhat The Black Company Teaches Us About Dark Stories: by by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsHistory for Fantasy Writers: Miners: by E.L. Skip Knox @mythicscribesGenres / HorrorSupernatural or Super Unnatural – An Examination of Postcolonial Horror: @nameshiv @sfwaGenres / MiscellaneousHow Amish Fiction And Western Historical Are Similar: @GriggsWinnie @SKRViLLGenres / MysteryHow Explicit Should a Crime Novel Be? @MargotKinbergReading Difficult Scenes in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergGenres / Non-FictionResolved to Write a Nonfiction Book This Year? Let’s Do the Math: @annkroekerGenres / Picture BooksChildren's Books: Don't Commit a Rhyme Crime: by Michelle Medlock Adams @A3writersGenres / RomanceRomance Writers: Do the Twist: @TammyLoughAuthr @DIYMFAGenres / Screenwriting60 Second Screenwriter: Finding Your Voice: @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriter Mike Jones Has “Soul”: @CreativeScreenScreenwriting: Page One: ‘The Fugitive’ (1993): @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Believe Care Invest: Gone Girl: @CockeyedCaravanPromo / BloggingHow 1 Writer Repurposes Blog Content: @theMarisaMohiMaking Your Blog Posts More Shareable: Tips: Promo / Book Signings and Launch partiesHow A book Launch Became A Performance Piece: @joyceyarrow @WomenWritersPromo / MiscellaneousAmazon Recommendations and Also Boughts : @DavidGaughranPromo / NewslettersUsing Book Promotion Newsletters to Increase Sales: @Lit_Nuts @JaneFriedmanPromo / Social Media TipsBashing the Myths of Social Media in 2021: @JudithBriles @JFbookmanTips On How Authors Can Use LinkedIn To Their Advantage: @marikaflatt @PRbytheBookThe Complete Guide For Beginners To Stand Out On Twitter: @KairaRalph @A3writersPublishing / MiscellaneousThe Writing Contest Experience: @forestjournaler @TheIWSGNational Book Awards Foundation Names Ruth Dickey Executive Director: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesHow Literary Female Friendships Shaped the Fiction Market : @SarahJLonsdale @lithubThe UK’s Publishers Association Releases Its New Diversity Report: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingGermany-Based Bookwire in 2020: Titles Up 11 Percent Over 2019: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesLebanon: Calls for Investigation Follow Publisher Lokman Slim's Murder: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @Book_Fair @IntPublishersSpain's ‘Rolling Pages' Announces Its 2021 Books-to-Screen Program: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesUK: National Centre for Writing Has New Japanese Translation Partnership: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBrexit Ushers British Publishing Into New Territory: @rcharkin @pubperspectivesPublishing in Québec Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic: Rallying the Readers: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectivesEmirates Airline Festival of Literature Enters Its Final Weekend: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Process / LegalitiesKnow Your Rights: Key Provisions in a Publishing Contract: @PerryLiterary @annerallenWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentWhat Makes a Good Character? @writingcookbookWriting With Heart: Creating an Emotionally Engaging Character: by Ruth Ann Nordin @TheRyanLanzYour Reader’s Alter Ego: by Taya Okerlund @davidfarlandWriting Craft / Common MistakesIs Your Novel Ready to Publish? 12 Signs You're Still Learning to Write: @annerallenFive Tell-Tale Signs of an Amateur Self-Published Book: @annerallenTop 5 Mistakes Writers Make Writing Women: by Eve Lynch @ReedsyHQ5 Commonly Used Phrases That Weaken Your Writing: @danasitar @thewritelifeFive More Ways To Make Your Story “Good”: @10minnovelistWriting Craft / ConflictFight Writing: The English Longbow: from How to Fight WriteWriting Craft / DialogueUsing Idioms, Slang, Contractions, and Declinations: @GoIntoTheStoryWriting Craft / DiversityHow Do I Depict a Newly Blind Character? by by Fay Onyx @mythcreantsWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmThe 15 Best Crime and Mystery Television Series of 2020: @oldrutigliano @CrimeReadsShe Will Soar: Why Women Write about Escape and Freedom: @AnaBooks @WomenWritersEight Favorite In-Universe Superfans: by Stubby the Rocket @tordotcomLessons from Books: Gone Girl – Middle Build 1: @TheWritership @StoryGridWriting Craft / MiscellaneousHow To Write With Authority: by Victor Vale @Writers_WriteEight Must Haves For A Great Story: @10minnovelistDirect Characterization Vs. Indirect Characterization: @themaltesetiger101 Softly-Delivered Writing Lessons: @booksofm @apexmagWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Outlining7 Tips to Outlining in Some Fashion: @cyallowitzHow To Write Without An Outline: @HankPRyan @CareerAuthorsWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarThe Skill List Project: Learning to Love Grammar: @jamesagardThe Skill List Project: Punctuation and its Discontents: @jamesagardWriting Craft / RevisionEditing short-form content: @LouiseHarnbyEditing A Book · The 5 Stages In A Proper Edit: @DavidGaughranWriting Craft / ScenesThe 2 Key Elements That Make a Great Scene: @LiveWriteThriveWriting Craft / SynopsesWriting the Perfect Synopsis for Your Book: @youfirstwriterWriting Craft / World-BuildingHow Real Do You Want Your World to Be? @davidfarlandUncategorizedTax Tips for Authors Webinar Feb. 24: @AuthorsGuildHow Authors Can Recruit Interns: @ThePRExpert

 

 

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Making Your Blog Posts More Shareable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

As someone who shares a lot of posts, I'm also someone who reads a lot of posts.

Blogs that are writer-focused instead of reader-focused usually need a few components to help them succeed long-term. They need to be useful, friendly, and easy-t0-read/understand.

Some posts start out with a lot of promise, but then tend to ramble a little or lose focus. Sometimes I'll miss perfectly good posts that should be shared to a wider community because the post's title didn't really reflect the content of the article.

If you're a writer who's hoping to share posts with a broader audience in the writing world, here are a few quick tips:

Five Tips for Writing More-Shareable Posts

Keep posts on a single subject.  Sometimes writers share excellent information but cram a lot of material into a single post without really going deep on the subject. Instead, consider dividing the content into two or more posts.

Create a headline/post title that truly indicates what the post is about. I've read a lot of post titles that just didn't give any information about the content of the article or were confusing. Unfortunately, those are the ones that get skipped when I'm reading through my RSS feed reader. It's usually better, when reaching out to a wider audience, to keep headlines boring but specific to the topic.

Link to your social media platforms on your site so others know who to attribute the post to.  When I share content online, I always attribute the author of the post, unless that information isn't available. Believe it or not, some blogs still only list a blogger's first name (a lot of them are on Tumblr: a site that drives me a little crazy).  Your blog should have your first and last name on it. Bonus points if you also list your Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or other social media platforms!

Make main points in bold or use lists to help with post readability and skimming.  Most of us spend many hours of the day reading–either our own writing, books, or articles. It really can help when the points of a blog post are easily accessible and readable.

Consider social sharing buttons or plugins like Click to Tweet. I don't use these myself when I share content (I use Hootlet, an extension from Hootsuite), but lots of other people do. I use Click to Tweet here, which does seem to help a lot for sharing purposes.

Do you have any suggestions for making posts more shareable? What are some of your favorite blogs to read?

Five Tips for Writing More-Shareable Blog Posts:
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The post Making Your Blog Posts More Shareable 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 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 / MiscellaneousSelf-publishing News: Rise of Social Reading: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIWriteTip: No Deal is Always Better Than a Bad Deal: @BryanThomasSPrinting Overseas v POD: @FictionNotes2020 – A Year of Change for Indie Kids Publishers: @FictionNotesConferences and Events / MiscellaneousAAP PROSE Awards: The 2021 Category Winners: @Porter_Anderson @AmericanPublish @pubperspectivesTaipei International Book Exhibition Goes Digital in 2021: @Porter_Anderson Your 2021 Literary Events Calendar: @knownemily @lithubWriters' House of Georgia Announces Digital Festival: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBritish Book Awards Name 2021 Jurors for 28 Prize Categories: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSchedule for Cozy Mystery Virtual Book Fairs–Free for Authors: @mystery_cozyBarcelona's Pontas Literary Agency Opens a Mentoring Prize: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesJohn Leguizamo Tapped to Host 2021 Audie Awards: @Porter_Anderson @JohnLeguizamo @pubperspectivesOn World Read Aloud Day 2021: ‘The Power of Sharing Stories': @Porter_Anderson @pamallyn @ScholasticUK: Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize Adds Juror Daliso Chaponda: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAAP PROSE Awards: ‘Ancient Maya Politics' Wins 2021 Hawkins Honor: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesConferences and Events / NaNoWriMoDiary of a NaNoWriMo Newbie: @magpie0218 @RMFWritersCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingHow to Succeed at Keeping Your New Year’s Resolution: @WriteNowCoachCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration8 Podcasts for Writers to Inspire Your Creative Practice: @Pod_ReviewCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / QuotesQuotes from Experts on Writing: @ZoeMMcCarthyCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersIf Famous Literary Characters Were Given Very Good Doggos: @cupofstars @mcsweeneys10 Things About How Writers Read: @JennyHansenCACreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer's BlockIs Your Writer’s Block Really Writer’s Indecision? @LouiseTondeur @JaneFriedmanHow to Free Yourself from a Writing Rough Spot: @BirdsOAFpress @NinaAmirCreativity and Inspiration / Writing Life5 Tips For Beating Beginner's Imposter Syndrome: @thewildwong @emiliewapnickHow To Be A Healthy Writer In 2021: @euan_lawson @thecreativepennKeep Your Writing Routine from Becoming a Rut: @ShannaSwendson2021: Rethinking Resolutions and Habits as Writers: @sl_penner @WriterUnboxedWriting Goal for 2021: Let Go to Love More: @KarenDeBonisThe One Thing You Need to Do: Write: @SueBEdwards @womenonwritingHow to move on after failure: @pubcoachYour Guide to the Writer: @MargotKinberg‘I've never felt less festive': the art of writing Christmas novels, 365 days a year: @alisonflood @GuardianBooksWriter’s Tech 101: Take Care of Your Computer: @WordDreamsWriting Valuable Fiction: One Writer's Reflections on Growing Up in Eastern Germany: by Michael Albrecht @KMWeiland5 Places to find Cozy Virtual Backgrounds for Readers and Writers: @mystery_cozyThe Accidental Author: “How Writing Helped Me Come To Terms With My Brother’s Death”: @AlisonKerwin @WomenWritersGenres / MysterySome Misconceptions About Sexism in Thrillers: @Court_Writes @CrimeReadsMillenial Cozies: A New Generation Discovers the Joys of the Cozy Mystery: @lansingkm @BerkleyPub @CrimeReadsThe Private Detective in Fiction: by Edward J. Herdrich @BooksThatThrillCrime Fiction: People in Positions of Trust: @MargotKinbergCrime Fiction: People in the Background Who Make Things Run Smoothly: @MargotKinbergGenres / Non-Fiction5 nonfiction lead magnet ideas: @sandrabeckwithGenres / Picture BooksWhy Kidlit Authors Need to Join SCBWI: @jenavarreGenres / RomanceHow To Write A Romcom: @RealSamTschida @WomenWritersGenres / ScreenwritingHow to Embrace Risk As A Screenwriter: by Brock Swinson @CreativeScreenScreenwriting: 7 Tips for Emerging Creative Entrepreneurs: @CreativeScreenPromo / AdsHow to Setup Automatic Targeted Amazon Ads to Sell More Books: by Stephanie Chandler @NonfictionAssocPromo / BloggingBlogs for Authors: @CaballoFrancesPromo / Book Descriptions and CopywritingThe Six Online Bios Every Author Needs: @inkbitspixels @annerallenWriting Your Author Bio? Here Are 20 Examples: @DianaUrban @BookBubPromo / MiscellaneousWhat to do When Your Book Launch Fails: @KristinaAuthorHow to Get Your Book Noticed on Amazon: Your Relevancy Score: @Bookgal6 Tips to Help You Network Like a Natural: @BookgalMarketing Your Book On A Shoestring Budget: @SmartAuthors3 Ways to Sell More Novels in 2021: @sandrabeckwithPromo / PlatformsFitting Platform Building into a Busy Life: Tips: Promo / Social Media Tips11 Ways to Update Your Online Presence: @WordDreamsTop 5 Twitter Tips to Powerfully Market Your Books: @BadRedheadMedia13 Tips on Using Instagram as an Indie Author: @jess_hawk @BookBubPromo / SpeakingHow to Get Speaking Engagements: The Definitive 2021 Primer: @ShawnCasemore @smartbloggerhqPromo / Websites4 Easy SEO Tips for Writers and Authors: @sabsky @IvelisseWritesHow to change your Author Blog into an Author Website: @inkbitspixelsPublishing / MiscellaneousNetGalley and Its Parent, Firebrand, Sold to Japan's Media Do: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPEN America and the UN's Karima Bennoune on Artists and Risk: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAssociation of University Presses Opens International Pairings Pilot: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingBookwire and Saga Egmont Partner to Distribute Spanish-Language Books: @Porter_Anderson @bookwire @pubperspectivesAIE: Italy's Trade Publishing Sales Grow 2.4 Percent in 2020: @Porter_Anderson @ScuolaLibraiUEM @pubperspectivesIPA Commends Beijing's Passage of a Copyright Law Amendment: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @IntPublishersLicensing: Denmark's Lego Publishing and Chronicle's New Books: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesChina Bestsellers in December: ‘Poverty Alleviation' and a ‘Tea House': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGermany's Börsenverein to Belarus: ‘Cease Persecution of Critical Voices': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesWriters, Translators Issue Call on Sunday's Belarus Solidarity Day: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Self-PublishingTechnical Tips for Indie Authors Publishing a POD Book on Amazon KDP: @WolfBahrenPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying9 things that drive a agent crazy: @Janet_ReidBuild a smooth progression in a query letter (query critique): @NathanBransfordPublishing / Process / Book DesignDon't Forget Your Book's Back Cover: @SpatzSteven @BookBabyPublishing / Process / TranslationToward More Black Writers in Translation: @Porter_Anderson @wwborders @pubperspectivesTranscending Borders: A Graphic Novel Translation Conversation with Andrea Rosenberg: by Brenna O’Hara @worldlittodayWriting Craft / Characters / ArcThe Hero's Journey: Explained In 12 Steps: @BryanJCollinsWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentYour Character's Job May Be More Important than You Think: @AngelaAckermanHow to Craft Captivating Characters (Podcast): @Roz_Morris @Rebelauthorpod @sacha_blackWriting Craft / Characters / ProtagonistsCan You Have More Than One Protagonist In Your Story? @abigailkperry @write_practiceWriting Craft / Common MistakesStop Overthinking Your Story: @ZaraAltairWriting Craft / DraftsHow to Write a Vomit Draft (And Why It’s So Important): @Write_LA @CreativeScreenEverything Looks Different Once You Have a First Draft in Hand: @GoIntoTheStoryConcept: Maybe Your First Draft DOESN’T Suck: @bucketsilerWriting Craft / EndingsDoes Your Story Have an Open or Closed Ending? @JillWilliamson @GoTeenWritersWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmGone Girl: Beginning Hook: @TheWritership @StoryGrid“What I Learned About Writing from Making Sound Effects for Movies”: @EssaHansenWhy Is the Star Wars Universe Full of Megafauna? @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomWriting Craft / Literary DevicesMetaphors, Analogies, and Similes: Examples: @dlwebb @WomenWritersLiterary Elements: Symbolism: @stacitroilo @StoryEmpireWriting Craft / MiscellaneousThe Trouble with “Was”: @davidfarlandPlants and Payoffs in Your Story: by C.S. Boyack @StoryEmpireTop 5 Mistakes Writers Make Writing School Scenes: by Siân Rowland @Bang2writeTips for Writing Reaction Beats: @Kid_Lit @TheIWSGFive Ways To Make Your Story “Good”: @10minnovelistGetting Away With Murder: A 5-Point Plan On How To Kill A Character: @ChrisLukeDean @Writers_WriteWriting Craft / POVThe Nuances of Deep POV: @LiveWriteThriveWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingHow many acts should your novel have? @ReadAlessandra @AuthorsAiWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / ResearchHow much research is enough? @pubcoachWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Story ConceptUsing Bibliomancy as a Drafting Tool: @SWytovich @LitReactorWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarUsage: Addicted “to,” not “with”: @writing_tipsFive Common Grammar Errors: by Bob Hostetler @stevelaubeagentWriting Craft / Revision10 Steps To Revise Your Nano Novel: @Bang2write8 Simple Tips For Editing Your Own Book: @BirdsOAFpressWriting Craft / ScenesScene Coherence: Readers' Perspective on your Story: by Barbara Linn ProbstWriting Craft / TensionNarration Makeover: Creating Tension: by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsWriting Craft / World-BuildingWorldbuilding: Civilizations Thrive in Adverse Environments: @EleanorKonik @mythicscribesWriting Tools / AppsTrello for Authors: @AmongTheZombies @LitReactor

 

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Fitting Platform Building into a Busy Life

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Although writing is the most important thing, there's always promo and platform building lurking in the background. And, for most of us, it's hard to find the time to fit it in when we're already juggling life and writing.

Obviously, if you have to choose between writing and promo, choose writing. At least, that's always been my choice. It definitely does help to have more than one book for sale.

But if you're able to do a bit more, here are some tips for fitting platform building into a hectic life: 

Carefully pick social media platforms: Being on all the social media platforms is a rookie mistake, but one many of us have made. It's never good to spread yourself too thin. It's just too difficult to make an impact on all the platforms. Better to pick a couple that you really feel you could become at home on and focus your limited time on those.

Brainstorm social media content: Instead of leaving ideas up to the minute you're posting and then trying to force them, try brainstorming a bunch of post ideas at one time and keeping a list of them in a document. You can use posts like this one from Sandra Beckwith to help you plan.

Schedule social media:  Schedule ahead so that you can stay on top of your social media during busier times.  Use a free program like HootSuite to use a single dashboard for all your social media sites.

Batch tasks: I've learned that batching tasks is really helpful in terms of focus and productivity.  When you have time to work on promo, try doing one particular task. Write five blog posts or create a couple of weeks worth of social media updates. Doing this helps to get into the zone and makes it go faster.

Assign certain tasks on certain days: Sometimes it's easier to keep up with platform building and social media updating if you put it on the calendar and try to make it particular days of the week. Maybe Wednesdays can be the day for creating social media content or Fridays can be the day you update your blog.

Put your website in your email signature: This is such a basic, small thing that it can be easily overlooked. But including your website in your email signature is a great, passive, way to let people know you're a writer and to offer an opportunity to learn more.

Keep Back Matter Updated:  This is another passive way to get traffic to your book page. Make sure your back matter in your books includes a list of your books and your website and contact information.

This is how I keep on top of the chore of platforms and promo, but I'd love to hear how you fit it into your schedule. Any tips?

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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 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 / MiscellaneousFive Things to Consider Before Freelancing Full Time: @IndianaLee3 @DIYMFALessons Learned from Author Mistakes, Setbacks, and Failures: @OrnaRoss @thecreativepenn @IndieAuthorALLIThe attention span of your audience: @DanBlankFreelancing: How to Use Google Alerts to Get Assignments and Build Your Career: @rcarrington2004 @hopeclarkAccountability groups for editors and proofreaders: @LouiseHarnby3 Reasons to Disagree with an Editor: @LoriHatcher2 @A3writersSelf-publishing News: The Sale of Wattpad: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIWhat to expect when you work with a freelance editor: @NathanBransfordConferences and Events / MiscellaneousFrankfurt' Publishers Training Program Returns to Taipei's Book Exhibition: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSerbia’s publishers lead the West’s presence at Iran’s First Virtual Tehran International Book Fair: @thenewpubstd6 Unique Literary Festivals for Adventurous Authors (Some for Post-Pandemic Life): @dkparsonswriter @SelfPubFormComing Friday: Italy's 2021 Mauri Booksellers' School Seminar: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe Netherlands' ‘Renew the Book' Names Its 2021 Longlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesMonique Roffey Wins the UK's Costa 2020 Book of the Year Award: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @CostaBookAwardsItalian Picture Book ‘Telephone Tales' Wins the 2021 Batchelder Award: @Porter_Anderson @ALALibrary @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingSetting Self-Care Goals: @DebraEckerlingCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationHow to Make a Vision Board Online: @BrynDonovanCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersThe Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2021: @mollsotov89 @CrimeReads7 Books That Prove You're Not the Only Weirdo: @kellyconaboy @ElectricLit5 Psychological Thrillers You Should Read This January: @RealLiveCritic @CrimeReadsFive Novels About the World After the End of the World: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomWhy All Writers Should Read in Translation: @lqtang @ReedsyHQ10 Books to Anticipate in 2021: @EmmanuelNataf @reedsyThe Long, Dark Legacy of William Hjortsberg’s Supernatural Neo-Noirs: @Pulpcurry @CrimeReadsCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingQuick Fix for Writers: To-Do Lists: Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer's BlockHow Have You Overcome Writers Block? @alexandercheeCreativity and Inspiration / SuccessSecrets of Successful Authors: by Susan E. Brooks @A3writersCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeWhy Writers Should Take More Risks This Year: @colleen_m_story“Sherlock Holmes, Professor Moriarty, and Me”: @DavidCorbett_CA @WriterUnboxedWhy Survival Skills Are So Important For a Writer: @NedHickson @TheRyanLanz7 Tips to Writing in 2021: @cyallowitzOn Being a Chick Who Writes Lit: @SarahArcherM @WomenWriters5 strategies for cultivating hope this year: by Jacqueline S. Mattis @ConversationUS5 Things Every Writer Needs to Thrive: by Lori FreelandTyping and Handwriting: Benefits of Both: @mindofkyleam @ProWritingAidGenres / HistoricalHow to Plot History in a Historical Novel: @plotwhispererGenres / HorrorThe Art of Stabbing: An Introduction to Horror Cross Stitch: @EldritchGirl @TorNightfireGenres / HumorOn Using Humor in Fiction: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsGenres / MemoirHow To Write Your Memoir: @youfirstwriterHow to write a memoir about difficult times: @Roz_MorrisGenres / MysteryPsychological Suspense Settings: @DebbieBabitt @BooksThatThrillTips for Clues, Red Herrings, and Breadcrumbs: from Aye, WriteCrime Writing: The Clandestine and Convoluted World of the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System: @LeeLofland @ahitchcockmmGenres / Non-FictionHow to Structure Your Nonfiction Book: @annkroekerGenres / ScreenwritingScreenwriting Tips: 8 Big Ideas (that Apply to Novels Too) : @nownovelGenres / Short StoriesWrite Better Short Stories: @AJHumpagePromo / Book ReviewsProfessional Reviews: Pitching for Them: by Keri-Rae Barnum @JFbookmanPromo / PlatformsWhat You Need for Author Platform in 2021: @kikimojoPromo / Social Media TipsGoodreads Dumps Twitter Functionality: @thebookdad @LitReactorPromo / WebsitesTwelve Tricks for Amazing Author Websites: @Bookgal @BowkerPublishing / MiscellaneousNew Initiative Brings African Literature into the IPA-UN SDG Book Club: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThree Authors' Associations Address Status of Audible Talks: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAAP Reelects Wiley CEO Brian Napack as Chair: @Porter_Anderson @bnapack @pubperspectives @AmericanPublish @HachetteUSThe Parts of a Book (And How to Get Them Right): @JerryBJenkinsPublishing / News / DataAAP's StatShot Report: US Trade Sales Up 34.5 Percent in November: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingRights Professionals Eye Spring/Summer 2021 Buzz Books from the US: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesRights Roundup: Elephants, Mice, Aliens, and Agatha Christie: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesWhat Does Brexit Mean for Indie Authors? Self-Publishing News Podcast @agnieszkasshoes @Howard_Lovy @IndieAuthorALLIUkrainian Publishers Eye ‘Disastrous' Industry Numbers From 2020: by Eugene Gerden @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Self-PublishingShow Me the Money: Royalties, Rights & Riches for Indie Authors: @erikaliodice @WriterUnboxedPublishing / Process / Book DesignTravel Guide Cover Design Case Study: Frommer’s: @BirdsOAFpressPublishing / Process / Services to AvoidPublishing Scammers to Watch Out for in the New Year: @annerallenWriting Craft / Characters / AntagonistsHow Can I Make My Villain Ruthless Without Being Insensitive? by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsWriting Craft / Characters / Arc5 Steps to Writing Compelling Character Arcs: @writingcookbookWriting Craft / Common MistakesWriters: Avoid these Common Writing Mistakes: @youfirstwriterWriting Craft / Drafts3 Steps to Crafting a Stronger First Draft: @Janice_HardyWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmThe storytelling secrets of ‘The Queen’s Gambit’: @Andy_MaslenHow To Use Emily Dickinson's 4 Super Simple Writing Techniques: by Oliver Fox @Writers_WriteWriting Craft / MiscellaneousRelationship Thesaurus Entry: Co-Workers: @beccapuglisiCrafting Your Story's Shadow: by Victoria R. Girmonde @StoryGridUnderstanding the Mirror Moment: @SeptCFawkesHow to Effectively Manage Multiple Narrators in Your Novel: @KenBrosky @JaneFriedmanWriting Craft / POVPoint Of View Errors: How To Spot And Fix Them: @KMAllan_writerWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Research7 Questions for an Espionage Pro: @PiperBayardWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Story ConceptHow to Find Your Story: @MiraReisbergWriting Craft / RevisionSelf-Editing Your Novel for Readability: by JoEllen Nordstrom @ProWritingAidWriting Craft / Revisions / CritiquesHow Not to Take Critiques Personally: Why Critiques Upset Us: by Christine Carron @annerallenWriting Craft / ScenesHow to Choose Scenes for Your Story: by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsChoosing the Right Scenes to Go in the Right Places: @LiveWriteThriveScene Analysis: Value Shifts in Characters: @abigailkperry @DIYMFAWriting Craft / Series / Series BibleTips to Create a Series Bible: @SueColetta1 @killzoneauthorsWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionStaging the Scene: Giving a Story a More Cinematic Feel: @JohnJKelley @WriterUnboxedWriting Craft / TensionHow to Ratchet Up the (Necessary) Tension in Your Book: @writeabookWriting Craft / VoiceFive Ways To Develop Voice: @10minnovelistWriting Tools / MiscellaneousWhat Is My Novel About? by Marilynn ByerlyWriting Tools / Resources30 Essential Websites & Web Apps For Writers: @officialajc @Writers_Write

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Quick Fix: To-Do Lists

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

2020 was a tough year for most of us and sometimes the writing didn't come as easily to me as it usually does. It didn't mean that I stopped writing and gave in to it, though. I tried different approaches (one of them, working in longhand, I talked about in this December post. ) Some of my favorite workarounds for getting stuck didn't work so well in 2020…getting out of the house and working in a coffee shop or the library, for instance.

One thing that did help me out was a very simple tool: the basic to-do list.

I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner, since I'm something of a list fanatic. I use them daily for everything from taking care of the pets, running errands, and tracking word count and social media tasks. I've also used them for fitting writing into short periods of free time.  Lists also help me with layering different book elements in or tackling revision.  I've written about tips for better list-making, too.

Lists help me stay organized but they also help with overwhelm. And writing a book while handling everything life throws at us can definitely be overwhelming.

So I decided to apply my list-making to my story since I was feeling overwhelmed by it.

This wasn't like my outlining process. I already had a working outline that I was going off of. And it wasn't quite like my mini-outlines, either, that I use for picking up with my story quickly the next day.  This was more like getting me through the next few pages and quickly covering what I needed to do to get myself there.

It looked a little like this: 

Georgia finishes talking about Sterling and Fletcher.

Posy says things have been so quiet at home with Cork gone.

Bonnie comes in like a whirlwind and acts like her previous conversation with Beatrice didn't happen.

Transition occurs: Days pass. Wyatt is asked by Petunia's family to officiate at the funeral.

It was sort of like bullet notes on a to-do list. The problem it fixed is that where my outline may have vague spots, the above list gives more of a concrete direction for me to head in for the next writing session.

Have you worked through any writing issues lately? Any tips for the rest of us?

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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 57,000 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 / Miscellaneous4 Top Tips To Become A Full-Time Freelance Writer: by Frankie Wallace @Bang2writeThe Cost of Creativity: Why You Should Pay to Write: @youfirstwriterHow I built my career – writer, typesetter and editor Amie McCracken: @amiemccracken @Roz_MorrisFrom literary journal to 10 books a year: @MsBessieBell @Roz_MorrisFinancial Considerations for Writers: @DIYMFASecuring Audiobook Rights: The Rights You Need to Bring Your Audiobook to Market: @MattKnightBooks @JaneFriedmanConferences and Events / MiscellaneousUS National Book Award Program Announces Spring Season: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives‘Crisis and Changes': Insights From Beijing OpenBook Conference: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesLondon Book Fair's International Excellence Awards: Deadline Friday: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBritish Academy Opens 2021 Al-Rodhan Prize Submissions: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSheikh Zayed Book Award Adds Five Languages to Its Site: @Porter_Anderson UK: TS Eliot Prize's Shortlisted Poets Set for Digital Readings @Porter_Anderson : @pubperspectivesWales' Dylan Thomas Prize 2021 Longlist Includes Nine Debuts: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAAP PROSE Awards: The 2021 Category Finalists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingHow You Really Can Achieve Your Goals (and Have Fun Doing It) : @ChadRAllen4 Strategic Actions for a Productive Writing Year: @LiveWriteThriveA New Year's Resolution for Writers: @KateRiordanUK @thenovelryHow to Use Last Year’s Failed Writing Goals as Tools For New Year Success: @BirdsOAFpressCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers43 Books By Women of Color to Read in 2021: @rokwon @ElectricLitIntellectuals as Elements in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergRisky Behavior in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergFive Space-Based Murder Mysteries: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomFive Tense Books That Blend Sci-Fi and Horror: @AKLarkwood @tordotcom“I tried “the Netflix of books.” It was not the Netflix of books.” by Walker Caplan @lithubSelf-Protectiveness as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergSix Perfectly Alluring Academic Mysteries: @EdwinHillauthor @CrimeReadsCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingBuilding Up Your Writing Habit: @LexC666 @NaNoWriMoWriting Schedule Hacks (How Major Authors Got Going): @nownovelHow To Do A Weekly Review: Step-by-Step: @BryanJCollinsFrom Chaos to Creativity: Productivity For Writers: @jkwak @thecreativepennCreativity and Inspiration / SuccessFind Success As A Writer By Focusing Your Energies: @great_grackleCreativity and Inspiration / Writing Life7 Tips for Keeping a Journal: @woodwardkarenHow To Gain Confidence In Writing: 7 Quick And Easy Tips: @BryanJCollinsOn Writing What You DON’T know: @sl_penner @WomenWritersHow To Write An Affirmation: In 6 Steps: @BryanJCollinsHow To Be A Writer: @oliviablacke @WomenWritersMorning pages (and variations): @austinkleonReturning to Writing After a Break: Tips: Tips for Presenting Your Best Work as a Writer: @CindyDevoted @EdieMelson7 Writing Lessons Learned in 2020: @KMWeilandWriting When Life Interrupts: @Lindasclare25 Things Learned From a Decade of Podcasts: @RyanHolidayBraving the Personal Essay In Spite of My Inner Critic: @aprildavilaHow being observed helps you write: @beprolifikoStaying True to Yourself after Publication: @ErinLBartels @WomenWritersWriting Habits: 9 No-Burnout Practices During a Recession: @TiceWrites“10 Things I Learned Live Streaming the Writing of My 50K Word NaNoWriMo Novel”: @AmongTheZombies @LitReactorA Lexicographer: “Emoji Time is Meaningless”: @janesolomon @EmojipediaThe comfort of a pencil: @austinkleonGenres / FantasySeven Flying Fantasy Creatures (That Aren’t Dragons): by Stubby the Rocket @tordotcomMagic In Writing: @GretaKKelly @WomenWritersGenres / MiscellaneousBook Genre: Why Figuring Out Your Genre Will Help Your Story Succeed: by Joslyn Chase @write_practiceWhy Your Next Culinary Book is in a Magazine Pitch: @AmandaPolick @DIYMFAGenres / MysterySleuthing the Clues in Staged Homicides: @KatRamslandBlackmail in Fiction: by Richard Schneider @BooksThatThrillCrime Fiction and Violence: @CarlaHoch @WritersDigestGenres / RomanceTips for Writing Healthy Romantic Relationships: from SandyDragonPromo / Book ReviewsGet Book Reviews: Find New Audiences: @BethBarany @JFbookmanPromo / Metadata4 Ways Keyword Research Helps You Sell More Books: @DaveChesson @NinaAmirPromo / MiscellaneousBook Discovery Services Can Help You Find Readers: @dre_calPromo / PlatformsWhat is Considered a Strong Author Platform These Days? @RachelleGardnerPublishing / MiscellaneousReflections on the 2020 American Market in Book Sales and Deals: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesOxford University Press Puts Its Full ‘World Classics' List Online: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesMelinda Gates Donates US$250,000 to New Carol Shields Prize for Fiction: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCanada's Wattpad Announces It's Being Acquired by South Korea's Naver: @Porter_Anderson @wattpadNonfiction: US Politics Opens a New Year of Publishing Controversy: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesInterview: Wattpad CEO Allen Lau on the Merger with Naver: @Porter_Anderson @allenlau @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingSweden’s Nextory confirms Norway launch for April/May: @thenewpubstdUS publisher Rowman & Littlefield aims for international digital growth: @thenewpubstdUAE's Emirates Fest Tickets On Sale; Canada's Hebb Grants Open: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Self-PublishingAmazon Self-Publishing: a Guide to Kindle Direct Publishing: @LeahWritesStuff @thewritelifePublishing / Options / Traditional PublishingWhy Traditional Publishing Takes So Long: @ShanDitty @GoTeenWritersPublishing / Process / DistributionThe Indie Author's Ultimate Guide to Book Distribution: @IndieAuthorALLIPublishing / Process / Services to AvoidAttack of the Fake Literary Agencies: West Literary Agency, Stellar Literary Press and Media: @victoriastraussWriting Craft / BeginningsFirst Page Critique: Outbreak: @ClareLangleyH @killzoneauthorsHow To Write An Epic First Scene: @MiaJouBotha @Writers_WriteHow to capture your readers from the get-go: @SHalvatzisWriting Craft / Characters / ProtagonistsHow to Portray a Vengeful Hero: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsWriting Craft / ConflictAn Easy Way to Create Conflict in Your Novel: @Janice_HardyWriting Craft / Drafts15 Ways To Edit A First Draft: @officialajc @Writers_WriteWriting Craft / Endings4 Essentials of Unforgettable Endings: @LMacNaughtonWriting Craft / Literary DevicesMultiple Themes in a Story: @writingandsuchMood Is The Most Underrated Literary Device — And The Most Valuable: by Kelly Jensen @BookTribWriting Craft / MiscellaneousCrafting Convergence: @SeptCFawkesWhat Are Clichés and Why Should I Avoid Them? @Writers_Write5 Crucial Tips For Writing Plot Twists: by Desiree Villena @ReedsyHQ @Nicholas_RossisPractice = Professional: @SPressfieldThe End May Only Be the Beginning: Infusing New Life Into Your Fiction: @JoePonepinto @JaneFriedmanBlocking: Moving People Through a Scene: @justinairelandWriting Craft / POVShould your book be first person, third person (or even second)? Ep48 FREE podcast for writers: @Roz_MorrisWriting Craft / Revisions / CritiquesAre You Looking for a Critique Group or Partner? @Janice_HardyWriting Craft / ScenesUnderstanding active and passive scenes: @pubcoachHow To Make Your Scenes More Cinematic: @10minnovelist5 Ways to Fix a Stalled Scene in Your Novel: @Janice_HardyWriting Craft / TropesStory Tropes: To Avoid or Not to Avoid? @JamiGoldWriting Tools / MiscellaneousRead a Word Doc on Kindle: @WordDreamsThe Best Writing Tool You’ve Never Heard Of: @Dario_CirielloWriting Tools / ResourcesThe 100 Best Websites for Writers in 2021: @thewritelife

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Returning to Writing After a Break

by Elizabeth Spann Craig, @elizabethscraig

2020 was a difficult year for all of us. I wrapped up my own difficult year with my father's death last month. I immediately stopped everything else I was doing and went to South Carolina to be with my mother who was devastated after losing her husband after 51 years of marriage. Aside from missing Daddy, a retired high school English teacher and college adjunct who was a major positive influence on me and my work, there was a lot of business surrounding his passing to attend to.

I didn't write. I was too exhausted to do it and way too knocked off my regimen in another state and with a completely different routine there.

Two weeks passed there and I felt . . . awful.

Besides missing Daddy and trying to come to terms with his death, the thing that bothered me most was the fact I hadn't written. I missed it. I missed my characters and the world I'd made up with them in it. My days just felt wrong.

My kids asked me when I'd last gone two weeks without writing and I had to think about it.  2007? 2002? Before my 19-year-old daughter was born? At any rate, a very long time ago.

Two weeks might not seem like much time. I totally understand that…others have great writing schedules where they do all their work on their project a few days out of the month. It's whatever works best for us…that's the right way to tackle writing. But for someone who writes every day as part of their process, two weeks felt like an eternity.

As soon as I returned home, and despite it being a couple of days before Christmas, I hesitantly opened my Word document. Here are my tips for doing so, if you have a longer-than-usual break from writing (whether it's a year, a month, or a few days) and are trying to return to your story.

Tips for Returning to Your Story After a Break

Take a clearly defined break. Maybe you realize you're not ready to take your story on yet. It can help to mark on your calendar the day you do want to delve into writing again.

Take it easy.  Be forgiving of yourself and your efforts. Make sure self-care is a priority as you're trying to pick your project back up. Hydrate, sleep, take walks.

Set the bar low.  You're probably not going to immediately return to your previous daily word-count. Better to set a very low temporary goal. Think about starting at just 5 minutes.

Consider re-reading what you've written. This is usually something I never do (because I end up feeling discouraged about my story or I jump into edit mode). But I needed to read at least the last few pages over to be sure I knew where I was picking up with my outline.

Use writing sprints.  Sprints, either joining one on YouTube or doing one on your own with a timer, can be a great way to fit writing in. It helps knowing there's a relatively short window you're trying to stay focused in.

Adhere to your routine. Routines are everything to me. It's what makes writing muscle memory most of the time. For me, this is getting up at the same time every morning, letting the dog out, getting some water, and sitting down to write. Falling back into your usual schedule can help.

Or, conversely, don’t. And find a new one.  You may find, however, that, for whatever reason, your old routine isn't working any longer. Experiment with a new one until you find a writing ritual that does.

I'm hoping we all have a better 2021! Have you had any unexpected breaks from writing? How have you gotten back into it again?

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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 57,000 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 / MiscellaneousWriting In An Age Of Artificial Intelligence (AI): @thecreativepennWho is Making Your Creative Decisions? @BookEndsJessica @bookendslitRoyalties: What One Writer Made, Once Upon One Time: @katmagendie @WriterUnboxedA Beginner’s Guide to Amazon Pre-Orders: @Bookgal @JaneFriedmanCopyright Law And Blockchain For Authors And Publishers In An Age Of Artificial Intelligence: @thecreativepenn10 Writing Lessons We Learned from 2020: @PaulaSMunier @CareerAuthorsPlanning Ahead for a Creative and Productive Year in Your Author Business: @OrnaRoss @thecreativepenn @IndieAuthorALLIWhat’s In an Edit? @JoanHallWrites @StoryEmpireConferences and Events / Miscellaneous7 Virtual Book Events That Helped Us Get Through 2020: @AnnGarvin_ @BookTribUK: Translator Kay Heikkinen wins the 2020 Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives‘US Book Fair' Set for a May Debut Following BookExpo's Closure: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSpringer Nature CEO Vrancken Peeters on Gold Open Access: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBook Aid International's Year: 867,567 Books to 19 Countries: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives2020 Costa Book Awards Names Its Three Short Story Finalists: @Porter_Anderson @thenovelry @tessa_sheridan @CostaBookAwards @pubperspectivesIndustry Notes: Short Story Awards in Spain and the United Kingdom: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCBC's Canada Reads Program Announces its 2021 Shortlist of Books: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesConferences and Events / NaNoWriMoWhat To Do With Your Nanowrimo Project Now: @10minnovelistCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingSetting Goals for A Well-Rounded Future: @MichaelHyattNew year, new writing goals (that you'll actually keep): @TheWriterMagHow to Get Clear on Your Writing Goals for 2021: @lornafaithHow to Set Goals You’ll Actually Achieve: @MichaelHyattCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationWhat Is Dreamzoning? (7 Steps to Finding New Story Ideas): @KMWeilandHow to Restart Stalled Creativity the Easy Way: @HowellWave @StoryEmpireCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Quotes25 Top Motivational Writing Quotes: @BryanJCollinsCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersAmbiguity as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinberg5 Books That Are Pulpy in All the Right Ways: by James S. Murray @tordotcomFive of the Greatest Ambiguous Endings in Crime Fiction: @CazziF @CrimeReadsTen Chilling Thrillers to Read During The Coming Storms: @AliceBooks333 @CrimeReads“8 Young Adult Novels in Verse that Brought Me Back to Life in 2020”: by Shea Martin @ElectricLitThe Best Crime and Mystery Criticism of 2020 : @CrimeReadsTrust No One: 9 Cases of Unreliable Narrators: by Cameron Kimball @BookTribThe Best Historical Fiction of 2020: @CrimeReadsThe Best International Crime Novels of 2020: @CrimeReadsWhy Kids Under Pressure Make for Great Thrillers: @harriet_tyce @CrimeReadsIs Speed Reading Efficient for Writers? @GarryRodgers1 @killzoneauthors10 Books to Keep You Warm This Winter: @kristywharvey @BookTribFive Stories Driven by a Disregard for Basic Safety: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomReading Is More Important Than Writing: @carissaannlynch @WomenWritersCreativity and Inspiration / MotivationGetting Past The Blank Page: @SurfCityJamesCreativity and Inspiration / Writing Life100-day Practice and Suck Less Challenge: @austinkleonHow Writing Has Changed Over the Years: @AbbyVandiver @WomenWritersTranslating Silence: by Rheea Mukherjee @WriterUnboxedCharles Baxter on Creating Wonderland Fiction with the Help of (Fictional) Drugs: @lithubDon't ever ask somebody whether you should keep writing: @NathanBransfordWriting and Wellness: Can Your Computer Make You Feel Dizzy? @colleen_m_storyHonoring Your Creative Muse: @LisaTenerHow to Let Go of a Book You’ve Been Writing for Twenty Years: @AaronGilbreath @lithubBuilding Your Writer Support Network: @jlturchinA Simple Way to Sift Ideas and Choose the Best Ones: @Peter_Rey_The Ten Biggest Literary Stories of the Year: @knownemily @lithub4 Bad Writing Habits: @pubcoachHow to Deal with Post-Writing Depression: by Bucket SilerHealthy Habits to Boost Your Writing: by Connor Swenson @WrittenWordMPractice with a Purpose: @jamesscottbellFinding Your Authentic Writer Self: @TashaSeegmillerWhen the Work Writes Itself: Nurturing the Automatic Writer: @jcbaggott @WriterUnboxed10 Strategies to Develop Better Habits in 2021: @RyanHoliday3 Words To Help You Thrive in 2021: by Fae RowenYou’re Never Too Old to Launch a Writing Career: @AnitaRamirez3 @DIYMFAGenres / HorrorThe 10 Best International Horror Films of 2020: @DanielKurlansky @BDisgustingGenres / MiscellaneousIt Isn’t Genre That Matters—It’s Story. @claremackint0sh @CrimeReadsGenres / MysteryCo-writing Cozy Mysteries with Chelsea Thomas: @ArtConnectsUsSerial Killers in Novels: by Birgitte Märgen @BooksThatThrillWhy the Serial Killer Novel Is the New Feminist Fiction: @chelseagsummers @CrimeReadsCrime Thriller vs Mystery: @GeorgiaEBrown1 @BooksThatThrillGenres / PoetryHow to Write a Poem: In 7 Practical Steps: @themaltesetigerGenres / ScreenwritingScreenwriting: Page One: ‘Psycho’ (1960): @GoIntoTheStoryHow Do Dual Protagonists Function In Screenwriting? 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by Michael Lee Simpson @CreativeScreenGood Storytelling: Give Your Characters Something to Die For: @woodwardkarenWriting Craft / Diversity“8 Growing Pains I had while Learning to Edit Equitably”: by Megan Taylor MorrisonWriting Craft / DraftsHow to Move From First Draft to Second Draft to Publishable Book: @GuerillaMemoir @JaneFriedmanWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmLessons From Shakespeare: How to Survive a Pandemic with Humor: @AllieEsiri @lithubWriting Craft / Literary DevicesHow to Use Rhetorical Devices Like Taylor Swift: @chrtucci @libby_bushill @ProWritingAidWriting Craft / MiscellaneousFixing a Sagging Middle in Your Novel: @KayKeppler @BethBarany3 Ways to Make Your Writing Come Alive: @Janice_HardyHow Long Should Your Story Be? @richardgthomas3 @LitReactorWriting for Children is more than Just Child’s Play: @lomace @WomenWritersCharacters or Story – Which Comes First? @KarenCVEvery Writer Needs Sharper Tools: by PJ Parrish @killzoneauthorsHow to write for younger readers: @StephT2000 @mikebmann @CynthiaMurphyYATips for Writing a Great Story: @MoonlightingWriHow To Make A Google Map For Your Book: @StephMorrill @GoTeenWritersTips for Better Storytelling: @woodwardkarenA Theory of Story: What Makes it Real: @woodwardkarenHow and Why You Should Consolidate Your Story: by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsWriting Craft / Pacing7 Essential Techniques For Better Pacing In Your Story: by Oliver Fox @Writers_WriteWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting7 Plot Structures for Pantsers: @johnpwriterWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Story BeatsAtomic Storytelling: Developing Effective Story Beats: @kristen_kiefferWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept3 Proving Questions for Big Ideas: @davidfarlandWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarEnding a Sentence With a Preposition: @GrammarGirlWriting Craft / Revisions / CritiquesSpinach in a Writer’s Teeth: To Point it out, or not to Point it Out? @sanderling12Writing Craft / Settings and DescriptionWriting Descriptions: 3 Tips to Strengthen and Enliven Your Story's Stilted Paragraphs: by J. D. Edwin @write_practiceHow to use setting in your fiction writing: @ReadAlessandra @AuthorsAi

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