L.E. DeLano's Blog, page 17
February 8, 2019
February 4, 2019
It’s A Book Birthday Giveaway!
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That’s right! This Thursday, February 7th, TRAVELER is having a birthday! To celebrate the book that made me a traditionally published author, I’m giving away the following:
Signed copies of both TRAVELER and DREAMER
One Glitter Mousse candle, courtesy of Nox to Lumos Candle Co.
Journal
Dream Guide
Book lover bookmarks
Contest open to everyone. To enter, head over to Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, or Facebook and like my giveaway post before midnight on February 7th. Bonus entries for every share or retweet! Winner will be selected at random and announced on Friday morning.
Good luck to all!
February 1, 2019
Stephen King: 14 Tips On Writing
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January 18, 2019
January 16, 2019
Big, Big, (I MEAN REALLY BIG) News!
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That’s right! Swoon has inked a deal that gives A&E exclusive access to their publishing catalog, and that, of course, includes TRAVELER and DREAMER! Nothing official yet – it’s still early – but fingers crossed! Wouldn’t you love to see a multiverse traveling Irish pirate on a television screen? I know I would – along with a dozen or more works by my favorite Swoon authors!
So here’s to a successful new adventure – hopefully for all of us!
January 14, 2019
Sometimes Just A (Foreign) Word Will Do
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Last week, I came across the word “Mamihlapinatapai.” This word exists in the Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego and is listed in The Guinness Book of World Records as the “most succinct word”, and is widely considered one of the hardest words to translate.
The basic gist of it is this:
“It is that look across the table when two people are sharing an unspoken but private moment. When each knows the other understands and is in agreement with what is being expressed. An expressive and meaningful silence.”
It’s not like I plan on using it directly in a book (but ya never know . . .). It’s sure to be used indirectly, though. Just reading the definition sets the scene up in my mind and the gears start turning.
The moment when he slips and tells her she’s amazing, or beautiful, and she realizes he’s looking at her with love in his eyes.
The moment she and he both realize that to truly follow her dream, her life can’t include him.
The moment they both acknowledge that their loved one can’t be saved until he hits rock-bottom and finally wants to save himself.
So the next time you’re hitting a wall, or pounding through that writer’s block, try Googling interesting or beautiful foreign words. You just never know where they’ll take you.
January 9, 2019
January 4, 2019
A Writing Tip That (Oddly) Worked For Me: Use Comic Sans
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I saw this tip on Reddit and hell if it doesn’t work. Change the font on your manuscript to Comic Sans.
First, it makes it easier on the eyes (Comic Sans is known to be a ‘friendly’ font for those with dyslexia), but it honest-to-God forces you to look at the manuscript differently. It turns it new-ish and sort of reroutes your brain because you know this just ain’t right.
I can’t explain how it works, really. I only know it does. Some divine acts you simply shouldn’t question.
So give it a try, and I’ll leave you with this.
January 2, 2019
What’s Up Wednesday: The New Year Edition
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It’s officially 2019. Time for new writing goals.
Big Yikes.
I have a lot to do this year, writing-wise, and coming off the shitstorm that was 2018, I’ve got my work cut out for me. But I’m up to it. Here is the tentative always-subject-to-change list of writer goals for the year:
I’m sort-of taking a great online course that I found on iTunes. Creative Writing: A Master Class by Academy of Achievement features nearly 40 audio and video podcasts containing unique insights from more than 30 authors (big names, too!). I say sort-of because the course also involves buying a lot of books and reading them, and with all my time commitments (and tight finances), I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to do that. But I can do the audio portions during my long commute to the day job.
I’m spending all of January hammering out a marketing plan for the year. I’ve already got a couple of things on the event calendar , but I’ve really got to keep my name and books out there, since I won’t have anything new on the shelves in 2019, unfortunately.
I’m working on finishing off the Irish trilogy, and then I have a fresh story behind it eating my brain matter. I’ve been scribbling bits of it here and there just to get it out, but it deserves a fully-fleshed out outline.
I’m going to edit my contemporary YA NaNoWriMo project and hand it off to my agent.
I’m making a firm commitment to a Stephen King-ish 2,000 words a day. The best way to solidify a habit is to do it. Every. Damn. Day.
So that’s the plan for 2019 – so far. If 2018 has taught me anything, it’s that life rarely goes according to plan. Here’s hoping for a nice, dull year so I can get things done.
What about you? What are your writer goals for 2019?
January 1, 2019
Here’s To A Stellar 2019!
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