Carla Norton's Blog, page 2
December 17, 2018
Books Make Great Gifts
What a sweet surprise! Many thanks to The Book Lounge, in Kirby Lonsdale, England, for featuring The Edge of Normal as the Day 17 selection for their Book Advent Calendar!
February 27, 2018
Advice for Aspiring Authors
“What’s your best advice for an aspiring writer?”
All authors get asked this question. Most try to be helpful, but what can we say in a few minutes when entire books, conferences, and grad programs are dedicated to this topic? Writers spend lifetimes studying the endless secrets of the craft, and we often use jargon that outsiders find mystifying.
So, when someone touches my elbow and asks for advice, I struggle to come up with an adequate response. A lot depends on the person’s level of expertise. An intermediate or advanced writer has already invested serious time and effort into researching all aspects of the writing life, from muse to market. But novices sometimes expect a magic key to the kingdom. It just doesn’t work that way.
Recently, a relative wanted advice about publishing a children’s book. I asked how much of it was written, and his response was a wink and a tap on the temple. “It’s all up here,” he said.
I took a deep breath, remembering that we all start at this point, and tried to cover the basics. Still, the more I explained, the more I had to backtrack and explain unfamiliar terms.
I think it’s time to lay out some basic ideas on paper. So, this article is dedicated to those who are just getting started. If you want to write but aren’t sure how to get started, here are some tips:
1. It’s important to educate yourself about the writing process. Join a writers group. Go to workshops and conferences. You don’t have to bring a manuscript to mingle with writers, just as you don’t have to be a yoga master to sign up for a yoga class. Be curious and enjoy learning the basics.
2. Read books, magazines, and blogs about the craft and business of writing. Ask a librarian for guidance. Check your local bookstore and buy reference books that spark your interest. Subscribe to Writer’s Digest magazine. You’ll also find a short bibliography at the end of this article.
3. Fully research the genre of the book you wish to write. Go to book-signings and read, read, read! Let accomplished authors inspire you. (Note: when you’re having trouble with some aspect of your writing, you’ll often find a solution in another author’s book.)
4. During the writing process, you must learn the proper formatting of a manuscript. If you’re a serious writer, you’ll write several drafts before you’re satisfied. Revision is an important part of the process.
5. Learn what a query letter is and how to write one. (Even if you ultimately decide to self-publish, you need to understand the pros and cons of traditional publishing.)
6. Envision your finished book and find where it belongs in the bookstore. The authors who have come before you have forged a path, and it’s much easier to follow that path than to declare yourself a writer without precedent. Study the authors you admire. (These may be your competition, but they’re also peers and potential friends.) Read the authors’ acknowledgements and note publishers, editors, and agents.
7. When your book is finished, check the agents’ websites for the types of books they represent and their submission guidelines. Disregard this step at your peril. The agent’s job is to deliver your how-to book to an editor who specializes in how-to books, or your sci-fi novel to an editor who loves sci-fi. On your own, you risk doing the reverse.
8. If your book is nonfiction, it might be possible to sell it based on a comprehensive book proposal. Start with a table of contents, the first 3-5 chapters, and a synopsis. If you have an area of expertise and an impressive biography, your work is much more marketable. Again, check the agents’ websites for submission guidelines.
9. Note: Fiction and memoir are almost never sold except as complete, polished manuscripts. Celebrities are the exception, not the rule.
10. With any book—whether a children’s book or an economic treatise—you’ll need to present a well-crafted manuscript. Rejection is inevitable, so be open to constructive criticism and keep learning.
11. Good luck! With professionalism and persistence, you’ll be on your way to publishing your work.
All authors get asked this question. Most try to be helpful, but what can we say in a few minutes when entire books, conferences, and grad programs are dedicated to this topic? Writers spend lifetimes studying the endless secrets of the craft, and we often use jargon that outsiders find mystifying.
So, when someone touches my elbow and asks for advice, I struggle to come up with an adequate response. A lot depends on the person’s level of expertise. An intermediate or advanced writer has already invested serious time and effort into researching all aspects of the writing life, from muse to market. But novices sometimes expect a magic key to the kingdom. It just doesn’t work that way.
Recently, a relative wanted advice about publishing a children’s book. I asked how much of it was written, and his response was a wink and a tap on the temple. “It’s all up here,” he said.
I took a deep breath, remembering that we all start at this point, and tried to cover the basics. Still, the more I explained, the more I had to backtrack and explain unfamiliar terms.
I think it’s time to lay out some basic ideas on paper. So, this article is dedicated to those who are just getting started. If you want to write but aren’t sure how to get started, here are some tips:
1. It’s important to educate yourself about the writing process. Join a writers group. Go to workshops and conferences. You don’t have to bring a manuscript to mingle with writers, just as you don’t have to be a yoga master to sign up for a yoga class. Be curious and enjoy learning the basics.
2. Read books, magazines, and blogs about the craft and business of writing. Ask a librarian for guidance. Check your local bookstore and buy reference books that spark your interest. Subscribe to Writer’s Digest magazine. You’ll also find a short bibliography at the end of this article.
3. Fully research the genre of the book you wish to write. Go to book-signings and read, read, read! Let accomplished authors inspire you. (Note: when you’re having trouble with some aspect of your writing, you’ll often find a solution in another author’s book.)
4. During the writing process, you must learn the proper formatting of a manuscript. If you’re a serious writer, you’ll write several drafts before you’re satisfied. Revision is an important part of the process.
5. Learn what a query letter is and how to write one. (Even if you ultimately decide to self-publish, you need to understand the pros and cons of traditional publishing.)
6. Envision your finished book and find where it belongs in the bookstore. The authors who have come before you have forged a path, and it’s much easier to follow that path than to declare yourself a writer without precedent. Study the authors you admire. (These may be your competition, but they’re also peers and potential friends.) Read the authors’ acknowledgements and note publishers, editors, and agents.
7. When your book is finished, check the agents’ websites for the types of books they represent and their submission guidelines. Disregard this step at your peril. The agent’s job is to deliver your how-to book to an editor who specializes in how-to books, or your sci-fi novel to an editor who loves sci-fi. On your own, you risk doing the reverse.
8. If your book is nonfiction, it might be possible to sell it based on a comprehensive book proposal. Start with a table of contents, the first 3-5 chapters, and a synopsis. If you have an area of expertise and an impressive biography, your work is much more marketable. Again, check the agents’ websites for submission guidelines.
9. Note: Fiction and memoir are almost never sold except as complete, polished manuscripts. Celebrities are the exception, not the rule.
10. With any book—whether a children’s book or an economic treatise—you’ll need to present a well-crafted manuscript. Rejection is inevitable, so be open to constructive criticism and keep learning.
11. Good luck! With professionalism and persistence, you’ll be on your way to publishing your work.
January 29, 2018
Mystery Writers in Florida!
Hi! I'd like to invite all you fans and aspiring authors out there to come to this year's SLEUTHFEST, an annual conference hosted by the Florida Mystery Writers of America. I'll be there signing books and teaching workshops. Here are the details:
3/1-4 SLEUTHFEST 2018
Boca Raton, FL
Fri 3/2 3:30 p.m. “Violence Against Women”
Sat 3/3 9:00 a.m. "Story Structure:
The Arc of the Novel"
http://sleuthfest.com/
3/1-4 SLEUTHFEST 2018
Boca Raton, FL
Fri 3/2 3:30 p.m. “Violence Against Women”
Sat 3/3 9:00 a.m. "Story Structure:
The Arc of the Novel"
http://sleuthfest.com/
December 8, 2017
Giveaways will be gone soon
I'm sorry to tell you some bad news about Goodreads giveaways. In the past, most authors shipped books at their own expense, while Goodreads posted the giveaway for free. No more. Starting early next year, there will be a fee. Each "standard" giveaway will cost the author $119, on top of the costs of buying books and paying for shipping. The "premium" package will cost $599.
I plan to giveaway a few more books before the end of the year. After that, sad to say, I'll be offering free books only in person or via fundraisers.
I plan to giveaway a few more books before the end of the year. After that, sad to say, I'll be offering free books only in person or via fundraisers.
November 13, 2017
Radio Interview: AM, FM, & online
My interview will be broadcast on Monday, Nov. 13 at 3:30 PM Eastern, and will be simulcast on pureradiojax.org You can listen online from anywhere in the world. Check out Fred Tromberg’s show “Life, the Law and Legal Issues.” It’s on WJNJ AM and FM from Jacksonville, Florida, and simulcast online at pureradiojax.org. In addition to the AM and FM broadcast, there’s also a Pure Radio app. I hope you find it of interest!
June 15, 2017
Come if you can!
If you live in Florida, I'd like to invite you to come to a talk I'll be giving this Saturday, June 17th. I'll be speaking to the Space Coast Writers Guild, and we'll be discussing the writing craft. Please note that guests are always welcome.
My talk will be held at 1:00 p,m. at the Garrett's Run Condo Assoc. clubhouse, 7900 Greenboro Dr., West Melbourne, FL. The topic is "Hooks and Cliffhangers," and you may even win a book.
For more info please go to www.scwg.org.
My talk will be held at 1:00 p,m. at the Garrett's Run Condo Assoc. clubhouse, 7900 Greenboro Dr., West Melbourne, FL. The topic is "Hooks and Cliffhangers," and you may even win a book.
For more info please go to www.scwg.org.
February 21, 2017
Heading to Boca!
It’s time to head to Boca Raton for an annual conference called Sleuthfest. Besides rubbing elbows with fellow mystery writers, aspiring authors, and fans, I’ll be teaching two writing workshops:
KEEP IT MOVING: Maintaining Pace in a Mystery Narrative, Thurs. 9:00 – 10:30
HOOKS AND HANGERS, Sat. 3:40-4:40
Plus, I’ll be on a panel, “DOMESTIC SUSPENSE & NOIR,” with Sharon Potts & Steven Kerry Brown on Friday.
Note that David Baldacci is the keynote speaker.
Here’s the link: http://sleuthfest.com/
KEEP IT MOVING: Maintaining Pace in a Mystery Narrative, Thurs. 9:00 – 10:30
HOOKS AND HANGERS, Sat. 3:40-4:40
Plus, I’ll be on a panel, “DOMESTIC SUSPENSE & NOIR,” with Sharon Potts & Steven Kerry Brown on Friday.
Note that David Baldacci is the keynote speaker.
Here’s the link: http://sleuthfest.com/
September 13, 2016
Writing 101: The Mountain as Metaphor
Not many of us wake in the morning and think: “I’m going to climb Mt. Everest.” Ascending a twenty-nine-thousand-foot peak requires a skillset hardened by years of dedication and training. The same holds true for writing a book. It’s not done on a whim. You don’t cast a glance at the Toni Morrison novels on your bookshelf and think, “A Nobel Prize in Literature? Sure, I can do that.”
Now, this metaphor might be a bit of a stretch, but I was thinking about it while climbing Mt. Lassen recently. So bear with me.
“Aim high” is great advice, yes, but it’s wise not to set the highest peak as your initial goal; those who do are doomed to failure. Instead, choose a mountain you can conquer. Study the peak. Plan your path. Prepare your gear, steady your mind, and proceed.
It seems obvious, right? But many novice writers believe that a sublime burst of inspiration will magically carry them from beginning to end.
That’s not how it works.
You must advance one step at a time, sentence after sentence. And it will get harder. Count on it. You will stumble and lose your way. You may even have to turn back and start again. But that’s part of the process. Don’t feel crushed just because you didn’t complete the book with your first attempt. Just as there are uncountable mountains summited, there are uncountable books completed every year. It can be done. So consider why you failed and rework your plan.
If you’re writing nonfiction, it makes sense to start with a Table of Contents. If you’re writing fiction, the beginning, middle, and end might seem foggy, but try to have a plan in mind. At the very least, have a firm grasp of your genre. From there, you can begin to envision the storyline.
Even if you have carefully plotted your course, you may find, as you trudge up the path, that your plan is flawed. Again, that’s part of the process. (Killing your main character in Act One, for instance, will put your story on a precipice that forces you to either backtrack or find a different route.)
Meanwhile, remember that it’s not a competition. There will always be those gifted individuals who write better and faster. Squelch your envy and see what you can learn.
Allow me to digress a moment and confess that climbing Mt. Lassen was a lot harder than I expected. I’d ‘trained’ in my gym at sea level. As I ascended closer to ten thousand feet and the air thinned, I panted and slowed. The peak seemed inaccessible and I feared I couldn’t make it.
To my amazement, a group of whippet-thin athletes actually sprinted past me. It was a ski team in training. They ran uphill, summited, and passed me again on their way down.
Besides being younger and fitter, what did they have that I did not? A team.
Just as athletes need special coaching, authors sometimes need help with the craft of writing, so consider joining a writers group or attending a conference. I hear you protesting, “But I’m introverted; I’m not a joiner.” That’s okay. You don’t have to be gregarious. Just sit in the back row, learn what you can, and plan your next ascent.
___ Carla Norton is an award-winning novelist and bestselling true crime writer. Her debut fiction, The Edge of Normal, is a Thriller Award finalist and Royal Palm Literary Award winner. What Doesn’t Kill Her, the sequel, is a 2016 Nancy Pearl Award winner. Carla also wrote Disturbed Ground, about a female serial killer, and Perfect Victim, which made the reading list for the FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit and was a #1 New York Times bestseller. For more, please visit CarlaNorton.com.
Now, this metaphor might be a bit of a stretch, but I was thinking about it while climbing Mt. Lassen recently. So bear with me.
“Aim high” is great advice, yes, but it’s wise not to set the highest peak as your initial goal; those who do are doomed to failure. Instead, choose a mountain you can conquer. Study the peak. Plan your path. Prepare your gear, steady your mind, and proceed.
It seems obvious, right? But many novice writers believe that a sublime burst of inspiration will magically carry them from beginning to end.
That’s not how it works.
You must advance one step at a time, sentence after sentence. And it will get harder. Count on it. You will stumble and lose your way. You may even have to turn back and start again. But that’s part of the process. Don’t feel crushed just because you didn’t complete the book with your first attempt. Just as there are uncountable mountains summited, there are uncountable books completed every year. It can be done. So consider why you failed and rework your plan.
If you’re writing nonfiction, it makes sense to start with a Table of Contents. If you’re writing fiction, the beginning, middle, and end might seem foggy, but try to have a plan in mind. At the very least, have a firm grasp of your genre. From there, you can begin to envision the storyline.
Even if you have carefully plotted your course, you may find, as you trudge up the path, that your plan is flawed. Again, that’s part of the process. (Killing your main character in Act One, for instance, will put your story on a precipice that forces you to either backtrack or find a different route.)
Meanwhile, remember that it’s not a competition. There will always be those gifted individuals who write better and faster. Squelch your envy and see what you can learn.
Allow me to digress a moment and confess that climbing Mt. Lassen was a lot harder than I expected. I’d ‘trained’ in my gym at sea level. As I ascended closer to ten thousand feet and the air thinned, I panted and slowed. The peak seemed inaccessible and I feared I couldn’t make it.
To my amazement, a group of whippet-thin athletes actually sprinted past me. It was a ski team in training. They ran uphill, summited, and passed me again on their way down.
Besides being younger and fitter, what did they have that I did not? A team.
Just as athletes need special coaching, authors sometimes need help with the craft of writing, so consider joining a writers group or attending a conference. I hear you protesting, “But I’m introverted; I’m not a joiner.” That’s okay. You don’t have to be gregarious. Just sit in the back row, learn what you can, and plan your next ascent.
___ Carla Norton is an award-winning novelist and bestselling true crime writer. Her debut fiction, The Edge of Normal, is a Thriller Award finalist and Royal Palm Literary Award winner. What Doesn’t Kill Her, the sequel, is a 2016 Nancy Pearl Award winner. Carla also wrote Disturbed Ground, about a female serial killer, and Perfect Victim, which made the reading list for the FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit and was a #1 New York Times bestseller. For more, please visit CarlaNorton.com.
August 21, 2016
Lifetime movie, Sept. 10
If you've read PERFECT VICTIM or you’re interested in Colleen Stan’s phenomenal story, here’s some exciting news: a new Lifetime movie, “Girl in the Box,” is airing at 8:00 p.m. on September 10th. Colleen consulted with Lifetime during production, and she tells me it was a great experience. There’s also a special documentary immediately following, so mark your calendars!
August 11, 2016
Oh my goodness!
I’m thrilled to announce that WHAT DOESN'T KILL HER has now won two prestigious book awards! First, it won the 2016 Nancy Pearl Award for Best Book in Genre Fiction, presented by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. Now it has also won the President’s Book Award Gold Medal in the Suspense/Thriller category, awarded by the Florida Authors and Publishers Association. Many, many thanks to everyone who made this possible!
(It must be time to set up another Goodreads Giveaway, right?)
(It must be time to set up another Goodreads Giveaway, right?)
