Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 139

Self-Editing–Common Errors and Easy Fixes

by Aaron Sikes, @SikesAaron

Many thanks to Elizabeth for hosting me today. My noir urban fantasy, Gods of Chicago, is currently on tour. Since I’m also an editor, Elizabeth asked me to share some tips for self-editing. If all you’ve heard is the (mistaken) advice that good writers never self-edit, then this post should help dispel the misconception (I hope it does at any rate). If, on the other hand, you’re well steeped in the self-editing tradition, then I’ve got my fingers crossed that I can share some new ideas. Please add your suggestions in the comments, too!

Basics of style

The first editor I worked with gave me a valuable lesson in tightening my prose, beginning with the elimination of the verb to be from my MS. This, like all rules regarding exclusion, should not be viewed as a hard and fast proscription. However, the ‘be’ verb works best when it is limited to those instances where no other verb fits the bill. If you can use another verb in place of the ‘be’ verb, your prose will improve and your readers will thank you.

‘Be’ is stative, not descriptive; compelling prose relies upon description to elicit responses and engagement from the reader. If you’ve been accused of telling rather than showing, the ‘be’ verb is probably the culprit.

1) Emma was transfixed. (telling, stative)

2) Emma’s mouth hung open and she stood frozen in place. (showing, illustrative)

Crutch phrases

We all have them. Those phrases that automatically populate our manuscripts, starting paragraphs during action sequences or opening new chapters, transitioning from one stage of a scene to the next. My guilty pleasure is using ‘as’ to indicate action. I see it happening in my head, so I end up writing it as though it were taking place at that very moment.

1. As Brand stepped through the doorway, he felt eyes on him and heard the click of a hammer being pulled back. He dropped to the floor and the bullet hit the doorjamb just above his head.

The first problem with this phrasing (for me anyway) is that I use it far too often. But from an editor’s standpoint, the critical problem is one of clarity and immersion in the story. The reader is being asked to focus on too many details in that first sentence. That means their eyes will likely pass right over it, not really absorbing the action. Sometimes we want the reader to barrel along through a scene, and that’s fine. But it takes a different kind of phrasing to create the tension and suspense of hearing your own death ratcheting back one click at a time.

2) Brand stepped through the doorway and let his foot hang above the floor. He felt eyes on him from somewhere in the darkened room. When he heard the click of a hammer being pulled back, Brand dropped to the floor. The bullet hit the doorjamb just above his head.

Redundancies and how to avoid repeating yourself or saying the same thing twice

Let me get my tongue out of my cheek here.

When it comes to redundancy, I can’t point to specific words or phrases that you’ll want to watch out for. But I can suggest you keep a notepad handy. Get in the habit of writing down any words you notice appearing more than once in your MS. For me, this amounted to the following list:

stumble/d, second later/moment later, huddle/d, hunker/ed, tears, crying, cried, scream/s/ed

I had my characters stumbling, huddling, hunkering, crying, and screaming ad nauseum. It wasn’t until I spotted ‘stumble’ twice in the same scene that I caught on and combed through for redundant verbs (you’ll notice that nearly all my offenses were, um, verbal). Like crutch phrases, we all have crutch verbs. Jot them down and do a full search for each one as part of your self-editing. Your prose will improve and grow tighter.

Related to redundancy is a common error we all make: duplicated words. You’ve seen them in published books and fear that you’ve left them in your MS waiting to jump out on unsuspecting readers. Instances of the the, or that that. For some reason, the and that are frequently doubled. It may be the result of a stop-start moment in our writing. With that, we may have two sentences running through our head at once, since we’re using a relative pronoun. Whatever the cause, save yourself the embarrassment and do a full search for the the and that that.

One other note on addressing redundancies. Use Scrivener or another program designed for authors. The search feature in Scrivener, for my money, makes handling revisions and self-editing almost enjoyable. Instead of endlessly clicking the “Find Next” button, you simply enter the term in the search window and get to see a list of chapters or scenes in which the searched for term appears. This becomes a nice little game of crossing things off a list as you tidy up each scene.

Aural interference

Watch out for common misspellings (teh, thta) and common confusions (form/from and the addition of a plural ’s’ before the verb ‘is’). These happen when our minds are working faster than our fingers. We hear (in our minds) the ultimate ’t’ in that, and our fingers type that letter before the preceding vowel. We mean to type from, but end up typing form instead, or vice versa. We’re going to use the ‘be’ verb (because no other verb works better in this particular instance) and we hear that ultimate voiced sibilant as we’re typing the preceding word, so that word ends up pluralized, or just has a wayward ’s’ tacked on. Do a search of your MS fors ‘is’ and make sure you haven’t fallen prey to this insidious from of error.

I hope you found my suggestions helpful. Please do add your best practices in the comments! What have you noticed as a common error that you were able to clean up during self-editing?

Aaron Sikes (writing as AJ Sikes) is a writer of weird noir fiction and a freelance editor serving the community of independent authors. His stories have been published by Xchyler Publishing, KnightWatch Press, and Fox Spirit Books. Follow him @SikesAaron and sign up for the Gods of Chicago newsletter to get the latest updates on Mitchell Brand’s adventures and story world extras. If you need editing assistance with your manuscript, please stop by ajsikes.com.

Gods of Chicago is available now as a Kindle ebook on Amazon and Amazon UK.

The post Self-Editing–Common Errors and Easy Fixes appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Twitterific links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine(developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 23,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

I also wanted to share with my readers that if you’re looking for a new blog or website header (or just to freshen up your site), Eldon Sarte, who created mine, is offering custom blog headers for $39.

A trad pub editor stresses: for-hire ediotrs are not equivalent to in-house editors: http://ow.ly/tRhgS @andrewkarre

How Not to Spam: An Etiquette Guide for Authors:  http://ow.ly/tMkrD @annerallen

Do @HughHowey ‘s @AuthorEarnings Add Up?  http://ow.ly/tMnPf @stephenpub @philipdsjones

Create Realistic Characters by Studying Human Behavior:  http://ow.ly/tI4iX @SpunkOnAStick

10 Self-Limiting Habits Successful Writers Don’t Have: http://ow.ly/txN5q @DavidKWilliam @writerspotlight

Character: Using Their Fears to Torment Them http://ow.ly/txN5J @womenonwriting

In the Middle—the Small Publisher Debate:  http://ow.ly/tMBL9 @alexjcavanaugh @JulieMusil

20 Typical Mistakes of 1st Screenplays:  http://ow.ly/txN62 @whatculture

Contract Basics: Finances:  http://ow.ly/txN63 @AriaGlazki

Screenwriting: Top 20 Overused Movie Lines:  http://ow.ly/txN6L @ShortList

Author reports Amazon too quick to suspend author Amazon accounts:  http://ow.ly/tRnDm @wordpreneur

Multiple protagonists or 1 hero?  http://ow.ly/txN77 @AronsonLinda

Writing Extreme Emotion Without The Melodrama:  http://ow.ly/txOcL @angelaackerman

3 Grammar Gremlins That Sometimes Sneak into Our Writing:  http://ow.ly/txOd4 @grammarly

30 Quotes That Will Inspire You to Write Better Content:  http://ow.ly/txOds @impactbnd

Author Earnings Analyzed:  http://ow.ly/txOdp @authorearnings

Publishers Now Want You to ‘Binge Read’:  http://ow.ly/txOdL @Jezebel

Stacking the Deck for a Successful Fiction Debut:  http://ow.ly/txOem @PubSmartCon

Top Tip for Selling a Screenplay:  http://ow.ly/txOeJ @jeannevb @scriptmag

7 Quick Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills Today: http://ow.ly/txP1H @angee

The Writer’s 9 Stages of Fear: http://ow.ly/txP6s @Tatum_Flynn

What Determines The Length Of Your Book? http://ow.ly/txPZL @theprexpert

Amazon Vs. Book Publishers, By The Numbers:  http://ow.ly/txQgu @jeffbercovici

Inner and Outer Story Synopsis and Why It Helps Get You Published http://ow.ly/tBcc5 @writeabook

Tips for Pitching a Literary Agent at a Writers’ Conference:  http://ow.ly/tBcsk @chucksambuchino

To Be A Writer Is To Be Alone:  http://ow.ly/tBdxZ @thoughtcatalog @murbysell

Recommended books and podcasts for writers: http://ow.ly/tBcsL @rchazzchute

Top 7 Regrets of Less Successful Authors:  http://ow.ly/tBcsX @111publishing

17 Things Only People Who Have Tried To Write A Novel Will Know:  http://ow.ly/tBcte @whatculture

Write Better Stories By Asking These Questions:  http://ow.ly/tBctA @thewritelife

How Science Influenced a Writer:  http://ow.ly/tBcub  @salon

How to Identify your Crutch Words and Highlight Your Style:  http://ow.ly/tBcv8

Be Sure to Use Your Amazon Author Profile Page:  http://ow.ly/tBguh @SandyAppleyard

How To Create An Entertaining Protagonist: A Story Checklist:  http://ow.ly/tBgzZ @woodwardkaren

5 Easy Ways to Sneak Up On Writing Your Book: http://ow.ly/tBho3 @angee

6 Reasons Why Writers Should Blog:  http://ow.ly/tBhsV @WriteOnTrack_L

Do You Really Need a Blog Tour to Promote your Book? http://ow.ly/tBhHV @FabulosityReads

10 Tips For Overcoming Writer’s BlockL  http://ow.ly/tBiLG @wordtrance

A Brain Scientist’s Take on Bad Reviews:  http://ow.ly/tBjFA by @lkblackburne for @thecreativepenn

7 Free Things You Can Do On Amazon: http://ow.ly/tFGr4 @makeuseof

10 Famous Writers Who Don’t Use Modern Tech to Create:  http://ow.ly/tFGqY @mashable @YohanaDesta

Check The Box: Do You Want To Be Your Own Publisher, Yes Or No?  http://ow.ly/tFGrf @ChuckWendig

A Pattern of Character Emotion:  http://ow.ly/tFGrj @woodwardkaren

Do Free Promotions Really Work?  http://ow.ly/tFGrp @BookBubPartners

8 Common Novel Writing Mistakes Even Good Writers May Make:  http://ow.ly/tFGrq @angee

5 Writing Tips for Finishing Your Book on Time: http://ow.ly/tFGrX @jeffkorhan

Screenplay Structure – Upset the Apple cart:  http://ow.ly/tFGs7 @drewyanno @scriptmag

Blogs, Guest Blogs, and Blog Interviews (Discoverability): http://ow.ly/tFGsc @kristinerusch

The Accidental Poetry of the Copy Editor’s Style Sheet:  http://ow.ly/tFHn0 @leverus

5 Tips for better writing:  http://ow.ly/tFHoo @theBradfordGrp

Screenwriting: the 3-act structure, and how to break it: http://ow.ly/tFHoB @shadowlocked

Self-publishing from the inside: http://ow.ly/tFHqf @ian_sales

Using Dramatic Irony to Create Suspense in Your Story: http://ow.ly/tFHqK @KMWeiland

Hemingway Algorithm App Improves Your Writing:  http://ow.ly/tFHuw @ABC

The Horrifying Love Lives of Famous Authors:  http://ow.ly/tFHXp @flavorwire

Learning Literary Terms With Taylor Swift:  http://ow.ly/tG4dB @KileyRoache @HuffPostTeen

Does the Publishing Industry Discriminate? http://ow.ly/tIdpr @Goodereader

45 Ways to Help Your Favorite Authors Sell More Books:  http://ow.ly/tIdob @amylsullivan1

5 Clever But Simple Ways To Find Inspiring Writing Prompts Online:  http://ow.ly/tIdkb @nfm

7 Strategies and 110 Tools to Help Indie Authors Find Readers and Reviewers:  http://ow.ly/tIdkZ @sabsky

300 fonts to use for your book cover design:  http://ow.ly/tIdlc @Creativindie

Perseverance: A Must-Have for Authors to Be Successful: http://ow.ly/tIdna @b2community

Creating Stunning Character Arcs–The Lie Your Character Believes:  http://ow.ly/tIdlx @KMWeiland

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’:  http://ow.ly/tIdVT @gointothestory

Best WordPress Themes for Writers & Publishers:  http://ow.ly/tIdkJ @selfpubreview

Misunderstandings in Worldbuilding: http://ow.ly/tIdVR @JulietteWade

Why 1 Writer Didn’t Choose Amazon’s KDP Select:  http://ow.ly/tIdmJ

Is Traditional Publishing a Choice? Not really. http://ow.ly/tIgjZ @mbunker

Lesson 1 writer has learned:  http://ow.ly/tIdmk @nzstelter

Public Writers, Private Lives | Island Magazine http://ow.ly/tIdnv @islandmagtas

How To Use Evernote for Writing Fiction:  http://ow.ly/tIdpK

Who Are You Writing For?  http://ow.ly/tIdXr @BTMargins @annbauerwriter

New @authorearnings report covers more ground, reveals more data:  http://ow.ly/tPQg2 @HughHowey @Porter_Anderson

The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

The Ignorance Factor

by Barry Knister, @barryknister

When I first decided to write a mystery series, the initial problem I faced didn’t have to do with writing. It had to do with the crime business.

I’m not talking about the myriad ways in which crime is the business of criminals; I mean the crime-fighting experts who zigzag their way through a landscape littered with clues, in search of answers. We all know who the usual suspects are: police and CSI technicians, private investigators, FBI and CIA agents, medical examiners, lawyers, computer whizzes, etc.

But what if the writer is none of these things, and has no connections with such people? 

In short, my challenge as a college English teacher was to find a way to write engaging mystery novels, but without having to act as though I knew what I definitely didn’t—methods of crime detection, the law and law enforcement, medicine, etc.

The author of the first-rate website you are reading, Elizabeth Spann Craig has come up with clever answers to the problem: the crime detectors in her cozy mysteries are amateur sleuths. They are barbeque cooks, bridge players, beauticians and quilters—small-town southern women whose skills are unrelated to the crime business, but whose wit and curiosity are equal to the task of tracking down criminals.

My own solution in The Anything Goes Girl was to create a central character who’s failed at most everything in her life.  But almost by chance, Brenda Contay finds herself on TV–and she turns out to be good at shoot-from-the-lip broadcasting. When the story opens, she’s become a Detroit TV station’s  popular Lightning Rod reporter.

The trouble is, Brenda is ashamed of what she does. Being successful can’t keep her from feeling tacky and humiliated about reporting on the sleazy underbelly of society. Yes, she was the “anything goes girl” in college, but she has standards.

But Brenda’s on-air stories aren’t what my novel series is about. Like Elizabeth Spann Craig’s amateur sleuths, Brenda Contay becomes involved  in crimes committed against people she knows. This personal element, not professional training, is what motivates her to pursue answers.

Stories have to take place somewhere, so in The Anything Goes Girl, Brenda’s wish to escape from tabloid TV causes her to focus on the death of an old lover. All-state swimmer Vince Soublik drowned somewhere she’s never heard of–Micronesia. It makes no sense that he drowned, so Brenda is off and running.  Her journey to the Pacific reveals what happened, and drops The Lightning Rod into more trouble than she ever dreamed possible.

Why Micronesia? That’s where I served in the Peace Corps. I may not have any first-hand knowledge about cadavers or interrogating suspects, but I do know a thing or two about the Eastern Caroline Islands.

In the second mystery (soon to be released), tentatively titled Love and Death at Kettle Falls,readers learn that Brenda has reaped success by writing a book about her experiences in Micronesia. Now freed from TV, she goes fishing with three other women to Minnesota’s Voyageur’s National Park, otherwise own as the Boundary Waters.

Here again, my ignorance poses a problem: am I a Hemingway type who can speak with authority about hunting and fishing? Ask my wife that questions, then step back and watch her topple over, holding her sides.  But I have been to the beautiful Boundary Waters. By making the women in my story amateurs like me in the great out-of-doors, I free myself from needing to be Mark Trail.

In other words, among the many challenges I face in writing crime novels is the ignorance factor. I don’t want to compete with skillful authors who know more than I can hope to learn. But like me, my readers aren’t likely to be experts. Maybe they will be interested in tagging along with a central character who is more like themselves than, say, Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta, or Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch.

 

Until retiring in 2008, Barry Knister taught English at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. He is the past secretary of Detroit Working Writers, and a past director of the Cranbrook Writers Conference. His first novel, a thriller titled The Dating Service was published by Berkley. In addition toThe Anything Goes Girl, he has also published Just Bill, a short novel about dogs and owners living on a golf course in Florida. His website is www.bwknister.com. He welcomes your messages.

 

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Assessing Pros and Cons of Outlining

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

It must have been 2011 when I was first asked to write an outline of a book for an editor.  At that point I’d written four or five books with no outline at all and the request completely freaked me out, although I tried not to let on.  I handed in an outline that was something like 20 pages long and probably took me as long to write as a book would have.

At that point, I decided I’d outline just that series, just for that editor (Southern Quilting Mysteries) and use my regular, organic process for my Memphis Barbeque series (Penguin, but different editor) and my Myrtle Clover series (self-pubbed).

That was when some sort of curse kicked in.  I managed to mangle an organic draft of Rubbed Out (Memphis book 4) and Body in the Backyard (Myrtle Clover book 4) immediately after that.  They were riddled with plot holes, inconsistent characters, lack of motivation…a real mess.  Rubbed Out was a particular emergency since I had very little time to fix it.  I scrapped what I’d written, sketched out a very rough outline for the rest of the story, and pull a successful book out of it.  Body in the Backyard took so long to fix that I decided I was giving up on being a pantster.  It was a good run.  I’d had fun.  But with my crazy production schedule, I’d left myself no room for error.  That was basically it…I didn’t have time to screw up now.

So now I’m counting the books I’ve outlined.  I think I’m at eight books now.  And yet…I still have a love-hate relationship with it.  Am I more efficient, though?  Without question.  I was plenty efficient when I could organically write an organized, logical first draft by making it up as I went along. The problem was that I couldn’t count on my ability to do that.

I think the last time I assessed this outlining process was last May.  Some of the things I discovered then are the same…but I’ve made some additional discoveries, too.  Some good, some bad.

Unexpected Benefits to Outlining:

The ability to pick immediately back up after taking a break from a book. I went to Africa this summer and then came back to a hospitalized family member.  And I picked right back up with my project without missing a beat.

Speed when jumping between series (gained only if outlining immediately after finishing a book in that series).

Clarity of story arc, character arc, and (purely for mystery writing) more methodical placement of clues and red herrings.

I start the book with a better understanding of who the characters are.

I actually get a better sense of what subplots would work with the story before I start (I don’t usually include subplots on my outlines…don’t pass them by the editor, either).

I haven’t run into plot holes since starting to outline.

Cover designer and copywriters can come up with back cover copy and covers (trad pub and self pub) before I’ve even finished the book.  (This does mess with my head a little, but it’s still a benefit).

Unexpected Problems When Outlining:

Writing short. I mentioned this last May and it hasn’t fixed itself. I write so short when I outline. Ridiculously short. I frequently have to add 5,000 words or more.

Stilted scenes occasionally…characters, dialogue, entire scenes will read flat and have to be fluffed up later.

Sometimes…a bit of the spark is gone for me as I write.  It’s not quite as fun.  I can be less enthusiastic about sitting down at the computer.

The important thing to remember when we’re thinking about our processes is—do what works for us.  Who cares what other people are doing?  But…have you found your ideal process yet? So, are you a pantster? Outliner?  Have you ever switched?  What are your thoughts?

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Ask Questions to Find Your Story

 by C. S. Lakin, @CSLakin

I ask a lot of questions in my line of work as a professional manuscript critiquer and copyeditor. Sure, I also give a lot of suggestions and fix badly constructed sentences. But it’s the questions that get to the heart of the story. Asking authors questions helps them get thinking about what they’re writing and why.

So much important information seems to be missing in so many novels—especially first novels by aspiring authors. Novel writing is tricky; there are countless essential components that all need to mesh cohesively. To me, the key to reaching that goal is to ask a lot of questions.

Questions Create Story

Starting a novel is asking a question. What if . . .? What would someone do if . . .? What if the world was like this and this happened . . .? Then those initial questions lead to more questions, which shape and bring life to characters and story. Questions are the key.

Thousands of hours of critiquing and editing has led me to notice that there are some questions I seem to ask a lot. Which tells me there are some general gaps that many writers have in common in their novel-constructing process. I thought I’d share these questions, because maybe they’ll help you as you work on your novel.

1) Where is this scene taking place? I shouldn’t have to ask this, right? The writer is thinking, Isn’t it obvious? I know where this scene is taking place.

It may surprise you to know that readers can’t read your mind. The biggest problem I see in novel scenes is the lack of sufficient information to help the reader “get” where a scene is taking place. Just a hint of setting, shown from the character’s point of view, can do wonders. And what’s usually missing is not just the locale but the smells and sounds, a sense of the time of day and year, and exactly where in the world it is.

2) How much time has passed? So many scenes dive into dialog or action without clueing the reader in on how much time has passed since the last scene. Scenes needs to flow and string together in cohesive time. It’s important to know if five minutes or five months has passed, and it only takes a few words to make that clear. Don’t leave your reader in confusion—that’s a bad thing.

3) What is your character feeling right now? This is a biggie. It alternates with “How does your character react to this?” So many times I read bits of action or dialog that should produce a reaction from the POV character, but the scene just zooms ahead with said dialog or action without an indication of what the character is feeling or thinking. For every important moment, your character needs to react. First viscerally, then emotionally, physically, and finally intellectually. If you get hit by a car, you aren’t going to first think logically about what happened and what you need to do next. First, you scream or your body slams against the sidewalk and pain streaks through your back. Keep this adage in mind: for every action, there should be an appropriate, immediate reaction. That’s how you reveal character.

4) What is the point of this scene? This is a scary question. Not for me—for the author. Because if there’s no point to a scene, it shouldn’t be in your novel. Really. Every scene has to have a point—to reveal character or plot. And it should have a “high moment” that the scene builds to.

5) What is your protagonist’s goal for the book? If she doesn’t have a goal, you don’t really have a story. The reader wants to know your premise as soon as possible, and that involves your main character having a need to get something or somewhere, do something or find something. That goal should drive the story and be the underlayment for all your scenes. That goal is the glue that holds a novel together. It may not be a huge goal, and in the end, your character may fail to reach that goal—you’re the writer; you decide. But have a goal.

I actually ask a whole lot more questions than these. And many are just as important to crafting a powerful novel. I’ve found when writing my own novels that if I just keep asking questions—the right ones—I’ll find just the right answers for that story.

If you can get in the habit of continually asking questions as you delve into your novel, you may find it will lead you to the heart of your story.

 C. S. Lakin is a multipublished novelist and writing coach. She works full-time as a copyeditor and critiques about two hundred manuscripts a year. She teaches writing workshops and gives instruction on her award-winning blog Live Write Thrive. Her new book—Say What? The Fiction Writer’s Handy Guide to Grammar, Punctuation, and Word Usage—is designed to help writers get a painless grasp on grammar. You can buy it in print here or as an ebook here.

 Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

 

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Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Twitterific links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine(developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 23,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

Again, still struggling with downloading my scheduled tweets so my apologies for any repeats, missed links, etc.  Hoping HootSuite can fix this issue soon.

Have a great week!

Books Become Decoration As E-Readers Take Over  http://ow.ly/toVn1 @NewYorkObserver

10 Pro Tips for Writers Using Social Media:  http://ow.ly/toWfr @mattpetronzio

What If the Writers Don’t Listen to Editorial Direction? http://ow.ly/tnKtd @ErinMFeldman

Backmatter: Are You Making the Most of Your Digital Shelf Space? http://ow.ly/tnKtP @courtneymilan

Traditional Publishers Forming Communities:  http://ow.ly/toTfp @marygkeeley

10 Reasons Why Living the Writer’s Life Will Drive you to Drink:  http://ow.ly/toVW9  @DanaLeipold

Is Outlining for Hacks? http://ow.ly/toT7h @mythicscribes

How many characters should a novel have? http://ow.ly/tnKb2 @standoutbooks

GoodReads Strategies to Increase Sales: http://ow.ly/tnJH0 @christinenolfi

Marginalia: The Meaning in the Margins:  http://ow.ly/toSdk @fullstopmag

How to Organize Writing Ideas Using Binders:  http://ow.ly/tnJSd @theWritingHabit

Is the literary world elitist? – Salon.com http://ow.ly/toXQL@magiciansbook

A Newbie’s Guide to Self-Publishing: http://ow.ly/toSqY @JulieMusil

An eye-opening publishing report–and a call for writers to organize:  http://ow.ly/tB2qK @HughHowey @Porter_Anderson

How to Become a Frighteningly Good Writer:  http://ow.ly/toWkz @DavGit

Overcoming Object Love: How to Write Female Leads Who Are People: http://ow.ly/toX3j @_RobbieBlair_

5 Big Screenwriting Mistakes, 5 Big Fixes:  http://ow.ly/toVyu @Scriptshadow

5 Suggestions to Create an Opening That Works:  http://ow.ly/tnKev @lesliemillernow

Ebooks, Paper Books, or Both: Finding the Solution that is Right for You | Wise Ink’: http://ow.ly/tl8aX

Why You Should Throw a Wrench In Your Editing Routine http://ow.ly/tj1YI @michaeldlukas

The Best Quotes From Oscar Wilde on Writing and Creativity: http://ow.ly/tl6QC @hubspot

The best fiction featuring real writers:  http://ow.ly/tl923 @guardianbooks

Best Bookstores In The World 2014:  http://ow.ly/tl7v7 @businessinsider

How to create value with a new thing (book apps):  http://ow.ly/tl8A4 @fakebaldur

Ask The Agent: How to Perfect Your Pitch & The Low-Down on Agency Assistant Salaries:  | LitReactor http://ow.ly/tl77g @breeogden

4 Questions Every Book Proposal Must Answer (to Interest an Editor!): http://ow.ly/tl9d6 @PubSmartCon

The 6 Commandments of Starting the Editing Process:  http://ow.ly/tl6Z5 @Bpoelle @rahdieh

Amazon’s 100 books you need to read to live a literary life: http://ow.ly/tj1lB @cbcbooks

The Value of ARCs:  http://ow.ly/tl8PV @alexbracken

6 Quick Tricks to Help You Tighten Up Your Writing: http://ow.ly/tl72e @livewritethrive @ADDerWORLD

Let This Periodic Table Of Storytelling Destroy Your Writer’s Block:  http://ow.ly/tl7j6 @Gizmodo

6 Steps to Effective Writing:  http://ow.ly/tl6Ol @SAlexM23

Writer’s Block, Deconstructed:  http://ow.ly/tl9hl @lesliemillernow

A Tiny Scrap of Paper Offers a Glimpse Into Jane Austen’s Inspiration: http://ow.ly/tl8Fn @RachelNuwer @SmithsonianMag

What is story filler and how much is necessary? http://ow.ly/tl6AN @standoutbooks

4 Questions to Ask About Each Draft: http://ow.ly/tj26H @LizColeyBooks

7 Top eBook Blog Tour Sites:  http://ow.ly/tj1dZ @gpstberg

Writing Space + Writing Routine = Progress:  http://ow.ly/tq2fA @jeannevb @scriptmag

How to Create a Navigational Table of Contents in Your Ebook : http://ow.ly/tq2jQ @lisaSmason

5 Ways To Fall In Love With Your Character: http://ow.ly/tq2n1 @writermya

Supplementing Your Publisher’s Efforts: What You Can Do to Support Your Book http://ow.ly/tq2r8 @ElisabethWeed @writerunboxed

Passive Marketing (Discoverability):  http://ow.ly/tq2vi @kristinerusch

Nonfiction: What You Should Know About Traditional Publishing Deals: http://ow.ly/tq2EN @NonfictionAssoc

The Inciting Incident vs The Call To Adventure:  http://ow.ly/tq2NC @woodwardkaren

How To Help An Author (Beyond Buying the Book):  http://ow.ly/tq2ZP @jenmalonewrites

Diagnosing Problem Stories http://ow.ly/tq39l @janice_hardy

Writing Female Characters & Archetypes:  http://ow.ly/tq3d1 @dannymanus. @scriptmag

When Famous Author Promos Backfire:  http://ow.ly/tq3jW @PegBrantley @LJSellers

Tips for increasing Twitter engagement: http://ow.ly/tq3ql @davgit

6 mindsets you have to dominate to become a freelancer: http://ow.ly/tq3xq @kotyneelis

The Biggest, Most Beloved Screenplays With the Simplest Mistakes http://ow.ly/tq3L6 @Eat_Sleep_TV @rejectnation

When starting with self-pub isn’t satisfying:  http://ow.ly/tq40G @HughHowey

Scam-Spotting 101 | Indies Unlimited http://ow.ly/tq4au

Write Your Novels Faster: Quickly Editing and Proofing Your Novel:   http://ow.ly/tresh @gpstberg

People-Powered Publishing Is Changing All the Rules http://ow.ly/trcoz @amymaeelliott @mashable

How to Cope If You Physically Can’t Write:  http://ow.ly/trcz0 @zoeyclark

Why Gut Feelings Are a Writer’s Secret Weapon: http://ow.ly/trcJc @KMWeiland

Tips for those struggling with New Year resolutions:  http://ow.ly/trdFG @HeatherGKelly

7 Ways to Create a Killer Opening Line For Your Novel:  http://ow.ly/trdIq @BrianKlems @writersdigest

An exercise for finding your voice http://ow.ly/trdOQ @rfwriters

Book Marketing: How 4 Authors Are Finding Success With Social Media http://ow.ly/trdVQ @AndyMeekTN

Key Elements to Writing an Effective Synopsis http://ow.ly/trdXw @JordanDane

5 Tools for Building Conflict in Your Novel:  http://ow.ly/tre5U @jamesscottbell @writersdigest

Fusing Action and Reaction Scenes Together:  http://ow.ly/trebj

Writing a full novel after having sold it on proposal:  http://ow.ly/tregZ  @jennablack

Tying Your Plot Together:  http://ow.ly/treAM @mythcreants

25 Lies About Publishing:  http://ow.ly/trePw @DelilahSDawson

Do You Own Your Copyrights? http://ow.ly/treRB @susanspann

4 Things to Remember Before Crowdfunding Your Book:  http://ow.ly/trf4w @publisherswkly

10 Ways to Get Writing: http://ow.ly/trf7c @HazelGaynor @womenwriters

11 Ways To Become an Early Riser (and Work in Time to Write):  http://ow.ly/trf9O @MissJonesAndI

When to Hire a Professional:  http://ow.ly/tstz9 @SpunkonaStick

How 1 single mom writer is responding to reader demands to write faster:  http://ow.ly/tthsO @authorcassialeo

Why Novellas are Hot and How to Write One:  http://ow.ly/ttgYm by Pul Fahey for @annerallen

How to build a fictional world:  http://ow.ly/ttgeW @TED_ED @KateMessner

How to Get Reviews for Self-Published Books:  http://ow.ly/tthaD @jfbookman

Writing Reality: Using Synaesthetic Imagery:  http://ow.ly/ttjjP  @Raishimi

What 1 writer has learned in the 2 years since his book deal:  http://ow.ly/ttgEq @saskatoonauthor

Why self-publishing is the best choice for non-fiction books: http://ow.ly/ttfIw @amyshojai

Romance Novels Sweep Readers Off Their Feet With Predictability :  http://ow.ly/ttinB @NPR

3 Goals for Every Character: http://ow.ly/ttfTI @mooderino

Manage Your Expectations, Indie Authors:  http://ow.ly/ttfZz @RachelintheOC

8 Character Archetypes of the Hero’s Journey: http://ow.ly/tti13 @mythcreants

Writer Beware:  PublishAmerica Is Now America Star Books:  http://ow.ly/tthfQ @victoriastrauss

Got no writing ideas? Here’s 11 reasons why:  http://ow.ly/ttiPb @mikestiles

Being a writer is hard–whether you choose trad pub or self-pub:  http://ow.ly/tthKN @jimchines

Infographic shows the most common problems in screenplays:  http://ow.ly/ttg4Z @io9

Is that really a publishing offer?  http://ow.ly/ttfMQ @nailyournovel

Nonfiction Submission Tips:  http://ow.ly/ttgz3 @ChuckSambuchino

The Literary Elitism Question | Issues on the #Ether http://ow.ly/tvzrN  @EleanorCatton @Porter_Anderson @magiciansbook

How to Wreck Your Book Club in 9 Easy Steps:  http://ow.ly/tvHLl @PasteMagazine

How to Make Turning Points Drive Arcs and Themes: http://ow.ly/tvHSe @jamigold

Planning to Exhibit at a Book Fair? 15 Tips:  http://ow.ly/tvIgh @111publishing

1 Writer Reports on Spending A Week Getting Up At 5AM:  http://ow.ly/tvIua @sarasaradee @xoJanedotcom

Some readers experiencing issues with Amazon’s review system: http://ow.ly/tvIPq @Brit_Blaise

4 Ways to Become a Better Writer, Even If You’re Short on Time”  http://ow.ly/tvJld @thewritelife

7 Steps to a Successful Signing:  http://ow.ly/tvJwd @amiekaufman

5 Ways We Neglect Our Own Creativity–And How to Bring It Back:  http://ow.ly/tvJVp @janeporter00 @FastCompany

Be sure to keep characters in character:  http://ow.ly/tvKm9 @SEvanTownsend

Making Romance Epic – 5 Tips for Writers http://ow.ly/tvKGF @mythicscribes

Traditional vs. independent publishing: production & sales timelines http://ow.ly/tvKSS @chrisrobley

Tips For A Long Term Writing Career And Writing Historical Fiction With Colin Falconer: http://ow.ly/tvKYm @colin_falconer

Use What You’ve Got—Learning to Write in Bits & Pieces of Time:  http://ow.ly/tvLhp @EdieMelson

How To Market Your Book On A Shoestring:  http://ow.ly/tvLEJ

The Value of Clocking In Time and Words: http://ow.ly/tvLIH @jodyhedlund

Avoiding Bad Punctuation Breaks in eBooks:  http://ow.ly/tvM5n @ePUBSecrets

How Independent Publishers Do More With Less:  http://ow.ly/tvMen @PublishersWkly

Readers don’t need retail/publisher silos and DRM:  http://ow.ly/tvNrO @naypinya

A range of reactions to the @AuthorEarnings report from @HughHowey: http://ow.ly/tCNVS @Porter_Anderson

The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

Genre-Blending—Adding Elements of Another Genre to Our Story

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Last year, I received a contract extension for my Southern Quilting mysteries—Penguin wanted two more books. So I knew that the series would last through 2015 and then would be up for consideration again.  I started writing the book that’s coming out this August, Shear Trouble.

I was about to work on subplots for the story when I got an email from a reader in South America. She’s what many writers call a “True Fan.” True Fans have been defined by former Wired editor Kevin Kelly as:

“A True Fan is defined as someone who will purchase anything and everything you produce. They will drive 200 miles to see you sing. They will buy the super deluxe re-issued hi-res box set of your stuff even though they have the low-res version. They have a Google Alert set for your name. They bookmark the eBay page where your out-of-print editions show up. They come to your openings. They have you sign their copies. They buy the t-shirt, and the mug, and the hat. They can’t wait till you issue your next work. They are true fans.”

It’s said that you only need 1000 True Fans to be a long-term success.  So when True Fans write me (and frequently, they’re the only ones who write me), I pay attention.  She said some nice things about my books, being extremely specific about the elements she liked.  And then she stated that “it feels that it’s time for Beatrice to start dating Wyatt.”

Beatrice is my sleuth, my protagonist in the Southern Quilting mysteries and her friend is Wyatt.  I have been moving their relationship along very slowly.  I don’t consider myself particularly adept at writing romance and I’d originally thought of their story as a subplot that was somewhat incidental to the mysteries.  But my editor keeps reminding me that, as writer Jeff Cohen put it, the “The crime is the bait; it’s what Alfred Hitchcock called “the MacGuffin,” something the people in your book are desperate about but the reader should find secondary. Your characters are first.”

This was the first of a couple of messages I received from readers regarding Beatrice and Wyatt.

So…I needed a subplot.  My readers wanted a romance.  I set about figuring out how to make it work and making sure that it would work so that it would be the best thing for the story. I’d uncovered some interesting posts in the past on genre-blending.

Writer Nicola Morgan had three questions to ask when considering genre-blending:

1. Are the lovers of one genre likely to want to read the other genre at the same time?

2. Is it possible that many lovers of one really don’t like the other? Enough to be put off?

3. And, if so, are the dissenters likely to scupper the chances of your cross-genre book by simply not buying it?

Mystery and romance are commonly mixed together—in everything from police procedurals to cozy mysteries, so no problem there. And readers were clearly asking…actually asking, yes…for this subplot to proceed.

Writer’s Digest also had a helpful article by writer Michelle Richmond: “How to Write and Sell a Cross-Genre Novel.”  Her three points:

“Recognize your primary genre—and use it as your compass.

Draw on your strengths as a writer, regardless of genre.

Create characters that defy genre conventions.”

So I knew my strengths as a writer and I knew what I was experienced at writing.  I was interested in branching out a little and didn’t mind trying something new as long as it didn’t mean I was going to fall on my face while doing it or ruin a mystery.

That’s when I decided to, yes, have the characters start functioning as a couple—but also use that relationship as a way to build tension and conflict and even humor into my story.  That’s what I’m better at writing. That’s what I was more confident I could pull off.

I wrote in the subplot and turned the manuscript over to my editor.  I’m curious to see if she thinks what I wrote worked—I did end up feeling good about it and how the storyline meshed with the mystery.  Ultimately, it will be up to the readers to decide if I hit all the right notes.

I honestly think that most books do genre-blend…at least to a small degree.  What elements of other genres have you added to your books?  How did you integrate them seamlessly into your story?

 

The post Genre-Blending—Adding Elements of Another Genre to Our Story appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

Choosing Our Mystery’s Murderer

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Mystery writers that I’ve met tend to fall into a couple of different groups—writers who have picked their killer before they start writing their story (or early in their draft) and those who decide by the end of the book who the killer will be.

I’m a fan of picking my murderer at the end of the book.  The only problem is the fact that I’ve (fairly recently) started outlining. When I outline, I lay out the murderer…but I leave it open to change.  For my Penguin books, however, the outline goes to my editor so that she has an opportunity to weigh in.  I’ve changed the killer a couple of times for my editor and once I dramatically changed a character’s personality and manner in order to keep the character as the murderer.

My editor and I agree that we want the murderer to be a surprise to as many readers as possible.  Although some readers always seem to guess the killer’s identity.

My considerations when choosing the murderer:

Will the readers guess this killer easily?

Does this choice make sense?  Is the motive believable enough?

Are there enough clues pointing to this choice to keep the mystery fair?

Does this character play a big enough role in the book to make the mystery fair?

Even if the answers to one or more of these questions is no, I might venture ahead with my plan—but I’d make revisions to make it work. I can ramp up the motive or add an additional motive.  I can tweak the character’s personality to make it seem as though he has a quick temper or is especially sensitive to criticism, or is overprotective of family members. I can add clues and distract from those clues. And I can add scenes to make the character play a larger, more vital role in the story.

I’ve usually already included one surprise earlier in the book—I murder the most likely suspect halfway through the book.  Out of my 4 or 5 suspects, one ends up dying and another will be the murderer. I throw out red herrings to suggest other suspects as the murderer and work to make the red herrings fair instead of frustrating. I have the sleuth recognize them as false leads before going on too long.

Another (large) red herring can be made by misstating the true motive in the case.  Maybe your sleuth has been focused on financial gain but the real motive is revenge. Or a crime of passion.  Or misplaced self-defense.  This can be a useful way to distract attention from your murderer.

Reasons I’ve changed a murderer for my editor:

I changed the murderer once because my editor felt the killer (the victim’s husband) was the most-likely choice. Sadly, in real life most people are killed by those closest to them.

I’ve changed a murderer once because my editor felt the character was too unlikeable…and that readers would guess she was the killer because they wanted her to be the killer.

It might sound difficult to have to change the killer (especially in a completed draft, which I’ve done on several occasions), but it isn’t.  After all, all the suspects have equal motive, means, and opportunity…I just shift elements around so that the red herrings become clues. And, for that to happen, I need to drop the clues more carefully than I did the red herrings. So I might have a distraction occur in the scene right after placing the clue—maybe there’s an argument between two other characters. Maybe the sleuth immediately discovers a red herring that she thinks is much more important than the real clue she just stumbled across.  Maybe there’s even another dead body.  At any rate, switching the killer is a pretty easy fix.

If you write mysteries, have you ever changed the murderer’s identity?  How do you select the killer for your books?

Image: MorgueFile: Pippalou

The post Choosing Our Mystery’s Murderer appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

When to Hire a Professional

by L. Diane Wolfe, @SpunkonaStick

Self-publishing has become a very attractive venture for writers these days. It’s now much easier to send a book out into the world without the help of a publisher.

When you self-publish a book, you take on a whole new role – business owner. All of the duties and responsibilities of a publishing house now fall on your shoulders. Some of these things an author can do with the proper skills and training. Often time is a big factor, and when you are a one person band, there’s only so much you can do.

It’s important to know when to hire a professional. It can make the difference between a shoddy book and a great book. Because it doesn’t matter how great you are as a writer – if everything else is second rate, no one will buy your book.

There are a few areas where you need to weigh the pros and cons – do you do it yourself or hire a professional:

1 – Editing

The one area where self-published authors need to seek outside assistance is editing. No matter how good a writer, you are too close to your work to properly edit it. Critique partners can find most of the major mistakes, especially when it comes to the storyline, pacing, and continuity. But a professional editor is a must if you want your work polished and shined. There are several levels of editing, from basic line edits to full revisions, and each writer will need to decide the extent of the edit needed.

2 – Formatting

This one comes down to time, money, and the willingness to learn. Basic ebook formatting for sites such as Amazon is not difficult to learn, especially with so many tutorials online. Smashwords also has a great style guide for their site, although it’s easy to mess up their strict formatting requirements. With ebooks, you have to decide if you have the time to learn to do it right or if it would be simpler to hire someone to format for you so you can focus on writing and promotions.

Formatting for print is trickier, and it’s easy for a self-published author to just do it in Word. But if you want to add a lot of flair to your book, including images, and you want the text properly justified, etc., you’ll need a program like InDesign. Again, there is a sharp learning curve, and the program isn’t cheap. If you’re looking for more than just a basic style print book, you may want to hire a formatter.

3 – Cover Art & Design

Most writers realize that while they are great writers, they are not great graphic designers. If you have training in this area and are really good with Photoshop, you can design your own cover art. What you have to remember is that your cover will be competing with millions of covers – it has to look professional and catch reader’s eyes. And if you want print books, will you be able to create the entire wrap-around design? Professional illustrators and book cover designers aren’t cheap, but they can create a cover that will sell books and compete with the big publishers.

4 – Book Trailers

There are some great tutorials online. Making a book trailer can be very low cost. It can also look low budget if you cut too many corners. As with the book cover, if you are comfortable using the program and are willing to put some effort into it and purchase the images and music from reputable places, then it’s definitely something you can do on your own. But if you couldn’t splice together two scenes to save your life, you might want to hire out. A cheap trailer is not better than none at all.

5 – Promotional Materials

This includes bookmarks, flyers, postcards, brochures, etc. All authors should have bookmarks, even if their book is ebook only. And the nicer the bookmark, the more likely people will be to save it. If you can properly lay one out in PhotoShop, front and back, and with all the information, then do it. Otherwise, find a graphics designer. That bookmark represents you and your book. And it’s even more important that a business card looks professional. You want to make a good impression.

6 – Book Tours

Book tours can be set up through a tour company or you can set up your own. If you are connected online and willing to search even farther to find the best sites, then setting up your own makes sense. Online, it always works best if you have a relationship with someone. If you aren’t connected and are pressed for time, you may want to hire someone to set up a tour for you.

Always ask for references or to see samples of someone’s work before hiring. Make sure you understand the terms, the cost, the timeframe, and that you are both on the same page.

And if you’re doing it yourself, make sure you have the time and tools to do it right!

L. Diane Wolfe

Professional Speaker & Author

Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” Wolfe is a member of the National Speakers Association. She conducts seminars on book publishing, promoting, leadership, and goal-setting. Print and ebook formatting, along with author consultation, are services she offers on her website. She is the author of seven books, including How to Publish and Promote Your Book Now and a NA/YA series, The Circle of Friends. Wolfe travels extensively for media interviews and speaking engagements, maintains numerous websites & blogs, and contributes to several other sites and newsletters.

www.spunkonastick.net - website

http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com - blog

https://twitter.com/SpunkOnAStick - Twitter

https://www.facebook.com/l.diane.wolfe - Facebook

The post When to Hire a Professional appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Twitterific links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine(developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 23,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

I’m hoping that there is no overlap or repetition in this particular edition of Twitterific. I’m having technical issues, unfortunately, and had to switch from SocialOomph to HootSuite for tweet scheduling. And now I’ve apparently broken HootSuite!  The downloading of my archived tweets didn’t work (I have a ticket started with them), so this is my best attempt to reconstruct last week’s activity.

Have a great week!

Isaac Asimov Predicts in 1964 What World Will Look Like in 2014: http://ow.ly/tb2zr @dancolman @openculture

Freewriting for Inspiration:  http://ow.ly/tb3cy @WritingForward

3 Vital Keys to Success as a Writer:  http://ow.ly/tb2Yd @writetodone

A Printable 4-Week Calendar to Use Seinfeld’s Productivity Plan http://ow.ly/tb3Nr

Creating suspense with better word choice:  http://ow.ly/tb30T @RayneHall

Pub Hub: When Your First Agent Doesn’t Work Out http://ow.ly/tb3aw

How to write culinary memoirs  | Examiner.com http://ow.ly/tb3Ez

Structuring Our Lives for More Writing Time: http://ow.ly/tnvkm @PStoltey  @SpunkOnAStick

List of Works — a Motivation Tool for Writers:  http://ow.ly/tb3I3 @MidgeRaymond

3 Years of Self-Publishing, 2 Years of Writing Full Time, and Lessons from 2013:  http://ow.ly/tb3pF @goblinwriter

7 Ways to Keep Your Idea Generation Skills Fresh This Winter | The Renegade Writer http://ow.ly/tb37Q

Hatch a Stronger Story Idea in 2014: 3 Ways to Discover Exciting New Ideas:  http://ow.ly/tb3Ar @storyfix

Ignore rules. Write what you want to write and write it well:  http://ow.ly/tb2Ut  @ann_leckie

5 Futures for Libraries:  http://ow.ly/tb2KP @JohnCFarrier @neatorama

Freewriting for Inspiration:  http://ow.ly/tb3cy @WritingForward

10 Scientific Non-Fiction Books to Fire Up Your Imagination:  http://ow.ly/tb3vY @cloudy_vision

Feedback you can ignore:  http://ow.ly/tb3hw @rfwriters

Script Development for the Beginner Writer-Director – Script Magazine http://ow.ly/tb3kK @kim_garland @scriptmag

Troublesome First Draft:  http://ow.ly/t9GNp @CathyMBuchanan

Author Interview on Smashwords: A Cool Marketing Tool http://ow.ly/t9Mh8 @claudenougat

How Old Is Too Old for a Main Character? http://ow.ly/t9LDs @Huffpost @hollyrob1

Screenwriting: Speed Dating The First 5 Pages: http://ow.ly/t9L8R @medkno

Publishing: Between Revolution and Revolt:  http://ow.ly/t6CCq   @HughHowey @Porter_Anderson @rebecsmart

The Best Writers Workshops in the US:  http://ow.ly/t9GjG @MastersReview

12 Tips for Your Professional Amazon Author Page: http://ow.ly/t9M2a @111publishing

The Dirty, Messy Part of a Writer’s Life | Goins, Writer http://ow.ly/t9M7n @jeffgoins

Your Author Platform: Building the Plane While Flying It:  http://ow.ly/t9JFl @karendodd

Divorcing the Draft:  http://ow.ly/t9GyK @JeriWB

If You Don’t Enjoy Marketing, You’re Doing It Wrong:  http://ow.ly/t9Mmt @DavidGaughran

An author-illustrator team’s troubles with Tor: http://ow.ly/t9KlN

5 Lies We Tell Ourselves That Keep Us from Becoming Great Writers http://ow.ly/t9KWO @thewritelife

10 Foundational Writing Practices:  http://ow.ly/t9JM2 @Wordstrumpet

What Do You Do When Writing is No Longer Fun? http://ow.ly/t9MEU @janice_hardy @PubCrawlBlog

Tool for  SF/F Writers: Stellarium:  http://ow.ly/t9Liw @sfwa

The Ultimate Guide to Proof-reading and Editing:  http://ow.ly/t9GTM @DannyIny

‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ Movie Gets Writers and Director | /Film http://ow.ly/t6YEX

The Goal of Writing http://ow.ly/t6YMc @woodwardkaren

Vanity Publishing aka Subsidy Publishers:  http://ow.ly/t723F @111publishing

5 Tips for Editors on Working With Writers:  http://ow.ly/t6ZY1 @bluepencil2

Book Trailers: 4 Tips to Turn Them Into a Successful Marketing Tool: http://ow.ly/t71VP @claudenougat

How to Weave Backstory Into Your Novel http://ow.ly/t71pu @monicamclark

Indie for Indies: Authors and Bookstores Working Together Towards Success: http://ow.ly/t70RM @MunroeChristine @PubSmartCon

Self-Publishing Is Not The Minor Leagues:  http://ow.ly/t6Zuj @chuckwendig

7 Self-Publishing Resources That Have Helped 1 Writer the Most:  http://ow.ly/t6Zj4 @batwood

Best Advice from Amazon on Marketing Your Book http://ow.ly/t6YR6 @claudenougat

2  Questions to Ask for Stronger Character Goals and Motivations http://ow.ly/t6YWK @Janice_Hardy

Pitching Your Ideas http://ow.ly/t6UwY

What Do You Do When Writing is No Longer Fun? http://ow.ly/t6YmQ @janice_hardy

The Scenic Detour to Being a Novelist:  http://ow.ly/t72ar @Kathleen_George @womenwriters

10 Lessons In Non-Fiction Writing:  http://ow.ly/t6YeC @thecreativepenn

How to Write an Effective Press Release:  http://ow.ly/t71yE @DeeWhiteAuthor

The 5 Differences Between Professional and Amateur Novelists: http://ow.ly/t71PZ @CharlesFinch

Augmented Reality Books? New ‘Wearable Book’ Feeds You Its Characters’ Emotions As You Read:  http://ow.ly/t6Yvc @isciencetimes

10 Mistakes Freelance Writers Make and How to Fix Them | wiredPRworks http://ow.ly/tc8TX

What are Indie authors’ essential tasks? – Venture Galleries http://ow.ly/tc8Ti @stephenwoodfin

5 Elements That Make Editors Look Twice at a Manuscript: http://ow.ly/tc8IX @Head_HandPress

Serialization: Pros And Cons http://ow.ly/tc9AE @Woodwardkaren

Is Fantasy Fiction Too Safe? http://ow.ly/tc8TM @Philip_Overby @mythicscribes

Is Christian Fiction Dying?  http://ow.ly/tc9Au @stevelaubeagent

4 Ways to Survive the Copy Edit Gauntlet:  http://ow.ly/tc9zB @ArielLawhon @writerunboxed

Doorways To Mass Readership Of Your Books:  http://ow.ly/tc9b6 @jonathangunson

3 Types of Writers: Need-Tos, Want-Tos, and Have-Tos: http://ow.ly/tc9A0 @KMWeiland

Ebook Pricing: What You Think Your Book Is Worth vs. The Point at Which It Will Make the Most Money: http://ow.ly/tc93Q @goblinwriter

Publish a book while querying it?  http://ow.ly/tc94e @janet_reid

Don’t fall for your own blog posts–tips for better blogging:  http://ow.ly/tc94c @DarinLHammond

5 Ways Authors Met Each Other Before Twitter http://ow.ly/tc8P7 @@clarkaycock

The 10 Best Movies Based on Unfilmable Books:  http://ow.ly/tc8Sq @AtkinsonZero

Are Ebook Subscription Services Worth It? http://ow.ly/tc8Tp

Ebook Boxed Sets: Good Idea or No? http://ow.ly/tc8KS @LJSellers

Creating a Professional Look for Ebooks:  http://ow.ly/tc940 @JWManus

Writing About Reading in the Writer’s Notebook: http://ow.ly/tc9Am @raisealithuman

How Self-Published Authors May Track Readers on Social Media: http://ow.ly/tc95V @conniebrentford

Intense and Marketable Novels? A Simple How-to – by Jennifer Slattery http://ow.ly/tdDs9 @Jenslattery

Exorcise these filler words from your writing http://ow.ly/tdCz3 @michellerafter

Applying Symbols and Symbolism to Screenplays: http://ow.ly/tdCHD @scriptmag

A rejection letter to avoid: http://ow.ly/tdD8z @harryonthebrink

5 Ways to Engage Your Readers on Facebook:  http://ow.ly/tdDJk @BookCountry

WinePress Publishing: Scandal-Plagued Self-Pub Service Closes Its Doors:  http://ow.ly/tdDl4 @victoriastrauss

Edith Wharton: 7 Facts Outside Fiction:  http://ow.ly/tdDxK @InterestingLit

How NOT To Write a Bestselling Thriller:  http://ow.ly/tdDEY @JohnDolanAuthor

What Is Copywriting and Why Should Indie Authors Care?  http://ow.ly/tdCkk @tscopywriter

Productivity: It’s not a mystery. http://ow.ly/tdBOO @WrittenWeb

Things Publishers say (and should say):  http://ow.ly/tdBZi @paulbogaard

8 Ways For Screenwriters To Get Collaborating:  http://ow.ly/tdDuo @bang2write

The Terrible Writing Truth:  http://ow.ly/tdDPP @NickiSalcedo

8 Tips to Get Your Manuscript to the Finish Line:  http://ow.ly/tdC9N @MillerMystery

Creating And Writing Believable Villains: A Tasty Recipe http://ow.ly/tdCgR

How To Use Wattpad As An Author:  http://ow.ly/tdCtz @AshleighGardner @thecreativepenn

Pesky Adverbs or No? http://ow.ly/tdCWA @FrugalBookPromo

Marketing And Readers (Discoverability): http://ow.ly/tdCZn @kristinerusch

What Makes a Romance? 7 tips.  http://ow.ly/tg8Dd @sdwriter

Indie vs. Legacy: What Does The War Mean For You? http://ow.ly/tg90F @ashkrafton

How to Get Reviews by Loaning Your Kindle Books http://ow.ly/tg9nx @ashlorenzana

The Thin Line Between Selling Your Book and Sabotaging it | Wise Ink:  http://ow.ly/tg9sL

6 Pieces of Bad Advice for Writers to Ignore http://ow.ly/tg9vc @annerallen

Herman Melville’s Daily Routine and Thoughts on the Writing Life:  http://ow.ly/tg9zD @brainpicker

Why 10,000 hours of writing won’t make you a good writer:  http://ow.ly/tg9Jr @JanetKGrant

5 Brutal Truths About Book Marketing: http://ow.ly/tg9NT @rebeccatdickson

The real value of TBR lists (that you hardly ever get to): http://ow.ly/tg9QU @rchazzchute

Three Goals for Every Character:  http://ow.ly/tg9St @mooderino

Scrivener: The Essential Writing Tool For Any Scribbler:  http://ow.ly/tg9Wk @artyyah

Backlist Blogging—Why Blogging Is Like Book Publishing: http://ow.ly/tga9i @JFBookman

18 TV shows that will teach you how to write:  http://ow.ly/tgaft @PopMythology

Create Believable Characters — Using Method Writing:  http://ow.ly/tgaxp @WriteToSell

Amazon and Netflix gained prominence by clearly understanding digital’s promise:  http://ow.ly/tgbLS @PandoDaily

How Is Self-Publishing Maturing?  http://ow.ly/tgePd  @ChuckWendig @thecreativepenn @Porter_Anderson

One agent is working with her client to advocate for industry change: http://ow.ly/tlH45  @HughHowey @Porter_Anderson

Grammar is a tool: http://ow.ly/tgeof @livewritethrive

5 ways to stay sane as a writer:  http://ow.ly/tgeGe @LisetteBrodey

Is There a Right Age to Read a Book?  http://ow.ly/sYSNQ @tordotcom

Not Reading Indie Books Yet? You’re Missing Out:  http://ow.ly/sYRNk @RachelintheOC

Top Tips to Make Best Use of A Blog Tour:  http://ow.ly/sZa7w @cupgrease

Want to turn your book into an app? Here’s how to do it:  http://ow.ly/sZ9FR @LauraPepWu

It’s Not Just One Book. Your Rights And How To Exploit Them: http://ow.ly/sZ91I @thecreativepenn

Novels stimulate the brain, even after you stop reading | Arts and Culture | ADN.com http://ow.ly/sZ8ak

How to Feel Confident Sharing Your Creative Work In Public http://ow.ly/sYSUa @LeRegalla

Adverbs and Adjectives are Not Your Friends http://ow.ly/sYSqN @rsguthrie

In Britain and especially abroad, ebooks are booming:  http://ow.ly/sYSun @guardianbooks

How 1 writer submits short stories:  http://ow.ly/sZ6VQ @jamietr

The Secret To Succeeding As A Writer: Having A Criterion For Success http://ow.ly/sYSeW @woodwardkaren

Henry Miller’s 11 Commandments of Writing & Daily Creative Routine: http://ow.ly/sZ79y @brainpicker

Cleaning Up Your Manuscript Can Save You Money http://ow.ly/sZ9wU @CKmacleodwriter

Getting an ISBN for Your Ebook (for Canadian Authors) http://ow.ly/sZ9qz @CarlaJDouglas

16 Classical Music Compositions To Inspire Us:  http://ow.ly/sZ6Jq @CSAlexMorris

6 Keys to Sticking to Your Resolutions | The Indie Chicks http://ow.ly/sYSYR @Xtal_Rose

How To Make Life Easy For Librarians So Your Book Gets In Libraries http://ow.ly/sZ9hZ @uriel1998

“The ethics of publishing”–the need for responsible behavior from both publishers and self-publishers: http://bit.ly/1ec5uLm @fakebaldur @Porter_Anderson

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