Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 16

January 7, 2024

The Magic of Metaphor

A quick look our everyday language indicates that metaphor is an essential part of our casual conversations. Metaphors roll off our tongues as easily as, well, falling off a log.

Consider the following:

Negotiations between the company and the union are now on thin ice.

That salesman’s promises seem hollow.

After her accident my sister feels a bit fragile.

I haven’t golfed for a while and my game’s really rusty.

Metaphor pervades our everyday speech without our even consciously thinking about it. Think of the many ways we use parts of the human body as metaphors: we speak of the arm of the law; the eye of a storm; the mouth of a river; the foot of the bed; the hands of a clock; the legs of a chair.

Or consider how we describe ideas by using food as a metaphor, so that we say, “What you said in our argument left a bad taste in my mouth,” or “He spoke so fast it was hard to digest it all,” or, “His denial of global warming consists of some pretty half-baked ideas.”

Since we use metaphor frequently in our everyday speech, it’s no surprise that we also use metaphor pervasively in our writing. Metaphor is not just a device to spice up our poetry or prose, or an ornament to make our writing more colorful. Metaphor is a basic tool of comprehension, a strategic instrument of understanding.

We’ve all experienced the feeling that the most effective way to say what we mean is by way of a metaphor; at times the quickest route of comprehension goes through the detour of metaphor. That’s probably what Emily Dickinson meant when she said, “Tell all the truth but tell it slant / Success in circuit lies.”

One of the amazing things about metaphor is that out of the many possible associations a metaphor can evoke, the mind—like a chicken pecking the wheat and leaving the chaff— automatically tends to select the right comparisons and rejects the irrelevant associations. In fact, we’re so used to hearing metaphors that we immediately intuit the figurative, rather than the literal, meaning.

If metaphor is indeed a basic means of comprehension that lies at the heart of the way in which we communicate, how can we use it more effectively in our writing? What, precisely, does metaphor do for our writing? I will mention five advantages of metaphor, which I will illustrate with examples. And I will offer examples from a variety of literary forms—poetry, fiction, drama—to illustrate the variety of literary genres in which metaphor can be used. (As you’ve seen, I include simile under the larger heading of metaphor).

1.Metaphor compresses, compacts, condenses, allowing us to say a great deal in a few words. When Robert Burns says, “O my luve is like a red, red rose,” our minds immediately intuit a number of associations for the poet’s lady: she is beautiful, fresh, fragrant, natural, healthy, passionate—the rose is not “yellow” or “white,” not even just “red,” but “red, red.” Maybe, even, if you think of thorns, she exudes a hint of danger.

2.Metaphor allows us to express intense emotion without resorting to the twin dangers of abstraction or sentimentality. When Macbeth is informed, in Act V of the play, that Lady Macbeth is dead, he states, “She should have died hereafter,” and laments:

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more.

All the metaphors running through this passage work powerfully to convey to us Macbeth’s emotions regarding the brevity of life and his realization that after his murderous drive for power life is meaningless. Through the metaphors, Shakespeare avoids an abstract polemic on this topic. The passage also illustrates well the writing principle for fiction that if your character’s emotions are extremely strong at a given moment, it is usually best not to describe the emotions directly.

3. Metaphor allows us to describe a character in fiction in a way that allows the writer to obey the mantra “show, don’t tell.” When Flannery O’Connor, in her story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” says of the children’s mother that she had “a face as round and innocent as a cabbage,” the metaphor not only describes the character physically, it conveys a distinct attitude towards the mother as well. As Janet Burroway points out in her book Writing Fiction, “a soccer ball is also round and innocent; so is a schoolroom globe; so is a streetlamp. But if the mother’s face had been as round and innocent as any of these things, she would be a different woman altogether.” Now, with the metaphor of a cabbage, O’Connor suggests qualities of a countrywoman, of heaviness, of innocence and perhaps of a lack of intelligence. In other words, a judgment about the character is being conveyed. But the reader draws the judgement, rather than feeling the author is being judgmental or harsh.

Similarly, notice how Washington Irving uses metaphor to describe Ichabod Crane in his classic short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”:

He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for shovels, and his whole frame most loosely hung together. His head was small, and flat at top, with huge ears, large green glassy eyes, and a long snipe nose, so that it looked like a weathercock, perched upon his spindle neck, to tell which way the wind blew.

Clearly, the tone Irving conveys here through metaphor and hyperbole is comic satire.

A similar use of metaphor and hyperbole, although in a much kinder and gentler tone, is Anne Tyler’s memorable characterization of a woman in her novel The Beginner’s Goodbye: “An aging girl, was what she was, and had been from earliest childhood. Her shoes were Mary Janes, as flat as scows in order to minimize her height. Her elbows jutted like coat hangers, and her legs descended as straight as reeds to her Ping-Pong-ball anklebones.”

In short, metaphor is an effective means of both describing a fictional character, and of shaping the reader’s response to that character as well.

4. Metaphor allows us to illustrate or explain a complex thought or an abstract idea. For instance, in order for us to understand the complex phenomenon of a cause creating an effect, which in turn becomes a cause that creates an effect, which again in its turn becomes a cause creating an effect, we use the appropriate metaphor of a “domino effect.” Many complex ideas in the natural sciences are explained by way of metaphor. Eighteenth century science, for example, explained the complex relationship that exists between a Prime Mover, humankind, and the natural world as a “clockwork mechanism.”

5. Metaphor gives us delight, usually because of the element of surprise at the unlikeness, yet the likeness, of the two things being compared. Think again of the delightful metaphors in some of the examples above. The poetry of seventeenth-century poet John Donne is filled with such ingenious comparisons, as in his poem “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning.”

One of the more delightful poems I’ve received from my creative writing students is the following poem “Catlife.” Read it and you will be delightfully startled by its surprising comparison:

The life I leave when I see you

bides its time with an arched back,

waits with expectant eyes,

broods with a twitching tail.

The life I see when I leave you

lies in a weary gray lump,

limply resists picking up,

and lands feet up when dropped.

In closing, let me suggest a number of writing exercises that use metaphor as an effective means of communicating. (On the internet, look up the poems I mention).

1.Write a poem which is unified through a single extended metaphor, as in Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” or Linda Pastan’s poem “Jump Cabling.”

2. Write a poem which contains a number of metaphors for one thing, as in Mark Irwin’s “Icicles,” or in Sylvia Plath’s “Metaphors”—be forewarned: Plath’s poem is a complex riddle! See if you can solve it. A hint: count the number of lines, and the number of syllables in each line. (Feel free to email me for the answer if you don’t see it and you’re feeling extremely exasperated: hughcook212@gmail.com).

3. In a novel or a short story you’re writing, use original metaphor to describe one of your characters, or to indicate authorial tone towards that character, be that tone critical, satirical, or gentle and kind.

4. Write a poem or a piece of prose that explores the metaphoric possibilities within a color. Write down all the emotional associations that the color evokes. For example, red suggests anger, passion, heat, and so on. Consider, for instance, how Nathanel Hawthorne uses these associations to describe Hester Prynne in his classic novel The Scarlet Letter. The color white suggests purity, emptiness, blankness, and so on. Think of how powerfully Herman Melville discusses associations of the color white in “The Whiteness of the Whale” chapter in his great novel Moby-Dick. Don’t be afraid to include your very personal associations with the color; then write a poem or a piece of prose that incorporates these associations.

5. In the script of a play, have one of the characters express deep feeling, not by naming the feeling, but by using metaphor.

Hugh Cook holds an MFA in fiction writing from the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa. He has published two books of short stories and two novels. Readers can obtain his recent novel Heron River at

Amazon and at Barnes and Noble . Send him a query at hughcook212@gmail.com.

The Magic of Metaphor and How to Use it by @HughCook_ca
Click To Tweet

Image by Joe from Pixabay

The post The Magic of Metaphor appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on January 07, 2024 21:01

January 6, 2024

LitLinks

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.

Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB on Facebook here.

My apologies for the uncategorized and unformatted tweets below! Everything should be back to normal next Sunday!

Universal’s Sophie Kaplan: ‘A Real Symbiosis’ With Publishers: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/INUcSqU1TO @pubperspectives #wkb88

Common Mistakes Freelancers Make Early in Their Careers: https://t.co/pgNbBb5Bei @RobynRoste #wkb8b

Never. Give. Up. https://t.co/W6TbgKHD3K by Reavis Wortham @killzoneauthors #wkb31

Tips to Help You Find Your Fiction Story’s Theme: https://t.co/M1CagEMRbm @lornafaith #wkb2d

How to Write a Quality First Draft: https://t.co/334WSO3liT @KrystalNCraiker #wkb26

Selling Is Not A Dirty Word: https://t.co/lSa2yma67a by Jodi M. Webb #wkb87

Why Novelists Should Embrace Artificial Intelligence: https://t.co/24mJzcOh77 by Debbie Urbanski @lithub #wkb31

Universal’s Sophie Kaplan: ‘A Real Symbiosis’ With Publishers: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/INUcSqU1TO @PubPerspectives #wkb88

Rushdie’s Alleged Attacker’s Trial Postponed for Book Release: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/2aI9VtobEC @pubperspectives #wkb88

My Experience Writing a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Book: https://t.co/CaEBwwIGTa @egrissom #wkb31

Metaphysical Elements in Fiction Writing: https://t.co/9pjg6oKhVt @JanSikes3 @storyempire #wkb89

German Book Market Report: A ‘Mixed Performance’ in 2023: @porter_anderson https://t.co/4ZFvUnSR1t @pubperspectives #wkb64

Writer Self-Care: https://t.co/KqZyovU5Sh @KMAllan_writer #wkb31

AI: Copyright Challenges Now Include a New York Times Lawsuit: @porter_anderson https://t.co/5kkuYMZTJg #wkb88

Starting a Series? https://t.co/M7Q9ywrGdF @annehawkinson @floridawriters1 #wkb15

How to Write a Detective: https://t.co/klKMVQ65pJ @MandSMagazine #wkb44

Germany’s ‘Buchreport’ Trade Publication Closed in Harenberg Bankruptcy: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/UBhQK7ZAvn @pubperspectives #wkb64

Finding the Cozy Spaces and Fantastical Architecture of SFF: https://t.co/mi8vDg8zUy @mollytempleton #wkb3b

Crafting My Sweet Spot: Writing the Villain: https://t.co/Kty7Lz3d4B @YasAWriter @writerunboxed #wkb5

How to Handle Those Pesky Stressors Every Writer Battles: https://t.co/HjELCx26QE @LarryJLeechII #wkb31

Germany’s Book Market: A ‘Mixed Performance’ in 2023: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/4ZFvUnSR1t @pubperspectives #wkb64

Is Your Chapter Length Affecting Your Novel’s Pacing? https://t.co/95hs6TJB3K by Rebecca Moody #wkb89

Have You Discovered These Two New Excellent WordPress Features? And Where Have Reusable Blocks Gone? https://t.co/Jo3yZFb2jQ @HughRoberts05 #wkb72

Choosing Your Voice: https://t.co/iFIwo9B6Y5 @Clea_Simon @careerauthors #wkbe

The Project Plan for Publishing Books: https://t.co/wJB1IQxLhW by Cassie Deakin #wkb69

Description Is More than Just What it Looks Likeâ€: https://t.co/vBRgdCs47D @janice_hardy #wkb90

The Writing Craft: Member Berries = Not Good: https://t.co/78qT3dyJmz @virgilante @storyempire #wkb89

Five SF Stories Set in High-Rises, Tower Blocks, and Buildings of Unusual Size: https://t.co/OaJrVbS6Wq @jamesdnicoll @tordotcom #wkb3b

How Your Choices Determine If You Fulfill Your Writing Purpose: https://t.co/POS8nYnVdV @ninaamir #wkb31

Seven SFF Stories Featuring Rebellions Big and Small: https://t.co/BkU4guqFyn by Ratika Deshpande @tordotcom #wkb3b

A mostly smooth introduction to an omniscient voice (page critique): https://t.co/h9hKXZiXxV @nathanbransford #wkb8

Is there a place in your WIP for a moment of FBOBA? : The Fragile Beauty of Being Alive: https://t.co/NbVLEH8Sp2 @DonMaass @writerunboxed #wkb89

The Marathon of Novel-Writing: https://t.co/cIV0l3APau @JenKellandPerry #wkb31

4 Ways To Add Length To Your Novels: https://t.co/OL8JK83dhs @StephMorrill @goteenwriters #wkb89

Character Type and Trope Thesaurus: Bad Boy: https://t.co/aOCCSXFBU5 @beccapuglisi @onestop4writers #wkb1

How to find time for book promotion: https://t.co/oYo0SznHGX @sandrabeckwith #wkb87

Believe in your unique creative voice: https://t.co/oHnsNkY2YY @danblank @wegrowmedia #wkb32

Publishers and Booksellers Oppose Sri Lanka’s Book Tax Hike: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/QlBqy8tXid @pubperspectives #wkb64

Boost Your Bottom Line and Sell More Books: https://t.co/aJcH72Mtgx by Tammy Burke @davidfarland #wkb87

Why deadlines drive productivity: https://t.co/XgErzHBpzz @pubcoach #wkb30

Does foreshadowing create anticipation and suspense (and refocus the audience’s attention on what’s important)? https://t.co/oUqCvMlwts @cockeyedcaravan #wkb48

Start the next one today: https://t.co/4oT2Qphm9i @spressfield #wkb31

How to Do a Simple Poetry Mandala: https://t.co/A5BITwh4Le @tspoetry #wkb47

US Court Blocks Book-Banning Elements of Iowa Law: https://t.co/BvVnsJey82 @Porter_Anderson #wkb88

Five Characters Neglected By Their Story: https://t.co/pkmFYmbKsK by Oren Ashkenazi #wkb14

“I Need A Hero!” How to Level Up Your Protagonist: https://t.co/7lIdsXYKmS by Brian Andrews @careerauthors #wkb4

Should a Writer Use First Person or Third Person? https://t.co/BiXq9Bptz2 @SarahSallyHamer @ediemelson #wkb89

Worldbuilding 101 for Writers: Write Without Breaking Your World’s Rules: https://t.co/ShhcG5SahM @ACW_Author @ediemelson #wkb12

Writing Out of Season: https://t.co/PKy9ULKXhL @MaeClair1@storyempire #wkb90

Surviving the Long Haul: Writing for Life: https://t.co/PAOQ4aWZcz @shutta #wkb31

Why Picture Book Authors Make the Best Marketers: https://t.co/MfrRnCmK1Y @MrsTornetto @WritersRumpus #wkb87

How Much Do We Really Know About Charles Dickens? https://t.co/vMwRnHQ8sd by Helena Kelly @crimereads #wkb31

What Authors Need to Know to Avoid Vital Front Matter Booboos: https://t.co/htqK4mPfMJ @FrugalBookPromo #wkb88

Writer’s Fears: What Am I Doing? https://t.co/qVeReSUkU4 @MorganHzlwood #wkb31

5 Expert Money Management Tips to Prep for Tax Season: https://t.co/bzRkKrGYa1 @quiettypeblog #wkb8c

“The Basic Book Launch Marketing Checklist: https://t.co/YchBvGz4hp @KMAllan_writer

Some tips to help you improve your writing style: https://t.co/pjR38hwX1G from Sara’s Writing Tips #wkb89

The Two Elements of Point of View: https://t.co/Kq4xrRp9eW @karencv #wkb10

The figurative language of Ann Patchett: https://t.co/NNKmphp6g6 @pubcoach #wkb89

How to find your voice for your self-help book: https://t.co/okOyVFF0Cs @_GinnyCarter #wkb49

How to Read (and Retain) Research Material in Less than Half of Your Usual Time: https://t.co/KP2F8hLYM7 by Thelma Fayle @JaneFriedman #wkb1f

Tips for Writing a Successful Story Climax: https://t.co/oTYJgYgeWO @beccapuglisi @onestop4writers #wkb89

Avoiding Syntax Errors: https://t.co/PVSoJMILcD by Sarah Callender @writerunboxed #wkb11

What the Exploding Creator Economy Means for Authors: https://t.co/0D48rDRAJX @foxprinted #wkb8b

Easy, Free Planners for Writing and Life: https://t.co/ylsqeSfLfD #wkb31

Tips for Writing Setting: https://t.co/sO7vDtuYaL @AuthorMarilene #wkb90

Agents and Editors Aren’t Always Right About Market Potential: https://t.co/Fs6sIWZfii @janefriedman #wkb8b

7 Memoirs About Addiction by Women Writers: https://t.co/Hev1Bnzi0V by Claudia Acevedo-Quinones @electriclit #wkb3b

Surprising Scientific Reasons Why Reading Is Important: https://t.co/2oa0jHSvxx @BrynDonovan #TopTweets2023

Indie Author Magazine Informs the Self-Publishing Community: https://t.co/1lFm5KklL3 @howard_lovy @indieauthorzine #TopTweets2023

Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Karen Heenan. Retired Paralegal Finds Second Career in Historical Fiction: https://t.co/XNapQl39Ss @karen_heenan @howard_lovy #TopTweets2023

What makes a great story? Lessons from judging the Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award 2023: https://t.co/30wv5XN9HL @Roz_Morris #TopTweets2023

5 Reasons Screenwriters Should Write Comic Books: https://t.co/mwvyKbnHIz by Shawn Hainsworth @bang2write #TopTweets2023

Brandon Sanderson’s 3 Laws For Magic Systems In Fantasy: https://t.co/PrE1NyK7RP by Iris Marsh @bang2write #TopTweets2023

Figure Out Your Story’s Magic System Using Story Structure: https://t.co/zsNSH4DLv1 @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

Earn Six Figures as a Writer With This One Weird Trick: https://t.co/uNmyq4nPkN @guerillamemoir @JaneFriedman #TopTweets2023

Frankfurter Buchmesse Names Chile Its 2027 Guest of Honor: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/aklN1Ec07k @culturas_cl @pubperspectives @book_fair #TopTweets2023

The Joy of Older Characters by Susan McCormick: https://t.co/fV1INRPMt3 @womenwriters #TopTweets2023

Ten Tips on Writing for Beginners: https://t.co/q6uPYdLevE @HilaryLinnertz @rmfw #TopTweets2023

Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Carolyn Armstrong. Earth-Friendly Middle-Grade Fiction Author Finds Audience Through Parents, Teachers, and Pinterest: https://t.co/sjxYIRjmNV @howard_lovy #TopTweets2023

Rooting for the Bad Guy: The Definition of an Antihero: https://t.co/bj4lwGUyJl @LR_Lam #TopTweets2023

Beowulf Is The Greatest Classic Book, And I Will Not Be Taking Any Questions At This Time: https://t.co/Cl9I3UC8ly by Peter Derk @litreactor #TopTweets2023

How Can You Tell If You’re Starting Your Story in the Right Place? @manzanitafire @JaneFriedman https://t.co/1SlWSbZrGC #TopTweets2023

What Are Antagonistic Proxies? And How Can They Help Your Story? https://t.co/wuiS1neNO9 @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

How Meditation Can Inspire Your Next Story: https://t.co/OssQYz3QvG @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

Exclusive: Baillie Gifford Prize Reveals Its Sales Impact: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/5Aut3EyIQ8 @PubPerspectives @BGPrize #TopTweets2023

Writing: Your New Beginning: https://t.co/guwnHPDOnm @lindasclare #wkb3d

What Are Plot Devices? (Why You Should Be Cautious): https://t.co/VRZ3yl3Bt3 @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

How to Rediscover the Joy of Writing: https://t.co/LZDzjRIxB7 @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

A SMART Goals Worksheet PDF to Set Realistic Goals: https://t.co/NMGXX8AyuU @BrynDonovan #wkb3d

Writing Tough Stuff: Five Tips to Make it Easier: https://t.co/bxYJHEEY0O @AineGreaney #TopTweets2023

Hot Tip for Character Relationships: The Relationship IS a Character: https://t.co/1rthwtozlO @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

From Asia to Latin America: Independent Comics Publishers in Frankfurt: https://t.co/VrhWxr4WL9 @OliviaSnaije @PubPerspectives @book_fair #TopTweets2023

Latest Writing Scams Authors Should Look Out For: https://t.co/JC1m25BpYj @annerallen #TopTweets2023

Literary agents: concerns about the business model’s viability, diversity, and burnout in a demanding job: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/5fuZu1LEsn @PubPerspectives @book_fair #TopTweets2023

How the Booksellers of Paris Are Preparing for Next Summer’s Olympics: https://t.co/pVg0HkAu9n by Jacqueline Feldman @parisreview #TopTweets2023

The Two Most Important Tricks for How to Build Suspense: https://t.co/78G0Ea4y7t @kmweiland #TopTweets2023

Emylia Hall’s Journey to Happy Writing: https://t.co/YsldKEfLkF @TheNovelry #TopTweets2023

Crime Fiction; In The Spotlight: Simon Lendrum’s The Slow Roll: https://t.co/r0iZSzqcCc @margotkinberg #wkb3b

Crime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Anna Celeste Burke’s A Dead Husband: https://t.co/GQKD2t7v7J @margotkinberg #TopTweets2023

A New Way to Think About the Lie the Character Believes: https://t.co/9kXmqQasIz @kmweiland #TopTweets2023

How to Write Interesting Happy Scenes? 6 Tips: https://t.co/oI9D7wIvGc @kmweiland #TopTweets2023

I’d Rather Commit A Murder Than Write One: https://t.co/eUghfv52L7 @lizzienugent @crimereads #TopTweets2023

How Murder Mystery Theater Taught Me How to Craft Diabolical Puzzles: https://t.co/aBnw6JDKzK @gregkarber @crimereads #TopTweets2023

How Scammers Are Using Amazon and Amazon Trademarks to Rip Writers Off: https://t.co/5TgXKxQZ6h @victoriastrauss #TopTweets2023

Ten Lessons about Writing Memoir that I Learned from Reading Memoirs: https://t.co/ciNJuuBBwQ @Dian_Seidel @womenwriters #TopTweets2023

Jennifer Saint on Writing Greek Myth Retellings: https://t.co/EBs8q2Iufi @thenovelry #TopTweets2023

Beyond Book Banning: PEN America Warns of ‘Booklash: @Porter_Anderson ‘ https://t.co/KSL4CWbSrG @PubPerspectives #TopTweets2023

What’s the Difference? Your Character’s Ghost vs. Wound vs. Lie vs. Weakness: https://t.co/bjlwzhQ10G @kmweiland #TopTweets2023

What Does Your Character Want? Desire vs. Plot Goal vs. Moral Intention vs. Need: https://t.co/LbkDIs9B0V @kmweiland #TopTweets2023

How To Recycle Writing Ideas: https://t.co/Rk6nqm5Wia by The Well-Rounded Writer #TopTweets2023

You don’t need a vision: https://t.co/n8iLTdKnG8 @austinkleon #TopTweets2023

Trespassing on Edith Wharton: https://t.co/a0wNkOiChl By Alissa Bennett @parisreview #TopTweets2023

@MargotKinberg Thanks, Margot! Hope you have a great 2024!

A Foolproof Guide To Writing A Killer Pitch Deck: https://t.co/MhhoVUqfZO @Bang2write #TopTweets2023

Should You Leave Your Critique Group Once You’re Published? https://t.co/NWwNiZYnRb @annerallen #TopTweets2023

Quirky Characters in Crime Fiction: https://t.co/jEDJtKRPmG @margotkinberg #wkb44

Six Lessons from My Writing Crush: https://t.co/148vSGRFo1 by Keith Cronin @WriterUnboxed #TopTweets2023

How Travel Can Boost Your Creativity: https://t.co/py7tSWoelV by Susanne Bennett @writers_write #TopTweets2023

How To Make Any Story Creepy Using The Uncanny: https://t.co/nRsi832Jpa by Oliver Fox @Writers_Write #TopTweets2023

Building Bits of Life into a Novel: https://t.co/uTrzB6Vuns @kcraftwriter @WriterUnboxed #TopTweets2023

5 Ways to Use Your Character’s Shadows to Power Your Story https://t.co/StORlG7mMi @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

Why There’s No Such Thing as “Just a Story”: https://t.co/RjGaDnbauV @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

Top 5 Reasons Producers Don’t Like Your Pitches: https://t.co/DFgwsvi2vq by Charlotte Atkinson @Bang2write #TopTweets2023

Getting Unstuck: Characters, or Getting to Know You: https://t.co/HPHeWmlU38 by Jen Dupree @MastersReview #TopTweets2023

Penguin Random House’s New Inklore: ‘Pop-Comics’: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/6PLgwbc5nH @pubperspectives #TopTweets2023

The Allure of Toxic Relationships (as a Voyeur and a Writer): https://t.co/ylRE5kVSfP @msheatherwebb @WriterUnboxed #TopTweets2023

Prologues vs. Flashbacks (Backstory Techniques): https://t.co/CfdWGLBCgJ @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

Have You Chosen the Right POV Character for Your Story? https://t.co/pkIAHXLDyw @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

How to Write to Theme, and Stand Out in a Crowd: https://t.co/zorKRZqPDL @richardgthomas3 @LitReactor #TopTweets2023

How to Pitch to a Literary Agent: https://t.co/RsxfGP6mod @carlywatters @lithub #TopTweets2023

Rights vs. Copyright: Untangling the Confusion: https://t.co/UlOSMXd8vZ @victoriastrauss #TopTweets2023

@HughCook_ca @jenabrownwrites @LitReactor An excellent book!

Are You Ready to Write a Novel? https://t.co/D9mGXgVCC6 @richardgthomas3 @LitReactor #TopTweets2023

9 Grammar Books You’ll Actually Enjoy Reading: https://t.co/coL09cu2eN @jenabrownwrites @LitReactor #TopTweets2023

How Archetypes Changed My Life and My Writing: https://t.co/wC1g7T4BRt @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

Genre Tips: How to Write Horror: https://t.co/eOnzIFfIXx by Oliver Fox @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

There’s No Magic Formula to Write a Book: https://t.co/Yqv8WVZrb0 by Tamara Sanderson @WomenWriters #TopTweets2023

PEN America Tracks ‘Educational Gag Orders’: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/fMgU0GCw7y @pubperspectives @PENamerica #TopTweets2023

Here Are Two Ways to Write Organic Themes: https://t.co/auoQScWbAC @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

Genre Tips: How to Write Literary Fiction: https://t.co/5gqMqAeQMY @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

Finding Your Voice in the Age of AI: https://t.co/aCIhYN6EAe @A_B_Lee @LitReactor #TopTweets2023

Genre Tips: How to Write Historical Fiction: https://t.co/ZcDiJulRE5 @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

Genre Tips: How to Write Romance: https://t.co/4K5tW0GemN @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

Narcissistic Characters in Crime Fiction: https://t.co/0BPDDRlr5t @margotkinberg #wkb44

Rewriting: Keep Your Eyes Open And Your Ego Closed: https://t.co/8oRbmrFC4I By PJ Parrish #wkbb

How To Celebrate A Finished Draft The WRITE Way: https://t.co/H45JjUXFJx @Bang2write #TopTweets2023

Book vs. Film: “The Cabin at the End of the World” Vs. “Knock at the Cabin” https://t.co/yRsui3gBJW by Christopher Schultz @LitReactor

Fostering Inclusivity: Sensitivity Readings and Content Warnings: https://t.co/0DpRX0b3a4 @lorelli_ @LitReactor #TopTweets2023

Surviving the Long Haul: Negotiating the Challenges of Traditional Publication: https://t.co/iLkuemRwX7 @damyantig @WomenWriters #TopTweets2023

When Your Publishing Contract Flies a Red Flag: Clauses to Watch Out For: https://t.co/OPbutg7ytl @victoriastrauss @WriterUnboxed #TopTweets2023

Time Blocking Your Writing Routine: https://t.co/7ZRfI0wC0u @KMAllan_writer #TopTweets2023

Top 10 Common Problems Writers Must Face Today: https://t.co/3Bvw9fSHY7 @Bang2write #TopTweets2023

Promoting Your Book as an Introvert in the Age of TikTok: https://t.co/4Vr2hFVlJl @vickjulie @JaneFriedman #TopTweets2023

6 Lessons Learned From 4 Years of Writer’s Block: https://t.co/qzOqbJ7fOA @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

Writing Internal and External Conflict in Fiction: https://t.co/fiS894Siva by Krystle Appiah @thenovelry #TopTweets2023

How to stop missing deadlines: https://t.co/6fMTChS6Ys @pubcoach #toptweets2023

Rathbones Folio Prize, Looking for New Sponsor, Names Winners: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/1qVhtNjKz5 @pubperspectives #TopTweets2023

‘The Perils of Literary Publishing’: @rcharkin https://t.co/W5hJJrSaks @pubperspectives #TopTweets2023

Is an Editor Worth the Money? https://t.co/T7fH5oNzvd @FoxPrintEd @JaneFriedman #TopTweets2023

Audiobook Sales Calculator: How Much Does a Best Seller Make? https://t.co/y8uKJAtgiR @DaveChesson #TopTweets2023

The Plotter vs. Pantser Writing Divide Has Been Exaggerated: https://t.co/CKDqw7NwJr @Ada_Palmer @tordotcom

How to Generate Unique Story Ideas as an Author: https://t.co/Ww3rtXX93W by James Gallagher @TheStoryEditor #TopTweets2023

Filter Out Those Filter Words in Your Writing: https://t.co/NRdUfVMsPg @KelleyLindberg1 @RMFWriters #TopTweets2023

On Writing A Mystery That Defies Rationality: https://t.co/ZY2iK1hRrb @MariaDongWrites @CrimeReads #TopTweets2023

Writing Diverse Characters: https://t.co/8tFVgDDdSl @MaryRobinette @DIYMFA #TopTweets2023

Princeton’s ‘Spiderweb Capitalism’ Wins AAP’s 2023 Hawkins Award: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/x922yF8RTO @pubperspectives #TopTweets2024

Taking a Break From Business: Holidays for Indie Authors: https://t.co/I6zfbmQbOg @indieauthoralli #wkb31

How to use beats in crime fiction and thrillers: https://t.co/ZF995UKept @LouiseHarnby #TopTweets2023

What Does “Done” Mean? https://t.co/Y8nr9UkN0l @bookendslit #TopTweets2023

Can Your B Story Be a Buddy Love, While Your A Story Is Another Genre? https://t.co/rmInAYjEnv @thembob @savethecat #TopTweets2023

Ten Rules For Pitching Your Book During #IWSGPit: https://t.co/yPD3VbsHap @mishy1727 @TheIWSG #TopTweets2023

What Are the Best Places to Write? 15 Tips to Create the Perfect Writing Space: https://t.co/Dbf2NZCXnh @KMWeiland #TopTweets2023

Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make Adapting Their Books For Screen: https://t.co/2TbbO6FhDx @Bang2write #TopTweets2023

Five SF Visions of Society Free From Rules, Regulations, or Effective Government: https://t.co/VuXdDV9scL @jamesdnicoll @tordotcom #wkb3b

5 Reasons You Should Write Short Film Scripts: https://t.co/zsS6RYf3pH @Bang2write #TopTweets2023

11 Mysteries and Thrillers That Are So. Much. Fun: https://t.co/gDa1XWWEnM @mollsotov89 @CrimeReads #TopTweets2023

Writing About Old Friends: https://t.co/lTaygAUFuV @DonMaass #wkb89

How Unlikeable Characters Freed Me From Perfectionism: https://t.co/oeVZ1G2Ao7 @olivia_worley @crimereads #wkb31

4 Ideas To Help You Get Over Obsessively Rewriting Chapter One: https://t.co/rjjL6QnwBq @StephMorrill @goteenwriters #wkb31

The Dead Girl and the Survivor Trope: https://t.co/Z9mESFAi6b by Emily Smith @crimereads #wkb44

Consider the Words: On Translating Infinite Jest into Farsi: https://t.co/q1xVrjvJJ5 @call_me_moeen @lithub #wkb5b

5 Tips To Keep Your Readers Happy and Wanting More: https://t.co/xLILEmf1Md by Brian Andrews @careerauthors #wkb89

Confessions of a Serial Anthology Editor: https://t.co/WsnFWIFFe9 by Maxim Jakubowski @crimereads #wkb88

5 wellbeing routines for writers: https://t.co/EsopqlxJjZ @pubcoach #wkb31

How to Ensure a Story Idea is Worth Writing: https://t.co/C7n1mCXmSQ by Sandy Vaile #wkb1e

How to Turn an Essay into a Book Deal: https://t.co/FxoAAvbnM7 by Catherine Baab-Muguira @JaneFriedman #wkb66

The 80/20 Rule And Novelists: https://t.co/cO7csIj7iw @snowflakeguy #wkb8b

Why Writers Must Be Mean to Their Characters: https://t.co/9YXwdkwc3A @SarahSallyHamer @ediemelson #wkb89

Writing through the generations: The Silent Generation: https://t.co/ZawqLFcBvb @gmplano @storyempire #wkb1

Finding Details to Go with a Basic Plot: https://t.co/ZRQGi4Rs65 from Writing Questions Answered #wkb89

Mastering the Crowdfunding Success Mindset: https://t.co/EXfM14tZ7R @russellnohelty and @KotarNicholas #wkb76

Characters with Narcissistic Tendencies as an Element in Crime Fiction: https://t.co/0BPDDRlr5t @margotkinberg #wkb44

What is Selective Rights Licensing for Indie Authors? https://t.co/XkDwGy23gR @indieauthoralli #wkb8b

Is there a dramatic question posed early on that establishes which moment will mark the end of the story? https://t.co/NassfneQ5f @cockeyedcaravan wkb89

11 Proven Strategies to Skyrocket Your Book Promotion on Amazon: https://t.co/rD2vbYzn0O @bookgal #wkb87

Showing vs. Telling: https://t.co/8kVVqDlwNJ @writingandsuch #wkb11

Writing the Somehow: Pacing and Characters’ Changes: https://t.co/gxPDhiVtfq @lindasclare #wkbf

Creating reviewable drafts: complete but not finished: https://t.co/oNN51Ufuvz @jbernoff #wkb49

An Approach for Shifting the Setting in an Alternate Retelling: https://t.co/UkvLoQAqTR By J.D. Harlock @sfwa #wkb90

Brain Gym for Writers: https://t.co/R4AiJGuuUy by Candyce Carden #wkb31

10 Pricing Strategies Every Author Should Know: How to Price Your Book for Success: https://t.co/kaX7P5pIk9 @bookgal #wkb7c

Tropes of Psychological Horror: https://t.co/avKCoN8UAk @MandSMagazine #wkb41

The Enemy Within: 8 Tips to Crafting Powerful Inner Conflict : https://t.co/J3IHq1Atij @livewritethrive #wkb25

Teaching Writing: Three Ideas for Energizing Writing: https://t.co/cjVLBxpbi4 by Melanie Meehan #wkb8b

A Better Future: The Allure of Utopian Worlds: https://t.co/JSgAAcnoYN @quillinary @diymfa #wkb42

Writing Intervals: The Pomodoro Technique: https://t.co/F1My5FxmTh @joanhallwrites @storyempire #wkb34

Making A Long Story Shorter: https://t.co/elt1dAtIk5 by Marilynn Byerly #wkbb

Smart and Simple Strategies for Holiday Book Marketing: https://t.co/UvVp4Vmh8v @bookgal #wkb87

Every novel feels like an impossibly tall mountain: https://t.co/3JSvDU4HSJ @nathanbransford #wkb31

4 Writing Tips Cats Teach Us: https://t.co/lp6JiU4cYH by Megan Jenkins @nanowrimo #wkb31

Earn Six Figures as a Writer With This One Weird Trick: https://t.co/uNmyq4nPkN @guerillamemoir @JaneFriedman #wkb8b

Crime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Michael Bennett’s Better the Blood: https://t.co/Fpg4u4Lszz @margotkinberg #wkb3b

The Magic of the Library Book Sale: https://t.co/uKWyl21LKy by Jeanne Kisacky @writerunboxed #wkb31

Virtual Writing Communities: Connecting with Fellow Writers Online: https://t.co/KO5KHN3wk4 @TheLeighShulman #wkb31

Managing Your Author Business Over The Long Term With Tracy Cooper-Posey: https://t.co/aiZiNOWla6 @thecreativepenn #wkb8b

Book Aid International: 25,000 Books to Ukraine: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/SghGiqi9ah @pubperspectives #wkb64

Mastering Character Evolution: A Powerful Ladder of Choice: https://t.co/BPzkHpXOOY by Laurie Schnebly Campbell #wkb2

The Three Secrets to Writing Historical Fantasy: https://t.co/HVvYpbaY0t by Tasha Suri #wkb43

China Bestsellers for October: Film Powers a 35-Year-Old Book: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/3iDKgPpbvZ @pubperspectives #wkb64

Hotsheet Launches Indie Bestseller Lists: https://t.co/5pl45F3ms3 @hotsheetpub @agnieszkasshoes #wkb69

Radical Revision: When the Going Gets Tough, Writers Get Radical: https://t.co/dvAlqI5b5u @RuthHarrisBooks #wkbb

London’s Polari Prizes Name Armfield and Ransom Their 2024 Winners: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/3vqz35mz1H @pubperspectives #wkb84

Audiobooks: My love-hate (but mostly hate) relationship with Audible: https://t.co/79US0ip7Lm by @pattyjansen #wkb8b

Seven Tips for Writing Cover Letters, Pitches, and Bios: https://t.co/7AXPmh80PN by Mira Reisberg #wkb8f

How Much Exposition Can I Have? https://t.co/tVNwnJE8j9 by Oren Ashkenazi #wkb89

Non-Negotiable: The One Thing That Makes Stories Timeless: https://t.co/BTB67qCWTi @storygrid #wkb89

The Netherlands’ Elsevier: Research Evaluation, Real-World Impact: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/5E0sxSwq25 @pubperspectives #wkb64

How to Build Buzz Around Your Book with Author Swag: 15 Creative Ideas: https://t.co/mSFe18YiZf By Vasylyssa #wkb87

ZB Med Signs Open-Access Deal With Switzerland’s Frontiers: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/rh7WWtV5uO @pubperspectives #wkb64

When To Let Go Of Your Work: A Guide To Abandoning Projects: https://t.co/XS1S4WHvOU @amandalinehan #wkb31

Five Big Conflicts That Are Too Easy: https://t.co/rWaq5xBs2b by Oren Ashkenazi #wkb7

7 tips to tighten the saggy middle of your story and keep readers engaged: https://t.co/9dphqvHDGZ @HelenaFairfax #wkb89

How to Show, Not Tell: https://t.co/BE8r0aSGMl by Georgio Konstandi #wkb11

Imposter Syndrome: The Rise of Impersonation Scams: https://t.co/WvIetbAGK5 @victoriastrauss #wkb61

International Prize for Arabic Fiction: The 2024 Longlist: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/tNajMgZuYr @pubperspectives #wkb84

To Be More Creative, Write a Letter to Your Reader: https://t.co/iojp4IJEcJ @annkroeker #wkb32

The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is the story limited to compatible subgenres, without mixing metaphors? https://t.co/dTJdeZ0RQd @cockeyedcaravan #wkb89

How Do You Manage Reading Expectations? https://t.co/GdfXHm7QJF @mollytempleton @tordotcom #wkb3b

The Marketing Tactic that Keeps Matthew McConaughey a #1 Bestseller: https://t.co/IMHzapDpzg @danblank @wegrowmedia #wkb87

Gift Ideas for Writers 2023: https://t.co/YSSs3wAxLn @seejavaciawrite #wkb31

Penguin Random House Acquires Self-Help Publisher Hay House: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/e20XgJJymr @PenguinRandom @PubPerspectives #wkb88

Maps, Diagrams, Intros, and Glossaries in Crime Fiction Books: https://t.co/d6Gdrmr6W0 @margotkinberg #wkb44

The Secrets To Writing A Series: https://t.co/N5LnmmznQS @KMAllan_writer #wkb15

ALTA Announces Its 2023 National Translation Awards Winners: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/uayqnXasj4 @pubperspectives wkb84

UTA Agent Mary Pender: ‘Focus on the Original Story’: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/Z1uust7ag0 @pubperspectives #wkb88

A very good nonfiction query (query critique): https://t.co/nCMVzFZXBB @nathanbransford #wkb66

A Look at My Vella Results: https://t.co/MNkHFESOe7 @beemweeks @storyempire #wkb88

Six Downward Turning Points for Heroes: https://t.co/FcWrngOMcO by Chris Winkle #wkb20

How to Fill Your Day with Poetry: https://t.co/Qb9BEM32zn @cassandra_key #wkb47

Researching as a Writer: https://t.co/WybIuIenGv by Resident Vampire #wkb1f

How to Organize a Virtual Book Launch Event: 11 Clever Book Promotion Ideas: https://t.co/YIpBN3gZGk @bookgal #wkb87

How to Establish a Writing Routine: https://t.co/mA8UWSAjX6 @AuthorMarilene #wkb34

Penguin Random House Acquires Self-Help Publisher Hay House: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/e20XgJJymr @pubperspectives #wkb88

Get paid without guilt: 6 lessons I’ve learned: https://t.co/6HDnNLudsS @jccabel #wkb8b

Business Musings: Totally Different Careers: https://t.co/9bWVnASxZq by Kristine Kathryn Rusch #wkb8b

Creating Character Motivation: The Fallacy of Magical Knowing: https://t.co/6TxjSZye4I @foxprinted #wkb30

The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is the story limited to one genre (or multiple, merged genres) introduced from the beginning? https://t.co/tSmS7xTzGC @cockeyedcaravan #wkb89

Year End: A Cambridge University Press Record: Â£1 Billion in Revenue @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/bgJJhje8OD @pubperspectives #wkb88

Another Cup of Coffee: The UK’s Nero Book Awards’ Shortlists: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/QGqaOMxyu6 @PubPerspecives #wkb84

10 Stories of Women Finding Their Calling in a New Career: https://t.co/Z66MJplGuc @WF_WRITERS @booktrib #wkb3b

Successful Marketing for Multigenre Authors: Reaching More Readers, With Dale L. Roberts and Holly Greenland: https://t.co/7JOG2XJt8B @selfpubwithdale @indieauthoralli #wkb87

Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Karen Heenan. Retired Paralegal Finds Second Career in Historical Fiction: https://t.co/qnuaKrshA2 @karen_heenan @howard_lovy #wkb31

Finding Inspiration for Metafictional Murder: https://t.co/Breu6fUwOi @dannmcd @crimereads #wkb44

Safety Dispatch: How to Establish and Use a Pen Name: https://t.co/IlPSpNNqU4 @sfwa #wkb60

AAP’s September StatShot: US Market Up 0.8 Percent YTD: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/9cdhOpMrQn @PubPerspectives #wkb63

Writing: Your Character’s Journey : https://t.co/uTXoKFM1DO @lindasclare #wkb2

What makes a great story? Lessons from judging the Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award 2023: https://t.co/30wv5XN9HL @Roz_Morris #wkb89

Viewpoint In Romance: https://t.co/bJJtAA62D5 by Elaine Dodge @writers_write #wkb45

Europe’s AI Act Is Agreed; Final Vote Early in 2024: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/ZTMRsL8aZj @pubperspectives #wkb64

5 Films About Existential Assassins: https://t.co/0kAkONJRC5Â @nkolakowski @crimereads #wkb14

7 Ways to Gleefully Destroy Your Writing Fears: https://t.co/ggoSOjVige @colleen_m_story #wkb31

7 Ways to Always Have Plenty of Ideas for Your Blog Posts: https://t.co/HF0iWrNCoO @EdieMelson #wkb72

If you really want to become a good editor, stop thinking about yourself: https://t.co/R5N30zNen0 @pubcoach #wkbb

How to Use Brain Waves to Enhance Your Writing Practice: https://t.co/XxuuDYPuru @LisaEllisonsPen @JaneFriedman #wkb32

Italy: ‘Più libri più liberi’Draws a Record 115,000+ Attendees: https://t.co/w0Ojbhhdx0@porter_anderson @pubperspectives #wkb84

Richard Charkin in London: Asking the Unaskable: https://t.co/W2S9wBsixw @rcharkin @pubperspectives #wkb88

Three Ways to Structure a Chapter: https://t.co/UWCGIf7UlR @AnneGBrown @writerunboxed #wkb89

AI and the Creative Process: https://t.co/PctCLU4VXi @ProfJamesHutson @JSTOR #wkb32

Planning the Next Year: https://t.co/VhlAEz6gAr #wkb31

Chess as an element in crime fiction: https://t.co/ZY0NVWmhwz @margotkinberg #wkb44

From critiquing to creating : literature professor Steven Belletto shares his transition to authorhood: https://t.co/V5fu9eAxdL @Roz_Morris #wkb31

Finding Inspiration for Mystery Fiction in Soap Operas: https://t.co/FBfzoga7fY @VanessaRiley @crimereads #wkb44

For Writers Who Hate Prompts: https://t.co/ZR07WomKi9 by Zack Jeffries #wkb32

Questions to Ask before Writing Your Memoir: https://t.co/UPVEWMDTMf #wkb55

Just write: https://t.co/vYugyfKHvJ @nathanbransford #wkb89

How To Write a Book During Tumultuous Times: https://t.co/AnG2wonmWo @LisaTener #wkb31

In Which Perseverance Gets an Alignment: https://t.co/yNSs0QVOyB by Keely Thrall @writerunboxed #wkb31

How publishing a cookbook helped me as a writer: https://t.co/MXdWuBLSVN by Janet Morrison #wkb31

How to Design a Great Book Cover: https://t.co/WSrzNHqZpA by Michele DeFilippo @indieauthoralli #wkb58

A List of 100 Character Defects: https://t.co/4K9fUtTvy9 @BrynDonovan #wkb1

How Long Can Tension Fall Before Readers Get Bored? https://t.co/6lCEgWphNo by Chris Winkle #wkb18

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On LitLinks:
Click To Tweet

The post LitLinks appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on January 06, 2024 21:01

December 31, 2023

Easy Planners for Writing and Life

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I’ve talked about using planners regularly here on the blog. Although I also use a digital calendar, there’s something about seeing something physically on a page and then striking it off that’s particularly satisfying. Also, seeing a list on paper seems to not only cement it in my brain better, but to make it seem more manageable and less overwhelming.

For a while I was using a composition notebook as a planner. I divided each page with seven vertical lines for each day of the week. I put appointments at the top, then made a list of my usual tasks underneath that for each day. My tasks always include: write, schedule social media, exercise, walk the dog, errands, advertising/other business-related work, etc.

It’s important to note that I’m not a bullet journal person. I’ve no interest in making my planner anything but a functional tool. There are some planners that look like art. Mine is definitely not posing as art in any way.

That process worked really well for years. It was cheap, portable, not very time-consuming, and customizable to whatever my needs were.

Last year, though, I stumbled upon a method that seemed like it would work out even better. I found a free site that offered downloadable calendars. I decided on a weekly calendar that had one week on two pages in a portrait layout. There are gobs of other sizes and layouts, including school year calendars, yearly, monthly, and hourly calendars.

I have a three-hole punch (my kids used to use it for school). Then I just stick it in a 3-ring binder.

Also in the binder are a few section pocket dividers. I’ve found the calendar uses so little room that it’s nice to put more than one year in a notebook, for planning purposes. I put the dividers between the years. In the divider pockets I have everything from small sticky notes to checklists for updating my books.

Scattered among the weeks are blank 3-ring college-ruled notebook paper for me to make additional notes on.

Simple, easy, and effective.

Do you use planners? Online or paper? What’s your favorite way to organize your writing and life?

Easy Planners for Writing and Life:
Click To Tweet

Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay

The post Easy Planners for Writing and Life appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 31, 2023 21:02

December 10, 2023

Planning the Next Year

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I’m much more a fan of a good list than I am a resolution. And I’m even more of a fan of a list when it’s something I can put down on my calendar in bits and pieces, making it all bite-sized and manageable.

Seeing things on paper helps make the ephemeral goals more solid, real. More like deadlines.

Of course we all have personal things we need to get on our 2024 calendar. They might be family trips that should be reserved. Dental cleanings and physicals for ourselves, kids, and pets for the next year. School holidays. Birthdays and anniversaries.

Then there are writing-related things that could go on your calendar. A few things I plan in advance:

Releases. This is easy enough for me because I know how long it takes me to write a book. But for you, it might mean giving yourself a general plan for when you’d like to finish a project.

Cover design. Planning this in advance can save you a good deal of time. Often, cover designers can get swamped. If you wait too long, it may be tough to get on their schedule for your book’s release timetable.

Editing. This can be tougher to plan in advance, if you run into snags. But it’s good to have a plan for getting on your editor’s radar before the book is finished and see what his/her schedule looks like.

Promotion. This often coincides with releases but is also helpful throughout the year if you have a series starter.

Tax prep. The least fun of all. But because it’s no fun waiting to the last minute, I have it on my calendar to collect my writing income and expenses for the year.

Self-care. It might seem like something that doesn’t need to go on a calendar, but trust me, it does. It can be small or large, but scattering reminders throughout the weeks is a good idea and can help prevent burnout.

These are some things I’ve added to my own calendar, but what are you adding to yours? Have you gotten your 2024 calendar yet?

I’ll see you all in 2024! I’m taking some time off for Christmas. Hope you all enjoy the holidays!

Planning the Next Year:
Click To Tweet

Image by Free Photos from Pixabay

The post Planning the Next Year appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 10, 2023 21:01

December 9, 2023

LitLinks

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

My apologies for the formatting for this post! My scheduling app has experienced some hiccups lately, so some of the post was gathered manually. You’ll see a similar pattern when I next post Twitterific in early January. :)

Why Writer Beware Doesn’t Recommend or Endorse Agents or Publishers: https://t.co/zMVj9x74mI @victoriastrauss #wkb61

Writing Motivation: How to Win the Marathon of the Middle of Your Novel: https://t.co/iMAqsHczNV @JerryBJenkins #wkb31

Creativity and Inspiration: defined by negatives: https://t.co/1LJ6ejd72F @austinkleon #wkb32

Tips to Help a Writer Move from Slush Pile to Sold: https://t.co/dXF5unYZpU @PattySmithHall @ediemelson #wkb89

What Pain Has to Offer in Your Novel: https://t.co/xHKUkZiY5r by N.L. Holmes #wkb89

Lessons From the Writing of The Catcher in the Rye: https://t.co/QNLGRLiDaG by Chris Winkle #wkb14

The Agony and the Ecstasy of Uncertainty in Writing: https://t.co/v2AMOC7Qas @JennyHansenCA #wkb31

Tips For Selling And Marketing Your Books Direct To Readers: https://t.co/oIILh1Teqb @thecreativepenn #wkb8b

8 Cozy Mysteries Featuring BFFs and Women Supporting Women: https://t.co/ecfVsY4PpQ @samarayewauthor @crimereads #wkb3b

Don’t let a lyrical voice get away from you (page critique): https://t.co/6h4U6QIDtN @nathanbransford #wkb8

A Few Common Mistakes Writers Make: https://t.co/7sBMFWCruY by Crystal Bowman @ediemelson #wkb11

Self-Publishing Business and Planning Advice: Best Blogs 2023: https://t.co/EKc1in4blb @indieauthoralli #wkb8b

The one-star review : https://t.co/mjtmB9Pe1J @JBernoff #wkb73

5 Historical Mysteries Featuring Unforgettable, Unconventional Women: https://t.co/CgO7fOsdQQ by Ritu Mukerji @crimereads #wkb3b

How to Double Down On Being Human. 5 Ways To Stand Out In An Age Of AI : https://t.co/ISlq2X5dqA @thecreativepenn #wkb31

8 Short Story Collections About the Flipside of Living in a Postcard Destination: https://t.co/ItNkIfTu6g @jhhesler @electriclit #wkb3b

Italy: Piu Libri Piu Liberi Opens Today in a ‘Stable Market’: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/noCRTHEtWV @pubperspectives #wkb64

Reward Your Readers with a Battle that Earns the Ending: https://t.co/m9mCbvZLSb by Lynette M. Burrows #wkb89

Trauma as an Element in Crime Fiction: https://t.co/zlJ8FzSetn @margotkinberg #wkb44

Why We Write: Artistry, Identity, and Legacy: https://t.co/omawsc57xT by Barbara Linn Probst @writerunboxed #wkb31

Reading Skills in Germany: New Study Results Concern the Market: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/tzU7BZq8QQ @pubperspectives #wkb64

Mensch Publishing and Ingram in Print-on-Demand Partnership: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/BpSy8CSAht @pubperspectives #wkb64

Donâ€t Hide Your Emotionâ€”How to Write with Feeling: https://t.co/CDmoWPsvZW by Callie Thomas @goteenwriters #wkb89

When Stuck in a Scene, Look Around: https://t.co/JR7ILx3Xjl @Janice_Hardy #wkb23

The Value of Unread Books: https://t.co/rMgfB0xkAB @aprildavila wkb3b

Submit and Query Like a Salesman: https://t.co/Bt39JzkP8j @PhilAthans #wkb66

Writing Is Typing: https://t.co/i9PmLpTto0 @lindasclare #wkb31

Figurative language from Prince Harry: https://t.co/9rVFG40tBW @pubcoach #wkb89

“The Hot Sheet | Business Intelligence for Career Authors from

@JaneFriedman: https://t.co/o7t6nmzYjX . Get 2 upcoming issues free. @HotSheetPub”

November 2023 Bestseller Lists Via @JaneFriedman @HotSheetPub and Bookstats: https://t.co/0df3eHTD05 #wkb63

Surprising Scientific Reasons Why Reading Is Important: https://t.co/zPfK5EH5gH @BrynDonovan #wkb3b

@TheLeighShulman Always my pleasure, Leigh!

How to Market Your Book with 13 Pre-Order Strategies: https://t.co/7LJ12U6a7l @bookgal #wkb8b

Opening in the States: Italy’s 21lettere Expands With 26Letters: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/N7yk5EEHAW @pubperspectives #wkb84

Expansion Pack: The Contagonist: https://t.co/n0oLVW4MVq @Virgilante @storyempire #wkb89

Mexico: Congress Sales Open; Publishers Report on Market: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/idbGxuaHEk @pubperspectives #wkb64

Amy Edmonson’s ‘Fail’ is a Win: England’s Business Book of the Year: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/7NhWfpdQsl @pubperspectives #wkb84

Using a timer when writing: https://t.co/PxpzGAqOSH By Ann Gomez @pubcoach #wkb34

What It Means to Make Your Story Relatable: https://t.co/f3ckPejARU by Deborah Williams @JaneFriedman #wkb89

On the Ending of a Literary Journal: https://t.co/EYyyF6WFCA

How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 2023: https://t.co/1UGaySGQyq The Ultimate Guide for Authors: @storyhobbit #wkb49

Indie Author Magazine Informs the Self-Publishing Community: https://t.co/94rHq20BZX @howard_lovy @indieauthorzine #wkb69

Creative Tips for Crowdfunding: Creative Self-Publishing Podcast with Orna Ross: https://t.co/EQoT9AchF4 @indieauthoralli #wkb76

Mine Your Life for Writing Gold: https://t.co/9fNKzUMyOa @HughCook_ca https://t.co/y0h44xDm0X

Book Metadata, Keywords and Amazon Category Changes: Help Readers Find Your Book: https://t.co/m9bkUW38ih @indieauthoralli #wkb65

Figure Out Your Story’s Magic System Using Story Structure: https://t.co/4TrrADXF1T @KMWeiland #wkb89

Italian Publishers Call for Tougher AI Regulations in Europe: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/PejVB8I4dw @pubperspectives #wkb64

Marcus Leaver Announces the Formation of Gemini Books Group: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/ooHDGUXHoz @pubperspectives #wkb64

Sentiment as a Gateway to Character: https://t.co/wPMxwh6b2x by Jan O’Hara @writerunboxed #wkb1

Stressed Or Feeling Guilty About Blogging? Keep Blogging Fun: https://t.co/Sk83qNRK0I @HughRoberts05 #wkb72

Writing A Series Is Like Creating a RPG Campaign:https://t.co/R1wyP5KrPI by Casey Cooper @diymfa #wkb15

Exploring Inner and Outer Conflict in Fiction: https://t.co/5WkM46FerF @livewritethrive #wkb25

How to Mine Your Life for Writing Gold: https://t.co/9fNKzUMyOa @HughCook_ca https://t.co/ee0SCrJEOG

Characterize with Clothing Choices: https://t.co/8DR6bAgHvZ @beccapuglisi @onestop4writers #wkb1

Perfecting Your Pitch: https://t.co/yA0DfFrugA by Lori Z. Scott #wkb68

At Guadalajara: Mexico’s Publishers Promote Sustainability, Social Responsibility: https://t.co/h8bq2fcEDm by Adam Critchley @pubperspectives #wkb64

The Power of Consistency: Crafting a Writing Routine That Endures – Leigh Shulman @TheLeighShulman https://t.co/b91TiWd23v #wkb34

Crime Fiction: In The Spotlight: Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister the Serial Killer: https://t.co/1WfKvzfd58 @margotkinberg #wkb3b

How Should I Portray a Characterâ€s Memory Loss? https://t.co/mZwSfw2jDg @writing_alchemy #wkb89

Dublin’s An Post Irish Book Awards: The 2023 Shortlist @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/Ve19a9g9L7 @AnPostIBAS @pubperspectives #wkb84

Authors Still Need to Follow Social Media Etiquette Rules: https://t.co/trdw9wUy7W @annerallen #wkb71

Frankfurter Buchmesse Names Chile Its 2027 Guest of Honor: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/aklN1Ec07k @culturas_cl @pubperspectives @book_fair #wkb84

Mining Your Life For Writing Gold: https://t.co/9fNKzUMyOa @HughCook_ca #wkb89 https://t.co/6eazPkOBGt

At Guadalajara: WIPO and IPA Release Publishing Data Reports: @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/gB6zuWNjNq @IntPublishers @WIPO @FILGuadalajara @Nielsen @karinepansa @andrebreedt @pubperspectives #wkb84

5 Essential Tips for Mastering Scene Writing in Your Novel: https://t.co/azGK3eV9Qe @amydelaforce #wkb23

Beyond stereotypes: portraying realistic LGBTIQ+ characters: https://t.co/FFa1XZjxgh by Arja Salafranca @nownovel

Scary Writing: https://t.co/L6Ce6rIMJj @dlfinnauthor @storyempire #wkb3

Preparing to Promote Your Writing at Online Events: https://t.co/mxCjNdn0bp @KarenHWhiting @ediemelson #wkb84

First Page Critique: The Puzzle Within : https://t.co/BeDPiagiSN @SueColetta1 #wkb8

The Strange and Expansive World of Narrative Craft: https://t.co/H4zSZWP7Nu by Angie Elita Newell @womenwriters #wkb89

When should I use semicolons? https://t.co/qfZKmoLedM by Dana Isaacson @careerauthors #wkbd

Writing The Soul Of Place: https://t.co/h5XVZS9V4P @LindaLappin1 @thecreativepenn #wkb90

The links I shared with writers last week: https://t.co/8sH1H8hiTY . All the links I’ve ever shared (70K+, free and searchable): writerskb..com

Brandon Sanderson’s 3 Laws For Magic Systems In Fantasy: https://t.co/7OUZClM9on by Iris Marsh @bang2write #wkb43

Should Writers Avoid Passive Voice? https://t.co/awQwQe7LJ8 from Mythcreants #wkb89

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On LitLinks:
Click To Tweet

The post LitLinks appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 09, 2023 21:01

December 3, 2023

Mining Your Life For Writing Gold

by Hugh Cook

A writer once observed that someone’s first seven years provide enough to keep that person writing for the rest of their life. An interesting observation, and true for many, I suppose, but it wasn’t true for me. I was born in the Netherlands, and I remember surprisingly little about my first seven years there. My parents decided to immigrate to Canada when I was seven, and that’s when my memories really begin. Shortly after we arrived in Canada and settled in Burnaby, B.C., my parents bought an older house on Morley Street, a short dead-end gravel road with about a dozen houses, a small community contained between a highway at one end and woods at the other.

If the street was a microcosm of Canadian society at large I knew we had moved to an interesting country. Across the street was Gus Dietrich, whom I admired because he drove huge bulldozers parked on trailers in his driveway. Diagonally across from us were the Barkers, whose house hid behind tall, dense evergreens. The family were Jehovah’s Witnesses, and I can’t remember ever playing with their two kids. More interesting to me was Rev. Mackay two houses down the street, a retired United Church minister who also, we discovered, was a nudist. Apparently he went without clothes inside his house, but working in his yard outdoors he bowed to public decency by wearing a skimpy blue loincloth similar to the ones Indians wore in Hollywood movies, the skin of his leathery torso tanned and wrinkled.

I was puzzled by Rev. Mackay, for the only ministers I had experienced in Holland were dominees who wore black togas in church and preached long sermons and taught me catechism—now here was a minister who went around naked! I couldn’t fathom that: Rev. Mackay, dressed in a blue loincloth picking raspberries or hoeing a flower bed. Reclusive Jehovah’s Witnesses, a nudist United Church minister—I knew we Dutch immigrants in argyle socks and strange haircuts must have been an odd lot in the eyes of Canadians, but we had nothing on some of the others.

The person our family was closest to was Miss Morley next door, a single elderly woman whose grandfather the street was named after. Miss Morley was a hefty woman; the grey hair in her bun was as tight as a knot in a wet rope; thick grey hairs sprouted from her chin. She wore blue denim overalls covered with an apron made from chicken feed sacks and lived in an old house identical to ours, and we would see Miss Morley every day, slowly making her way down her back steps to feed the twenty Red Hampshires she kept for eggs. If she was sick I would have to feed the chickens for her, and I would step into her dark, spider-webbed cellar with dirt floor for the chicken feed and water.

The most interesting thing about Miss Morley, however, was that she had a parrot, a red and blue macaw named Polly which she kept in a cage in her kitchen, and on warm summer days when her kitchen windows were open, we could hear Polly’s screeches split the air. I’d never seen anything as exotic up close as Miss Morley’s parrot. The top of its head was a brilliant red sheen, which gradually turned bright blue on its back and the top of its wings, then an electric blue on its stomach. Its long tail feathers were a shimmering blue and red. I didn’t often enter Miss Morley’s house, whose brown wallpaper and wood furniture and linoleum kitchen floor seemed as ancient as she was, but whenever I did, Miss Morley, knowing why I had come, would lead me to the kitchen to meet Polly. She’d taught the bird to say—what else?—“Polly want a cracker.” The round stub of Polly’s leathery tongue, much like the eraser on the end of a pencil, bobbed up and down inside its beak, then the bird would eye me from inside its cage with piercing eyes—perhaps wondering, since she’d performed, why I didn’t indeed give her a cracker. The bird struck me as being infinitely more interesting than the blue budgie named Pickles my mother kept in a birdcage in our kitchen.

These were among the habitants of Morley Street, whose lives were as odd and eccentric to me as we Dutch immigrants must have seemed to them. From these neighbors, though, I learned an important lesson for writers, which is this: the mystery and complexity and staggering variety found in human lives exists not far away from us, but on our very own street—next door—under our noses—lives as luminous as our own if we will but open our eyes.

So here’s an important question for aspiring writers: WHAT IS YOUR “MORLEY STREET”? What neighborhood, what piece of geography, what occupation do you know better than anyone else? For William Faulkner it was his fictional Yoknapatawpha County in Mississippi, which he called his “little postage stamp of native soil.” For Canadian Nobel Prize-winning author Alice Munro, it was Huron County in southwestern Ontario. For Chaim Potok it was the Chasidic community of Brooklyn. And for James Baldwin it was the gay Black experience in white America. Perhaps for you it’s life on a Michigan farm. For others it may be a small town in Iowa or Illinois. Perhaps for someone it’s what working in a factory is like. Or an inner-city neighborhood that’s been transformed from predominantly white folks to Blacks or Hispanics.

Whatever your “Morley Street” is, seek it out, and mine its riches. Here is a good writer’s motto for you: “Fools seek happiness in the distance, but good writers recognize it under their feet.”

Writer and Editor @HughCook_ca on Mining Your Life for Writing Gold:
Click To Tweet

Header Image by Jörg Peter from Pixabay

The post Mining Your Life For Writing Gold appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 03, 2023 21:01

December 2, 2023

LitLinks

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Business / Miscellaneous Business Musings: Totally Different Careers: by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Get paid without guilt: 6 lessons I’ve learned: @jccabel Audiobooks: My love-hate (but mostly hate) relationship with Audible: by @pattyjansen Managing Your Author Business Over The Long Term With Tracy Cooper-Posey: @thecreativepenn Earn Six Figures as a Writer With This One Weird Trick: @guerillamemoir @JaneFriedman Teaching Writing: Three Ideas for Energizing Writing: by Melanie Meehan Wattpad Increases its Offering to Paying Subscribers: @agnieszkasshoes @indieauthoralli What is Selective Rights Licensing for Indie Authors? @indieauthoralli The 80/20 Rule And Novelists: @snowflakeguy Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous IPA’s Karine Pansa Opens Guadalajara: ‘A Union of Cultures to Build’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives Ireland’s Paul Lynch Wins the 2023 Booker Prize for Fiction: @Porter_Anderson @PubPerspectives Ed Yong’s ‘Immense World’ Wins the Royal Society Prize: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @edyong209 Sheikh Zayed Book Award, the 18th Cycle: Three More Longlists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives At Guadalajara: The EU Hosts Independent Publishers: @Porter_Anderson @PubPerspectives At Guadalajara: WIPO and IPA Release Publishing Data Reports: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration To Be More Creative, Write a Letter to Your Reader: @annkroeker Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers 10 Stories of Women Finding Their Calling in a New Career: @WF_WRITERS @booktrib Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation Creating Character Motivation: The Fallacy of Magical Knowing: @foxprinted Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing How to Establish a Writing Routine: @AuthorMarilene Writing Intervals: The Pomodoro Technique: @joanhallwrites @storyempire Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Karen Heenan. Retired Paralegal Finds Second Career in Historical Fiction: @karen_heenan @howard_lovy When To Let Go Of Your Work: A Guide To Abandoning Projects: @amandalinehan Virtual Writing Communities: Connecting with Fellow Writers Online: @TheLeighShulman The Magic of the Library Book Sale: by Jeanne Kisacky @writerunboxed 4 Writing Tips Cats Teach Us: by Megan Jenkins @nanowrimo Every novel feels like an impossibly tall mountain: @nathanbransford Brain Gym for Writers: by Candyce Carden Genres / Fantasy The Three Secrets to Writing Historical Fantasy: by Tasha Suri Genres / Horror Tropes of Psychological Horror: @MandSMagazine Genres / Mystery Finding Inspiration for Metafictional Murder: @dannmcd @crimereads Keeping Cozies Suspenseful: @shannonsymonds7 The Dream of Making it Big as an Element in Crime Fiction: @margotkinberg How Laws Impact Characters in Crime Fiction: @margotkinberg Event-Prep Tension as an Element in Crime Fiction: @margotkinberg Genres / Non-Fiction Creating reviewable drafts: complete but not finished: @jbernoff Genres / Poetry How to Fill Your Day with Poetry: @cassandra_key Genres / Science Fiction A Better Future: The Allure of Utopian Worlds: @quillinary @diymfa Promo / Crowdfunding Mastering the Crowdfunding Success Mindset: @russellnohelty and @KotarNicholas Promo / Miscellaneous Successful Marketing for Multigenre Authors: Reaching More Readers, With Dale L. Roberts and Holly Greenland: @selfpubwithdale @indieauthoralli How to Organize a Virtual Book Launch Event: 11 Clever Book Promotion Ideas: @bookgal 11 Proven Strategies to Skyrocket Your Book Promotion on Amazon: @bookgal Promo / Pricing 10 Pricing Strategies Every Author Should Know: How to Price Your Book for Success: @bookgal Publishing / Miscellaneous A Look at My Vella Results: @beemweeks @storyempire Publishing: It’s a Smaller World Now: @rcharkin @pubperspectives Penguin Random House Sues the US State of Iowa: @Porter_Anderson @PubPerspectives @penguinrandom Publishing / News / International Publishing Publishing Scotland’s Fellowship Program: Open for Applications: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @publishscotland Germany: Bookwire’s Audiobook Goes to Brazilian, English, Spanish Markets: @Porter_Anderson @PubPerspectives Canadian Publishing Calls Out Ottawa’s Inaction: @Porter_Anderson @PubPerspectives COP28: Switzerland’s Frontiers Introduces an ‘Open Science Charter’: @Porter_Anderson @PubPerspectives Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing Seven Tips for Writing Cover Letters, Pitches, and Bios: by Mira Reisberg Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying A very good nonfiction query (query critique): @nathanbransford How to Turn an Essay into a Book Deal: by Catherine Baab-Muguira @JaneFriedman Publishing / Process / Services to Avoid Imposter Syndrome: The Rise of Impersonation Scams: @victoriastrauss Writing Craft / Characters / Arc Mastering Character Evolution: A Powerful Ladder of Choice: by Laurie Schnebly Campbell Writing Craft / Characters / Development Writing through the generations: The Silent Generation: @gmplano @storyempire Writing Craft / Common Mistakes How to Show, Not Tell: by Georgio Konstandi Showing vs. Telling: @writingandsuch Writing Craft / Conflict The Enemy Within – 8 Tips to Crafting Powerful Inner Conflict : @livewritethrive Writing Craft / Miscellaneous The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is the story limited to one genre (or multiple, merged genres) introduced from the beginning? @cockeyedcaravan The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is the story limited to compatible subgenres, without mixing metaphors? @cockeyedcaravan 7 tips to tighten the saggy middle of your story and keep readers engaged: @HelenaFairfax Non-Negotiable: The One Thing That Makes Stories Timeless: @storygrid How Much Exposition Can I Have? by Oren Ashkenazi Is there a dramatic question posed early on that establishes which moment will mark the end of the story? @cockeyedcaravan wkb89 Finding Details to Go with a Basic Plot: from Writing Questions Answered Why Writers Must Be Mean to Their Characters: @SarahSallyHamer @ediemelson Writing Craft / Pacing Writing the Somehow: Pacing and Characters’ Changes: @lindasclare Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting Six Downward Turning Points for Heroes: by Chris Winkle Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Research Researching as a Writer: by Resident Vampire Writing Craft / Revision Radical Revision: When the Going Gets Tough, Writers Get Radical: @RuthHarrisBooks Making A Long Story Shorter: by Marilynn Byerly Writing Craft / Scenes / Conflict Five Big Conflicts That Are Too Easy: by Oren Ashkenazi Writing Craft / Series The Secrets To Writing A Series: @KMAllan_writer

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On LitLinks:
Click To Tweet

The post LitLinks appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 02, 2023 21:01

November 27, 2023

Keeping Cozies Suspenseful

by Shannon Symonds ,@shannonsymonds7

As writers, we talk a lot about the hook, the first sentence, the first page, the thing that sucks you into a book and won’t let you go. You might think the hook is what is happening. I think the hook is who the action is happening to and why we care about them. Readers stay up all night or become emotionally invested in cozy mysteries when they care about what happens to the main character and the people in their world.

When I read a book, I slip between the covers and into the main character’s life and escape my own reality. I must feel invested in the outcome and be interested in the person the action is happening to. Consequently, when I pick up a new book and read the back, or the first page, I need to relate to the protagonist, see their flaws or lessons they need to learn, and care about what is at stake, or I will put the book down.

You would think that if I am planning to slip into the skin of a protagonist, I would want that person to be smart, beautiful, and practically perfect. For me, and for readers, the opposite is true. There isn’t a person alive who doesn’t have something they need to learn, a flaw, or a haunting experience affecting their decisions. Perfect is predictable. Because I’m not perfect, I want to spend time with characters I relate to. When you choose a best friend, do you want it to be someone who has all the answers, or someone that understands your struggle?

I once had the pleasure of attending a training by Lisa Cron, the author of Story Genius. She talked about the importance of caring about protagonists, showing their flaws or lessons they need to learn, and writing a book that takes the reader with them on a journey of change.

“Do you know what your protagonist’s external goal is? What specific goal does his desire catapult him toward? Beware of simply shoving him into a generic, ‘bad situation’ just to see what he will do.” Lisa Cron, Wired for Story, The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers From the Very First Sentence.

When I plot a cozy mystery, I start by building a world that I would love to live in. I have a general idea of who will die and how they are murdered. Then I develop characters I hope readers relate to and care about.

I begin by making detailed character sketches of the main and secondary characters, their motivations, the stakes, everything, including their quirks and flaws. Solving the mystery and helping someone else isn’t the happy ending of the story. The moment the main character understands her flaws, and grows or changes, is the ending that stays with readers long after they close the book. I love it when I make a reader cry with joy as the character learns a lesson or changes.

The villain matters. If they are too evil, they’re obvious, and the suspense is gone. The victim also matters. They need to be important to the reader, the protagonist, their friends, and family.

In every book I create friends who are comic relief. Pets, and fun characters allow the protagonist to talk about what is happening and learn from a friend like a wise, older woman.

A relationship map helps me look for ways to raise the stakes. I map love triangles, family members or friends that are possible targets, or the wrongfully accused character that is important to the protagonist. I try to find at least five red herrings within the relationships surrounding the main character or their friends and family. Each relationship connection gives the protagonist another reason to take unusual risks as an amateur sleuth or to ignore bumbling law enforcement.

Once I know who I am writing about, I solidify the means, motive, and opportunity.

I am a plotter. I use a method I learned from Jessica Brody, the author of Save the Cat Writes a Novel. I find that it helps me pace the story, know when to raise the stakes, create a darkest night, and basically move things along.

For example, in my recent novel, Booked for Murder, before the book begins, the main character, Ivy, left a short, but traumatic relationship. We meet her as she leaves a shelter with a new identity and is on a bus. We clearly see her trust issues and how they impact her relationships. We also see that although in her past she was strong and confident, she blames herself for what happened to her. She questions everything, including her new relationship with an older woman who gets on the bus, Aggie. Her new friend offers to help her. Readers tell me they love Aggie. I plant a seed of doubt. Did Aggie really just happen to be on the same bus, or did she get on the bus looking for Ivy?

Whether you are a plotter or a pantser, you can ask yourself how each character, act, or part of the story raises the stakes, moves the plot forward, and changes or affects the protagonist.

In my case, no matter how carefully I plot a story, the characters seem to take on a life of their own and completely derail my plans. They present opportunity after opportunity to send readers in the wrong direction, choose the wrong killer, and care deeply about the outcome. You might think my plotting was a waste of time. I think anything that inspires me to create suspense in a world you want to slip into and never leave isn’t a waste of time. When my plans are tossed out the window, the magic happens, and the book begins to write itself. It is always better than the story I planned.

Shannon Symonds writes in an old house by the sea, where her 6 children, their children, 30 or 40 of her closest relatives, and dogs come and go constantly. She loves laughter, a good mystery, running on the beach, deep sea fishing, and bonfires.

In 2021 she was awarded the Author Ready Author to Watch Award for her By the Sea Cozy Mystery YA series. Her books can be found at Deseret Book, Barnes & Noble, Costco, and Amazon.

Shannon’s books on Amazon @shannonsymondsauthor @cozymysteriesbythesea on Instagram

Keeping Cozy Mysteries Suspenseful by @shannonsymonds7 :
Click To Tweet

Image by Dorothe from Pixabay

The post Keeping Cozies Suspenseful appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 27, 2023 03:11