Riley Adams's Blog, page 54
January 26, 2020
Using Facebook Notes for Excerpts
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I’m trying to be a little more active on Facebook…not because I enjoy the platform, but because so many of my readers are there.
I read a BookBub post a while back that I’d bookmarked. It involved using Facebook for promotion and nothing mentioned seemed extremely time-consuming. One of the ideas mentioned in the article was to use the Facebook notes feature to publish an excerpt from your book. The post said Debbie Macomber was a great example of an author using this approach well.
I decided to give it a go in November about a week before my release day. But it wasn’t as intuitive a process as I’d thought it would be. The notes feature on a personal profile is easy enough to find, but as a page, I was baffled and it took me a ridiculous 30 minutes to figure it out. I thought I’d detail the steps I took below in case anyone else ends up as confused as I was.
First off, I read up on some of the best practices for businesses using the notes feature. The different articles I read recommended that the add the “notes tab” to our page’s list of featured tabs so readers could find our notes easily (you can see this in action with Debbie Macomber’s notes in the link above).
Go to your page’s dashboard.
The first mistake I made was to go into settings from my home page. Nope. This leads to an entirely different settings menu, little did I know. First, go to your dashboard (I did this by clicking on my notifications tab) and then click settings on the far right.
Click Templates and Tabs:
Add the new tab (at the bottom of the page that pops up). Reorder the tabs, if you want (you do that by clicking, holding, and dragging the horizontal lines on the left).
Go back to your page’s home page and click on the new notes tab
Click “add note” in the top-right
Put in a header. I designed this one on Canva in minutes (free account)
Put in a title and use styles, if you like (if you hover over the paragraph symbol, the styles will pop up)
Consider adding some links at the end (I also hyperlinked the title):
You end up with something like this:
This is definitely something I’ll repeat again. For one, the post got good engagement. For another, it was an un-obnoxious way to point out that my release was coming in a week.
Have you shared excerpts online? Do you use Facebook notes? What promo-related things have you been working on?
Using Facebook Notes for Excerpts:
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January 25, 2020
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 50,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.
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 / Miscellaneous
Freelance Writing: How to Create a Writing Portfolio That’ll Wow Potential Clients: @kmackewrites
How to Become a Travel Writer: @erichansontv @joebunting
The Current State and Future of Goodreads: by Steph Coelho @BookRiot
LinkedIn Tied to Book Piracy: @burke_writer @killzoneauthors
Writers – how to find the editor that’s right for you: @Roz_Morris
How to Interview a Writer: @jennamoreci
How to Find the Right Nonfiction Editor in 7 Foolproof Steps: @ReedsyHQ
Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous
Bologna Publishers’ Prize Has January 31 Deadline; ‘Comics Corner’ New This Year: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
IBPA Announces James Daunt as Keynote Speaker at April Conference: @Porter_Anderson @angelabole @pubperspectives
The British Academy’s 2020 Al-Rodhan Prize Opens; Wright Leads Jury: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Wales in India: Dylan Thomas Prize Longlist Announced at Jaipur Festival: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration
How to Improve Your Writing – with Writing Prompts: by Lucia Tang @ReedsyHQ @KristinaAuthor
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers
5 Fictional Books Based on Real Folklore: @SheaErnshaw @tordotcom
7 Choose-Your-Own-Escapade Books for Adults: @theillustrious @ElectricLit
Six Mafia Classics You Won’t Want to Miss: by Sean Rea @CrimeReads
Martha Grimes Has Plenty of Style: @mollsotov89 @CrimeReads
The Most Terrifying Home Invasions in Fiction: @mjseidlinger @CrimeReads
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly
5 Ideas to Help You Write More Words: @createastorylov
Tips for Improving Productivity: from Just a Writing Aid
Challenge Yourself Year Round: @DebraEckerling
Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life
“10 Movies I Wish Had Novelizations”: @Gabino_Iglesias
How to Tackle Your Writing Confidence Issues: @katiemccoach
Overthinking, As a Writer: @grantdraws
Linguistic Interventions (Et Tu, Bayer?): @Porter_Anderson @WriterUnboxed
Start before you think you’re ready: @austinkleon
Do you let these writing lies get in the way of your writing? @TheLeighShulman
Writing Tips: How To Write Your Darkness: with David Wright @thecreativepenn
Why Writers Should Trust Their Intuition: @LiveWriteThrive
How Do I Break Out of a Rut? by Oren Ashkenazi
Surviving Trauma Through Horror: @JamieAWrites @xmorbidbeautyx
The Complicated Role of the Modern Public Library: by Jennifer Howard @NEHgov
When You Write Your Worst Fears in Your Novel—And Then They Come True: @ambercowie @CrimeReads
Genres / Memoir
Write a Great Memoir: How to Start (and Actually Finish) Your First Draft: @joebunting @write_practice
How to Write Your Memoir Like a Novel: @KMWeiland
3 Tips on How to Bring Your Memoir Together: @SueBEdwards @womenonwriting
Genres / Miscellaneous
List of Fiction Genres, With Word Counts and Examples: @BrynDonovan
Genres / Mystery
7 International True Crime Podcasts You Should Be Listening To: by Paul French @CrimeReads
3 Cyber Crime Clichés That Will Kill Your Writing: @DGregScott @Bang2write
Genres / Non-Fiction
Match Your Nonfiction Writing Approach to Your Content: @kswiberg @IndieAuthorALLI
3 Ways to Make Your Nonfiction Article Pitch Stand Out: @robertleebrewer
Genres / Poetry
Big Data vs. Big Dada: Writing Poetry on Demand at a New Orleans Tech Convention: @Ben_poetforhire @lithub
Promo / Ads
How to Analyze Your Facebook Ad Performance: 9 Ways: by Dmitry Dragilev @SMExaminer
Promo / Blogging
This Is How To Write A Blog Post People Read: @BadRedheadMedia
Promo / Book Reviews
Ten Tips for Handling Bad Book Reviews: @AlexJCavanaugh @TheIWSG
How to Reach Out to Reviewers: a Publicist’s Guide: @KimberleyGrabas
Promo / Miscellaneous
“How I Had My Best Book Launch Ever (and You Can, Too)”: @KristinaAuthor @IndieAuthorALLI
35 Fantastic BookBub Author Profile Examples: @DianaUrban @BookBub
Finding and Using Competing Book Titles in your Book Marketing: @Bookgal @annerallen
Promo / Social Media Tips
4 Tips on How to Get Noticed on Twitter: An Indie Author’s Guide: @Bookgal @IndieReader
Promo / Speaking
Business Musings: Public Speaking: @KristineRusch
6 Tips for Securing Speaking Engagements as a Self-Published Author: @KarenAChase @JaneFriedman
A Game Plan for How to Nail Your Next Reading: @gigirosenberg @JaneFriedman
Promo / Websites
Thoughts on a Website Redesign: @DanBlank
Publishing / Miscellaneous
Helena Kennedy Stepping Down from the UK’s Booker Foundation: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
PEN America Warns Proposed Missouri Bill Could Imprison Librarians: @Porter_Anderson @PENamerica @pubperspectives
Why We Need Contemporary War Fiction Written by Women: @PatFurstenberg @WomenWriters
On Both Sides of the Divide, Political Books Are Soaring: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
10 Publishing Industry Trends Every Author Needs to Know in 2020: @claytonnoblit @WrittenWordM
‘Cambridge Shakespeare’ Is Open Online: ‘The Words and Worlds’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Penguin Random House Exits International Unlimited Subscriptions, Fueling Speculation: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Publishing / News / Data
These are the 10 best-selling books of the past decade: @knownemily @lithub
Publishing / News / International Publishing
China Bestsellers December 2019: The Year of the Rat: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
IPA Protests 2020 Cairo International Book Fair’s Exclusion of Tanmia: @Porter_Anderson @IntPublishers @pubperspectives
Italian Book and Newspaper Publishers Reveal Scale of Piracy: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
South Africa’s Snapplify Opens ‘Teacher Benefits’ Program: @Porter_Anderson
‘Canada Reads’: CBC’s 2020 Lineup Includes Doctorow’s ‘Radicalized’: @Porter_Anderson @cbcbooks @pubperspectives
At Davos 2020: IPA’s Bodour Al Qasimi Leads Philanthropy Forum: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying
Should I Copyright My Writing Before Submitting to Agents and Editors? @robertleebrewer @WritersDigest
Agent Spotlight Interview With Katelyn Detweiler and Query Critique Giveaway: @katedetweiler @JillGrinbergLit @NatalieIAguirre
Publishing / Process / Formatting
Preparing Your Manuscript for Publication: by Tracy R. Atkins @JFbookman
Publishing / Process / Services to Avoid
Writer Beware®: The Blog: How Predatory Companies Are Trying to Hijack Your Publisher Search: @victoriastrauss
Writing Craft / Characters / Development
Give Your Character a Dream: @jamesscottbell
Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists
How to Write Anti-Heroes: @ReedsyHQ
Writing Craft / Dialogue
How to Write Authentic Dialogue: @ScholarlyFox
Writing Craft / Drafts
What Styles of Drafting Work for You? @JamiGold
Writing Craft / Endings
How to Get the Most from Your Ending: @AJHumpage
Writing Craft / Miscellaneous
No villain, no hero: @SHalvatzis
On Writing: Why Mastery Should Matter to the Serious Author: @KristenLambTX
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Outlining
What’s a “Working Outline”? @davidfarland
How to Build an Outline: @davidfarland @ProWritingAid
Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar
3 Types of Spelling Challenges: @writing_tips
Writing Craft / Revision
Avoid These Crutch Words: by Dana Isaacson @CareerAuthors
Writing Craft / Scenes
Deborah Chester: How to Structure a Scene: @woodwardkaren
Writing Craft / Settings and Description
A Comprehensive Guide To Writing About Hair: by Sharla Rae
Writing Craft / Voice
How to Develop Your “Author’s Voice” – and How Not to: by Gordon Long @IndiesUnlimited
Writing Tools / Apps
How to Create an Outline for Your Novel in Scrivener: @SchillerRebeca @NaNoWriMo
Writing Tools / Resources
100 Best Writing Websites: 2020 Edition: @fdomiwrites @thewritelife
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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January 19, 2020
Cozy Mystery Writing: Funerals
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
You probably wouldn’t think of funerals in cozy mysteries as having an important part in the story. But I know the time I left funerals out of a mystery, a reader wrote me about it. Now it’s on my “list of series tropes to include.”
Funerals provide a few helpful elements for a cozy mystery:
Give the opportunity for the sleuth to interview suspects who might be tricky to speak with. A common problem with cozies is giving the amateur sleuth a natural opportunity to have conversations with suspects, witnesses, and others who might be able to provide information. But a funeral provides the perfect place for the sleuth to catch up with an elusive character.
Can emphasize a story’s setting and regional traditions. One of the important elements in cozies is a sense of place. A funeral or funeral reception offers the chance to showcase regional customs and food. My books are set in the American South, and funeral receptions are all about offering comfort with heavy foods (and plenty of church ladies), so food is always part of my fictional funerals.
Provide the chance for the sleuth to see how suspects interact with each other or with the local police. Not only do funerals offer the opportunity for the sleuth to naturally interact with suspects, they offer the opportunity for the sleuth to see how suspects interact with each other and the police (who are usually in attendance after suspicious deaths). Maybe there’s a terse exchange between two suspects (even more interesting if one of them ends up murdered later). Maybe one of the suspects is nervous around the police or maybe is even looking for the right chance to speak to them about a clue that’s just occurred to them. Maybe two suspects seem a lot closer or more familiar with each other than they’d indicated.
If you’re looking for anything from extra story texture to ways to further the plot of your cozy mystery, a funeral service or reception is one way to do that.
Is there a specific element in your genre that’s helpful for progressing the plot?
Why Funerals are Essential Elements for Cozy Mysteries:
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January 18, 2020
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 50,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.
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 / Miscellaneous
Make 2020 Your Year: Finding Experts Who Can Help: @AngelaAckerman
On Writing Fears, Blue Titles, And Why 6-Figure Advances Are Bad For Your Health: by PJ Parrish @killzoneauthors
Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous
DSC Prize on ‘Half the Night Is Gone’: ‘Profound in Class and Gender’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
UK Costa Book Awards: Public Voting Opens Today on Short Stories: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Writing Workshops and Conferences 2020: Requiring Early Registration: @Diana_Hurwitz
The UK’s Parliamentary Book Award Announces Delayed 2019 Shortlists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Creativity and Inspiration / Careers in Writing and Day Jobs
7 Jobs for English Majors Who Love to Write: @thewritelife
Creativity and Inspiration / First Novels
1 Writer’s Debut Journey: @monashroffwrite @WomenWriters
Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting
New Year’s Writing Resolutions You Actually Can Keep: @NinaAmir
Are Your Goals Smart Enough for 2020? @10minnovelist
How to Set Writing Goals and Plans that Work: @the_writing_pal
Taking Small Steps Toward a Big Goal:
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers
Lit Hub’s Best Books of 2019 List: @knownemily @lithub
Why the books we read as children are the ones that shape our psyche: @Gwendolyn_Smith @GuardianBooks
Best Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror of 2019: @QueenOfRats @tordotcom
8 of the Most Genuinely Terrifying Novels Ever Written: @mjseidlinger @CrimeReads
Why Penny Dreadfuls Scandalized Victorian Society—But Flew off the Shelves: @Bookish_Wendy @alicia_zaloga @CrimeReads
Five Books About Artists and the Magic of Creativity: @mstiefvater @tordotcom
The Year in Sherlock Holmes: by Lyndsay Faye @CrimeReads
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing
How to Be a More Productive Writer: A Quick Guide: @MegDowell
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly
How to Write Faster: 15 Tips Finish Your Book ASAP: @ReedsyHQ
Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life
How To Effectively Work From Home: @amanda_brown @thecreativepenn
How a Writing Mentor Can Change Your Life: @nathandeuel @lithub
23 Tips for a Zero Waste Home Office: @KMWeiland
Breathing Effectively for Writers: Reduce Anxiety and Stress: @pubcoach
Keep Running to Keep Writing: @Peter_Rey_
Managing the Writer’s Mind: @WritersTable
10 Recommendations for Good Writing Habits: by Lydia Davis @lithub
Finding Your Ideal Creative Environment: @AnneJanzer
What Is the Point of Writing? @MegDowell
5 Writing Lessons Learned in 2019: @BeingTheWriter @womenonwriting
Genres / Horror
10 Horror Books In Desperate Need of a Reprint: @helpfulsnowman @LitReactor
Genres / Memoir
How to Start Writing Your Memoir: @JerryBJenkins
Genres / Non-Fiction
What is Creative Nonfiction? Memoirs, Literary Journalism, and More: @ReedsyHQ
Genres / Picture Books
How to Publish a Children’s Book: Understanding the Different Types of Kidlit: @Write4Kids
Genres / Screenwriting
Understanding Screenwriting: Crash! Run! Invasion! Riot! by Tom Stempel @scriptmag
Screenwriting: Ten WTF-Did-I-Just-Watch? TV Episodes: by Dan Persons @tordotcom
Promo / Ads
Amazon Advertisements: Free Online Course: @DaveChesson
“How I Hit a Bestseller List with a Traditionally Published Book”: @Christinamac79 @BookBub
Promo / Blogging
How to Kill Your Blog in 5 Easy Steps: @kseniaanske
Learn How to Pitch Guest Articles @kelseyatclutch @ProWritingAid
7 Tips to Blogging: @cyallowitz
Promo / Book Descriptions and Copywriting
“5 Adjectives That Don’t Sell a Book to Me”: @NicolaAlter
Promo / Miscellaneous
How Indie Authors Can Approach the Media: @RuthBadleyPR @IndieAuthorALLI
How to Market a Book on Amazon in 7 Easy Steps: @Bookgal
Promo / Social Media Tips
7 Things to Help You Control Your Social Media Life: @EdieMelson
Promo / Websites
Refresh Your Website in 15 Minutes: @PaulineWiles
Publishing / Miscellaneous
Self-Publishing Predictions for 2020: @OrnaRoss @IndieAuthorALLI
US National Endowment: $1.2 Million for Translation, Creative Writing: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Audiobooks for Indie Authors: @DavidGaughran @Draft2Digital
London Book and Screen Week 2020: For Writers and Watchers of Television: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Publishing / News / Data
AAP’s StatShot for October: Mixed Report With a Boost in Children’s Books: @Porter_Anderson @AmericanPublish
NPD BookScan Finds Growing Self-Help Book Sales in the US: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Publishing / News / International Publishing
Wales’ International Dylan Thomas Prize Expands Its 15th Jury: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Publisher Marion Charlet in Avignon: ‘Operate Within a Niche’: @jaroslawadamows @pubperspectives
France’s Bookstore Report: A ‘Positive Assessment’ for 2019: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
IPA Seeks Presidential Pardon for Egyptian Prix Voltaire Winner Khaled Lotfy: @Porter_Anderson @IntPublishers @pubperspectives
Inaugural German Nonfiction Prize Attracts 240 Submissions: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
2019 Bestselling Books in Germany: Fiction, Nonfiction, Self-Help: @HannahSJohnson @pubperspectives
China’s Market: A 2019 Update From the OpenBook Beijing Conference: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Pitches
Information about the upcoming (Wednesday) IWSG Twitter Pitch: #IWSGPit @TheIWSG
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying
Why Do Literary Agents Take So Long to Respond to Submissions? @robertleebrewer @WritersDigest
The Author Bio in Your Nonfiction Query: @BookEndsJessica
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Rejections
5 Reminders For Writers Experiencing Rejection: @StephMorrill @GoTeenWriters
Don’t Let Rejection Derail You: @AndreaMerrell
Publishing / Process / Book Design
The 50 Best Children’s Book Covers of 2019: @ReedsyHQ
Book Covers Ideas Every Author Can Learn From [32 Examples]: @DaveChesson
Publishing / Process / Formatting
Preparing Your Manuscript for Publication: by Tracy R. Atkins @JFbookman
Publishing / Process / Self-Publishing
Indie Authors and Creative Self-Publishing: @OrnaRoss @IndieAuthorALLI
Writing Craft / Beginnings
How To Invest Readers in Your Story: First Page Critique: @SueColetta1 @killzoneauthors
How do you Start a Chapter in a Novel? 10 Examples: @nownovel
An Agent on Beginning Sentences: @Janet_Reid
Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists
Mythic Guide to Heroes & Villains — The Importance of the Villain: by Antonio del Drago @mythicscribes
“Is My Villain Who Feeds Off Negative Emotions Problematic?” by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
4 Tips for Creating Villains: @sacha_black @TheIWSG
Writing Craft / Characters / Development
Where Do Character Strengths Come From? @beccapuglisi
Get Inside Your Character’s Mindset: @WritersTable @ProWritingAid
Stop Worrying About Character – Start Focusing On Relationships: @decastell @ProWritingAid
Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists
The Secret to Creating an Irresistible Protagonist: @DIYMFA
Writing Craft / Diversity
3 Ways You Can Show a Character’s Culture: by Jess Liang @NaNoWriMo
Writing Craft / Endings
The Hero’s Journey: How to Build Suspense With a Fake-Out Ending: @DavidHSafford @write_practice
Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film
The 10 Best Literary Film Adaptations of the Last Decade: @knownemily @lithub
Writing Craft / Miscellaneous
How To Challenge Toxic Masculinity As A Writer: from Springhole
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept
Mind Mapping for the Novelist: @LiveWriteThrive
Prewriting: Cultivating Your Story: @ShawnerAllen @FloridaWriters1
Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar
How to use quote marks in fiction writing: @LouiseHarnby
Answering Your Quotation Questions: @victoria_grif7
Writing Craft / Revision
How to know what to cut from a novel: @NathanBransford
Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques
On the Importance of Critique Groups: @Kellie_Doherty @FantasyFaction
Places to Find Feedback as a Writer: by Micah McGuire @ProWritingAid
Writing Craft / Scenes
Writing 3D Scenes: @Lindasclare
Writing Craft / Settings and Description
How To Create A Vivid Experience With Setting Descriptions: @RayneHall @TheIWSG
Writing Craft / Special Needs
Writing Disabled Characters: @_HannahHeath
Writing Craft / Tension
Accidentally Undercutting Tension (and How to Stop): @SeptCFawkes
5 Tips for a Riveting Novel: How to Add Suspense and Tension to Your Story: @Creativindie @NaNoWriMo
Writing Tools / Miscellaneous
9 Best Keyboards for Writers, Gamers, and More: @TCKPublishing
Uncategorized
How to Crowdfund Your Writing With Patreon: @LucyASnyder @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
For the Love of the Writing Process: 6 Questions to Hone Your Workflow: @Bob_Mayer @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
6 Sub-Plots That Add Style To Your Story: @Writers_Write #TopTweets2019
The Dos and Don’ts When Meeting Agents at Writing Conferences: @LisaHaganBooks @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
Gaslighting and Writing Villains Who Make Your Spine Tingle: @AmyMJones_5 @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
10 Tips for Effective Networking at a Writer’s Conference: @johnpwriter @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
Sifting through Mythology: Finding the Grains of Your Story: @Marc_Graham @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
Using Story Tropes to Subvert Reader Expectations: @tay_simonds @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
Why Writers Should Embrace Their Weird Side: @SarahJSover @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
Genealogy Research and the Crime Novelist: @KMLwrites @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
14 Shirley Jackson Quotes for Writers and About Writing: @robertleebrewer @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
Why the Surprise Ending Ultimately Frightens Us: by H.J. Ramsay @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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January 12, 2020
Taking Small Steps Toward a Big Goal
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
This is the time of year when many people think about goals for the year.
The main reason I think New Year resolutions are so often discarded several months in…it’s too overwhelming to think about losing twenty pounds or exercising forty-five minutes a day or learning a foreign language, or whatever the goal is. Better to try losing a pound every week or exercising 15 minutes every other day or setting small daily goals for learning a new skill.
I think establishing a writing habit is more important than the actual resulting word count each day. If we can just make set our goal so low that it’s hard not to achieve it, then we can set up the practice of working on our story daily. That could be five or ten minutes a day. Being honest with yourself while goal-setting is so important. Maybe you’d like to think you can work every day for an hour on a project, but is that really doable? It’s also important to know the why behind your goal and its importance to you. Are you setting the goal because you’re determined and really want to see it through? Or are you setting it because it’s been on your list for a while (but you’re really not enthusiastic about following it through…which will make the task harder).
One thing I haven’t done that I’ve always heard is a good thing to do is to celebrate your ‘wins’, or the times you’ve met your goals. I recently read an article on Fast Company, “How to Make Your Big Goals Seem Less Overwhelming.” The post recommends tracking your goals each day and then celebrating a long streak.
They also recommend something else I’m not great at: being compassionate with yourself if you break the chain. As they put it: “…remember that progress isn’t lost.”
For further reading on better goal-setting:
Martha Alderson’s post, “Goal Setting for You and Your Characters”
Faye Kirwin’s post, “How to Set Super-Effective Goals (With a Little Help from Psychology”
Lesley Knowles’ post, “5 Obvious Goal-Setting Mistakes You Must Avoid”
Dean Wesley Smith’s “How to Keep Production Going All Year”
What are your goals for 2020? Have you kept them manageable?
Setting Manageable Goals for 2020:
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January 11, 2020
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 50,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.
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 / Miscellaneous
Writer Beware®: The Blog: Issues at Audible’s ACX: Attempted Rights Fraud, Withdrawn Promotional Codes: @victoriastrauss
What is a fiction line critique? @LouiseHarnby
Author Essentials: Email: @ph_solomon @StoryEmpire
Refresh, Rehab, Repair and Renovate your Backlist: @RuthHarrisBooks
How Do I Use Public Domain Characters Respectfully? by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
How to Collaborate Across Genres: @RPBook @IndieAuthorALLI
After Finishing Your Story and Before Revision: @Roz_Morris
What it’s like to narrate an audiobook: @NathanBransford
Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous
“How I Survive Conventions”: @SMCarriere
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award in Arabic Literature: The 2020 Literature Longlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Words Without Borders January: Travel Writing in Translation: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Germany’s GINT Competition for Emerging Translators Names Three Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Booker Prize for Fiction 2020 Jury Features Lee Child: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Creativity and Inspiration / Careers in Writing and Day Jobs
When Your Day Job ‘Gets In the Way’ Of Your Writing Time: @MegDowell
Creativity and Inspiration / First Novels
10 Best Practices for Newbie Writers: @HannahLeeKidder @jennamoreci
Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting
Setting Goals for Your Novel: @lisapoisso
“2019 Round-Up. Did I Achieve My Creative Goals? Did You?” @thecreativepenn
3 Steps to Reach Your Writing Goals in 2020: @createastorylov
Writing Goals | The 2020 Ultimate Guide: @PSHoffmanAuthor
“The Most Important Things I Learned About Setting Writing Goals in 2019”: @MegDowell
The truth about New Year’s resolutions: @pubcoach
How to Identify Your Writing Goals: @rachelmcwrites @IndieAuthorALLI
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration
Channeling Your Inner Muse: @davidfarland
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers
Want to read a philosophical novel? Here’s a flowchart to help you pick one: @DailyNousEditor @knownemily @lithub
The Cult of the Imperfect: by Umberto Eco @parisreview
The 10 Best Essay Collections of the Decade: @knownemily @lithub
Six Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About Flannery O’Connor: by Benjamin B. Alexander @The_Millions
The Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2020: @CrimeReads
The Literary Roots of Backcountry Noir: @JakeHinkson @CrimeReads
Creativity and Inspiration / Perfectionism
6 Ways To Give Perfectionism The Boot: @ThornCoyle @thecreativepenn
Don’t Write ‘Perfect,’ Write Better: @MegDowell
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing
How to Turn Your Writing Passion Into a Habit: @NinaAmir
A Simple Trick to Increase Your Productivity: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors
10 lessons to boost your productivity from a writing coach: @beprolifiko
Re-evaluating Life to Make More Time at the New Year:
One writer’s morning writing routine in 2020: @inkyelbows
You Have Exactly 15 Minutes Free. Will You Use It To Write? @MegDowell
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block
12 Things to Do When the Words Just Won’t Come: @MegDowell
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly
Tips for improving writing productivity: from Just a Writing Aid
Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life
The Seductive Power of a New Book Idea. When to Give in: @RuthHarrisBooks
Unexamined Beliefs: Do they Keep You from Writing Success? @annerallen
12 Reminders For Anyone Writing Over the Holidays: @MegDowell
What 1 Writer Learned About Writing in 2019: @shaelinbishop
The Cranky Bookseller’s Guide To Holiday Shopping: @mollsotov89 @CrimeReads
Writing and the Arts as Therapy: by Marilyn Hagar @WomenWriters
10 of the Creepiest Author Photos Ever Captured: @knownemily @lithub
A True (Humorous) Look at the Writing Process: @beckywadewriter
How to Write About Grief: 5 Things to Consider When Writing Difficult Topics: @sadiehoagland @WritersDigest
Writing With A Family. Productivity Tips: @andreapearson2 @thecreativepenn
“Is My Writing Good?” @thenovelry
For Writers, Silence Might Not Be Golden After All: @donaldrattner @JaneFriedman
6 Ghosts That Bust Your Creativity: @kcraftwriter
Five Tactics to Battle Impostor Syndrome: @itshelendarling @DIYMFA
20 Things to Do On a Writing Retreat: @AlyciaMorales
Face Down Your Writing Fears: @EdieMelson
When Your Writing Dreams Change: @Julie_Glover
How to Keep Yourself From Editing As You Write: by Bucket Siler
Notable Literary Deaths in 2019: @knownemily @lithub
Leaving the Decade of the Self-Publishing Revolution: @annerallen
Genres / Fantasy
How Mermaid Stories Illustrate Complex Truths About Being Human: by Cristina Bacchilega @lithub
Five Epic Fantasy Conflicts Other Than War: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
Genres / Historical
Go-to Writing Books for Historical Fiction: @swiftstory @MKTodAuthor
Genres / Horror
From Monsters to Psychosis: The Evolution of Horror: @MT_Cassidy @FloridaWriters1
The Appeal of Gothic Horror: @seananmcguire @tordotcom
Brands of Horror: How to Scare Your Readers: @mindofkyleam @ProWritingAid
Genres / Memoir
How to Write a Memoir Outline: 7 Essential Steps For Your Memoir Outline: @joebunting @SelfPublishing7
Genres / Miscellaneous
The Decline of Mainstream Fiction: Why Authors Must Choose a Genre: @annerallen
Genres / Mystery
4 Tips and Tricks for Cozy Mystery Hooks from @Ellen__Jacobson :
Crime Writing: Patrolling Alone With Delilah As Your Only Backup: @LeeLofland
How to Write Crime Fiction Set in the Near Future: @readstevenjames @CrimeReads
Crime Writing: Aching Backs and Bathroom Breaks: What’s On Your Gun Belt? @LeeLofland
Genres / Romance
The Realism in Romance: by Karen King @WomenWriters
The Power Couple: How to Get Rich Writing Romance: @SelfPubForm
Genres / Screenwriting
4 Quick Screenwriting Tips From Novelists: @Bang2write
Genres / Young Adult
Why No One Should Object to ‘Clean Teen’ Fiction: @JodyHedlund
Promo / Blogging
How to Come Up With Blog Topics for Your Guest Posts: @SmartAuthors @BookWorksNYC
“9 Blogging Tips From My Canine Friends”: @EdieMelson
A little about blog tours: by C.S. Boyack @StoryEmpire
Promo / Social Media Tips
Instagram for Writers [2020]: How to Get the Most out of It: @DaveChesson
Promo / Speaking
Presentation Skills as a Writer: by John Gilstrap @killzoneauthors
Generate More Speaking Opportunities While You’re Speaking: @CathyFyock @EdieMelson
Public Speaking Tip – How not to open your talk: @gigirosenberg
Promo / Websites
The 30 Scariest Author Website Mistakes And How To Fix Them: @PaulineWiles @BadRedheadMedia
What’s Different About an Author’s Website? by Deborah Lyn Stanley
How to Optimize Your Website for Newsletter Sign-Ups: @ThDigitalReader @JFbookman
Your Author Website: The Joy of Keeping It Simple: @PaulineWiles @SelfPubForm
Publishing / Miscellaneous
Trying To Get a Book Published Is Not So Easy: @Margo_L_Dill @womenonwriting
How to Build a DIY Audio Booth: @sacha_black
‘There Was Only One Sonny Mehta’: Remembering Knopf’s Iconic Publisher: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
How to self-publish an audiobook: @NathanBransford
Sourcebooks Acquires Children’s Nature Book Publisher Dawn Publications: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Poor Security and Moderation at Goodreads Enables Author Harassment: @jasonsanford
2020 Publishing Predictions: Agent Laurie McLean’s Crystal Ball: by Laurie McLean @annerallen
Publishing / News / International Publishing
Russia’s Clever Media Group Eyes Asian Markets in the New Year: @Porter_Anderson @Clever_Media @pubperspectives
RITAs Cancelled- Is RWA cancelled too? @AuthortubeN @twtweets @cawcarrow
The RWA Implosion: How Could the Problems Be Fixed? @JamiGold
CCC’s Roy Kaufman: New Year, New DEAL, and Pressure Points Ahead: @Porter_Anderson @copyrightclear @pubperspectives
UK Booksellers Association Cite Third Year of Gains in Independent Stores: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Janna Morishima Launches Literary Agency for Children’s Graphic Content: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing
Traditional Publishing 101: @alexadonne
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Pitches
How not to Screw up an Agent Pitch Session: @lindamayeadams @annerallen
Dos and Don’ts for Pitches and Blurbs: By Suzanne Purvis
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying
Should You Re-Query an Agency? @RachelleGardner
Publishing / Process / Book Design
How to Help Your Designer CRUSH Your Book Cover: @MichaelLaRonn
Publishing / Process / Services to Avoid
A Warning About Publishing Companies Wid Bastian a.k.a. Widtsoe T. Bastian / Genius Media Inc. / Kairos Phoenix Company: @victoriastrauss
Publishing / Process / Translation
12 Book Translation Tips For Authors: @Tomedes @thecreativepenn
Writing Craft / Beginnings
The Value of Touching Details: @peterselgin @JaneFriedman
How to Introduce Your Story: A Guide to Placing Your Inciting Incident: by Danielle Kiowski @StoryGrid
Let This AI Show You How to Begin Your Novel: @BethSkw @lifehacker
Five Reasons Stories Have Slow Openings, and How to Fix Them: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
Finding the Right Beginning For Your Novel: @smwright04 @TheRyanLanz
Writing Craft / Characters / Development
Never Confuse Characterization for Character: @SeptCFawkes
Writing Craft / Conflict
Conflict Thesaurus Entry: Sending a Private Message to the Wrong Person: @beccapuglisi
Writing Craft / Dialogue
Dos and Don’ts for Writing Dialogue: @NeelyKneely3628 @EdieMelson
Writing Craft / Diversity
The Dos of Writing People of Color: Learn From Mistakes: by Colette Aburime @WritingwColor
Writing Craft / Endings
How to End a Novel: @WriteToSell
5 Ways to End Your Novel: @WordNerdsVlog
Writing Craft / Flashback and Back Story
How to Write Flashbacks: @jennamoreci
Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film
Editor Roundtable: The Girl in the Book: by Leslie Watts @StoryGrid
Writing Craft / Miscellaneous
Master the 7 Rules of the Cliffhanger: @RuthHarrisBooks
Editor Roundtable: Love Story: by Leslie Watts @StoryGrid
Conquering the Messy Middle: @annehawkinson @FloridaWriters1
Five Promises You Make to the Reader: @ShanDitty @GoTeenWriters
Stream of Consciousness: How Writers Use This Narrative Technique to Reveal Characters: @TCKPublishing
Does Your Writing Feel Boring? @thejkstudio
How to Avoid Writing a Boring Story: @LiveWriteThrive
How to Know Which Parts of Your Story Readers Will Like Best (It Isn’t Always What You Think): @KMWeiland
What are the Elements of Plot Development? @nownovel
When Introducing a New Character: @MaryVeeWriter
How to Write an Exhilarating Chase Story: by Joslyn Chase @write_practice
Writing High Stakes Stories: @Lindasclare
Developing a Reader-Focused Mindset: @jag791johnson @ProWritingAid
Stretch Your Style: @jamesscottbell
Truth in Fiction: The Importance of Honesty: @woodwardkaren
Writing Craft / Pacing
Episode 276: A Stitch in Time: Pacing, World Building, and Time Travel: @nicoleva @DIYMFA
Writing Craft / POV
Develop Your Travel Writing Style: Point of View: @BirdsOAFpress
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Beats
Thriller Beat Sheet: @DonRoff @savethecat
Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar
Taming the Fearsome Apostrophe: by Linda Lane
Writing Craft / Revision
16 Concrete Tips for Effectively Editing Your Own Fiction: @JodieRennerEd @killzoneauthors
How Do I Know When to Stop Revising? by Betty Sargent @BookWorksNYC
Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques
10 Kinds of Critique Groups that Can Drive You Bonkers: @annerallen
5 Steps to Giving Feedback to Authors: @ScholarlyFox
Are You Looking for a Critique Group or Partner? @Janice_Hardy
Writing Craft / Series
Keeping a Series Fresh: @edithmaxwell
Writing Craft / Settings and Description
Engage Your Senses: Getting the Words to Flow: @SueBEdwards @womenonwriting
5 Thoughts on How to Use Place to Move Your Story Forward: @Janebernwriter @WritersDigest
Writing Craft / Word Crafting
Five More Wordcraft Questions Writers Fight Over: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
Writing Craft / World-Building
Essential Worldbuilding Questions: @ReedsyHQ
Writing Tools / Apps
Scrivener’s Research Folder: @aprildavila
Uncategorized
6 Practical Ways to Grow as a Writer in 2019: @createastorylov #TopTweets2019
Writing a One-Sentence Summary: @RachelleGardner #TopTweets2019
10 Steps to Assess Writing Advice: @PatHatt24 @TheIWSG #TopTweets2019
12 Most Popular Grammar Questions and Answers on https://t.co/82bF0q6NkF: @robertleebrewer @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
Police Sketches of Literary Characters Based on Their Book Descriptions: @laptop_lasane @mental_floss #TopTweets2019
Things 1 Agent Used to be Nicer About: @Janet_Reid #TopTweets2019
How to Write a Memoir: 14 Tips for Writing Memoir that Sells: @annerallen #TopTweets2019
10 Things to update each time you release a new book: @DeborahJay2 #TopTweets2019
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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January 5, 2020
Re-evaluating at the New Year
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Happy 2020, everyone! I hope everybody enjoyed their holidays. I went on vacation with my family (actually, I’m returning a little later today, so I’ll be a bit late responding to comments) and enjoyed spending time with them.
Although I’ve never been happy about making resolutions, I’ve always tried to take time at the new year to plan out the year, set goals (better than resolutions, I’ve found), and see what’s working and what’s not.
It was at this point last year that I decided to move forward with my plan to start another series. I managed to publish the first couple of books in that series in 2019. Last year I ended up writing 5 books and I’m planning on matching that this year since it was pretty doable.
The only problem with this approach is that I have less time, obviously. Ordinarily I write about 3 books a year. Adding an extra 2 to the calendar means that I have to be a little more organized with my time and have to evaluate where I might be able to make cuts.
One thing I’m doing sounds minor but really helps me save time: I’m grouping my errands and knocking them all out at one time. Before, I had a little more of a slipshod approach and would run an errand a day.
Something else I’m doing, especially since I’ve got an empty nest now, is reduce the number of days a week that I’m cooking. I’ve discovered that my local grocery stores have a special section for prepared foods that are ready to be popped into the oven. Not only do they have healthy options, the cost isn’t nearly as high as I thought it might be. Plus, the grocery stores seem to be more creative with their recipes than I am. :)
One other thing that will actually impact what I’m doing here: I’m going to cut back on blogging to twice a week. That means I’ll post the Twitterific Sunday post and then blog on Monday (cutting back on Fridays). Although I’ve always felt that blogging has provided me with great writing practice, I’m currently doing so much writing that falling back to twice a week will likely only help me out.
Things I’m not changing: daily exercise, my sleep schedule, and making time to do things with family.
For further reading:
Erin Tolbert’s “4 Simple, Realistic Ways You Can Make Time to Write” (including task delegation…something I need to explore).
Janalyn Voigt’s “Making Time to Write: Quitting to Win” (including retiring a series).
These are just a few of the adjustments I’m making, although I’m definitely looking to find other ways of saving time. How about you? What are your plans for 2020? Are you ramping up your writing? Or needing to shuffle things in your life around to make more time?
Re-evaluating life to make more time:
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December 21, 2019
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 50,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.
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 holidays to everyone! I’ll be on a blog break to spend time with my family. I’ll be back on the blog on Monday, Jan. 6. :)
Business / Miscellaneous
Get the Most of Writing Coaching: @KarenHWhiting @EdieMelson
Six Things Editors Want Writers to Know: from Jeanette the Writer @DIYMFA
Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous
List of Book Fairs and Book Festivals by State: @robertleebrewer @WritersDigest
PEN America Announces 2020 Longlists in Its $330,000 Literary Awards: @Porter_Anderson @PENamerica @pubperspectives
International Prize for Arabic Fiction: The 2020 Longlist: @Porter_Anderson
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration
Writing Tips: Using Visual Inspiration For Your Stories: @JillHedgecock @thecreativepenn
The Ultimate Writing Prompt: @wordgrower @ProWritingAid
Want a More Creative Life? Read a Novel: @kcmaher3 @BookTrib
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers
Reading Makes You a Better Writer: @ShanDitty @GoTeenWriters
7 Books About the Struggle of Being a Writer: @v_gnesis @ElectricLit
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing
How to Make Time For Writing Outside Your Day Job: A Quick Guide: @MegDowell
Snatch Writing Time When You Can: @terrywhalin
Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life
Don’t Let Your Confidence Issues Stop You From Writing: @MegDowell
How to Become a Full-Time Writer: @sacha_black @jennamoreci
3 Ways to Get Past What’s Holding You Back: @sandrabeckwith @JFbookman
Be Kind To Yourself: @mishy1727 @TheIWSG
Capturing Natural Coincidences, in Fiction and Life: @signoramartha @lithub
3 Ways to Sneak in Writing During the Holidays: @BeingTheWriter
How to deal with a new book idea: @pubcoach
Swimming Sideways: Navigating Grief As A Writer And An Artist: @ChuckWendig
Genres / Dystopian
Things to Consider When Writing a Dystopia: from Sandy Dragon
Genres / Mystery
Crime Writing: Avoiding an Ambush: @LeeLofland
Genres / Picture Books
A Picture-Perfect Picture Book — Five Tips: by Trinka Hakes Noble @DIYMFA
Genres / Romance
Tips for Writing a Flirty Conversation: @rfwriters
Genres / Science Fiction
The Other Final Frontier: Writing Ocean Settings: @victoriarius_ @sfwa
Genres / Screenwriting
Why Do Movie Monsters Keep Kidnapping Women? by T.L. Bodine
Promo / Blogging
14 Things No One Ever Tells You About Having a Blog: @MegDowell
Promo / Connecting with Readers
What Makes Readers Give an Unknown Author a Chance? by Barbara Linn Probst @JaneFriedman
Promo / Miscellaneous
Whatever You Do, Make it New: @BE_Sanderson
Using Audiobooks As Part Of Your Author Marketing Strategy: @KimberleyGrabas
Yes, Writers, it is Possible to Get Past Your Fear of Marketing Yourself as an Author: @losapala @TheRyanLanz
Publishing / Miscellaneous
McNally Jackson Independent Booksellers’ Workers Opt to Join Union: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
AAP Joins Broad Opposition to Proposed Trump Policy on Journal Articles: @Porter_Anderson @AmericanPublish @scholarlykitchn @ThomTillis @pubperspectives
Publishing / News / International Publishing
Top Russian Titles and Highlights at Moscow’s 2019 Non/Fiction Book Fair: @HannahSJohnson @pubperspectives
China Bestsellers November 2019: ‘Weathering’ Heights: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Sharjah World Book Capital Program Backs Kenyan Library Restoration: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Sheikh Zayed Book Award’s World Outreach Prompts Seven Translations: @HannahSJohnson @pubperspectives
Translator Marilyn Booth on Arabic in Publishing: ‘An Encouraging Sign’: @Porter_Anderson @UniofOxford @TheBookerPrizes @magdalenoxford @sandstonepress @HoopoeFiction @CityLightsBooks @OneworldNews
Rights Perspectives From Guadalajara as a ‘Gateway to Latin America’: By Adam Critchley @pubperspectives
Rights Roundup: A Season of Sales: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Writing Craft / Beginnings
How to Ground (and Hook) Readers in Your Opening Scene: @Janice_Hardy
Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists
The Villain Checklist – How to Create a “Great & Terrible” Villain: @LexicalForge @CareerAuthors
Writing Craft / Characters / Development
How to describe a character (with free character development crib sheet): @amabaie
Five Things Readers Need to Know About Character In Your First Pages: @Kid_Lit
A Writer’s Guide to Understanding People: @KMWeiland
Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists
5 Questions for Choosing a Protagonist Who Represents Your Story’s Theme: @KMWeiland
Writing Craft / Characters / Supporting Characters
Use Your Secondary Characters Wisely: @beccapuglisi
Writing Craft / Common Mistakes
Top 5 Edits Mistakes Writers Make: @Bang2write
Writing Craft / Conflict
Conflict Thesaurus Entry: Discovering a Spouse’s Secret: @beccapuglisi
Writing Craft / Miscellaneous
Narrative Drive – Do You Have It? @JordanDane @killzoneauthors
Motive: The Key to Writing Stories Readers Can’t Put Down: @KristenLambTX
Back to the Basics: What Makes a Great Story: @eseckman @TheIWSG
Free Indirect Discourse: Its Advantages: @woodwardkaren
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting
Plot Mapping With Characters: from Fix Your Writing Habits
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept
How to Develop your Book Idea: 8 Exercises: @nownovel
Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar
Punctuation Series: How to Edit Slashes: @tishmartin1416 @A3writers
Writing Craft / Revision
Pre-Editing Checklist: by Bucket Siler
Writing Craft / Settings and Description
5 Tips for Building a House or Setting That Comes Alive for Readers: @DMPulleyAuthor @WritersDigest
Writing Craft / Special Needs
How to Properly Portray Mental Health Issues in Fiction: @shy_holland @ebdawsonwriting @_HannahHeath
Writing Craft / Tropes
Six Rape Tropes and How to Replace Them: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
Writing Tools / Miscellaneous
Tools for writing: 3 mobile dictation apps that save writers time: by Paul Morton @wearearticulate
Uncategorized
Did Hemingway say “write drunk, edit sober”? Nope—he preferred writing sober. @JessZafarris @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
Make Free Book Trailers with Lumen5: @MJBowersock @IndiesUnlimited #TopTweets2019
Why “Bird Box” Starring Sandra Bullock Was Such a Ginormous Hit for Netflix: @JeffYorkWriter @CreativeScreen #TopTweets2019
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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December 15, 2019
Five Things Readers Need to Know About Character In Your First Pages
By Mary Kole, Good Story Company, @kid_lit
For the last ten years, I’ve been teaching all about characterization: what writers can do to flesh out their characters. As a former literary agent, I also know the importance of first pages. So I thought I’d put the two together: how to best characterize your protagonist in the first pages of your manuscript. Make no mistake, readers bond with character first. I truly believe that character is a reader’s lens into story. So if you don’t hook your reader (or agent, or publisher) quickly, they may not stick around to see if it “gets good later.”
Here’s what readers will want to know about your character right away:
Something nice: Even if your character is rough around the edges, they will need to prove themselves as someone worth following for the next few hours. Take a cue from Save the Cat by Blake Snyder and weave in an opportunity for your protagonist to show their nice side, even if nobody else sees it. For all their potential flaws, your character needs to demonstrate some fundamental goodness with a kind word or gesture.
Something secret: Readers love vulnerability. It feels true and honest and we can all relate to it. Nobody else in your story world needs to know your protagonist’s vulnerable underbelly, but readers must. Vulnerability is best delivered in your character’s interiority (their thought process), and ideally, it will have to do with the character’s inner struggle or goal (see below).
Something stormy: Inner struggle is a huge part of what makes a character interesting. Usually, our inner struggle is internal conflict that stems from something in our past or our present that we don’t like. Whether it’s a conflict with self, like wanting to feel accepted, or a conflict with others, like needing validation from a partner, this is the sand in the bottom of our shoe. Your character should have something that frustrates them, because this creates conflict and tension. Those are the engines of story. You should, of course, develop an engaging external plot in addition to this, but giving character something that bothers them is a good way of keeping conflict high throughout.
Something past: I wouldn’t recommend starting your story with a strong eye toward the past. Flashbacks and info-dumping in your first few pages are a big no-no. However, it’s wise to plant some seeds of past tense as a way of informing present tension. Is there a big event in the past—whether it’s distant past or recent past—that haunts your character and drives their present action? Let readers know about it, even if it’s a quick mention. Now they will be eager to learn more, and you will explore it further when the time comes.
Something future: Perhaps the most important thing to introduce about your character right away is their object, or what they want. This will drive them throughout the story, and it’s infinitely relatable. We all know what it’s like to want or need something. By setting up a clear objective, you are sending a signal to your reader: This goal is what will drive this character, and this will be a great source of tension throughout. After that, readers will be eager to know whether your protagonist achieves their objective or not.
Putting all of this data into your first few opening pages might seem daunting. Remember, the enemy of dynamic first page action is information. Try to deploy as much of these five things in action, dialogue, or reaction, if possible. You should be starting your story in scene or with forward momentum anyway.
If you launch into your manuscript with strong character, readers will “go there” and dive headfirst into your compelling story.
As a former literary agent, I know the ins and outs of the publishing industry firsthand. Now, I focus on—simply—helping writers craft a good story. I founded Mary Kole Editorial in 2013 and provide consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, mystery, sci-fi, romance and memoir. I founded Good Story Company in 2019 with the aim of providing valuable content—like the Good Story Podcast and Crit Collective writing forum—to writers of all categories and ability levels.
On the craft side, I hold an MFA in Creative Writing and have worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. I’ve been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. My book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer’s Digest Books.
5 Things Readers Need to Know About Character In Your First Pages (by @kid_lit ):
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Social Links
Company: https://goodstorycompany.com
Editing: https://marykole.com
Blog: https://kidlit.com
Podcast: https://goodstorypodcast.com
Forum: https://critcollective.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/goodstoryco
Facebook: https://facebook.com/marykoleeditorial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/goodstoryco
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kid_lit
Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodstorycompany
YouTube: http://bit.ly/ytgoodstory
Submission Course: https://bit.ly/kolesub
Book: http://bit.ly/kolekidlit
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December 14, 2019
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 50,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.
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.
New Stuff
Eldon Sarte (who helped me design this site and has done other web-related work for me) and his son are running a special promo for book marketing graphics. They also have some free downloads of motivational quotes for authors. For more information, head here.
Business / Miscellaneous
Why Self-Publishing Authors Should Consider Establishing Their Own Imprint: @Wogahn @JaneFriedman
How to Become an Editor: A Comprehensive Guide for Writers: @danasitar @thewritelife
How to Create a Self Publisher Imprint Name and Logo: @carlaking @BookWorksNYC
Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous
How You Too Can Build a Literary Festival: @StoryADayMay @WriterUnboxed
Newly Developed Data To Fuel IPA’s 33rd World Congress in Norway: @Porter_Anderson @IntPublishers @Bodour @pubperspectives
The Dos and Don’ts of Making School Visits: A Writer’s Survival Guide: @RealAlexWoolf @WritersDigest
Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting
How many words should you write each day? @pubcoach
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration
Find Your Creative Heart: @JFbookman @IndieAuthorALLI
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers
5 Frankenstein-Inspired Stories That Recontextualize the Monster: @nataliezutter @tordotcom
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Norwegian Literature (Almost): by John Freeman @lithub
How Grief Changed My Reading: @SaraOhlin222 @WomenWriters
50 Fictional Librarians, Ranked: @knownemily @lithub
Top 10 lighthouses in fiction: by Nicholas Royle @GuardianBooks
The Messy, Beautiful Worldbuilding of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: @mattmikalatos @tordotcom
Queer Communities and Found-Family in Speculative Fiction: @ginnhale @tordotcom
Five Books That Will Make You Feel Young Again: @kellysimmons
Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation
Writing Motivation: How to Keep Writing Through Life’s Big Changes: @sarahstypos
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing
How a Production Schedule Helps You Develop a Lasting Writing Habit: @mridukhullar @NinaAmir
Writing During School Breaks: @WordNerdsVlog
Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life
6 Daily Habits of Successful Writers: @johnpwriter
Don’t Throw Away Your Work. Just Set It Aside: @MegDowell
Exactly Why Failure is Key to Exceptional Success: @SeptCFawkes
Gift Ideas for Writers: @ReedsyHQ
Yoga Stretches for Writers: @FionaQuinnBooks
It’s Never Too Late to Start/Start Over: @KevinTheWriter
Demystifying the Writer’s Fear of Failure: @Sarah_LaBrie @lithub
Exploring Family Relationships — Interview With Kristan Higgins: @Kristan_Higgins @DIYMFA
Writing With Small Children: @JanetFitch323 @aprildavila
Why Writers, Like Athletes, Should Cross-Train: by Lucia Tang @ReedsyHQ
How to Trust Your Creative Gut: @katekrake
Genres / Fan Fiction
How To Turn Fan Fiction Into Original Work: by Robert Wood @standoutbooks
Genres / Fantasy
Mythic Guide to Heroes & Villains — The Fatal Flaw and Unlikely Heroes: by Antonio del Drago @mythicscribes
Genres / Horror
Digging Deeper Into Genre: Horror: @WordNerdsVlog
Genres / Middle-Grade
Decisions after writing a middle-grade book: @Kell_McK @A3writers
Genres / Mystery
Crime Writing: Weapons Most Often Used to Kill: @LeeLofland
Genres / Non-Fiction
The Impossibility of Capturing Truth in a Biography: by Iris Origo @lithub
Genres / Picture Books
Picture Books: Two Art Directors in Action: The How and Why: https://t.co/R3GIyLKkRf and @MiraReisberg @kathytemean
Writing Picture Books – Polish Your Manuscript to Perfection: From Children’s Book Insider
Genres / Romance
4 Reasons an Editor Decides Not to Publish a Romance Novel (And How to Avoid Them): @BrynDonovan
How to Craft Romantic Chemistry Between Characters: @kristen_kieffer
Genres / Screenwriting
How Objective And Subjective Storylines Can Improve Your Screenplay: @RobTobin @CreativeScreen
Promo / Ads
Avoid These Facebook Ads Oversights: @araesininthesun @TheIWSG
20 BookBub Ads for Design Inspiration: by Miranda Ditmore @BookBub
Promo / Metadata
How to Get Your Book Sales Page Looking Good on Amazon: @harmony_kent @StoryEmpire
Promo / Miscellaneous
17 Fantastic Ways to Sell More Books for the Holidays: @DianaUrban @BookBub
Four Ways to Connect With Readers During The Holiday Season: by Kelsey Worsham @WrittenWordM
Reader Profiles: Effective Tools to Sell More Books: @Bookgal
The Top 12 Questions About How to Market a Book: @Bookgal
Promo / Platforms
How to Build an Author Platform: @reedsy
Promo / Social Media Tips
Develop your author social media strategy: @WriteNowCoach @sandrabeckwith
What Happened to the Scheduling Option for Facebook Pages? @EdieMelson
Promo / Speaking
Why Authors Should Learn To Speak In Public: @thecreativepenn
Publishing / Miscellaneous
“Mistakes I made with my book”: @pubcoach
Look Back at Self-Publishing in 2019: @OrnaRoss @IndieAuthorALLI
Tales of Two Markets: USA and UK Amazon Charts’ Year-Enders: @Porter_Anderson
US Register of Copyrights Karyn Temple To Leave the Post for MPAA: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Penguin Random House’s International CEO’s Year-End Letter: @Porter_Anderson @penguinrandom @PenguinUKBooks @PRHDigital
AAP: US Student Spending on College Materials Down 23 Percent in Fall: @Porter_Anderson @AmericanPublish
Michael Tamblyn on Kobo’s 10th Anniversary: ‘A Better Reading Life’: @Porter_Anderson @mtamblyn @kobo @pubperspectives
Publishing / News / Data
Bowker Self-Publishing Report Analysis-5 Surprising Findings for 2019: @Wogahn
Publishing / News / International Publishing
Words Without Borders December: True Crime for the Holidays: @Porter_Anderson @wwborders @SusanHarrisWWB @pubperspectives
In Canada, the Year’s End in Fiction, Nonfiction, and Youth Bestsellers: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Storytel Projects Over 1 Million Subscribers, Opens New Media Center: @Porter_Anderson @storytelsverige @clipsource @pubperspectives
Metabooks Brasil Completes Submarino Integration, Opens in Mexico: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @CANIEMoficial @rschild
Dom Publishers Builds its Own Book Distribution Network in Russia: @HannahSJohnson @pubperspectives
Canada’s 2019 Governor General’s Literary Awards Winners: @Porter_Anderson @GGJuliePayette
Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing
Rookie Mistakes Indie Writers Make: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing
When You Have an Offer Letter and No Agent: @Janet_Reid
Writing Craft / Beginnings
Why Writers Should Use a Clearly Defined Perspective—Not an Indeterminate One: by Peter Selgin @JaneFriedman
Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists
When Your Antagonist Goes Viral: Infectious Diseases: @DPLyle
Writing Craft / Characters / Development
Character Development: Morally Grey Characters: @jennamoreci
Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists
How Do You Know If Your Protagonist Is Strong Enough? @AngelaAckerman
Captivating Protagonists: The Essentials: @stormwritingsc1
18 Ways for Protagonists to Contribute: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
Writing Craft / Common Mistakes
Learn How to Put Your Reader to Sleep: @EdieMelson
Writing Craft / Dialogue
Let’s Talk Regional: @MaeClair1 @StoryEmpire
Dialogue Tags: by Leann Austin @A3writers
Writing Craft / Diversity
Dos of Writing People of Color: Read What We Write: @WritingwColor
Writing with Color — Character of Color Research – Chart: @WritingwColor
Writing with Color — Addressing Native Issues in a Western: @WritingwColor
Writing Craft / Flashback and Back Story
This Is How to Transform Info Dumps Into Exciting Plot Reveals: @KMWeiland
Writing Craft / Humor
How to Use Comedy in Your Writing: @RhodaBaxter @SelfPubForm
Writing Craft / Miscellaneous
What Really Makes a Novel Good? by Niki Kantzios @FloridaWriters1
10 Interesting Writing Ideas from The Guardian: @nownovel
How Lit Witchcraft Can Help Your Writing: @LezaCantoral @LitReactor
The Stage Direction Checklist: @KMAllan_writer
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Research
Siege Warfare Before Gunpowder: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar
Compound Possession: @GrammarGirl
Writing Craft / Series
Sequels are Hard: @savyleiser @NaNoWriMo
Writing Craft / Series / Series Bible
The Usefulness of a Series Bible:
Writing Craft / Settings and Description
The Emotional Power of Connected Settings: @LiveWriteThrive
Writing Craft / Subtext
Subtext in scene/dialogue: by Alicia Rasley
Writing Craft / Tension
Does Your Story Need More Tension? @allisonmaruska @TheRyanLanz
Writing Craft / Tropes
On Writing: Mentor Characters: from Surrounded by Pearls
Writing Tools / Miscellaneous
Gifts for Writers: @adm1nangelsUK @IndieAuthorALLI
4 Favorite Tools to Organize Your Book Material–Before It Gets Overwhelming: @writeabook
Writing Tools / Resources
Best Writing How-To Audiobooks of the Year 2019: @juleshorne @IndieAuthorALLI
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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