Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 41
May 8, 2021
Twitterific Writing Links
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 59,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you're there, check out the Writer's Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.
Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here.
Thanks to everyone for stopping by and commenting today! I'm going to be away from my computer for a bit today, so I'm turning off comments for the post. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!
Business / MiscellaneousWho should you ask to endorse your book? @sandrabeckwithWe need to talk about email thread etiquette: @NathanBransfordSelf-publishing News: Paid Podcast Wars: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIValue Your Books For The Long Term: @davidfarland @thecreativepennThe Author’s Guide to eBook Pre-orders: @claytonnoblit @WrittenWordMIndie Authors and Literary Prizes and Awards: @OrnaRoss @thecreativepennConferences and Events / MiscellaneousJürgen Habermas Changes Course, Declines the Sheikh Zayed Award: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe Jerusalem Prize Goes to England’s Julian Barnes: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesHay Festival Announces 2021 Programming, Second Digital Outing: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesJerusalem International Book Forum: Perspectives on the Pandemic: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @penguinrandom @PublishersLunchUK: Kraszna-Krausz Book Awards 2021: Shortlists and Longlists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesTips for Book Events: @SiouxR @womenonwritingCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Quotes7 Letters from Famous Writers Sharing Fantastic Writing Advice: @NicoleJBianchi12 Quotes for Writers on Persevering in Publication: @tessaemilyhall @A3writersCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers8 Books Featuring People Coming to Terms With an Abusive Childhood: by Judy Moreno @BookTribFinding Paradise in The Magician’s Nephew: @mattmikalatos @tordotcomFinding Solace in Horror Fiction: @thebookdad @LitReactorFive Off-Beat Gothic and Horror Books for Fans of the Classics: @Rose_Szabo_ @tordotcom6 Books That You Didn’t Realize Are Actually Love Stories: @AmyImpellizzeri @BookTribPlot Devices in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergDogs of Crime Fiction: by Jen J. Danna and Ann Vanderlaan @BooksThatThrill10 children’s books that will take kids on a journey: @PiersTorday @GuardianBooksCrime Novels Where Lives are Saved as Well as Lost: @MargotKinbergAuthor, Pirate, Poet, Spy: The Secret Criminals of Classic Literature: @rapscallisonCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingHow to be Flexible with Writing: @AuthorSATCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer's BlockIs Your Writing in a Slump? Get into the Flow: @KMazeauthorCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeWhat You’re Promising By Writing a Novella: by S.E. Jones @TheRyanLanzShowing Up As a Writer: Tips: Gabriel García Márquez on His Improbable Beginnings as a Writer: @brainpickerThe Hack’s Guide to Setting Deadlines for Yourself: @BillFerris @WriterUnboxedThe Benefits Of A Whiteboard To-Do List: @KMAllan_writerBullet Journals for Writers: @KissMyBiz @All_FreelancingHow to Become a Better Writer: 20 Hacks and Tips: @ReedsyHQAuthor Interview with Julie Gray: Unlikely Friendship with Holocaust Survivor Leads to Book, Documentary: @JulieGray972 @Howard_Lovy @IndieAuthorALLIAuthor Interview with Alice McVeigh: Hearing a Symphony in Every Word: @astmcveigh1 @Howard_LovyBelieving in Yourself as a Writer is Vital: @CindyDevoted @EdieMelsonJoyce Carol Oates Thinks You Should Write Your Heart Out: @JoyceCarolOates @lithubGenres / DystopianWriting Dystopian Novels: @bookhorse @thenovelryGenres / FantasyMaking Magic: Structuring Your Unique System: @MoriahRichard93 @WritersDigestGenres / HorrorHow to Write Horror – Interview with Tim Waggoner: @timwaggoner @DIYMFAWriting a Horror Story: Or, how to scare the pants off someone: @woodwardkaren13 Horror Books We Can’t Wait to Read: @HauntedMeg @BDisgustingGenres / Literary FictionThe 4 Pillars Of Literary Fiction: by Oliver Fox @Writers_WriteGenres / Non-FictionNonfiction Writers Feed Their Souls with Words: @NinaAmirGenres / PoetryMoney Models for Poets, with Orna Ross and Trish Hopkinson: @OrnaRoss @trishhopkinson @IndieAuthorALLIGenres / RomancePro tips for writing 10 common romance tropes: @Kerrie_Flanagan @TheWriterMagGenres / ScreenwritingScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Avatar: The Last Airbender: @CockeyedCaravanScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest : Supernatural @CockeyedCaravanPage One: ‘Batman Begins’ (2005): @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest : Twin Peaks: @CockeyedCaravanScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance): @CockeyedCaravan60 Second Screenwriter: @GoIntoTheStory12 Hit Movies That Took Ages From Idea To Screen: @AndreaMann @Bang2writeGenres / Short StoriesWhat Short Stories Offer a Writer: by D.L. Finn @StoryEmpireGenres / Young Adult4 Things about Writing YA Novels: from 100 Ways to Write @TheRyanLanzVendela Vida on Finding Humor in the Darker Side of Teenage Life: @janeciab @lithubPromo / Book ReviewsGet Reader Reviews Now to Drive Sales Later: @Lit_Nuts @JaneFriedmanPromo / Social Media TipsSocial Media for Authors: @kikimojoPromo / VideoMedia Interview Preparation Checklist: @SmithPublicity @IngramSparkPublishing / Miscellaneous‘I think I’ve written more Sherlock Holmes than even Conan Doyle': the ongoing fight to reimagine Holmes: @alisonflood @GuardianBooksAAP Honors Amy Klobuchar With Its 2021 Distinguished Public Service Award: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesHow a COVID-era Federal Writers Project went from wild idea to a proposed bill: @DoranyPineda90 @latimesThe Importance of Publishing Inclusivity for Indie Authors: @OrnaRoss @IndieAuthorALLIPublishing / News / International PublishingGermany’s Knowledge Unlatched Starts Its 2021 Open Access Funding Round: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGermany’s ‘Freedom of Expression Week’ Is Underway: #MehrAlsMeineMeinung: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCzech Publisher Albatros Media Expands Its Direct International Sales: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesViewpoints from Taiwan and Israel: The Jerusalem International Book Forum: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSpringer Nature Opens Transformative Agreement With Spain: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / QueryingWeave themes into the plot description (query critique): @NathanBransfordWriting Craft / Characters / ProtagonistsTwo Lives – the hero’s twin struggles: @SHalvatzisWriting Craft / Common MistakesSeven Mistakes Authors Make in Writing Medical Scenes: @drjoelshulkin @CareerAuthorsWriting Craft / ConflictWriting Character Focused Fight Scenes: @Free2BFearless @EdieMelsonWriting Craft / Flashback and Back StoryHow to Sneak Flashbacks into Your Novel: @SpencimusWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmMovie Gems from the Early 1930s: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsWriting Craft / Miscellaneous7 Tips to Adding Fear Into Fiction: @cyallowitz10 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing About Mental Illness: @writingandsuchWhat Good Are Sex Scenes in Fiction? @helpfulsnowman @LitReactorHow to Write a Cliffhanger That Keeps the Reader Turning Pages: @shaelinbishop @ReedsyHQCan my child protagonist use adult vocabulary for the sake of the narrative? @TheWriterMagWhat's a Story Disruption? @KiingoCreativeWriting Craft / POVHow to use Multiple Points of View with Clarity and Panache: by Dana Isaacson @CareerAuthorsWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / ResearchThe right way to write about guns in novels: by Andy Maslen @AuthorsAiHow to overcome the perils of information bias: @pubcoachWriting about guns? Get your ammunition right: by Andy Maslen @AuthorsAiWriting Craft / RevisionThe Ultimate Guide to Book Editing: Continuity Editing: @MichaelLaRonn6 ways to improve your novel right now: @LouiseHarnbyWriting Craft / Revisions / CritiquesCreating Online Critique Group Guidelines: @IWriteToo @RMFWritersWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionHow to Write a Genre Story: Setting: @woodwardkarenHow to write description: @pubcoachHow to Write a Genre Story: Setting and Character: @woodwardkarenWriting Tools / MiscellaneousHow to Keep Track of Your Characters With Index Cards, String, and a Lot of Clothes Pins: @bsnacks @lithubUncategorizedHaunted Houses, Cursed Lands, and the Horror of Gentrification: @sentencebender @tordotcom
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May 2, 2021
Showing Up As a Writer
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Writing is frequently a really daunting task. So often we have the perfect story conceived in our heads but when it comes to putting it down on paper, it's just not quite the same. That's a big reason why it can be tough for writers to commit to working on their project every day.
It's been said that 80% of success is just showing up. For writers, obviously, not showing up means not making progress on our books.
What exactly does showing up as a writer mean, though?Set aside a dedicated time to write. I'm a big fan for setting the bar low, too. It's more important for our self-confidence as a writer to have a series of “wins” every day than it is to rack up a big word count. But whatever your goal is…five minutes, ten minutes, etc…it's most important that you follow through with it. Think about making it a goal you think you can easily achieve, even if it's just once a week.
But also be flexible enough to grab time when you can. Sometimes we have an unexpected pocket of time. It's really almost like a gift. Instead of scrolling through social media, consider bringing a small notebook with you or opening a document on your phone and brainstorming some ideas for your project.
If something comes up and writing is impossible that day, reschedule the writing session and show up to that one. Sometimes life does get in the way. But try to make your writing time something that you can make: let others know that you're going to be working on your project. Try to protect your time. If the writing session falls through, never try to catch up…it's just such a dispiriting process. Better to reschedule your session for another day or time and show up for that one.
Stay focused during the session. My favorite way to do this is with a timer, but yours might be to disconnect your laptop from the internet or to turn your phone off. Whatever it takes to ensure you can be totally focused on your story.
Have some sort of plan or idea what you're going to write during the next session. I live by my outlines (I'm a reluctant outliner, but I do what works for me), but if you don't like outlining, at least try to have a one-sentence mini-outline to indicate where you want to pick up for your next session so you won't have to spend your writing time re-reading your story.
Set a goal for each session…either by time or by word count. This, again, really helps with focus. And, as I mentioned earlier, you don't have to have a big goal because small ones work just as well.
Spend some time daydreaming or brainstorming ideas for your story. This is something else that's good for those unexpected quiet moments…just letting your mind drift as you think about your characters and the story you're creating.
What are ways that you show up as a writer?
Photo credit: melusina parkin on VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA
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May 1, 2021
Twitterific Writing Links
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 59,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you're there, check out the Writer's Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.
Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here.
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April 25, 2021
What Authors Think About Running A Book Business
by Hank Quense, @hanque99
Years ago, when I had two books published by a small indie press house I learned, to my amazement, that I now owned a business. The purpose of the business was to market and sell copies of my book. At the time, I had no idea how to do this stuff, despite years in sales. Book marketing and selling was radically different than selling high-tech telecommunications systems.
Eventually, I got a grip on my new business. Since then, I’ve been advocating newbie authors to grasp the idea of running of a business.
But don’t take my word about the author business. When I revised my book, Business Basics for Authors, I decided to ask other authors about this idea of a business. I got over a dozen answers. Some of the authors write fiction, others write non-fiction. Some have publishers, some are self-published.
Here are their responses to the question: What is the most difficult part of managing your book business?
Elizabeth Craig: I find reaching new readers to be the most difficult and time-consuming part of my book business. However, I spend time every week to do so: through advertising like Freebooksy, giveaways like Goodreads, translations through platforms like Babelcube, and outreach through Wattpad.
Mark Cain: a successful marketing strategy, both for individual titles and for the more general author brand.
Elaine Durbach: The most difficult part for me is distribution, starting with getting the book into bookstores. While readers can order online, many want to see a book in their local store.
Anna Faversham: Finding the time to manage the marketing. As an Indie I need to do this myself. For each book I draw up a marketing plan to be implemented as soon as it is published. The reality is that I baulk at the idea of drawing up a press release or contacting libraries and much of the list for each of my books has never been done but perhaps you can do better? And one fine day, I shall tackle all that is left undone. Yes, really.
Mark Henderson: The most difficult part is negotiating production with publishers who've accepted a manuscript. I find my powers of diplomacy much exercised when I have to reject editorial suggestions that would harm the story and persuade the design team to change the cover and the jacket blurb… in which I'm by no means always successful! (I have to accept that publishers know better than I do what will sell best, but I can still express my reservations.)
Joylene Butler: I have failed miserably at keeping my filing up. I’m an author. I’d rather write then worry about the paper end of my career. If I reach the best seller’s list, I’ll hire an accountant.
Dale Lehman: Marketing is the most difficult part. Writing can be hard, but anyone who doesn't enjoy writing probably shouldn't be doing it. Editing can be costly, but you have to have someone else do that anyway. (Or you should. It's generally a bad idea to try to edit your own work!) Book creation is easy these days, with all the software and low-cost options that are available. But selling is not something most of us writers are good at. It involves an entirely different set of skills from writing and producing books.
Rick Gualtieri: Dealing with the mundane legalities. These are the things a lot of people don't think about when they start a business such as this – getting an EIN, determining sole proprietorship, LLC, or S-corp, obtaining a business license with their state, maintaining good standing, taxes, etc. It's not fun, it's not glamorous, but it needs to be done and done right. These are the things that distract from our writing, yes, but they can't be ignored. Too many enter the world of publishing and assume that writing is all they have to worry about, and they're wrong. Being a small business means wearing a lot of different hats.
Donna Baier Stein: selling many books
Stuart Aken: The entirety of the task of ‘selling’ my work is anathema to me. I am a creator, an imaginative storyteller. The whole idea of trying to convince others what I write is worth their hard-earned cash fills me with despair.
Sarajane Giere: The most difficult part in managing my book business is realizing that publishing the book was like having a new birth in the household that must be nurtured in order to survive. It’s not just up to the publisher from now on. Caring and promoting this baby is now MY JOB. Expanding my office space, keeping better track of my e-mails, and spending more time to follow up on contacts and appearances are all part of the process. Reordering my work day to accommodate all this is sometimes daunting.
Stephanie Auteri: Actively keeping my book at the forefront of people's minds, especially when a.) more recent projects seem more pressing and b.) it seems so spammy to keep plugging a book that pubbed over two years ago… even though I know I gather new followers online every day.
L. Diane Wolfe: Marketing is always the most difficult. What works for one book doesn’t work for the next, or situations in the world change, or the authors’ abilities vary from one to the next, etc. It’s also incredibly expensive. The Big 5 can throw a lot of money at marketing, whereas a smaller publisher like us has to be very frugal.
Peadar Ó Guilín: Quality control. Editors are expensive and deserve to be too.
***
Business Basics for Authors has a wealth of information you can use to develop and manage your book business.
You may find more valuable information on my Writers and Authors Resource Center.
Hank Quense writes satirical fantasy and sci-fi. Early in his writing career,
he was strongly influenced by two authors: Douglas Adams and his
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Joseph Heller’s Catch-22. Happily, Hank
has never quite recovered from those experiences.
He lives with his wife in northern New Jersey, a mere 20 miles from
Manhattan, the center of the galaxy (according to those who live in
Manhattan). They have two daughters and five grandchildren all of whom
live nearby.
What Authors Think About Running A Book Business (by @hanque99 ):
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April 24, 2021
Twitterific Writing Links
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 59,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you're there, check out the Writer's Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.
Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here.
Business / MiscellaneousSelf-Editing Software Versus a Professional Editor: How to Get the Most Out of Both: by JoEllen Nordstrom @ProWritingAidFreelancing: How to Start a Successful Online Business During a Pandemic: @RobynRosteHow To Create a Freelance Writer Website and Portfolio: @quiettypeblogHow to Become a Ghostwriter (and Why It's a Lucrative Choice): @HellyDouglas @ProWritingAidFreelancing: Six Steps to Finding Writing Jobs and Building Your Business: @WritersCoach7 Reasons Why Freelance Writing Is The Best At-Home Business: @ashleygainerThe Secret to Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer: @quiettypeblogConferences and Events / MiscellaneousSheikh Zayed Book Award Shortlists: ‘Development of Nations’ and Criticism: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesLouise Erdrich Wins the $35,000 Aspen Words Literary Prize: @Porter_Anderson @AspenWords @pubperspectivesInternational Booker Prize Announces Its 2021 Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @TheBookerPrizes @pubperspectivesSheikh Zayed Book Award Names Its 2021 Winners: @Porter_Anderson @ZayedBookAward @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationHow to Overcome a Lack of Creativity: 9 Smart Strategies: @BryanJCollinsCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersSo, who is Arsène Lupin, anyway? @oldrutigliano @CrimeReadsWhen Pets are Killed in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinberg4 Types of Reading for Every Writer: @SueBEdwards @womenonwritingRevealing Secrets in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergPilgrimages as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing QuicklyHow to Write Faster (for Freelance Writers & Bloggers): @All_FreelancingCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeThe Art of Encouraging Others by Crystal Casavant @womenonwriting“Why I Turned Away From Realism and Began to Write Surreal Fiction”: @caiemmons @WomenWritersDumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Snacks: @GoIntoTheStory17 Smart Strategies For New Writers: @BryanJCollinsWorking well at home: Wellbeing tips for writers, creatives and freelancers: @HelenaFairfax7 Ways To Beat Self-Sabotage As A Writer: @Bang2writeTurn Your Author Failures, Setbacks, And Mistakes Into Success With Joanna Penn And Orna Ross: @thecreativepenn @OrnaRossTen Ways to Lose Your Literature: @WithEdSimon @The_MillionsCharacter Time and Reader Time: by Barbara Linn Probst @WriterUnboxed10 Ways to Identify a Writer: @diannmills @SouthrnWritrMagBehold these cute phone booth libraries from around the world: @danpjsheehan @lithubThe Best And Worst Writing Advice: by PJ Parrish @killzoneauthorsGenres / FantasyFantasy: How Do I Keep My Magic Separate? by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsHow to Craft Realistic, Relatable Fantasy Characters: @KrystalNCraikerGenres / HorrorFairy Lore and its Influence on Arthur Machen and Some Other Contemporaneous Gentlemen: by Thomas Kent MillerGenres / MiscellaneousIs the Western Genre Dead? @WritingwColorWhat’s Behind the Label “Domestic Fiction”? @SoledadFoxMaura @lithubGenres / MysteryCrime Writing: Hybristophilia — The Bonnie and Clyde Syndrome: @GarryRodgers1Genres / Science FictionFlash Gordon: The Savior of Sci-Fi: @RogerDom1 @TheNewEuropeanGenres / ScreenwritingPage One: ‘The Maltese Falcon’ (1941): @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Wendy and Lucy: @CockeyedCaravanScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Born a Crime: @CockeyedCaravanPage One: ‘Moonstruck’ (1987): @GoIntoTheStory60 Second Screenwriter: What’s a log line? @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: @CockeyedCaravanPromo / Book ReviewsHow Important Are Online Book Reviews? by Mckenzie Cassidy @FloridaWriters1Promo / ImagesHow To Animate Book Covers: @SueColetta1 @killzoneauthorsPromo / Miscellaneous5 Ways Content Marketing Affects Your Book Sales: by John Edwards @A3writersThe Waiting Period: Five Tips for Maximizing Your Presence Before Book Promotion Begins: @nedadallal @penguinrandomHow to Make a Podcast for $0: @mjeick5 easy steps to a successful media appearance: @AGBillig @sandrabeckwithPromo / PodcastsHow to Plan a Podcast in 9 Steps: @RobynRostePromo / WebsitesStop! WordPress Is Not Your Only Option: @PaulineWilesPublishing / MiscellaneousPenguin Random House Announces Extended Payment Plan for Independent Bookstores: @penguinrandomSimon & Schuster and Political Books: Mattingly and Mike Pence: @Porter_Anderson PEN America Releases New International Freedom To Write Index: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @PENamericaPublishing / News / AmazonKindle Vella: Description, Features, and Tips for Authors: @DaveChessonPublishing / News / DataUS First-Quarter 2021 Print Book Sales Grew 29 Percent: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingIPA President Bodour Al Qasimi Stresses Opportunity in African Publishing: @Porter_Anderson @Bodour @pubperspectivesItaly’s First Quarter Report: Book Sales Up 26.6 Percent: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishers Welcome Pandemic Support in Canada’s 2021 National Budget: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesWords Without Borders’ Earth Day: Iceland ‘On the Edge’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @wwbordersFrench Week: New Rights and Networking Meetings Set for May: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Process / TranslationThe Authors Guild Releases Its Model Translation Contract, a First: @Porter_Anderson @AuthorsGuild @pubperspectivesWriting Craft / BeginningsWIP Diagnostic: Is This Working? A Closer Look at a Cozy Mystery Opening: @Janice_HardyInciting Event How To: Writing Exercise: @themaltesetigerWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentRelationship Thesaurus Entry: Twins: @beccapuglisi @onestop4writersCharacterization Exercise: Then & Now: @Writers_WriteGuide to Character Development: @writingandsuchWriting Craft / ConflictWriting Conflict: The Importance of De-escalation in Self Defense: from How to Fight WriteWriting Craft / DialogueBeyond Banter: 4 Tips for Writing Hilarious Dialogue: by L.E. Williams @KingdomPenMagWriting Craft / Flashback and Back StoryTips for Flashbacks: @FinebergLauraWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmJoan Didion on Keeping a Notebook: @brainpickerThe Best of the DC Animated Universe: @doc_awesomeo @LitReactorWriting Craft / MiscellaneousSo You're an Overwriter? Here are 10 tips to help: @_HannahHeathHow To Tease Your Reader With Red Herrings: @10minnovelistHow (and Why) to Create an Audience Surrogate in Your Fiction Writing: @mindofkyleam @ProWritingAidWriting on Message: How to Separate Moral and Theme: @Kid_Lit @TheIWSGStory Theory and the Quest for Meaning: @KMWeilandSpaced Out? You Probably Need One Space Instead of Two: @FrugalBookPromo10 Reasons Why Readers Quit a Book: @WordDreams @ChrysFeyWrite a Story Backward for Climactic Results: @donroff @savethecatExplicit Sex Scenes and the Work of Stories: @dynamicsymmetry @sfwaHow Theme is Your Story's Shadow: @SeptCFawkes5 Quick Tips For Over Writers: @MiaJouBotha @Writers_WriteEssays: 3 Tips for Writing Your Story: @seejavaciawrite8 Simple Ways to Make Your Writing Better: @shaelinbishop @ReedsyHQHow to Write Amazing Action Scenes: @LexicalForge @CareerAuthorsJohn le Carré Offered a Piece of Advice to a Struggling Novelist. She'll Never Forget It: @weinberg_kate @CrimeReadsWriting Craft / POVUnderstanding Third-Person Point of View: Omniscient, Limited and Deep: @FoxPrintEd @JaneFriedmanWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / OutliningHow to outline a novel (template plus 7 checks): @nownovelWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingBasic Plots: Vonnegut’s Boy Meets Girl: @stacitroilo @StoryEmpireWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / ResearchBeyond Google: 6 Reliable Resources for Researching Your Novel: @KrystalNCraiker @ProWritingAidWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept3 Simple Questions To Turn Your Book Idea Into a Premise of a Book: by J. D. Edwin @write_practiceWriting Craft / RevisionHow To Cut Twenty Thousand Words: @HankPRyan @CareerAuthorsEditing 101: by Jes D.A. @NaNoWriMoWriting Craft / Revisions / CritiquesThe Gift of Critique: @theladygreer @WriterUnboxedWriting Craft / TensionWhat is Dramatic Tension? @KiingoCreativeStretch That Tension: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsWriting Craft / Word CraftingHow to Describe Pain in Writing: @BrynDonovanWriting Tools / AppsThe 12 Best Writing Apps for Android: @BryanJCollinsUncategorizedTranslation Options for Writers:
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April 18, 2021
Update on Translations
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I've received several emails and a couple of Facebook messages from writers in the last few weeks asking me to post an update with my thoughts on different translation platforms…so here we go. :)
First off, I want to link to other posts I've written about options for getting our books translated. You can find them here:
A Closer Look at Babelcube for Translation
Translation Alternatives to Babelcube
Translation Hyphenation Issues on Babelcube
I currently have 19 translations of my books in various languages and two more are in the process of being published. I've found translations, with royalty-sharing, to be a nice source of income. It also pleases me to reach an audience in non-English-speaking countries. Income-wise, the money I make isn't much, but it's steady. The German translations earn me the most income.
Nearly all of my books have been translated through Babelcube . Sadly, I'm not a huge fan of the platform. I've run into numerous issues (including, somehow, my name being listed incorrectly on retail sites) and customer service is either extremely slow (6 months for some issues) or non-existent. The most frustrating thing is that, as a self-publisher, I'm used to being able to correct issues myself. Since Babelcube is the distributor/publisher, I don't have these books on my dashboard to tinker with them.
I do have a couple of books available through TekTime. I do like the platform, although I was disappointed that I couldn't have my translated text on ACX, etc, because the translated material was still considered their property (it would be the same with Babelcube). I did find their customer service better, however. Although the service has 22,467 translators on the platform, I get the feeling that Babelcube has more. To be fair, I need to list more books there and give the platform more of a chance.
Babelcube is an excellent place to do translator matchmaking. It's the oldest translation platform. There you can list your books and translators will audition for the job. After finding a translator and before you both sign the Babelcube contract, you could go indie with the process at that point. And that has been what I've recommended as a possibility to the writers who've contacted me lately.
It used to be that this wasn't a feasible option for royalty-splitting translations because it would mean a lot of work every month for an author to PayPal the translator their take of the royalties. But now, this is something you can do automatically through Draft2Digital's new payment splitting option. BundleRabbit also has payment splitting and I have a book or two there.
Obviously, you'd want to have a contract. You could probably use a lot of the language from Babelcube and TekTime's contracts, both of which are accessible online, or have an IP lawyer to draw something up.
Aside from a book or two that I'm using BundleRabbit for, I haven't chosen this indie option…instead, I've continued with the frustration of dealing with Babelcube. That's because I've found many of my translators are wary of going indie with me. And why wouldn't they be? They're dealing with a stranger who lives in another country and have no idea how good I am at the publishing process and managing distribution, various formats, etc. My translators are often very young, as well. The risk is mainly on their end because they're devoting many hours of work on a translation project and I'm only funding a cover tweak with the translated title and cover copy. I can understand how it would seem less-risky to go through a major platform like Babelcube.
Another option would be to find your translator on Babelcube and see if they're amenable to shifting over to TekTime, if you like the idea of better, more-timely, customer service.
Yet another option is to find a translator and pay them out of pocket without using royalty sharing. I've done this once, for my latest German book. But this was after working with this duo of translators for several other books and after seeing strong sales for the other titles. Paying out of pocket is definitely a pricy option and I'd caution authors to be careful…you would be taking on a good deal of risk and it would be a challenge to promote the book in the market it's intended for.
I hope this helps. I still feel a little like translations are the wild west of indie publishing, but I do like the end results and the reach I'm able to have.
Have you had any books translated? Do you have any questions about the process?
Translation Options: An Update:
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April 17, 2021
Twitterific Writing Links
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 59,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you're there, check out the Writer's Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.
Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here.
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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April 11, 2021
Tips for Creating Strong Female Protagonists
by Nicole Souza
What is strength? What is female strength specifically?
It’s a complex question and must be answered by every writer individually. However, exchanging insights is helpful, so here are my top 5 tips for creating a strong female protagonist:
Borrow Strengths from Real WomenIn real life, women are strong for different reasons. I encourage writers to consider the women in their circle and pinpoint their most admirable strengths. For me, this exercise yielded the creation of Lyratelle Faith, the protagonist in Sins of Our Mothers. If ever a character of mine embodied my understanding of female strength, it’s her.
Between my mom, four sisters, three grandmothers, nine aunts, too many female cousins to count, my mother-in-law, five sisters-in-law, and six nieces (so far), female strength has manifested in countless ways in my life.
I admit, I’m uniquely blessed with female role models. Among these women are over ten ethnicities, at least eight languages I can count off the top of my head, and a wide range of financial statuses and religious beliefs. Many were born in, moved to, currently live in, or immigrated to the states from, various countries around the globe. Each woman enriches my life with her own talents, struggles, dreams, and wisdom.
Each woman’s connection to me, whether through blood, adoption, or marriage, is a mere drop in her ocean of life experience. Each has her own origin story, personal demons, and ultimate end goal.
If you’re like me, and you have a plethora of amazing women in your life, borrowing their strengths may be an overwhelming exercise. I suggest choosing five women at a time and writing down the first thing that comes to mind that you admire about them. Here’s a quick example of strengths I’ve borrowed for characters from my mom and four sisters:
I found one of my sister’s walking the halls of the hospital mere hours after delivering her first child. Before you assume an easy delivery, let me say that, among other complications, she tore terribly—like, all the way. Yet, there she was, freshly stitched, pushing a walker around the delivery floor, trembling while insisting the best way to heal was to get moving.Another sister is a survivor of an abusive marriage and suffered four out of ten pregnancy losses between that and her current marriage. Despite such trials, she finished school, runs a successful business, and flourishes in her personal life.I witnessed another sister be tremendously hurt by someone close to her—someone who should’ve been in her corner unquestionably. For most people (certainly for me), the situation would’ve been irreconcilable. The offense occurred just days after she suffered an agonizing loss. Though many encouraged her to remove the offender from her life, she chose to forgive and has shown indescribable fortitude, humility, and maturity in her dealings with them since.My fourth sister, with the exception of Antarctica, has traveled to every continent on this gorgeous globe, learning of the world’s beautiful cultures, peoples, and languages. She’s currently learning her third language.My mom, aside from teaching five daughters and three sons to be strong adults, embodies hard work, altruism, and divine patience—strengths by any standard. She grew up in the simplest of households, with nothing beyond life’s most basic necessities. She honors her upbringing as a pathway to resilience and devotion to those few things that bear real meaning in this life, particularly her family.Borrowing such real-world examples is an excellent start. After all, a protagonist should be a nonfictional character in a fictional world—a woman real women relate to. Be mindful, however, that strength may need to be defined anew according to the world you’ve created for your heroine. Often, her strength is not found in a list of abilities or character traits, but rather, in her relationship to your other characters, which brings me to the second tip.
Discover Your Protagonist’s Strengths by Viewing Her through Other Characters’ EyesHow is your protagonist viewed by the other characters? Is she reliable? Stable? An anchor of sorts? Is she feared? Revered? What makes her stand out? Is she respected by those who know her? Why? Is she a source of comfort or hope? Do they consider her strong?
What is her relationship to the antagonist? Is your protagonist a legitimate threat? How does she make her enemies feel? What similarities does she share with them? What are the choices that led her down a different path?
When fleshing out Lyratelle’s character, I realized she lacks many abilities needed to achieve her goals. I also knew she needed to be real. I couldn’t just remove her weaknesses or the personal issues she was working through. So, I utilized two of her greatest strengths: humility and observation. By exercising these traits, Lyratelle was able to surround herself with women whose strengths bridged the gaps between her and her goals. This elevated both her character development, and the overarching message of the book, that human relationships are the most enduring strengths we can acquire.
Acting Versus ReactingDo things merely happen to your protagonist? Or does she make things happen?
Is she in constant “react and respond” mode? Or is she making waves to which other characters must react?
A good story, in my opinion, is rife with both. And the balance between the two shifts as the heroine acquires and maximizes her strengths. Of course things out of your protagonist’s control will happen to her. This serves as the foundation for a story’s birth. What makes a character a protagonist is her ability to progress from reacting to what happens, to making things happen that other characters can’t ignore. It’s in those characters responding to her actions that deepens or changes character relationships and develops the story beyond what you imagined in the beginning.
In short, your protagonist must learn throughout her journey to make waves that will cause the undesirable things happening to her to reroute.
SPEMPARFSIf you’re not totally sold on your own definitions of female strength and are thus struggling to create a strong female protagonist, go back to the basics. Use my character development cheat sheet, or what I call SPEMPARFS, as a starting line. In each trait category, consider how your character might be stand out from the crowd. How might she be uniquely strong in each aspect of her life? What trials led her to develop that strength?
For me, SPEMPARFS is in an important order. When getting to know a character, I like to flesh them out in a way that’s easy to track. But I encourage every writer to develop a system that works with their personality and writing style.
SPEMPARFS is an acronym that stands for:
Spiritual: Define your protagonist’s spiritual beliefs. Is she steady in her beliefs or still figuring things out? Is her spirituality relevant to the story? What aspects of her belief system need to be included? How do her beliefs inform her behavior? Is she honest? What’s her inner purpose? What drives her? Does that change throughout the story? What deities exist in her world? I sort out a character’s spiritual beliefs first because it will inform many of her other attributes.Physical: What does she look like? How tall is she? What is she physically capable of? Does she struggle with her health? Does she have a healthy relationship to food? Does she eat to live or live to eat? Does her physical health inform her talents? What are her physical goals? What color are her eyes? Does she have any scars? How did she get them? What is her lineage and ethnicity?Emotional: Understand early on the emotional state of your protagonist. What sets her off? What excites her? What makes her cry? Does she cry often? Does she struggle to express emotion? Does she act on emotion? Does her emotion drive most of her choices? Does she have control of her emotions? Is she balanced? Temperate? Which are her most common emotions? What’s her typical daily mood?Mental: In what ways is your protagonist smart? Is she well educated? What did she study in school? What other academic interests does she have? Is she street smart? Does she know more than one language? Is she a good teacher? Does she enjoy learning? Does she thirst for knowledge? Does she care how the world works? Is technological progression important to her? If your story is fantasy, and school as we know it doesn’t exist, what programs have helped her gain her knowledge and experience? Is she a master in those programs? Did she fall behind the average learner?Psychological: Is your protagonist straightforward or manipulative? What mental illnesses run in her family? Does she experience paranoia? Why? What happened in her past that informs her psyche? Is she stable in her relationships? Is she sure of herself? What gives her confidence when she’s scared or alone? Can she be trusted with the tasks required to reach the story’s end goal? Could her psychological struggles end up being strengths she uses to achieve her goals? What terrifies her?Artistic: Everyone is an artist. Everyone creates something, even if just a concept. How is your protagonist artistic? Is she an architect? A painter? A songwriter? Does she play an instrument? Does she express herself through dance? Is she a mental mathematician? Don’t forget that arts and sciences are related! Does your heroine want to the change the world somehow? What talents does she have that might help? What are her dreams? What keeps her up at night?Romantic: What is her romantic status? What kinds of characteristics does she look for in a mate? Is she in a stable marriage? What bothers her about her current romantic situation? Is she afraid of romance? Get deep into why she feels the way she does about this topic. Make sure you know how her body reacts to attractive potential partners. Is she driven by sexual desire? Is she a virgin? Is sex sacred to her?Financial: How does your protagonist make money? What’s her home like? Her neighborhood? Does she rent? Are there new forms of currency in your story? What’s her status in her society? Is she comfortable where she’s at? Is she ashamed of her poverty? Is she prideful about her wealth? Is she embarrassed of how she’s made money in the past? Is she honest in her financial dealings?Social: Who’s in her inner circle? Is she outgoing? Shy? Insecure? What’s her favorite place to meet up with friends? Does she trust her friends? Does she hang around shady people? How do her friends influence her decisions? Does peer pressure sway her? Does she get along with her coworkers? Her boss? Neighbors? Family? Is she important in her society? Is she respected? Is she a nobody? How does this change throughout the story?Strengthen Your Protagonist with the PlotIf you want your protagonist to be strong, but can’t quite figure out how to do it, or what it means exactly, give her challenges to overcome. Strengthen her with, and throughout, the story. Be specific about what kinds of strengths you want her to develop and how you’d like her to end up.
Do you picture her being emotionally strong? What trials fortify emotions? Is she starting from a weak emotional place? Or is emotional strength natural for her?
If you can’t break your character out of failure, whether your attempts feel disingenuous for the story, or you need her to struggle more before she figures things out, try strengthening her through dialogue with other characters. Is there a character that’s strong in the ways you’d like your protagonist to be stronger? Set up a scene where advice can be shared.
There’s no limit to the ways in which a character can change and improve. Give yourself creative space to find what works for her.
Creating a protagonist is fun but daunting. Keep at it! Flesh her out, slowly if needed. Don’t force it. Allow her to show you who she is. Interview her. Discover her motivations. And if she needs a little kick in the pants to become the strong character you envision, don’t hesitate to administer one.
***
It has been fifteen hundred years since the solar flare devastation of the Global Catastrophe. Due to the radioactivity in the harvesting fields, society dismisses its defective children as nothing more than flawed products of the malfunctioned seeds in the field.
But Lyratelle, a hyper-observant musical prodigy, believes these “defects” are intelligent, particularly her own sibling, the youngest child of her impervious mother. Abandoning her dream career, Lyratelle climbs the bureaucratic ladder to run the Defect Research Center, where she can safeguard the child.
With an underground team of women who share her uncertainties, Lyratelle unearths the Old History truth that womankind’s survival actually hinges on the existence of these defects.
When General Sarah Love, the city’s most powerful advocate against the defects, detects Lyratelle’s sympathy toward the creatures, she threatens the life of Lyratelle’s sibling.
Now Lyratelle’s desperate attempt to save this child endangers everyone she loves—her team, her family, even the existence of the defects themselves.
SINS OF OUR MOTHERS is available at AMAZON * Barnes & Noble * WiDo Publishing. Also, be sure to add it to your TBR List on Goodreads.
5 Tips for Creating a Strong Female Protagonist (by Nicole Souza ):
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Meet the
Author
As the third of eight siblings, Nicole has always been surrounded by people. Among her immediate family are spoken seven languages. Her favorite thing is hearing her nieces and nephews speak French, Tongan, or Mandarin. It’s no surprise she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Languages, as language is one of her greatest passions, topped only by music and Beat Saber.
Nicole minored in Women Studies and continues to take a particular interest in both women’s history and their individual stories. She’s grateful for her ancestors and other women who paved the way for her to pursue her dream of publishing stories and strives to create new avenues for the coming generations to pursue their dreams.
Though she’s lived-in various states in the U.S. and Brazil, Nicole considers Utah “home base” and continuously finds herself returning, even when previous moves were intended to be permanent. She attributes her love of Utah to the beauty of the Wasatch Mountains and the incredible people who make it feel like home, even when she’s been away for long periods of time. Recently, however, after visiting her sister’s family overseas, she’s been dreaming of a quiet beach house in Taiwan.
Connect with Nicole on her website nicolesouzabooks.com
Facebook@nicolesouzabooks
Instagram@nicolesouzabooks
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Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you enjoy books where the main protagonist is a female?
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April 10, 2021
Twitterific Writing Links
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 59,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you're there, check out the Writer's Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer.
Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here.
Business / MiscellaneousCo-writing With Artificial Intelligence: @yudhanjaya @thecreativepennHow To Become A Copywriter: 11 Proven Tips: @BryanJCollinsFreelancing: 6 Creative Places to Look for the Best New Clients: @RobynRosteConferences and Events / MiscellaneousLondon Book Fair 2021: Final Decision in Mid-April: @Porter_Anderson @LondonBookFair @pubperspectivesThe Netherlands’ 2021 ‘Renew the Book’ Winner: A Reading App: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGermany Sets Hybrid Guest of Honor for 2021 Abu Dhabi Fair: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesGerman Nonfiction Prize Names Its First Round of Finalists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe ‘GLLI’ Translated YA Book Prize Announces 2021 Brazilian Co-Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPEN America To Honor Five Career Achievement Prize Recipients: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesSelf-publishing News: London Book Fair Still on Pause: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIBologna Children’s Book Fair: Digital Again in 2021: @Porter_Anderson @BoChildrensBook @pubperspectivesRights Roundup: The Pandemic Changes the Book Fair Calendar Again: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingWhere You Are and Where You Want to Be: @sarahjrexford @A3writersCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationBoost Your Creativity: @jcwalton24 @DIYMFA5 Steps to Your Next Novel Idea: @Janice_HardySay it, write it, draw it – 8 visualizing exercises for writers: @beprolifikoCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / QuotesTop 10 Quotes To Keep Going As A Writer: @Bang2writeCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersReading as a Writer: Making Peace With DNFs: Top 10 books about spirit mediums: @spookypurcell @GuardianBooksWhat Makes Flowers in the Attic the Perfect Quarantine Read? @litcenturypod @lithubCreativity and Inspiration / MiscellaneousEmbracing a Creative Pivot: @dariengee @JaneFriedmanCreativity and Inspiration / MotivationHow to Restart Your Unfinished Book: @GuerillaMemoir @JaneFriedmanCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingProcrastinating? Try Self-Compassion: @katysegroveCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer's BlockProcrastination: Dump Old Myths and Discover a Fun Solution: @WriteNowCoachCreativity and Inspiration / SuccessHow to Write a Manuscript That Succeeds: @Kid_LitCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeAuthors Are Not Your Competition: @AngelaAckermanWriting Self-Care for When the World is Afire: @jan_ohara @WriterUnboxedA Lifeline for When Writing is No Longer Fun: @Janice_HardyWhy we stop writing: @pubcoachWhy do you self-sabotage and how can you stop doing it? @pubcoachAre you Acting Against Your Own Best Interests and Creative Desires? @CreativeKatrina“Five Things I Learned Writing My Book”: @HutchingsJulie @ChuckWendigMaintaining focus as a writer: by Dave King @WriterUnboxedJust For Today, For a Writer: @cathychall @womenonwritingThe 100 Best, Worst, and Strangest Sherlock Holmes Portrayals of All-Time, Ranked: @oldrutigliano @CrimeReadsWhy is paper still so magical? @corbincitoGenres / Horror101 Horror Tropes For Writers: by Oliver Fox @Writers_WriteGenres / MiscellaneousPlaygrounds Enough for Everyone: a Discussion on Genre Fiction and Assumed Definitions: @EnigmaticElegyGenres / MysteryCrime Writing: 6 Reasons Why a Detective’s Job Isn’t As Glamorous as You Might Believe: @LeeLoflandMystery Solved: Why Hollywood Is Obsessed with the Whodunit: @goodreadsSleuths as Fully Developed Characters: @MargotKinbergCrime Fiction Needs Neurodiversity: @Josh_Stalling @CrimeReadsDetectives v. Patrol: Point Your Tale In the Right Direction: @LeeLoflandConversation as a Way of Learning Clues in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergGenres / Non-FictionCreate Your Nonfiction Book Quickly and Easily: @WriteNowCoachGenres / RomanceWhy Are So Many Romances Set in the Regency Period? @jaromeo282 @JSTOR_DailyGenres / ScreenwritingScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Americanah @CockeyedCaravanSocial Horror in 7 Films: @HauntedMeg @BDisgusting5 Tools For You To Write Gripping Screenplay Scenes: @CreativeScreenScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Snowpiercer: @CockeyedCaravanPromo / MiscellaneousHow To Animate your Book Cover: @harmony_kent @StoryEmpireTips for Promoting Your Articles: @TheCaregiversR1Amazon Verified Purchase reviews: Fact versus fiction: @sandrabeckwithPromo / Social Media TipsHow to Promote a Book on Social Media without Burning Out (or wasting a ton of time): @BookgalPromo / WebsitesMaking A Great Author Website In 16 Steps: @ThePRExpertPublishing / MiscellaneousUS Book Industry Charitable Foundation Raises $1 Million for Bookstores: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @BincFoundation @IngramContent @HachetteUS @Bookshop_OrgWhat Would Books Look Like If Big Publishing Collapsed? @helpfulsnowman @LitReactorNews Corp’s Plan To Acquire Houghton Mifflin’s Trade Division: @Porter_Anderson @HMHCo @HarperCollins @newscorp @pubperspectivesFaber & Faber: Stephen Page Names Mary Cannam to Managing Director: @Porter_Anderson @stephenpub @FaberBooks @_CreativeAccess @pubperspectivesA Checklist for Creating Paperbacks: @BE_SandersonInternational Students, Scholars Have Access to NYU’s Pilot With ProQuest: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing Has A New York Problem: @yokarintha @sfwaSpringer Nature Reports on 2020: ‘Sustainable Business’: @Porter_Anderson @SpringerNature @pubperspectivesSimon & Schuster Signs Two-Book Deal With Mike Pence: @Porter_Anderson @simonschuster @MacmillanUSA @StMartinsPress @Mike_Pence @SpeakerBoehner @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingWIPO Will Present Its 2021 Accessible Publishing Award at Frankfurter Buchmesse: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @michielams @HugoSetzer @Bodour @IntPublishers @WIPOScribd Audio Introduces Spanish Audiobooks in Mexico: @Porter_Anderson @Scribd @pubperspectivesChina Bestsellers for February: The Year of the Ox: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesTranslators in the UK Call for Racial Equality in Literary Translation: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBook Aid International Partners With African Parks in Malawi: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Aid @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / QueryingTop 5 Songs To Query To: @MorganHzlwoodPublishing / Process / TranslationAmazon Crossing Kids’ Marilyn Brigham on Children’s Books in Translation: @Porter_Anderson @AmazonPub @MarilynBrigham @pubperspectivesWhy AI Can’t Properly Translate Proust—Yet: @wooldridgemike @lithubWriting Craft / ArcA Hero’s Journey Checklist: @10minnovelistWriting Craft / BeginningsImproving your first page: @ReadAlessandra @AuthorsAiHow to Start a Story Off with a Bang: Tips and Examples: @nownovelWriting Craft / Characters / Arc3 Character Arcs in the Karpman Drama Triangle: @KMWeilandWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentGiving Your Protagonist a Ghost: @SeptCFawkesTips for Bestselling Characters: by Rainey Hall @RMFWritersExploring Female Character Archetypes – The Mother: @Writing_Nomad @CreativeScreenWriting Craft / Characters / Supporting CharactersHow to Write A Memorable (Not Infamous) Comic Relief Character: by Allison Grace @KingdomPenMagWriting Craft / DialogueDumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Read your dialogue aloud: @GoIntoTheStoryWriting Craft / HumorWriting Humor When You Don’t Think You’re Funny: @amymarieayres @DIYMFAWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmPaula Hawkins on Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train, 70 Years Later: @CrimeReadsPoison in the Ear: Why Iago Is the Ultimate Thriller Character: @chrishardingth1 @CrimeReadsWriting Craft / MiscellaneousGetting Through the Muddy Middle of Your Novel: by Chel Urban @NaNoWriMoHow Do I Keep a Protagonist That’s Adapting to a Disability Involved in the Plot? by Fay Onyx @mythcreantsGood Storytelling: Internal and External Stakes: @Ladiwoods125 Essential Notes on Craft: @salesses @lithubThe Inciting Incident: @SPressfield3 Ways to Find the Flaws in Your Story: @JillWilliamson @GoTeenWritersWhat Makes a Great Story? @KiingoCreativeWays of Seeing, Ways of Writing: by Barbara Linn ProbstWriting Craft / POVThe Nuances of Deep POV: @LiveWriteThrive7 Ways Deep POV Creates Emotional Connections With Readers: @LisaHallWilson @onestop4writersWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept11 Brainstorming Tips For Generating Ideas Fast: @BryanJCollinsWriting Craft / RevisionEditing tip: Are you suffering from -ing disease? by Bucket SilerWriting Craft / Revisions / Critiques5 Guidelines for Writing a Helpful Critique: by Maggie Smith @RMFWriters4 Things To Remember When Receiving Feedback On Your Writing: @MiaJouBotha @Writers_WriteWriting Craft / SeriesHow to Write a Series (Podcast): @SaraRosett @RebelauthorpodWriting Craft / World-BuildingTips for World Building When You Write: @EdieMelsonWriting Tools / BooksWant to Publish? 5 Books You Should Read First: @RobynRoste
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April 4, 2021
Reading Goal for 2021: Making Peace With DNFs
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I read a lot of books in 2020…probably in order to distract myself from everything that was going on in 2020. But I know one thing–I could have read a lot more books if I'd stopped reading books I didn't like.
DNFs are reader shorthand for “did not finish.” Having DNFs is apparently anathema to me.
I believe that's because most of the books I read fall into one of three categories: they're well-reviewed, recommended by a friend, or they're books by an author I enjoy.
There's usually something of a modus operandi when I start disliking a book. I'll start quickly reading before stopping and putting the book down. Then I won't pick the book up again until the next day. I'll probably give myself another chapter and then will stop again. Maybe two days will go by and I won't pick the book up. Then I'll read another chapter or two. If I still don't like it, I'll usually hop online and remind myself what others said about the book. Then I'll ordinarily give the book another go.
In the space of time when I drag out the reading of the book I don't like, I could have read 3 books. Books that I enjoyed and that would help influence my writing in a good way.
So here's my plan for the rest of this year: stop reading books I don't like within the space of a few days. There's just no point pushing myself to plow forward when there's absolutely no way I could ever run out of good books to read.
Writer Austin Kleon in his post “How to Read More” also recommends quitting reading books we don't like. As he puts it:
“When it comes to books, quitters finish more.”
He also includes a great quotation from Jorge Luis Borges on the matter:
“If a book bores you, leave it; don’t read it because it is famous, don’t read it because it is modern, don’t read a book because it is old…. If a book is tedious to you, don’t read it; that book was not written for you.”
Are you determined to keep plugging away through a book you're not enjoying? Or are you good about giving up and trying another story?
On Making Peace With DNFs in 2021:
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