Chris Eboch's Blog, page 4

Writer and Reader Comfort Part 2: Comfort at Your Desk - tools to make writing and reading time easier. #amwriting #writinglife #reader #booklover

I was recently at a writer’s retreat where we spent an evening sharing the tools we found to make our writing and readingtime easier. I decided others mightappreciate learning about some of these tools. I’ve also added a couple more ofmy own favorites. ( See part 1 of Writer and Reader Comfort here .)

Comfort at Your Desk

If you spend a lot of timeat your desk, a good chair is invaluable. I ordered the OFM ESS Collection Racing Style Bonded Leather Gaming Chair in 2020. I like the padded seat, armrests that can go up out of the way, adjustable height and swivel. It’s “currently unavailable,” but this one is similar:Racing Style Gaming Chair 

This version has attached lumbar and neck support and is surprisinglyaffordable (on sale for about $60 as of this writing): High-Back Gaming Office Chair 

And here’s the “Executive” version if you're feeling fancy: Homall Executive Gaming Chair 

A good keyboard is also key for writers. I was having painin my right shoulder, likely due to reaching out to use the rollerball mouse.This left-handed keyboard has the number keypad on the left side, which allowsme to keep my mouse closer on the right side. (I’m not actually left-handed.The primary difference is the position of the number keypad.) Getting used toany new configuration takes a little time but is worth it in the long run. Ergonomic Left Handed Keyboard 

If you don’t have a problem with the number keypad positionbut suffer from pain in your hands or wrists, you might prefer a split keyboard.I used this one until I decided to get the left-handed keyboard: Ergonomic Split Keyboard 

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this seat cushion,and I think most of the people at the writing retreat ordered their own. I havechronic back pain and can’t bear to sit on hard furniture. If you get one thing on thislist, I recommend this! WAOAW Seat Cushion 

I wanted something I could take with me when I might be required to sit on a hard chair. Yes, I bring this to friends’ houses and I used it at the writing retreat not only at the desk in my room but at the dining room table. It’s so nice I also use it on my padded desk chair. My husband ordered one too. 

Or if you need more lumbar support, check out the pillow combosthat have a back section as well as a seat cushion. Here’s an example:  Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion and Lumbar Support Pillow Combo

It's important to take care of our backs. That might mean yoga, visiting a chiropractor or acupuncturist, pain relief, or some combination of those things. It should also mean making sure you have a great ergonomic desk set up. 

Good ergonomics means you should also have your desk andchair at the right height so your feet are comfortably on the floor. It’s noteasy to change the height of a desk, however. Instead you can use a footrest.The first one I ordered was a little too high for my setup, so I passed it onto my husband. This shape adds a bit more flexibility: Everlasting Comfort Foot Rest for Under Desk 

I hope you find something here that makes your life easier. See part 1 of Writer and Reader Comfort here. I’ll be back with a post on “Easing Neck Pain,” and possibly more as I discover useful tools for writers and readers! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kris Bockwrites novels of mystery, suspense, and romance. In theAccidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles thechallenges of turning fifty. Kris’s FurreverFriends Sweet Romance series features the employeesand customers at a cat café. In the AccidentalBillionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, whichcauses as many problems as it solves. Sign up for the Kris Bock Mystery and Romance newsletter and get a free short story and bonus material, a free 30-page sweet romance set in the world of the FurreverFriends cat café, and

Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas JEboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama.The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and theirfriends a decade before the events of the movie. Sign up for the romantic comedy newsletter to get ashort story preview, or find the books at Amazon US or All E-book retailers.

Kris has over 100 books for children published under the namesChris Eboch and M. M. Eboch. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventureused in many schools; and The Genie’sGift, a middle eastern fantasy. Jesse Owens:Young Record Breaker and Milton Hershey: Young Chocolatier areinspiring biographies focused on them as children and young men.

Writer and Reader Comfort: tools to make writing and reading time easier. #amwriting #writinglife #reader #booklover

I was recently at a writer’s retreat where we spent a little time one evening sharing the tools we found to make our writing and reading time easier. People enthusiastically took pictures and made notes so they could grab these items – most under $40 – when they got home. I decided others might appreciate learning about some of these tools. I’ve also added a couple more of my own favorites. 

Writer and Reader Comfort 

This  Adjustable Laptop Table  inspired the whole conversation. The adjustable legs mean you can use it over your lap on the couch or you can turn a table into a standing desk. I ordered one immediately after coming home. (You can find a lot of other options if you prefer certain materials or styles, but note that some of them have a flat base rather than legs that can straddle a lap. Also, the width of the legs might not work for every lap size.)  

I got this Pillow Foam Stand Holder as a gift a couple of years ago and I love it. My mom loves hers too. It holds an e-reader, iPad or tablet at a nice angle for reading, so you don’t have to hold it in your hands and you don’t strain your neck as much as you would with it down in your lap. I keep mine on a pile of pillows on the couch to keep it at eye height. I like this royal blue color, but scroll down and you’ll see lots of options for different styles and designs, including some fun animal heads “for children” (but I won’t judge if you need a sloth, unicorn, or monster book holder for yourself)! 

If you prefer print books, you’ll be better off with a stand that has built-in clips to hold the pages flat when the book is open. I haven’t tried this  LUXURISM Adjustable Book Stand , but it says it’s a cookbook holder, so it should work for most books and magazines. 

And if you do want to try an e-reader, I have the  Amazon Fire HD 10 inch tablet . The battery lasts for many hours if it’s on airplane mode, I can take dozens of books with me when I travel, and I can adjust the font size to make it easier on my aging eyes. In addition, it’s often cheaper to buy e-books than print books, and you can get books from the library and have them delivered to your Kindle – no need to stop in to pick up your holds! 

Finally, this Electric Kettle might not seem like a “writing tool” but writers and readers who like a nice cup of tea will appreciate the speed and temperature accuracy of an electric kettle. They’re so inexpensive and really handy. This one comes in funcolors, but there are others that give you different temperature options, whichmight be best if you drink green, white, and oolong teas that should brew atdifferent temperatures.

I hope you find something fabulous here that makes your lifeeasier. I’ll be back with posts on “Comfort at Your Desk,” “Easing Neck Pain,”and possibly more as I discover useful tools for writers and readers! As an AmazonAssociate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kris Bockwrites novels of mystery, suspense, and romance. In theAccidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries inArizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. Kris’s Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series featuresthe employees and customers at a cat café. In the AccidentalBillionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in thelottery, which causes as many problems as it solves. Sign up for the Kris Bock Mystery andRomance newsletter andget a free and bonus material, a free30-page sweet romance set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café, and a printable copy of the recipes mentioned in the cat cafénovels.

Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas JEboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama.The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and theirfriends a decade before the events of the movie. Sign up for the romanticcomedy newsletter to get a short story preview, or find the books atAmazon US or All E-book retailers.

Kris has over 100 books for children published under the names ChrisEboch and M. M. Eboch. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventureused in many schools; and The Genie’sGift, a middle eastern fantasy. Jesse Owens: Young Record Breaker and Milton Hershey: Young Chocolatier are inspiring biographies focused on them aschildren and young men.

Writing Humor: let’s look at observational humor! #Writingtip #amwriting #writing #Comedy

In writing the humorous mystery series, The Accidental Detective, I explored different types of humor in writing. My previous posts addressed physical comedy, quirky characters, and wordplay, including puns. Today let’s explore my favorite: observational humor, such as comments about the oddity of life.

This kind of humor is the hardest – or maybe the easiest. It really depends on whether you make these kinds of wry observations yourself. If so, you merely need to let your inner snark out. I don’t really think of myself as a funny person, because I don’t tell jokes or funny stories. I’m not the “life of the party.” The idea of stand-up comedy terrifies me.

And yet, both my agent and my editor said they laughed a lot when reading Something Shady at Sunshine Haven. It’s not that I use a lot of jokes and slapstick, but rather that Kate makes witty observations about life, the way I do. I tend to keep those thoughts in my mind, or else drop a quiet comment in a group chat. Then, chances are one person will catch my eye with the amused look that says, “I saw what you did there.” Everyone else will keep on talking.

But in a book, the reader is right there in the character’s head, at least if you’re in first person POV or close third person viewpoint. That gives your audience a better chance to catch those subtle humorous comments.

Here are a few examples from Something Shady. They probably work better in context, but hopefully you can see why my editor flagged them as places that made her chuckle. Then keep reading for some examples written in third person POV.

I put my free hand on her arm. “I understand. We’ll find the truth.”

Heather nodded and opened the door. I felt her watching as I limped down the hall. I must look more like one of her patients than like a source of answers.

Stop it. It’s not all about you.

Most of the people in this building had it worse than I did. Unfortunately, I didn’t take comfort in knowing other people were suffering too.

Still, I could help Heather, and the patients, by uncovering the truth. If Heather’s suspicious were right, I might even save a life or two, if only to give them a few more months of dying slowly.

What a heroic job I had.

 ***

I lifted the mug and simply inhaled the scent for a minute. The whole ‘breathe in and out’ part of meditation was more interesting with a delicious smell.

 

 ***

I described the strange phone call from Henry Wilson.

Heather frowned. “I can’t believe Henry would do that. It’s totally inappropriate for any board member to call you like that. He could get in a lot of trouble. He could get us in a lot of trouble. And Henry is one of the good ones. There are board members I . . . have mixed feelings about, but Henry isn’t one of them.”

“Maybe I’ll go see him in person tomorrow,” I said. “If he’s hiding something, a direct assault might push him to do something stupid and reveal himself.”

“When you say it that way, it sounds dangerous.”

I shrugged. “I’ve interviewed warlords. I think I can handle one . . . what is he, in his regular life?”

“He owns a chain of local grocery stores.”

Sure, war criminal, drug lord, grocer. All dangerous people one should avoid.

 

 ***

“Honestly, I wouldn’t gossip!” June lowered her voice. “Please don’t get me in trouble. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt anyone here, honestly.”

I didn’t entirely trust anyone who felt the need to use “honestly” that often, but if she had mentioned my meeting to someone, she was too frightened to admit it. Maybe I should have tried a gentler approach. After all, she was a young American office worker, not a suspected terrorist or military commander.

Did I know any gentler approaches? None came to mind.

Something Shady at Sunshine Haven: War correspondent Kate Tessler has followed the most dangerous news stories around the world. But can she survive going home?

Find the book: Tule Publishing        Amazon Kindle           Amazon Kindle UK
B&N Nook     Apple Books   Kobo   Google Play
GoodReads     BookBub

Get a free Accidental Detectiveshort story and bonus material when you sign up for my newsletter.

What about writing in third person? 

My brother and I are writing a romantic comedy series featuring teen “Felony Melanie” before the events of the movie Sweet Home Alabama. In Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium, Melanie wants to qualify for the Miss Alabama Princess Pageant, because the prize could be her ticket out of Pigeon Creek. These first brief excerpts are the morning of the qualifying pageant, after Melanie has had a late and eventful night:

Melanie had to rally. She forced herself out of bed with one big heave. Stumbled to the bathroom. Her teeth felt fuzzy as peach skin. Her eyes were red-veined marbles in sooty sockets, and her tangled hair could be hiding any number of bird’s nests. She stuck out her tongue at her reflection. Some beauty queen. No doubt about it, the bill from yesterday had come due.

[Later]

Melanie took a deep breath to clear her head and set to work on her makeup. She added one more application of eye drops that promised to reduce redness. She blotted her eyes with tissues, gently pulled down her bottom lashes, and ran white eyeliner along the inner rim. That was supposed to make eyes look “radiant.” She was hoping for “awake and sober.”

 And during the pageant:

Melanie shifted into her pageant voice – a hint of southern lilt but proper grammar and precise diction. “I’m Melanie Smooter, sixteen years old, from Pigeon Creek, Alabama.”

As if y’all didn’t already know that. The next part was harder. She had to say something about herself – and she couldn’t fudge it since everybody knew her. She and Lurlynn had worked for hours on this, giggling the whole time, but in the end even Melanie’s mama approved it.

“I’m always a girl on the go, working my hardest to leave my mark on my community.”

A few chuckles came from the audience.

What? Her statement was the honest to God truth.

“I love fashion, football –” and one football player in particular – “and I aim to make my hometown proud one day.”

By getting the heck out of there and showing what a Pigeon Creek girl could do in the real world.

As you can see, even in third person, staying close to the character’s point of view lets you add their humorous way of seeing the world to your story.

Visit the Amazon series page for Felony Melanie: Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy novels. Sign up for our Rom-Com newsletter and get Felony Melanie Destroys the Moonshiner’s Cabin. These first two chapters from the novel Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium stand alone as a short story

Advanced Plotting now free via Kindle Unlimited!

“The Plot Outline Exercise is a great tool!”

“Advanced Plotting is helping me to stop and ask the right questions, to dig deeper.”

“The essays really help you zero in on your own problems in your manuscript.”

You Can Write for Children: Write Great Stories, Articles, Books for Kids and Teenagers, is available in Kindle, in paperback, or in Large Print paperback.

“If you have thought of writing a book for children, this book will take you from the “idea” stage all the way through to the “finished” stage.”

“This is a terrific resource book for anyone who has considered writing for children. Each chapter has a tip section as well as specific resources, concrete examples, and easy to understand explanation of terms and topics. Excellent book!”

Writing Humor: Wordplay, jokes and puns #Writingtip #amwriting #writing #Comedy

In writing the humorous mystery series The Accidental Detective, I explored different types of humor writing. My previous posts addressed physical comedy and quirky characters. Today let’s explore wordplay, including puns, with one example from Something Shady at Sunshine Haven and another from  Felony Melanie in the Big Smashup.

Wordplay is simply the manipulation of language with the intent to amuse. Types include Double Entendres ("I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.” (Mae West), Tongue Twisters, Malapropisms(the mistaken use of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound, to humorous effect, as in “A rolling stone gathers no moths.”) and Puns. While some of these forms of humor may be disparaged, they were good enough for Shakespeare.

 

A pun is a joke that depends on a play on words. It typically involves a word that has several meanings or sounds like a different word. Some people love puns and some people hate them, but even those who love puns agree that the best ones get the audience to groan. Some books, like Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland are filled with puns. Cozy mysteries often have a pun in the title, as in Becky Clark’s Police Navidad and Punning with Scissors. Children often enjoy puns, so you’ll find books such as Bruce Hale’s Chet Gecko Series that are packed full of them.

For most of us, a few puns go a long way, but they can add a chuckle to any story. Here’s an example from Something Shady at Sunshine Haven. Kate has had to admit to her father that she’s investigating suspicious deaths at the nursing home where Kate’s mother now lives. He wants to help and thinks the other senior men in his coffee group would also help.

“If I . . . if we can reduce the list of people to investigate, we can focus on the most likely culprits,” I said. “That does mean more internet research but also talking to people or maybe following them.”

“I can help with that. In fact, all the fellows could help. They’d like to, I’m sure.”

, what had I started? “Dad, it has to be confidential.”

“We don’t have to tell them everything. We can ask them to follow specific people, find out certain things. They won’t ask why if we say it’s a secret. The men in my coffee group may be old retired guys, but we have a lot of life experience. And a lot of free time.”

Having a whole group of helpers might save time and effort, or it might turn the investigation into a Keystone Cops comedy. “I don’t want to put anyone in danger.”

“I’ll make sure they understand, but we’ve survived this long. Most of them will think it’s fun, being private detectives for a while.”

I pictured a bunch of seniors in trench coats and fedoras. “Sherlock Holmes had his Baker Street Irregulars, the ragtag kids who gathered information for him. I get an old guys brigade?”

“We could call ourselves the Coffee Shop Irregulars.” He chuckled. “Although at our age, we spend a lot of time trying to be ‘regular’!”

Men. No matter how old they got, they still loved a poop joke.

Something Shady at Sunshine Haven: War correspondent Kate Tessler has followed the most dangerous news stories around the world. But can she survive going home? Get a free Accidental Detectiveshort story and bonus material when you sign up for my newsletter. Find the book:

Tule Publishing           Amazon Kindle           Amazon Kindle UK

B&N Nook     Apple Books   Kobo   Google Play    GoodReads     BookBub

The Teenage Adventures of Felony Melanie series is based on characters from the movie Sweet Home Alabama. People in the South enjoy a lot of humorous sayings, which means that my cowriter and I can draw on those sayings or make up our own.

Here’s an excerpt from Felony Melanie in the Big Smashup, where the girls are annoyed that sexism is keeping Melanie from participating in the junior demolition derby: 

Melanie glared back toward the cabin [at the junkyard]. The porch was empty, so either the boys had gone inside with Mr. Hopkins, or he’d taken them in another direction to find the parts they needed. “Grumpy old fart,” she muttered. “I’ll show them a thing or two.”

“Don’t let it bother you,” Dorothea said. “As my grandpa would say, old man Hopkins is a turd in a punch bowl.”

“My mama likes to say folks like him have the personality of a dishrag,” Lurlynn said.

Melanie started to smile. “He’s as windy as a sack full of farts.”

“He’s so country he thinks a seven-­course meal is a possum and a six-pack,” Dorothea added.

Pretty soon, the girls were shrieking with laughter. Melanie hoped Jake heard it all the way to wherever he’d gone.

Visit the Amazon series page for Felony Melanie: Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy novels. Sign up for our Rom-Com newsletter and get Felony Melanie Destroys the Moonshiner’s Cabin. These first two chapters from the novel Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium stand alone as a short story

For most forms of writing, it’s probably best not to get carried away with puns. Still, puns and other wordplay can pump up the giggles in a humorous novel and add fun to any kind of writing. Once you start to tune into this kind of language play, opportunities may jump out at you. 

You can find more extensive articles on writing puns and other wordplay, such as this one from Masterclass .

Advanced Plotting now free via Kindle Unlimited!

“The Plot Outline Exercise is a great tool!”

“Advanced Plotting is helping me to stop and ask the right questions, to dig deeper.”

“The essays really help you zero in on your own problems in your manuscript.”

You Can Write for Children: Write Great Stories, Articles, Books for Kids and Teenagers,is available in Kindle, in paperback, or in Large Print paperback.

“If you have thought of writing a book for children, this book will take you from the “idea” stage all the way through to the “finished” stage.”

“This is a terrific resource book for anyone who has considered writing for children. Each chapter has a tip section as well as specific resources, concrete examples, and easy to understand explanation of terms and topics. Excellent book!”

Workshop alert! Revision Workout and Creating Exciting School Visits - in person or on Zoom on May 14, with two-part manuscript critique option #writing #amwriting #editing

Nonwriters seem to believe that authors just sit down to work, write a wonderful book, and when it’s published, everybody buys it. Maybe that has happened. In a fairytale. But first drafts usually need lots of revision. And once your book does get published you need to tell people about it, which for children’s authors means school visits.

Luckily, for those of us who do write, mentors like Suzanne Morgan Williams are happy to share their insights and give us tools to make the process less painful. Suzanne will be in Albuquerque, New Mexico on May 14 to teach two in-person or Zoom workshops, called Revision Workout and So You’re Not a Juggler-Creating Exciting School Visits.

Suzanne Morgan Williams wants you to know that revising your work doesn’t mean that your first draft failed. Suanne likens writing to the building process. “Your first draft is akin to gathering the materials and preparing the land so you can build. Revision is when you do the actual building.” In her workshops, Suzanne gives authors an assortment of revision tools. Everyone is different, but everyone should leave the workshop with at least one tool that resonates with them.

Once your book is available to readers, it’s like a building that needs to be inhabited. Invite readers in with school visits. Kids learn about your book(s) and the visits supplement your income. Suzanne says, “A successful school visit engages your audience in a way they won’t forget. You want to make them laugh, cry, and leave wanting to read more.” Teachers love school visits, especially if you ask them in advance what they’re teaching, so you can tie into their curriculum. However, they often don’t have money to pay authors. Suzanne sometimes receives grants that pay her to talk to kids. She’ll discuss how others might do the same.

Sign up for one or both of Suzanne’s workshops (in-person or online) here. You can also learn more about the extra two-part manuscript critique she’s offering with the revision workshop.

Suzanne Morgan Williams is the author of the middle grade novel Bull Rider and eleven nonfiction books for children. Bull Rider is a Junior Library Guild Selection, is on several state award lists and won a Western Heritage Award from the National Western Heritage and Cowboy Museum. Her nonfiction titles include Piñatas and Smiling Skeletons, The Inuit, and China’s Daughters. 

Suzanne has presented and taught writing workshops at dozens of schools, professional conferences, and literary events across the US and Canada. She is on the Nevada Arts Council Artist Roster of teaching artists and was Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Member of the Year, 2012. She is a founder of the Nevada SCBWI Mentorship program, and along with revising her own work, she has mentored near twenty novelists through their own revision processes.

Writing Humor using quirky characters #Writingtip #amwriting #writing #Comedy

This week’s post is on adding humor through quirky characters. This is a great way to pump up the humor in your story. In general, if we think of a character type – grandmother, cheerleader, private investigator, or whatever – a certain image will easily come to mind. That image tends to be based on societal stereotypes.

For example, someone who needs a “grandmother” character might picture a plump woman with white hair who bakes cookies. But not all grandmothers have white hair! Creating a more distinct character might mean going beyond that initial thought. Perhaps this grandmother dyes her hair with blue and purple streaks, is the town mayor, and takes her grandson to the bowling alley for nachos. A more specific character is actually more believable than a generic character – and a lot more fun.

You should always try to go beyond the easy cliché. When writing humor, push it even farther. Create characters who have interesting quirks, unusual hobbies, or strange passions. They don’t have to be over the top, if that’s not your humor style. Simply make each character as fresh and real as the people you know in life. Let’s look at two examples.

In my humorous mystery Something Shady at Sunshine Haven, war correspondent Kate moves back to Arizona to recover from an injury. Kate’s mother is now in an Alzheimer’s unit at a nursing home. That’s not funny. I don’t want to make her mother’s memory problems the butt of jokes. Still, the relationship between Kate and her mother can have touches of humor.

In the following excerpt, Kate visits her mother for the first time since Mom’s Alzheimer’s was diagnosed.

Mom’s room was the third on the left, small but cheerful, with a single bed, dresser, desk, and chair. She looked like herself, although her face twisted in confusion when I entered.

Dad said, “Look who’s here to see you, Mother. Our daughter Kate has come home.”

Mom reached out with both hands. “Kitty!”

I hadn’t gone by that nickname in decades, but it was better than being forgotten.

“You look tired,” she said. “And you’ve cut your hair.”

I was tired, but I’d worn my hair short for over a decade. Was she remembering me from some previous era? If she thought I was still twenty, then “tired” was a delicate understatement for how I’d changed.

She brushed hair off my forehead. “You should grow your hair out again. It looks so nice long, when you bother to style it.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Maybe she hadn’t changed much after all.

While there is humor in the scene, it’s also a poignant moment between Kate and her mother, and I’ll bet a lot of people will identify with having a parent who sometimes makes unwelcome personal comments.

Something Shady at Sunshine Haven: War correspondent Kate Tessler has followed the most dangerous news stories around the world. But can she survive going home?

Get a free Accidental Detectiveshort story and bonus material when you sign up for my newsletter.

Find the book:    Tule Publishing

Amazon Kindle           Amazon Kindle UK

B&N Nook     Apple Books   Kobo   Google Play

GoodReads     BookBub

In the Felony Melanie: Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy novels, the quirky side characters are more extreme. In Felony Melanie in the Big Smashup, Melanie wants to join the demolition derby with the boys. She gets help from an older woman who use to drive.

“Now that you’re warmed up, let’s see you backwards,” Miz Kitchens said.

“Backwards?” Melanie squeaked.

Miz Kitchens leaned down with her arm across the window frame. “You don’t think you can do the Derby going forward, do you? You have to protect the engine. That’s why the cars mostly run around backward, at least the ones that last.” She shook her head. “Pretty as a pumpkin but half as smart.”

Melanie’s face heated. “I can drive backward.”

“Then do it.” Miz Kitchens straightened and slapped the top of the car. “Come on, tail up and stinger out!”

Melanie bit down on her lower lip, squinted at the rearview mirror, and tried to back the car down the row.

Scrape.

Oops. Good thing all the cars were already damaged. She pulled forward a couple of feet and tried again.

Whoa! Now she was too far in the other direction. She’d barely passed the parallel parking part of her driver’s exam. Her eyes said she should do one thing, but the car didn’t seem to agree.

Miz Kitchens stomped over to her, waving her arms. “No, no, no! You want to putter around in backward circles while they ram you? You’ve got to drive with confidence. Don’t rely on your mirrors – you won’t have them in the derby anyway.”

Melanie twisted around to look out the back window. That gave her more warning when she was going off course. She managed to get down the road. Now she just had to turn –

Whoops. She’d meant to go the other way. Oh well, no one would know what she intended. At least she made it around the row of cars without hitting anything.

No, no, brake! Where was the brake? Her foot got caught under it. She yanked it out, slammed it down, and jerked to a stop. Okay, lesson learned. She had to know where the gas and brake were without looking at them. She touched her foot from one to the other a few times to get the feel for how far apart they were.

Miz Kitchens threw her arms in the air. “This ain’t no tea party! You have to be tougher than any fellow out there. Girls in demolition derby are as scarce as deviled eggs after a church picnic. You fail out there, and they’ll say no girl can do it.”

Visit the Amazon series page for Felony Melanie: Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy novels. Sign up for our Rom-Com newsletter and get Felony Melanie Destroys the Moonshiner’s Cabin. These first two chapters from the novel Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium stand alone as a short story

Advanced Plotting now free via Kindle Unlimited!

“The Plot Outline Exercise is a great tool!”

“Advanced Plotting is helping me to stop and ask the right questions, to dig deeper.”

“The essays really help you zero in on your own problems in your manuscript.”

You Can Write for Children: Write Great Stories, Articles, Books for Kids and Teenagers, is available in Kindle, in paperback, or in Large Print paperback.

“If you have thought of writing a book for children, this book will take you from the “idea” stage all the way through to the “finished” stage.”

“This is a terrific resource book for anyone who has considered writing for children. Each chapter has a tip section as well as specific resources, concrete examples, and easy to understand explanation of terms and topics. Excellent book!”

Writing Humor: Types of humor and a look at physical comedy #Writingtip #amwriting #writing #Comedy

In writing the humorous mystery series The Accidental Detective, I explored different types of humor in writing. Over the next few weeks, I’ll delve into each type and give examples. First, here are the types I’ll address. (Different sources will give a different number and types of humor.)

Physical comedy, such as slapstickQuirky characters

Wordplay, including puns

Observational humor, such as comments about the oddity of life

Today, let’s look at physical comedy. This works well in movies and TV shows, where you can see pratfalls, clowning around, people making funny faces, and so forth. It was especially important in silent movies that depended on visuals rather than words. It is more of a challenge in books, where the action must be described in words. Still, some authors use a lot of physical humor – Jana DeLeon is an example. Her humorous mysteries are full of comical explosions, people flying through the air, and messes.

I generally prefer to use a light touch with the physical comedy in my books. Still, these moments can add humor as well as advance the plot. In Something Shady at Sunshine Haven, former war correspondent Kate is back in Arizona recovering from an injury. She uses a cane to support her damaged left leg. An old acquaintance who runs the nursing home where Kate’s mother lives asks Kate to quietly investigate whether something is wrong in the home.

In the following excerpt, Kate has been interviewing an elderly man in a wheelchair when one of her suspects, a cranky employee named Norman Mendelson tries to interfere.

Mendelson joined us, his hands on his hips. “Miss Tessler, I see you’re here again. I hope you aren’t bothering the residents with your questions.”

“I prefer Ms. Tessler, and I was having a lovely chat with a very interesting man.”

Tommy beamed at Mendelson. “Not many people want to listen to my war stories, but this young lady has been humoring me.”

I spotted Mrs. Gregorian and her family. If Mrs. Gregorian was one of the overmedicated patients, that opened up a new line of questioning.

I turned to Tommy. “It was lovely talking to you. I hope we’ll meet again when I’m here visiting my mother. I need to speak to some other new friends now.”

Mendelson scowled and shuffled his feet, but he could hardly keep me from talking to people in the public room.

I grinned. “Have a great day.”

I felt his gaze on me as I turned to cross the room.

Between the residents and visiting family members, the spacious room was a swirl of activity. I waited for a woman using a walker to cross in front of me. My leg ached, so I shifted more of my weight onto my good leg and the cane. A man to my right , gesturing wildly with his arms while he told a story. I flinched back to avoid being hit.

Something slammed into my left leg. I grunted in pain as my leg collapsed. My cane swung upward, goosing the gesturing man and tangling in his legs.

The next thing I knew, I was sitting on the floor in a heap.

This is a minor moment, but several early readers noted that they laughed when the man got goosed. The scene also moves the story forward, as Kate now wonders if Mendelson tried to stop her from interviewing other people. In addition, it reveals Kate’s character as she has to deal with being the center of attention in a way that makes her uncomfortable.

Small moments of physical comedy can add humor and make a scene more visual too. Here's an example from 

Felony Melanie in PageantPandemonium : A Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy novel:

Melanie perched on a stump half hidden among the bushes and weeds. Jake and the gang would be along soon. It was finally starting to cool down a bit, though the humidity still thickened the air. Today had been what her daddy referred to as a “three T-shirt day.”

Something rustled in the bushes behind her. She twisted to peer through the heavy growth. The cherry bombs had made her jumpy. Sure, the woods could hold dangerous critters, but this was most likely only a bird or rabbit. But you had to watch out for wild dogs, and wild pigs were huge and nasty, with tusks like Bowie knives. She sniffed the air for the smell of wild hog, all wet fur and decaying mud and piss, stinking to high heaven. None of that, thank goodness. But was that … body spray?

A new sound rumbled through the dusk. “Eldon, are you hunnnnngry?”

Melanie leapt to her feet. Clinton popped out of a bush a few feet away.

She groaned. Not this again! She spun away from him.

Skinny Eldon stalked her from the other side, grinning. “I’m starving.”

Melanie backed up, but her legs bumped the stump. “No. No, no, no.”

“I could use a Melanie sandwich,” Clinton said.

She darted for the road.

Clinton and Eldon jumped forward and squashed her between them. Clinton’s flowing mullet tickled her cheek as his broad chest smothered her.

Melanie wriggled. “Did y’all forget to shower after the game?” 

So when it comes to physical humor, I usually like a light touch, but it is one of many techniques that can work to make writing funny. In some genres, such as children’s books and romantic comedy, physical humor can be extreme, even over the top. 

As a bonus, a little physical humor might make your book seem more cinematic. Who knows, you could attract the attention of Hollywood!

Something Shady at Sunshine Haven: War correspondent Kate Tessler has followed the most dangerous news stories around the world. But can she survive going home?

Accidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty.

Find the book:

Tule Publishing
Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook
Apple Books
Kobo
Google Play
Amazon Kindle UK
GoodReads
BookBub

Accidental Detective short story and bonus material when you sign up for my newsletter. This collection includes a ten-page mystery short story set in the world of “The Accidental Detective” series, information about the series, and the first chapter of book 1. After that are three fun, short stories originally written for children. You’ll also get , a free 30-page sweet romance set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café, and “22 recipes from the cat café.”

Advanced Plotting now free via Kindle Unlimited!

“The Plot Outline Exercise is a great tool!”

“Advanced Plotting is helping me to stop and ask the right questions, to dig deeper.”

“The essays really help you zero in on your own problems in your manuscript.”

You Can Write for Children: Write Great Stories, Articles, Books for Kids and Teenagers, is available in Kindle, in paperback, or in Large Print paperback.

“If you have thought of writing a book for children, this book will take you from the “idea” stage all the way through to the “finished” stage.”

“This is a terrific resource book for anyone who has considered writing for children. Each chapter has a tip section as well as specific resources, concrete examples, and easy to understand explanation of terms and topics. Excellent book!”

 

Try MockupShots and get your book cover added to hundreds of images #AmWriting #WritersLife #writing

I recently signed up with MockupShots – it's like BookBrush, but instead of an annual or monthly fee, it's a one-time purchase. You can upload your book cover and it will put it into a couple hundred images, such as people holding the book or the book on a table or desk (as you see from these sample pages with one of my books). 

Obviously not all images will be right for each book, but you should find several – likely dozens – that are suitable.  It's a good way to do "photo shoots" of your books without having to actually set up a photo shoot. You can also do video mockups and cover reveal images, and you can edit the images via the site.

This month only, it's only $77 for *lifetime* use (normally almost $200). I love lifetime deals, because that one time fee usually pays for itself in a matter of months. 

Learn more or grab it here.

Are you #amwriting or #amediting? Give yourself or the writers in your life a #blackfriday gift to follow up #NaNoWriMo - #writing books for #KidLit and other plotters

Take your novel to the next level.

You’ve finished a few manuscripts, read books and articles on writing, taken some classes, attended conferences. But you still struggle with plot, or suspect that your plotting needs work.

This book can help.

“Advanced Plotting is helping me to be more focused, to stop and ask the right questions, to dig deeper.”

Advanced Plotting is designed for the intermediate and advanced writer. Read the book straight through, study the index to find help with your current problem, or dip in and out randomly — however you use this book, you’ll find fascinating insights and detailed tips to help you build a stronger plot and become a better writer.

“This really is helping me a lot. It's written beautifully and to-the-point. The essays really help you zero in on your own problems in your manuscript. The Plot Outline Exercise is a great tool!”

The Plot Outline Exercise is designed to help you work with a completed manuscript to identify and fix plot weaknesses. It can also help flesh out an outline. Additional articles address specific plot challenges, such as getting off to a fast start, propping up a sagging middle, building to a climax, and improving your pacing. A dozen guest authors share advice from their own years of experience.

“I just read and dissected your well-written book: Advanced Plotting. It's now highlighted in bright orange and littered with many of those little 3M sticky labels. GOOD JOB. There are too many just-for-beginners books out there. Yours was a delight.”

Buy Advanced Plotting in print or as an e-book at Amazon, free in KU.

Chris Eboch is the author of over 15 novels for adults and 100 books for children, including nonfiction and fiction, early reader through teen. 

See all of Chris’s links

Chris is also the author of You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers. 

“A must for your writing library!”

Remember the magic of bedtime stories? When you write for children, you have the most appreciative audience in the world. But to reach that audience, you need to write fresh, dynamic stories, whether you’re writing rhymed picture books, middle grade mysteries, edgy teen novels, nonfiction, or something else. 

In this book, you will learn:

How to explore the wide variety of age ranges, genres, and styles in writing stories, articles and books for young people.How to find ideas.How to develop an idea into a story, article, or book.The basics of character development, plot, setting, and theme – and some advanced elements.How to use point of view, dialogue, and thoughts.How to edit your work and get critiques.Where to learn more on various subjects.

Whether you’re just starting out or have some experience, this book will make you a better writer – and encourage you to have fun!

“A definite winner in the how-to-write book library.”

You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers is available for the Kindle, in paperback, or in Large Print paperback.

Chris Eboch's novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy; and the Haunted series, about kids who travel with a ghost hunter TV show, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs. 

See all of Chris’s links.

Intro to Self-Publishing with Chris Eboch: Handout #amwriting

Intro to Self-Publishing with Chris Eboch (for SCBWI-Houston, 9/13/2021)

Who Should Self Publish:

•           Traditionally published authors who want to make out-of-print titles available again.

•           Published authors who wish to release books in a series that a publisher has dropped.

•           Professional writers who have a book that doesn’t suit the current market, but may still find a modest audience.

•           People who have a marketing platform for distributing their books, e.g. they do a lot of speaking on a professional topic and can sell books at their talks (best for nonfiction).

•           Amateur writers who want to make a title available in print form for their family, such as memoirs or family genealogy, or a child’s favorite story.

•           First-time authors who have studied writing for several years and gotten professional feedback on their manuscript, who also:

•  want complete control of the publishing process

•  prefer the work of self-publishing to the work of researching and querying publishers

•  enjoy marketing and have experience with it

•  and/or feel they don’t have time to wait on the traditional publishing industry

 

Advantages:

You retain all rights to your work. You can earn more per copy sold.

You get to make decisions about cover art, pricing, content -- basically everything.

If the book does extremely well, you may interest a traditional publisher.

You get to see your book in print in a few months, instead of several years if ever.

 

Disadvantages:

You get no advance. You may sell few copies and make hardly any money -- ever.

You have to make all the decisions about cover art, pricing, content -- basically everything.

A poorly written/edited/designed book can hurt your reputation as an author.

To produce a professional-quality book, you will have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars and dozens or hundreds of hours of time. You have no marketing support from a publisher.

Your book will not be available in bookstores.

 

Steps to Self-Publishing:

•            Write and edit a book. Edit it some more. Get professional critiques and edit again.

•            Write any front/back matter: title page, illustrated by, summary, dedication, acknowledgments, “other books by,” authors note, bio, etc. (You can follow the format in other books).

•            Hire a professional copy editor and approve/reject their suggestions.

•            Hire an illustrator. Make sure you understand whether you are getting only cover art, or complete cover design with title and (for print on demand) spine and back of book. What rights are you buying?

•            Upload, publish.

•            Publicity and marketing.

 

Resources:

Download Chris’s Indie Publishing Worksheet: https://chriseboch.com/for-writers/

David Gaughran: books, videos, a newsletter, and a free courses on self-publishing: https://davidgaughran.com/

Jane Friedman: blog and newsletter with a focus on business: https://www.janefriedman.com/

Darcy Pattison: a blog focused on SP children’s books: https://www.darcypattison.com/category/publishing/

Roxie Munro: a blog focused on SP children’s books (not recently updated):

www.roxiemunro.wordpress.com

IBPA: Independent book publishers Association (news, discounts on services): https://www.ibpa-online.org/

 

Chris Eboch is the author of over 100 books for children, including nonfiction and fiction, early reader through teen. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure used in many schools; The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy; and the Felony Melanie series featuring the characters from the movie Sweet Home Alabama as teenagers. Her writing craft books include You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers, and Advanced Plotting.

Learn more at chriseboch.com or her Amazon page, or check out her writing tips at her Write Like a Pro! blog.

Chris also writes mystery, romance, and suspense for adults under the name Kris Bock. Her Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. Get a free 10,000-word story set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café when you sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter. Learn more at www.krisbock.com or visit Kris Bock’s Amazon US page or Amazon UK page. (For other countries click here.)