Katherine Frances's Blog, page 83
February 2, 2018
February 1, 2018
brynwrites:
brynwrites:
Marketing yourself as an author 101:
Have an about and...
Marketing yourself as an author 101:Have an about and current wips(s) page!!!
Why? Potential future readers can easily figure out who you are and what you’re working on, and are therefore more likely to remember you, support you as an author, and buy your future books.
But I can’t write good blurbs! Tips for writing blurbs.
But I’m worried someone will steal my ideas! Why fear shouldn’t stop you.
But I tried that and it didn’t help me! More you can do to grow your audience.
But tumblr is dumb and won’t show links on mobile! I have no advice for this one, I’m just really mad the staff hasn’t fixed it yet.
@charvaughn-writes asked a great question about how to create pages like these! You can do it one of three ways (that I know of) all of which are free and two of which are really simple.
Method One: Post the information in a text post. Go to the text post on your blog (make sure it’s that specific post! It should have a url that ends in /post/#/description). Copy that url and insert it into your description as an html link.
Pros: People will see it even on mobile!
Cons: Every time you change your icon you’ll have to redo the html in the link because tumblr hates us.
Method Two: Go to your blog page and open the editor (color palate button on the top right). Scroll all the way down and click add a page. Give it a url and hit ‘show link to page’, then type in your stuff! (Note that the show link to page won’t work for custom themes; you’ll have to copy the url and insert it into your theme yourself.)
Pros: Easy to do, matches your theme.
Cons: The formatting is very limited. Not viewable from mobile.
Method Three: Follow the steps for method two, but switch from standard layout to custom layout. Find a cool page theme from someplace like @theme-hunter. Paste the coding there and edit to your heart’s content.
Pros: Pages look super nice if you put in a lot of effort.
Cons: Getting the super nice look may take a lot of effort and some basic understanding of coding.
Kim Shimmers and the Veil of Death
A Harry Potter fanfic by me (and the 4th instalment in the Kim Shimmers series)
How could we ever hope to flicker on against a
darkness so complete, against an evil so prevailing?
This Harry Potter fan fiction (as long as all goes according to plan) will be posted at the beginning of every week. The pictures above are not mine, though I edited some.
Chapter 4
Borrowed Gloves and Butter-Drunk Confessions
The next two weeks passed uneventfully. Kim waited for Fred to write back to her impatiently. What’s taking him so bloody long anyway? Doesn’t he know that this is the only way for us to keep in contact? Or maybe he doesn’t care about that anymore… Don’t be immature, Kim. Of course he cares… He’s probably just really busy, like he said…
One Saturday afternoon Kim was walking through the corridors headed to the Great Hall for dinner when she heard someone calling out for her from behind, followed by footsteps speeding up laboriously toward her.
“Oh! Ms. Shimmers!”
Kim turned to see Professor Slughorn chugging along toward her. He slowed when he reached her and smiled warmly.
“I was hoping I’d run into you eventually,” he said, as if it was the chiefest of happy happenstances. Hogwarts isn’t that big, Professor. We were bound to see one another eventually… she thought, but she kept her smart mouth shut. “I’ve been wanting to mention to you- well, you’ve probably already heard. I have a little sort of club forming up.”
“The Slug Club?” Kim said flatly. She had heard of it, since both Harry and Hermione were invited to join. Hermione had reported that the club meetings weren’t too bad, with good food and interesting conversation. Kim wondered, however, about the quality of so called interesting conversations. Hermione found Arithmancy interesting, so her judgment was questionable.
“Yes! So you have heard of it,” Professor Slughorn crooned.
Kim just nodded, waiting for the relevance of this conversation to reveal itself.
“I wanted to invite you to join the ranks, if you’re interested.”
“Oh, uh… thanks,” Kim said, surprised. She genuinely hadn’t expected such, since she didn’t exactly count herself among the famously talented. She was only alright at potions, and she wasn’t all that great at most other respectable magic. “Really?”
“Why yes,” he said, delighted at her surprise. “I’ve heard word recently of your skills in divination. I don’t yet have a pupil with the sight, and don’t you just find that diversity keeps life interesting?”
“Uh, yeah…”
“So, what do you say? Will you join?”
Kim didn’t know what to say. The idea of her with a group of goody-goodys partaking in pomp and circumstance was not exactly an appealing one. Then again, Hermione would be there to at least make it bearable, and how exactly was she to say no? Sorry Professor, but I think your head is almost as big as your ass. I have absolutely no interest in joining your collection of real life dolls.
“Uh, yeah,” she said unevenly. “Thank you.”
“Splendid! I look forward to it. See you in potions class.” And with that he trotted off down the hall. Well, maybe this Slug Club will turn out to be a boost for the career search after school, she tried to think hopefully, but were she being honest she didn’t look forward to her first club meeting in the slightest.
yesterdaysprint:Janesville Daily Gazette, Wisconsin, November...
Janesville Daily Gazette, Wisconsin, November 21, 1964
PLEASE do not give publishers any ideas.
Writing x Characters When You Aren’t x, A Masterlist
x: a variable used to represent something unknown.
We’ve seen an influx of questions about how to write stories based around characters of color, disability, non-binary, etc. when the author does not fall into these categories. Rather than have these posts take over the site, we’ve decided to compile a list of resources to help our fellow writers become more educated about writing what they do not immediately know. However, this list is not the end-all-be-all of knowledge; one should always try to learn from someone with first hand experience in any topic. The world is constantly growing and changing, and because of that, there will always be more to learn. The admins at Plotline Hotline want to help writers form respectful, informed, and realistic characters that broaden the narrow range we see in literature today.
*Be wary that some of the topics listed below contain sensitive material. Reader discretion is advised.*
As always, the links I found to be especially apt will be in bold. Topics are listed alphabetically, excepting the “other” section.
CultureAppropriate Cultural Appropriation
What is Cultural Appropriation? [1,2,3]
Cultural Appropriation Is, In Fact, IndefensibleVoice Appropriation & Writing About Other Cultures
Diversity, Appropriation, and Writing the Other
[List]
Disability
Writing Disibilities [1,2,3,4,5]Guides to Writing Deaf or Hard of Hearding People
National Association of the Deaf - Resources [List]
Prostehtic Limbs (Character Guide)
How NOT to Write Disabled Characters
A Guide to Disibility Rights Law (United States)
Timeline of Disibility Rights in the United States
Social Security Disability: List of Impairments, Medical Conditions, and Problems [List] (United States)
How to Write Disabled Characters: An Opinion Piece
Artificial Eye Resources [List][Various]
Adapting to the Loss of an Eye
Misconceptions and Myths About Blindness
Blind Characters: A Process of Awareness
Writing Blind Characters [List]
Types of Learning Disabilities [List]
DiversityA Guide to Spotting and Growing Past Stereotypes
How to Prepare to Write a Diverse Book
Why Diversity Matters for Everyone
Writing a Driverse Book [1,2,3,4,5]
Diversity, Political Correctness and The Power of LanguageDiversity Book List [List][Books]
Basic Tips To Write Subcultures & Minority Religions Better
GenderGLAAD Media Reference Guide - Transgender
Creating Well-Written Trans Characters
A Few Things Writers Need To Know About Sexuality & Gender Expression
Trans (Character Guide & Bio Building)A Non-Binary Person’s Guide to Invented Pronouns
Keeping a Trans* Person a Person
Suggestions for Reducing Gendered Terms in Language [Photo]
How to Review a Trans Book as a Cis Person
Writing Characters of Different Genders [List]
Gender Spectrum Resources [List]
IllnessThe Spoon Theory - Also pertains to disibility
Sexually Transmitted Diseases [List]
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sex and Gender Differences in Health [Study]
All Chronic Illness Topics [List]
A Day in the Life of a Home Health Aide/Health Coach
Fiction Books With Chronically Ill Main Characters- Not Cancer [List][Books]
Neurotype (Including Mental Health)Writing an Autistic Character When You Don’t Have Autism
What to Consider When Writing Mental Illness
Stanford Psychiatric Patient Care
Inpatient Psychiatric Questions and Tips
Don’t Call Me Crazy [Documentary]
(Avoid) Romanticizing Mental Illness [1,2]A Day in the Life of a Mental Hospital Patient
State-run vs. Private Mental Hospitals
Mental Hospital Non-Fiction [List][Books]
National Institute of Mental Health - Mental Health Information [List]
Remember, Remember: The Basics of Writing Amnesia
What is a Learning Disability?
RaceWriting Race: A Checklist for Authors
Transracial Writing for the Sincere
Is my character “black enough”
White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
Challenge, Counter, Controvert: Subverting ExpectationsWriting With Color: Blogs - Recs - Resources [List]
Writing People of Color (If you happen to be a person of another color)
7 Offensive Mistakes Well-Intentioned Writers Make
Description Guide - Words for Skin Tone
Religion
Religion in Novels: Terrific or Taboo?How to Write a Fantasy Novel that Sells: The Religion
Writing About Faith And Religion
From Aladdin to Homeland: How Hollywood Can Reinforce Racial and Religious Stereotypes
SexualityUnderstanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity [List]
Writing Gay Characters [1,2,3]
American Civil Liberties Union - LGBT+ Rights
LGBT+ Rights by Country or Territory
LGBT+ Studies Web Sites [List]
Overview of Gay and Lesbian Parenting, Adoption and Foster Care (United States)
Other
How Doctors’ Offices—and Queer Culture—Are Failing Autistic LGBTQ People
Five Traps and Tips for Character DevelopmentDeveloping Realistic Characters
I hope that this list will provide topics a writer may not initially think to research when writing. If there are any resources that you think would be fitting for this list, please let us know! We want to have as many helpful sources as possible to maximize learning opportunities.
Stay educated,
xx Sarah
