Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 239

How to Write a First Draft Quickly

Today, I'm over at YA author Janice Hardy's blog, The Other Side of the Story. I'm posting on "Working Quickly Through a First Draft."

Hope you'll pop over and visit. :)

Twitterific

Here are writing links that I've posted to Twitter for the past 7 days. If you're looking for a particular topic, just plug in your keyword into the search box at the top left-hand corner of the blog.

How to write the killer synopsis and survive: http://dld.bz/dpbp 24 minutes ago via SocialOomph

Writer's ADD: http://dld.bz/dqHf about 1 hour ago via SocialOomph

Developing trust in our characters over the span of a series: http://dld.bz/dqHb about 1 hour ago via SocialOomph

The...

Toying with the Idea of Writing a Book By Joanna Campbell Slan

Today I'd like to welcome fellow Midnight Ink author Joanna Campbell Slan to the blog. Joanna is an Agatha Award nominee and her Photo, Snap, Shot, the third book in the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series, was released May 1.

Toying with the Idea of Writing a Book

By Joanna Campbell Slan

This isn't the post I intended to write for Elizabeth. I'm no dummy. My job here—at least as far as I can tell—is to make you like me so you'll want to buy my book. Failing that, I need to make you want t...

Taking it a Step Farther

I was at my son's middle school last week, picking him up early for an appointment. I sat in the office with a clear view of the hall.

Whenever I'm able to see a middle school day in progress, I watch in a sort of horrified fascination.

My junior high years were my most un-favorite. Most of the kids were either really cliquey or really mean. I still haven't gone back for a reunion. I might even have "murdered" a composite of several of them in my books. :)

If some mystical being...

Developing a Protagonist

Since I'm working up a new book, I've got to have a brand-new, completely different protagonist.

When I'm working on a protagonist, one of two things usually happens…the protagonist is just immediately known to me (this happens when I've got a composite image in my head based on several people I actually know), or else I go through and build up a protagonist based on traits I admire as a reader.

I'm definitely operating from the second method this time and building up a main character...

Synopses

I'm not an outliner.

And I've been fortunate that I haven't had to write a synopsis for a couple of years.

But suddenly I've been requested to write a full synopsis and 3 chapters for a possible new series.

A synopsis…of material I haven't actually written? Sounds very like an outline to me….only it won't lay out the story chapter by chapter.

Seems like a good time to learn to write from an outline. :) In publishing it pays to adapt.

I'm thinking they'll be looking for about...

A Writer's Support

I'll say straight out that non-writers are frequently not sure what to make of the writing life.

Why would someone put so much time, research, and energy into something that pays so little?

Why would someone open themselves up (repeatedly) to hurt from rejections or snarky reviewers?

Honestly, it's really not something that makes a lot of sense. Most writers feel driven to write…and it's important enough to us to ignore the long hours, low pay, and potentially harsh feedback from first r...

Conference Pictures

Pictures from the 2010 Malice Domestic conference held last weekend in Washington, DC. I had a fantastic time, met many online friends in person, spoke with some wonderful mystery readers, attended and sat on panels, ran my mouth a lot more than I usually do…and came home exhausted, but happy!

Here I am hanging out with my Mystery Lovers' Kitchen friends, Avery Aames and Krista Davis right before the Agatha banquet. Avery writes the Cheese Shop mysteries and Krista writes the Diva...

Twitterific

Once again, I'm posting writing links that I previously posted to Twitter.

The idea of doing this isn't to overwhelm anyone. But I thought that if I kept track of these writing links in a searchable database (you can search my blog on the top left of the page) then we can access some of these helpful links by topic, when we need to.

One author shares lessons he's learned: http://bit.ly/aYUXsA

What makes a writer a professional? http://bit.ly/bfzoXo

A published author gives aspiring...

Changing Times

When I was at the Malice Domestic conference last weekend, I had a chance to talk with an author who currently has a successful series with a major publisher.

When I was introduced to her, I immediately remembered a review I'd read about her last book in the series on one of the major book blogs.

"Oh, fantastic review on _____," I said. (I don't want to make it too clear which author this is, although I don't think she'll find out…and you'll see why in a second.)

"Where?" she asked....