L. Diane Wolfe's Blog, page 16

The Insecure Writer's Support Group and Murder at the Marina

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

We are posting a day early since Wednesday is the 4th of July here in the US.

The IWSG’s Twitter pitch party is July 19. You don’t want to miss this opportunity. We signed a wonderful book coming out this September, Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China, from a #IWSGPit tweet.

Today’s question - What are your ultimate writing goals, and how have they changed over time (if at all)?

I...

Pros and Cons to Having a Pen Name by Chrys Fey

To have a pen name or not to have a pen name. That is the question.

Many writers just starting out or who are contemplating publishing for the first time (including published authors considering publishing under a different genre) wonder if they need a pen name or not. Well, need is a silly way to think of a pen name. No, you don’t need a pen name. But do you want one? That question could leave writers divide. Yes and no, they’d probably say. So how can they decide? Weighing the pros and cons...

IWSG and News, Write With Fey, Bayou Writers Conference

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

I’m a day early because a new book comes out today that is perfect for writers.

Today’s question - What's harder for you to come up with, book titles or character names?
Neither, really. Most of my characters came to me pre-named. Others came from the Bible. (Matthew, Mark, James, etc.) My fiction series title was a suggestion from my husband and my non-fiction books are titled af...

What You Might Not Know About the Author Behind Some Very Messy Medieval Magic

C. Lee McKenzie has a new release today.
But before we get to that, I asked her to share some things you might not know about her. This was she told me:
I wanted to be an archeologist and had that as my life plan until I hit college. Then I discovered how woefully ill-equipped I was. I’m not a patient person. I tend to rush to the end of things so I can move on to the next item. Using a delicate brush to very carefully reveal tiny shards from the long-lost past, just wouldn’t have worked. Besi...

Insecure Writer's Support Group and Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

I’m a day early because I have big news.

Today’s question - It’s spring! Does this season inspire you to write more than others or not?

Inspired or not, I’m usually too busy with releases and DLP stuff to write much. But summer is more my season since it’s so hot here. It’s a good excuse to stay inside and write.


The big news is the release of the 3rd IWSG anthology!


Tick Tock: A Sti...

Dancing Lemur Press Seeking Intern

Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. is seeking an intern for marketing research and development.

Location not an issue but person must be available between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm Eastern. Must be someone comfortable with Internet navigation, compiling data, and phone calls.

Depending on performance, skills, and quick response, internship could quickly lead to paid position.

Visit Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and send an email stating interest and qualifications.

If you can spread the word, we’d be most grat...

Insecure Writer's Support Group, Revolution 2050 Release

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Today’s question -
When your writing life is a bit cloudy or filled with rain, what do you do to dig down and keep on writing? 

What writing life?

I think I actually write better when times are darker. Writing is an emotional release for me and I use it as such to get through those rainy days.

Now if someone could just give me a 40-hour day, I could write.

* * *
Dancing Lemur Pres...

JL Campbell and Why You Will Love the Hero

Please welcome JL Campbell as she discusses the hero in her latest book, The Thick of Things .

Three reasons readers will love the hero:

For mature people, a lapse in decorum means it’s time to take stock. Douglas has an out-of-character experience, however, he’s not someone to wallow in his mistakes. Instead, he convinces Khalila that she needs to take a chill pill, face reality and get past their initial foul-up.

Despite Khalila's reluctance to interface with him, Douglas salvages the situatio...

The Insecure Writer's Support Group and Corners

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

March’s question - How do you celebrate when you achieve a writing goal/finish a story?

It’s been a while since I finished a story. But I do know what it’s like to bring a book to fruition. And today is a special one - one of the best books Dancing Lemur Press, LLC has ever produced. I believe in all of our books, but this is one of the best stories and best written.


“Austin’s me...

Checklist for a Great Query

What makes a query letter stand out from the pack?

Obviously a good summary of a great story is important. Writers need to cover the who, what, when, where, why, and how in just a couple paragraphs. They need a great hook. They need a quality story worthy of querying.

But beyond the synopsis, what else can a writer do to insure his query is the best it can be? It’s all in the details, and those little things are important.

Here’s a good checklist:

Make sure the publisher accepts your genre. D...