Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 42

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.

Happy Easter to all who celebrate!

Business / Miscellaneous7 Phrases That Cost Authors Money: @JohnDoppler @IndieAuthorALLI“3 Rules That Underpin My Freelance Writing Business”: @KarenBanesConferences and Events / MiscellaneousBologna Children’s Book Fair: Early Announcements of 2021 Features: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / InspirationFive Ways to Use Travel to Inspire Your Writing: @MarinaBarakatt @DIYMFAOn Inspirational Indie Authors, @howard_lovy interviews @PostedInThePast, whose love of history drives her books that feature postcards: @IndieAuthorALLICreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersFive Books Featuring Space Travel Powered by Atomic Bombs: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomHawaii as a Setting for Crime Fiction: @MargotKinberg10 Climate Change Novels About Endangered and Extinct Species: @juliecardalt @ElectricLitWhen Are We? 8 Stories Featuring Dual Timelines: @HankPRyan @BookTribCrime Fiction: The Killer Coming to Terms with The Crime: @MargotKinbergHow Honest is Too Honest? 6 Books That Straddle That Line: @Michael_Leviton @lithubFive Thrilling SF Stories About Patrolling Space: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing3 Steps to Developing that New Writing Habit: @SueBEdwardsCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing QuicklyIn Favor of Speed: Write Fast, Fix Later: @AskMateo @lithubHow the Highlighter Tool Can Help You Write Faster: @womenwewriteCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeHow to Deal with Post-Writing Depression: by Bucket SilerOn Putting the Most Vulnerable Parts of Yourself on the Page: @_JustineCowan @lithubFeatured Writer on Wellness: Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt: @colleen_m_storyGo long and cut, or write short and add? @LibbyCudmore @TheWriterMag12 Strategies to Help You be More Productive Every Day: @KarenBanesWrite Like No One Is Watching: @AmyImpellizzeri @WomenWritersStaying Positive Through Hard Times: @dkparsonswriter @SelfPubFormWhat If the Stories We Tell in Order to Live Happen to Be Conspiracy Theories? by William J. Bernstein @lithubBeing Accountable in Your Writing: @hopeclarkThe World Will Try to Break Your Creative Spirit. Sometimes, It Will Succeed. @megdowellBecome an Organized Writer: @AntonyJohnston @NaNoWriMoWhy You Should Write Three Pages of Garbage Every Morning: @jaimealyse @lifehackerGenres / FantasyHistory for Fantasy Writers: Medieval Mining: by E.L. Skip Knox @mythicscribesGenres / HorrorWriting Horror in a Post-Covid World: @richardgthomas3 @LitReactorGenres / Literary FictionLiterary vs Genre Fiction: by T.L. BodineGenres / Memoir8 Types of Memoirs: @shaelinbishop @ReedsyHQGenres / MysteryDetective Fiction and Dementia: A Biopsy: @FrederickWeisel @CrimeReadsChallenging Interviews in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergHow to Write Compelling True Crime: @FinishedPages @womenonwritingCrime Fiction: How Character Habits Can Prove Useful in a Story: @MargotKinbergGenres / ScreenwritingThe Business of Screenwriting: Hurry up and wait: @GoIntoTheStoryPage One: ‘Wonder Woman’ (2017): @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: The Big Short” @CockeyedCaravanScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: The Wizard of Oz @CockeyedCaravanPromo / Ads5 Tips on How to Fit Your Book's Hook into a Super Short Amazon Ad: @bryancohenbooks @IndieReaderPromo / MiscellaneousHow to Market Books to Homeschool Families: @triciagoyer @AuthorMedia5 Tips For Marketing Your Book In Multiple Languages: @ofertirosh @Writers_WriteOrganize Marketing with Spread Sheets: @KarenHWhiting @EdieMelsonPromo / NewslettersWhy Writers Need An Email List & How to Get Started (Video): @NicoleJBianchiPromo / Social Media TipsA Social Media Workout for Building Strong Online Connections: @EdieMelson @SouthrnWritrMagWhy Authors Need To Use Social Media To Gain Influence: @marikaflatt @PRbytheBookPublishing / MiscellaneousThe Federation of European Publishers’ New COVID Impact Report: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingFinland’s 2020 Audiobook Sales Doubled, Ebooks Up 84 Percent: @Porter_Anderson @FinnishLit @pubperspectivesA Gallimard Editor Opens a New Publishing House in Marseille: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectivesAIE Appeals for Ongoing Cultural Support in Italy’s Recovery Plan: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesIn France, a ‘Stop Marketing’ Agreement for Authors Whose Rights Revert: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesArnaud Nourry Departs as CEO of Hachette Livre: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Self-PublishingSelf Publishing On Amazon KDP for Beginners 2021: @selfpubwithdalePublishing / Process / DistributionGoing Wide – How Many Distributors? @FictionNotesWhen a Pen Name Surpasses the Author’s: by Casey Barrett @BookTribWriting Craft / BeginningsDon't neglect the broader setting: @NathanBransfordWIP Diagnostic: Is This Working? A Closer Look at an Urban Fantasy Short Story Opening: by Maria D'MarcoWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentExploring Female Character Archetypes – The Wild Woman: @Writing_Nomad @CreativeScreenAuthors as Psychotherapists – Getting into the Mind of Our Characters: @PJGoverWriter @A3writersWriting Craft / Characters / Supporting CharactersSide characters or stereotypes? by Michelle SchustermanWriting Craft / DialogueAttributions in Dialogue: @davidfarlandWriting Craft / DiversityWriting With Color — Japanese name check, also concerns with Smart Asian and Colored Hair Tropes: @WritingwColorWriting Craft / Drafts10 Things Wrong with All My First Drafts: @AmongTheZombies @LitReactorWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmBelieve, Care, Invest: Little Women: @CockeyedCaravan7 Pearls Of Writing Wisdom From Susan Sontag: @SarahAtWingman @Writers_WriteHow Legendborn Created an Enthralling Love Triangle: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsWriting Craft / MiscellaneousThe Importance of Getting Food Right in Fiction: @jamieharrisonmt @lithub7 Sneaky Ways to Spotlight Story Wisdom: @kcraftwriterQuestions to Ask When Your Story Isn't Working: @KiingoCreativeFishing for the Red Herring: @nlholmesbooks @FloridaWriters1Speak Your Writing to Life: by David Perez @brevitymagA Selection of 10 Articles for Writers from March 2021: @pubcoachGood Storytelling: Unique Stakes: @woodwardkarenWriting Craft / POVHow to Write a Closer (or more Distant) Point of View: @shaelinbishop @ReedsyHQFirst Person Point of View: What it is & How to use it: @themaltesetigerWriting the Community “We”: Approaches to First-Person Plural Point of View: @nancy_reddy @brevitymagWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / ResearchQ&A: The Historical Reasons for Conscription: from How to Fight WriteWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarExamples of Grammatical Drift: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthorsWriting Craft / RevisionDoes printing out help with editing? @pubcoachWriting Craft / SubtextBaking a Subtext Cake: @KiingoCreativeWriting Tools / ThesauriRelationship Thesaurus Entry: Stalker & Target: @AngelaAckerman @onestop4writers

 

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Authors Need to Understand Business Basics

by Hank Quense, @hanque99

Having a book published means you’ll have to deal with business issues.  This situation occurs whether or not you want it to happen.  Since this is a fact, you really do need to learn how to deal with these pesky business concerns.  This statement, while upsetting on the surface, isn’t all that bad.  Thousands of others have coped with the business issues involved and so can you.

“And why do authors need to know this?” I hear you ask.  Because once you publish a book − no matter how it becomes published − the author owns a business.  The mission of this business is to market and sell your book.  Therefore, the author needs to understand business practices.

It’s not the same situation if you write and sell short stories, essays, articles or poems.  In these cases, the market that bought the item will pay a set fee for the right to publish your piece.  Your compensation in this case doesn’t change whether the market sells a hundred or a thousand copies of the magazine.  With book publication, the author’s compensation (royalties) depends entirely on book sales.  No book sales, no royalties.

In the process of selling your books, you will incur expenses.  These could be marketing costs or they could be expenses incurred with publishing another book.

You’ll need money to pay these expenses.  Where does it come from?  Preferably, it comes from royalties or possibly from a loan.  Or you could fund the money from your personal accounts.  If the money earned exceeds these expenses, you and your company will show a profit and you can pay back the loan.

Here's another factor as to why you need some business skills.  Do you know that selling books is a taxable event?  Say what?

If the book is sold through Amazon, for instance, it will take care of the tax issue.  If you personally sell the book at an event, you will be responsible for addressing the tax issue.

And then there are the royalties: they are taxable income.

To deal with revenue and expenses correctly, you have to develop a business-like approach to your book company.

Do I have your attention yet?  Even if you have a contract with a big publisher, you can still need to know and understand the business issues.

If you self-published a book, and if you don’t plan to market the book, you won't have much need for business stuff .  In this case most of that information will fall under the category ‘nice to know’ because any royalties from book sales will be more or-less accidental.

If you have a single book published and you plan to market it, you need to know the issues.  If you plan to write and publish more books, you definitely need to know it.

You need to gain insights into business and business planning.  Both are essential to your success.  There is plenty of material on the web and in libraries if you wish to search for it. .

Think like a CEO

I believe a major reason that authors fail to sell books is because they don't think like a business owner.  Businesses use highly developed marketing plans to introduce a new product to the public.  These businesses do that because it has been proven to work.

Many inexperienced authors use a shotgun approach to marketing (when they do any marketing!).  Their efforts are without a focus and are piecemeal instead of continuous.  In other words, the marketing proceeds without a plan to direct the activities.  Most often, the author business, too, will be without a plan.

A business plan will focus the energies of the company (you!) on the important aspects.  A marketing plan organizes your efforts to tell the world about the book.

You are the Chief Executive Officer or CEO of the author business and you are the also Marketing Manager for the book.  Since you are also responsible for the budget and tracking revenue, you are the Chief Financial Officer or CFO.  Because you are the author, you get to create all the copy required by the marketing manager.

A business needs an organization chart so everyone in the company can see where they stand in the hierarchy.  Here is the organization chart for your company.

 

A brutal fact about publishing is that several thousand books were published the same day as yours.  With all these books showing up at once, no one knows about your book and no one cares about it.  Your job as Marketing Manager is to tell people about your book and make them care enough to buy a copy.  This requires a marketing plan, not an occasional foray into social media.

With you in the role of all these company executives, you may need help handling the various functions.

One way to access the information you need is in my new book, Business Basics for Authors.  It’s available in ebook format at Amazon and Smashwords.

 

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.

 

 

The Importance of Understanding Business Basics for Writers (by @hanque99 ):
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Photo credit: Donald E. Curtis on VisualHunt

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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 / MiscellaneousAre writing competitions worth it? @melanippee @10minnovelistWhat to Expect from an Editor: @jimdempsey @WriterUnboxedUsing An AI Grammar Checker: What Every Writer Should Know: @BryanJCollinsHow writers can display better email etiquette: @pubcoach10 Ways to Check Your Two-Year Plan: by Ruth Logan Herne @SKRViLLWriting as a Collaborative Experience: by Sandra Homicz @WordDreamsThe Ultimate Guide to Self-Publishing Audiobooks: @IndieAuthorALLIHow to Find a Great Proofreader: @ZaraAltair @ProWritingAidWhy Hitting Your Deadline Matters and How To Do It: @ShanDitty @GoTeenWritersWinning Book Proposals Need These 3 Things: @annkroekerConferences and Events / MiscellaneousSheikh Zayed Book Award Shortlists: ‘Arab Culture in Other Languages’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesBritish Book Award Issues Its 2021 ‘Book of the Year’ Shortlists: @Porter_Anderson @thebookseller @pubperspectivesIPA’s Prix Voltaire: Open for 2021 Nominations in the Freedom to Publish: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe US-Based Windham-Campbell Prizes Name 2021 Recipients: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives‘In the Dream House’: Carmen Maria Machado Wins the Rathbones Folio: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesWales’ Dylan Thomas Prize Names Its 2021 Shortlist, Reduces Prize Money: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @dylanthomprizeCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersSelf-Care as a Component of Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergOn the Medieval Invention of Travel Writing: by Shayne Aaron Legassie and Michael Robinson @lithubThe Skill List Project: Reading Analytically: @jamesagard6 Disorienting Reads for a Very Disorienting Time: @mimi_albert @lithub10 of the Best Dinner Parties in Modern Fiction: @EJRous @CrimeReadsTop 10 unconventional essays: by Eula Biss @GuardianBooksThe Need for an Heir as a Motive in Mysteries: @MargotKinbergCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer's BlockWhen You’re Stuck: WIP Staying Power: by Mae Clair @StoryEmpireCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeTen Years, Seven Houses: The Wandering Life of the Itinerant Writer: by Sarah Moss @lithubThe Writing Process is More Than Just Writing: @Kimota @CMIContentTips for Handling Perfectionism as a Writer: What Real Writers Look Like: @AnneJanzerPeople Watching During a Pandemic: @EldredBirdWriting in Wild Times: by Juliet Marillier @WriterUnboxedGenres / FantasyWriting Magic: @GretaKKelly @WomenWritersGenres / MysteryEvery Mystery Writer Knows, You Can Kill Anyone But The Dog: @SulariGentill @CrimeReadsThe Thrill of Researching Your Crime Novel: by Lee Goldberg @CrimeReadsWho Killed Nordic Noir? @CharlieTyson1 @PublicBooksGenres / PoetryHow to Get Paid for Poetry: @trishhopkinson @OrnaRoss @IndieAuthorALLIGenres / Science Fiction7 SFF Stories That Grew Beyond Their Original Worldbuilding: @nataliezutter @tordotcomParasitism in Sci-fi: It Gets Under Your Skin: @DanKoboldtGenres / ScreenwritingScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Dr. No: @CockeyedCaravanGenres / Short Stories‘I have a flash fiction mind’ – interview with @jayne_martin: @Roz_MorrisPromo / Connecting with ReadersThe Commitment You Need to Make if You Want to Grow Your Readership: @colleen_m_story5 Easy Ways to Upgrade Reader Engagement: @Bookgal @BowkerPromo / MiscellaneousReasons to Publicize Your Award-Eligible Works: @RCWordsmith @sfwaPromo / NewslettersTips for Engaging Readers with Your Emails: by Amy Lamont @TheIWSGPromo / VideoCan A Facebook Live Program Grow Your Author Platform in 2021? by Patricia Durgin @A3writersPublishing / MiscellaneousScribd’s quiet Australia launch will have Storytel’s full attention: @thenewpubstdEnchanted Lion Books’ Claudia Zoe Bedrick on ‘Pushing the Form’: @Porter_Anderson @EnchantedLion @pubperspectivesNarrating Your Own Audiobook: @pattyjansenAudio Publishers Association Names Its 2021 Audie Awards Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingFrance’s Publishers Sign on to the UN’s SDG Compact: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesLondon’s Welbeck Launches a New Imprint with Christopher MacLehose: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Self-PublishingSelf-publishing News: Facebook to Launch Self-publishing Platform: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIWriting for Kids: Success as an Indie Author: @FictionNotesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / QueryingThings to leave out of your query: @Janet_ReidPublishing / Process / DistributionKDP vs. Ingram Spark: Two POD Powerhouses: by Arielle Haughee @FloridaWriters1Publishing / Process / Services to AvoidUse Due Diligence When Researching Publishing Opportunities: @Bang2writePublishing / Process / TranslationHow to Translate a Journey Without a Destination: by Will Schutt @lithubWriting Craft / Chapter EndingsTips For Dividing Your Story Into Chapters: @10minnovelistWriting Craft / Characters / Development15 Types Of Intimacy Between Characters: @CreativeScreenWriting Craft / Common Mistakes10 Mistakes to Avoid in Action: @writingandsuchWriting Craft / DialogueWriting Better Dialogue: @allisinclair @WriterThesaurusTen tips for writing dialogue: @veehayden
@CBGBooksWriting Craft / MiscellaneousHow to Keep Your Writing Fresh: @_NickPetrie_ @WriteNowCoachMasterpost: Writing Autistic Children: from scriptAutisticShould Fiction Writers Educate? @LindasclareHow to Write from a Child’s Perspective: @HellyDouglas @ProWritingAidWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / OutliningGoing from Pantser to Plotter: @GeraldBrandtShould you outline your novel or not? @leoraskolkinsmiWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept4 Questions to Ask Before You Start Writing That Book: @erincelello @CareerAuthorsWriting Craft / Punctuation and Grammar“Become” and a Question of Syntax: By Maeve Maddox @writing_tipsWriting Craft / Scenes5 Quick Fixes For A Lagging Scene: @MiaJouBotha @Writers_WriteWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionKoa Beck on What ‘Feminist’ Settings Are Too Often Missing: @Koalani @lithub @cesegalWriting Tools / AppsScrivener vs. Final Draft: Choosing the One that’s Right For You: @JCBakerAuthor @FloridaWriters1

 

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Handling Perfectionism

by Elizabeth Spann Craig, @elizabethscraig

I'm a very type-A person, but I feel very fortunate not to be a perfectionist.

However…I'm married to a perfectionist. And both of my kids are perfectionists. Every time I see them struggle with it, it reminds me just how fortunate I am.  I've seen my husband, an excellent writer himself, wordsmith emails into the ground. There's rarely an email I spend longer than 5 or 6 minutes on. I can't completely relate, but I do sympathize.

If you're someone who struggles with maintaining forward motion in your writing, here are a few ideas you could consider trying:

Don't read your manuscript until the first draft is done. I know this can be hard, but I try never to do it. That's mostly because it rips me completely out of right-brain creative mode and directly into left-brain editing mode. For a perfectionist, it could be tough to move forward when you see the mistakes or rough writing in your first draft.

Set shorter writing sessions. I mainly work in short sprints, which keeps me focused on the immediate task at hand: getting through the next couple of pages as quickly as possible. If you'd like to log-in to some live sprints with other writers, try subscribing to different AuthorTube writers. 

Focus perfectionism on other aspects of the story…editing is a great choice. There are definitely times when being a perfectionist comes in handy. I appreciate having book editors who are perfectionists. They fix my typos and other mistakes. Tell yourself your wordsmithing can come later.

Use lists to keep yourself on track. I love lists. And I think perfectionists do, too. To stay focused on moving forward, a short list for every writing day can help. Something as basic as “write description of Sally” or “Jim talks to Lee about the strange call he got” works fine.

Call it what it is. It's perfectionism. It's not that your story is bad.  K.M. Weiland has a great post where she talks about the benefits of “professionalism” over “perfectionism.”

Remember self-care and be forgiving to yourself.  Self-care is probably the easiest thing for writers to skip when faced with a big to-do list and family obligations. But it's incredibly important to at least remember the basics: stretch, hydrate, get enough sleep, and exercise. And remember to be kind to yourself. I always try to remember the advice to talk to yourself as you'd speak to a friend. Writer Colleen M. Story encourages writers to include a number of self-care activities and routines in a day, instead of just ticking self-care off the list after doing one thing for themselves.

Do you struggle with perfectionism? How do you deal with it?

Tips for Dealing With Perfectionism:
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Photo credit: CEThompson on VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-ND

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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 Hank Quense for featuring my upcoming mystery on his blog! I'm getting excited for the March 30 release!

Business / MiscellaneousEnter Writing Contests and Succeed: @Lgood67334 @WomenWritersPersonal Finance for Indie Authors in 2021: @sacha_blackCould I have a career as a writer? @katysegroveAre Bookstores Worth it for Indie Authors? @DebbieYoungBN @IndieAuthorALLIFreelancing: 7 Tips For Managing Client Expectations: @ashleygainerThe Differences Between Line Editing, Copy Editing, and Proofreading: by Sandra Wendel @JaneFriedmanHow to Start a Writing Career: 7 Bright Ideas: @nownovelTeaching Writing: Personal Writing Calendars for Each Student: @BethMooreSchoolConferences and Events / Miscellaneous‘Canada Reads’: Joshua Whitehead’s ‘Jonny Appleseed’ Is Its 20th Winner: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe US-Based Lambda Literary Awards Program Names Its 2021 Finalists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingIt’s Never Too Late. How To Achieve Your Goals At Any Age With Kate Champion: @thecreativepenn5 Items for #GoalTopia Inspiration: @DebraEckerlingThe subtle art of goal setting: @KMcCaughrainHow to write around the planning fallacy: @pubcoachCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration50 Essay Topics for Kids: @BrynDonovanCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersWomen in Crime Fiction Who Don't Accept the Status Quo: @MargotKinbergCrime Fiction Characters Who Don't Learn From Their Mistakes: @MargotKinbergOn Imagining Gatsby Before Gatsby: @michael_f_smith @lithub“Five of the Best SFF Books I Never Meant to Read”: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcomCrime Fiction With Less-Than-Tidy Endings: @MargotKinbergWhy Do We Keep Reading ‘The Great Gatsby’? by Wesley Morris @parisreviewCreativity and Inspiration / MotivationTips for Maintaining Motivation as a Writer: @sebrooks81 @A3writersCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in WritingHow to Maintain Creative Momentum With Habit Tracking: @kristen_kiefferCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeChoosing to be a Flexible Writer: @bethvogt @EdieMelsonThe Nervous Novelist: @thenovelryHow Do You Know? On Dubious Faith And Intermittent Certainty In Writing: @GraMurphy @WomenWritersFall Back in Love With Writing: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors5 Ways to Have More Fun Writing: @jessicastrawser @CareerAuthorsProse Mechanics Evolution: How the Writing Process has Changed Over 45 Years: @RonaldKelly4 @Night_WormsWhat we can learn from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's years in lockdown? @FionaRSampson @GuardianBooksThe Writing Life: Never Paint with a Dry Brush: by Jeanette the Writer @DIYMFAIn a Writing Slump? Try a Little Exercise: from Black Château EnterprisesShut the Door, Writers: @WriteToSellWriter Health: Is the Pandemic messing with your teeth? @LindaKSienkwiczGenres / Horror3 Ways To Make Familiar Horror Monsters Scarier: by Pekoeblaze @TheRyanLanzWriting Collaborative Horror: @ChadLutzke @timmmeyer11 @thebookdad @LitReactorGenres / MemoirHow to Turn Your Memoir Into a Short Story: @JunetaKey @TheIWSGGenres / PoetryIn the Service of Poetry: by Sara M. Robinson @SouthrnWritrMagGenres / Science FictionBefore Home Video, Science-Fiction Fans Worked Harder to Keep Fandom Alive: @yipp33kiyay @StarTrekGenres / ScreenwritingThe Queen's Gambit: Writing the Limited Series: @thejkstudioMovie Story Type: Contained Thriller: @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: The Autobiography of Malcolm X: @CockeyedCaravanPage One: ‘When Harry Met Sally…’ : @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: American Hustle: @CockeyedCaravanGenres / Young AdultThe Value of Writing Young Adult Literature: @ecellenbPromo / NewslettersHow to Start, Build, and Grow Your Email List: @KMWeilandPublishing / MiscellaneousOn Adaptations of Books (Podcast): by Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle and Wes Matlock @mythcreantsMcGraw Hill’s Digital Learning Tools See Strong International Uptake: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAmazon Pulls Book, Saying It ‘Frames LGBTQ+ Identity as a Mental Illness’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAudiblegate: ALLi Campaign Update: @OrnaRoss @IndieAuthorALLIPublishing / News / AmazonSelf-Publishing News: Amazon takes on Libraries: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIPublishing / News / International PublishingPublished Digitally: The Spanish Banipal Magazine of Arabic Literature: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesWords Without Borders for March: Translations of Galician Writings: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Hybrid PublishingNavigating the Parallel but Uneven Ecosystems of Traditional Publishing and Self-Publishing: @EvanWinter @AmazingStories0Publishing / Options / Self-PublishingNine Characteristics of a Successful Self-Publishing Mindset: @OrnaRoss @sacha_blackWhy 1 Writer Decided to Go Indie After Being Trad-Pubbed: @DwallacepeachPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying“How Edgar Allan Poe helped me get a book deal and could help you, too”: @Greedzilla1On Querying 100 Agents: @ChelseyDrysdale @brevitymagPublishing / Process / FormattingHow to fix book typesetting and layout issues in InDesign: @BookDesignBookWriting Craft / BeginningsWIP Diagnostic: Is This Working? A Closer Look at a Fantasy First Page: @Janice_HardyWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentRelationship Thesaurus Entry: Protagonist and Crush: @beccapuglisiHumanizing Characters and Overcoming The Limits of Empathy: @KiingoCreative5 Ways to Add Depth to Your Characters (by Getting to Know Yourself): @writingcookbookDeveloping Characters in Fiction: @Peter_Rey_Writing Craft / ConflictFive Popular Stories With Conflicts That Are Too Difficult: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreantsWriting Craft / DialogueThe 7 Principles Of Strong Dialogue: by Oliver Fox @Writers_WriteWriting Craft / DraftsHow to Move From First Draft to Second Draft to Publishable Book: @GuerillaMemoir @JaneFriedmanWriting Craft / EndingsHow To Write a Conclusion In 3 Simple Steps: @themaltesetigerTips for Writing A Not-So-Happy Ending: @10minnovelistWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and FilmWriting Tips from Elmore Leonard’s Boyd Crowder: @SueColetta1 @killzoneauthorsWriting Craft / MiscellaneousOn Leaving Easter Eggs for Readers: by Jamie Harrison @lithubGuide to Writing Episodic Plot Structure: @writingandsuchQuick Publishing Tip: Don’t Bury Your Gold: by Bucket SilerWriting Craft / PacingHow Do I Give My High-Paced Story Time to Breathe? by Chris Winkle @mythcreantsWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingIs Your Plot Going Somewhere Readers Will Follow? @Janice_HardyWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / ResearchUnderstanding Horses: Calculated (and Uncalculated) Risk: @dancinghorse @tordotcomWriting Craft / Punctuation and GrammarWho Are We Talking About? Using Pronouns and Antecedents: by Dayna Betz @A3writersWriting Craft / RevisionRevision Search Patterns: @PhilAthansWriting Craft / Revisions / CritiquesWhich Way Do I Go? Critique Groups, Critique Partners, or Beta Readers: @JoanHallWrites @StoryEmpireWriting Craft / ScenesScene vs. Summary & When to Use Which: @SeptCFawkesWriting Craft / Settings and Description10 Questions to Help Fiction Writers “Set the Stage”: @LiveWriteThriveWriting Craft / Word CraftingThe “Green” Test for the “F” Bomb: @davidfarland

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5 Ways to Add Depth to Your Characters (by Getting to Know Yourself)

by Kristina Adams , @writingcookbook

We all want characters with lots of depth, right? Characters our readers love so much they keep coming back for more?

For me, there’s no bigger compliment than when a reader says that my characters feel real to them and they want to spend more time with the people I’ve created.

One of the most important techniques in my character creation arsenal is an understanding of psychology. It’s something I’ve always been fascinated by. Why do people do what they do? Why do they feel the way they feel?

And, most of all, are they even aware of any of it?

Truth is, most people don’t know themselves as well as they like to think.

A prime example is when someone says they have empathy, then responds by telling you how they feel in a situation, not how you feel. That’s projection, not empathy. They’re confused pretty regularly.

If someone confuses projection and empathy, it shows they’re out of tune with themselves and other people. It takes a serious level of self-awareness to notice when you’re projecting, and even more to stop yourself from doing it.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. How do these things help you add more depth to your characters?

Self-awareness

Self-awareness is a really important – but less considered – step toward writing better characters.

I wrote recently about how self-awareness makes you a better writer, but let’s look at it from a character point of view for a minute.

If you understand your behavior – the good and the bad of it – you can view it objectively.

Not only does this allow you to heal from negative experiences more easily, but it also means you can analyze what you’ve been through, too.

It’s this analysis that allows you to understand how your past shapes you, and how you could use your experiences to shape your characters.

Because you’ve been through an experience yourself, the situations your characters find themselves in will be more real, since you already understand exactly what it feels like to be there.

To achieve all of this, though, it’s time for:

Studying psychology

Studying psychology can sometimes be horrifying because of what it reveals about yourself, but it’s also a great way to add depth to your characters. That’s because it teaches you the significance of cause and effect.

When someone is growing up, most situations are new to them. Those situations will therefore shape who they are, and how they feel about related situations in the future.

For instance, a child who grew up worrying about a parent picking arguments with them is more likely to be observant later in life, but may also be highly anxious.

Three-dimensional characters are defined by their past, just like we are (even if we loathe to admit it).

You don’t need to know your characters’ life histories to start writing, but knowing at least something about their past will mean  you can bring it out at key moments. This will then make what your characters go through more believable and realistic.

Facing your demons

When you suppress one part of yourself, you suppress the rest unintentionally, too. You can’t feel the good emotions without fully feeling the bad. That means your characters can’t either.

You’ve buried things for a reason. Facing them is terrifying. I get that.

But what’s more important to you?

Suppressing something which can’t hurt you anymore, or helping other people face their own demons through the honesty in your writing?

Fiction can be just as therapeutic as nonfiction to read.

I recently read Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams, and the mental health journey she went on really helped me to deal with some of my own issues.

But, as it was done in a fictional environment, it felt like a safer space to confront those issues.

While I hadn’t intended to face them when reading the book, I appreciated the journey I went on with Queenie, and that book will always be important to me for that reason.

As writers, we have a responsibility to accurately represent what mental health conditions are really like. We can’t do that if we haven’t dealt with our own.

Reading about mental health conditions also helps us to explore the language that can be used to explain it in our own writing, helping to make it more accurate and believable. And helping us claw our way out from our own relapses in the future.

Doing expressive writing

I can’t rave about expressive writing enough. It’s helped me through so much.

Expressive writing is like free writing on steroids. You pick a person, event, or situation that you’ve been bottling up, or which troubles you, and write about how it makes you feel.

Not what happened – we’re not documenting it here – but how it makes you feel. It’s amazing how much we suppress our emotions without even realizing it.

At the end of an expressive writing session, you destroy what you’ve written. If you’re on a device, that could mean closing the window without saving anything. If you’ve handwritten it, you could rip it up or set it on fire (somewhere safe!).

Writing something that isn’t meant to be read – and that never will be – is very freeing. It gives us a lot more freedom to explore those things we wouldn’t usually say, and sometimes don’t allow ourselves to think.

Understanding emotions

By facing those negative emotions we bottle up, whether that’s anger, fear, or something else, we can translate our understanding of those emotions – what they look like and feel like for us – in a more real way than if we were just writing what we think something should look or feel like. This adds more depth to our characters, makes them more memorable to readers, and, for many of us, becomes the foundation of our writing careers.

Building real connections with characters isn’t about your book’s genre. Sure, that might be what lures people in. But it’s emotions that create real connections.

And emotions don’t change.

They’re universal, even if your story is set in 2133 on a spaceship. Even if you’re writing about a centaur on another plane.

Love, hate, grief, anger, lust, desire – we all feel them.

And we all deal with them differently.

But until we explore those emotions fully, we’ll never be able to give our characters as much depth as we long to.

Conclusion

Getting to know yourself allows you to really understand people and their motivations. It gives you a deeper grasp of language, as well as how certain emotions – that we often bottle up subconsciously – feel. It’s unlocking these suppressed emotions that are key to getting to know yourself and adding more depth to your characters.

Whatever genre you write, the emotions characters feel are universal. These are the key to creating memorable characters that stay with your readers long after they’ve finished your story.

 

 

Kristina Adams is the author of twelve books and too many blog posts to count. She helps writers overcome their creative obstacles on her blog, podcast, and courses, over at The Writer’s Cookbook. When she’s not writing, she’s inflicting cooking experiments on her boyfriend or playing with her dog, Millie.

 

 

 

 

 

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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 58,000 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 / MiscellaneousFreelancing: Virtual Conferences: 18 Top Training Events for Writers in 2021: @ChristinWritesHow to embrace risk when you’re a writer: @pubcoachCo-Authorship: 3 Areas of Give and Take: @HowellWave @StoryEmpireWriting for the Market and Tough Decisions: @MaryGillgannon @RMFWritersSelf-publishing News: What Opportunities do NFTs Offer Writers? @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLIShould You Look for Work on Upwork as a Freelance Writer? @jag791johnson @ProWritingAidConnecting with Clients and Writing Markets: @officialajc @hopeclark5 Ideas for Teaching Writing in Virtual Lessons: @HellyDouglas @ProWritingAidConferences and Events / MiscellaneousComing Tuesday: Arabic Voices, Topics in Academic Publishing: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesFrankfurt to ‘Re:Connect’ in October: Exhibitor Registration Opens Today: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @pubperspectivesInternational Women’s Day: PublisHer Issues a Diversity Toolkit: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe UK’s Jhalak Prize Adds a Children’s and YA Honor for 2021: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesAfrican Publishing Innovation Fund Names Five 2021 Projects: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesEmirates Airline Festival of Literature Draws 117,000 Attendees: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesComic Art Europe Names Winners from Romania, UK, Portugal, Germany, France: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / First NovelsPublished Authors Share Wisdom from their Debut Journeys: @NancyJAuthor @WriterUnboxedCreativity and Inspiration / Goal settingA Different Approach for Writing Success This Year: @Janice_HardySetting Writing Goals You'll Actually Stick to: @writingcookbookCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersRejections of Well-Known Crime Fiction Authors: @MargotKinbergFive Recent Books Featuring Superpowered Characters: @mikechenwriter @tordotcomThe Magician’s Nephew: The Creation of Narnia and the Coming of Evil: @mattmikalatos @tordotcomTen Historical Crime Novels That Trace the History of New York City: @StacieMWrites @CrimeReadsReading Like A Writer: @BlumeDora @wvancampSmall Islands as Elements in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergRegular Citizens Helping Out Intelligence Agencies in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergThe Many and Sometimes Sinister Retellings of Jane Eyre: by Rachel Hawkins @CrimeReads7 Contemporary Novels About the Victorian Era: @paraicodonnell @ElectricLitCreativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing9 Surprising Reasons You Can't Finish Your Work in Progress: @writingcookbook3 Steps For A Productive Writing Session: @KMAllan_writerDumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Set a Deadline: @GoIntoTheStoryCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeTaking Chances as a Writer: @SiouxR @womenonwritingPeople Still Ask: How Do Writers Get Their Ideas? by Lore Segal @lithubHow To Grow Into The Writer You Want To Be: @StephMorrill @GoTeenWritersWriter's blockdown: after a year inside, novelists are struggling to write: @alisonflood @GuardianBooks33 writers on why they write: by Walker Caplan @lithubWhat Really Goes On in a Writer’s Notebook? by Danielle McLaughlin @lithubFeatured Writer on Wellness: Susan Wingate: @susanwingate @colleen_m_storyCreate a Writing Habit that Works for You: @10minnovelistWriting Through the Terrible Twos: @NoahKSturdevant @sfwaHow Much of Our Real Life Shows Up in Our Fiction? by Julie GloverGenres / MysteryInconsistent Character Behavior as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergTeen Restlessness as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinberg6 Types of Amateur Sleuths: @Author_SLuck @BooksThatThrillGenres / Picture BooksKirsten W. Larson on Writing Nonfiction/STEM Picture Books: @KirstenWLarson @Write4KidsGenres / ScreenwritingScreenwriting: Page One: ‘Up in the Air’ (2009): @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Batman Begins” @CockeyedCaravanScreenwriting: Billy Wilder on ‘The Apartment’: @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Captain America @CockeyedCaravanScreenwriting: Page One: “Vertigo’ (1958): @GoIntoTheStory60 Second Screenwriter: What is “high concept?” @GoIntoTheStoryGreat Scene: “North by Northwest”: @GoIntoTheStoryGenres / Short StoriesWhat Is Flash Fiction? @MoriahRichard93 @WritersDigestPromo / Ads5 Options for Creating Your Amazon Ad Copy: by Beth WhitneyPromo / Blogging7 Ways to Breathe Life into Tired Blog Posts: @HellyDouglas @ProWritingAidPromo / Book ReviewsBook Reviews: Are They Useful to Writers? @GarryRodgers1 @killzoneauthors“How I Turned My One Star Review Into My Most Successful Advert”: @TahaniNelsonPromo / MiscellaneousMy Publicity Campaign is Done – Now What Do I Do? @marikaflatt @TheIWSG5 Innovative Ways To Promote Your Self-Released Book: by Patrick Salway @IndieReaderTips for Starting a Street Team: @BookwormMama14 @SKRViLLPromo / Social Media TipsWant to Be a Guest Speaker on a Twitter Chat? Here's How: @inkbitspixels @CaballoFrancesTFW Your Twitter Account Gets Stolen and There’s Nothing You Can Do: @robspillman @lithubPromo / WebsitesWordPress for Writers: Tips, Tricks, & Plugins: @All_FreelancingPublishing / MiscellaneousTips for Easier Launch Days: The UK’s Emerald Publishing: A Decline in Research Output from Women: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesScribd Announces an Audiobook Production Line, Highlighting Independent Publishers: @Porter_Anderson @Scribd @pubperspectivesCalibre Audio and RealSAM: A Smart Speaker for Sight-Impaired Readers: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International Publishing‘Arabic Voices in Academic Publishing’: A Look at the Challenges: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesUK: Jellybooks Pilots Bookshop ‘Peek Inside’ Capacity at Blackwell’s: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying5 Reasons You Should Aim for 100 Literary Rejection Letters in 2021: by Sarah Gribble @write_practicePublishing / Process / Book DesignHow to Work With a Book Cover Designer: @dre_cal @ProWritingAidIs the next book cover trend . . . rainbows? @knownemily @lithubWriting Craft / Characters / AntagonistsFive Antagonists Understandable Motives: @kathycowleyWriting Craft / DialogueRobert McKee's Dialogue Tips: @KiingoCreativeWriting Craft / Lessons from Books and Film“Gone Girl” – Ending Payoff: @TheWritership @StoryGridThe Spiritual Message at the Heart of ‘Peanuts’: @AndrewBlauner @lithubHow Bigotry Ruined Magic: The Gathering’s Characters: by Svend Phillips @mythcreantsWriting Craft / MiscellaneousMust Haves For Exciting Inciting Incidents: @10minnovelistHow to Write An Article: Get Started With These 12 Steps: @kwidenhouseTips for Creating a Book from Genealogical Research: by Dennis L. Peterson @SouthrnWritrMagPlot and character – how to integrate them: @SHalvatzis“What Gandhi Taught Me About Telling Stories that Mean Something”: @KelseyAllagood @WriterUnboxedStrange Alchemy–Creating the Weave of Conflict, Character, and Place in Your Fiction or Memoir: @writeabookHow do you get more cohesion in your writing? @pubcoachWriting Craft / Plot HolesHow to Dig Yourself Out of a Plot Hole: @ebettswriter @writingcookbookWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingBasic Plots: Vonnegut’s Man in Hole: @stacitroilo @StoryEmpireWriting Craft / RevisionHow to edit your novel before submitting: @LisaBabalis @cbcreativeWriting Craft / TensionHow to Create Tension: @KiingoCreativeWriting Craft / VoiceInfuse Voice With 3 Elements: @Shutta @FloridaWriters1UncategorizedWhat Writers Can Learn From The Mandalorian: @ChrisLukeDean @Writers_Write wkb14

 

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Tips for Easier Launch Days

by Elizabeth Spann Craig, @elizabethscraig

When I was traditionally published, launch days felt incredibly stressful to me. That's because the publisher had a lot riding on the release…and for a fairly short period of time before bookstores started sending off returns.  Penguin liked to know what my plans for the launch were, how big my audience was, and if I needed the to schedule a blog tour.

While launches as a self-publishing author aren't nearly as stressful (and that's a good thing…I had 6 books release last year), they still create a real mix of feelings in me.  What I'd like to focus more on is the feeling of celebrating finishing another book. Maybe that should be a goal for this year.

Here's how I've tried to relieve the launch day pressure as much as possible: 

Make a list. Actually, a checklist and one that you can use for future releases is probably best here. I'm going to share my updated release day checklist on the blog in the next week or so. This way you can make sure you don't forget anything (I've had too many nights in the past where I woke up at 3 a.m. remembering I forgot to send thank you copies of the finished book to betas) and that alone is a big stress-reducer.

Schedule as much as possible in advance. This mainly pertains to social media or any blog posts you're doing to announce the release. The last thing you want to worry about on your launch day is tweaking images on Canva. Use a free program like Hootsuite to help you schedule ahead.

Write the all-important newsletter in advance. I do this wayyy in advance. My newsletter does promote the new book, of course, but I also use it as a way to share good books I've read and films I've watched, as well as a recipe. So when I do read or watch something great or make a good meal, I go ahead and save it as a draft in my newsletter. (I'm currently using MailerLite.)

Get everything else in your life under some semblance of control.  The thing about releases is that they can be all-consuming if you let them be. But we still have life going on in the background. I try to make sure that I'm caught up on any housework and errands and that there's food ready to eat in the fridge. It just means less stuff to worry over.

Have scheduled times of day to check in on social media. One of the things in the past that I've found most stressful has been staying on social media for too long during release days. It's great to quickly respond to reader comments, but then we can fall down a social media rabbit hole. Having planned times to check in on social is a great balance.  I find I do better if I completely close the social media tab and not have it run in the background.

Remember how important self-care is. This is probably the most important tip of all. If you know you're going to feel stressed (even happy stress), be sure to get enough sleep the night before, exercise the morning of the launch, eat well, and hydrate. It can help…a lot.

One additional important thing to remember is that publishing has a “long tail.” Our sales will take place over a long period of time…over the years of our careers.  Yes, the launch day is a big day, but not if we look at it as a small part of a big picture.

How do you handle launch day stress? Any other tips I've missed?

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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 58,000 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 / MiscellaneousBusiness Musings: Reading and Ebooks (2020 in Review): @KristineRuschWeb Writing: How It's Unique: @kwidenhouseFreelance Writing: The One Point Rule: @kwidenhouse5 Steps to File Cabinet Organization in Your Life and Small Business: @MaddyOsmanThe Magic Phrase That Let's You Say No to Copywriting Clients: by Belinda WeaverWhy Your Book Needs a Manuscript Critique: @abaileywritesHow to Get Your First Writing Sample: @ashleygainer8 Project Management Tips for Frustrated Freelancers: @BlackFreelance15 Benefits of Working with a Writing Coach: @writingcookbookFreelancers: When Should You Write for Free? @ashleygainerFindaway Voices Steps in for Indies in Wake of Audiblegate: Self-Publishing News Podcast: @agnieszkasshoes @Howard_Lovy @IndieAuthorALLIThe Top Ten Publishing Trends Every Author Needs to Know: @claytonnoblit @WrittenWordMWhat Writers and Editors Do: by Karl Ove Knausgaard @parisreviewConferences and Events / MiscellaneousInternational Prize for Arabic Fiction Names Its 2021 Longlist: @Porter_Anderson @Arabic_Fiction @pubperspectivesA Digital Jerusalem International Book Forum Opens for 2021 Registration: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesCreativity and Inspiration / Goal setting31-day Practice and Suck Less challenge: @austinkleonCreativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as WritersOn the Long Walk to Audiobooks: @rcharkin @pubperspectivesPassing Noir: Nine Novels That Explore Secrecy and Deception in Racial Identity: by Zach Vasquez @CrimeReadsHas the Parent Plot Ousted the Marriage Plot in Contemporary Fiction? by Peter Ho Davies @lithubFive SFF Characters You Want to Trust, but Probably Shouldn’t: @StinaLeicht @tordotcomUnwanted Outsiders Working Cases in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinberg“I Loved These (SF) Books as a Teen — Do They Hold Up as an Adult?” by Amber Troska @tordotcomCreativity and Inspiration / Writing LifeUsing Writing Groups for Motivation: @davidfarland3 Ways Freelancers Can Reduce Stress: @quiettypeblogHow to Create a Personalized Writer's Notebook: @thenovelsmithy70 Encouragements/Tips For The Writer: from It's a Lil ThingYou Are Not Too Old to Freelance : @seejavaciawriteTop 5 Reasons to Keep Writing Even When You Don't … Feel It: @hmgardner @TheIWSGBest Writing Approach: Routine or Ritual? @GoIntoTheStoryGenres / MysteryDisgruntled Employees and Unscrupulous Manufacturers as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergRunaways as Elements in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinbergGenres / Non-Fiction3 Rules of Business Book Writing: @_GinnyCarterGenres / RomanceHow To Write A Shippable Romance Novel: @WritersEditGenres / ScreenwritingHow to write a TV series outline: @YVONNEGRACE1Writing the Television Pilot: 1st 10 Pages: @YVONNEGRACE1Screenwriting: How to Write a Treatment and Structure Series Narrative: @YVONNEGRACE1Page One: ‘Unforgiven’ (1992). Written by David Webb Peoples: @GoIntoTheStoryScreenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Thor: @CockeyedCaravanPromo / Blogging5 WordPress Site Settings Necessary for Successful Blogging: @NinaAmirHow to Encourage More Comments on Your Blog Posts @NinaAmirPromo / Connecting with ReadersResponding to Readers: Tips: Promo / MiscellaneousFonts – What Marketers Need to Know: @BakerviewConsulHow to Promote a Book in 2021: @BookgalPromo / Social Media TipsHow to Grow a Facebook Group Quickly and Effortlessly: @DanaMalstaff @SMExaminerPromo / Video21 YouTube SEO Tools to Boost Your Video Rankings: @ab80How to Write Engaging YouTube Video Scripts: – @SirAmirrPromo / WebsitesWhat Winnie the Pooh Teaches You About Your Website: @PaulineWilesPublishing / MiscellaneousNYU Center for Publishing Announces Diversity Scholarships: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesReleasing a Book Into the Pandemic: ‘A Time of Anti-Science’: @Porter_Anderson @PeterHotezUK Author Unions Launch Investigation Into ‘Partner Publishing’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesFamous first words: how celebrities made their way on to children's bookshelves: @siancain @GuardianBooksBookstores in Québec: ‘We Learned to Reinvent Ourselves’ in the Pandemic: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectivesPublishing / News / International PublishingSpain’s Publishers: COVID-19 Boosted Readership to a Record High in 2020: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesIndustry Notes: Spain’s New Platform, Frankfurt’s Translation Program: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @fbm21 @ANTAJM1971 @pubperspectivesGermany’s ContentShift Accelerator Opens Its 2021 Program: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @ShiftingContentSpain’s ‘Rolling Pages’ Names Its 10 Books-to-Screen Contenders: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesThe UK/Ireland World Book Day Emphasizes Family Reading: @Porter_Anderson @WorldBookDayUK @pubperspectivesRussian Market Looks to Children’s Books for 2021 Growth: by Eugene Gerden @pubperspectivesEngland’s LoveReading Opens a New ‘LitFest’ for Consumer Subscription: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectivesRights Roundup: Early Spring Titles From Seven Markets: @Porter_Anderson @AHLaestadius @lawrenceschimel @psicologomilano @pubperspectivesPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / PitchesOne Writer's Pitch Wars Experience: @daniellewrites7Picture Book Pitch Ideas Revised by an Editor: @MiraReisbergPublishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / RejectionsRejection Letters – The Brighter Side: by Roy StevensonPublishing / Process / ContractsDo You Need a Freelance Contract? @kat_boogaardWriting Craft / BeginningsHow To Make The First Time We Meet A Character Epic: @MiaJouBotha @Writers_WriteWriting Craft / Characters / DevelopmentMake Things Hard for Your Character: @kathycowleyCharacter Goals and Stakes: @LindasclareWriting Craft / Characters / Supporting CharactersWriting Meaningful Secondary Characters: @chrismlaporteWriting Craft / DiversityDiversity Plus: Diverse Story Forms and Themes, Not Just Diverse Faces: @HenryLienAuthor @sfwaWriting Craft / Drafts7 Steps To Plan & Organize Your First Draft: @WritersEditWriting Craft / MiscellaneousShould My Novel Have An Epilogue? @WritersEditTips on Writing an Action Scene: Star Trek The Wrath of Khan VS Star Trek Into Darkness: @chrismlaporteHow to Write a Dramatic Climax: by Abbie Emmons8 Strategies That Will Help You Improve Your Writing Skills: @NicoleJBianchiKnow the (Writing) Rules to Break the Rules Well: @PeggySueWells“But” Gets a Bad Name – But Writers Love Words to Show Contrast: @kwidenhouseIntroducing Unique Story Elements without Confusing Readers: @beccapuglisiThe Magic of Motivation in Your Novel: @SarahSallyHamer @EdieMelsonWriting Craft / PacingCraft Chat: Pacing: @MastersReviewWriting Craft / Pre-Writing / NamingTips for Naming Characters: @daniellewrites7Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / PlottingThe Main Plot Problem: @KiingoCreativeWriting Craft / RevisionSelf-Editing Secret: Listen Carefully: @pcalhenry @CareerAuthorsPlaying Tricks With Editing: @authorterryoWriting Craft / ScenesTypes of Scene Objects: @KiingoCreativeWriting Craft / Settings and DescriptionThe Paradox of Experiencing a Place (Antarctica!) So You Can Write About It: @eatthedogs @lithubWriting Craft / SubtextSubtext Can Arise From Avoiding Open Conflict: @KiingoCreativeWriting Craft / TensionUsing Casablanca to think about tension: @Janet_ReidWriting Tools / AppsHandy Apps for Authors: @PaulaKrapf @Nessgraphica“Why I love Scrivener”: @AuthorMarileneWriting Tools / Books3 Creative Self-Help Books: @PennyDolan1

 

 

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Responding to Readers

by Elizabeth Spann Craig, @elizabethscraig  

I think writers have a lot of understandable angst when it comes to responding to readers. We care a lot about what they have to say and we don't want to make a misstep.

And responding to readers is definitely tricky. Here are some different areas where you might run into reader comments and my thoughts on handling it.

Areas Where Readers Often Reach Out

Social Media: I get pinged on Facebook fairly regularly, less so on other sites. I try to respond as quickly as I can and apologize when a comment falls through the cracks. It's important not to write things that could be misconstrued on social media, so I'll re-read a post a few times before I send it.

Book Reviews/Book Bloggers:  When book bloggers reach out to me to share a review, I always thank them and will usually share it with a comment on my social media. If they haven't reached out to me to share it, I don't comment on the review, but I may link to it on my book page, etc.

Emails: This is definitely my favorite way for readers to reach out. I can give more thoughtful answers and they're not shared on a public platform. I generally respond fastest here, too.

Reader Comments on Platforms like Wattpad:  If a comment is directed to me, I always respond to it. Sometimes, though, the comments are directed to other readers or even just function sort of as marginalia on the site…for the reader's own records. If I think a comment from me might function as author intrusion, I leave it alone.

Short Reviews on Platforms like BookBub:  BookBub pings me on these, and I'll “like” them as they come in, although I don't comment.

Reviews on Goodreads:  I'm generally wary on this site since in the past it hasn't proven especially author-friendly. I do appreciate the reviews I get there, but I don't read them and definitely don't comment on them.

Customer Reviews on Amazon:  Same rule applies here as on Goodreads. I do read my reviews on Amazon, since they can help inform direction for my books, but I never respond to reviews there.  I do take my best reviews and copy-paste them into a folder on Evernote to brighten up tough writing days.

 

Writer Jody Hedlund made a good point about responding to readers:

“The more visible and relatable an author remains the better. Think about what happens when we’re closed off, silent, and unavailable on our social media sites. People might begin to think we’re stuck up, that we think we’re too good to talk to anyone but our closest circles of friends. Such an aura (even if it’s not true) could send out negative vibes and alienate our readers. Why take the risk? Why not remain humble, available, and responsive?

Yes, it takes some time. But, if we’re not prioritizing our interactions with readers on social media, then what’s the point of it all? Isn’t that why we’re on social media in the first place?”

I totally agree…as long as we're careful and professional while we're responding.

For me, this has been the safest approach to handling reviews and reader comments. But I'm curious to hear from you. How do you handle reviews and comments on retailers, book blogs, and social media?

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