Ron D. Voigts's Blog, page 2

Plotting the Murder: On Sale at Amazon.

Countdown sale is going on at Amazon for Book 3 in Writing the Killer Mystery, Plotting the Murder.

 ☺ On sale for 99 cents, Ends Feb 8 ☺

** Get yours at Amazon **

Writing and Tomato Timers

I have the attention span of a peanut.  Not that I cannot focus, just getting myself to last the distance can be a P-A-I-N (all caps).  So I read about this method called the Pomodoro Method.
This Italian guy Francesco Cirillo came up with the Pomodoro Technique. Whatever the task, you break it up into chunks, working 25 minutes at it and then resting 5 minutes. Repeat cycle. After four repeats, take a longer rest say 15-30 minutes.
I use this method when writing. If I make four cycles, two hours, I take a nice long break, get some ice cream, play with the cat, and catchup on Netflix offerings.  Sometimes I don't make four cycle, but I still eat ice cream and play with the cat. The method was devised to decrease internal and external interruption of the creative flow. For me, it takes an insurmountable task, like writing a 100,000-word book and knocks it down into bite-size chunks.

Pomodoro is Italian for tomato and the original method used a tomato shaped timer.  You can find them on Amazon . I used my wife’s Owl Timer at first. Later I progressed to a timer on my Android Phone. Check out Google Play Store for Pomodoro Timer.  I am sure an app exists for the Apple iphone.



Interesting to think: if Francesco had been from the South, it might have been the Okra Method. We’d call him Frankie then. Maybe Bubba for short. 
Happy writing.  Try the tomato timer method.

Pre-Order Now for Book 5 in Writing the Killer Mystery

Finish and Sell your Mystery Novel!!!
Let me show you how
Build conflict and suspense into scenesWrite dynamic dialogUse secrets and lies in your mysteryFix plot, characters, and scenesSelf-Publish your bookGet a literary agentFind a traditional publisherPromote your bookDevelop a marketing planBuild your author platformIn a Nutshell
This fifth book in the creative writing course, Writing the Killer Mystery, offers advice on finishing, revising, publishing, and marketing to make the mystery novel a success.
Help with your Mystery Novel
>>> Are you looking to take your murder mystery from concept to publication?
>>> Do you want to grow your writing knowledge and skills?
>>> Looking for a muse to help with writing your mystery novel?
>>> Are you stuck on some aspect of crafting your mystery?
>>> Do you sometimes have writer stall-out?
Let Writing the Killer Mystery series guide you with Volume 5, Getting It Right, Getting Paid.
Scroll up and  grab a copy  today!!!

Pre-Order Your Copy at Amazon

Promote Your Book on Facebook

Facebook offers a great number of groups to promote your books.  If you have not already done so, you need to try this promo method.  Here is the basic formula.
Go to a promo book page. Post to the group a short book blurb and link to your book. I always use the Amazon link as it produces a nice pic of your book cover. Also, if the promo group offers sales/discussion posts, always pick discussion.Post no more than one book a day to a group. Don’t overdo your welcome.Pay attention to the group’s rules. Some are wide open but others have requirements. For example, “Kindle Unlimited” must have #KU, Kindle Unlimited, or something like that in the post, where it can be easily seen.Rotate through the groups. Using the list below, you should be able to do a month of promos for a book before any repeats.I track everything on a spreadsheet.  One sheet per book.  I note the post date for each promo group. I also keep my book blurb on the same sheet for that book.~~~~~~
Here is the blurb for Writing the Killer Mystery: Places, Clues and Guilt, Volume Four.
★★ Read for free on Kindle Unlimited ★★ ✔ 99 Cents with Kindle Matchbook☺ Now an Amazon Bestseller➭ Create dynamic settings➭ Invent great clues and evidence➭ Find means and motive for the killer✔ $2.99 to Buyhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HM67D1Q/

~~~~~~
The post looks like this on FB.

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My list of promo groups on Facebook follows.   Remove any that don’t work for you. As you go on you can add to the list. I suggest sticking to groups with a few thousand follower or more.  Note some very similar names so use them as copied here. You can find these groups by doing a FB search on the name.
<Kindle Book Promotion> Authors, Writers & Bloggers-->>Promote Kindle Book ++All Things BooksAuthor/Publisher/Editor/Book ReadersAuthors Ebook promotion & Reviews , Amazon kindle self publishingBook Junkie PromotionsBOOK REVIEW & PROMOTIONCelebrating AuthorsEverything and Anything to do with BooksFree Author Book PromotionIndie Author Book Promotion PageKindle Amazon Book Club - Authors Promote Here!Kindle UnlimitedKindle Unlimited BookwormsKindle, Kindle, and KindlePassion for BooksPromote Your Book HerePromote Your Book Here!Promote Your Books HereThe Kindle Book LibraryUnlimited Kindle ReadsEBook PromotionsAuthors promote your books.Unlimited Book PromosKindle Amazon Book Club - Authors Promote Here!Book PromotionKindle/Book ClubGood Kindle Unlimited ReadsKindle Book Library-->> PROMOTE Kdbook! FREE!eBook & Book Ads and Promotions

Happy promoting!!!

Writing the Killer Mystery: Places, Clues and Guilt

Make your Mystery Novel a Success!!!Let me show you how
Write dynamic settingsCreate believable locationsFind means and motive for the killerUse opportunity and alibisInvent great clues and evidenceDrop red herrings to baffle allApply misdirectionHow to play fairSeparate backstory and historyIncorporate flashbacksPiecemeal backstory and historyIn a Nutshell
This fourth book in the creative writing course, Writing the Killer Mystery, lays out the elements needed in every murder mystery, including setting, means, motive, opportunity, clues, backstory and history to make the mystery novel a success.

Help with your Mystery Novel
>>> Are you looking to take your murder mystery from concept to publication?
>>> Do you want to grow your writing knowledge and skills?
>>> Looking for a muse to help with writing your mystery novel?
>>> Are you stuck on some aspect of crafting your mystery?
>>> Do you sometimes have writer stall-out?

Let Writing the Killer Mystery series guide you with Volume 4, Places, Clues and Guilt.

Grab a copy today!!!

On Amazon.com

On Amazon.de

On Amazon.uk.co

On Amazon.ca

Make your Mystery Novel a Success!!!Let me show you howWr...

Make your Mystery Novel a Success!!!Let me show you how
Write dynamic settingsCreate believable locationsFind means and motive for the killerUse opportunity and alibisInvent great clues and evidenceDrop red herrings to baffle allApply misdirectionHow to play fairSeparate backstory and historyIncorporate flashbacksPiecemeal backstory and historyIn a Nutshell
This fourth book in the creative writing course, Writing the Killer Mystery, lays out the elements needed in every murder mystery, including setting, means, motive, opportunity, clues, backstory and history to make the mystery novel a success.

Help with your Mystery Novel
>>> Are you looking to take your murder mystery from concept to publication?
>>> Do you want to grow your writing knowledge and skills?
>>> Looking for a muse to help with writing your mystery novel?
>>> Are you stuck on some aspect of crafting your mystery?
>>> Do you sometimes have writer stall-out?

Let Writing the Killer Mystery series guide you with Volume 4, Places, Clues and Guilt.

Grab a copy today!!!

On Amazon.com

On Amazon.de

On Amazon.uk.co

On Amazon.ca

Pre-Order Writing the Killer Mystery: Plotting the Murder (Volume 3)

Craft your Mystery Novel’s Plot to Intrigue Readers!!! Let me show you how
Apply the Three Act Structure to the mystery novelUnderstand rising tension and its useResolve mid-story writer's blockIncorporate Timelines into the story structureDevelop Opening Lines that draw the reader inPlan a riveting story with complications and twistsEnd Act II on a dramatic noteUse the Dead End DilemmaReveal the murdererUnderstand the five parts of a sceneRecognize the ten kinds of CliffhangersDefine the mystery with Six Key EventsDevelop an Event-driven PlotIn a Nutshell
This third book in the creative writing course, Writing the Killer Mystery , provides a strategy to develop a storyline for the murder mystery, covering plot structure, the opening, the middle story, the big reveal, and writing scenes, pulling everything together in an event-driven plot.

Help with your Mystery Novel
>>> Are you looking to take your murder mystery from concept to publication?
>>> Do you want to grow your writing knowledge and skills?
>>> Looking for a muse to help with writing your mystery novel?
>>> Are you stuck on some aspect of crafting your mystery?
>>> Do you sometimes have writer stall-out?

Let Writing the Killer Mystery series guide you with Volume 3, Plotting the Murder.

Pre-order your copy at Amazon

Why you need Writing the Killer Mystery: Great Beginnings

Five Element Mystery Story Model
The central focus of Great Beginnings, Volume 1 of the Writing the Killer Mystery series, is the Five Element Mystery Story Model, something that every mystery novel must have.  This first volume shows how to use the five elements to brainstorm ideas, flesh them out, and organize them into a plan for starting your mystery novel.

Future volumes will focus on each of the five elements and how they go together.  The overall approach to the series is taking the mystery novel from concept to publication.



GREAT BEGINNINGS, VOLUME 1, WRITING THE KILLER MYSTERY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE:  SOME FRONT END STUFF
CHAPTER TWO:  MYSTERY WRITERS AND THEIR SLEUTHS
The Genesis of a MurderEdgar Allan Poe William Wilkie CollinsSir Arthur Conan DoyleDame Agatha Mary Clarissa ChristieDorothy L. SayersEllery Queen (Pen Name)Dashiell HammettEarl Derr BiggersErle Stanley GardnerEd McBain (pen name)Rex StoutTake AwayCHAPTER THREE:  UNDERSTANDING THE MYSTERY
A Model for a StoryStory ExamplesA Model for a Mystery StoryMystery Story Examples Rules of the Murder MysteryCHAPTER FOUR:  TYPES OF MYSTERIES
The Sub-genresMystery Sub-genre ListMystery Sub-genres with ExplanationsCHAPTER FIVE:  GOT A GOOD IDEA?
Every Story Starts with an IdeaIdeas Start with the 5 ElementsPlaying the Game of "What If?"Read, Read, Read for IdeasWhat Is Your Story?What Is His Story?And Now the NewsThe Things of Our DreamsFrom Idea to a PlanHigh ConceptCHAPTER SIX:  A PLAN FOR STARTING YOUR MYSTERY NOVEL
Developing Your PlanMind Mapping Your PlanFree-form Your PlanCHAPTER SEVEN:  LAST THOUGHTS
Just a Few Words, PleaseMore Books on the WayAbout Ron D. VoigtsBuy on Amazon
Now in Paperback!

Writing the Killer Mystery, Volume Two, Coming May 22nd

Write your Mystery Novel with Imaginative Characters!!!
Let me show you how.
This second book in “Writing the Killer Mystery” provides a guide to developing Mystery Characters with imagination, depth, and personality, covering the sleuth, the victim, the killer, suspects, special characters, and the rest of the cast.

Read on for further detail. . .
Who is this for?Beginners wanting to learn writing a murder mysteryAuthors looking to expand writing knowledge and skillsWriters seeking inspiration and help with writer stall-out

My philosophyCover writing a murder mystery from idea to publishing in a 5 volume courseArticles can be read in sequence or jump around as neededInformation condensed in lists, bullets, key points, and numberings, with examples when neededNot just teach writing a murder mystery but inspire and stimulate the imagination
 Volume Two, Captivating CharactersThe SleuthThe VictimThe KillerThe SuspectsSpecial CharactersThe Rest of the Cast
 Volume Two HighlightsFinding the right name for your SleuthFour Characteristics of a SleuthFive Characteristics all the Characters shareBackstory and SecretsThe Victim and the CrimeWhy Victims aren’t niceIs it history or backstory?Supervillain skillsThe sidekick and two other Special CharactersWhy suspects are like the KillerWhy suspect are not like the Killer
 This is Volume Two in a series with more books planned for release in coming months.
Coming to Amazon May 22nd!!!
Check out Writing the Killer Mystery Volume One: Great Beginnings at Amazon

Writing the Killer Mystery Volume 1 is out!

The best time to start your Mystery Novel is today!!!
Let me show you how
This first book in "Writing the Killer Mystery" series builds a strong background in the art while introducing 50 sub-genres and shows how to use the 5 Element Story Model to plan a Mystery Novel.

Read on for further detail. . .

Who is this for?Beginners wanting to learn writing a murder mysteryAuthors looking to expand writing knowledge and skillsWriters seeking inspiration and help with writer stall-outMy philosophyCover writing a murder mystery from idea to publishing in a 5 volume courseArticles can be read in sequence or jump around as neededInformation condensed in lists, bullets, key points, and numberings, with examples when neededNot just teach writing a murder mystery but inspire and stimulate the imaginationVolume One, Great BeginningsMystery Writers and Their SleuthsUnderstanding the MysteryTypes of MysteriesGetting ideasA plan for starting your Mystery NovelVolume One HighlightsReview of 10 classic mystery writers and their contributions to the craftThe 5 Element Story ModelRules of the Murder Mystery StoryThe three basic types of a Murder MysteryDiscussion of 50 sub-genresSeven methods to developing story IdeasSummarizing a Mystery with the Story ModelDeveloping your Mystery Novel PlanWatch for more books in coming months.

Get your copy at Amazon