Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 159

Twitterific

  by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig






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Book Design Quick Tips for
Self-Publishers: http://bit.ly/XI73NW
@jfbookman

5 tips for writing humor: http://bit.ly/15rYad4 @fictionnotes

On the Interbook Indecision: http://bit.ly/13Als2b @KgElfland2ndCuz

What writers need to know about the
business of writing: http://bit.ly/Z4hwmz
@kristinerusch

How To Use Stereotypes In Writing
Fiction: http://bit.ly/Z4itv0 @VeronicaSicoe

Are Self-Pub Books the New Slush Pile? http://bit.ly/XQi8uX @rachellegardner

9 Tips To Develop A Winning Blog
Personality: http://bit.ly/Z4paNE
@HeidiCohen

5 Facebook Marketing Tips for Authors: http://bit.ly/W85NTf @goblinwriter

Crime fiction
sleuths who aren't conventionally attractive: http://bit.ly/YlT6lg
@mkinberg




Need a unique way to
round out your flat characters? Try stressing the characters out: http://bit.ly/YC4SHx @DianeKrause2




Dated reference or
lexicon? http://bit.ly/Yml3cJ @authorterryo




5 Industry Trends
Requiring Every Writer’s Attention: http://bit.ly/16F39su
@janefriedman




Rumors of the ISBN’s
Demise: http://bit.ly/16Fk6D0
@Porter_Anderson @ljndawson @Personanondata @MickRooney7777




How 1 writer's
Amazon sales translated into income: http://bit.ly/ZXPWWn
@Porter_Anderson @salon




The Used-Digital
Debate: http://bit.ly/WUZqFj
@porter_anderson @LloydJassin @JDGsaid




Troubleshooting your
mystery novel: http://bit.ly/YGpoXu




"Everybody
Publishes, You Stinking Gatekeeper": http://bit.ly/11odGb8
@Porter_Anderson @oxfordthrillers @hughmcguire




Writing a realistic plea bargain scene: http://bit.ly/Z4i9fK @DADiaries

Physical Attributes Entry: Stomach: http://bit.ly/W86wUl @angelaackerman

Is Jane Austen Overhyped or
Underappreciated? http://slate.me/YaP7Ig
@slate






Writer's guide to
G.I.M.P.--image reflections on glass: http://bit.ly/X3jxRU
@clarissadraper


Why Do Female Authors Dominate
Young-Adult Fiction? http://bit.ly/XICYh2
@Meg_Lewit

How to Get Your ISBN: http://bit.ly/W8OyRJ @MyBookShepherd

Let Music Set the Mood: http://bit.ly/XIDUCb @MsAnnAguirre

Quality writing time: http://bit.ly/XIEJLa @julie_gray

"Promoting your Book on Facebook and
Twitter is a Total Waste of Time": http://bit.ly/16u8liJ
@MaryWWalters

Worldbuilding--Crafting Cultural
Interactions: http://bit.ly/16u8qmu
@juliettewade

Pace Your Novel Perfectly: http://bit.ly/ZKeOAN @lindasclare

On Being a Professional Amateur: http://bit.ly/ZKf5ne

Hyphens vs. Dashes vs. Commas: http://bit.ly/16ulhoK

Top 10 Tips For Self-Publishing Print
Books On Createspace: http://bit.ly/16uoHb8
@thecreativepenn @GunBossBooks

Another Class Action Suit Launched
Against PublishAmerica: http://bit.ly/ZKssUu
@victoriastrauss

Tips for submission letters: http://bit.ly/16uoSmH @writersdigest

5 Things Children Teach Us About Writing:
http://bit.ly/ZKsICX @writenowcoach

The Bad PR Hangover (and How to Avoid
It): http://bit.ly/16up715 @SharonBially

8 ways to be a happy author: http://bit.ly/ZKsT1f @rachellegardner

5 Quick Tips to Writing More: http://bit.ly/16upfO2 @kathysteffen

Secret sauce for a good book: Re-vision: http://bit.ly/ZKt6RP @JordanMcCollum

6 Months of Vocabulary Practice: http://bit.ly/16uprNf @write_practice

On Behalf of Neglected Night Creatures: http://bit.ly/ZKthNg @thisishorror

Top 10 Stupid Movie Quotes About Reading:
http://bit.ly/16upEjF @NewDorkReview

The Crazy Plan to Save Barnes &
Noble: http://bit.ly/ZKtAYl @passivevoiceblg

Script To Screen: "Notting
Hill": http://bit.ly/16upU23
@gointothestory

Identifying the Character Tics in
"Lost": http://bit.ly/ZKtOhZ
@suelange

Sex in SF/F: For the sake of the story: http://bit.ly/16uq4GH @mikemartinez72

How to Raise Funds for Your Book Project:
http://bit.ly/ZKtWOF @wherewriterswin

5 Steps To A Successful Digital Rewrite: http://bit.ly/16uqdKl @chris_shultz81

Why One-Star Reviews Matter: http://bit.ly/ZKu5BM @selfpubreview

Write Like a Lawyer: 5 Tips for Fiction
Writers: http://bit.ly/16uqkW7
@ChuckSambuchino

Tips for completing a novel: http://bit.ly/ZKuggf @ronvitale

Tips for stronger book sales for
self-pubbed authors: http://bit.ly/16uqJrD
@rxena77

How 1 writer uses music as part of his
creative process: http://bit.ly/ZKuJz2
@byrozmorris @agnieszkassshoes

How to Write a Novel as a Collaborative
Team: http://bit.ly/ZKuO5O @adriennedewolfe

The Biggest Problem With Trick Endings: http://bit.ly/16ur65w @kmweiland

5 reasons readers love your story: http://bit.ly/10WUOzS @LisaCron

Should Independent Authors Have Their
Books Translated into Foreign Languages? http://bit.ly/ZaMaK5
@goblinwriter

Considerations when planning your
literary estate: http://bit.ly/10WWXeT
@kristinerusch

How to Get Help from Amazon: http://bit.ly/ZaO7WQ @Authopublisher

1 writer advises us to never delete
unwanted story bits: http://bit.ly/ZaOv7O
@write_practice

The Business of Screenwriting: Everything
you wanted to know about specs: http://bit.ly/10WXOMB
@gointothestory

How to Use Introversion for Career and
Personal Success: http://bit.ly/10WY6mP
@lifehacker

1 writer explains how to be more
prolific: http://bit.ly/10WYi5q

Accessing Creative Energy: http://bit.ly/ZaPe95

How Much Time Should Writers Spend
Blogging? http://bit.ly/ZHFTDA @scottmarlowe

Using a Variety of Ebook Price Points: http://bit.ly/XJDkWX

Netflix says it's a great time to be a
writer: http://bit.ly/ZHGcOu @rule17

Pay attention to commas when using the
words since and because: http://bit.ly/XJDCNz
@livewritethrive

5 Key Questions to Ask as You Write Your
Novel: http://bit.ly/ZHGg0X

7 Deadly Myths and 3 Inspired Truths
About Book Editing: http://bit.ly/XJDNZn
@StillpointDigPr

5 Tips to Writing a Great Historical
Novel: http://bit.ly/ZHGrJy @MyBookTherapy

5 Tips To Avoid A Blah Blah Blog: http://bit.ly/XJDVrR @wherewriterswin

How Much Money Amazon Is Making From The
Kindle? http://bit.ly/XJEdih @sai
@passivevoiceblg

5 Unconventional Fantasy Relationships: http://bit.ly/ZHGCEB @rajanyk

How To Write Short Stories: http://bit.ly/XJEoKD @woodwardkaren

How to Bring Subjects to Life in Your
Nonfiction Writing: http://bit.ly/ZHGHYQ
@amywilentz

Answers to Questions About Tense: http://bit.ly/XJEW35 @writing_tips

Taking your writing seriously: http://bit.ly/ZHGV2h @writersrelief

Classic Characters Whose Flaws Make Them
Great: http://bit.ly/16dAp9N @BenClayborne

Losing Sight of the Target: http://bit.ly/XYtwpm @StinaLL

Why Hunter S. Thompson Would've Loved
Author Rank: http://bit.ly/XYsSbD
@copyblogger

Great Characters: Vincent Vega
("Pulp Fiction"): http://bit.ly/16Ec6lB
@gointothestory

Tricks Your Left Brain is Playing On You
(And What You Can Do About It): http://bit.ly/YlZF7o
@lifehacker

Lazy Ways to Keep The Reader Hooked - The
Dan Brown Secret: http://bit.ly/16Ec9xS
@yeomanis

Ebook parts: http://bit.ly/YlZKba @jakonrath

The art of biography is alive and well: http://bit.ly/YlZUzf @guardianbooks

Re-Posting Old Blog Posts: http://bit.ly/YlZVn5 @Janice_hardy

5 Hilarious Reasons Publishers Rejected
Classic Best-Sellers: http://bit.ly/YmiEi7
@passivevoiceblg

10 Giveaway Freebies to Get Readers to
Opt-in: http://bit.ly/16Ewva8

Can Libraries Lend eBooks Without DRM? http://bit.ly/Ymj08C @gluejar

Where's the Line between Spamming and
Sharing? http://bit.ly/Ymj48c @jamigold

Tips for a better LinkedIn profile: http://bit.ly/Ymjnjj @JennyHansenCA
@KristenLambTX

Analyzing Story Structure: http://bit.ly/15HqxnB @woodwardkaren

5 Facebook Marketing Tips for Authors: http://bit.ly/W85NTf @goblinwriter

25 commandments for journalists: http://bit.ly/16EyJqh @guardianbooks

Writing A Feel Good Story: http://bit.ly/YmHFdf @woodwardkaren

4 reasons an agent kept reading recent
queries: http://bit.ly/16EXu5H @petejknapp

An agent explains when to revise your
manuscript and when to keep submitting: http://bit.ly/16EYbvK
@carlywatters

How to Produce and Distribute Your Own
Audiobook: http://bit.ly/YmJoPN @bookbaby

23 Ways To Promote Your Blog: http://bit.ly/YmJIOg @HeidiCohen

10 shifted perspective novels 1 reader
would like to see: http://bit.ly/16F0cYV
@readingape

Neologisms, Pseudowords, & The
Pleasures of Deviant Language in Fantastika: http://bit.ly/16F0mzv
@sfsignal

The Secret of Success: Stop Trying to Be
Famous: http://bit.ly/YmKTNP @jeffgoins

Great Scene: "Double
Indemnity": http://bit.ly/YmKV8k
@gointothestory

Memorable openings in science fiction: http://bit.ly/16F0y1C @amazingstories0

The Case For Libraries: http://bit.ly/YmL3Vw @passivevoiceblg

Why Cliffhangers Keep Readers in Your
Raft: http://bit.ly/16F0GOw @jefishman

6 Ways to Fall in Love with Writing: http://bit.ly/YmLqzi @litreactor
@robdyoungwrites

How to Stay Calm and Creative while
Coping with Stress: http://bit.ly/16F18fO
@brandenbarnett

Novel experiments in publishing: http://oreil.ly/YmLxL3 @JennWebb

Check your ebook files before you publish
them: http://bit.ly/16F1e71 @behlerpublish

Do you need a literary agent? http://bit.ly/WzTwqU @dirtywhitecandy

4 Elements of Epic Storytelling: http://bit.ly/ZW3di8 @mythicscribes

Writing Workshop: How To Tell When You
Need That Boost: http://bit.ly/WzTJu7
@diymfa

Is Scrivener Right For You? http://bit.ly/ZW3jGu @NMusch

A Five Author Street Team = Too Many
Cooks in the Kitchen? http://bit.ly/ZW3H7Q
@Tracy_March

Scene questionnaire: http://bit.ly/WzUkvL

How to Write a One Page Proposal: http://bit.ly/15lfj6b @shalvatzis

Konrath's results using Amazon Select: http://bit.ly/15lfqP2 @woodwardkaren

10 Creative Habits of the Pro Artist: http://bit.ly/WSYaCB @brandenbarnett

18 Bad Guys Who Were Way Too Easy to
Defeat: http://bit.ly/15lfFtI @io9

15 famous beautiful creatures: http://bit.ly/WSYgdv @slant

Tips for writing realistic fight scenes: http://bit.ly/15lg6Ed @thecreativepenn
@JarrahLoh

Post price fixing settlement thoughts: http://bit.ly/WSYvVQ @jane_l

Building a platform vs. promoting a book:
http://bit.ly/15lqmwe @rachellegardner

The author has four faces: A writer's
survival guide: http://bit.ly/WT2SAe
@katewritesbooks

Write Your Truth: http://bit.ly/WT2WQv @jamesscottbell

Screenwriting Software: Adobe Story: http://bit.ly/15lqHPx @woodwardkaren

Structuring Your Scenes: Variations on
the Sequel: http://bit.ly/15lqRpX
@kmweiland

The Power of the Author Interview: http://bit.ly/ZXXZma @BookMarketer

Writing Historicals – How Accurate Must
You Be? http://bit.ly/WTDbzy

Adding Contrast to Your Writing:
Character: http://bit.ly/ZXYexB @ava_jae

Writing Vivid Scenes: http://bit.ly/ZXYkFn @KatZhang

How to Find a Critique Group: http://bit.ly/WTDsm4

Being a smart author in a changed
industry: http://bit.ly/WTDzhm
@kristenlambTX @SusanSpann

2 self-pubbed authors debunk indie
publishing myths: http://bit.ly/WTE9Mi
@SusanKayeQuinn @laurapauling

When You Have to Admit You've Failed: http://bit.ly/ZXZosE @alexisgrant

Engaging in non-writing art can influence
your writing: http://bit.ly/WTEpuH
@Jan_Ohara

Self-Published Authors Share 5 Things
They Learned in 2012: http://bit.ly/WTI1gb
@livewritethrive

13 Geeky Ways To Beat Writer's Block: http://bit.ly/ZY5NUI @VeronicaSicoe

Writing a Character's Dark Side: http://bit.ly/WTJ7Zk

Violent Femmes: The Place of Women in
Horror: http://bit.ly/ZY5UzV @HorrorMovies

Top 10 vicious literary hatchet jobs: http://bit.ly/WTJgvM @telegraphbooks

How 1 writer began writing and stopped
lying: http://bit.ly/WTJovn @randysusanmeyer

Order to the Chaos of Life: Isabel
Allende on Writing: http://bit.ly/ZY6rSk
@brainpicker

For the stressed-out writer: The 5-minute
Guide to Meditation: Anywhere, Anytime: http://bit.ly/ZY6DAQ
@lifehackorg

Focusing on the Writing First

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig





When I was a kid, my elementary school would have tornado drills at least twice in a school year.  What I remember most about these drills was that the teachers would direct all the children into the hallway to kneel with our arms covering our heads...and then they'd spend the entire drill busily cranking open the casement windows.  The prevailing wisdom at the time (at least, in my elementary school), was that the windows must be opened or else the school would explode from the pressure during a tornado.  I know...it sounds nutty now.



Actually, it seemed crazy to me at the time that the teachers would be working so long and so hard to open those half-painted-shut windows...during a tornado. I remember thinking, "So...if this were a real tornado, the kids will all be safe in the hall.  And all the adults will be dead because they're trying to open the windows.  What will we do then?"  The windows just weren't the right things to be focusing on.



Twice recently, I've had new writers approach me to ask me publishing-related questions for unfinished first manuscripts.  I actually used to love talking with new writers.  I couldn't figure out why other writers disliked it so much.  Lately, though, I completely understand.  As I listened to them asking me questions about the industry, my heart sank.  How could I possibly give them any direction in only a few minutes? 



Neither had ever finished a book.  One had been working on a book for years, but not regularly.  It was something she picked up every few months.  She was concerned about agents and publishers and how to approach them.  



The other writer asked me about self-publishing vs. traditional publishing and building a platform.  And the writer looked totally overwhelmed.  I'd have been totally overwhelmed, too.  Working on a first novel, thinking about all the social media and the way the industry is imploding or exploding or improving (depending how you look at it.) 



It all reminded me of the teachers trying to crank those windows open.  Their principal had them focused on the wrong task.  They should have huddled down next to us in the hall.  Writers need to huddle down and write. 



Yes, we've got to follow the industry news.  It will help give us direction when we're figuring out the best avenue for publishing our story.  Plus, it's just such a dynamic time that our whole concept of the publishing industry could become outdated in a short period of time.  But the story comes first.




Platform building is important. But the timing of its importance is in question.  If it prevents you from writing that first book, that's a problem.   Industry expert Jane Friedman put it bluntly in her recent post (and the entire post is an insightful read)  on Writer Unboxed,  5 Industry Trends Requiring Every Writer’s Attention:

If you’re a totally new, unpublished writer who is focused on fiction,
memoir, poetry, or any type of narrative-driven work, forget you ever
heard the word platform. I think it’s causing more damage than good.
It’s causing writers to do things that they dislike (even hate), and
that are unnatural for them at an early stage of their careers. They’re
confused, for good reason, and platform building grows into a raging
distraction from the work at hand—the writing. 

I do think it's nice to have a home base on the web...a website, a blog, some place to hang your hat.  Definitely a professional-sounding email address, at the very least. But instead of platforming, new writers should think about discovering information from the writing community--craft, industry news, support.  Again, nothing that takes the place of the writing.  Platforming makes more sense for writers who have books launching. 



Once the book is finished, we do have lots of decisions to make and tons of information to absorb.  But we're focused in the wrong direction, it makes it even harder to find time to write.



How do you keep focused on your writing instead of all the other writing-related issues (industry changes, networking, platforming, agents and publishers)?  For me, it means knocking out my daily writing goal before hopping online.



Image: MorgueFile: npclark2k 

Troubleshooting Your Mystery

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig







Hi everyone!  I'm over at the Writer's in the Storm blog today, with a guest post aimed at mystery writers--"Troubleshooting Your  Mystery."  I'll share some common problems mystery writers face and offer some potential solutions.



Hope you'll drop by if you have a chance. Writers in the Storm , if you haven't visited there, is a helpful blog, focusing on the writing craft...their archives are fun to delve into!



Update--I'm trying a new plug-in for comments.  When I turned on comment moderation yesterday afternoon, I promptly received 50 spam comments to moderate.  By this morning, it was in the hundreds.  Hoping that a third-party site will improve our commenting experience here, but we'll see!

Stressed-Out Characters – Just the Way We Want Them--Guest Post by Diane Krause

 

by Diane Krause,@DianeKrause2



In addition to writing and editing, one of my other
interests is human behavior and personality types. I’m fascinated by the way
we’re each uniquely wired, and what it takes for us all to work and play nicely
together.

For a number of years, I’ve worked with a personality
assessment called The Birkman Method™. This particular assessment stands out
among others, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, because Birkman measures
more aspects of an individual’s personality than other assessments. One of
those aspects is Stress Behavior, a
concept that can be quite useful for fiction writers.

Stress
Behavior, according to The Birkman Method™, is the behavior we exhibit
when our needs aren’t met. That seems logical, right? When all is right
with the world -- the bills are paid, the laundry’s done, the children are
behaving, and we’re exceeding our word count quota – our behaviors are usually
pretty positive and we’re a joy to be around. Yet when all is not
right with the world, well, it’s not a pretty sight, is it?

The Birkman assessment takes that concept and breaks it down
by the four primary personality types, with each type possessing its own set of
positive behaviors, basic needs, and stress behavior. An understanding of the
four types and some common stress behaviors can help us add a bit more
dimension, or complexity, to our fictional characters. After all, we do want
our characters to be stressed, right? Stress creates conflict, which is
critical to creating great fiction.

The following is a crash course in the four basic
personality types, and some common stress behaviors that are likely to pop up
in each when all is not right with his or her world.

The
Doer Personality. This is the classic Type A personality. He’s
quick to make decisions, likes to be in charge, and lives to see results. This
is the Ready-Fire-Aim guy. He’s most
comfortable with people who think and act like him, and he tends to have little
patience with creative types who prefer to explore options and think before
acting. He prefers to deal with people in a frank, direct and straightforward
manner with a minimal amount of emotion and sentimentality.

The
Doer’s Stress Behavior. When his needs aren’t met – say he’s stuck
working with a bunch of free spirits ­­-- he will tend to become insensitive,
bossy, dogmatic, impulsive, edgy, and impatient. He’ll be overly factual and
abrupt, and will tend to have difficulty responding to the personal needs of
others.

The
Influencer Personality. This is your killer saleswoman. She loves
being around people and can work a room like nobody’s business. The Influencer
likes novelty, change, a minimal amount of structure, and the freedom to do her
own thing. She tends to get along well with most people, but doesn’t care for
people who are overly insistent on rules and procedures.

The
Influencer’s Stress Behavior. When the Influencer is stressed
– say her personal freedom is limited and she’s stuck following rigid rules –
she’ll tend to become defensive, argumentative, resistant to rules, easily
side-tracked, and may be overly concerned with saving face.

The
Rules and Regs Personality. This is your class process
person. To him, Heaven – not the devil – is in the details. He loves working
with rules, definitions, processes, and systematic procedures. He’s not much of
a people person and is typically content working quietly by himself. He’s
orderly, consistent and cautious, and likes all the lines clearly drawn. He
wants to know what’s expected of him, and what he can expect of others
(preferably that they’re following the rules).

The
Rules and Regs’s Stress Behavior. When order is lost or
abandoned, the rules guy will be stressed. In reaction, his fear of the
unexpected will cause him to become over-controlling, too factual, opinionated,
and resistant to change. Personal interactions with others will be even more
challenging than usual.

The
Thinker Personality. She’s the best idea person around – creative,
innovative, and almost always able to see things from a new angle (a good
quality in a sleuth). She’s insightful and typically easy-going. She longs for
freedom from social demands, values strong personal relationships, and needs
plenty of time to make decisions. 

The
Thinker’s Stress Behavior. If the Thinker’s world gets too loud or
busy, she’s easily overwhelmed. Extended social demands, pressure to make quick
decisions, heavy doses of criticism, and bossy people will all cause the
Thinker to become stressed. When that happens, she’ll become oversensitive,
easily hurt, idealistic, withdrawn, and even more hesitant to make decisions.
She’ll also tend to second-guess almost everything she does.

As writers, of course we want to create fictional characters
as complex and unique as real people – a formidable challenge. Borrowing traits
from the living and breathing can often give us a jump-start on creating the
characters that will bring our stories to life.

Are there any interesting stress behaviors you would add to
this list? What are some characteristics you’ve given to your characters to
increase the conflict in your stories?



Diane
Krause is a freelance editor, writer, and author of 25 Ways
to Create Classic Characters Readers Will Love. You can connect with Diane through her website at www.thedianekrause.com , or on Twitter @DianeKrause2.

25 Ways to Create Classic Characters Readers Will Love is a short book designed to inspire writers
and provide a jump-start on creating believable fictional characters. Available
on Amazon .

 

Twitterific

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig









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*******



A free directory of cover designers, formatters, freelance editors, and more: http://bit.ly/nolbXq



9 Tips To Develop A Winning Blog Personality: http://bit.ly/Z4paNE @HeidiCohen



Should traditional biography be buried alongside Shakespeare's breakfast? http://bit.ly/ZjkYYl @AlisonFlood



Tags, Traits And Tells: http://bit.ly/WsCSLS @woodwardkaren



How to Write a Story: http://bit.ly/WsCVY5 @stephengjones72



5 Keys Steps to Adding Depth to Your Fictional Relationships: http://bit.ly/WGrXsV @JordanDane



Spring Cleaning? 10 Tips for Writers: http://bit.ly/WsD6Tj @WritingFineLine



Worldbuilding Process: http://bit.ly/WsDiC2 @juliettewade



Breaking through writer's block: http://bit.ly/WsDqBp @rxena77



Fall or Fly? http://bit.ly/WGsBGO @johnhartness



Are Email Interviews That Bad? Yes.http://bit.ly/WsDCAK @10000Words



Screenwriters Roundtable: http://bit.ly/WGt8IF @gointothestory



When characters go their own way: http://bit.ly/WsE0yZ



The Value of Taking a Productive Pause: http://bit.ly/WGtpeI @abmarkman



115 Words for "walks": http://bit.ly/WsE9Te @gointothestory



Creating Intriguing Characters: http://bit.ly/WsEjKo @fcmalby



The hidden power of no: http://bit.ly/VGaMeV @RLLaFevers



Writing Authentic Crime: How To Get Away With Murder: http://bit.ly/XQi12t @GarryRodgers1



Are Self-Pub Books the New Slush Pile? http://bit.ly/XQi8uX @rachellegardner



Writing Effective Grief In Fiction: 5 Ideas For Writers: http://bit.ly/VGc7lV @denisejaden



An Experience in Translating a Self-Published Book: http://bit.ly/XQiv8E @selfpubreview



3 Quick Tips for Linking to External Blog Posts: http://bit.ly/XQjLZx @genelempp



How To Sell Ebooks: http://bit.ly/VGdQrd @jakonrath



Another 25 Reasons Your Submissions are Rejected: http://bit.ly/XQkbz8



Your Amazon Author Central page: http://bit.ly/W80Klw @bufocalvin



Feeling Overwhelmed? Social Media Can Make Us Crazy: http://bit.ly/W815Vn @kristenlambtx








AWP president addresses criticism of the conference:
http://bit.ly/ZKv84E @Porter_Anderson




Writing Organizations—Finding the perfect fit: http://bit.ly/ZivCgO @OrlyKonigLopez



10 Qualities of Successful Indie Authors: http://bit.ly/ZivIoH



Describing Character Reactions And Emotions: She Smiled, He Frowned: http://bit.ly/ZiAq5G @woodwardkaren



8 Tips For Approaching Editing Your Work: http://bit.ly/W85JCM @BryanThomasS



5 Facebook Marketing Tips for Authors: http://bit.ly/W85NTf @goblinwriter



How to Make Your Similes Sparkle: http://bit.ly/W85UOC @write_practice



5 Ways to Promote Your Words When You're Not Feeling Worthy: http://bit.ly/ZiAOBb @wherewriterswin



A Critique of a Darker Opening: http://bit.ly/W863lb @janice_hardy



Plot Perseverance and Plodding: http://bit.ly/ZiAVwM @sarahahoyt



Writing the right story: http://bit.ly/ZiBcjc @juliekibler



Physical Attributes Entry: Stomach: http://bit.ly/W86wUl @angelaackerman



Write-Brained: The Neuroscience of Writing and Writer's Block: http://bit.ly/ZiBqqA @robdyoungwrites



Screenwriter roundtable: http://bit.ly/W86ETY @gointothestory



The Storytelling Masters and Their Lessons: http://bit.ly/W86L1N @NightBirder



1984: George Orwell's road to dystopia: http://bbc.in/W86Suj @BBCNewsMagazine



Dreaming up story ideas: http://bit.ly/ZiBRkK @kristinnador



Guy Kawasaki on budgeting for your book: http://bit.ly/ZiC3R7 @jasonboog



ISBNs For Self-Publishing: http://bit.ly/W87akF @laurahoward78 @rippatton



4 Character Essentials: http://bit.ly/ZiCdI6 @josiskilpack



Great Character: The Bride ("Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & Vol. 2″): http://bit.ly/W87waZ @gointothestory



Used e-books: http://bit.ly/ZiCESA



Self-Pub and Trad Pub: Enjoy the Best of Both Worlds: http://bit.ly/15xS9fI @janefriedman @cjlyonswriter



How to Work on More Than One Book at a Time: http://bit.ly/W8nyl9 @jamesscottbell



Writing Rules and Fantasy: Mary Sues: http://bit.ly/ZiWqO6 @VickyThinks



How to Get Your ISBN: http://bit.ly/W8OyRJ @MyBookShepherd



Why Science Fiction Poetry is Embarrassingly Bad: http://bit.ly/ZjvxJC @AmazingStories0



10 Movies That Make Writing Look Incredibly Dangerous: http://bit.ly/ZjwlOW @flavorpill



The Trouble With Adverbs: http://bit.ly/ZjwCRQ @woodwardkaren



Who should read your unpublished work? http://bit.ly/W8PKUY @rachellegardner



A Way To End Ebook Piracy? http://bit.ly/Zjx0zC



Using Ebook Covers to Brand an Author Across Genres: http://bit.ly/Zjxd62 @ddscottromcom



Ebook cover critiques: http://bit.ly/ZldhzD @jfbookman



Tips for writing subplots: http://bit.ly/16dzOFl @gointothesstory



9 Reasons Authors Still Choose Traditional Publishing: http://bit.ly/ZldKli @melissadonovan



5 things 1 self-pubbed writer has learned so far: http://bit.ly/16dzXbL @livewritethrive @SeanYeagerAdv



How to build a storyworld based on character: http://bit.ly/Zle1Vr @Onidroid



Breaking the Literary Atrophy: http://bit.ly/16dAeLN @chicklitgurrl71



How To Write More And Create A Daily Writing Habit: http://bit.ly/ZlejM7 @thecreativepenn








Cooking up a
culinary cozy mystery: http://bit.ly/YvINub
@JudyAlter




Classic Characters Whose Flaws Make Them Great: http://bit.ly/16dAp9N @BenClayborne



Details and Description—Getting the Facts Right: http://bit.ly/ZleuqG @noveleditor



Every Author Needs a Copyright Page: http://bit.ly/XYDRh5 @MyBookShepherd



Keep the Plot Taut: http://bit.ly/XFecOj @Lindasclare



Forcing readers to like characters--admiration: http://bit.ly/13tgXGB @mooderino



Think Like a Publisher 2013: Return on Investment: http://bit.ly/16dAFFV @deanwesleysmith



Translation Rights: http://bit.ly/ZleQ0o



Review on gerunds: http://bit.ly/16dAWZn @writing_tips



Tips for writing loglines: http://bit.ly/16dB8If @SHalvatzis



How Twitter lists help writers: http://bit.ly/Zlfawe @ninabadzin



5 Principles of Creativity: http://bit.ly/16dBmiB @Digitaltonto



10 modern horror masterpieces: http://bit.ly/Zlfn2t



Expertise vs. Humility – A Blogger's Battle Royale? http://bit.ly/16dBxub



Bookkeeping for writers: http://bit.ly/16dBBKj @bob_brooke



Screenwriters' roundtable: http://bit.ly/ZlfBa2 @gointothestory



The math of writing fast: http://bit.ly/lIVgw0 @deanwesleysmith



How to Build a Platform before You Finish Your Book: http://bit.ly/XYrXbc @grubwriters



Thomas Edison, Power-Napper: The Great Inventor on Sleep & Creative Success: http://bit.ly/YRx2hm @brainpicker



How to Use What Ifs While Revising: http://bit.ly/XYs46w @ava_jae



What 1 writer wishes he'd known about writing: http://bit.ly/YRxbBE @2bwriters



Tips for dumping info dumps: http://bit.ly/XYsrOn @CompulsionReads



Six sentence story planning for pantsers: http://bit.ly/YRxw7e @ajackwriting



Why Hunter S. Thompson Would've Loved Author Rank: http://bit.ly/XYsSbD @copyblogger



5 Ways to Revise Poems: http://bit.ly/YRxZWU @robertleebrewer



Promise of the Premise: http://bit.ly/XYtjmd @carrieryan



Five Ways to Use YouTube to Promote Your Book: http://bit.ly/XYtmhY @wherewriterswin



Rejection slip scrapbook: http://bit.ly/YRylwX @amazingstories0



Losing Sight of the Target: http://bit.ly/XYtwpm @StinaLL



Tips for dealing with rejection: http://bit.ly/YRysbD @angelaackerman



A dialogue exercise: http://bit.ly/YRyAbj @biljanalikic



English as a Foreign Language: http://bit.ly/XYtRbP



As Barnes & Noble shrinks, small bookstores are born: http://lat.ms/Zxgwrt @latimesbooks



Writing male characters--their reactions to grief: http://bit.ly/14LbLtP @lkblackburne



Plotting and Crafting Action Scenes: http://bit.ly/Zxhe83



Create a Table of Contents to Help Your Readers Navigate Your Book: http://bit.ly/15HpJiB @ninaamir



Successfully self-pubbed authors share 10 tips for finding more readers: http://bit.ly/12HBsA3 @LauraPepWu



The Aftermath of the Agency Model: http://bit.ly/12HBzM1 @pubperspectives



When you're told your story concept isn't "big enough": http://bit.ly/12HBJ5S @Julie_Gray



6 Publishing Trends That Benefit Readers & Authors: http://bit.ly/12HBU18 @mollygreene @tobywneal



3 Easy Ways to Better Dialogue: http://bit.ly/12HC1K9 @lindasclare



The Most Important Quality In Best Selling Authors: http://bit.ly/12HClZj @jodyhedlund



Want to write a book? Thoughts for starting out: http://bit.ly/15HqtEq @4YALit



Analyzing Story Structure: http://bit.ly/15HqxnB @woodwardkaren






Bad news for blog readers--Google Reader
to shutter on July 1:  http://bit.ly/16uISpr @Porter_Anderson
@dcseifert @mmasnick




How to Write a Character From Start to Finish: http://bit.ly/12HCyvt @BrianKlems



What to Expect When You're Expecting…to Be Published: http://bit.ly/12HCE6x @BoydMorrison



Tips for finding coffee shops that will let you sit and write for a while: http://bit.ly/12HCQmf @halophoenix @lifehacker



Tips for creating great characters: http://bit.ly/15HqSql @HookedOnNoir



Writing Gender-Specific Dialogue: http://bit.ly/12HD6BB @writersdigest



Discovery is Publishers' Problem; Readers are Doing Just Fine: http://bit.ly/15Hr0WN @glecharles



How to deal with your moments of despair as a writer: http://bit.ly/12HDgsH @ajackwriting



"'Used Ebooks' Hurts My Brain": http://bit.ly/15HQ6oE @readingape



10 tips for drawing readers to your website: http://bit.ly/12IiY2e @authormedia



A look at the school and library marketing part of the industry: http://bit.ly/12IjbSY @alexbracken



Enemies of the art--failure to focus: http://bit.ly/15HQp2D @kristenlambTX



Is "Discoverability" Even A Problem? http://bit.ly/15HWVXm @bsandusky



Awkwardly charming: Thomas Hardy and the strangeness of bad writing that is somehow good: http://slate.me/12IuJFU @slate



5 Unexpected Tips For Self-Pubbed Authors to Find Success: http://bit.ly/XkG39i @digibookworld



Recipe for a Successful Synopsis: http://bit.ly/14PsQmb @jamigold



Is Your Agent an Asset? http://bit.ly/XkGAbh @behlerpublish



3 Tips for Strengthening Narrative Descriptions: http://bit.ly/14Pt7FU @lkhillbooks



FREE Books: Bane or Boon? http://bit.ly/XkH0OR @SusanKayeQuinn



8 Ways To Fix Online Review Systems: http://bit.ly/14PtBvN @scottmarlowe



What is Wattpad? And how can it help me as a self-published author? http://bit.ly/YpaK6J @bibliocrunch



5 Questions to Ask When Writing Content: http://bit.ly/13QQdjl @jeffbullas



5 Steps to Boost eBook Sales - Listening to Readers: http://huff.to/YpaW61 @markcoker



Why self-publishing authors should think "foreign rights" from the outset: http://bit.ly/13QQiDu @SueCollier



Tips for Twitter newbies: http://bit.ly/13QQMti @blurbisaverb @teconklin



How to write a novel: http://bit.ly/13QR03A @salon @carytennis



Supernatural Horror In Literature: http://bit.ly/Ypc7lS @amazingstories0



Don't be Afraid of Embarrassing Your Grandmother: http://bit.ly/13QR837 @americanediting



On Writing, Christopher Walken and Finding Your 'Wild Thing': http://bit.ly/13QRcji @JudyLeeDunn



6 Tips To Creating A Writing Partnership That Works: http://bit.ly/Ypce0V @goodinaroom



Boost Creativity and Enhance Your Sleep with These Lucid Dreaming Techniques: http://bit.ly/YpcgpB @lifehacker



Building a Street Team: http://bit.ly/XI6rId @EArroyo5 @janice_hardy



3 Quick Ways to Find Hidden Guest Blogging Opportunities: http://bit.ly/XI6vaJ @copyblogger



The Modifier Zone: http://bit.ly/YanIpY @jgetzler



Examples of a coming-of-age theme in fiction: http://bit.ly/10ypp6O @mkinberg



Why noir remains popular today: http://bit.ly/15HoGza @mkinberg



Did Amazon Change Algorithms to Protect Their Readers? The 10,000 Gatekeepers of KDP Select: http://bit.ly/15HpBjc @edwrobertson



Proper Nouns, Pronouns, and Antecedents--a Review: http://bit.ly/12I0Y89 @authorterryo



AWP con: it's become MFA-Con: http://bit.ly/XkJs7Z @Porter_Anderson



March Madness for mystery lovers: http://augustwainwright.com/ @acwainwright



Random House ebook imprints with 'predatory' contracts: http://bit.ly/YpavZr @Porter_Anderson @JamesScottBell @VictoriaStrauss



How to use email to preview your eBook files on an iPad: http://bit.ly/13QSuLo @bibliocrunch @miralsattar




Traditional mystery writers--make the
amateur sleuth's involvement believable: http://bit.ly/ZKTBGQ
@sharonwhopkins


A POV overview: http://bit.ly/XX3qiv @p2p_editor

Cooking Up a Culinary Cozy--Guest Post by Judy Alter

by Judy Alter, @JudyAlter



In another life, I’d probably be a chef. I love being a writer, but cooking is my avocation. I like nothing better than to try out a new recipe on company—usually it works fine, though there have been disasters. But I am known as the “foodie” among my friends. Everyone laughed that I made the protagonist in my Kelly O’Connell Mystery series a non-cook who fed her children pizza or took them out for turkey burgers.


I always wanted to write a culinary mystery, but who can match the inimitable Diane Mott Davidson with her sophisticated and tempting recipes? I have a friend who has tried some and reports delicious results. But in my new Blue Plate Café Mystery series I have reached a compromise—a culinary touch to a cozy mystery set in a small town. Only this is not sophisticated cooking; it’s strictly down home.


Two threads from my life are woven into this café-based series: for almost twenty years, my children and I spent lovely weekends with dear friends who owned Arc Ridge Ranch, outside of Ben Wheeler in near East Texas. Sometimes we went to the nearby town of Edom to a café called The Shed for dinner. The Saturday night special was always fried catfish, and they had a mean lemon meringue pie. Breakfasts were equally tempting, and I can still mentally put myself inside that small restaurant.


But the other thread was cooking at the ranch with Reva, or as my children called her Aunt Reva. Reva was a great, down-home cook, a Missouri farm girl transplanted to Texas. She and I were a terrific kitchen team, though mostly I learned from her as we put together huge feasts. We made everything from pot roast and mashed potatoes to barbecued chicken and potato salad. We  tossed salads and created wonderful desserts. Each of us contributed recipes and ideas. If one of the children got lucky and caught a sizeable bass in the lake in front of their house, we cooked that (after Uncle Charles cleaned it).


Arc Ridge Ranch was a B&B with several two-bedroom cabins, complete with kitchens. Reva stocked the fridges for breakfast with orange juice and usually her famous prune bread (secret recipe—she wouldn’t even share it with me). Most guests were on their own for lunch and dinner, but we were family, and those dinners on the front porch, overlooking the lake, stand out as among the happiest, most peaceful moments in my life.


By the time I compiled a cookbook, Cooking My Way Through Life with Kids and Books, Reva had left us, but I had enough of her recipes to include them along with a tribute to our happy days at the ranch. Charles even gave me the treasured prune bread recipe.


Murder at the Blue Plate Café, the brand new first in the series, has a short appendix of recipes, all from Gram who ran the Blue Plate until her death. But Gram’s recipes are really Reva’s—chicken salad, meatloaf, beans, sheet cake (over which we had endless arguments: she called it sheath cake and I maintained it was a sheet cake because it was baked on a jelly roll sheet). Here’s a new one, her recipe for Toffee Bars, sent to me one year so I could serve it at my annual Christmas party:



Toffee Bars

½ lb. (2 sticks) butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg yolk
2 c. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
1 c. chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350° and grease a 9x13 pan.


Cream butter and sugar. Add the egg yolk and beat. Sift in the flour and then add the vanilla. Spread the batter in the pan—it will be difficult to cover all the corners; you’ll have a thick batter that you will probably have to spread by hand, and then it will be thinly distributed. Bake for 25 minutes.
Take the cake out of the oven, cover it with chocolate chips, and return to the oven for three minutes. When you remove it from the oven this time, smooth the chocolate evenly with the blade of a table knife and sprinkle with nuts. Cool.


Makes about thirty pieces, depending on how you cut them.



About Judy Alter:



An award-winning novelist, Judy Alter is the author of three books in the Kelly O’Connell Mysteries series: Skeleton in a Dead Space, No Neighborhood for Old Women, and Trouble in a Big Box. With Murder at the Blue Plate Café, she moves from inner city Fort Worth to small-town East Texas to create a new set of characters in a setting modeled after a restaurant that was for years one of her family’s favorites.


Contact Judy at j.alter@tcu.edu  or visit her web page at www.judyalter.com.
Blogs: Judy’s Stew http://www.blogspot.com and Potluck with Judy http://potluckwithjudy.blogspot.com.



Murder at the Blue Plate Café:





When twin sisters Kate and Donna inherit their grandmother’s restaurant, the Blue Plate Cafe, in Wheeler, Texas, there’s immediate conflict. Donna wants to sell and use her money to establish a B&B; Kate wants to keep the cafe. Thirty-two-year-old Kate leaves a Dallas career as a paralegal and a married lover to move back to Wheeler and run the café, while Donna plans her B&B and complicates her life by having an affair with her sole investor. Kate soon learns that Wheeler is not the idyllic small town she thought it was fourteen years ago. The mayor, a woman, is power-mad and listens to no one, and the chief of the police department, newly come from Dallas, doesn’t understand small-town ways. Kate’s suspicion about her grandmother’s sudden death deepens when the mayor of Wheeler becomes seriously ill after eating food from the café, delivered by Donna’s husband.  When Donna’s investor is shot, she is arrested. Kate must defend her sister and solve the murders to keep her business open, but even Kate begins to wonder about the sister she has a love-hate relationship with. Gram guides Kate through it all, though Kate’s never quite sure she’s hearing Gram—and sometimes Gram’s guidance is really off the wall.


Read an excerpt here: http://www.judyalter.com
Amazon/KIndle: http://tinyurl.com/aakef9d
Turquoise Morning Press: http://tinyurl.com/agueko9
Available for most e-readers at Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/286301
Print available from your local bookseller, Amazon or Turquoise Morning Press

Thoughts on Unreliable Narrators

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig





I'll write this post from a reader perspective since I haven't used unreliable narrrators in my books, and I'll keep the post general so there won't be any spoilers.



I just finished reading a book where the narrator was unreliable throughout the book. Although reading books with unreliable narrators can be a lot of fun, this book was honestly kind of tiring for me. I kept looking for signs that the narrator was believable...or wasn't.  (Narrator was an alcoholic.) It made for an interesting read, but it wasn't what I'd call relaxing.  (Is the narrator drunk now?  Is the narrator in denial? Is the narrator sober?)



Usually, I'm fonder of situations when I think the narrator is reliable and find out later that they're not.  Otherwise, I spend a lot of the book trying to figure out who I can believe.



When it may be easier to get away with an unreliable narrator (without frustrating the reader):



When the narrator is unreliable because of age, species, etc..  Readers understand that children are looking at the world from a different perspective. I've read books where animals narrated.  I've read books where persons with mental challenges narrated.  Readers understand  these narrators view the world through a different lens.



When you use clues.  If you're using an unreliable narrator who readers think is reliable, but actually isn't, I'd advise sticking in plenty of clues that that's the case.  It's fun to have the wool pulled over your eyes (a few movies and a couple of mysteries come to mind), but it's no fun to be completely tricked.  It feels like cheating on the writer's part if there are no small hints that the narrator is unreliable.



When the book is written from a first person POV.  Then it seems less of an authorial manipulation and more of the character being sneaky or deceptive. In fact, it may be even easier to drop those clues to the narrator's unreliability when the story is written in this POV.



When the narrator is consistent.  That can mean consistently unreliable, as long as they're not hopping back and forth through the whole story.  They can even be consistent when they grow or change as characters, as long as the impetus for the change is believable.



When you don't reveal the narrator's unreliability immediately in the story (although, as mentioned above, you'll need to sprinkle in clues so it's fair to the reader.)  We can probably all think of books or movies that end up with a major plot twist at the end of the story when it's revealed the narrator is a ghost-murderer-lunatic-etc.



If the narrator is likeable.  As a reader, I'll put up with even an inconsistent, confusing, mess-of-an-unreliable narrator if he's likeable...or at least interesting.



In some respects, all narrators are unreliable.  We all approach life with our backstories influencing our perceptions.  If it's done well, unreliable narrators can really add an unexpected and fun element to a story.



Have you ever used an unreliable narrator? Do you enjoy reading books that feature them?  Any thoughts about pulling it off well?





Image: MorgueFile--Schick

Voice Recording as a Writing Tool

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig



Sometimes the whole world seems to work against your getting any writing done.



You know the kinds of weeks or months I’m talking about.  The story doesn’t cooperate. Your schedule goes haywire with unexpected stuff popping up.  Kids come home sick from school.  There are activities all hours of the day and night.



So we keep plugging on, writing when we can.  But sometimes we want to try to make up for lost time.



I’m a big proponent of don’t try to catch up.  Start each day trying to reach that day’s goal, not the day before or the week before, or all the other goals you’ve missed.  Just focus on the goal of the day—you’re not behind.



But some days, I still want to try to make up for less-productive days.  I’ll squeeze in writing when I can.



I’ve gotten to the point where it’s less-often that I try new ways to approach writing.  But sometimes I run across ideas that work better than expected.



I’ve used voice recorders in the past to talk through plots or record ideas on the go (sometimes literally on the go as I  drive long car trips.)  But I’ve never actually used them to dictate my story before.



I have used voice recognition software and still use it from time to time when my carpal tunnel acts up.  I did find, though, that it trips up over my Southern accent sometimes and it distracts me when I see the words coming up wrong on the screen.  I did use the Southern accent setting on the software and I have trained it to recognize words that it’s missed before—but it wasn’t perfect, just a helpful tool when I’ve got a messed-up arm (which happens more often than I’d like.)  At the price (I purchased Dragon, Naturally Speaking for around $50), you could give it a try and see what you think.



When I don’t have any carpal tunnel issues, I’m a very fast typist.  For some reason, it didn’t occur to me to dictate my stories to transcribe, myself, later—until I read a post by writer Katie Ganshert recently: “The Secret to Writing Fast and Furious.”



As Katie put it:

The beautiful thing about this method is that it completely silences the dreaded internal editor.

There’s no back space. There’s no flashing cursor. There’s no blank page. There’s no critical little man sitting on your shoulder, reading each sentence while tutting and shaking his head.

There’s just a red record button.

Katie was able to dictate 25,000 words in three days, using a voice recorder and then typing the results.



My numbers were lower than Katie’s, but still pretty good for supplementary writing.  I averaged about 1,000 words in only minutes before I needed to run off and do a carpool or go to an appointment.  Since I was supplementing writing I’d already done that day, it just added to my word count.



Now, my internal editor was still present, unfortunately. Not only did she make me say, “Scratch that,” about three or four times each recording, but she also told me that my Southern accent stood out particularly strong when I was recorded (my teenage son hastened to agree with my internal editor.)  But I’ve managed to ignore the internal editor and continue on.



I don’t use this method every day.  But I’ve found that if I use it several times a week, it’s really pumped up my word count.  Interestingly enough, I tend to make minor corrections (stronger verbs, better diction) when I type in the dictation…so I guess, in a way, I’m editing as I go when I use this method.



I use a free app that I downloaded on my phone.  My phone is always with me (moms are the world’s emergency contacts), so I’ve always got my voice recorder with me. 



Have you ever used either voice recognition software or voice recorders?  What other methods have you used to increase your word count?

Twitterific

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 19,000 free articles on writing related
topics. It's the search engine for writers.

Sign up for our free newsletter for monthly writing tips and interviews with top contributors to the WKB or like us on Facebook. 



Mike Fleming is working with author and writing coach James Scott Bell to offer an online, interactive, writing program to help make your next novel great. It's called "Knockout Novel" and you can learn more about it at KnockoutNovel.com. Plus, all the data is stored in your Hiveword account for easy access.



A free directory of cover designers, formatters, freelance editors, and more: http://bit.ly/nolbXq



3 Ways to Add Tension During Revisions: http://bit.ly/ZEwWAx @janice_hardy



What it Means When Someone Tries to Tell You THE Rules of Good Writing: http://bit.ly/XyUsM8 @io9



Stitching Your Scenes Together with Transitions: http://bit.ly/XXUObp @howtowriteshop



Shout Your Author Message… With a Whisper: http://bit.ly/XyUBPG @thehrgoddess



Options for Dilemmas in a Sequel: http://bit.ly/XXUUQm @kmweiland



3 ways your novel might carry unwanted junk: http://bit.ly/XXUYzG @dirtywhitecandy



The State of a Genre Title, 2013: http://bit.ly/XXV5er @scalzi



Digital Comics Are Getting Cheaper: http://bit.ly/XXVbCJ @PublishersWkly



How EBook Readers Shop And The Importance Of Sampling: http://bit.ly/XyVjMV @thecreativepenn



Plot Grids: http://bit.ly/XXVnC5 @KarenMusings



Yes, Past Tense Narrators Can Still Die: http://bit.ly/XyW0FZ @chihuahuazero



The Rules of Writing: http://bit.ly/XXVUEf



Stand-alones vs. series: http://bit.ly/XyWfkm @mistymassey



Improve Your Focus by Fidgeting: http://bit.ly/XXWdyT @lifehacker



Rethink Cover Design for a Small, Small World: http://bit.ly/XyWM5P @ElleLothlorien



Extensive vs. Minimal: What is Your World Building Coming To? http://bit.ly/XXWr99 @The_Drill99



Think Like a Publisher: Production and Scheduling: http://bit.ly/XyWWKz @deanwesleysmith



Simplifying the Story Question: http://bit.ly/XYD0Nu @SHalvatzis



The Table Theory of Characterization: http://bit.ly/XYD67C @RyanHowse



The case of the celibate detectives: http://bit.ly/XzYcNq @salon



What agents are doing these days: http://bit.ly/XYDtyY @rachellegardner



The 10 Worst Types of Critique Partnershttp://bit.ly/XYDIKt @donnacooner



Every Author Needs a Copyright Page: http://bit.ly/XYDRh5 @MyBookShepherd



5 Ways To Take Your Writing Farther: http://bit.ly/XzZ9pc @thecreativepenn



Penguin Art Director Giuseppe Castellano on his relationship with editorial: http://bit.ly/XzZp7t @pinocastellano



On writers' power to move readers: http://bit.ly/XYEkjn @BeccaPuglisi



A homonym review: http://bit.ly/XzZYyf



Tips for correcting stilted dialogue: http://bit.ly/XA08Ws @LynDeeWalker



Challenges and choices facing self-pubbed authors: http://bit.ly/XA0hcj @livewritethrive



What 1 publisher looks for in translation projects and translation challenges in the US: http://bit.ly/XA0CvL @pubperspectives



Closing the Gap: Moving from Notebook to Story: http://bit.ly/XYJYSp @SJacksonRodgers



6 Ways to Evoke Emotion in Poetry and Prose: http://bit.ly/YgLj75 @AJWagoner



Description tips: http://bit.ly/VwtIhl @cockeyedcaravan



7 Tips for creating a PowerPoint Presentation: http://bit.ly/YgLsrf @nicolebasaraba



How SF Can Highlight Our Historical Bias: http://bit.ly/134Uijn @MattMitrovich



Improve Your Writing By Eliminating Redundancies: http://bit.ly/Xb2fjP @melissadonovan



Verbal Deprivation: http://bit.ly/YXRw8W @pprmint777



Scrivener and yWriter: why 1 writer uses neither: http://bit.ly/Xb2FXj @janelebak



10 tips for marketing your book release: http://bit.ly/YXRNsp+|+Duolit%29 @danasitar



When the Writing Life Finds You: http://bit.ly/YXRTQY



What's Your Character Aiming For? http://bit.ly/Xb2YBs @AimeeLSalter



5 Edits to Strengthen Your Writing, Right Now: http://bit.ly/YXS2nl @janice_hardy



Bleak stories can be as consoling as self-help: http://bit.ly/YXXJlp @guardianbooks



Upside of Distraction: http://nyti.ms/Xb8qVd @nytimes



Who's on your team? http://bit.ly/YXY8UH @JaelMchenry



English literature's 50 key moments from Marlowe to JK Rowling: http://bit.ly/Xb8ELR @guardianbooks



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Writing the Historically Accurate Novel

Guest Post by Charles Brokaw




Re-writing History: Uncovering The Oracle Code



Writing an adventure novel based on ancient mysteries is a great way to bring together historical realities with exciting characters and a thrilling plot. The newest addition to the Thomas Lourdes series, The Oracle Code , required a great deal of research exploring some history’s most mysterious myths regarding Alexander the Great and the truths, questions and the skepticisms, all of which have been battled over by historians for years.



Using primary and secondary sources, I wanted to explore these myths even more and take what is known to be true and build on it.



Beginning With The Atlantis Code



Every book in the Thomas Lourdes series begins with some real-life event or bit of historical information. For example, The Atlantis Code, the first in the Thomas Lourdes series, was based on historical information about the lost city of Atlantis. In the summer of 2004, satellite photography showed artificial formations of land that displayed a near identical description of Atlantis. The formations were discovered in one of Spain’s great national parks, in the city of Cadiz. The odds of excavating the finds were pretty small although the inability to dig and the uncertainty of the pieced-together information only fueled our fire. We wanted to know more. We wanted to uncover the lost city of Atlantis.



In researching and documenting all of the information that we discovered, our research team began to imagine what it would be like if the satellite imagery did in fact turn out to be Atlantis. We also thought the idea of hidden ancient code was fascinating—inevitably leading to the first addition to the Thomas Lourdes series, The Atlantis Code.



An Archaeological Journey Continued…



The disappearance of the tomb of Alexander the Great is one of the greatest archaeological mysteries to date and is a subject that piques my interest to no end. As a writer and academic fascinated by history, Alexander’s accomplishments in such a short-lived time have far surpassed any man to follow, leading me to question the very existence of the oracle and what role she played in Alexander’s divine existence and bitter end



Reading and reviewing each historical document pronouncing the mishaps of his early death has led archaeologists and historians alike to question the disappearance of his tomb that stood for centuries, untouched, in a sacred area of ancient Greece. This automatically begs the question, “Does the tomb of Alexander the Great and the oracle of Delphi’s secret still survive?”



An ancient scroll holding its location was said to materialize in Afghanistan. In writing The Oracle Code, a friend of mine along with a crew of researchers followed me on my journey to gain a deeper understanding of the Afghan culture—the food, clothing, trade routes and location where each scene took place.

 

Herat, Afghanistan—the location of the dig and one of the main cities in which the book takes place has an extensive history, dating back to the ancient times. Its location on the ancient trade routes of the Middle East, and Central and South Asia made Herat a vital city to research, especially when looking into the disappearance of Alexander the Great.



Without giving the story away, I welcome you to read The Oracle Code and to allow your mind to travel to a land that is not often associated with buried treasure and yet holds endless mysteries under the sand. By piecing historical data with conjectures, will you be able to discover what might have happened to the tomb of Alexander the Great and the Oracle of Delphi.



Charles Brokaw is a pseudonym for an author, academic, and college educator living in the Midwest. He’s had a rich and varied life, and is fascinated by history, human accomplishment, and archeology.