Phil Giunta's Blog, page 6

About This Writing Stuff…

This month, we begin with Rebecca Jennings’s article from Vox on the importance of TikTok to a creative’s chances of success followed by a rebuttal from publishing industry expert Jane Friedman.

From Good Story Company, Kristen Overman challenges us to try journaling as a route to a solid first draft and Amy Wilson shows us how to describe emotions through action, dialogue, and deep POV.

Speaking of deep POV, Lisa Hall-Wilson at Writers in the Storm expands on that topic while Lynette M. Burrows explains the differences between tension, suspense, and conflict.

On Anne R. Allen’s blog, guest Jodie Hurst addresses the pros and cons of that 800-pound digital gorilla in the room—artificial intelligence.

All that and a little more. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Want to sell a book or release an album? Better start a TikTok by Rebecca Jennings

Author Platform is Not a Requirement to Sell Your Novel or Children’s Book by Jane Friedman

How to Describe Emotion by Amy Wilson

Journaling to Productive First Drafts by Kristen Overman

After Your First Draft: The Search for Meaning by Patti Callahan Henry

Beguile Your Readers with Tension, Suspense, and Conflict by Lynette M. Burrows

How to Remove the Author Voice for Deep Point of View by Lisa Hall-Wilson

Don’t Kill Your Darlings by Philip Athans

Substack is Both Great and Terrible for Authors by Jane Friedman

How to Make Your Writing More Sensitive – and Why it Matters by Melissa Haun

It’s the Age of AI: How to Survive and Thrive as a Writer by Jodie Hurst via Anne R. Allen

 

 

 

Book Review: The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

In Philip K. Dick’s alternate history novel, the Allies have lost WWII and the United States is divided up between Nazi Germany to the east and the Empire of Japan in the west. Between the two territories is a neutral zone straddling the Rocky Mountain States. It’s 1962 and the Chancellor of Nazi Germany, Martin Bormann, has just died, leaving several high-ranking Nazi officers to jockey for power including Reinhard Heydrich, Joseph Goebbels, and others. 

In the Japanese-controlled Pacific Western States, Rudolf Wegener (traveling under the name Baynes) defects from Nazi Germany to meet with a sympathetic Japanese General. There, Wegener reveals Operation Dandelion, Germany’s plans to attack the Japanese Home Islands. The meeting is held in the office of Trade Minister Tagomi in San Francisco, which is raided by an armed German militia assigned to kill Wegener. 

Meanwhile, machinist Frank Frink teams up with a co-worker to form their own business making hand-wrought metal jewelry. They plan to peddle their wares to a few local shops, starting with the largest antique shop in town owned by Robert Childan. Reluctant at first, Childan accepts the jewelry on a consignment deal but uses one of the pieces to curry favor with a young Japanese couple. He also sells a piece to Mr. Tagomi who later experiences a strange vision of an alternate San Francisco. 

In the neutral zone, Frink’s ex-wife, Julianna, is a Judo instructor and has been dating a truck driver named Joe Cinnandella. Julianna is engrossed in a popular novel called The Grasshopper Lies Heavy in which the United States and Britain have won WWII and now dominate the world. So compelling is the story that Julianna convinces Joe to drive her to Cheyenne, Wyoming to visit the author, a man named Abendsen. Along the way, she learns that Joe is not who he seems. 

Throughout the story, Mr. Tagomi and other characters in San Francisco consult the I Ching, a Chinese book of divination, to guide their decisions and foretell the future. 

Overall, The Man in the High Castle is a fascinating idea of what would have become of the United States had the Axis powers won the war. The oppression and fear experienced by the characters is palatable as each of them struggles for the best existence they can manage given their circumstances. 

Book Review: Anthony Doyle’s Hiberbnaculum

In an effort to conserve the planet’s resources, what if citizens from around the globe were afforded the option to voluntarily enter hibernation for a set amount of time? As it turns out, this idea appeals to many, from those seeking to help the environment in earnest to people looking for a brief respite from their harsh lives. There are the wealthy who wish to extend their lifespan and of course, the terminally ill hoping for a cure in the near future. Still others view hibernation as a way to reboot their lives and start anew when they emerge. 

Parts of the story are epistolary, told through letters written by a former “Sleeper” to her psychiatrist, as well as a rambling blogger about to take the plunge, and the journal entries of a man coping with life while his spouse hibernates for four months (one month longer than the standard duration). In between these are chapters detailing the interior layout and operations of the Hibernaculum as experienced by a journalist during an official tour of the facility, a staff member who cleans the Sleepers in their pods, and occasional design notes from the Hibernaculum’s lead architect. All of these combined deliver a startling, uncomfortable, and thought-provoking view of a near-future Earth in crisis. 

Hibernaculum is available in paperback and on Kindle Vella.

Endless Self-Promotion? No Thanks.

This article from Vox speaks to a concern I’ve had for several years about promoting your “brand” as an independent author or creator of any kind. The TL;DR version is that you need to be ubiquitous on social media, especially on TikTok, if you want to build an audience and sell your product.I don’t know about anyone else, but I cannot carve out time to make an endless stream of videos and still manage a writing schedule, high-stress FT job, marriage, a home, my health, and soon caring for an aging parent. I’m only one person already stretched thin across five or six social media platforms, maintaining a website and a YouTube channel that I can barely keep current.‌From the article:‌“The labor of making TikToks — and if you want to reach the most people in the shortest amount of time, TikTok is pretty much the only place to go — requires both tedium and skill. You’ve got to get used to the app’s ever-evolving editing features, understand the culture of the platform, make yourself look presentable but not too presentable or risk coming off as inauthentic, prepare for and practice what you’re going to say, but again, not too much. And you’ve got to do it again and again and again, because according to every single influencer ever, the key to growing your audience is posting consistently.‌More than that, you’ve got to actually spend your time doing this stuff on the off chance that the algorithm picks it up and people care about what you have to say. You’ve got to spend your time doing this even though it’s corny and cringe and your friends from high school or college will probably laugh as you “try to become an influencer.” You’ve got to do it even when you feel like you have absolutely nothing to say, because the algorithm demands you post anyway…You’ve got to offer your content to the hellish, overstuffed, harassment-laden, uber-competitive attention economy because otherwise no one will know who you are.”It’s discouraging and demoralizing to know that even if you produce high quality books, art, or music, it means nothing unless you work yourself to exhaustion clamoring for attention on the shitshow dumpster fire that is social media.  Good luck to us all.

About This Writing Stuff…

This month, book consultant and developmental editor Mary Kole encourages writers to diversify their skills in the age of AI. Now that self-publishing is no longer a “new thing,” Anne R. Allen advises indie writers on how to keep expectations grounded.

Kristen Lamb reviews the Johari Window and how it can be used as a tool for character and story development. Over at the Write Practice, Joe Bunting gives us a detailed lesson on first and third person points of view.

Fantasy writer Philip Athans defends the adverb—with some caveats—and, along with PJ Parrish, provides guidance on the skillful use of description in narrative.

All that and much more. Enjoy!

The Irrelevance of the Modern Writer by Mary Kole & Good Story Company

The Über Skill for Writers by Tiffany Yates Martin

How to Write the Beginning of a Novel by Rhiannon Richardson

How to Tighten Your Midpoint Twist by Ley Taylor Johnson

Is an Unpublishable Book Worth Writing? by Lory Widmer Hess

Is Self-Publishing a Good Choice for Authors in 2024? by Anne R. Allen

Adverbs Are Fine! by Philip Athans

Describe Characters as You Go Along by Philip Athans

How Much Description Does Your Book Need? by PJ Parrish

The Johari Window & Character Blind Spots by Kristen Lamb

How to Get Your Plot Arcs Working Together by Chris Winkle

Ninety-Nine Words to Seek and Destroy by Chris Winkle

Fresh Perspective Sells by Kathryn Craft

Types of Point of View: The Ultimate Guide to First Person & Third Person POV by Joe Bunting

 

Screencraft Cinematic Short Story Competition 2024

In September, I submitted two stories to the Screencraft Cinematic Short Story Competition for 2024. One was a Finnish fantasy tale called “The Forest for the Trees” and the other a Jewish-Christian story called “All That Matters is What You Believe.”‌I’m pleased to see that “The Forest for the Trees” advanced to the Quarterfinals. While “All That Matters…” did not place in the competition, it achieved single-digit rankings in the Faith category as shown in the screen shot below. Not a shabby way to start the year! Semi-final results will be announced next month. 

The Healing Power of the Written Word

Regardless of genre, several of my stories present a protagonist forced to confront repressed pain in order to overcome it and move on. As its heart, Testing the Prisoner is about the trauma suffered by victims of child abuse and the emotional damage they carry into adulthood.

I’ve been told by more than one reader that the book has aided in their healing process and for that, I cannot be more grateful. Most recently, fellow horror writer Carson Buckingham opened up about her experiences in her review of Testing the Prisoner on Hellnotes, a horror review site.

“I think the reason this book is so easy to get into and easier to continue with is the fact that the plot highlights the trauma, psychological chaos, and human feet of clay that makes it so relatable, even though it is about child abuse and letting go of hatred toward the abusers. Being a victim myself, though initially bothered by similarities to my childhood through some strongly-written abuse scenes, I stayed with it and am happy to report that this book turned out to be one of the most uplifting novels I have read in a very long time. If you have been a victim, it might do you good to read it. I found that, after I did, I was able to let go of a large negative burden that I’d been carrying for years… so thank you, Mr. Giunta. For your writing to be able to do that—to cause readers to step back and take inventory of their own lives and to improve them by acting on what they see is nothing short of miraculous.”

You’re welcome, my friend.

Book Review: Too Late for Prayin’ by Carson Buckingham

In this collection of 18 stories, Carson Buckingham adds her own unique flavor to many familiar horror tropes and the result is a delicious buffet of nightmare fuel covering a diverse array of themes including body horror, cursed objects, black magic, living dolls, imaginary friends, and much more.

My top five favorites include: 

“Oil King” – A seven year old’s imaginary friend becomes an increasing source of concern for her single mother, who consults a psychiatrist for help. The situation seems harmless enough at first—until the imaginary friend reveals itself, much to the psychiatrist’s horror. 

“Red Squares, Black Squares” – A young man enlists in the military just before his wedding. The problem is, he failed to tell his wife. During his absence, she proceeds with planned renovations to their home and finds an old G.I. Joe doll hidden behind a wall. The doll happens to be dressed in the same red and black flannel shirt worn by her husband, but that’s just a coincidence… right? 

“For Number 11” – An epistolary tale told through a letter written by William H. Taft, 27th president of the United States. Upon Taft’s death, the letter, along with a mysterious book, is delivered to his close friend Charles Evans Hughes, 11th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. During his time as governor of the Philippines, Taft encountered a cult that practiced black magic in the name of St. Rita of Cascia. One of Taft’s guides gifted him with a book of spells, but as the would-be president soon learned, using it for personal gain resulted in dire consequences.

“CU239” – A woman finds herself in a parallel reality, where her job makes no sense at all and society at large is populated by strange, eccentric characters with bizarre habits and little regard for the value of life. How did she arrive here? More importantly, how will she return to her world?

“Lemminaid” – A cruel and cunning businessman becomes stranded in a town where he once purchased, and subsequently closed, a chemical plant that was also the area’s largest employer. While waiting for a tow truck, the man observes an enterprising young boy selling “Lemminaid” for two cents per glass and decides to give him some pointers. Impressed by the kid’s business acumen, the man buys a cup of lemonade—a decision he soon regrets. 

 

You Didn’t Come This Far Only to Come This Far

Despite recent bouts of COVID, depression, and elevated stress, I had occasion this evening to reflect on everything for which I’m grateful, and the list is long.

Yes, 2023 was a challenging year. I struggled with severe daily anxiety attacks beginning in September 2022 that continued until mid-August 2023. They left me debilitated for the first hour or two every morning and were often accompanied by depression. I honestly thought they would end me, but I live by two mottos: “life might knock me down, but it can’t keep me down” and “you didn’t come this far only to come this far.”

So, I persevered and eventually prevailed with the help of three amazing women—my wife, my therapist, and my favorite singer on the planet, Dido (never say music doesn’t heal a broken soul). They are all my heroes.

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My wife planned and booked every step of our June trip to Niagara Falls and the Thousand Islands, culminating in a visit to Boldt Castle on my birthday. It was a fantastic week. Travel does wonders for mental health.

     

 

It was also in June when my detective tale, “Pearl of Great Price,” was published in Hard-Boiled and Loaded with Sin by Hawkshaw Press. That also helped loosen anxiety’s grip on me.

At the same time, plans to release the second edition of Testing the Prisoner were coming to fruition. By June, the book was fully re-edited by yours truly and two months later, artist pal Scott Barnett produced a cover that not only popped but exploded.

The book was released on September 18th. What happened next was nothing short of amazing.

First, I ran an Early Reviewers giveaway on LibraryThing, which resulted in five stellar reviews from the happy winners.

In October, after purchasing a copy of Testing the Prisoner from my table at the Easton Book Festival, writer and publisher Angel Ackerman—current president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group—praised the book on her blog as well as Amazon and Goodreads. By this time, Testing the Prisoner had been named as one of five finalists in American Book Fest’s 2023 Best Book Award (Horror Category).  Wow!

I was then contacted by horror writer Carson Buckingham who offered to review the book for Hellnotes.com. I sent a paperback to her in mid-November and shortly after Thanksgiving, she posted her effusive review, giving Testing the Prisoner six out of five stars!

As of this writing, I’m on the final round of re-edits to By Your Side, the second edition of which is slated for release on February 5, 2024 with a new cover by the aforementioned brilliant artist, Scott Barnett. The official launch will happen at Farpoint SF Convention in Pikesville, MD.

As I sit here on December 23, the house decked out for Christmas, anticipating a glorious week off from work and all of the writing and editing ahead of me, I do indeed have plenty to be grateful for. I hope you do as well.

I wish you peace, love, and joy this holiday season and throughout the new year!

 

 

 

 

Best Books About Ordinary People Thrown into Bizarre and Extraordinary Circumstances

There’s a new book recommendation site in town and its name is Shepherd. They aim to give Goodreads a run for its money and to help build their site, Shepherd has been reaching out to authors for their top five book recommendations based on a theme of their choice.

In my case, I created a list of the best books about ordinary people thrown into bizarre and extraordinary circumstances. It’s an honor to be featured on Shepherd and join the ranks of so many incredible writers!