Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 205

Building a World From the Ground Up—by Janice Hardy

As a fantasy author, creating the worlds my characters inhabit is half the fun. But it can also be a lot of work, because there's so much you need to know to create a whole world – and most of it never even makes it into the book. To make this easier on myself, I like to use real places as a foundation and build my worlds from there.

For my adventure fantasy, The Shifter, I wanted to create a lakeside Venice, so I started researching the world's biggest lakes. Lake Superior had interesting possibilities, but it was pretty deep and cold, and anyone building a city on a lake would probably need it to be shallow. Lake Tanganyika was an option, but it was too long and skinny for what I had in mind. I wanted my city to have a sense of isolation that only a vast expanse of water could create. Then I found Lake Victoria in Africa. Round, shallow, interesting geographic location—it was perfect.

Now that I had my lake, I researched what plants grew in that area, what people ate, and what kind of animals there were. All the little details that make a world come to life, and things that I could easily grab when I needed a detail for a scene. Fishing would obviously be important, so that would be a large industry and where most of Nya's (my protagonist) odd jobs would come from. In a small city riddled with canals, vehicles would takes up a lot of space, so most people would probably walk. Carriages and horses would be restricted to the very rich or powerful. Instead, boats would likely be used to carry people and goods from one side of the isle to the other. With just a little research I could already see my world coming to life.

I also found some fun real life details I could use. Like how water hyacinths are a problem around Lake Victoria, because they grow so fast and get caught in boat propellers. This translated into a problem my city of Geveg could have, with plants clogging the canals and boat owners needing someone to yank them out by hand. Sounded like a risky job to me, so why not make it even riskier by adding crocodiles to the mix? People desperate for a job would risk being eaten to pull a few plants now and then. And since I knew Nya was going to be poor, this could be something she might consider doing. (And it turned out to have devastating consequence in the third book, Darkfall)

Once I had a basic world foundation, it was time to think about the technology. I wanted my people to be advanced enough to have certain things like clocks and glass, but still maintain a fantasy feel (which can't have too much science or it starts to feel like science fiction). I picked 16th century Italy, giving the world a Renaissance undertone. Education was available, books existed, commerce was more developed, but it was still an old-fashioned world. I cross-referenced this with the natural resources of my African lake climate, so I could see what technologies would have developed and which wouldn't have. For example, if there's no access to gold, then you don't have gold smithing or gold jewelry.

Then it was on to style. (This is where the artist in me came into play) What would the art look like? How would these people decorate? Again, I went back to my base influences. The African lake and the Italian city. I decided to mix the two and go for a Byzantine feel. Arches, tiles, mosaics, beads, bright colors and patterns. Textures.

And of course, every culture has a religion (if not several). I decided to give my world a spiritual side, but not one that required the deities to actively participate in the lives of the people. Something that guided morality and faith, but didn't dominate it. Saints popped into my mind (couldn't even tell you what inspired that) and since the story involved sisters, I wanted to make all the Saints female and sisters. Alliteration naturally took me to the Seven Sisters, and that worked into the seven deadly sins. My Saints became the opposite, and represented the seven virtues. Nya's patron Saint is Saint Saea, Sister of Compassion. That really fits Nya since she gets into the trouble she does by being compassionate.

Slowly, my world took shape, and it was time to start naming things. I used an African lake as a world foundation, so I thought it would fun to create names from African words. I chose Geveg as my city's name, because geveg means struggle, which suits a city struggling under the occupation of enemy forces (which it is). That enemy is called Baseer, which is a derivative of beseer or hurt, because they're the ones doing the hurting. Pynvium, the magical metal in my story, comes from pyn, the word for pain. Few people are ever going to know the meanings when they read the book, but having a little secret makes it more fun for me. And since Afrikaans is close to Dutch, I've actually had readers e-mail me asking if a certain name really does mean something in particular. Many of my names have hidden meanings in them, and you can get a hint about those characters if you happen to know what their name means.

Once you name something it's yours, so I had my world and my story and I was ready to write it. And figure out what kinds of troubles I could cause poor little Nya in her fun little world. Because for me, the other half of the fun is seeing how my characters get out of the messes I put them in.

*********************

Janice Hardy always wondered about the darker side of healing. For her fantasy trilogy THE HEALING WARS, she tapped into her own dark side to create a world where healing was dangerous, and those with the best intentions often made the worst choices. Her books include THE SHIFTER, and BLUE FIRE. DARKFALL, the final book of the trilogy, is due out October 4, 2011.

She lives in Georgia with her husband, three cats and one very nervous freshwater eel. You can visit her online at www.janicehardy.com, chat with her about writing on her blog, The Other Side of the Story (http://blog.janicehardy.com/), or find her on Twitter @Janice_Hardy.

Writing Profanity

In the post, WTF is Up With Cursing in YA, agent Jennifer Laughran answers writers' questions on offensive language and its location in a manuscript.

She also points out that you'll want to make sure you're not sending a profanity-laced book to a publisher that focuses on younger-YA books or clean YA. She states that profanity can work:

Provided of course that it is right for the character, that it makes sense in context and you aren't just randomly throwing words around….cursing CAN be a lazy writer's way of making a character seem "edgy."

I write traditional mysteries, also called cozies. Use of profanity is generally discouraged in these books—it's just not what the reader is expecting or looking for when they purchase a cozy mystery.

Conversely, if a reader has chosen a novel that focuses on the harrowing day-to-day life of members of a Mafia family…they're going to be shocked if there's no profanity. That would likely be something they'd expect (especially since Goodfellas and The Godfather have conditioned us to it).

So I think reader expectations can play an important role in whether a writer should include profanity in a book. Readers are, ultimately, the people we're trying to please if we're publishing.

Some things to consider when deciding on use of profanity in your book:

Would the character ordinarily use it? Is it realistic?

Does it make sense in the context? Is it really needed in the particular situation? Could it be left out and have the scene be just as effective?

Do you have to use dialogue with the profanity, or can you just state: Kevin cursed fluently as he hit his thumb with the hammer?

Does it fit your genre? Your audience?

Could it potentially be offensive to a reader, or is it fairly mild?

Is it distracting in the text? (By its frequency, wording, etc?)

Is it gratuitous? Is it there just for shock value or does it add something (realism, character insight) to the story?

Does profanity work with your genre and your intended readers? How much is too much?

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Finger Lickin' Dead launches June 7th!

You Are Already a Writer. Now Write, Dammit. by Harrison Bradlow

[image error]Being a writer is not about how many people have read your work. It is not about getting an agent who will take you on as a client (or, for that matter, who will respond to your repeated contacts). It is not even about being published. If you have passion for writing and you've ever put a pen to paper, then you're already a writer.

All those other things are nice, of course. There could be writers out there who don't dream about being on the New York Times bestsellers list, but I haven't met them yet. Being published in twenty-seven different languages, selling tens of millions of copies, and seeing your work transformed into movies starring Hollywood's A-list celebrities would all be really cool. But nobody expects that of you right out of the gate, and you shouldn't either.

I have been a voracious reader all my life, and I've always dreamed of being a published writer. Note the word "published" in there. That's where the glamour comes from, isn't it? Holding a book in your hand with your name on the front and your head shot on the back? That's what I dreamed of. I didn't stay up at night thinking about the actual writing process, which is weird, because that's really where my passion was.

And looking back, I realize that in my own way I've been a writer most of my life. Even as a kid I wrote stories, mostly just for fun. Whenever a writing assignment came up in class I'd jump on it.

I remember in fifth grade we were directed to read a book and write a story about ourselves set inside the book's world. It was a very creative assignment, actually. I chose "The Indian in the Cupboard." The story, if memory serves, was supposed to be a minimum of five pages, typed and double-spaced. Mine was thirty-something. I've searched and unfortunately cannot find a copy of it anywhere.

I've always been a writer, but I wasn't confident enough to call myself one, which is sad. I was shy about it. I didn't dare share that passion with friends or family. I didn't attend writing seminars. I didn't take writing courses in college.

I thought I had to have an agent, or be published, before I could call myself a writer. I expected way too much out of myself, much as I imagine so many others out there do too. I thought that because I didn't have my name on a cover, I wasn't really a writer.

It took actually getting my name on a cover to realize how superficial that was. I recently published my first book, a work of poetry titled If It Still Has a Head, It Isn't Quite Dead. I'll probably never forget the moment when I first held a copy of that book in my hands. Wow. It was overwhelming. But after that moment passed, I realized something I should have known all along.

Books don't make writers. Writers make books. Not having a book yet does not mean you're not a writer. It just means you're a writer who hasn't made a book yet. I didn't pick up that book and become a writer. I just picked up a book.

I've wanted to write all my life, but I didn't pursue it until very recently, thanks in large part to encouragement from my wife. I should add, I didn't even open up to her about my desire to write until long after I should have.

Why was I so afraid?

I don't know. I suppose I was afraid of being judged, afraid of failure, afraid of all the things anybody might be afraid of before doing something new. That was probably natural for me. It was also really stupid! I put off doing something I loved, and for what? Fear?

I didn't have the courage to share with my friends and family what I wanted to be until after I had that book in my hands. Can you believe that? I was publishing a book, and I didn't tell anyone. It was among the most exciting things I have done in my entire life, and I didn't tell anyone. It shouldn't have taken me so long, and if you are in a similar place to where I was a year ago, don't let it take you that long either.

Write, dammit. Set up a blog. Write poetry (it worked for me, which believe me, still boggles my mind). Write short stories. Post them online for all to see. Email them to anyone you think might read them. Solicit everyone and their mom for feedback. Grow.

In the process you'll build a fan base as well, so that once you finally do have that book in your hands, you won't be starting from scratch.

I was afraid. I can't go back and change that, but perhaps I can help some readers out there who have similar fears overcome theirs faster than it took me to overcome mine.

*******************

Harrison is a very proud first time author. He invites readers to follow him on Twitter @Harrison314 and to visit his website: www.harrisonbradlow.com. His book, If It Still Has a Head, It Isn't Quite Dead: A book of poetry on zombies, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, ghouls, and other generally scary monster-type creatures , is available online from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com, among other outlets. Poetry excerpts from the book are available at his website as well.

Twitterific

Below are writing links that I've posted to Twitter in the last week.

The Writer's Knowledge Base search engine, designed by software engineer and writer Mike Fleming, makes all these links searchable—try it for searches on plotting, characterization, querying, book promo, and more.

[image error]Anyone signing up for the free Writer's Knowledge Base newsletter this month (and current subscribers) will be automatically entered in a June drawing to receive K.M. Weiland's CD (or MP3) Conquering Writer's Block and Summoning Inspiration CD . Sign up here for the web's best writing links and interviews: http://bit.ly/gx7hg1 . (You can unsubscribe at any time, and your email information is never shared.)

Hidden Treasures You Find at Conferences: http://bit.ly/m5gxwN @hopeclark

One writer's 10 steps to novel completion: http://bit.ly/mhjpl2

Staying Out of the Story: http://bit.ly/m6RIKn

202 Tips To Increase Your Blog Traffic: http://bit.ly/jXKO5C

The downside of the e-revolution in publishing: http://bit.ly/mthOYP @BSquaredInOz

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: CONSIDER THE ASPARAGUS http://bit.ly/mnYna5

Writers Are Worth It: http://bit.ly/iXavj3 @merylkevans

Starting Erotic Stories: Two Things That Work, and Two Things That Don't: http://bit.ly/kS7cD7

20 Tips for Freelance Writers: http://bit.ly/mfq4LU

Choosing Your Main Character and His/Her Essential Counterpart: http://bit.ly/m2JxUb

How Online Writers and Publishers Still Rely on Each Other for a Payday: http://bit.ly/jFVttu

Best Articles This Week for Writers 5/13/11: http://bit.ly/j8Pq0D @4kidlit

Libraries are in crisis, but literary culture is thriving (Guardian): http://bit.ly/kpt8VI

5 Questions Never to Ask at a Bookstore Reading: http://bit.ly/khdDDL

Query letters – do you have personality? http://bit.ly/ixNKSa

Viewpoint Character and the Need to Choose Wisely: http://bit.ly/mB672h

12 Easy Steps to The Making of a Book Trailer: http://bit.ly/kP5jpk

The inexorable link between Science Fiction and Fantasy: http://bit.ly/lhPLiX

20 email list-building tips: http://bit.ly/libkdP

5 Ways to Kill Your Creativity: http://bit.ly/jY4f8n

Why Writers Are So Antisocial: http://bit.ly/ketTqj

5 Fast Differences Between YA and MG: http://bit.ly/iJ5rcs

What Self-Publishing Isn't: http://bit.ly/jEdwBO

How journalists can make use of Facebook Pages: http://bit.ly/mu3QSG

5 tips for writing flash fiction: http://bit.ly/kqE4R1 @mkinberg

Why libraries still matter (Salon): http://bit.ly/mFgDsa

Should you self-publish after a near miss? http://bit.ly/mvlwjR @janefriedman

Crime writers--The Difference Between Extortion and Blackmail: http://bit.ly/j29DrU

Helpful books on writing: http://bit.ly/iqqOAR

Tackling revisions: http://bit.ly/jd1Skr

Story Structure, Part 1: Beginnings: http://bit.ly/lviwfx

Tips for finishing a book: http://bit.ly/jjiWnd

What a trendsetting book is, and isn't: http://bit.ly/ji21KE

Lessons learned from a pencil: http://bit.ly/iGK9uk

Facebook Dramatically Restricts Authors & Publishers' Ability To Host Contests: http://bit.ly/kf7B8n

Tips for confident writing: http://bit.ly/mUcp4a

The Chekhov's Gun Plot Device & How To Use It When Writing Your Novel: http://bit.ly/lq5bNj

Get More Done with Creative Quickies: http://bit.ly/mFHc8Y

Narrative Tension and the Ticking Clock: http://bit.ly/kAgdYi

Formatting red flags: http://bit.ly/isBR78

Does Your Story Have a Hook or Merely a Gimmick? http://bit.ly/kStVsh

Self-doubt and writers: http://bit.ly/l0MPPt

Best practices for finishing that book: http://bit.ly/jcoyoT @patriciastoltey

5 tips for writers who want to publish: http://bit.ly/jjiWnd @4kidlit

Five Things Writers Must Do Before They Die: http://bit.ly/iruBnZ @clarissadraper

When is it time to sign an author-agent contract? http://bit.ly/jDWHk4

"Write-by-number" Synopsis Recipe: http://bit.ly/lKETYR

Search my tweets-- http://dld.bz/KPgS

Name your protagonist: http://bit.ly/lbhZAV

Editing: It's About the Big Picture, Too: http://bit.ly/jAxb4J @authorterryo

Using Storyboard W to Structure a Self-Help Book: http://bit.ly/iXGksu

Best practices for beta readers: http://bit.ly/jPIwca

Should I Use Absolute Phrases? Absolutely: http://bit.ly/myCSVs

19 Ways to Use Images to Enhance Your Blog: http://bit.ly/it4msq

Tips for body language and description: http://bit.ly/mmylI7

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Avery's Garlic Blue Cheese Fondue http://bit.ly/incswU

Learning to Find a Balance in Showing Versus Telling: http://bit.ly/iYXDcd @jodyhedlund

The Importance of a Literary Nemesis: http://bit.ly/jFWc99

Dumping Those Info Dumps: http://bit.ly/iIzvDt @jemifraser

How an Agent Works with a Self-Published Author: http://bit.ly/jFaD7C @galleycat

Key Story Elements: Into The Special World: http://bit.ly/moUzww

How to Get into a Subjunctive Mood: http://bit.ly/l7hpep

Ticking Clock or Option Exhaustion: 2 Ways To Bring Your Novel To A Crisis: http://bit.ly/jin0Q3

5 Key Research Sites You May Have Missed (Plus Cool Tricks): http://bit.ly/mADZQB @janefriedman

Writing Out of Order: http://bit.ly/mMQLGK

10 Simple Ways to Support Authors You Love: http://bit.ly/lSbj93

How Spelling Diverges Between American and British English: http://bit.ly/muKiEF

Synopsis Example: ''The Fly'' (Horror / Sci-Fi): http://bit.ly/lXiRm8

Mindful Writing: Accepting Failure: http://bit.ly/koiDtF

Tips for giving readings: http://bit.ly/jtw0lK

5 Common Writing Pitfalls: http://bit.ly/iQcuhF

When Characters Lie: 8 Questions to Ask: http://bit.ly/lBoWAp @CherylRWrites

Tips for Writing Picture Books: http://bit.ly/mBh3QV

5 questions that can save your book: http://bit.ly/mp2Okq

How to Practice Perseverance: http://bit.ly/lekZnq

Discouraging Decisions: http://bit.ly/jANR7P

Why traditional publishing is about more than a few weeks of chain bookstore distribution: http://bit.ly/jnestQ

10 Scifi Novels To Give People Who Hate Sci-fi: http://bit.ly/ixFEMv

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Bacon and Buttermilk Garlic Mashed Potatoes http://bit.ly/mN9bm6

A Bookseller Who Bridges Print and Digital: http://bit.ly/l8YGRZ

Surfing the fantasy network: http://bit.ly/jyfZq3

How Many Times A Day Should You Check Your Email? http://bit.ly/lQjsip

How The Right Cover & Title Can Help Women's Fic Cast A Wider Net: http://bit.ly/irR1rc

Promo time vs writing time: http://bit.ly/mMUXPA

Royalty statements update: http://bit.ly/luh4a7

Why writing advice is utterly meaningless: http://bit.ly/makY6v

Choosing a Theme for Your Novel: http://bit.ly/iDUIF6

Blog categorizing and tagging: http://bit.ly/kusGUL

3 things one writer learned from graphic novels: http://bit.ly/lCU4ga

How to write more-the only thing you NEED to do: http://bit.ly/ljl2ft

Make your boring character a fish out of water: http://bit.ly/jr4ARq

Bringing characters together:http://bit.ly/juZrxd

A tangled plot structure: http://bit.ly/lYtSYn

How to Blog Without Comparing Yourself to Others: http://bit.ly/m690Nw

Creative Marketing for Indie Authors: http://bit.ly/kaF6ch

Beat writer's boredom: http://bit.ly/jBLa5f @clarissadraper

Why One Writer Wants Her Women's Fiction Published By A Traditional Publisher: http://bit.ly/mfenZ2

Crit partners in crime: http://bit.ly/kLlO4j

Never bring a knife to a gun fight: http://bit.ly/krbGtP

Sign up for the monthly WKB newsletter for the web's best writing links and interviews: http://bit.ly/gx7hg1

Do Plots Just "Happen"? http://bit.ly/ioqYa9

Top 7 Repeated Science Fiction Phrases or Words That Have Become Annoying: http://bit.ly/jV9QxK

9 reasons to visit your real-life setting: http://bit.ly/ji59la

Ebook Authors: 17 Great Information Sources: http://bit.ly/k9KJEp

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: HUSBAND vs WIFE: Cleo Coyle asks, "Is it a Sauce or a Soup?" http://bit.ly/llM8vB

The Joy of Booking: http://bit.ly/k03LEt

Making the most of the Kindle's "Before You Go" screen: http://bit.ly/iF1LAc

10 Ways to Create a Plot Twist: http://bit.ly/my7K0W

8 ways writers can make the most of online video: http://bit.ly/iQe4Xf

How to Avoid Freelancing Burnout: http://bit.ly/iTVBEH

The 3 ages of becoming a writer: http://bit.ly/mAkgRi @dirtywhitecandy

Creating Archetypal Characters To Fill The Dramatic Functions in Your Novel: http://bit.ly/lpcw1r

10 Ways to Totally Screw Up Your Novel: http://bit.ly/mD7nh5

Juggling parenthood and writing: http://bit.ly/mN6I6H

3 tips for writing horror: http://bit.ly/mrsNUX

Twitter For The Shy Writer—Secrets of Stress-free Tweeting: http://bit.ly/jUQaSA @annerallen

Romance novels and the dogpoo filter: http://bit.ly/k8V0BL

10 Kindle Tricks and Tweaks: http://bit.ly/kjKtLT

What Works: Promo for Ebooks: http://bit.ly/l5LBc9

Single Quotation Marks—A Reader's Question: http://bit.ly/lOjDWX

Online branding for authors--how it really works: http://bit.ly/jAlHYY

The ABCs (and Ds and Es) of Plot Development: http://bit.ly/lLXN7p

How to Become Wildly Successful at Anything: http://bit.ly/mljulE

Avoid the 3 "Tell-Tale" Signs of Self-Published Books: http://bit.ly/lAK1ca

How to quickly change a document's spacing with a single keyboard shortcut: http://bit.ly/mH1LA1

Subsidy Publishing: Proceed With Caution: http://bit.ly/m8V9Qn

The tasks of technical writing: http://bit.ly/l3KtEy

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Mini Cherry Sponge Cakes http://bit.ly/mrGT4c

6 tips for fitting writing into a hectic schedule: http://bit.ly/jdLZqL @Sarafurlong

Metaphors vs. Similes: http://bit.ly/mI5nQ3

Weekend writer: http://bit.ly/lgsB2R

Writing--finishing what you start: http://bit.ly/jhnL2n

Happy Mother's Day, Mrs. Bennet: Jane Austen's Mothers: http://bit.ly/jd17w1

The Rise of Urban Fantasy: http://bit.ly/jpqZZG

Help for restless writers: http://bit.ly/iA6uUs

5 Reasons Why Moms Matter in Children's Literature: http://bit.ly/lzWXLv

10 essential self-editing tips: http://bit.ly/iDAMcw

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 5/6/11): http://bit.ly/kNwBXI

How To Create A Plot Outline In 8 Easy Steps: http://bit.ly/lHq5Od

How one writer uses Scrivener to plot with flexibility: http://bit.ly/mfZypM @SarahKetley

The Dos and Don'ts of Your Online Presence: http://bit.ly/iwJmJU

The rule of 3 in fiction: http://bit.ly/lGypLz

Character building tools for writers--astrological signs: http://bit.ly/mj3qfu

Social Networking: Twitter v. Facebook: http://bit.ly/l9HUY7

5 Things to Consider Before You Spend Time Editing: http://bit.ly/m82DDG

Collaboration: 3 Rules You Can't Break: http://bit.ly/lcjecF

An Editor's Quick Tips on Submissions: http://bit.ly/iiKBkN

Creativity tweets of the week: http://bit.ly/jCxRdZ

Voice: The Right Words: http://bit.ly/mTF99f

Writing Passionate People: http://bit.ly/m1mNGT

How Self-Published Authors Found Success by Staying Local: http://bit.ly/iB6kCm @galleycat

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Happy Mother's Day - Not Just Desserts http://bit.ly/kAEDeI

How to Build Your Twitter Tribe: http://bit.ly/kKf3Sg

The World's Best Libraries: http://bit.ly/lhXIrf

How role-playing games (RPGs) can improve your writing: http://bit.ly/k2Wkq5

How to Be a Conference Extrovert: http://bit.ly/mK7xCG

Writing an eBook: How to Get Started (and Finish!): http://bit.ly/kffCwO

Organizing a Writers Workshop: Marketing-- http://bit.ly/jlsdhr

Present tense problems: http://bit.ly/kARovC

Writers Write–Creativity Is a State of Mind: http://bit.ly/iS9HIA

The Practice of Ying / Yang Productivity: http://bit.ly/jjpsQq

4 laws of characters: http://bit.ly/jlvNJm

Narrative conflict vs narrative tension: http://bit.ly/jVsNMK

The Muchness of a YA Heroine: http://bit.ly/muI06B

Check Your Adjectives at the Door: http://bit.ly/l0uUWM

3 Edgy Little Tips to Make Your Story More Compelling: http://bit.ly/m7V8Fd

How To Meet Literary Agents and Editors on the Web: http://bit.ly/lQ6srW

An editor on the importance of good dialogue: http://bit.ly/mfWYTT

Bullying in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/lBxIFz @mkinberg

Ready to query? Step away from that send button: http://bit.ly/mkx58u

The Power of No

What happens when you want to start taking piano lessons and art classes?

Well, if you're Elizabeth Craig's daughter, unfortunately it means that you'll have to give up other after-school activities to take on new ones.

I decided a couple of years ago that there are absolutely wonderful moms out there who drive their children to multiple activities daily….but that I'm not one of them. :) So I 'just say no' to making my schedule even busier than it already is.

There's a limited amount of extracurricular driving that I'm willing to take on at this point. I've got my son's guitar teacher coming out to the house and I'm looking for a piano teacher to do the same.

What's more, I think that children, when they're overextended, get just as stressed out as we do. I know that I can't take a look at my calendar without wincing and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Not everyone takes on too much…but I have a feeling that most of the writers in the online community do.

Many of us are blogging 3 or more times a week, networking on different social media platforms, volunteering for fundraisers online or in the community, working day jobs, helping care for our children or aging parents, and keeping house.

All of these things are important. But we frequently end up feeling stretched thin, even with all the things we need to do and want to do.

One thing that I'm learning to do (and it's been really hard, because I'm a people-pleaser) is to say no to additional responsibilities.

I have to protect my time pretty fiercely at this point, because there's just not very much of it to start out with. Usually, the kind of request that I get is for serving on a committee or a volunteer project at the school, etc. Again, these are very worthwhile causes. And I do help out a lot…but unfortunately, there aren't really enough people who can volunteer—so the same people tend to be picked over and over again.

Saying no:

It's much easier for me to nicely refuse (to be part of a supper club, serve on the PTA board, be part of a committee at church) if I can do it over email. That's a no-brainer—we're writers. Making a gentle refusal is easy when we're writing.

But now…I can turn down people on the phone pretty well. It took some practice to get to that point. But I now can say, "I'd really love to help out, but my schedule isn't going to permit it. I'm sorry." Or…if I'm having a weak moment, I'll ask them if I can sleep on it (and then email them the next day that I really won't be able to participate.)

I've now also had some success in turning people down in person, which for me has always been the hardest. Again, If I'm having a hard time or feeling some pressure, I'll ask if I can check my schedule and email or call them later. That gives me an opportunity to step back from the situation and come up with a polite response later on.

People might think (especially if you're at home) that you have more time than you do. They might not realize all the things (social media, promo, learning the writing craft, writing) that you're doing in a day…and they don't have to know about it. All we have to do is politely say that we really wish that we could participate, but we're just not able to.

How well do you protect your writing time and keep your schedule under control? Is it easy for you to say no?

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Finger Lickin' Dead launches June 7th!

Launching a Book

I got an early copy of Finger Lickin' Dead via UPS on Tuesday (the book releases June 7).

Since I'm now at less than a month until the launch, I'm getting in gear for promotion. I've been more active with appearances lately, and am starting to set up stops for a blog tour.

For me, the best approach has been a combination of making appearances after the book's release and gently promoting the book via social media before the release and on the launch day.

I've tried different marketing approaches, and have found a lot of great resources online. On the Writer's Knowledge Base, you can find 234 posts on promoting your release. Here are some particularly useful posts:

How to write a press release:

Authors: How to write a press release for your book—by Alexis Grant (Always good to take press release advice from a journalist.)

Book trailers:

How To Use Book Trailers Effectively—Joanna Penn's interview with Darcy Pattison

Play nice:

Ten Commandments for Book Launch Day—by Randy Susan Meyers

5 Launch Day Lessons—by M.K. Hobson

Press kits for your website/blog:

Book Marketing Part III: More on press kits—by Lavinia Thompson

Launch party:

How to Throw an Awesome Book Launch: by Moonrat

How to Plan a Successful Debut Book Party—by Jody Hedlund

How to build an author page on Amazon and Goodreads:

How to build an Amazon author page and other information—by Cassander Carr

Using social media to launch your book:

HOW TO: Launch Any Product Using Social Media—by Guy Kawasaki

Promoting your book even before the sale:

27 things you can do to promote your book—Before you write it, before you launch it, and after you've published it—by Sue Collier

If you've released a book, what worked for you?

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On Giving Readings

I'm one of those writers who's a real people-pleaser.

Would you like me to change something in my manuscript? A character name, the setting, a plot point? Bring a character back from the dead or kill one? I'm your girl.

Want me to talk to your book club? On the radio? Give a chat at a bookstore? I'm there.

Want me to do a reading?….No thanks. I'll ask to do something different.

I've read aloud on two occasions—and both times I was taken completely by surprise. Once I was on a panel at a bookstore event and a reader from the audience asked me to read an excerpt from my book.

"I don't read," I told her. She was a scowling older lady and she raised her eyebrows at my proclamation that I didn't read. "I mean, aloud," I said. Again with the eyebrows. "Except to my children." She looked stern. So I ended up reading my prologue. I was quite put-out.

The second time, I was on a book tour and didn't realize a reading was part of the gig. And I had to follow Avery Aames who has been a professional actress. Ugh. Let's just say that I couldn't compare. (The picture at the top of the post shows Avery and me together before last summer's event—luckily there are no pictures of the moment when I realized I'd be doing a reading. :) )

Why do I dislike readings so much? I'm just one of those people who doesn't like being read to. One of the things that will drive me up the wall is to have my hubby try and read a story out of the newspaper to me. I'll read it myself! In seconds, because I read quickly. And since I don't enjoy being read to, I'm also not wild about reading aloud, myself.

This being said, I've attended a number of events where there were readings (and couldn't escape). Here are some tips for handling readings:

Keep it short. Really short. This Galley Cat article recommends keeping the reading to three minutes.

If you don't have a microphone, speak loudly.

Use inflection when you're reading. Avery Aames honestly had the best reading I've ever heard. Did her background in television have anything to do with that? Of course! I felt almost like I was listening to a book on tape…which was much more entertaining than an ordinary reading.

If you're on a panel, be sure to listen attentively when someone else is reading their excerpt.

I'd love to be converted into a writer who enjoys readings, but I have a feeling I'm a lost cause. Any tips to win me over to them? Does anyone out there actually enjoy readings—either listening to them or giving them?

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Promo Time vs. Writing Time

I put the 'versus' in the title because I always feel like promoting and writing are competing with each other for time out of my day.

We've gotten to the point where promo takes up a large amount of a published author's day.

Even if you're not yet published, building a platform for yourself is still highly recommended for a strong web presence and to be a more attractive candidate to agents and editors. If you have a large imprint on the online community and you can reach a lot of people through Twitter, Facebook, and blogging, it definitely makes a difference—because those contacts represent potential sales.

A typical writer (and this is just my personal observation, looking at the writers in my Google Reader) will blog at least once a week and interacts on either Facebook or Twitter (sometimes both.) Being active on these applications means writing blog posts, reading and responding to comments, visiting other blogs, updating a Facebook status, reading and responding to the Facebook news feed….you get the idea. Usually this means about an hour out of the day—at the minimum.

But the writing still comes first—otherwise, there's no need for the platform or the promo. But squeezing this writing time in around our online time can be really challenging.

We all have the same number of ours in our day, so there's only so much we can do with this problem.

I've got Finger Lickin' Dead releasing June 7, but I've also got a couple of different deadlines (for different projects) coming up at almost the same time.

For me, it has meant becoming more flexible (and I'm not usually the most flexible person in the world when it comes to my schedule.)

I used to have a very set schedule for blogging, and social media (writing is something I've always been flexible about). But with increased need for promo, I've had to learn to go with the flow a little more.

This is what I've been doing, which has been pretty successful so far:

Decrease the times each day that I check email—and have dedicated times that I look at it.

When my phone rings, I check to see who is calling before picking up (I always pick up for my family…friends I'll sometimes need to call back during a break.)

Write more than one blog post at a time. Brainstorm blog posts for a week.

Timer: Y'all must be sick of hearing me talk about timers, but they really do help reel you in when you're on social media too much.

Blog visiting: Divide the blogs you visit into days of the week (either by using Google Reader, or by jotting down the blogs on your calendar.)

Remember to prioritize writing. This might mean staying up 15-20 minutes later at night or getting up 15-20 minutes earlier in the morning.

How do you balance your online time and your writing time?

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Juggling Parenthood and Writing

Cristi Craig wrote a great post for the Write it Sideways blog called "The Dilemma of the Mother Writer." In it, she gave an illustration of the tug of war she feels between writing and motherhood:

When I flipped through pictures that my four year old daughter took recently, I saw a heartbreaking pattern: me, wearing reading glasses while I worked on my laptop; me, at the island in the kitchen typing away on my laptop; me, serving as backdrop behind a portrait of her doll, sporting my laptop. It was a painful truth and a testament to the life of a mother writer. I am always stealing time to write.

I'm sure this is a story that resonates with any parent who feels that tug between work and family time.

I'm lucky that I'm able to stay at home and write. But I do have a lot to accomplish—both writing and promo. My goal each day is to finish everything on the computer by 2:00 (which is when my younger child gets off the school bus.) Sometimes I can accomplish this goal…sometimes not.

Over the years, I've developed strategies that I hope work for both the children and me:

I've noticed that sometimes the laptop creates a wall between me and the children. Sometimes I'll be working in the same room with kids…they're doing homework, I'm writing. If I sense that they might want to talk about their day or open up to me about something during their homework time, I'll write on paper. Otherwise, the laptop seems to stop them in their tracks.

I try to share with them what I'm doing. I spend so much time on the laptop that I realized they must wonder what it was that I was so busy doing. I talk to them about my books, about promo, about blogging, etc. I try to involve them a little in the process by asking their opinions about different things—do they like a character's name? What do they think about the book's setting?

When the children are talking to me, I don't look at the laptop. It makes it look like I think my writing is more important than they are…and I definitely don't want to give that impression.

When I'm talking with them, I try not to think about anything other than our conversation. (And this is a tough one, because I'm easily distracted.) I do this by asking intelligent follow-up questions for what they're telling me…instead of going "mmm."

Still, I need to get work done. Instead of writing in the same room as the children (when I really need to write), and possibly getting irritated with interruptions—I just go write behind a closed door. I preface the writing session by telling the kids, "I've got to get some work done. I'm going to write for 25 minutes, then I can play cards/talk/read a book with you." Then they know I haven't just disappeared for hours (honestly, I can't write for hours anyway.) When they were younger, I set a timer outside my door so they could see how much longer I was going to be unavailable.

Although this post is on juggling parenting and writing, it also applies to writing around other family members, too. (Well, to some degree. I can only imagine the look on my husband's face, if I put a timer outside the door and told him to be quiet for 25 minutes!) How do you set parameters for your writing—respecting your writing time, but also respecting your family time and obligations?

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Twitterific

Below are writing links that I've posted to Twitter in the last week.

The Writer's Knowledge Base search engine, designed by software engineer and writer Mike Fleming, makes all these links searchable—try it for searches on plotting, characterization, querying, book promo, and more.

[image error]Anyone signing up for the free Writer's Knowledge Base newsletter this month (and current subscribers) will be automatically entered in a June drawing to receive K.M. Weiland's CD (or MP3) Conquering Writer's Block and Summoning Inspiration CD . Sign up here for the web's best writing links and interviews: http://bit.ly/gx7hg1 . (You can unsubscribe at any time, and your email information is never shared.)

The Small-Scale Approach to Achieving Great Things: http://bit.ly/mbHFNs

5 Ways To Sell Your Next Book Before It's Written: http://bit.ly/iAeLkx

Primary Characteristics: http://bit.ly/kEpnf6

Dos and Don'ts for Prologues and Epilogues: http://bit.ly/jWTcrm @Sarafurlong

Bullying in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/lBxIFz @mkinberg

The A to Z of Excellent Copywriting: http://bit.ly/ikONn4

Using Tarot in Writing: http://bit.ly/iNbvvL @raelynbarclay

Tips for Selecting Your Story's Narrative Style: http://bit.ly/jek6ui

The Mean, the Bad, and the Nasty—Writing Villains: http://bit.ly/jV0ojo

Lessons from an Old Panasonic: Read out loud: http://bit.ly/kBpkYt @Christi_Craig

Tips for growing your social media following: http://bit.ly/kJZrlq

For those last-minute shoppers: 10 Lists of Book Gift Ideas for Mother's Day: http://bit.ly/jNqhyY @galleycat

How Plot Development Is Like Navigating a Maze: http://bit.ly/k1aB5a

The 20 minute workout for your manuscript: http://bit.ly/mHJpGy

Raising the Tension in Your Scenes: http://bit.ly/mEyAGj

Best Articles This Week for Writers 5/6/11: http://bit.ly/lsiKJD

Including symbolism in your story: http://bit.ly/kXWmAS

A few helpful Word tips: http://bit.ly/ll7wpD

Here's A Guaranteed Way To Generate A Backlog Of Post Ideas: http://bit.ly/ifz1wq

How to Escalate the Suck Factor, Star Wars Style: http://bit.ly/mc366J

A rhyming tool for poets: http://bit.ly/mQfUjV

Mistakes We Make With Middles: http://bit.ly/meinRO

Be fearless as a writer: http://bit.ly/k3GEwj

An agent says: .doc is not .docx: http://bit.ly/kTSx2E

Now with over 7000 links to help #writers find resources: http://bit.ly/dYRayA

Proper use of the comma: http://bit.ly/klFCWx

The Top 3 Daily Time-Wasters & How To Tame Them: http://bit.ly/j4AofU

Literary Magazines Are Learning to Surf (Poets and Writers): http://bit.ly/mKPP8S

Art of the Fantasy Genre: The Fighter: http://bit.ly/m7AEuw

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Chocolate Angel Food Cake http://bit.ly/kLRFLu

Reading in the Cloud: "Spotify for Books" from The Publisher's Standpoint: http://bit.ly/ijxsim

Thoughts on creating endings: http://bit.ly/jBn1uf

Democratizing the tools of production has made creation of great literature easier: http://bit.ly/lSBmQ9

Thoughts on protagonist creation: http://bit.ly/kDHp4C

Make Your Antagonist a Force for Good: http://bit.ly/m9ZKma @jamigold

Self-editing checklist--show and tell: http://bit.ly/jTgRAy

The Premise that Sells: http://bit.ly/myZSne

How to Get LinkedIn Famous in 15 Minutes a Day: http://bit.ly/k4bMBt

Ebook or Print Book? Why Do You Have to Choose? http://bit.ly/mM2XIk @thecreativepenn

Combat writer's block and unleash your creativity with the first WKB giveaway! http://bit.ly/mqBVzq

Am I Writing YA or MG? http://bit.ly/li8P26

Creating Characters in Poetry: http://bit.ly/j47TAu

Cutting the Flab: Eliminate Extraneous Words: http://bit.ly/jnkwm0

Social Media for Authors: Forever in Search of Buzz (Poets and Writers): http://bit.ly/lZLmJd

How to Make a Zombie Plague: http://bit.ly/k4MPOy

Thicken your skin: http://bit.ly/iVUueG

How to search Google like a pro: http://bit.ly/jWBko8

Subtle ways to come out of the writing closet: http://bit.ly/lU3noW

DRM vs. piracy, and the future of e-books: http://bit.ly/kq4NRy

Why Creative People Need to Be Eccentric: http://bit.ly/mJvGhV

@KristenLambTX 's new twibe for writers wanting to build a platform & connect to other writers: #MyWANA http://bit.ly/lQkbWO

Is Blogger Copyright Dead? http://bit.ly/mg56wA

Tips for Writing Picture Books: http://bit.ly/mBh3QV

The Inherent Falseness of Memoir: http://bit.ly/ive0iR

Are literary agents dinosaurs? http://bit.ly/jr93zU

Blog Commenting Flops: Do These to Lose Traffic and Links: http://bit.ly/kLt3vv

Improv [Writing] Tip #7: Keep It Real: http://bit.ly/ikMOqM

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: I love fondue, do you? http://bit.ly/kGvsL5

Why We Write: In the Presence of Living: http://bit.ly/impwsw

Tools for writers: http://bit.ly/jvUMBF

Select precise nouns and verbs: http://bit.ly/kWM49Y

10 Nontraditional Ways To Promote Your Book: http://bit.ly/jLcaJh

15 Purposes for Parentheses: http://bit.ly/l4OMQ5

The Realities of Getting Real: http://bit.ly/lMEzut

Going to a convention? Tips for newbies: http://bit.ly/kG5v8Z @kbowenwriter

4 reasons you may be missing deadlines: http://bit.ly/kmGXG7

Nathan Bransford's editing process: http://bit.ly/ikIef0

5 ways to ruin a good story: http://bit.ly/imjXUh

Key Story Elements: Inner And Outer Desire: http://bit.ly/lbm2Nb

How Mundane Routines Produce Creative Magic: http://bit.ly/iZOfMr

Top 5 Band-Aids to Apply Before Querying: http://bit.ly/lH39Om

Being Prepared—as a Writer: http://bit.ly/mUvZ19

10 Cool Things on the Web (for screenwriters, fans, and other literary types): http://bit.ly/itB9WR

Affect Is (Usually) a Verb: http://bit.ly/jQAttK

Query Letter Mad Libs: http://bit.ly/jXtZae

Sign up for the monthly WKB newsletter for the web's best writing links and interviews: http://bit.ly/gx7hg1

A tool for finding in-person crit groups. Type in "critique group" and your location: http://bit.ly/lSed7B

ISBN Decoded: http://bit.ly/lGNjOr

How to Minimize Interruptions When You're Working: http://bit.ly/lyBEXs

20 Ways to Rejuvenate Your Writing Life This Spring: http://bit.ly/kCRiWo

For crime writers--12 Legal Warrant-less Searches: http://bit.ly/lffrpJ

Does the Pitch Tail Wag The Novel Dog? http://bit.ly/kUssJT

How to keep doubts at bay: http://bit.ly/kpoqq3

Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own Way: http://bit.ly/l31ie8

Jane Friedman, Former 'Writer's Digest' Publisher, Tells All: http://bit.ly/iJaxGJ

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Buttermilk Banana Bread http://bit.ly/lZd48z

An insider's guide to book fairs (Guardian): http://bit.ly/kYF0xM

Don't be an uptight tweeter: http://bit.ly/kDjLXN

Putting the suspense puzzle together: http://bit.ly/jRrj8M

Keep 'em guessing: http://bit.ly/jWPUJE @juliemusil

Why It's A Great Time To Be A Freelance Writer: http://bit.ly/j6W31U

Learning to Disconnect: http://bit.ly/l3FLsA

10 steps for dealing effectively with rejection: http://bit.ly/iIWS0K @douglascorleone

How to figure out when a chapter isn't working: http://bit.ly/iNvVIl

Is your book's setting ho-hum? http://bit.ly/gByyLa

Build A Writing Network With LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/iFTxoj @jhansenwrites

Why companions and sidekicks are so important in books: http://bit.ly/m1cH2m

Need Some Bling for Your Title? Try PRISM: http://bit.ly/jiTJOf @4kidlit

1-step websites for writers: http://bit.ly/jrnGPT @janefriedman

Passionate writing: http://bit.ly/iCDGvx

Every individual, and character, is their own unique thread: http://bit.ly/ivdhu3 @RavenRequiem13

The art of creative abundance: http://bit.ly/kD9LIg

4 Advantages of Re-Reading: http://bit.ly/lxFTvP @victoriamixon

Don't Write the Bland and the Boring: http://bit.ly/lM8jAW

How to Focus with Pomodoro Technique: http://bit.ly/kjdbXj

Tips for Treating Titles of People: http://bit.ly/lFx53D

3 Powerful Blog Post Formulas That Most Bloggers Overlook: http://bit.ly/lk6AJ0

24 Ways to Enhance Your Creativity: http://bit.ly/mHedXU

Teaching Fantasy Part 1: Rewards, Backfires, Escapes: http://bit.ly/ktBtBw

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: A Killer Quiche to Celebrate the Release of Avery's LOST and FONDUE! http://bit.ly/m8tADm

Grammar ABCs: A is for Appositive: http://bit.ly/ka7iIf

35 Weird Traits Your Characters May Have: http://bit.ly/lj4c8N

10 Most Popular Professions for Romance Novel Heroes: http://bit.ly/mh9xAe @galleycat

How To Write Memorable Characters: http://bit.ly/maYQad

The 3 stages of querying: http://bit.ly/msA8Fe

Writing Copy That Sells--The Dirty Little Secret to Seducing Your Readers: http://bit.ly/is5OaM

When to end a series: http://bit.ly/jH9nQm

Take a Chance with Your Writing: http://bit.ly/iUt4om

The Stigma Of Writing Horror: How The Genre You Write Matters As Much As The Story: http://bit.ly/lRvsNY @thecreativepenn

The One Right Way to Write a Query: http://bit.ly/lo1mHW

Up Your (Story) Game: 7 Tips: http://bit.ly/kvjen9 @CherylRWrites

When writing is your day job, summer vacation for the kids can turn your schedule upside down: http://bit.ly/lKtH2R

Get Your E-Book Noticed: Presentation, Promotion & Patience: http://bit.ly/lad78A

Keep a file copy of every book and story you write on your computer: http://bit.ly/lBZI6L

Fantasy settings: The Wastelands: http://bit.ly/k6NkQl

7 things about the business of writing that one author has learned: http://bit.ly/letuTv

A self-publishing scale to help categorize authors: http://bit.ly/m9nGjX

A definition of Deep POV and tips for writing it: http://bit.ly/jqj10x @authorterryo

Understanding—and Accepting—the Reasons You Write: http://bit.ly/me23L2

Getting More Links to Your Blog – Things That Make People Link: http://bit.ly/kBXu22

Creativity: the Least Important, Most Important Thing There Is: http://bit.ly/kvSQoz #amwwriting

The secret life of libraries: http://bit.ly/lTPeRd

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Agatha Winners! http://bit.ly/lfDarw

Why you need to give it away (to be a successful creative): http://bit.ly/mctvqh

Authors should create "error logs" for their books & ebooks: http://bit.ly/l7TNCd

Freelancers: 6 foolproof ways to unstick stuck writing and thinking: http://bit.ly/lXewAn @janodaniel

7 Survival Secrets for Independent Bookstores: http://bit.ly/mzzLi8 @galleycat

Is the happy ending making a comeback? (Guardian): http://bit.ly/kqNryk

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 4/29/11): http://bit.ly/jhjNUJ

Formatting posts and pages on your new WordPress blog: http://bit.ly/llAqiV @storiestorm

An agent asks, "WTF is up with cursing in YA?" http://bit.ly/j7nk9W

Using Google calendar to stay organized: http://bit.ly/ilRZ3C

Want to create vibrant characters that pop off the page? http://bit.ly/hoxTo9

Can Our Own eBooks Become More Interactive? http://bit.ly/kwAyyk

Modern Fantasy Sub-Genre Bingo: http://bit.ly/iZ4qEz

The Elegant and Inescapable Semicolon: http://bit.ly/kEbsMx

Words, words, and more words: http://bit.ly/iR0i7j

6 Directions for Visual Display of Content: http://bit.ly/kFWhgh

2 Extremes Writers Take & How To Avoid Them: http://bit.ly/kTitXV

Delving in Details: http://bit.ly/kKeoM7 @RavenRequiem13

The Dilemma of The Mother Writer: http://bit.ly/jF01UO

Punctuating Quotations: http://bit.ly/kZeKXw

Why Do We Think Talent Ought to Be Rewarded? http://bit.ly/lHYdzk

Your 10 Step Plan for Becoming a Twitter Star: http://bit.ly/mzct9n

Who Cares About "Whom" Anymore? http://bit.ly/kejGdb

Approach your book idea thoughtfully: http://bit.ly/ln9Dil

Semicolons and Other Signs of Savvy Writing: http://bit.ly/kJdoqD

Overediting: Sucking the Life Out of Your Story: http://bit.ly/ig2Z1B

5 Pieces of Well-Meaning Writing Advice That One Writer is Glad She Didn't Take: http://bit.ly/kHRVRW