Riley Adams's Blog, page 60

July 18, 2019

A To-Do List for the Overwhelmed Writer

by Elizabeth S.. Craig, @elizabethscraig

If you’re like me, sometimes you have so much going on that it’s hard to know where to start. Your to-do lists look like bucket lists. And you work all day long and don’t feel you’ve really gotten anything accomplished.

When this happens to me, I radically change what my to-do lists look like. The most important thing is to triage the most important tasks. Plus, feel as if I’m making some progress.

There’s a free app called 135 List, which I’ve found helpful before when life gets challenging. With the app, you’re forced to prioritize what’s on your list. So one big thing that you need to get accomplished (and this can be part of a big project…it’s easier to break it into manageable bits), three things of medium importance to complete, and then five smaller items. I always made the smaller items things that I could do without a whole lot of energy or thinking: scheduling a dentist appointment, wiping down the nose prints my dog left on the glass door, etc.

Sometimes, though, even that is daunting. Sometimes everything seems like an emergency.

When that happens, I pick one thing that will make me feel as if I’ve really accomplished something that day. It might be something that I’ve procrastinated for a while that really needs to be knocked out. It might even just be starting on something that seems large and unmanageable. The ‘one thing’ could even be making a braindump on an empty document so that I can accurately assess all the things that I need to take care of instead of getting that awful feeling in the middle of the night that there’s something about to fall through the cracks.

Whatever that one thing is, when I mark it as done I feel like I have more energy and confidence to attack the rest of the tasks, or at least put them prioritized on lists for the rest of the week.

Otherwise, I spin my wheels doing things that don’t really help me feel less-stressed. Author assistant Mel Jolly puts it this way (emphasis hers): “…we get overwhelmed and waste all our time doing low-impact things (like answering emails) that don’t make much of a difference in our big picture.”

Another note: I do try to make my to-do list for the following day so that I’m not trying to both figure out priority tasks and knock them out on the same day.

And…if something comes up in the middle of my day (and it frequently does, usually via email), I add that to my list for the next day to keep from losing focus.

Maybe this is a side note that would be better unpacked in a later blog post, but it also really helps to know your own ‘magic hours’–the time of day when you’re most efficient and have the most energy. (More about magic hours in this Time Magazine article).

How do you push through when life is overwhelming? Any tips?

To-Do Lists for the Overwhelmed Writer:
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Published on July 18, 2019 21:01

July 14, 2019

Changing Newsletter Services: Resources

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I’ve used MailChimp for years, but I’m one of the many writers who is now abandoning ship as the platform experiments with new pricing and a different direction (toward customer relationship management). For many writers, the costs won’t make sense for basic email newsletter marketing.

I have dreaded making a change since I realized I’d need to. I changed banks in March and it was a heinous task, taking two 8-hour days to dump a bank I’d used for the last 20 years. It did end up being worth it, though, as I’m sure this change will be.

One reason it’s a pain is the fact that MailChimp is everywhere in regard to my stuff…on Facebook, integrated through WordPress on my site, as an email signup link for over 30 books, on my Amazon author page…the list goes on and on. I’m not sure why I didn’t set up a landing page on my own site and then use the service’s form on it…but apparently, that’s exactly what I did. I even had a splash page, but didn’t use it to host my newsletter signup. I certainly won’t be taking that approach again, obviously.

If you paid for a MailChimp pay-as-you-go plan, as I did, you may have to delay leaving (not sure how or if they refund that money, so I just decided to send out one last email). All of my final changes are taking place after my last MailChimp newsletter. So far, I’ve set up a new account with the new service and have transferred my subscribers (the audience is still also at MailChimp for that last newsletter).

So far, the change has been easy because it’s been automated.

More Information on Why You Should Consider a Change

I’m going to direct you to the most-detailed and easiest-to-understand post, written by David Gaughran.

My Choice for a New Provider

I looked at various options and decided on MailerLite, which has an option to pull over MailChimp subscribers and is relatively inexpensive. Other popular options that writers use are ConvertKit, Mad Mimi, and ActiveCampaign.

If You Decide on MailerLite

David Gaughran has yet another great post on how to change from MailChimp to MailerLite.

Another helpful post is from Rachel McCollin with the ALLi group. She also details how to switch from MailChimp to MailerLite, plus offers ideas for ‘future proofing’ mailing list sign-ups so we won’t be in the same boat if we have to switch newsletter services in the future (heaven forbid!)

I’ll update everyone later as to how the switch went from my end. :)

What email service do you use? Are you considering switching?

Changing Newsletter Providers: Resources:
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Published on July 14, 2019 21:01

July 13, 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:

C.S. Lakin of Live, Write, Thrive is running a special on her online classes (half-off for July with code JULYHALFOFF ). The classes can be found here (note that I’m an affiliate).

Business / Miscellaneous

7 Game-Changing Tips for KDP Authors: @JohnDoppler @IndieAuthorALLI
Ten Business Models for Indie Authors: @OrnaRoss @IndieAuthorALLI
How Indie Authors Set Paperback Prices: @IndieAuthorALLI
5 Smart Ways to Stay Afloat During a Freelance Writing Slump: @jamiecattanach @thewritelife
7 Ways You Can Make More Money from Your Book: by Leslie Lam Miller @IndieAuthorALLI
Branding 101: Defining Our Brand: @JamiGold
Publishing Scams #1 Mistake makes Self-Publishers Vulnerable: @annerallen
Are Colleges Friendly to Fantasy Writers? It’s Complicated: @WIRED

Creativity and Inspiration / First Novels

What every writer should know before writing a first novel: @LisaPoisso

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

Finding something new to say: @austinkleon
No input, no output: @austinkleon
5 Ways to Mine Your Own Life for Writing Inspiration: @ADDerWORLD

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Quotes

8 Novel Writing Tips from Accomplished Authors: @nownovel

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

5 Reasons Writers Should Read Outside of Their Genre: @_HannahHeath
8 SFF Characters that Embody the Green Man: by Stubby the Rocket @tordotcom
Emily Dickinson Isn’t Difficult—She’s Just Misunderstood: by Natalie Adler @ElectricLit

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

How Changing Your Morning Routine Could Make You a Stronger Writer: @MegDowell

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

You don’t have to write about the bad stuff: @austinkleon
12 Essentials For Your Next Writing ‘Vacation’ : @MegDowell
The Easiest Way to Start Writing (When You’re Scared To): @WriteNowCoach
Are you a ‘push’ writer or a ‘pull’ writer? @GoIntoTheStory
Tips for Writing on Vacation:
Writing Through Despair: @mrsjaneymac @WomenWriters
Writing tips: Unlearn Everything You Learned about Writing in School: @danasitar @thewritelife
“Somehow I Became Respectable”: by John Waters @parisreview
“The Truth About How I Got Over Imposter Syndrome”: @BrynDonovan
The Connection between Sensitivity and Creativity: @plotwhisperer
An Outer and an Inner Goal – Try it for Yourself: @plotwhisperer
Journaling Intelligently: The Ultimate Guide: @JournalSmarter
What It’s Like to Write a Finale Your Fans Hate: @RonDMoore @Slate
Sacred Trash: How to Dismantle a Library: @saralippmann @The_Millions
Gameify Your Writing Life: @WriteNowCoach
Don’t Forget to Find the Fun in Storytelling: @clairisa23 @NaNoWriMo
The Guilty Pleasures of Procrastination: By Dario Ciriello
How to set up a bliss station anywhere: @austinkleon

Genres / Horror

10 Things Every Horror Writer Should Read: @repokempt @LitReactor

Genres / Mystery

Crime Writing: It Stinks to Serve Time in the County Jail: @LeeLofland
Crime Writing: Character Arc, Detective Sergeant Demotion, and Sex Offenders: @WritersDetctive

Genres / Non-Fiction

Type of Travel Guide #6: Expat Travel Guide: @BirdsOAFpress
How to Use Your Book’s Content to Reach More Readers: @NinaAmir
What’s the Best Way to Edit Non-Fiction? @BryanJCollins

Genres / Picture Books

Things to Keep in Mind While Writing for Young Readers: @PennyDolan1

Genres / Screenwriting

How They Write A Script: Robert Towne: @GoIntoTheStory

Genres / Short Stories

9 Tips for Writing Better Short Stories: @allisonmaruska @TheRyanLanz

Promo / Blogging

10 Things You Wish You Knew Before Launching Your First Blog: @ShahidNida1 @WritetoDone

Promo / Book Descriptions and Copywriting

A New Book Blurb Could Revolutionize Your Sales: @adamcroft @IndieAuthorALLI

Promo / Book Reviews

13 Common Mistakes in Book Reviewing and How to Avoid Them: @Writer730 @lithub

Promo / Newsletters

How to Grow Your Email List as a Writer: @createastorylov
Switching from MailChimp to MailerLite for Budget-Conscious Indie Authors: @rachelmcwrites @IndieAuthorALLI

Publishing / Miscellaneous

Audiobooks: The Past, Present, and Future of Another Way to Read: @JamesTateHill @lithub
Are You Self-Publishing Audio Books? Things To Consider: @justpublishing @PassiveVoiceBlg
300+ Writing Contests in 2019 • FREE Competitions with Cash Prizes: @ReedsyHQ
Prescient Innovations Blockchain Lab Gains Canada Council Funding: @Porter_Anderson
Audio Publishers Association Calls for Entries for the 2020 Audie Awards: @Porter_Anderson
AAP’s US StatShot for April Shows a Slight Decline from the Previous Year: @Porter_Anderson

Publishing / News / International Publishing

The 2019 Firecracker Award Winners: CLMP Honors Magazines and Books: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Book Aid International Benefits from Blackwell’s 140th Anniversary Auction: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Frankfurter Buchmesse Announces Extended Sales Days: @Porter_Anderson
‘Women at the Forefront’: Three Interviews From PublisHer at Nairobi: @Porter_Anderson @thabisobonita @MaimounaJallow @BibiBakareyusuf
Penguin Random House India in Promotional Partnership With Wattpad: @Porter_Anderson @devashish751 @wattpad
Frankfurter Buchmesse Names Netflix’s Kelly Luegenbiehl for CEO Talk: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
The Bookseller Names Rising Stars; Laura Ricchetti is the ‘Shooting Star’: @Porter_Anderson
Greek Cypriot Wartime Story in Translation Wins Commonwealth Prize: @Porter_Anderson @linaprotopapa
Jurors Named for the UK’s 2020 Booker International Prize: @Porter_Anderson
BookNet Canada Reports Backlist Persisting as Chart-Toppers in 2019: @Porter_Anderson
‘A Very New Type of Reading’: Interview with Russia’s Dmitry Yakovlev: by Eugene Gerden @pubperspectives
International Distribution Forum at Frankfurt; UK’s Emerald ‘Insight’: @Porter_Anderson

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

At what point do awards become too old to be relevant in a query? @Janet_Reid

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Rejections

Rejection Why it Feels so Awful and 7 Ways to Heal: @RuthHarrisBooks @annerallen

Publishing / Process / Book Design

The Best Free Book Cover Makers (and a Few Paid Ones): @ReedsyHQ

Publishing / Process / Contracts

How can I evaluate a publishing contract? (video): @pubcoach

Publishing / Process / Formatting

Microsoft Word Styles Tutorial: Learn to Streamline Your Formatting: @TCKPublishing

Writing Craft / Characters / Emotion

4 Tips To Get Unstuck Writing Hard Emotions In Fiction: @LisaHallWilson

Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists

The Least You Should Know About Your Protagonist And Antagonist: @Writers_Write
What is an Anti-Villain? (With Definitions and Examples): @ReedsyHQ
Writing Main Characters: 5 Tips Bestsellers DON’T Want You To Know (video): @MichaelLaRonn
What is an Anti-Hero? Definition — Plus 10 Examples: @ReedsyHQ

Writing Craft / Endings

How to Build to the Exciting Climax of a Story: @DavidHSafford @write_practice

Writing Craft / Literary Devices

Storytelling Exercise: Tone and Mood: @WritingForward
Extended Metaphors: Definition, Examples and more: @ReedsyHQ

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

Writing Your Character’s Big Secrets: @Lindasclare
Exploring Nonlinear Narratives: @themaltesetiger
How to make your writing suspenseful: by Victoria Smith @TED_ED

Writing Craft / Pacing

Does Your Scene’s Pace Match Its Mood? @ZoeMMcCarthy

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Naming

Creating Authentic Details: Character Names: by Pamela Taylor @DIYMFA

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

Women Writers: A Critical and Overlooked Plot: @plotwhisperer
The Lure of the Writing Template: Why Filling in the Blanks Doesn’t Work: @Janice_Hardy @annerallen

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept

What is the Best Mind Mapping App? @mindofkyleam

Writing Craft / Revision

The ‘under-arrest’ test – how to see the holes in your story’s ending: @Roz_Morris
The Two Basic Rules of Editing (and the Rookie Mistake): @allegrahuston @JaneFriedman
What is Line Editing? 4 Ways It Can Transform Your Book: @ReedsyHQ

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

4 Things Learned From Beta Readers: by Keith Ndenga Kinambuga @Bang2write

Writing Craft / Scenes

How to Write a Great Scene: @StoryGrid

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

Keeping Track of Setting Descriptions: @stacitroilo @StoryEmpire
How to write descriptively: @Nalo_Hopkinson @TED_ED

Writing Tools / Apps

Writing Tips: 11 Tools To Capture Your Creative Ideas: by Trevor Carss @thecreativepenn

Writing Tools / Resources

20 Inspiring Writing Podcasts to Subscribe to: by Brianna Bell @thewritelife
9 Email Newsletters for Writers (That You’ll Actually Want to Open): @jamiecattanach @thewritelife
How to Be a Library Power-User:

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on July 13, 2019 21:02

July 11, 2019

Being a Library Power User

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I have always been a huge fan of libraries. Growing up, one of my favorite memories is of going to the library with my father (sometimes riding our bikes there) and hanging out for hours.

I still spend a lot of time there because sometimes when I get bogged down when writing at the house. Maybe I’m not totally in the zone and anything will distract me: the dishwasher stopping, the dryer buzzer, a table that needs dusting. Leaving the house and going to the library is usually the perfect remedy for the problem. I don’t need total silence to work, providing the background noise has nothing to do with me.

But I use the library for more than just a place to write when I need to escape the distractions at home. I use it to fill my creative well, exercise my brain (which seems to help my writing), and inspiration.

Below are the ways that I use my library. I’m in the Charlotte, NC library system and it is a big system and fairly well-funded. Your mileage may vary with yours, but if you find a service here that sounds interesting, check to see if your library has it. If not, see if they’ll consider offering it.

Books and Magazines

Obviously, books are what first comes to mind when most people think of the library. I always have something on loan from the library that I’m reading. I do still get physical books, but I also use my library’s Overdrive service to borrow ebooks. Whenever I hear about an interesting book, I first check with my library. If they don’t have it in their catalog, I use their online request form to request a purchase (I’ve never had them turn down a purchase for anything that I’ve suggested).

I’ve used this less, but my library also offers free magazines online (I do like to scroll through looking for recipes sometimes). They’re offered through RB Digital and Zinio.

Education

Want to learn how to use Office products better? How to develop your own website? There are tons of opportunities to learn different skills through Lynda, with over 3,000 free online courses.

I also recently tried to challenge my brain to relearn the French I was taught in school (a looonng time ago). This is free through Mango.

Entertainment

We stream at our house (no more cable) and get our programming through Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube TV, etc. The library is helping supply me with some really cool films and TV through Kanopy and Hoopla. I’m a fan of classic movies and independent films, but there are also a lot of box office hits on Kanopy and Hoopla, too. And Hoopla helps me keep up with my favorite British television shows.

Whenever I’m feeling like my creative well needs a little filling, watching a well-made film or reading a great book is the way to do it.

Are you a library power-user, too? What kinds of services do you use there? Do you go there to write?

How to Be a Library Power User
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Published on July 11, 2019 21:02

July 7, 2019

Writing During Vacations

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

During my blog break, I went on a family vacation to France. Both of my children have graduated in the last couple of months: one from college, one from high school. The trip was a celebration of their accomplishments. And, well, we all wanted to go to France. :)

I was actually looking forward to doing some writing during this particular vacation. My kids were able to go off by themselves some and I could sit at a cafe and do some work. In Paris, isn’t that some of the point, if you’re a writer?

I felt like I kept a good balance between family time and writing time.

Here are a few tips for writing during vacation:

First off, before you leave, plan how much you want to write. Do you have time to just take that vacation completely off? Or, do you have a deadline (either a personal deadline or an editor’s deadline) that means taking time completely off impossible? Is the vacation short enough that you won’t be rusty or have a hard time jumping back into your story when you get home?

Be flexible. I’ve long said that being flexible with my writing (writing times and locations) has really helped me be more productive. Can you write before everyone you’re traveling with gets up? Can you slip out of a hotel room and write in the lobby (I’ve done this plenty of times)? Can you write after everyone has already turned in? Can you write while waiting for the rest of your party to show up at a restaurant?

Expand your definition of ‘working on your book.’ Sometimes when I’m traveling, all sorts of story ideas are sparked. These may either be ideas for the current WiP, or ideas for future books. I make sure that I either have a small notebook with me, or that I can jot ideas onto an app like Google Keep. Emailing ideas to myself has worked well in the past, too. I think the main thing is just to be open to having ideas and at unusual times.

Be cognizant that you’re ‘refilling the well’ as well as spending time with people who are important to you. This is just a small reminder that the purpose of the vacation probably has little to do with your writing. Are you there to spend time with family? To celebrate a wedding? To relax? All of those things are important, too. Plus…speaking from experience, I’ve found that when I don’t take time to refill the creative well, I’ve been burned out. And coping with burnout (bad writing, slow writing) can take longer than either taking time off or dialing back writing goals.

Do you often write on vacation? What tips do you have?

Tips for Writing on Vacation:
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Published on July 07, 2019 21:01

July 6, 2019

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Hope you’ve had a good last couple of weeks! It’s nice to be back. :)

Business / Miscellaneous

Should you use volunteers to proofread your book? @LisaPoisso
12 Super Subject Lines – A Cheat Sheet For Business Writers: by Constant Contact @Writers_Write
Your Production Calendar: @itshelendarling @DIYMFA
Self-Publishing and Entrepreneurship: @JamiGold
Reader Targeting Influences Everything: @DavidGaughran
Your Book Marketing Plan Starts Before You Publish: @Bookgal

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

The Dos and Don’ts When Meeting Agents at Writing Conferences: @LisaHaganBooks @WritersDigest

Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting

“3 Ways I Plan To Achieve My Writing Goals”: @StephMorrill @GoTeenWriters
Transforming Wishes Into Goals: A Quick Guide: @MegDowell

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

We’ve Always Been Into Psychological Thrillers : @mserinkelly @CrimeReads
Why Was Shakespeare Wary of Writing About Religion? @provbate @lithub
12 of the Weirdest Star Wars Novels in the Galaxy: @helpfulsnowman @LitReactor

Creativity and Inspiration / Miscellaneous

“What I’m learning about the creative process”: @DanBlank

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

3 Mindset Shifts To Help You Have A (Realistically) Productive Summer: @StephMorrill @GoTeenWriters
17 Tips to Increase Your Word Count: @CherylProWriter
5 Hacks to Help You Write More This Summer: @ReedsyHQ @DIYMFA

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block

Re-Thinking Writer’s Block: @watershipdowd @WritersDigest

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly

“Don’t Hate Me Because I Write Fast”: @Larry_Kahaner @TheRyanLanz

Creativity and Inspiration / Success

You Don’t Have to Be ‘Good’ At Writing (Right Away) to Be Successful: @MegDowell

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

One Writer Explains Why She Throws Out Much of Her Old Writing: @BeingTheWriter @womenonwriting
An Unpublished Writer is Still a Writer: @LisaLisax31
If Writers Write the Way Drivers Drive: @AlyciaMorales
21 Tips on How to Write Remotely: @WordDreams
Writers: Keep On Keeping On: @CharlylynnCox @TheIWSG
Planning Your Own Weekend Writers’ Retreat: @AnneGBrown @WriterUnboxed
Improve Your Writing When You Mine Your Life Experiences: @EdieMelson
How to Stop Holding Yourself Back as a Writer: @colleen_m_story @WomenWriters
11 Tips on Writing with a Newborn (Video): @VivienReis
7 ways to embrace the chaos of the creative process: @TheLeighShulman
The Art of the Playlist: @pauljessup @sfwa
Writers: Your Failures Do NOT Define Your Future: @MegDowell
How To Handle Being Hit With Deconstructive Criticism: @RealSKHamilton @WomenWriters
Yes, Virginia, You Are a Writer: Five Steps to Embracing Your Identity: @KerrySchafer
How to answer when someone asks how you’ll make money as a writer: @ashleigh_young @Slate
How to Write to Market and Still Write What You Love: @Jffelkins @write_practice
How Writing Is Like Running: @LisaJJackson @LiveWriteThrive

Genres / Fantasy

What Does a Fantasy Map Look Like? @mcwetboy @tordotcom
SFF Equines Looks at Purpose-Breeding: @dancinghorse @tordotcom
Five Ways Your Characters Can Acquire Magic: by Chris Winkle and Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
Fantasy Tropes: @SMCarriere
15 Natural Healing Materials to Help Your Ailing Characters: @VictoriaGHowell

Genres / Horror

Why Award Winning Author Deborah Sheldon Writes Horror:
Screenwriting: The Baddest and Raddest Moms of Horror: @JE_TRUSSELL @OnePerfectShot

Genres / Literary Fiction

The rise of the literary miniseries: @NoelMu @TheWeek

Genres / Memoir

Mistakes Writers Make About Conflict In Memoirs: @Writers_Write

Genres / Middle-Grade

The Main Differences Between Writing Chapter Books and Middle Grade Novels: @kathytemean

Genres / Miscellaneous

Writing Cross-Genre Novels: Trends, Marketing & Insights: @rabbit_esther @Draft2Digital

Genres / Mystery

Cozy Mystery Podcasts & YouTube Videos: @Ellen__Jacobson
Two ways to write about physical violence in crime fiction and thrillers: @LouiseHarnby
Christian Suspense: On Finding the Balance between Faith and Felonies: @colleencoble @CarrieParks @cara_putman

Genres / Picture Books

Syntax in Poetry and Poetic Voice in Rhyming Picture Books: @Kid_Lit

Genres / Romance

Sex and Sexability: On Writing Desire in the Regency Years: by Robert Morrison @lithub
Writing Slow-Burn Romances: @itsa_me_sunnyd
Why Consider a Romance Series? by Tammy Lough @DIYMFA

Genres / Science Fiction

5 Quick Tips for Writing Science Fiction: from Malissa Bilbrey and Nina Sacco @NaNoWriMo

Genres / Screenwriting

Script To Screen: “Scream”: @GoIntoTheStory

Promo / Ads

How to Test Your BookBub Ads for Better Results: by Audrey Derobert @BookBub

Promo / Blogging

7 Ways to Encourage Conversation on Your Blog: @EdieMelson
Guest Blogging to Reach More Readers: @SmartAuthors @BookWorksNYC
3 Creative Ways To Build Your Brand Through Blogging: @Pat_Bailey80 @Writers_Write

Promo / Book Reviews

Writing Book Reviews With Purpose: @Fehrmaiden17 @phoenix_fiction

Promo / Crowdfunding

Kickstarter Stress: @KristineRusch

Promo / Images

THow to Add Text to Images—A Screencast with Step-by-Step Instructions: @EdieMelson

Promo / Miscellaneous

The Lazy Writer’s Guide To Marketing: @amandalinehan
10 Things to update each time you release a new book: @DeborahJay2
Book Marketing is Less Daunting in Baby Steps: by Cathy Dudley @IndieAuthorALLI
20 Quick Book Marketing Ideas: @mixtusmedia @BadRedheadMedia
Taking an Author’s Photo Is Like Going on a First Date: by Nina Subin @lithub
Is Over-Promotion Really A Problem For Authors? by Robert Wood @standoutbooks
How to Make Your Book Marketing Plan a Success: @MConnollyAuthor @BadRedheadMedia
How to Best Prepare for Book Marketing: @CaballoFrances @BadRedheadMedia
Promoting Your Book for Free: by David Kudler @JFbookman

Promo / Speaking

How to Plan a Book Reading That Delights Your Audience: @JamesNave @allegrahuston @JaneFriedman
How to Craft an Introduction for Your Speaking Engagement: @YvonneOrtega1 @EdieMelson
10 Tips for a Superb Reading: @Gabino_Iglesias @LitReactor

Publishing / Miscellaneous

AAP Issues Its Annual 2018 StatShot Look at the US Publishing Industry: @Porter_Anderson
Amazon Gets Bulk of Complaint in AAP Filing With US Trade Commission: @Porter_Anderson
Scholastic’s ‘Kids & Family’ Report Sees Summer Youth Reading Lagging: @Porter_Anderson
‘Quirky’ Children’s Illustrated Books: The Queen’s Knickers Award: @Porter_Anderson

Publishing / News / Amazon

Amazon Literary Prize Finalists To Be Considered for Prime Video: @Porter_Anderson

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Bonnier’s BookBeat Announces a 24-Market European Expansion: @Porter_Anderson
Amazon Responds to a New York Times Critique on Counterfeit Books: @Porter_Anderson
Italy’s Gruppo Mediaset in First-Look Partnership With Canada’s Wattpad: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
IPA Prix Voltaire Conferred on Khaled Lutfi in Seoul: @Porter_Anderson
Spain’s Hay Festival Segovia To Feature a Focus on Europe: @Porter_Anderson
The UK’s Publishers Association Releases Its 2018 Yearbook Report: @Porter_Anderson
Scribd Rolls Out ‘Snapshot’ Samplers From Nonfiction Books: @Porter_Anderson
Spain’s ‘Fariña’–’Cocaine Coast’ on Netflix–Wins 2019 Liber Award: @Porter_Anderson
China Bestsellers for May: Staying Power and Stalwarts: @Porter_Anderson
Beijing International Book Fair To Emphasize Children’s Books Again: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Norway Reveals its Frankfurter Buchmesse Guest of Honor Program: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Neil Gaiman’s ‘Sandman’ Coming to Netflix; HarperCollins Germany Names Jürgen Welte: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Denmark, UK, and Germany Represented in ContentShift This Year: @Porter_Anderson
UN Sustainable Development Goals: Frankfurter Buchmesse’s ‘Create Your Revolution’: @Porter_Anderson

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Pitches

5 Essential Book Pitches: by Chris Pavone @CareerAuthors

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

Querying for Non-Fiction: @Janet_Reid
Three Easy Hacks To Improve Your Query Letter: @BrynDonovan

Publishing / Process / Formatting

How to Use Vellum (Quick and Easy): by Tom Ashford @pbackwriter

Publishing / Process / Legalities

The Cut and Paste Thief and What To Do If You’ve Been Plagiarized: @Diana_Hurwitz

Writing Craft / Beginnings

Planning Your Story’s Opening Passages: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants

Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists

Know Your Villains: @ouijum @savethecat
Different Types of Villains: @ClaireFayers

Writing Craft / Characters / Arc

5 Ways to Use Theme to Create Character Arc (and Vice Versa): @KMWeiland

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

How to Use Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for Characterization: @harmony_kent @StoryEmpire
Character Type: Innocent: @GoIntoTheStory
How to Create a Character Profile: by Ali Hale @writing_tips
How to Avoid One Dimensional Characters: @Kid_Lit

Writing Craft / Characters / Emotion

Emotional Writing: One Surprising Method for Capturing Readers’ Emotions: by Joslyn Chase @write_practice

Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists

3 Truly Odd Protagonists and Why We Like Them: @Christo96795532 @Writers_Write

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

Five Newbie Mistakes that Will Kill a Perfectly Good Story: @KristenLambTX
8 Quick Tips for Show, Don’t Tell: @KMWeiland

Writing Craft / Conflict

Storytelling Techniques – Layered Conflict: @AJHumpage
The Power of Conflict in Storytelling: @GoIntoTheStory

Writing Craft / Diversity

When Diversity Is Bad: by Mod Lesya

Writing Craft / Flashback and Back Story

Handling Backstory in Dialogue in Your Opening Pages: @LiveWriteThrive
How To Grow Your Backstory: @KatiaRaina1

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

6 Ways Paul Auster Can Help You Improve Your Writing: @FredBobJohn @standoutbooks

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

15 Things Learned After Reading 100 Query Letters: @katiemccoach @TheRyanLanz
How Novelists Can Say More with Less: @LiveWriteThrive
3 Tech Clichés That Will Kill Your Writing: @Bang2write
A Practice to Unearth Your Story Magic by Veronika Magali-Marosy: @Beth_Barany
How to Track Your Scenes: @JLHarrisCoach
Head-Hopping and Why Writers Should Avoid It: @richardgthomas3 @LitReactor
When and How to Weaken a Passage: @SeptCFawkes
How to Bring Value to Your Readers: @pauletteperhach @JaneFriedman
1 Writer’s Top Ten Writing Tips: @CalebPirtle
How To Write A Logline: @Bang2write
Using the Argument Against Transformation to Strengthen Your Story: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors
The Emotional Weight of Storytelling (Podcast): @SamSykesSwears @DIYMFA
What If Your Novel is Losing Steam? @SnowflakeGuy

Writing Craft / Pacing

How a Ticking Clock Reveals Character and Propels Your Plot: @Sarah_Skilton

Writing Craft / POV

A Deep Dive into POV: @LiveWriteThrive

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Naming

‘Game of Thrones’ Interactive Name Generator: @Slate

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Outlining

Plotter vs Pantser: The Secret Diary of a Recovering Plotter: @sacha_black @IndieAuthorALLI

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

The End of Your Middle: The Doorway of No Return #2: @abigailkperry @DIYMFA
5 Commandments and Pheres: @valerie_francis @StoryGrid

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Research

Is Your Character Safe at Work? Violence in the Workplace 101 for Writers: @FionaQuinnBooks

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

Is It Ever Correct to Use Passive Voice? @mindofkyleam @ProWritingAid

Writing Craft / Revision

7 Ways to Polish Your Manuscript Before You Self-Publish: @KathyEdens1 @Draft2Digital
What is Line Editing? 4 Ways It Can Transform Your Book: @ReedsyHQ
How to Edit a Book 101: @ReedsyHQ

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

Knowing When to Fly: Leaving Your Critique Group: @lisabubert @JaneFriedman
Leaving a Writer’s Group: 5 Reasons it May be Time: @kcraftwriter

Writing Craft / Scenes

How to Revive a Dead Scene: @Lindasclare

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

Picking the Right Setting Details: @beccapuglisi
Picking the Right Setting Details: @beccapuglisi

Writing Craft / Voice

Chuck Wendig on Owning Your Voice and Choosing the Path of Your Career as a Writer: @DanBlank @ChuckWendig

Writing Craft / Word Crafting

Filter words in fiction: Purposeful inclusion and dramatic restriction: @LouiseHarnby
Getting rid of ‘that’s’: @PhilAthans
Power Up Your Paragraphs: @ZoeMMcCarthy

Writing Craft / World-Building

How to Create a Fictional Universe Like the MCU: @mindofkyleam
How to Build Your Fictional World with Games: @younginklings @NaNoWriMo

Writing Tools / Apps

The Best Novel Writing Software of 2019 (Including 4 Free Programs): @ReedsyHQ

Writing Tools / Resources

Character Sheets: @stacitroilo @StoryEmpire
Authoring Novels with LibreOffice: @fritz_freiheit
A List of Posts to Help With a Variety of Writing Needs: by Bucket Siler

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on July 06, 2019 21:02

June 22, 2019

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I’ll be taking a summer blog break starting tomorrow and ending with another Twitterific on Sunday, July 7. Hope you have a good next couple of weeks!

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Norwegian Author Jo Nesbø Set To Appear at Frankfurter Buchmesse: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
12 Ways to Take Advantage of Everything Writers Conferences Offer: @CConradt @scriptmag
Words Without Borders June: ‘The Queer “I”‘ in Early Summer: @Porter_Anderson @wwborders @SusanHarrisWWB @PENamerican

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

8 Fictional Families That Will Make You Feel Better About Your Own Dysfunctional Family: @SallyHepworth @CrimeReads
7 Books About Women Searching For Home: by Maria Kuznetsova @ElectricLit
The Stupid Classics Book Club: @egabbert @parisreview
Does It Spark Joy? Learning to Let Go of My Books: @ZoeBaillargeon @The_Millions
“Saying Goodbye to My Beloved Local Bookstore”: @nostalgicbroad @lithub
“What I Learned from Keeping a List of Every Book I Read”: @pnadell @lithub

Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation

Writing Motivation: @Kid_Lit

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

Setting Yourself Up for Writing Success Each Day:
Success in 90-Minute Increments: @RachelleGardner

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block

The Secret to Overcoming Writer’s Block: Meditation: by Megan Mulrine @WritersDigest
How to Beat Writer’s Block: @4amWriter @kristen_kieffer
How to Schedule Creativity and Kill Writer’s Block: @Frank_McKinley

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

Why Don’t Compare is Bad Advice for indie Authors: @PaulineWiles @IndieAuthorALLI
3 Tips to Build a Strong Writing Practice: by Chelsea Brickner @NaNoWriMo
For the Writer Who Doesn’t Like It When Plans Change: @MegDowell
10 Ways to Improve Your Writing Life: @colleen_m_story
“A Highly Subjective and Sometimes Contradictory Alphabet for the Young and Aspiring Professional Writer” by Marc Spitz @PineHillsReview
Writer’s Guide To Dealing With Haters: @jakonrath
Why Write a Book? 10 Global Authors Give Reasons to Write: @nownovel
The Easiest and Hardest Part of a Writer’s Life: @diannmills @EdieMelson
“How I Wrote My Son As the Hero of His Own Adventure Novel”: @johnpwriter @WritersDigest
How to Conquer Self-Doubt and Do All the Things: @thewildwong @emiliewapnick
6 Obstacles to Writing (and how to move past them): @aprildavila
The Sound of Silence: Have We Forgotten How to Be Quiet? @WithEdSimon @The_Millions
How to say NO to make yourself a better writer: @pubcoach
Why it’s more important than ever to learn to write: @pubcoach
Three Ways We Sabotage Our Own Success and How To Change: @KristenLambTX
The Writing Stigmas From The Past Can Impact Writer Confidence: by Jennifer Blanchard

Genres / Fantasy

Six Pros and Cons of the Magic School Genre: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants

Genres / Memoir

“Why I Published My Memoir as a Novel”: by Elizabeth Bartasius @WomenWriters
What A Memoir Is Really About (It’s Not What You Think): by Jennifer Blanchard

Genres / Miscellaneous

Writing Transgressive Fiction? Here’s What You Need To Know: @standoutbooks

Genres / Mystery

Cozy Mystery Author Interview with V.L. McBeath: @Ellen__Jacobson
5 Podcasts & YouTubers For the Crime or Mystery Writer: By Bonnie Randall

Genres / Non-Fiction

Tips For Writing Non-Fiction: @jogiese7 @WomenWriters
What Happens When Your Nonfiction Niche Goes Belly-Up? @BirdsOAFpress @NinaAmir

Genres / Romance

The Romance Recipe: @MaryGardner6 @SusanMayWarren

Genres / Science Fiction

20 Mistakes To Avoid In Science Fiction: @writingandsuch

Genres / Short Stories

Five Reasons To Write Short Stories: @AlpertMark @killzoneauthors

Promo / Connecting with Readers

Why you should write for just one reader: @pubcoach

Promo / Images

Smart Ways to Use Images for Book Promo: @DancingLemurPre

Promo / Miscellaneous

14 Fantastic Marketing Tips for Debut Authors: @DianaUrban @BookBub

Promo / Social Media Tips

What to Post on Social Media When You Have Nothing To Say: @EJWenstrom @DIYMFA

Publishing / Miscellaneous

F+W Media To Present Winning Community Bids to Bankruptcy Court: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Simple Guide For Creating Your First AudioBook: (@nick6974 @NinaAmir
“How I Won My Third Essay Contest”: @tammydelatorre @JaneFriedman
Industry Notes: Serial Box’s Foreign Rights and Amazon’s Summer Reading List: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Industry Notes: Macmillan Learning Announces Its 2019 Bedford New Scholars Advisors: @Porter_Anderson @MacmillanLearn

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Marrakesh Named Host of 2020 IPA Africa Seminar Amid New Agreements: @Porter_Anderson @Kenyapublishers
In the Shadow of Potential Tariffs on China, AAP StatShot Logs a Good Q1: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Brazilian Photographer Sebastião Salgado Wins 2019 German Book Trade Peace Prize: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
AAP Warns Trade Commission: Trump Tariffs on China Will ‘Wreak Havoc’ on Publishing: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
A Mexican Book-Sharing Startup, Little Bookmates, For Children’s Books: via @pubperspectives by Adam Critchley
Singapore’s Asian Festival of Children’s Content Plans 10th Edition in September: @Porter_Anderson via @pubperspectives
Russian Book Market Players Explore Digital Serialization: By Eugene Gerden @pubperspectives
The UK’s Society of Authors Awards Honor 32 Writers: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
The Netherlands’ NL Film Signs Partnership With Canada’s Wattpad: @Porter_Anderson @nlfilmtalk @wattpad
‘Africa Rising’ Day Two: Indigenous Languages, Copyright, Youth, and Action: @Porter_Anderson via @pubperspectives

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

13 Best Self-Publishing Companies Every Author Should Know: @ReedsyHQ

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Rejections

Staying Positive After a Rejection: @TyreanMartinson @TheIWSG

Publishing / Process / Book Design

Self-Publishing: Book Cover Design Mistakes to Watch Out For: @LaurenAdley1

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Driver (Car): @beccapuglisi

Writing Craft / Dialogue

What Did You Say? Writing Realistic Dialogue: @evmysterywriter @killzoneauthors

Writing Craft / Drafts

So You Finished Your Rough Draft – Now What? @MorganHzlwood @TheRyanLanz

Writing Craft / Endings

How to End a Story: 3 Questions That Will Help You Find the Perfect Ending: @DavidHSafford @write_practice

Writing Craft / Humor

8 Ways to Inject Humor into Your Writing: @brotzel_fiction

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

How to Convey an Established Relationship Quickly: @SeptCFawkes
Write Deep, Write True: @Lindasclare
How to Find Your Novel’s Path: @KelsieEngen @TheRyanLanz wkb20

Writing Craft / POV

Narrating a Close Point of View: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Naming

The Stumbling Art of Naming Places: @cyallowitz

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

Fiction Writing Tips For Beginners: Discover Your Plot: @angee

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Research

Five tips for researching fiction: @MsPollyClark @scottishbktrust

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Beats

A “Save the Cat” Moment: @SPressfield

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

The Difference Between Canceled and Cancelled: @TCKPublishing
Punctuation Blunders that puzzle readers and irk editors: @KathySteinemann @annerallen

Writing Craft / Revision

Revising your plot and the George R.R. Martin Worst Case Scenario: @HollowLandsBook
Revise vs. Start New: Which Is Better When We’re Stuck? @JamiGold

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

7 Tips to Creating Fictional Location Names: @cyallowitz
The symbolism of the seasons in literature, with four examples: @HelenaFairfax

Writing Craft / World-Building

Toxicology in Worldbuilding: by M.S. Jenkins @WB_Mag @mythicscribes

Writing Tools / Resources

“Finding My Character’s Home on Google Street View”: @LydiaFi44774808 @lithub

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on June 22, 2019 21:02

June 20, 2019

The Importance of Images in Social Media

by L. Diane Wolfe, @DancingLemurPre

Online media provides us few opportunities to express ourselves in our entirety. Text gives us a voice, but what about the other senses? We can’t taste, touch, or smell. But we can see.

Studies have shown that online all text is boring and difficult to read. Most news articles contain one or more images to ground the reader. Unless it’s reading an actual book, readers don’t want all text.

Images break it up. A long line of text leave readers almost gasping for breath. Unlike traditional book readers, people do not want a tome of information online. They want the important details and they want it quick. Adding a few graphics gives their experience more meaning.

Items with images are more likely to be shared. Look at your most shared blog posts, Facebook posts, Tweets, etc. Those with images were shared far more often. A line of text doesn’t convey enough. But add a graphic or a video and it gains new depth.

Consider adding images to your:

Blog posts – Mix images in with the text. Break up the monotony. Give readers a visual to connect to.

Twitter – Include an image where possible when you Tweet. Don’t just send out a link – send out a corresponding image. It’s ten times more likely to be retweeted. And be sure your pinned Tweet has an image. People don’t always trust just a link, but a link and an image will win them over.

Facebook – Add an image or two when you post on Facebook. People take notice of image posts sooner. Plus they are more likely to be shared. And if we are posting book information, we really want it to be shared.

Pinterest – Pin book covers and graphics with excerpts. Most important – don’t forget the link. You are allowed one link (make it to your book’s website) and a description. Take advantage of those. Marketing superstar John Kremer says Pinterest is the most lasting of all social media because while other media shares are buried within hours, a Pinterest post is not. It will be discovered for years to come and re-pinned.

So start adding images to your online media today. Jazz it up! And prepare to be jazzed.

Diane Wolfe

Owner of Dancing Lemur Press LLC, Speaker & Author

Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” Wolfe is a member of the National Speakers Association. She conducts seminars on book publishing, promoting, leadership, and goal-setting, and she offers book formatting and author consultation. Wolfe is the senior editor at Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and contributes to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

http://www.dancinglemurpressllc.com/ – Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C

http://www.spunkonastick.net/ – Spunk On A Stick

http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com – Spunk On A Stick’s Tips

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/ – Insecure Writer’s Support Group

HOW TO PUBLISH AND PROMOTE YOUR BOOK NOW!

By L. Diane Wolfe

SECOND EDITION

Publishing and promoting made simple!

Have you dreamed of publishing a book but didn’t know where to begin? This book guides you through identifying markets, budgeting, building an online presence, and generating publicity. Get the current scoop on:

Traditional publishing & self-publishing
Print and e-book setup, formatting, and distribution
Finding your target audience
Generating reviews and media interest
Networking and developing an online presence
Promotional materials and appearances

Uncover your ideal publishing path and various marketing options before you begin. Writing is your dream. Give it the best chance for success!

Publishing/Marketing, 206 pages

$14.95 Trade paperback ISBN 9780982713952

$2.99 Ebook ISBN 9780982713990

Barnes and Noble –

Amazon –

iTunes –

Nook –

Kobo –

Books-A-Million –

Publisher L. Diane Wolfe of @DancingLemurPre On the Importance of Social Media Images:
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Published on June 20, 2019 21:02

June 16, 2019

Setting Yourself Up for Success

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Good to be back from my blog break. :) This is another post in my series ‘making your life easier as a writer.’ This one covers how we can set ourselves up for a successful writing session with a little prep work.

We hear a lot about how to ensure easier mornings by preparing the night before (pulling an outfit out, making sure the kids have their school backpacks ready to go, picking up for 10 minutes in the evening), but the same thing goes for writing sessions, too.

I’m an early morning writer, but I think my tips can be adjusted for any writing schedule.

Let family members know what you’re doing. This is a tip that’s best for those lunch or evening writers, probably. But one way to help ensure you’re not interrupted is to get everyone on the same page when it comes to your plans.

When you finish a writing session, jot down a couple of sentences to tell your future self where you’re picking up. I’m hesitant to call this outlining because I know some writers aren’t really keen on it. This is, instead, more of a mini-outline. It’s just a device to help you jump into your story faster. Short is fine. Mine might look something like this: Sleuth interviews Joan. Joan says she was at work at the time of the murder.

Leave your laptop on your document so the story is the first thing you see when you open your device again. Naturally, this will only work if you don’t need the computer for your day job. But, for me, it really helps me when my book is the first thing I see first thing in the morning. If the first thing I see is email, I’ll fall down a rabbit hole right away.

Similarly, don’t check email and social media before writing. Once you do, your time belongs to someone else as you respond to their messages and posts.

Think about your story before you sit down to write. For me, this is as I’m getting ready in the morning and before I open my laptop. If you write later in the day, this could mean thinking about your plot during your commute or at quiet times of the day. This helps me hop right into the story.

Set a timer for focus. I’ve mentioned this a lot, I know. But in this age of distraction, it’s so much easier to be able to focus 100% on the story when there’s a limit to it. And frequently, I find myself continuing after the timer goes off because I’m in a groove.

These are just a few ideas, but I’d like to hear yours. How do you ensure a successful start to your writing sessions?

Tips for Setting Yourself Up for a Successful Writing Session:
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Published on June 16, 2019 21:02