Riley Adams's Blog, page 8

LitLinks

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

Have you visited the WKB lately?  Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox!  Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB on Facebook here.

Business / Miscellaneous3 Suggestions for New Writers Navigating a Turbulent Industry: by Brian Rendell @JaneFriedmanConferences and Events / MiscellaneousHow To Maximize Your Book Tour: 6 Essentials Tips For Authors: @bang2writeCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers8 Thrilling Books About Getting What You Want By Taking It: by Brendan Gillon @electriclit6 Scintillating Novels That Reveal the Dark Side of the Roaring ‘20s: by Cameron Kimball @booktribFive Books Featuring Horrific Family Inheritances: by Kay Chronister @reactormag @literaryreactor7 Fun Novels That Reimagine the Afterlife: by Maxie Dara @electriclit @electricliteratureCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Vanda Symon’s Expectant: @margotkinbergThe Tortured Artists Department: 5 Horror Books Featuring Creatives: by Delilah S. Dawson @crimereads9 Unsettling Books to Get Under Your Skin This Halloween: by Megan Beauregard @booktribCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingMaintaining a Sustainable Writing Practice: @ZenaDellLowe @EdieMelsonCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeTips for Keeping the Details Straight in What You’re Writing: @RiverBendSagas @ediemelsonHow Do You Know if Your Writing is Getting Better? @Janice_HardyCan talents become weaknesses? @pubcoachI Love Short Stories. Do I Have to Write a Novel? by Amy Stuber @electriclit @electricliteratureThe Magic of Making Books: by Steph Post @crimereadsTake note: Why I write everything down (and you should, too): @jbernoffGenres / HorrorThe Healing Power of Horror: by Jacquie Walters @crimereadsGenres / MiscellaneousWhere Do Genres Come From? by Charlie Jane Anders @literaryreactor @reactormagGenres / MysteryPool Players as Elements in Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergReal Life Mysteries: Where Do Stories Come From? @mike54martinMeeting the In-Laws as an Element in Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergGenres / Science FictionWhen Did SFF Get Too Big? @jamesdnicoll @reactormag @literaryreactorPromo / BloggingFace Your Fears and Don’t Let Blogging Scare You: @EdieMelsonPromo / Book ReviewsDon’t Tell Authors You Hate Their Work: by Oren AshkenaziPromo / MiscellaneousWhat Writers Should Know: Marketing: by D.L. Finn @storyempireA Dive into Avid Readers and Book Clubs: @penguinrandomHow to Give Good Interviews for Podcasts and Radio: @diymfaPromo / Social Media TipsHow I Manage Social Media While Writing Novels (& Working Full Time): @authorSATPromo / VideoBook Trailers for Promotion: by Beem Weeks @storyempirePublishing / MiscellaneousKarine Pansa: The Outgoing IPA President’s High-Level View of World Publishing: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAAP StatShot: US Publishing Industry Up 8.5 Percent in August: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional PublishingSwitch Up Your Strategy + Tips on Working with a Publisher When You’re Not Agented: @abbileebooks @NatalieIAguirrePublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying7 Great Resources if You’re Looking for an Agent: by Lee Wind @scbwiPublishing / Process / ContractsSeven Red Flags in Serialized Fiction Contracts: by John Doppler @indieauthoralliWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentWhat is a Stock Character? 20+ Examples: by Polly WattWriting Craft / Characters / ProtagonistsFive Rules for a Principled Hero: by Sofia JeppssonWriting Craft / ConflictWrite Fight Scenes The Comic Book Way: by Carla Hoch @jamesscottbellWriting Craft / Flashback and Back Story4 Questions to Ask When Writing Flashbacks: @foxprintedWriting Craft / HumorHow To Make Readers Laugh. Writing Humour With Dave Cohen: @thecreativepennWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmWhat Fiction Writers Can Learn from Dungeons & Dragons: by Jedediah Berry @lithub @literaryhubWriting Craft / Literary DevicesWriting: Finding Your Theme: @lindasclareWriting Craft / MiscellaneousThe Role of a Sidekick in your Story: @LinWilsonauthorAnne Lamott on How to Be Compulsively Readable: by Write-minded @lithub @literaryhubSeeking Authenticity: @VaughnRoycroft @writerunboxedWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Naming7 Tips for Finding Perfect Character Names: @beccapuglisiWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingThe Third Plot Point: @KMWeilandWriting Craft / Revisions / Critiques8 Feedback Questions For Non-Fiction Manuscripts: @KMAllan_writerWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionHow to Use Setting to Reveal Character: @livewritethriveWriting Craft / TensionBuilding Tension in School Stories: from MythcreantsUncategorized7 Poetry Books for People Who Don’t Like Poetry: by Lyndsay Rush @electriclit @electricliterature

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On LitLinks:
Share on X

The post LitLinks appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

Real Life Mysteries: Where Do Stories Come From?

by Mike Martin, @mike54martin

Where do stories come from? That’s a question I get asked a lot. So do other writers. The simple answer is that we get our stories from everywhere. Sometimes it is just a niggling thought that circulated from the back of our mind and percolates into something bigger. At other times it could be a movie or another book we are reading that sparks our interest.

But for me, most of my stories start with something I see on the news or in the media. Something real that pokes me and gets me thinking. I write a light, cozy-type mystery series, the Award-Winning Sgt. Windflower Mysteries, that are somewhat restricted from going into too much detail about crimes and criminals, especially the gory details. But that doesn’t and won’t stop me from talking about real world issues like human trafficking or the opioid crisis. 

But I like it even better when I can find a crime that is interesting, unsolved and somehow less lethal than other types of crime. Yes, some people will always get killed. It is a murder mystery, after all. But credit card fraud or embezzling funds somehow seems cleaner to write about than someone getting knifed or stabbed or shot. Although, all mystery writers do have fun with poisonings, I cannot lie. 

This search for a real life mystery led me to an actual and on-going case of a massive gold heist in Canada. In my latest book, Too Close for Comfort, I try and answer the basic question still remaining in this case. Where is the Gold?

The background is that on April 17, 2023, a robbery occurred at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada, with over C$20 million (US$15 million) worth of gold and other high-value items being stolen. Thieves accessed a secure cargo warehouse and made off with the cash and the shipment of gold bars. While the police investigation is still underway and several individuals believed to be connected to the robbery have been arrested, none of the gold has been recovered.

One expert told the media that he thought that the gold bars “have probably been melted into other forms by now, and may be on a boat somewhere on the Atlantic headed east.”

That’s where Too Close for Comfort, takes over. According to my premise, the gold may have been shipped surreptitiously to Newfoundland, and then melted down so that it could be shipped back across the Atlantic for sale to unsuspected buyers.

To back up my case, there are a number of moth-balled smelters in Newfoundland, including one in Long Harbour that was processing nickel from Labrador. The gold bars could have been melted down and put on a ship or in a container for Europe. Did that happen? We don’t know. All we know is that the gold is still missing. That’s the real mystery.

I hope you will read Too Close for Comfort and see if you can solve the mystery of the missing gold yourself.

Mike Martin is the author of the Award-Winning Sgt. Windflower Mystery series. Too Close for Comfort was released by Ottawa Press and Publishing on October 1, 2024. It is available on Amazon all over the world.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGVN6LBL (US)

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DGVN6LBL (CANADA)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DGVN6LBL (UK)

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DGVN6LBL (AUS)

Real Life Mysteries: Where Do Stories Come From?
Share on X

Mike Martin is the author of the Award-Winning Sgt. Windflower Mysteries. The latest book in the series is Better Safe Than Sorry. You can find that book and all other books in the series on Amazon all over the world.

You can follow Sgt. Windflower Mysteries on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore  

The post Real Life Mysteries: Where Do Stories Come From? appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

LitLinks

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

Have you visited the WKB lately?  Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox!  Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB on Facebook here.

Business / MiscellaneousSelling Books In Person At Live Events With Mark Lefebvre: @thecreativepennWriting to Market: by C.S. Boyack @storyempireConferences and Events / MiscellaneousAnne Applebaum: The German Book Trade’s Peace Prize: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationFind Creative Inspiration From Your Vices: by Tony Tulathimutte @electriclit @electricliteratureCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersFive SF Books Set in the Future… of 2020: @jamesdnicoll @literaryreactor @reactormag10 Literary Books That Made Me a Better Science Fiction Writer: by Charlie Jane Anders @reactormag @literaryreactorEight Engaging SFF Short Stories Told Through Letters: by Ratika Deshpande @literaryreactor @reactormag5 Excellent Middle Books in SFF Trilogies: by Chloe Gong @reactormag @literaryreactorFive Books With Fascinating Magic Systems: by Oren AshkenaziNancy Drew Never Had a Sister: The New Cozy Sleuths: by Lisa Q. Mathews @crimereadsJeffrey Archer: My 10 Favourite Agatha Christie Books: @crimereadsFive SFF Works About Creating, Revising, and Obfuscating History: @JamesDNicoll @reactormag @literaryreactorCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Anthony McCarten’s Going Zero: @margotkinberg6 Excellent Thriller and Horror Novels Set in Hotels: by Stephanie Wrabel @crimereadsCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s BlockWords of Wisdom on Writer’s Block: compiled by Dale Ivan SmithCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeWhat Fidget Spinners Can Teach Us About Writing: by Christopher SlaterBut Why Are They So Dumb?—When Dudes Write Women: by Elias McClellanTurtle Truths about Writing: @foxprintedWriting with the window open: @AnneJanzerStop Overthinking Everything: Advice for Writers: by Annie Cosby @KMWeilandDormant Periods in a Writing Life: @msheatherwebb @writerunboxedHow Can I Organize My Writing Notes? by Oren AshkenaziCrafting Cohesion: 5 Tips for Building a Strong Network of Writers: @TheLeighShulmanWriting and Anger: @jamesscottbellOvercome Perfectionism: @WriteNowCoachGet Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable: @diymfaGenres / HistoricalResearching for Stories Set in the 1800’s: @TyreanMartinson @DancingLemurPreGenres / MysteryConspiracies as an Element in Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergGenres / Science FictionEighteen Authors, Two Big Questions: What Is the Best Thing Happening in SFF Right Now, and What Do We Need More Of? by Christina Orlando @reactormag @literaryreactorPromo / BloggingHow Easy Is It To Follow Your Blog? @HughRoberts05Promo / Miscellaneous4 Tips for Making Promotion More Palatable: @TrishCrisafulliBook Marketing: Get Out of Your Own Way: by Margot Conor10 Essential Tips for Crafting a Successful Book Marketing Plan: @bookgalHow to Market and Promote Your Book When Publishing Wide: @holly_pocket_ and @selfpubwithdale @indieauthoralli51 Tips to Help Market Your Book: @DiAnnMills @EdieMelsonPromo / PlatformsWriting: Build a Readership Platform: @lindasclarePublishing / MiscellaneousPublishing a posthumous collection. Interview with Alycia Vreeland: @Roz_MorrisPlaytesting Card Games: by Marie Vibbert @SFWAEpigraphs: by Kay DiBiancaPublishing / News / International PublishingAuthors on Storytelling as Resistance: @talitafacchini @pubperspectivesPublishing / Process / FormattingDo You Italicize Book Titles? The Ultimate Guide: @davechessonPublishing / Process / Services to AvoidBeware Social Media Marketing Scams: @victoriastraussWriting Craft / BeginningsFlog a Pro: Would You Turn the First Page of this Bestseller? by Ray Rhamey @writerunboxedWriting Craft / Characters / ArcStory Circle: the Character Arc of the Protagonist: @SueColetta1 @storyempireWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentStrength of Character: by D. Wallace Peach @storyempireHow to Interview Your Characters: by Randy IngermansonWriting Craft / Common MistakesWhat Makes Characters Unlikable? from MythcreantsWriting Craft / ConflictConflict, Conflict, Conflict…The Secret to Punching Up Your Fiction: by Brian Andrews @careerauthorsWriting Craft / Literary DevicesTone vs Mood: Difference, Meanings, and Examples: by Polly WattWriting Craft / MiscellaneousPhilosophical Stakes in a Story: @AuthorDesmond
@writerunboxedLife vs Fate Worse Than Death: @cyallowitzBoost Your Dedication to Writing: 5 Techniques to Excel in Your Craft: @TheLeighShulmanHow to Master Story Rhythm: @SueColetta1 @theIWSGHow To Cook Up A Cookbook: by Lucy Burdette @careerauthorsExpressive Writing: Creative and Cathartic: by Joy York @storyempireWriting: Your “AHA” Moment: @lindasclareAccomplishment vs Failure Stories: @cyallowitzEpistolary Novel: Definition and Examples: by Shane MillarWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingThe Third Act (Secrets of Story Structure): by @KMWeilandThe Seven Universal Story Plots: A Complete Guide: from The Art of NarrativeWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / ResearchUnderstanding Primary and Secondary Sources: A Writer’s Guide to Mastering the Research Process: by Suzanne LieuranceWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarExamples of Misplaced Modifiers: @TheGrammarDivaWriting Craft / Revisions / CritiquesHow to be a Good Critique Group Partner: by Ellen BuikemaWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionAre Character Descriptions Important? @karencvWriting Tools / Miscellaneous10 Essential Tools and Resources to Perfect Your Manuscript Edit: @TheLeighShulman

 

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On LitLinks:
Share on X

The post LitLinks appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

Getting Comfortable with Tooting Your Own Horn: 4 Tips for Making Promotion More Palatable

By Patricia Crisafulli, @TrishCrisafulli

The first time I had to write a professional bio, a friend of mine staged a public-relations intervention. “This says nothing,” she said, shaking her head at the scant lines I had written. “Where are your accomplishments?” In the end, she had to write the first draft, and I was only allowed to edit for accuracy.

Despite my long-held dreams of becoming an author and holding a book with my name on the spine, being promotional—and, more to the point, self-promotional—has always been challenging for me. The difficulty is rooted in my upbringing. When I was growing up, the youngest in a trio of sisters, my mother told me, “You have to stop doing so much. You make other people feel bad.” 

Suffice it to say, I believed that talking about what I had done or wanted to do was tantamount to bragging—and bragging was rude and cruel. So even when I accomplished something, I had to minimize or dismiss it. Fortunately, I learned a different lesson over time.

Many years ago, I read a quote from Marianne Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us… Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.” Even now, re-reading these words, I can feel something shift inside me, a loosening in my chest that lets me take a deep breath.

With each inhalation, I find the courage to carry out one of the primary responsibilities of being a writer. In a word—it’s stewardship, an attitude and a perspective that make promotion more palatable.

This is our job. Let’s face it—marketing and promoting may not come easily to writers who are more likely to be introverts (even when we appear to be extroverts). We tell ourselves, “Once our books are out there, people will find them.” But in this age of social media and building a platform—not to mention getting noticed in a crowded category such as mysteries—we have to toot our own horns. It’s our job and our obligation to ourselves and to our books.Marketing is really community building. I know, I know … This one sounds like rationalization and justification. But it really is true. Only by speaking up and speaking out about what we’ve written can we engage with a community. Readers are always on the lookout for the next great read, and they deserve to know about our books. Granted, that can be scary because not everyone is going to be a raving fan. Some people will like our stories, some will love them, and some—well, maybe not so much. That’s to be expected—people’s tastes are as varied as their life experiences. But only by connecting with a community can we become good stewards of our stories that deserve to find their readers.It’s not you—it’s them. The characters, that is. When I began writing what became my Ohnita Harbor Mystery Series, I sketched out my protagonist, Gabriela, an authenticator-librarian turned accidental sleuth. Then came her feisty Italian American mother, Agnese; the artist-roofer and love interest, Daniel Red Deer; and a host of quirky characters. In the beginning, they were little more than cartoons, until I got to know them through the process of writing and rewriting. Suddenly, they took on lives of their own and even surprised me at times. The more I fell in love with my characters, the more they deserved to have their story (albeit a fictional one) told—and the more responsibility I felt to introduce them to readers. A few weeks after a book launch event for my first novel, The Secrets of Ohnita Harbor, a reader approached me and said, “I’ve been so worried about Gabriela. She gets herself in so much trouble!” That was the best reaction I could ever imagine—for her (and for me).You’re going to inspire others. One of the first podcasts to host me was Meg Leddy’s Burnout: What I Have Learned So Far. Rather than talking only about my debut mystery novel, I had to get personal about finding the time to create while juggling numerous responsibilities. It was one of the best conversations of my professional life. I unearthed a truth that I had not fully embraced before that podcast: in the midst of a busy life, I energize myself by doing more, not less—as long as that “more” is something I love. To my delight, that podcast inspired others. I heard from friends and strangers alike that they found encouragement to continue their own journeys into creativity and life enrichment. Instead of making others feel bad as I had been admonished as a teenager, I actually made others feel good. 

Yes, our stories are born of hard work, imagination, and talent. But once they are in the world, they exist outside of us. That’s when we have to step up to the challenge of nurturing each book, short story, essay, blog, or any other creative expression. Recognizing that responsibility gives us both courage and permission to toot our horns—and, while we’re at it, ring a few bells. 

 

 

 

Patricia Crisafulli is a New York Times bestselling author and an award-winning fiction writer. She launched her Ohnita Harbor Mystery Series from Woodhall Press with The Secrets of Ohnita Harbor, followed by the sequel, The Secrets of Still Waters Chasm. The third book in the series will be published in 2025.

4 Tips for Making Promotion More Palatable by @TrishCrisafulli :
Share on X

 

Image by Daniel Dan outsideclick from Pixabay

The post Getting Comfortable with Tooting Your Own Horn: 4 Tips for Making Promotion More Palatable appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

LitLinks

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

Have you visited the WKB lately?  Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox!  Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB on Facebook here.

Business / MiscellaneousHow to Analyze a Magazine Before Writing for It: @LindaGilden @EdieMelsonAI and Indie Authors: Navigating Rights, Ethics, and Opportunities: A Webinar with Orna Ross and Matty Dalrymple: @indieauthoralliConferences and Events / MiscellaneousKlett-Cotta’s Martina Hefter Wins the German Book Prize: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers5 Great Psychological Thrillers About Reunions and Old Secrets: by Amber and Danielle Brown @crimereads10 Thrilling Books About Women on the Verge: by Holly Baxter @electriclit @electricliteratureComing to Terms With Climate Fiction: by Molly Templeton @reactormag @literaryreactorIn The Spotlight: Jill Johnson’s Devil’s Breath: @margotkinbergSix Great Thrillers Where Bodies Are Hidden: by Barbara Gayle Austin @crimereadsCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeThe 7 Habits of Highly Ineffective Writers: Powerful Lessons in Personal Sabotage: by Joni B. Cole @JaneFriedmanLessons Learned from 13 Years as an Author Entrepreneur: @thecreativepennWhat Is The Perceived Value Of A Writer? by Lisa NormanHow to Handle Writer Jealousy: by Kate M. Colby9 Things My Canine Friends Taught Me About Blogging: @ediemelsonTorn Between Two Projects: @jamesscottbellBeyond the Pages: The Legacy of Our Words: by L. A. MitchellHow to Trust Yourself as a Writer (Not Relying on Advice Too Much): @KMWeilandWhat learning French has to do with writing: @pubcoachEmbracing the Power of Words: A Guide for Writers: @KHutch0767 @ediemelsonGenres / HumorHow Authors Can Use Humor in Their Stories: by Doug LewarsGenres / MiscellaneousWriting Graphic Novels and Comics With Rob Harrell: @WriteNowCoachGenres / MysteryMake Mysteries Less Complicated: Humdrum Settings as the Backdrop for Tense Mysteries: @margotkinbergWhen Multiple Narrators Tell the Story of a Crime: by Kelsey Rae Dimberg @crimereadsGenres / Picture BooksHow to Write a Children’s Book in 9 Steps: by Angie AndriotGenres / RomanceSeasoned Romance Empowers us All: @stellafosse @womenwritersPromo / BloggingBlog Idea Clear Out: @KMAllan_writerThe Truth About Writing On Medium: The Surprising Pros And Cons You Can’t Ignore: @colleen_m_storyPromo / Book Descriptions and CopywritingLoglines—One-Sentence Torture Devices for Writers: @KelleyLindberg1 @RMFWPromo / Book ReviewsHow to Write a Book Review: Tips and Tricks: by Brandi BadgettPromo / MiscellaneousUnlocking the magic: 10 tips for crafting irresistible children’s book freebies: by Chelsea Tornetto @sandrabeckwithTypes of Marketing Campaigns for Authors: @KarenHWhiting @EdieMelsonPublishing / MiscellaneousAsk the Book Doctor: What Agents and Publishers Want: by Bobbie ChristmasBetween the Lines: What Is Missing in the Diversity in Publishing Discourse: by Thomas Gebremedhin @literaryhub @lithubPublishing / Options / Self-PublishingMy First Novel Was a New York Times Bestseller. I’m Self-Publishing My Third Novel Today: @cynswanauthor @janefriedmanPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / PitchesPitching your story in 3 mins or less: @katysegrovewriterPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / QueryingIs a publishing professional going to steal your book? @lisapoissoPublishing / Process / Services to AvoidSome Rare Accountability for a Fake Literary Agency Operation: @victoriastraussWriting Craft / Beginnings9 Ways To Craft The Perfect Opening Line: by Kathryn, The Fake RedheadWriting Craft / Characters / AntagonistsHow to create a great villain: @nathanbransfordWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentInnocent Archetype: Definition, Examples, and Writing Tips: by Shane MillarWriting Craft / Characters / ProtagonistsFive Tricks to Make a Badass Protagonist Less Insufferable: by Chris WinkleWriting Craft / MiscellaneousGoing Beyond Those First 50 Pages: by Sarah “Sally” HamerFood and Drink as Essential Elements in Fiction: @crystallyn14 @careerauthorsUsing the Enneagram to Find the YOU in Your Story With Dani Abernathy: @daniabernathyauthor @sacha_black7 Tips to Writing a Story with Two Time Periods: @cwallowitzShowing Thoughts in a Compelling Way: @LauraDrakeBooks4 Must-Ask Questions Before You Start Your Novel: @Janice_HardyShould Your Novel Have a Prologue? @bang2write @WriterThesaurus3 Important Reminders About Writing Heavy Characters: @bang2writeWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingHow a Pantser Learned to Plot: by Tonya R. MooreWriting Craft / RevisionA Deep Look at Deep Editing: @livewritethriveWriting Craft / Revisions / CritiquesThe Ultimate Guide for Giving and Receiving Feedback: @angelaackermanHow to Find Beta Readers and Critique Partners: @authorSATWriting Craft / ScenesBring Scenes to Life with Nonverbals: @foxprintedWriting Craft / Series5 Tips to Keep a Long-Running Series Fresh: by Brian Freeman @careerauthorsWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionUsing Colors in Your Books: @Nicholas_Rossis @storyempireWriting Craft / TropesMagician Archetype: by Shane MillarWriting Craft / Word CraftingWords that pack a punch: by Jan Sikes @storyempireWriting Craft / World-BuildingHow Much of My World Should I Build? by Oren AshkenaziWriting Tools / MiscellaneousWorth Every Penny: Six Writing Investments That Paid Off Big-Time: by Maggie Smith @rmfw

 

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On LitLinks:
Share on X

The post LitLinks appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

Make Mysteries Less Complicated

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig 

There’s something to be said for making mysteries less complicated. It’s no fun for the reader when the murderer is revealed, and they’re not sure who the character is. It’s also no fun if the mystery is so convoluted that it’s hard to follow.

I’ve read a couple of mysteries lately that were very confusing. Once the puzzle was solved, I had to go back through the book to try to see how the pieces fit together. I read reviews of the books, curious what other readers thought. Like me, they’d been lost in the plot.

Here are a few tips to keep your mysteries complex without making them too complicated:

Limit suspect number:  I usually work with five suspects, with one of them eliminated in some fashion during the course of the book. If you have too few suspects, the mystery might not have enough of a surprise ending. Too many, and they’re just tough to keep up with.

Remind readers who the suspects are and how they connect to the victim:  You can work with a slightly larger cast of suspects, but you’ll need to remind readers who the suspects are if they’ve been off-stage for too long. It’s also important to quickly remind readers who the suspect is (David, Jack’s former employee, entered the shop).

Avoid similar-sounding names: Avoid names that start with the same letter, or that rhyme with each other (Bill and Bob, Stan and Dan).

Cut out unnecessary and confusing elements:  In one of my recent mysteries, I’d outlined two cold case deaths that the sleuth was investigating. When I was writing the book, though, it seemed confusing to have two deaths that had taken place a decade or more earlier. Instead, I had one cold case death and one recent death of a character who knew too much.

If you write mysteries, what have I missed? As a reader, what elements do you find confusing in books?

Make Mysteries Less Complicated:
Share on X

 

Image by Roderick Qiu from Pixabay

The post Make Mysteries Less Complicated appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

LitLinks

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

Have you visited the WKB lately?  Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox!  Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB on Facebook here.

Business / MiscellaneousWhen to Seek Permission for Quotes in Memoirs, Maximizing Global Distribution, and More: @MichaelLaRonn and @sacha_blackConferences and Events / MiscellaneousUK: The £50,000 Baillie Gifford Prize Names Its 2024 Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers5 Family Dramas Full of Chaos, Rivalry and Devotion: by Kelsey Hall @booktribFive Sci-Fi Stories About Body Hopping: by Lorna Wallace @reactormag @literaryreactorTracking the Sharp Turn of the Campus Novel Over 30 Years: by Savannah Cordova @reedsyhqCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Catherine Chidgey’s Pet: @margotkinbergFour Gothic and Neo-Gothic Novels About Mothers: by Gail Lukasik @crimereads12 Essential Types of Poems Every Writer Should Know: @davechessonCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingStop Letting Circumstances Get In the Way of Writing: @ninaamirSix Writers on Getting Words on the Page: @lithub @literaryhubCreativity and Inspiration / Success10 Things Every Author Must Do to Be Successful: @bookgalCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeWhen You Realize You Don’t Want to be a Writer After All: by Sarah Callender @writerunboxedA Journalism Career as Inspiration: by Don Butler @ButlerDonBenefits of Writing Your Work Using Pen and Paper: @Christinaq.WriterWhen Your First Language is Role-Playing Games: by Edward Carmien’Tips to Help Develop a Healthy Perspective on Winning Writing Awards: @CindyDevoted @ediemelsonWhen authors pivot to a new genre: by Alessandra TorreProven Keys to Writing a Good Book: @WriteNowCoachRethinking Your Bucket List Accomplishments: @terahsharris @writerunboxedSo You Call Yourself a Writer. Now What? by E.S. FosterGenres / FantasyFive Common Problems in Urban Fantasy Worldbuilding: by Oren AshkenaziGenres / HistoricalUsing Newspapers to Inform Historical Fiction: by Liz Gauffreau @storyempireGenres / MysteryGenre Expectations: Writing Classic Mystery and Cozy Mystery: @ACW_Author @EdieMelsonEmpathy and Crime Fiction: How Do You Make Readers Root for the “Unrootable”? by Steve Hamilton @crimereadsCrime Fiction With an “Inverted Mystery” Structure: @margotkinbergPromo / Book Descriptions and CopywritingWriting a Fiction Blurb: by Stephen Geez @storyempireGoodbye Boring Bios! How To Write A Bio That Gets Results: @bang2writePromo / PlatformsSpontaneous Generation and Author Platform: by Doug Sofer @JaneFriedmanPublishing / News / International PublishingThe Fast, Exuberant Rise of Comics in Italy: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesItaly Reports Book Industry Slowdown: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Self-PublishingSelf-Publishing Training Manuals And Focusing On Your True Fans With Guy Windsor: @thecreativepennWriting Craft / BeginningsFirst Page Critique – Untitled Comedic Crime/Black Comedy: @burke_writerWriting Craft / Characters / ProtagonistsIf your protagonist is bored, you can bet your reader will be too: @nathanbransfordWriting Craft / ConflictWriting Authentic Battle Scenes: by Ian J. MillerWriting Craft / DialogueHow to Write Dialogue (with Examples): by Polly WattWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmFive Ways House in the Cerulean Sea Gets Oppression Wrong: by Chris WinkleAgainst All Odds, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Shows Us How to Make Sequeldom Fun: by Emmet Asher-Perrin @reactormag @literaryreactorWriting Craft / Literary DevicesHow to Enhance Your Theme Through a Central Metaphor: @jessicastrawser @careerauthorsWriting Craft / MiscellaneousThe Secret Sauce for Writers: Intuition: by KimBoo York @janefriedmanCo-Authoring: How to Keep the Drama On the Page: by Midge Raymond @janefriedmanUsing Fiction to Interrogate Celebrity, Politics, and Mental Health – A Talk with Elissa R. Sloan: @kristanhoffman @writerunboxedWhat is Freytag’s Pyramid?: Definition, Examples & More: @themaltesetigerMaking Trouble During An Ordinary Day And Other Character Words of Wisdom: @killzoneauthors2 Options That are BETTER than the Advice to Write What You Know: @TimSuddeth @EdieMelsonThe Chronology of Story: Foreshadowing: by Kay DiBiancaCan a Prologue Establish Dramatic Irony? by Oren AshkenaziMoving metaphors give me vertigo: @jbernoffHow to Write the Grand Gesture for Any Story, Any Genre: @septcfawkesWriting: The Middling Middle: @lindasclareWriting Craft / Revisions / CritiquesYour Beta Reader Options: @LisaPoisso @TheIWSGWriting Craft / SeriesAbout Writing Trilogies: @worddreams @storyempireWriting Craft / TropesHow to Strengthen Our Story with Tropes: @jamigoldWriting Craft / Word CraftingSome Clean Cuss Words For You: @TheGrammarDiva153 Vivid Verbs and How to Use Them Effectively: by Randal GilmoreTighten Up: by Ann Gordon @rmfwWriting Craft / World-BuildingBalancing Story and Worldbuilding at Any Writing Stage: by E.S. FosterWriting Tools / AppsAI is Just a Tool; Your Creativity Makes Your Content Yours: @FauziaBurke

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On LitLinks:
Share on X

The post LitLinks appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

A Journalism Career as Inspiration

by Don Butler

I once had a newspaper assignment to go to Canada’s west coast with a group searching for the rare white “spirit bear.” I never dreamed that decades later, that adventure would become a chapter in my latest murder mystery, Norman’s Conquest. But my career as a journalist has offered up countless episodes and experiences that fit perfectly into my current career as a novelist.

When I was young, I wanted to be a fiction writer. Although I chose journalism as my field of study in university, I did so because I imagined it would hone the writerly skills I needed to become a successful author.

As it happened, journalism proved endlessly fascinating for many years (and it paid the rent). But when I finally stepped away, I discovered that my newspaper experiences infused the fiction I would eventually write.

Newspaper characters populate both my novels: 2021’s A Life of Bliss and this year’s follow-up, Norman’s Conquest. Travel editor Bliss Browning and managing editor Norman Pugsley are the titular characters of my two books, augmented by a quirky cast of newsroom denizens.

In part, I was simply following Mark Twain’s famous dictum to “write what you know.” After so much time and so many different jobs at the Ottawa Citizen newspaper in Canada’s capital, I was certainly qualified.

I also recognized that some of the journalists I met along the way were colourful characters – prime fodder for my books.

While most of my fictional journalists are composites of people I worked with, a few are more closely drawn from real characters.

The best example is a fictional character named Renata Richter, the egghead editor-in-chief of the Ottawa Daily Advocate, a recruit from academia. She speaks five languages, tells her writers to let her eccentric story ideas “marinate,” and loves special print sections focused on far-off places. I once worked for an odd, if lovable, editor quite a bit like that.

I’d never heard the expression “Christ on a bicycle” until one of my editors uttered the phrase. It shows up as Norman Pugsley’s favourite catchphrase in both my books.

There are journalists in my novels who spend inordinate amounts of time talking to their broker on the phone, take smoke breaks that consume more of their shift than actual work or use the F-word with comical frequency – all inspired by people I worked with.

I also drew on my newspaper experience for a seminal scene in Norman’s Conquest. Through epic incompetence, the Daily Advocate publishes a highly defamatory story linking a senator to the murder of a sex worker. Though Norman Pugsley’s role in the publishing blunder is peripheral at best, his editors blame him, derailing his hitherto stellar career.

That never happened to me or anyone I worked closely with, but because of my newspaper background, I could present this key episode of the book in a way that was plausible – not only to the public but to my fellow journalists.

My portrayal of all these characters and events is satirical, but there’s at least a tiny grain of truth to them. They also inject humour that leavens the tone of both novels.

Some of my personal journalistic experiences provide grist for my plots. One chapter in Norman’s Conquest describes the spirit bear encounter I mentioned earlier – a mostly faithful retelling of my own experience stalking the bear.

Pierre Trudeau, one of Canada’s longest-serving prime ministers, makes a cameo appearance in another chapter. I covered Trudeau during my time as a political reporter for the Ottawa Citizen, so I felt confident including him in the novel.

Had I never been a journalist, it’s possible I could have invented similar characters and story elements. But those portrayals would likely have been less credible – and much less fun to write.

The feedback I’ve received about Norman’s Conquest from other journalists has been gratifying. One, a former editor-in-chief of three newspapers in Canada, said my portrayal of newsroom culture was “dead on … a very effective rendition of a particular milieu.”

It all goes to show that, as usual, Mark Twain knew what he was talking about.

 

Norman’s Conquest: Amazon US

Norman’s Conquest: Amazon CA

 

 

 

About the author: Don Butler had a long career as a journalist at the Ottawa Citizen, where he worked in a variety of roles, including executive editor. He lives in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, and is married to journalist Christina Spencer. His first novel, a travel mystery called A Life of Bliss, was released in 2021. Norman’s Conquest, released in May of this year, includes many characters from his first book. He’s already planning a third mystery in the series.

Norman’s Conquest: Amazon US

Norman’s Conquest: Amazon CA

 

How My Journalism Career Shaped My Mysteries by Don Butler:
Share on X

The post A Journalism Career as Inspiration appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

LitLinks

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

Have you visited the WKB lately?  Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox!  Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB on Facebook here.

Sorry about the lack of LitLinks last week–we were caught up in Hurricane Helene in Western NC. I’ve evacuated to my mom’s house until utilities are back up (at least some of them). Thankful to have made it through the storm safely and with no property damage. :)

Business / MiscellaneousWriting: Who Are Your Readers? @lindasclare6 Hidden Benefits of Creating a Book Proposal: by Anne Dubuisson and Jon McGoran @janefriedmanWriting to Market: @Virgilante @storyempireAuthor Mindset Tips And Publishing In Germany With AD Wilk: @thecreativepennConferences and Events / MiscellaneousLondon’s British Academy Book Prize: The 2024 Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe UK’s £50,000 Wolfson Prize Names a 2024 Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCanada’s Cundill History Prize Names Its 2024 Finalists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationHow Inner Peace Invites Creativity: @SueColetta1 @storyempire25 Fall Writing Prompts: @BrynDonovan82 Character Ideas To Spark Your Creativity: by Lisa TaylorCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers3 Short Story Writers on the Stories That They Reread Again and Again: by Brandon J. Choi @lithub @literaryhubCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: D.V. Bishop’s Ritual of Fire: @margotkinberg15 Authors Who Started As Librarians: by Deirdre Sugiuchi @electriclit @electricliteratureFive Thorny Retellings That Offer a Twist on “Beauty and the Beast”: by Rachel Ayers @literaryreactor @reactormag5 Speculative and Science Fiction Novels to Lose Your Body In: by Ben Berman Ghan @booktribReading Words of Wisdom: by Dale Ivan Smith @killzoneauthorsFive Works About Extended Trips and Unexpected Delays: @jamesdnicoll @literaryreactor @reactormag7 Literary Villains and a Group of Malevolent Nuns: by Minrose Gwin @electriclit @electricliteratureCrime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Gabriel Bergmoser’s The Caretaker: @margotkinbergIn The Spotlight: Claire Baylis’ Dice: @margotkinbergGothic Fiction with a Twist: by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore @crimereads9 Books Set in the Countryside: by Siân Hughes @electriclit @electricliterature9 Books About Life-Changing Encounters With Nature: by Julie Heffernan @electricliterature @electriclit8 Books About Youthful Mistakes That Come Back to Haunt You: @electriclit @electricliteratureCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingCrafting Your Writing Success Route: Mastering Focus for Unstoppable Goals: @TheLeighShulmanCreate Your Habit Recipe: @WriteNowCoachCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing QuicklyThree Guidelines for a Three-Day Novel—Or Any Fast First Draft: @theladygreer @writerunboxedCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeLiving the Author Life: @diymfaReflections on writing with Frances Peck: @pubcoachThe Price of the Artist’s Journey: @spressfieldThe Power of Batch Producing Content: @seejavaciawriteUnderstand Your Writing Process for Better Results: by Lynette M. BurrowsWhat Makes a Successful Creative Life? @foxprintedThe pros and cons of dating a writer: by James Folta @lithub @literaryhubHow to Treat Your Inner Writer: by Melanie MoleShould You Abandon Your Novel? @jamesscottbellWhy You Lose Motivation After You Take Action: @WritersCoachHow to do unpleasant tasks well: @jbernoffWriters: how to stop sabotaging your rest ethic: @pubcoachReflections on writing with Laura Petrecca: @pubcoach wkb31What Writers Should Know: Self-Care: @dlfinnauthor @storyempireWriting With Alert Watchfulness: @jamesscottbellFive Ways to Start Fresh: @WriteNowCoachHow an Amateur Writer Becomes an Expert: @MegDowellHow Our Diet and Culinary Heritage Informs the Way We Speak: by Iheoma Nwachukwu @lithub @literaryhubThe Home-team Disadvantage for Writers: @foxprintedGenres / FantasyCan a Gendered Magic System Be Affirming? by
Oren AshkenaziHow to Write Dark Fantasy: A Guide for New Authors: @davechessonGenres / HorrorWriting Horror And Selling Direct With David Viergutz: @thecreativepennThe Surprising Benefits of Scary Stories–with Helpful Tips for Writing Them: by Beth Castrodale @colleen_m_storyGenres / MysteryGas Stations as an Element in Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergEscaping the Past as an Element of Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergAdjusting to Life After Prison as an Element in Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergTelevision and Internet personalities as Elements of Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergBritish Columbia as a Setting in Crime Fiction: @margotkinbergWhat is a Screwball Thriller? by Sandra A. Block @crimereadsGenres / Picture BooksCan AI Help You Write a Children’s Book? @FictionNotesPromo / Blogging7 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Deciding Whether To Follow A Blog: @HughRoberts05Promo / Book Descriptions and CopywritingHow to write “About the Author”: @jbernoffPromo / CrowdfundingCrowdfunding For Authors 101: by Jason BrickPromo / Miscellaneous5 reasons book endorsements and testimonials are essential for every author: @sandrabeckwithPromo / Social Media TipsUsing Social Media to Market Your Book: by Maggie Smith @rmfwSocial Media is Not Just for Marketing- A plethora of networking opportunities: by Joy York @storyempirePromo / SpeakingHow to Choose the Best Public Speaking Coach: by Gigi RosenbergPromo / WebsitesMaking Your Author Website Friendlier: @burke_writerPublishing / MiscellaneousUS Banned Books Week: PRH’s ‘Banned Wagon’ Rides Again: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCensorship: PEN America Sees US Book Bannings Triple: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingPoland: ‘Best Year in a Decade’ in Reading Rates: by Jaroslaw Adamowski @pubperspectivesIFRRO Calls on Ottawa To Make Copyright Reform: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Hybrid PublishingWriting as a hybrid author: by Alessandra TorrePublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / QueryingWhat Makes Acquiring Editors Stop Reading a Manuscript? by Dana Isaacson @careerauthorsPublishing / Process / Distribution10 Things to Know About IngramSpark’s Self-Publishing Costs and Options: @WogahnWriting Craft / BeginningsWriting Tips: Nailing The Start Of Your Story: @KMAllan_writerFirst words: famous first lines: by Roberta Cheadle @storyempireWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentEnrich the Story You’re Writing with a Character’s Psychological Issues: @DiAnnMillsHow to Build Your Characters in Six Easy Steps: by Nat LeblancThe Lover Archetype: Definition, Examples, and Tips: by Linda O’DonnellHow I Develop My Characters: by Susie Black @womenwritersCharacter Driven = Driven Character: by Donald Maass @writerunboxedWriting Craft / Characters / EmotionFilling Your Characters with Emotion: by N.L. Holmes @floridawriters1Writing Craft / Common MistakesWhat is Head Hopping? And Why is it Bad? (with Examples): @septcfawkesWriting Craft / DialogueWhy Dialogue Is Important in Writing: @diymfaWriting Craft / DiversityForgetting your character is disabled isn’t a “good representation” flex: Writing Disability Quick Tips: by Cyrus the CyborgWriting Craft / EndingsHow to Avoid a False Ending: by Chris WinkleWriting Craft / Flashback and Back StoryThe art of seamless backstory: avoiding the dreaded info dump in your writing: @HelenaFairfax4 Tips To Master Backstory In Deep Point Of View: by Lisa Hall-WilsonWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmDeep Space Nine and the Most Fantastical Concept in All of Fiction: @Repino1 @reactromag @literaryreactorWriting Craft / MiscellaneousGame Writing with Text Adventure Games: by Misha Grifka Wander @sfwaThe Importance of Interiority in Novels and Memoirs: by Mary Kole @janefriedmanRichly layered storytelling: @VaughnRoycroft @writerunboxedFive Clever Solutions That Aren’t Really Clever: by Oren AshkenaziWhat Makes a Reader and Character Connect? @TheRyanLanzOn Prologues and Epilogues: by Abigail Owen @womenwritersIntroduction to Game Writing and Playtesting: by John Dale Beety @sfwaWriting: Watch Your Sentences: @lindasclareWhat Were You Thinking? Compelling Ways To Show Thoughts: @LauraDrakeBooksWriting Craft / POVCommon POV Violations and How to Catch Them: @livewritethriveWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingWriting: Your Story’s Shape: @lindasclareHow to Plot a Novel: A Step-by-Step Guide for Writers: @davechessonThe Missing Link in Three-Act Structure: @LisaPoissoWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarHow to use semicolons without trying too hard to be cool: @NathanielTowerA Writer Looks at This Crazy Language Called English: @AneMulligan @ediemelsonWriting Craft / Revisions / CritiquesCritiques and Writing: @karencvWriting Craft / Scenes / ConflictConflict and Stakes Compendium: by John August (Podcast)Writing Craft / Settings and DescriptionSetting as Character: Bringing Your Place to Life: by Ann Garvin @careerauthorsSuspenseful Settings in Novels: by Renee Roberson @finishedpagesWriting Craft / TropesUsing Tropes: The Good, the Bad, and the Amazing OR How To Upcycle Tropes and Keep Them Fresh: @beccapuglisi @theiwsgA Trope with a Twist: @CarriePadgettWriting Craft / Word CraftingThe Power of Power Words To Connect Writers with Readers: @SarahSallyHamer @ediemelson200+ Negative Adjectives to Use in Fiction: by Linda O’Donnell

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On LitLinks:
Share on X

The post LitLinks appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

Quick Update on Translations

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

From time to time, other writers email me asking for my updated opinion on various translation platforms. I get it–it might seem like there are no great options out there.

As I’m writing this, I have 37 translated books and a few in the works. Although translation is not a big income generator for me, it’s rewarding to reach new readers in other languages. The translators I work with are quick, friendly, and professional. The translation publishing process, however, is nearly always a pain in the neck.

Babelcube. This is still the platform I’m primarily using. I don’t enjoy using it, but some of the peculiarities in formatting, etc. have gotten ironed out, meaning less hands-on time for me. The main issue is that books will sometimes never make it into print (the digital editions aren’t a problem) because their system will throw them out. When you try to find out why they’re being thrown out, you’ll likely get an inscrutable answer.

Tektime. I did enjoy working with Tektime originally. Now, however, the publication process seems unnecessarily complex and cumbersome. Support is much better than Babelcube, however. Unfortunately, they’ve decided to move to a subscription model for authors, unless you’re only releasing two books through them.

Other options: Let’s say you’ve already found a translator through a marketplace like Babelcube or Tektime. If your translator is willing to try something else, you can do a royalty split through a distributor like Draft2Digital or BundleRabbit, now called PubShare. You’ll want to make sure that the split favors the translator as it does with Babelcube and Tektime since they’re the ones who have risked their time and crafted the project.

That’s it for an update. :) Wish I had better news on the translation front. Most translators still want to work on Babelcube, but if you find someone willing to try something different, Draft2Digital is an excellent option.

Have you put any books up for translation? What platforms have you used? How has it worked for you?

Update on Translation Platforms:
Share on X

 

 

Image by Lucas Wendt from Pixabay

The post Quick Update on Translations appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.