Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 190

The Power of Opposites in Our Story

My son is in marching band, so I found myself at the homecoming game last week as snack mom. :) What's more, since I was snack mom and had to stay for the whole football game, I told his friends' moms that I would drive their children home.

This means that I was at a high school football game with no friends to talk to. It was chilly, I hadn't dressed appropriately, I was by myself, and I don't watch football. And, every time I turned to watch my son instead of the game, (flirting in the stands with several different girls, it appeared), he frowned at me.

So I took my notebook out. Yes, I was the only person at the football game doing work, but luckily I'm able to block out announcers' voices, cheering/booing crowds, cheerleaders' chants, and curious looks. And who cared if I were embarrassing my son, since I was already embarrassing him by just being there? I made some progress on the new book.

But then—I found there was one force of nature I couldn't block out—the avid football fans seated directly behind me. And this, apparently, was the biggest game of the season that I had innocently wandered into.

The problem with the bellowing of these fans ("Where's the flag, ref?! "GET HIM!! GET HIMMMMM!!!" "GO! GO! GO!") is that I had absolutely no idea when they were going to start yelling, since I wasn't watching the game. So as soon as I got really embedded in my story, they started screaming behind me and I'd jump about two feet off the bleacher.

In fact, I ended up watching the game, which became a very close one (which meant the Avid Football Fans got louder and louder.) And I became aware that of all the people to be near each other, we had to be the most radically different: the nerdy woman trying to beat a deadline by writing a murder mystery at a football game, and the sports fan who has been closely following games since before I was born.

It occurred to me once again that playing with opposites is incredibly useful for a writer:

It can help provide a comic foil. I'm sure I looked funny juxtaposed miserably with the Avid Football Fans. And vice versa.

Opposites create conflict and tension in scenes. I know how I felt when I was around the Avid Football Fans…I wasn't exactly relaxed. We can also use opposites to provide internal conflict for our characters (what do they want most? What's the direct opposite of that? Can they want the opposite thing, also?)

Playing with opposites can be helpful in creating a character arc for a story. There can be two people—romantic interests, rivals, enemies—who hate each other at first, then grow to like or love each other.

It supplies contrast to show more information about our protagonist.

Do you enjoy using opposites in your stories?

The 4-Hour Novel: How to Balance Work, Life, Blogging and Your Passion By Ollin Morales

I know your pain.

Everyone's telling you you've got to write that novel and stop putting it off. Everyone's telling you that you've got to stop wasting your time watching Desperate Housewives already and start dedicating that time to building your author platform. Everyone's telling you that you can't be irresponsible--you've got to pay those bills. Everyone's telling you that you have to have a social life. (Where else are you gonna get that inspiration for your novel, anyway?)

Everyone's telling you to do all of this, but what you can't help thinking to yourself is: "YEAH, BUT HOW? HOW CAN I JUGGLE ALL OF THESE THINGS ALL AT ONCE?"

I know your pain.

Today, writers—and everyone else for that matter—are being asked to balance so much. Along with balancing work, life, blogging and our passions, we got to be expert "Twitterer's" and dynamite "Facbookers" and smart and hip "Google Plus-er's," too. We have to read up on all the news that's going on in the world and we have to keep nurturing our rapidly growing networks and connections.

But, if you're like me, you've probably realized that doing all of this, and doing it all effectively, is no easy task. In fact, trying to balance work, life, blogging, and your passion is not only nearly impossible—it can drive you insane.

Work can often be demanding. Life: all consuming. Blogging: a full-time job in and of itself.

But… what if there was a better way?

What if you could "do it all" by making a small, little tweak in your writing schedule? A small tweak that might seem innocent and simple at first, but that will eventually makes it a whole lot easier for you to balance ALL of your responsibilities?

Introducing "The 4-Hour Novel" Writing Schedule

For those who are swamped with a day job, and want to still maintain their sanity, I recommend that you dedicate only four hours a week to your passion (a.k.a. writing.)

Why four hours? Well, through trial and error I've found that four hours is just enough time to dedicate to your novel so that you don't feel like you're neglecting your passion—but not too much time that it'll make you feel like you're not fulfilling other important responsibilities.

I know. You already have doubts about this.

But, you think, if I only dedicate four hours a week to my novel--does that make me a real, committed writer? Or just a half-hearted one? Aren't writers with day jobs supposed to write at least 20+ hours a week by waking up before the crack of dawn, drink 25 cups of coffee and 40 Red Bulls, and avoid contact with their family and friends for most of the year except for on holidays and sick days?

Listen, if you can manage to do all that, more power to you. But I've found that waking up at the butt-crack of dawn just to write my novel makes me exhausted, cranky, and very unhappy all week. And it doesn't make for good writing. I have also found that locking myself in a dungeon and never seeing my family or friends for months at a time makes me feel awfully depressed and isolated. This type of writing-schedule-on-steroids "strategy" made my life feel drained and, consequently, there was no joy or excitement in my writing, either. In fact, I hated writing because of it.

So that's why I searched for a better way.

Balance: Your Passion (Writing)

For those who really want to balance everything and then some, the "The 4-Hour Novel" schedule might work for you. It's actually the best writing schedule I've ever been on.

When I'm on this schedule, my writing comes out so much better, I'm a lot more productive, I procrastinate less, and the schedule invigorates both my life and my passion.

I know, right? Who knew REDUCING the amount of time you wrote actually was BETTER for your writing than increasing it? But it's true. Try it out yourself.

Here's are some of the benefits you might discover:

- You are granted "ever-lasting" fresh eyes. The more time you spend on your novel, the more you risk getting "tunnel vision." Your objectivity gets skewed, and you risk falling into what I call a "Writer's Paranoia." A Writer's Paranoia is when you start to think you're a really a bad writer, or strongly suspect that the novel you're writing is total piece of crap—but no one wants to break the bad news to you. But, with the 4-Hour Novel schedule, you get a huge amount of time in between one writing session and the next one which gives you the opportunity to return to your work with fresh eyes all the time. You'll easily see how far you have come in the editing process and you'll be able to better measure the true merit of your work—because your perspective will always be closer to that of a brand new reader.

- It makes you more excited about the work. Believe it or not, I always look forward to my novel now. When you write too much, I think you risk letting your novel take over your life. This will make you start resenting your novel for not giving you enough space. (Yes we can resent the thing we love if it becomes too "clingy.") But by dedicating only four hours to your novel, you give your novel (and you) ample space to breathe and be independent of each other.

- It increases your productivity and your focus. Because you've spent most of your week not writing your novel, your eagerness to write during those four hours is at its peak. You're at "Level 10" of excitement, when, if you write regularly, you normally average about "Level 5." With the 4-hour novel schedule you dig into novel as if you were a starving man who has just been given a whole feast to devour. Just like that starving man, when you have those four hours to write you are so much more focused because you're trying to savor each moment--

because you know your time with your novel is short and you'll have to wait a long time before you see it again.

Balance: Blogging

Now that you know the benefits of only dedicating four hours a week to your passion, let's talk about how blogging fits into all of this.

Here are some more ways that we can make blogging an even less time-consuming job:

- Schedule posts in advance. You may miss that excitement that comes with writing spur-of-the-moment posts, but having your posts all written and ready to be rolled out ahead of time relieves you of some of the stress that comes with keeping up a blog.

- Close your comments after a period of time. I set my comments to close after two weeks. This means I can reply to comments and interact with the most urgent posts, but I don't have to spend times on posts that don't require my urgent attention.

- Write less by cutting down your posts to 500 words each. In my work as a freelancer--writing online content for a websites--I've noticed that the shorter the articles the more views the articles get. Let's face it: we live in an ADD culture. So not only will reducing your word count save you plenty of time blogging, it might even get your blog more views and shares.

- Mix it up. You can have posts with videos you've found on the Internet, or you can share reviews of your favorite books. These types of posts require less of your time and effort to create, and they also bring a welcomed diversity to your content.

- Post "Re-Runs." You'll be surprised how many of your readers will actually appreciate you revising an old, popular post and then re-posting it on your blog. This is because your readers don't have time to look through all your archives and so many of them might be seeing the old post for the first time. As long as the content you repost is really good, and as long as you don't post too many re-runs too often, this is a great way to free up more time for other responsibilities.

Balance: Work

Finally, with the 4-hour novel schedule, your novel becomes a reward for all that hard work you put into your day job. If you allot at least four hours for your passion every week, and you keep that time sacred, then your novel can remain as a constant reminder of why you sweat and toil so much at your day job.

Balance: Life

I have found that dedicating 4 hours a week to my novel makes me a happier writer, a more productive writer, and a writer who enjoys his life and his passion more.

But please know that achieving a perfect "life balance" is never easy, and it is certainly not consistent. Some days work will overwhelm everything else, or life will take center stage, or your passion will demand the spotlight. Sometimes absolutely nothing will fall in place.

Very rarely does everything fall in place.

But why should it?

When we think of balance, we should see it as a process—not as something we can really achieve, but as something we're always striving for. Instead of focusing on trying to attain "perfect" balance, then, maybe we should just pay close attention to the times when we feel like something is "off" balance.

Instead of focusing on how much your life needs to be perfectly balanced, instead, when you feel a great imbalance, check in with each part of your life, and see which one of those parts is taking up too much of your time, or too little, and then revise your schedule accordingly.

In this way, the balancing act of life is less of a law you must follow, and more like a set of guidelines that help you cope with an ever-changing journey.

Good luck to you, and happy balancing!

Ollin Morales is a writer. Courage 2 Create chronicles the author's journey as he writes his very first novel. This blog offers writing advice as well as strategies to deal with life's toughest challenges. After all, as Ollin's story unfolds, it becomes more and more clear to him that in order to write a great novel, he must first learn how to live a great life. His blog was named one of The Top Ten Blogs for writers by Write To Done in 2011, and has been featured on The Huffington Post and Colorlines.com.

Twitterific

Below are the writing-related links I tweeted last week.

The Writer's Knowledge Base search engine, designed by software engineer and writer Mike Fleming, makes all these links searchable. Sign up for the free monthly WKB newsletter for the web's best links and interviews: http://bit.ly/gx7hg1 .

Recent news: Progressive Dinner Deadly is a Myrtle Clover mystery, available for $2.99 on Kindle and Nook. The 3rd book in the Memphis Barbeque series will release November 1—Hickory Smoked Barbeque (available now for preorder).

Hope you'll join me here tomorrow when guest Ollin Morales posts on "The 4-Hour Novel: How to Balance Work, Life, Blogging and Your Passion."

Tips for better hyperlinking: http://bit.ly/mQBlx7

Revision Adventures: Building Strong Characters and Emotional Depth: http://bit.ly/oQrWSo @lkblackburne #writetip

Creativity Tweets of the Week: http://bit.ly/pU40kg @on_creativity

Fear is no way to run a business in publishing or writing: http://bit.ly/rinT5j

On voice and timing: http://bit.ly/oDdNiM

Maurice Sendak: 'I refuse to lie to children' (Guardian): http://bit.ly/qdg1Oj

Why Would You Not Spend the Time to Learn Indie Publishing? http://bit.ly/nCxI9A @DeanWesleySmith

Authorial Stickiness and Self Publishing: http://bit.ly/mSxdWZ @DearAuthor @epub

Multiple POV or not? Why does it matter? http://bit.ly/n0np8r @JulietteWade #writetip

Writing Life: How to Expose Yourself: http://bit.ly/nx0sgr @GeoffreyCubbage

3 Ways to Write Your Memoir/Personal Story: http://bit.ly/oVlv7a

The Ultimate 15 point Checklist to Make Your Writing Come Alive: http://bit.ly/qHbktW

Real Life Diagnostics: Building a World That Sucks You in: http://bit.ly/nfVJ3i @janice_hardy

How do you start ? Tips for getting those 1st words onto the page: http://bit.ly/nAc1eB @TheCreativePenn

Critical plot elements--the black moment: http://bit.ly/nU4lKJ @AimeeLSalter

Top 10 things 1 writer has learned from teaching English 101: http://bit.ly/pqviUw @annegreenawalt

The dangers of character overload: http://bit.ly/qqTd2S @KMWeiland #writetip

8 Writing Tricks You Won't Read Anywhere Else: http://bit.ly/r3piRx @askatechteacher

An agent on breaking through the slush: http://bit.ly/okGgmK

NaNoWriMo tip--keep your character close to home: http://bit.ly/pLADA8

Betting the Farm on Self-Publishing: http://bit.ly/p3Mdy0 @techsavvywrite

Why Setting IS Important When Writing A Novel: http://bit.ly/n3jcMS @bubblecow

An agent with 10 tidbits about author platform: http://bit.ly/nNHBB0 @RachelleGardner

Tips for writing your 1st page: http://bit.ly/qmSTbO @kaykenyon via @JulietteWade #writetip

3 Tips for Professional E-Book Covers: http://bit.ly/qolSRa @janefriedman

A Novelist Takes on Short Stories: http://bit.ly/pzVWlj #writetip

3 Ways to Avoid Repeating Words: http://bit.ly/nPtqqh @sierragodfrey

On oxymorons: http://bit.ly/ragpNa

Niche Publishing and the Power of the Few: http://bit.ly/nGgy1K @jfbookman

UK Publishers, Agents Find Solidarity in Facing Digital Transition Together: http://bit.ly/oeglSE

How to Escalate Conflict in Your Novel: http://bit.ly/nQp9BK @cjredwine #writetip

On ebook tagging: http://bit.ly/pRGci1 @WriteAngleBlog

Preparing for NaNoWriMo: Vet and Fertilize Your Story Idea: http://bit.ly/nrOeUD @storyfix

Changing our book's game plan: http://bit.ly/oC2Gn4

Kickstarter Project to Give Teens Access to Banned Books: http://bit.ly/onv36f @galleycat

Selling books on Amazon? Do you have your Author Page set up there? http://bit.ly/nnvFaX @BookBuzzr

25 Essential Conference Networking Tips: http://bit.ly/oCvV79 @debng

Building A Platform: Tips From An Agent: http://bit.ly/r4cH4Q @CuriosityQuills

The most important thing on an author's website: http://bit.ly/nBYYm3 @BookMarketer

How to Read More: A Lover's Guide: http://zenhabits.net/read/ @zen_habits

Why Self-Promotion Shouldn't Be a Dirty Word: http://bit.ly/q0SQ78 @RoniLoren

Build Your Personal Brand with These 5 Simple Tools: http://bit.ly/q9B6T6 @MichaelHyatt

Who edits the editors? http://bit.ly/ol9My3 @sarahahoyt

Pros and Cons of Using Secret Identities in Your Story: http://bit.ly/mQIHI8

Adding tricksters to your story: http://bit.ly/oVDef2 @HP4Writers

Using Ebooks to Save on the Price of Review Copies: http://bit.ly/n8jCKc by FutureBook via @PassiveVoiceBlg

Creative women, own your stories: http://bit.ly/nRM7r8 @justinemusk

Lighting the Narrative: http://bit.ly/qxuDiX @RavenRequiem13

9 ways to pass the time while waiting to hear from queries: http://bit.ly/n3BIsS

Why Building a Platform Is Essential & How to Do It: http://bit.ly/nlifaw

A New Company Helps Clients of Literary Agents Self-Publish ebooks: http://bit.ly/nJTYKB @PassiveVoiceBlg

Looking for examples of strong narrative voice? Stand-up comics: http://bit.ly/nhjJdG @tiffanyreisz

How To Write A Book Proposal: http://bit.ly/pPgzhX @thecreativepenn

10 ways to make magic real: http://bit.ly/r9C9tb @CherylRWrites

The structure of your book matters: http://bit.ly/n1UICo @KristenLambTX

Is it all right to use words repeatedly? Depends on the word & the context: http://bit.ly/mY36LM @JulietteWade

Psychology in Fiction: Brainwashing: http://bit.ly/p8WpKT @QueryTracker

The most important element in book design: http://bit.ly/n2PofL @jfbookman

An agent reminds us not to rush our submissions: http://bit.ly/mR1WTy @greyhausagency #pubtip

'Thinking Outside the Box' Tips for Creating Your own Book Marketing Video: http://bit.ly/p7gEiQ @HowToWriteShop

3 ways to address any writing setback: http://bit.ly/o7ibGM

Style checklist for writers: http://bit.ly/pKspIA @LynnetteLabelle

Top 5 Most Common Query/Cover Letter Errors: http://bit.ly/pt8gG7 @buriededitor

Tips for speeding through a 1st draft: http://bit.ly/pyE2H0 #writetip

The Nook is Coming to Target: http://bit.ly/pV8vxP

Writers get 1 freebie when writing a book. Use it wisely: amwriting.org/archives/7631 @p2p_editor

Why 1 author writes for children: http://bit.ly/r2gRl7 @AdrienneKress

6 Ways to Fight the Dreaded Doubts: http://bit.ly/qfGX6f @LyndaRYoung

Nanowrimo Prep: What's Your Premise? http://bit.ly/ozdtYf @AlexSokoloff

Formatting Word docs for ebooks and print: http://bit.ly/nQpuSz @kareninglis

How 1 writer revises: http://bit.ly/oicR1g @veronicaroth

11 top tips for bloggers: http://bit.ly/nApU51

7 Tips for Accomplishing your Goals in Bite Sized Pieces: http://bit.ly/npJ9Aq @JWhite

4 ways to apply lessons learned from craft books: http://bit.ly/nY0ZEQ @inkworknow

How writers can beat tip of tongue syndrome: http://bit.ly/oqNOaf @inkworknow

Enhanced E-books and the Future of Publishing: http://bit.ly/rm1I2D (The Atlantic)

25 things you should know about NaNoWriMo: http://bit.ly/ndzdaP @ChuckWendig

10 early warning signs that you need to decrease (or increase) your time online: http://bit.ly/pFKqvn @awsamuel

An agent on self-publishing: http://bit.ly/nxYVBI @sarahlapolla

3 Essential Questions Every Author Must Ask Themselves: http://bit.ly/qAR6iC @sarahthewriter1

Which Comes First: Conflict or Characterization? http://bit.ly/ojAhNS @writeitsideways

7 Character Types That Build Your Story: http://bit.ly/pIp5cg @4KidLit

How To Avoid the Publishing Kool-Aid: http://bit.ly/oyy8kk @JamiGold

An agent on referrals and recommendations: http://bit.ly/p7LNYw @rachellegardner #pubtip

Excel…a writer's best friend? http://bit.ly/n7M7ch @mikemartinez72

Revision and self-editing tips: http://bit.ly/qPAMuD @pichetsinparis

Book Reviewers: An Author's Best Friend: http://bit.ly/rl0Ior @jodyhedlund

How to open your book with a bang: http://bit.ly/onRYiC @victoriamixon #writetip

Getting Started as a Freelance Copywriter: http://bit.ly/roO95c @urbanmusewriter

A writer reports on 1 year of self-publishing: http://bit.ly/obTdcx @jimchines

Top 10 comic book villains: http://bit.ly/oHTL5O @sciencefiction

15 Frequently Confused Pairs of Verbs: http://bit.ly/pvqLCO

3 Ruthless Email Responses to Achieve Inbox Zero: http://bit.ly/qLh5lb @lifehackorg

5 writing tips 1 mom learned from her Down Syndrome daughter: http://bit.ly/ntweB7 @TiceWrites

See How Easily You Can Format Dialogue: http://bit.ly/pV94jI @bubblecow

Don't confuse readers with inconsistent character names: http://bit.ly/oDqEMN @KMWeiland

For Bloggers--How to Avoid Becoming A "Gap Hunter": http://bit.ly/qxBgpw @ollinmorales

5 tips for a successful NaNoWriMo (and how Scrivener can help): http://bit.ly/oReMlf

Building Your Web Presence For Authors: Link-Building Tips: http://bit.ly/qhShMq

11 core WordPress plugins: http://bit.ly/qI62J0

Should You Serialize a Novel on Kindle? http://bit.ly/qllfPG @dirtywhitecandy

Cleaning Up Your Word Processing File Before You Publish: http://bit.ly/rqr0Ca @PassiveVoiceBlg

An insightful wrap-up of industry news and buzz by @Porter_Anderson for @JaneFriedman: http://bit.ly/oHBGXL #writetip

Authors: Ideas to Promote Each Other: http://bit.ly/p4fcWD

Nice rejections count: http://bit.ly/nsYaTg @JulietteWade

Nail Your NaNoWriMo #6: Filling Out the Big Picture: http://bit.ly/nltPGz @storyfix

Software to help organize 1st drafts: http://bit.ly/opruss @Kathy_Crowley

5 Kindle formatting tips: http://bit.ly/rsSqXg @TheCreativePenn

Migrating to Digital Publishing? Answers from the Experts: http://bit.ly/pXM9Zk by Karina Mikhli

Tips for capturing character voices: http://bit.ly/nXtnep @Dianapfrancis #writetip

Don't be a zombie when you write: http://bit.ly/pS97Le @lisagailgreen

Are Writers Entrepreneurs? http://bit.ly/oEep9Y @JamiGold

The value of being specific when giving a critique: http://bit.ly/ooACEa @JoniBCole

The Best Way Ever for SF/Fantasy Fans to Waste Time: http://bit.ly/rrxPGQ @GeoffreyCubbage

Writing an ebook: the pros and cons: http://bit.ly/qIUOlc @marlataviano

Allusion vs. Illusion vs. Elusion (Daily Writing Tips) : http://bit.ly/rdvC7u

The importance of accuracy & authenticity in crime fiction--without losing focus on the story: http://bit.ly/qaQuMO @mkinberg

High profile cases in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/rqBMew

The Importance of Writing Unrealistically: http://bit.ly/qw3VIu @LTWFblog

Why Writers Conferences are Rethinking Pitch Sessions: http://bit.ly/pqNkH1 @amysuenathan

Right ways, wrong ways, & smart ways to build a brand: http://bit.ly/o0pWJ4 @KristenLambTX

Why 1 writer is happy to be traditionally published: http://bit.ly/qIMOeD

When you're unhappy with the way your publisher classified your book: http://bit.ly/okf7pt @behlerpublish

Don't Be a Poser: Write What You Love: http://bit.ly/oLKWcj @RoniLoren

Top 20 Free Book Apps of the Week: http://bit.ly/qY1clU @ebooknewser

Nanowrimo Prep: The Index Card Method: http://bit.ly/qoHl4K @AlexSokoloff #writetip

Give your character a hammer & everything looks like a nail: 57 ways to make your story unique http://bit.ly/qyzOxT @CherylRWrites #writetip

4 worst sentence constructions: http://bit.ly/nKXsDr @FictionNotes

Suffragette Steampunk: http://bit.ly/qf26dI @catrambo

The Elusive Perfect Reader: http://bit.ly/pj1VGq @lynneklippel

Nature Vs Nurture: Natural Writers and the Educated: http://bit.ly/nJPUd4 @CathyStucker

On script theft: http://bit.ly/n5Cz4S @jeannevb

The value of our writing: http://bit.ly/pCRpUO @zoewinters

How to Make Horror and Dark Fantasy Work on TV: http://on.io9.com/rfj7YE @io9 #screenwriting

Writing About Yourself Without Being Arrogant or Apologetic: http://bit.ly/qZiPjx @thursdayb

Grab Readers' Attention with Your Hook: http://bit.ly/qV73sc @mariamurnane

The 10 Types of Writers' Block (and How to Overcome Them): http://on.io9.com/nDc4yv @io9

Portraying protagonists with warmth: http://bit.ly/mUMVG8 @DonMaass #writetip

8 Ideas for Getting to Know Your Character:http://bit.ly/oXKBKJ by Kenda Turner #writetip

Nail Your NaNoWriMo: The Most Important Moment in your Story: http://bit.ly/rqBEck @storyfix

Designing a Character: Using Color Schemes: http://bit.ly/oi0y35 @lesliesullirose

Best articles this week for writers 9/7/11: http://bit.ly/oXuaXH @4KidLit #writetip

Why Vampire Novels Will Always Be Popular: http://bit.ly/nasaL7 @/CuriosityQuills

Books provide entertainment value in tough times: http://bit.ly/pWXXMP @WriteAngleBlog

3 Keys to Sustainable & Successful Indie Authorship: http://bit.ly/qzQ8N4 @backmybook

21 Ways to Save Minutes Each Day: http://bit.ly/qZQ2Vw @workawesome

There Is No Story Until There Are 2 Stories: http://bit.ly/nR438g by Edmund Schubert #writetip

Contact Tip for Writers: http://bit.ly/q4ba4E @catwood

How a TV director writes a novel: http://bit.ly/pYcNof @novelrocket

Is Character Destiny? http://bit.ly/rc40b4 @BTMargins

Why readers want to be hooked quickly and how to do it: http://bit.ly/oihLk9 by Cindy Wilson

Say Bonjour to the Amazon French Kindle Store: http://bit.ly/mXm75A

Making time to Write: http://bit.ly/nxNtNB @GlennGamble

How to edit your manuscript in 30 days or fewer: http://bit.ly/mTlNUN @elanaj #writetip

Q & A with An Agent's Slush-Pile Reader: http://bit.ly/q4VeGM @MuseInks

Writer Beware and "The Write Agenda": http://bit.ly/nfXZPe @newbookin

Re-Examining Digital's 'Saint' McLuhan In His Centenary Year http://ow.ly/6QGwG by @robertandrews via @Porter_Anderson

Thoughts on group blogging: http://bit.ly/qaA60d

On Group Blogging

As someone who's currently on a couple of group blogs (and who has been a regular contributor on as many as five), I found a recent post by author/social media guru Kristen Lamb interesting.

In it, Kristen says:

I have run into writers who were very prolific, contributing to multiple group blogs. Group blogs are wonderful. They can help us learn to blog better and can offer accountability. Yet, if we are writing for three different group blogs, but then not blogging on our own site? That is BAD. Group blogs will not brand an individual author. Yes, we will have a social media presence…but that isn't a brand.

I have to agree with Kristen. In fact, on some group blogs, it's hard to tell who that day's contributor even is. Many, many times I want to tweet something that someone has written on a group blog and I can't find the writer's contact info, blog or Twitter handle. Sometimes it's even hard to figure out who wrote the post (sometimes it will even say by guest.)

I think it's better to make sure that a byline with your contact info (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and blog or website link is at the bottom of every group blog post. If you're allowed to, a book cover is nice, too. Because, this is branding we're talking about. You want to be associated with the book you're promoting.

I agree with Kristen's point about making sure we're still blogging on our own, individual blogs. You won't make much of an individual splash on a group blog, especially if you're only occasionally posting.

It's also a good idea to write for a group blog that reaches a different audience than your personal blog. I'm primarily writing for writers here at my blog. At Mystery Lovers' Kitchen, I'm blogging for readers. And on A Good Blog is Hard to Find, I'm blogging for readers who enjoy Southern-themed books (as opposed to just mystery writers.)

How group blogs work:

There'll be a set schedule—either a particular day of the week or month, or an emailed schedule.

Saturdays are usually not popular with writers for posting. It's thought to be a day that gets less blog traffic (although I haven't actually noticed this to be true.) Sometimes, rotating out Saturday duties is nice so no one gets upset. I've also been on group blogs where no one posted on Saturday, but book news or news on events and appearances were posted.

Usually, group members are expected to support the other members by commenting on their blog posts at least every few days.

Group members are usually expected to respond to comments on their day.

Promoting the group blog on social media like Facebook and Twitter is usually appreciated.

Trading out guest posts with other group blogs is a nice way to get cross-exposure for both groups.

Have you thought about forming a group blog or asking to join one?

Making time to Write—by Glenn Gamble

You wrote your first book, and it's on Kindle, Smashwords, Nook and wherever else ebooks are sold. You're proud of it, your family members pretend that they're proud of you, and your wife wishes that you would stop chasing unattainable dreams. Whatever the case, you have joined the ranks of becoming a novelist by agonizing over your work for however long it took you to write your book. Good job—now write the next one!

Easier said than done when you have children, work, and other obligations that eat away at your writing time. Some of you log on twitter and commiserate with all your writer friends about not having time to write your next work of art because of the aforementioned obligations in your life. Others say "I can't wait to be able to make enough income to be a full-time writer, then I could quit my job because I would love nothing more than to have all day to type stories on my computer and submit those best-sellers. James Patterson has nothing on me. Hocking? Locke? JK Rowling, eat your heart out!"

Guess what? You'll never have enough time to write. Watch yourself there, don't choke on your jelly bean!

Go back and reread the bold print.

Make peace with the face that you will never have enough time to write, then you won't have this excuse to use as a crutch anymore. There will never be enough of a time balance for you to write your masterpieces, due to the fast paced society that we live in. Kids, homework, job, wife, soccer practice and mistress are all demanding an unfair chunk of your time, that's life. With that said, you have to make time to write if being a novelist is something that you want to do. No one cares about an author who only has one book published. Think about your favorite authors –they have several books published—because they made time to write while encumbered with the same obstacles you face, if not more. Now its your turn to make time to write.

The key to making time to write is to squeeze it into the small pockets of idle time that you have available. Do you have a 30 minute lunch break? Eat a snack for the first 15 minutes and work on your story for the next 15 minutes. Do you have downtime at your job? Some of us work in occupations where we face long periods of boredom, sandwiched in between intense work projects. If you have down periods, or slow periods then work on your story for that period. Just be mindful that your employer pays your mortgage and that you do need to show your managers respect. When you're at your job, your first priority is fulfilling the expectations of your management team first and foremost.

Do you have a favorite television show? Skip it. Granted, some of you like Survivor and believe that it provides great entertainment value. Who cares? Besides, when was the last time your favorite television show provided you with a tangible benefit that was instrumental in improving your life? What about in improving your writing? Television is for people who are trying to balance writing with working.

Another thing that tickles me is the notion that you must block out writing time and create this perfect environment where you get to sit in a quiet room and write without distractions and interruptions in order for you to create your best work. While this might be ideal, it's unrealistic. You have children, you live in an apartment, you live with your mama, and you share the same room with your wife.

There are a number of uncontrollable distractions that occur throughout the day. You must learn how to tune them out in order to pursue your dream. In reality, you won't be able to control what goes on in your environment. Your son will not stop being acting like a child just because you're writing. So you raise your child and write your book. If something happens that requires your attention, stop writing and resolve the issue at hand. If your mistress calls you every day, return her calls every three days. Writing should be your main priority that comes second only to your family and your job.

Pursue small pockets of time throughout the day and make the best of them whether they're your lunch breaks, your downtime, your weekends or that half hour before you go to bed.

Glenn Gamble is the author of A Thousand Chances, Bon Appetit, Escape, On the Run, and James. All of his books are available on Amazon Kindle , Barnes and Noble Nook and Smashwords .

He also encourages you to go to his website http://www.GlennGamble.com .

The Importance of Opening Lines

I usually don't get stuck with book beginnings (endings are more of a problem for me), because I have a similar approach each time. This may not give me an award for originality, but it does seem to work.

I like to open with dialogue and start the book in the middle of some sort of change for my protagonist. The point where a normal, everyday, boring day turns into something different.

Now endings? They're tougher for me. I usually write several of those and decide which one I like best. That would be easy to do with a beginning, too. It takes off some of the pressure when we realize we can change it.

If you get stuck at the beginning of your book, you could even skip it and write it last.

Opening lines I'm not crazy about

I'll admit to being a pretty picky reader. I think this is because I have such a long list of books to read that I just move to the next title on the list if a book doesn't grab me.

Although opening with setting is fine, I do want the setting to be an important part of the story if the book opens up with it.

Long descriptions on the first page usually make me start skimming.

Too many character names at the very beginning of a book can make me confused, too.

Book openings usually have several goals:

Introducing the protagonist…just getting them onstage so the reader knows whom the story is about.

Posing a question, introducing some conflict, or generally hinting the plot's direction.

Showing the writer's voice.

Interesting opening lines

Looking for some examples of some enticing opening lines? Check out this article from Stylist: "The best 100 opening lines from books."

As a reader, what kinds of book beginning get you hooked? As a writer, are opening lines tough for you?

All About NaNoWriMo

November 1st through 30th is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo.

If you're not familiar with it, the goal of NaNoWriMo is to write a novel in a month. You can log your progress online, participate in forums for different genres, and receive motivation, support, and encouragement from other writers.

Unfortunately, I never seem able to participate because I'm in the middle of a manuscript (to technically follow the rules, you're supposed to start a new project), but I feed off of the creativity and excitement of the participants and lurk in the forums pretty frequently, too.

I thought I'd run this post a little earlier than I ordinarily would, because I think that sometimes to write a novel quickly, we need a little prep-work beforehand.

Interested in participating in NaNoWriMo next month? Here are some posts to help you get prepared (some posts from last year and some more recent ones):

Wondering whether you should participate?

5 Reasons You Should Do NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month: http://dld.bz/zHnH

The Pros and Cons of NaNoWriMo: http://dld.bz/3UfK

Recent series on NaNoWriMo:

Larry Brooks on StoryFix is currently running a series, "Nail Your NaNoWriMo." Here are his first posts-- http://bit.ly/pvLOP0 , 2: http://bit.ly/pLADA8, 3: http://bit.ly/nrOeUD

Alexandra Sokoloff is also doing a series of posts on preparing for NaNoWriMo: http://bit.ly/qHH62A and http://bit.ly/mRWaNq are her first two.

Some help from last year:

6 Golden Rules of NaNoWriMo: http://dld.bz/3XH7

NaNoWriMo Workshop – Plot: http://dld.bz/3XHt

NaNoWriMo Boot Camp: Choosing the Right Idea: http://dld.bz/3876

Getting your NaNo on: http://dld.bz/386A

NaNoWriMo - Make a list: http://dld.bz/3cF3

Make Your NaNoWriMo Experience Count: http://dld.bz/2vp3

Countdown to NaNoWriMo: Outlining A Novel Worth Reading: http://dld.bz/2rkR

5 Resources To Help You Plan Your NaNoWriMo Novel: http://dld.bz/zyZQ

Anybody planning on participating in the challenge?

Moving Quickly Through a Draft

I'd love to have the luxury of thoughtfully mulling over each word and getting wrapped up in the art of my writing—I just don't have the time.

Between publisher deadlines, working for more than one imprint and editor, and trying to do my own independent projects, writing quickly has become mandatory for me.

If you're in the same boat, or if you're thinking of participating in NaNoWriMo next month, I thought I'd share what works for me. (Your mileage may vary.) :)

Tips for speeding through a first draft:

Have at least an idea where you're heading with a story.

Write sequels and series—you'll have an already-established setting and a core group of characters to write several books around.

Don't worry about chapter breaks during a first draft. Or even a second draft.

Don't stop to research or find the perfect word choice. Type in **** and come back to it later.

Learn to write anywhere and with any noise level . The ability to adapt to any environment makes the writing go faster.

Don't obsess over the perfect character name. The name can easily be changed later after we've gotten to know the character better.

When you realize you're not happy with the direction your story is taking, flag the point where you're changing the plot line and just pick up with the new direction at that point.

Put random ideas and out of place scenes in a special Word file.

If you get stuck at some point in your book, consider writing a different part of the book until you're ready to tackle the part that stumped you.

Make a short list of what you want to accomplish with your writing for the next day and where you plan on picking up with your story.

What works for you? Do you experiment with your process? And…are you participating in NaNoWriMo?

Changing Our Book's Game Plan

I've worked with several different editors for the series I've written/am writing.

Each editor has been very different. I've actually really appreciated the differences because I'm getting a different perspective each time I go through an edit.

My editor for the new series has kept me on my toes. I'm not good on the phone (actually, I hate phones), so I usually try not to talk on one. I'm also someone who makes books up as I go along…I don't outline.

This editor likes to talk on the phone and review outlines. :)

The process has probably been good for me. Although it's been challenging.

Our last conversation, though, showed my discomfort with both phones and outlines, all at once. My editor said, "Yes, the story you're planning sounds really good. But I was wondering if you could change the killer?"

Now, if I'd been emailing, I would have written something really polished back. I'd have said I was delighted to change the killer and here were three alternates. Did she have a preference?

Since I was on the phone, though, I said, "Uhhhhh…."

It wasn't that I was upset about making a change. Actually, I frequently change the killer while I'm writing my book…or even after I've written it. Easy enough, because all the suspects have motive, means, and opportunity. It doesn't really matter to me which one does it because I've set up up so any of them could have murdered the victim.

But the difference was that I hadn't written this book out yet…it was an outline. And I was on the phone. And I hadn't thought it through.

Once I'd recovered and told her I'd be happy to make the change and would email her the possibilities, I took a look at the outline. She'd blown my mind enough that I couldn't even remember who the other suspects were.

I found, though, that if I changed the killer, it actually was going to make the mystery a lot more interesting. As I started exploring the possibilities, more ideas came to me. Some of the ideas weren't going to work, but others were more interesting.

It really changed the entire book, since it was an outline. If I were just doing a revision of a finished book, it wouldn't have probably changed it that much…because I'd just have tweaked it in a few places and rewritten the last couple of chapters.

I'm still no fan of outlines (even though this particular instance worked out well), but it made me think about the other project that I'm starting right now..the one that I'm not outlining. I always have a big-picture idea of a book when I'm starting out, a general direction I'm heading in. In fact, I usually write the back cover copy for a book before I start writing the manuscript.

Maybe I could write several completely different big-picture ideas for the new book. Wildly different from each other. And see which one I like best.

Do you come up with different outcomes of a book when you're brainstorming? Or do you latch onto the first feasible idea you have (which is, ordinarily, what I do…although I frequently revise it later)?

Twitterific

Below are the writing-related links I tweeted last week.

The Writer's Knowledge Base search engine, designed by software engineer and writer Mike Fleming, makes all these links searchable. Sign up for the free monthly WKB newsletter for the web's best links and interviews: http://bit.ly/gx7hg1 .

Recent news: Progressive Dinner Deadly is a Myrtle Clover mystery, available for $2.99 on Kindle and Nook. The 3rd book in the Memphis Barbeque series will release November 1—Hickory Smoked Barbeque (available now for preorder).

Hope everyone has a great week! Good luck with your writing.

10 Tips Writers can Learn from Bad Movies: http://bit.ly/oYOxmd @LyndaRYoung

What makes a novel a page-turner? http://bit.ly/ql7atc @jamesscottbell

Weeding or editing: http://bit.ly/qvSF3L @nicolamorgan

Is your YA setting hitting the wrong nerve? http://bit.ly/oFWCvl @YAConfidential

Real Life Diagnostics: Dreaming of a Good Start: http://bit.ly/q51SDj

Creating Cover Art: Down & Dirty Tips: http://bit.ly/pnYzC1

How do you get fans without 1st having word-of-mouth? 1 at a time: http://bit.ly/qrpJM2

How to Self-Publish an Ebook with Smashwords: 32 Authors Share Their Tips and Tricks: http://bit.ly/p3jk5h

5 Steps to Adding Social Follow Buttons to Your Website: http://bit.ly/pYmBWp @bookmarketer

Book Cover Design Tips: http://bit.ly/nHBqEu @thecreativepenn

The Philosophy of Writing and Reading: http://bit.ly/qIYnQi @FantasyFaction

What Elements Make a "Good Book"? http://bit.ly/p6iYpx @KMWeiland

Self-publishing news & views on @jfbookman 's Carnival of the Indies: http://bit.ly/nviJMo

Fictional sleuths who disarm their suspects with charm: http://bit.ly/ptbdag @mkinberg

Handling both good and bad reviews: http://bit.ly/qZK8Kc

The danger of inspirational fiction: http://bit.ly/p2AFq9 @NovelRocket

Should Your Story Be Told by an Unreliable Narrator? http://bit.ly/pR8tz7 @LTWFblog

Thoughts on writing for kids: http://bit.ly/qf11f0 @spacejock

A writer's partnership with editors & the importance of revisions: http://bit.ly/o4MZcG

The similarities between self-publishing and blogging: http://bit.ly/mYpLWl @jfbookman

Why You Should Only Query 6-8 Agents at a Time: http://bit.ly/nM9Ssh

Where to Find Free Market Listings for Writers: http://bit.ly/olLWqX @JaneFriedman

Resources for writing SF/F: http://bit.ly/qM8fns

15 Terms for Forms and Types of Governance: http://bit.ly/pssYRv

A Good Editor – Don't Leave Home Without One: http://bit.ly/nNgOeH

Plot is linear, story doesn't have to be: http://bit.ly/rnZviq @dirtywhitecandy

Why are our heroes getting darker? http://bit.ly/oQExrV @FantasyFaction

A Checklist for Marketing Your Ebook: http://bit.ly/pXcoGb @JaneFriedman

Tips for writing action: http://bit.ly/qmjSv9 @jhansenwrites

Agents Who Want to Be Publishers: Get Author Consent in Writing: http://bit.ly/otia2n @PassiveVoiceBlg

Straddling Genres: http://bit.ly/n4Nvd4 @jemifraser

25 insights on becoming a better writer: http://bit.ly/ngWXRq @the99percent

Review: Kobo eReader Touch: http://bit.ly/qL6mzv #ebook

5 Android Apps For Writing: http://bit.ly/qs7z8c @ebooknewser

Write Yourself into Your Characters: http://bit.ly/qtpt4H @fuelyourwriting

10 Websites and Blogs of Punctuation Protectors: http://bit.ly/pUu1Ud

How to speak publisher - D is for day job: http://bit.ly/qWLH0t

Thoughts on putting an anthology together: http://bit.ly/pOGYFG

Bust-A-Myth #1: Don't Start Sentences With Because: http://bit.ly/p4X8Wv @Grammar_Diva

11 Habits of Highly Effective Interviewers: http://bit.ly/qZ1NHS @write_practice

Change of Seasons--Visioning Time for Your Book? http://bit.ly/nR2Ado

5 Ways to Keep Your Writing Engine Running: http://bit.ly/q717mh @writeitsideways

The Fear of Not Succeeding:http://bit.ly/pUpFzN @PBRWriter

Add layers to your first chapter: http://bit.ly/qqhNC8 @laurapauling

On daydreaming and word counts: http://bit.ly/nTtwMw

The Emotional Roller Coaster Ride of a Book Release: http://bit.ly/oFVk9J @jodyhedlund

7 steps for better blog design: http://bit.ly/owdx5O @jeffgoins

Become the Hero of Your Writing Life: http://bit.ly/phBHwd @katie_tallo

Artfully Editing Your Personal Essays: http://bit.ly/pcQ1S0

How The Amazon Tablet Will 1-Click Enable Your Life: http://bit.ly/oT11rf @PassiveVoiceBlg

Does writing affect one's love of reading? http://bit.ly/opSTIv

The benefits of humor in suspense: http://bit.ly/rePTj4 @joanswan

BannedBooksWeek-- A look at Huckleberry Finn: bit.ly/q2KT37 @p2p_editor

#BannedBooksWeek--A look at "Catcher in the Rye": bit.ly/q2KT37 @p2p_editor

#BannedBooksWeek--A look at "Fahrenheit 451": http://bit.ly/nDjkMO @p2p_editor

How *not* to introduce a new character: http://bit.ly/pJvqWV @write_practice

Trouble at Aspen Mountain Press: http://bit.ly/oohxgf @VictoriaStrauss

Poetic Forms: Rispetto: http://bit.ly/nSkuBI

How To Check Out Kindle Library On The iPad: http://bit.ly/qhGbvo @ebooknewser

A writer's minimum viable product: http://bit.ly/nUDS7U @jfbookman

A look at what makes a story a story: http://bit.ly/pt3vs4 @JaneFriedman

3 Places To Get Off Your Grammar High Horse: http://bit.ly/mZeWBk @Grammar_Diva

4 skills fantasy writers need: http://bit.ly/pWWYHf

1st round edits--the editorial letter: http://bit.ly/qER3t9

Tips for beta readers: http://bit.ly/r1HiO3 @Sarafurlong

5 Essential Tips For Creating A Children's Book: http://bit.ly/qn0hqO @thecreativepenn

10 ways to increase story tension: http://bit.ly/qwmHSh @CherylRWrites

Differentiating between characters: http://bit.ly/oQ99g8

"Playwrights...stand in the back of the theatre & watch the audience, not the play." @LaurHarrington http://ow.ly/6GmbZ RT@Porter_Anderson

#BannedBooksWeek: A look at "Lolita": bit.ly/nvsljW @p2p_editor

10 Reasons It's Great to Be a Writer: http://bit.ly/rnCyLW @elspethwrites

Tips for finding a good pen name: http://bit.ly/o2642k @WriteAngleBlog

10 questions to ask your characters : http://bit.ly/paYEyE @jammer0501

10 tips for planning a blog tour: http://bit.ly/nzXXS1 @BryanThomasS

Tips for staying inspired to finish your book: http://bit.ly/nFj4Qs @NovelRocket

Conference flubs aren't fatal: http://bit.ly/ogNuKM

Why Seth Godin says we are all weird now + what this means for your blog: http://bit.ly/rs0PFx @justinemusk

The Parable of the Little Book of Stories: http://bit.ly/p3mBMR @jfbookman

5 Words and Their Nonantonymic Antonyms: http://bit.ly/qY3VK7

Are you writing the right medium? http://bit.ly/oUvLuS @jammer0501

6 tips for author readings: http://bit.ly/n6SyXP @RLLaFevers

Stiff competition makes self-editing essential: http://bit.ly/oI7z8j @bubblecow

Reading our old books is like an echo from the past: http://bit.ly/omAevM @barbaraoneal

Bad v. badly: http://bit.ly/r5jp3L

Writers--learn & manage the business side of : http://bit.ly/oxug17 @DeanWesleySmith

Enough with the 'Facebook is Free' Already: http://bit.ly/nbGMrF @catseyewriter

How many sample chapters should we sent agents or editors? http://bit.ly/qb8f2I @WritersDigest

10 Things You Can Do Now to Promote the Book You Haven't Even Sold Yet: http://bit.ly/pPWXdU @NovelRocket

Shortcut to scene: http://bit.ly/qdrtBe @Mommy_Authors

7 Ways to Perfect Your Writing "Tone": http://bit.ly/nAWsLC @WritersDigest

Tips for staying on task: http://bit.ly/qbG61x

Why nouns matter--objects and labels: http://bit.ly/n0wzCo @JulietteWade

5 Facebook Changes and What You Need to Know: http://bit.ly/ntzZST

The "Than" Versus "Then" Debacle: http://bit.ly/n3WqCW @write_practice

A few queries that didn't work: http://bit.ly/r4liL7

The Future Of Books: A Dystopian Timeline: http://tcrn.ch/oICGte #publishing

7 Tips to Improve Your Novel's Pacing: http://bit.ly/rdMr7m @janice_hardy

Do you have to write high-concept to have a successful novel? http://bit.ly/qApRrv @LauraPauling

Pre-Writing Preparation--or Not: http://bit.ly/q3ViaA @elspethwrites

How To Find Free eBooks for Your iPhone: http://bit.ly/q0rPFK @galleycat

4 years into the ebook revolution: things we know and things we don't know: http://bit.ly/ngFoq9 @PassiveVoiceBlg

Facebook attempts to be more like Twitter & Google+: http://bit.ly/nZkGuk @KristenLambTX

Catch up w/ industry news & views with this thoughtful digest by @Porter_Anderson for @JaneFriedman: http://bit.ly/oLZIZE

Words to consider cutting if your word count is too high: http://bit.ly/rbRRfe

When Writers Don't Agree With the Publisher/Publicist's Message: http://bit.ly/qffswR @BlurbIsAVerb

Konrath looks at his ebook predictions from 2009 & makes some new ones: http://bit.ly/oZplBc

Can You Really Force a Character To Do What You Want? http://bit.ly/mXf5c0 @lisagailgreen

Yes, you do have time to write: http://bit.ly/pJ6TvB

Free Alternatives To Microsoft Word: http://bit.ly/p0TCeW @bubblecow

Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt Into Fuel for Brilliance: http://bit.ly/n0Wd4I @jfbookman

A Writer's Reading Diet And Why It Is Crucial To Stray: http://bit.ly/nRd9QW @BTMargins

1 writer says not to waste time and energy on bad books: http://bit.ly/oWWwD8

If you write a great script, Hollywood will find you: http://bit.ly/rbg7Ca #screenwriting

Nanowrimo Prep: Writing Your Best Idea: http://bit.ly/mRWaNq @AlexSokoloff

Bad Publishing Contract Clauses, Part 1: http://bit.ly/qr1R2e @VictoriaStrauss

6 Common Myths About Book Reviews: http://bit.ly/qupbjf @BookMarketer

Using Scriptwriting to Fix Problem Scenes: http://bit.ly/pcJMpw @Janice_Hardy

Queries: keeping records: http://bit.ly/oA3RFB @donnahosie

The waiting game for screenwriters: http://bit.ly/qL80C6 @scriptmag

How Should Publishers Respond to #eBook Errors? http://bit.ly/mZamn1 @galleycat

#BannedBooksWeek--Cat's Cradle: bit.ly/r74zRD @p2p_editor

6 Keys to Opening Up New Possibilities in Your Story: http://bit.ly/nSjfvv

Seat of the Pants Writers: Tips and Tricks to Overcoming Challenges: http://bit.ly/mRTAFE @jeanniecampbell

Best Articles This Week for Writers 9/30/11: http://bit.ly/pf3b4I @4kidlit

A Balance of Action and Information: http://bit.ly/phheSt

Fantasy Tropes: Freakishly Familiar Settings: http://bit.ly/nBKkVf @a_shostak

Elements of Superhero Stories That Might Be More Realistic Than You Realize: http://bit.ly/pFzurU

Embracing the embarrassing: http://bit.ly/ngIvyf @Mommy_Authors

A Tour of India Finds Publishers Focused on the Digital Future: http://bit.ly/qgliJr #publishing

Amazon Kindle Fire: Setting the Tablet World Ablaze? http://bit.ly/r9POVV @jfbookman

Tips for writing literary fiction: http://bit.ly/nHCOgR @dirtywhitecandy

Social Communities: Build Your Name & Brand Through Networking: http://bit.ly/odwzau @CuriosityQuills

10 tips for editing your own book: http://bit.ly/odLf7Y @bubblecow

What Advertising Can Teach a Children's Writer: http://bit.ly/oWfugf @JaneFriedman

A writer with 3 query tips: http://bit.ly/pOUCjF

7 Writing Tips from The Princess and the Pea: http://bit.ly/qGBGcl

What's Your (Story) Problem? http://bit.ly/qHpPzg @BookEmDonna

Gettin' Physical: The Dos and Don'ts of Character Description: http://bit.ly/q2MoNK @BTMargins

For literary inspiration follow @AdviceToWriters. Jon Winokur dispenses writerly wisdom of the ages.

Finding the perfect writing notebook & using it to finish your book: http://bit.ly/p5xwNC

Author Blogs–Solid Platform, Wrong Audience: http://bit.ly/nYUumW @KristenLambTX

An author under the influence: Why alcohol and ink don't mix (National Post): http://natpo.st/qbpVI0 @nationalpost

Breaking into screenwriting: writing between the lines: http://bit.ly/qntQjL @scriptmag

Quick Tips for ISBNs: http://bit.ly/o5KWHZ

An agent answers a question about multiple agents: http://bit.ly/r3bLqe @greyhausagency

Need to cut words from your manuscript? Tips to make it easier: http://bit.ly/qQOh1o

Where to find critique groups: http://bit.ly/mViVGB

Joe Konrath encourages writers not to wait to : http://bit.ly/oiCzBR

Writers Must Kill Self-Doubt Before Self-Doubt Kills Them: http://bit.ly/nVeNP8 @ChuckWendig

People with Tablets Buy More Online: http://bit.ly/nsAJU3 Wall St. Journal via @PassiveVoiceBlg