Evan Marshall's Blog, page 4

How to Write a Novel: Viewpoint Writing

Scenes in novels are always written from a specific viewpoint. Your novel should have a “set” of viewpoint characters. Every scene or chapter is written from the viewpoint of one of these characters. Generally, the longer the novel, the more viewpoint characters you’ll have.

The concept of viewpoint writing is important to understand, because it makes your novel come truly alive by giving readers the illusion of living your story through these characters.

The Pitfalls of Novel Writing with No Viewpoint

You’d be surprised how many projects I see that are written with no viewpoint. I think it must be the influence of the movies.

Movies and TV shows have an omniscient viewpoint typically, in which the viewer knows and sees all, like an observer floating over everything in a god-like position. We don’t ever get inside characters’ heads the way we do in novels. Omniscient viewpoint works in film but does not work in today’s commercial novels because it shatters the illusion of living a story through certain characters’ eyes. “Head-hopping”—jumping back and forth between two or more characters’ viewpoints in a scene or chapter—is a no-no among editors (an exception is often made for the romance novel, because many readers like knowing what the hero and heroine are both thinking in a given scene or chapter).

Deciding on your story’s set of viewpoint characters brings focus and power to your novel, making it a more immediate and realistic experience for your readers. A mastery of viewpoint writing also signals to agents, editors and readers that you are a professional and know your craft.

Viewpoint as a Novel-Writing Technique

To stick to one viewpoint, it is as simple as only sharing what a given character knows, sees, and experiences directly. From there, choose first person, second person, or third person viewpoint. Use:

• “I said,”

• “you said,” or

• “he/she said.”

How to Write a Novel with the Marshall Plan

I defined this essential technique in my book The Marshall Plan® for Novel Writing in 1998, and the concept is one of the cornerstones of the NovelCreator® software, first published online with Martha Jewett in 2008.

A longstanding literary tool, The Marshall Plan® was set for an update. I’m excited about the just-released version five of the Marshall Plan® software, offering many more viewpoint writing tools and an integrated character development screen. It also includes a flexible novel structure.

Users will have many more powerful tools at their fingertips. To be one of them, visit www.themarshallplan.net to learn more and download our free trial.

Retreats for Novelists

A writing retreat will provide writers at any stage of his or her career a place to cultivate creativity and concentration.

How long you go to a writer retreat varies. Some retreats require a minimum stay of two weeks. Others allow you to go for a weekend.

Retreats are not conferences. Writing conferences are great for taking classes and workshops, and networking. But don’t expect to achieve writing; this is unlikely.

After a writing retreat, on the other hand, you may well have the beginning of your novel, or you might have made some significant progress, although progress might not be measured by how many words you have written. Writers also visit writer’s retreats not only to increase their word counts but to revitalize their writing, get over blocks, or loosen up, for example.

Here are some benefits being enjoyed by novelists at writing retreats today.

• They are stimulated by a change of environment.

• They can focus or get away from distractions.

• They demonstrate a commitment to themselves and their craft.

• They can recharge with rest, as well as writing.

• They can be with like-minded people.

• They can enjoy a kind of working holiday.

Writers at retreats also benefit from mixing with other writers. They may receive tutoring from established authors. This kind of input of time, energy, and expertise can make writing retreats an invaluable part of a writer’s annual schedule.

There is a writing retreat out there for every kind of author. Some of the better-known retreats include The Interlochen Writers Retreat, Storyknife Writers Retreat, and Writers Who Run.

Interlochen Writers Retreat, Michigan – This retreat has been running for 12 years. You can spend four days writing new material in whichever genre you like. It is set in beautiful surroundings and features award-winning faculty providing craft talks.

Storyknife Writers Retreat, Alaska – This is a women-only retreat. Author Erin Hollowell writes: “Storyknife is not all about the buildings, not all about the volcanoes, nor the big Alaskan sky that stretches over this beautiful land. Storyknife is about supporting women’s voices and stories … Storyknife supports the work of women writers who have historically had fewer opportunities to devote time to their work.”

Writers Who Run, North Carolina – Writing is well-known to be a sedentary occupation, but not at the Writers Who Run Retreat, where writers can enjoy six days of exploration on and off the page. It’s a perfect place to exercise and stimulate the body and mind, and to see what this does for your writing.

Our advice is to think about your ideal writing retreat and then search for it online. Retreats all over the world appeal to different writers. And there are lots of good reasons to book one soon.

Authors Who Have Moved from Children’s Books to Fiction for Adults

Judy Blume, Roald Dahl, R.L. Stine, Louisa May Alcott, J.K. Rowling — we know them all as celebrated children’s and young adult authors. But there’s another common thread among these writers. They have all written books for adults, too.

Judy Blume’s Adult Fiction

Judy Blume is a classic children’s author, writing all kinds of books for kids of all ages, from “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” to “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.”

You might also find her work outside the kids’ section. Blume has penned several adult novels, including “Wifey,” which addresses adult lives, adultery, and sexuality, and “Summer Sisters,” which features strong sexual content.

“In the Unlikely Event,” published in 2015, at which point it was her first adult novel in 16 years, is set around a series of plane crashes in 1950s New Jersey.

If you loved her books as a child, or your children are Blume fans, you can engage with her work on an adult level, too, and enjoy her treatment of more adult themes or perspectives.

Roald Dahl – Fantastical Fiction for All Ages

Roald Dahl is well known for his children’s works like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Matilda.” Many of his children’s books are now equally beloved children’s movies.

His knack for the fantastic extends beyond the children’s range, however, into books better suited for adults. Dahl published four collections of adult stories, along with novels for adults including the sex-filled “My Uncle Oswald.”

One story, “The Man from the South,” was featured twice by Alfred Hitchcock. His work for adults has been reprised into modern day collections titled “Deception,” “Madness,” “Cruelty,” and “Lust.”

R.L. Stine’s Terrific Terror

R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” and “Fear Street” books are a hallmark of kids’ spooky stories. Some of them are creepy even to an adult reader, but those who want an adult version of his work can check out his horror novels for adults, “Superstitious” and “Red Rain.”

Louisa May Alcott Beyond Little Women

“Little Women” might be a fairly wholesome book for youngsters but Alcott’s writing went beyond that into more thrilling territory for adult readers. Alcott called them “blood and thunder tales.”

Like the gruesome thrillers Jo wrote in “Little Women,” these books are sensational. You can find some of them in the collection “Behind a Mask.”

J.K. Rowling a.k.a. Robert Galbraith

Rowling selected the pen name Robert Galbraith to quietly write a detective novel, “The Cuckoo’s Calling.” It was part of a larger series, “The Cormoran Strike,” which is a far cry from the world of Harry Potter. The first three books of the series have been adapted for television, the fourth is finished, and Rowling/Galbraith has plans for at least six more.

If you are thinking of diving into a new genre or market, these authors prove that it can be done to the pleasure of old fans and new. If there are stories in you that need to be told and you are willing to hone your craft to engage with a fresh audience, there is no stopping you.

The Demand for More Diversity in Publishing

In 2015, Mira Jacob attempted to give a keynote speech about the challenges facing writers of color in publishing. Half of the room turned away and talked over her. Jacob is one of many calling for more diversity in publishing, something to be ignored at the industry’s peril.

The Harrowing Statistics on Diversity in Publishing

A lack of diversity is a problem across all genres.

Leah and Bea Kosch conducted a survey for The Ripped Bodice. The report shows that for every 100 books that were published by leading romance publishers in 2016, just 7.8 were written by people of color. Half of the publishers surveyed had fewer than five percent of their books written by people of color.

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center’s statistics show that in 2016, Black, Latinx, and First/Native Nations authors, all combined, wrote only six percent of new children’s books that were published.

A Lee & Low study looked at the demographics of the publishing industry itself, finding that 92 percent of respondents identified as not disabled, 88 percent identified as heterosexual, and 79 percent identified as Caucasian.

What Publishers are Doing to Improve Diversity in the Publishing Industry

The Lee & Low study asked for responses from publishers about what they’re planning to do or are or already doing to make diversity a priority. Responses included initiatives like hiring and recruiting more diverse reviewers, training staff on cultural literacy and diversity, and creating awards and scholarships for diverse writers.

We Need Diverse Books asks why most people experience diversity as a part of everyday life, but experience a lack of diversity in fiction. The non-profit aims to put more books featuring diverse characters into the hands of all children, with a vision of a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book. The organization provides support to this cause in many ways.

Grants provide financial support to emerging, diverse writers who are currently unpublished. One grant recipient, Angie Thomas, went on to write the award-winning “The Hate U Give,” which entered The New York Times’ young adult best-seller list at number one.

Mentorships pair writers with experienced authors and illustrators. Internships provide supplemental grants to diverse students with career goals in children’s publishing. Retreats, scholarship programs, and other support are being extended to writers, industry professionals, educators, and the public.

Bestselling author K. M. Jackson is a daily advocate for diversity in romance fiction, tweeting with the hashtag #WeNeedDiverseRomance. “When it comes to diversity in publishing, we still have so far to go,” she says. “As a result of many years of both intentional and unintentional racism in the entertainment industry, a narrative has been set that puts non-white media, including books, in an othering category. It’s a stereotype that has been proven false by hits like Scandal and Black Panther, but still one that the industry—the book industry especially—holds onto. It does this with things such as segregated lines of fiction, unequal marketing, book buying and selling by postal demographic, and hiring sensitivity readers instead of a diverse editorial staff. Many changes can and should be made. Here’s hoping they will be made, and sooner rather than later.”

For authors with a diverse background, or a book featuring diverse characters, writing and continually honing your craft is an important contribution to creating a diverse industry.

The Effect of the #MeToo Movement on Publishing

It’s the hashtag heard around the world. Tarana Burke originated the phrase and the movement ten years ago with her organization, Just Be Inc. It exploded across the internet in October 2017, when Alyssa Milano tweeted, “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.”

The #MeToo movement hit every corner of every industry, including publishing. According to Publisher’s Weekly, many women in publishing can recount sexual harassment, and many of those who have not experienced it through their careers indicate they feel lucky to have escaped this problem thus far. Harassment claims against well-known authors and editors are in the media spotlight, including people in the children’s and YA publishing.

Understanding Bias in Publishing

In an analysis of gender bias in the New York Times bestseller list, author Rosie Cima explains that the VIDA Count organization does a tally each year of the genders of writers whose works are featured and reviewed in literary journalism outlets.

The most recent study, in 2015, shows that books by women made up far less than half of all books reviewed in the New York Review of Books, Harper’s, the Atlantic, and the London Review of Books.

Cima’s article shares analyses indicating publishers have male-biased catalogs, which may explain why reviews are also male-heavy. Female authors are writing, but the gender ratio on the NYT bestseller list has remained at under 50 per cent since the early 2000s.

“The statistics suggest publishers and critics aren’t giving these new young authoresses the chance they deserve,” Cima writes.

If publishers push for more parity in their catalogues, perhaps the entire industry could shift to a more female-friendly environment.

Steps Toward Healing

The Staunch Book Prize is a good example of publishing industry efforts that can promote healing. This book prize is set to be awarded to the author of a thriller-genre novel within which no woman is beaten, stalked, sexually exploited, raped or murdered.

Its founders say they launched the prize because they felt there is an overload of violence toward women in fiction. As real-life women battle against abuse and violence, “the casual and endless depiction of women as victims sits uneasily alongside their fight.”

According to Burke, the movement needs to address dismantling broken systems rather than individuals. It needs to help give survivors resources to heal.

By highlighting more female voices, and promoting work that avoids the clichés of violence, the publishing industry can help.

How to Turn a Short Story into a Novel

A well-crafted short story doesn’t have to stop where it is. If you are interested in developing your short story into a longer novel, ask yourself the following questions to make the path clearer.

Why Do You Want to Expand Your Short Story?

This is an important question to ask, and likely the first issue you should address.

Do you want to explore and expand the characters and universe you have created? This can be an exciting motivation for adding to a short story that will keep you motivated. Perhaps you want to explore the format of a novel, which may be more challenging if you are used to creating shorter pieces.

Whatever your motivation, be sure that your story is worth expanding. If it’s perfect as a short story, you may want to pick something else, but if it’s clear that there’s more to tell, go for it.

How Can You Add to the Plot?

Of course, expanding a short story into a novel means adding more to the plot. You will have to look at your existing main plot to see where there is potential for more conflict, character development, and action.

Make sure anything you add contributes to the central theme of the story. A novel is not a short story plus filler material.

It can be helpful to look at your short story as one small part of the novel. The ending of your short story doesn’t have to be the ending of the novel. You can use it as a jumping point to explore what happens in your characters’ world next.

Beware of adding dialogue, too many characters, or extraneous details to add to your word count. Everything you put into your novel should belong, just as it did in your short story.

How Can You Ensure Writing Success?

Structure is key in any written work, but especially in longer pieces like novels. Mapping out your short story as a novel is key to making sure that it has a solid structure that can be filled in with the details, characters, and plot points that will bring your world to life.

Set up a good plan for your short story and remember your goals so that you remain motivated. By being ambitious and staying dedicated to the task, you can have a powerful novel on your hands in due time.

Scandinavian Noir Fiction is Hot!

From Stieg Larsson’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” to the gritty works of Peter Høeg and Henning Mankell, it’s clear that Scandinavian noir fiction isn’t going anywhere soon. People love to read it.

The Roots of Scandinavian Noir Fiction

Peter Høeg’s 1992 book, “Smilla’s Sense of Snow,” is widely seen as the start of international attention for Scandinavian noir.

Swedish author Henning Mankell then introduced Wallander, the star of a series of detective books that drew even more interest to the genre.

From there, various Scandinavian authors launched careers with noir fiction, with Larrson’s “Millenium” series reaching a fever pitch. That has firmly entrenched Scandinavian works into international book readership.

Why Scandinavian Noir Fiction Is Hot

Noir fiction is popular in any setting but Scandinavian stories are perhaps more appealing thanks to the dark and brooding setting.

While not all Scandinavian regions are as mysterious as they might seem in noir fiction, there are aspects that add the appropriate dark or bleak atmosphere. Think stormy shores, stony buildings, bare rock flats, and limestone mountains. It’s easy to see how noir fiction and this type of environment work well together.

Ice, frost, and snow add to the atmosphere of these novels, especially in Høeg’s “Smilla’s Sense of Snow.” Winter weather is practically its own plot point and sometimes a villain in this genre.

Scandinavian noir may also be popular right now because Scandinavian authors don’t shy away from serious matters and strong writing. This isn’t fluffy fiction. If you look at some of the major works from the area in recent times, subject matter covers societal problems, injustices, and issues, all written with attention to detail and captivating characters and plot points.

Calling attention to racism, misogyny, poverty, and corruption are just as important to the novels as the “whodunnit” element and character development. In Sweden, Larsson’s first book title can be translated as “Men Who Hate Women.”

Noir fiction is thrilling to read and to write. Whether it’s set in Scandinavian cities or elsewhere, noir offers an opportunity to write the roles of victim, criminal, or detective, digging into the motivations and characterization of some of society’s best and worst people.

If you love stories of passion and crime, you might try your hand at writing in this genre yourself.

Is a Book Publishing Course Right for You?

If you want to break into the world of book publishing or sharpen your existing skills, book publishing courses can be the key to success. There are many types of courses, from complete post-graduate programs to shorter certificate programs designed for those already in the industry. Here, we’ll share information about some of the most well-known courses designed for a full degree or as an intensive short course, along with the benefits of programs like these.

Where to Take Publishing Courses

Publishing courses are available all over the world. This small selection represents some of the most reputable programs, as well as those that are located in cities with major publishing houses.

The NYU Center for Publishing offers both a master’s program in publishing for digital and print media, as well as a summer program that is a six-week intensive course. Whether you take the full graduate program or the summer publishing course, you will learn from qualified industry professionals.

The Columbia Publishing Course is all about both book and magazine publishing and digital media, also taught by industry experts. With the course, students get access to résumé tools and workshops, and a job fair to make breaking into the industry easier.

At Pace University, graduate students can learn about book and magazine publishing along with digital media, and add on to the learning with an optional 12-credit certificate program in book publishing, digital publishing, magazine publishing, or the business of publishing itself.

University of Denver’s Publishing Institute offers a four-week summer program giving an overview of the publishing industry from industry professionals.

The George Washington University MPS in Publishing covers everything from acquisitions to digital publishing, and for students interested in academic publishing specifically, there is a graduate certificate available focused on that field.

In Boston, Emerson College has a Publishing and Writing MA program that covers both publishing, and literature.

Benefits of Publishing Courses

Whether you choose one of the above programs or another one, the benefits are mostly the same. A degree or certificate in publishing could make your résumé stand out. Working alongside industry professionals also gives students networking opportunities that cannot be found elsewhere, especially given that many of these programs are situated in cities that are well known for publishing.

Overall, pursuing a publishing course demonstrates a strong commitment to a career in publishing, with the skills and education to match.

The Arrival of Canada’s Indigo Bookstores into the US

One of Canada’s favorite retailers, Indigo Music and Books, has just opened its first store in the United States. In November 2017, the Toronto-based company announced plans to open a store in New Jersey, testing how United States customers might respond. That store has just opened in the Mall at Short Hills in New Jersey.

CEO Heather Reisman told investors that the company planned to open three to five stores over two years to explore the market response, starting small before committing to anything on a larger scale.

“The company will bring its unique assortment and life-enriching experience to test the largest retailing market in the world and strive to replicate its Canadian success,” Indigo said in a state-ment at the time.

The History of Indigo Bookstores

Indigo began as Coles in Toronto in 1940. In the 1950s, Coles and SmithBooks merged to form Chapters, which became the largest book retailer in Canada by 1995.

Indigo Books and Music, a separate company, opened in 1997 and grew to many more locations by 2001, when it merged with Chapters.

Today, the company operates 89 large stores in Canada, and 123 smaller stores.

Why is Indigo Successful?

In an era when many booksellers are going out of business, especially in the brick and mortar realm, what is Indigo doing right?

The company created a digital e-reading division, Kobo, in 2009 and launched e-reading devices in 2010. This division was eventually purchased by Rakuten, providing Indigo with heavy cash flow.

Indigo also has focused on more than books, billing itself as a ‘cultural department store.’ At In-digo’s physical locations and online, shoppers will find everything from paper goods to home goods, toys, and fashion items. The online offerings are robust and come with speed and quality service, making the company a strong competitor to Canada’s amazon.ca.

Indigo will see competition from both online retailers in the US and existing bookstores. It may be able to differentiate as a lifestyle retailer rather than just a bookseller, which could help over-come this challenge.

For American book lovers and shoppers who enjoy the type of lifestyle Indigo is selling, it’s an exciting prospect. A new place to shop is always enticing. The introduction of a competitor to the bookselling landscape in the US may encourage existing American companies to step up their game and expand on offerings and services. We will certainly be watching how this unfolds.

The Benefits of Pub Site

A strong web presence can lift authors from obscurity to fame. It can bolster book sales and author tour engagements. If a reader loves a book, he or she will search for the author to learn more. A great website full of information can turn casual readers into fans.

Pub Site is an exciting new website builder designed with books and their authors in mind. It is easy to use, supports social media, blogging, online bookseller links, and e-commerce, along with author tools. With Pub Site, authors can go from no web presence to an impressive, professional, and flexible site even if they don’t have web design skills.

Real Life Pub Site Clients

As a professional author website provider, Pub Site is a clear winner, as proven by existing author pages.

Peter W. Wood, an accomplished writer, hosts his author website through Pub Site. Visiting his page, one can see how easy it is to navigate. Wood’s biography, blog, articles, contact information, social media links, and additional information are easy to find and enjoy!

Bobbi Smith is another author whose website is designed and maintained by Pub Site. This romance queen takes advantage of Pub Site’s easy modular build. Note that the site does not use the same template as Peter W. Wood’s site, but it offers the same depth of information.

Design and Functionality

From the style to the functional aspects of this page builder, Pub Site is very customizable. Author websites can feature every work an author has published, organized by series, age groups, and/or categories. A search feature adds an easy way for visitors to find a specific work. Authors can easily adjust the appearance of the site with a customized header and colors.

Why We Love Pub Site

We know that authors need websites. We trust Pub Site to provide an effective and cost-efficient marketing tool.

Authors are busy and focused on writing (or we like them to be). Pub Site ensures that clients like ours can continue to work on their writing without falling off the face of the internet.

Pub Site is especially exciting because it’s scalable. For a new author, Pub Site helps to market an inaugural book, but it’s easy to keep the marketing going when an author introduces new books or continues a series.

As well as being effective, and easy to use, it’s very affordable. Our clients love Pub Site. We love Pub Site (my own author website is on it). And you will, too.