Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 46

October 24, 2020

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 57,000 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.

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on October 24, 2020 21:06

October 18, 2020

What’s Slowing You Down As You Write? Part II

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

In last week's post, I gave three possible issues that could slow you down as you write your book. But there are plenty of others. :) Here are four more and more ideas for tackling these problems as they pop up.

Details: character names, making a chapter ending punchy, etc. If you're not an outliner, introducing a new character name may slow you down as you try to find the perfect fit. But you may not know the perfect fit yet because you haven't developed the character until later in the book. Instead of stopping your momentum, just type in a symbol that will be easy for you to find later on (# or *) and you can replace it later with a character name.

Being ultra-aware of chapter endings, chapter length, and other book formatting issues can also slow you down. Consider writing straight through the book. It's what I do and I've found it helps to keep me moving forward with the story and actually improves chapter length uniformity.

Details you're not sure of. If you're writing a series (or even if you're not), there may be little details that try to trip you up as you go. Is it currently Monday or Tuesday in the story? That sort of continuity issue may make you want to scroll back and read for a while. I've found it's better if I make a note for myself, either in a separate document called Things to Check On or in the Track Changes comment feature, to fix the problem later.

Realizing something's not working: I don't like to fix problems in first drafts. Somehow it puts me right into editing mode instead of in more of a creative mindset. Instead, I flag the part in the story where I’ve realized things are going wrong, make a note of the change(s) that I’m making going forward, and pick up with the story as if the problem had been fixed in the previous pages.

Lack of focus: Probably most of us have a problem staying focused while we write (and do other tasks). There are so many distractions these days and writers have a tendency to lose focus anyway…it's the daydreamy part of us that helps us create.

If focus is a recurring challenge for you and is cutting into your writing time, try different methods to see if you can focus better. I've turned off the wifi on my laptop, used timers to keep sessions short, written in different locations if home is too distracting (harder to do now, with the pandemic), and tried listening to ambient music through earbuds. Writer Ambre Dawn Leffler recommends building focus through tai chi and yoga. Colleen M. Story offers a range of tips in this article, which also focuses on how general writer health contributes to focus.

Do any of these strike a chord with you? How do you keep your momentum going with your story?

4 More Things That Can Slow You Down as You Write:
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Published on October 18, 2020 21:01

October 17, 2020

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

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. Congratulations to Mike Fleming for having Hiveword and the WKB listed in Writer's Digest's best writing advice websites for 2020!

Business / Miscellaneous

Ask Better Questions and Get Better Answers to Grow Your Craft and Career: @jessicastrawser @CareerAuthors
Don’t Do Business with Incompetents: @PassiveVoiceBlg
Should You Use a Book Doctor? @cathychall @womenonwriting

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Frankfurter Buchmesse Online: Publishing Perspectives Talks 2020: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
‘Brazilian Publishers’ Brings Creativity and Content to Frankfurt: @HannahSJohnson @Book_Fair @pubperspectives
Bärbel Becker Selects Events at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2020: @HannahSJohnson @Book_Fair @pubperspectives
At Frankfurter Buchmesse: A Unique Year in Publishing and Copyright: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @Book_Fair
Frankfurter Buchmesse Opening News Conference: 4,400 Participants: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @Book_Fair
Convention Etiquette: @PhilAthans
BIEF's Stance on the Digital Frankfurt: Wait and See: @oliviasnaije @Book_Fair @pubperspectives
Taiwan and Transmedia at The Arts+: Moving Stories on All Channels: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Frankfurt Events: Riky Stock's Agent Webinar Picks: @HannahSJohnson @pubperspectives @Book_Fair
Managing a remote writers' room: @MadelineAshby
Frankfurter Buchmesse Draws 148,000 Users from 183 Countries: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @pubperspectives

Conferences and Events / NaNoWriMo

11 Essential Steps to Prepare for NaNoWriMo: @PSHoffmanAuthor

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

Resources for Writers in Need of Inspiration: @mike54martin
Are Should Statements Ruining Your Creativity? @katekrake

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

Five SF Books That Would Make Great Musicals: @jamesdnicoll
Crime Fiction: Books That Link Generations: @MargotKinberg
Five Pocket-Sized Paperbacks and the Art of Sneaky Reading: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcom
7 Books That Take Women's Bodies Seriously: @theshrutster @ElectricLit

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

4 things to learn from the daily rituals of great writers: by Anna Giulia Novero @beprolifiko

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly

What's Slowing You Down As You Write?

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

The Vital Importance of a Writing Community: @johnpwriter
Four Painful Truths About Writing and Publishing a Book: @laurenlogi @WomenWriters
Setting Your Story Amid a Pandemic: @FoxPrintEd
Staying Positive In Uncertain Times: @brendaAchapman
How to write the difficult second novel. And why it’s difficult: @Roz_Morris
Nancy Cramer: 89-Year-Old Author Makes History by Writing History: @Howard_Lovy @IndieAuthorALLI
How to improve your writing — and your life: @pubcoach
Writers at Risk for the Fall Twindemic—How to Avoid It: @colleen_m_story
Why You Need “White Space” in Your Daily Routine: @jkglei
7 Writing Maxims and What to Do with Them: @LaraEdits
Resources Teachers Can Share With Families: Increase Writing Volume and Stamina at Home for Students: @BethMooreSchool

Genres / Fantasy

How Do I Introduce Alternative World Aspects? by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
Guide to Writing Fantasy: @writingandsuch
Special Items to Consider Using in Fantasy: by C.S. Boyack @StoryEmpire

Genres / Memoir

5 Books To Propel Your Memoir Writing: by Gretchen Eberhart Cherington @DIYMFA

Genres / Mystery

Crime Writing: Deadly Poisons: @DPLyleMD @CriminalMischi2
Crime Fiction Books Offering a Chance to Learn Something New: @MargotKinberg
The 5 Pillars Of Thrillers: by Oliver Fox @Writers_Write
Crime Writing: How To Speak Cop: @GarryRodgers1 @killzoneauthors

Genres / Non-Fiction

How To Write Narrative Non-Fiction: @hh_matt @thecreativepenn

Genres / Picture Books

The Birth of a Picture Book: Author, Illustrator and Editor/Art Director Discussion: @kathytemean
Tips for Selling Children’s Books: by Brian Jud @Bowker

Genres / Science Fiction

Beyond Rome: Infrastructure in Ancient Civilizations: @DanKoboldt

Genres / Screenwriting

Screenwriting: Connect Care Commit: The Silence of the Lambs: @CockeyedCaravan
Screenwriting Secrets in Thelma and Louise: @scriptsleuth

Genres / Short Stories

13 Ways of Looking at Flash Fiction: @grantfaulkner @lithub

Promo / Ads

Getting the Most from Amazon Advertising: @IndieAuthorALLI

Promo / Blogging

Pondering Time Zones: Publishing Blog Posts: @Dwallacepeach
Build your Travel Blog Community with Blog Commenting: @BirdsOAFpress

Promo / Book Descriptions and Copywriting

How to Make Book “Sales Copy” Feel Like a Simple Conversation: by Stephanie Chandler @NonfictionAssoc

Promo / Book Reviews

Amazon Book Reviews: How To Get Book Reviews on Amazon For Free: by Patrick McNulty @SelfPublishing7

Promo / Miscellaneous

Survey results on Writer Promo Activities: @WordDreams
Promote your book with a roundup article: @sandrabeckwith

Promo / Social Media Tips

5 Basic Rules of Social Media: @CaballoFrances

Promo / Websites

Two ways to create an effective author website: @DanBlank

Publishing / Miscellaneous

De Gruyter Launches S2O Model to Bring Open Access to Humanities: @HannahSJohnson @pubperspectives
PEN America, Penguin Random House Partner on ‘Book the Vote': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
A Closer Look at Writer Beware: Writers' Watchdog Group: @victoriastrauss @sfwa
Bernardine Evaristo to UK Publishing: Hire More Diverse People: @HannahSJohnson @pubperspectives
Which Generation Reads The Most? @Lachybe @ProWritingAid
As Frankfurt Week Winds Down: The Rentrée and the Pandemic: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectives @Book_Fair
Publishing Perspectives Talk: ‘Digital Format Adoption and the Pandemic': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Akoss Ofori-Mensah: The Pandemic's Impact on African Publishers: @Porter_Anderson @Bodour @IntPublishers @DubaiCares @pubperspectives
Nitasha Devasar: The Outlook for Educational Publishing in India: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Québec City Publisher Antoine Tanguay and his ‘Cabinet of Curiosities': @HannahSJohnson @pubperspectives
Frankfurt Report: Italian Book Market Narrows Its COVID Losses: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @pubperspectives
Canada's Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Copyright Case Appeals: @Porter_Anderson @AccessCopyright @pubperspectives

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

How to Publish with KDP: @harmony_kent
Self-Publishing? Avoid These 7 New-Author Traps: @ZaraAltair

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Rejections

10 Things All Writers Must Learn About Rejection: @MegDowell

Publishing / Process / Legalities

Claiming the Royalties You Deserve: by Juli Saitz @AuthorsGuild
How to Fight E-book Piracy: @AuthorsGuild

How to Create and Manage a Pen Name: @elawilliams_ @DIYMFA

Publishing / Process / Translation

Amazon Crossing's Liza Darnton on Translation: ‘Wildly, Unabashedly Interested': @Porter_Anderson @LizaDarnton@pubperspectives

Writing Craft / Characters / Arc

Characters First, Plot Second? @Weifarer

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

One Way to Write About a Millennial Protagonist? Don't Settle on a Single Form. @emjaneunsworth @lithub
5 Questions To Ask Your Characters: @10minnovelist
8 Basic Lies Our Fiction Characters Believe: @AneMulligan @EdieMelson
Mourning in Fiction: Accessing the Shadows: @cyallowitz
Traveling Beyond The Hero's Journey: by Laurie Schnebly Campbell
How To Develop Strong Characters Children Will Relate To: @RachaelCooper22 @Writers_Write
How To Make Your Next Villain A Coward: @10minnovelist

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

Gaps in Your Writing: @JillWilliamson
Avoid Embarrassing Submission Mistakes: @holly_schindler

Writing Craft / Dialogue

How to Use Snappy Zingers to Write Effective Dialogue: by J. D. Edwin

Writing Craft / Literary Devices

Tips for Figurative Speech: by Deborah Lyn Stanley

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

Assertive Writing: @apexjason @apexmag
Becoming a Sensitive, Responsible Fiction Writer: @LiveWriteThrive
Taking Stock with a Writing Self-Evaluation: @danieldelill @FloridaWriters1
4 Reasons to Ditch “There Is” and the Like in Stories: @ZoeMMcCarthy
Looking Back at the First Act: @christinadelay

Writing Craft / POV

Third person omniscient vs. limited vs. head jumping: @NathanBransford

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Outlining

Working with an Outline: @winonakent @mike54martin

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

Why Structures Like The Hero’s Journey Don’t Work: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Research

Take A Long View on Research: by John Gilstrap @killzoneauthors

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

Place as Character: by Niki Kantzios @FloridaWriters1

Uncategorized

Editing Your First Draft: From Garbage to Greatness: by Katie Pavel @ProWritingAid Katie Pavel

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on October 17, 2020 21:06

October 11, 2020

What’s Slowing You Down As You Write? Part I

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

To me, there are two different types of ‘writing slow.' There's writing slow when you're word-crafting and being very deliberative with your writing. And then there's the other kind of ‘writing slow': slow writing because we're hung up on something. It's the second kind that I'm addressing today: the frustrating feeling of not getting far in a writing session because something was holding you back.

I've come up with a list of common things that can hold writers back and some solutions for getting around them. I'll post the rest of them next week.

Being a slow starter: Is it tough for you to get started writing again the next day? If you're routine-driven, it may help to write at the same time and place every day (for me, it's become almost muscle memory).

You could also try Hemingway's trick of stopping each day's writing session in the middle of a sentence.

Another way I push past daily resistance to getting back into the story is by ending each day's session with a mini outline for the next day. It's very short: just a quick note as to where I left off with the story (this helps prevent re-reading and being pulled into editing mode) and a quick note saying what I plan on covering during the next writing session (sleuth talks to suspect Dan. Dan says he was at work during the murder. Mentions he overheard an argument between victim and another suspect, Gina).

A difficult scene: Sometimes there might be scenes we're just not in the right frame of mind to write, for whatever reason. It could be something as basic as wanting an important scene to be written perfectly. It could be something more complex, like we're not in the right mood to write a humorous scene or feel too upbeat to write a tragic scene.

One way to handle this is to simply skip the scene. Put some sort of marker in there, like ##, so that you can find the spot later on and go back to it. Then just pick up with the next scene in the story.

Slowing down to add setting or character description: This was a common roadblock for me when I was writing . . . until I started leaving this information out during the first draft. Otherwise, I'd spend a lot of time either trying to craft a unique character description for a recurring series character, or I'd end up sitting there trying to figure out how I wanted to describe a particular setting.

I leave out the troublesome descriptions from the first draft and then create a second document after that draft is finally done. On the new document, I brainstorm all of the character and setting descriptions for the story and, while I'm reading through and proofing, weave the descriptions in. That way, I'm in a descriptive mindset and can get a lot more done, much more quickly.

Not being sure what to write next in the story: We all get to that point in a story. Sometimes it's a major plot point (especially if you haven't already outlined the book). Sometimes it's just trying to figure out a subplot or even a transition in the story.

I recommend either skipping through to the next scene you're sure of or opening up a fresh document and brainstorming as many possible next steps in the story as you can possibly come up with. When you're brainstorming, be sure not to hold back: the ideas can be as random or ridiculous as you dream up.

What kinds of things slow you down when you write? How do you address them?

Tips for Common Issues that Slow Writers Down:
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Published on October 11, 2020 21:01

October 10, 2020

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on October 10, 2020 21:01

October 4, 2020

Free Book Marketing Tactics

by Hank Quense, @hanque99

Are you a first-time author trying to market your just published book? Book marketing is like getting trapped in swampland without a map. You really need a guide. This article will provide some guidance. It covers a series of rather basic marketing tasks to get you started. One great thing about these tactics? They are all free. They only require your time and energy.

Amazon Author Page

Once your book is available for sale or pre-order on Amazon, you can start an Author Page. You’ll find Author Central at: https://authorcentral.amazon.com/ gp/home.

After you log in with your password, you can add your bio and other information to the page. One of the great features of the Author Page is you can add a wealth of information about the book that you couldn’t do when you uploaded it to Kindle.

Web page or blog site

As a new author, you have to face the fact your book is published in the 21st century. Readers search for and find books by using the internet. The implication of the last statement is that you and your book need a website.

The simplest way to establish a web presence is to use a program like WordPress or Blogger or Weebly.

So what do you do with a website once you have it up and running? You use it to pimp your book. There should be a dedicated page for the book and it should be easy to find. Don’t make a visitor search for the book page.

Initially that page should have a picture of the cover, your book blurb, and buy links. You can also put your short synopsis on it.

Use your blog to write blog posts. The blog posts can be about anything: your grandkids, writing anecdotes, vacation plans and pictures. The important thing is to issue blog posts periodically so that people will build up an interest in the blog and revisit it.

Goodreads book page

Goodreads is a place for readers and authors to interact. You can find it by using this link: https://www.goodreads.com.

The great thing about the readers on this site is that many of them write book reviews. Once you have your account set up, start using it by joining the author program. This will enable you to establish an author page with a bio, book listings and other information. You’ll find the author program here: https:// www.goodreads.com/author/program

Social Media accounts

You need to open and use a few social media accounts. At the least, these should include a Facebook page, a Twitter account, another one on LinkedIn and perhaps Instagram or other sites.

Book Blurbs

Many new authors consider a book blurb to be a short synopsis. This is a mistake. Book blurbs and a short synopsis are two different animals and they have different purposes. The purpose of the book blurb is to grab the attention of a potential reader. Once you have her attention by means of a great pitch line as the opening sentence, you need to follow that up with a few more sentences that tell her what’s different about your book and what’s in it for her.

For more on book blurb construction, you can read my article:

https://medium.com/@hanque99/book-blurbs-a-marketing-opportunity-46d6586ee44b

Sig files

Email signatures (usually called sig files) are a free way to publicize your book every time you send out an email. Think about how many times a day that happens!

Sig files are those links you see beneath the name of the person who sent you the email. Here is what yours could look like:

Your name

Title of your book

Location of your website

The last two lines would be linked to a webpage, the first to a book buying page like Amazon, the second to your blog page. Sig files are easy to implement and only take a few minutes.

How you do that will depend on the mail program you use. They are all different.

Goodreads Reviews

One great feature about Goodreads is that there are millions of readers on it, and those readers love to get free books to read and review. There are a number of groups that actively seek authors looking for reviews.

One such group is called Advanced Copies for Review & Book Giveaways. Here is a link to it: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/58575-advanced-copies-for-review-book-giveaways. A second group is: Authors and Reviewers: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/103713-authors-reviewer. There are more such groups on Goodreads, but these are the two that I have used to get book reviews

Booksprout Reviews

This is a free review site. https://booksprout.co.

Once you have an account, you can upload your book and request reviews. You can do this before or after the book is launched. The site will allow up to twenty readers to request a copy. That doesn’t mean to imply your book will get that many requests. You may only receive a handful of requests and not all of the them will post a review. Still, you’ll probably get a few reviews. A neat feature of this site is that the reviews won’t just show up on Amazon. They will also appear on Goodreads and other book sellers such as Barnes & Noble.

The above material is based on the content in my new book, Book Marketing Fundamentals. The book is available in ebook and paperback editions and can be purchased from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iStores, Kobo and other web book sellers.

For more valuable information on fiction writing, publishing and marketing, visit the Writers & Authors Resource Center: http://hankquense.org/wp/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.

Author @Hanque99 With Free Book Marketing Tactics:
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Published on October 04, 2020 21:01

October 3, 2020

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Business / Miscellaneous

Learning The Writer's Timeline: @CindyDevoted @EdieMelson

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Sweden’s Gothenburg Book Fair pulls in 373,000 virtual visitors in prime time and still has 3 months of viewing to come – the digital book fair is here to stay: @thenewpubstd
Asian Festival of Children's Content 2020: A COVID-Aware Edition: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
UK: Gaiman, Atwood Headline Society of Authors Fundraiser Lineup: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
ALTA Names Its 2020 National Translation Awards Shortlists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
The Arts+ Names Frankfurter Buchmesse Film Award Shortlists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
South Africa's SA Book Awards Honor Author Trevor Noah: @Porter_Anderson @Trevornoah @pubperspectives

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

Top Five Books About Transitions: @JEPurrazzi
11 Famous Books That Have Proven Impossible to Film: @j_m_wood @mental_floss
Crime Fiction: Misidentified Bodies: @MargotKinberg
5 Fantasy Novels Driven by Traumatic Family Bonds: @jifueko @tordotcom
Words Revived, Adapted and Coined by J.R.R. Tolkien: @UselessEty
Crime Fiction: Being Adaptable to Changing Circumstances: @MargotKinberg
20 Must-Read Happy Literary Fiction Books: by Laura Sackton @BookRiot
7 Novels About Studying Abroad: by Rashi Rohatgi @ElectricLit
7 Love Triangles to Sweep You Off Your Feet and Whisk You Away: by Daniela Ramras @BookTrib
Crime Fiction: When Families Open Their Homes to a Youth: @MargotKinberg

Creativity and Inspiration / Success

How To Write A Bestseller: @SuzyKQuinn @thecreativepenn

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

How Changing Your Environment Can Help Your Novel: @NaNoWriMo
Saying “No” with Grace: @jkglei
Help for highly sensitive writers: How do you stand your ground if you feel pushed around by other people’s feelings? @ritukaushal2
How to Stop Judging Your Own Writing So Harshly: @MegDowell
12 Reasons Writing Doesn’t Feel Worth It Right Now (Even Though It Is): @MegDowell
Organization…for Our Creativity and Our Career: @JamiGold
Here's how to deal with criticism of your writing: @pubcoach
Why I Write: 23 Fascinating Quotes from Famous Authors: @A_WritersStudio
Develop Awareness to Harness Writer's Intuition: @LauraHighcove @DIYMFA
7 Tips to Practice Focusing Your Writer’s Eye: @EdieMelson
Terrified About Writing Your Novel? Excellent! @randysusanmeyer @WriterUnboxed
10 Truths to Remember If You’re a Writer Feeling Discouraged: @MegDowell
12 Strong Habits of Writers Who Don’t Give Up: @MegDowell

Genres / Fantasy

Make Your Own Book of Spells: How to Use Grimoires and Unholy Scrolls from Ancient Tombs: @TaisTeng
Museums in Science Fiction and Fantasy: @DanKoboldt
Deity as Celebrity — Crafting a Myth Cycle: @EleanorKonik @mythicscribes

Genres / Historical

Guide To Writing Historical Fiction: @writingandsuch

Genres / Memoir

21 Memoir Examples to Inspire Your Own Memoir: @ReedsyHQ

Genres / Miscellaneous

What Stories are in your Travel Guide? @BirdsOAFpress

Genres / Mystery

Crime Writing: How Complacency Kills Cops: @LeeLofland
Voice, Pacing, and Sensitivity: The Art of Writing a 911 Thriller: @RachaelHerron @DIYMFA

Genres / Picture Books

What’s an Illustrator’s Voice? @MiraReisberg

Genres / Science Fiction

Using Plain Language in Speculative Fiction: @JoshuaIsard @LitReactor
Five Science-Fictional Approaches to Healthcare: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcom

Genres / Short Stories

Writing an Effective Short Story Introduction: @apexjason @apexmag

Promo / Connecting with Readers

Top 10 Ten Ways To Be There For Your Readers By Way Of '90s Television: @10minnovelist

Promo / Miscellaneous

Building Your Career-Long Marketing Foundation: @JaneFriedman

Promo / Newsletters

The Ultimate Guide to Mailing Lists for Authors: Maintaining a Mailing List: @IndieAuthorALLI

Promo / Social Media Tips

Notes From the Social Media Deportment Department: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors
How to Manage Your LinkedIn Presence in 10 Minutes a Day: @luanwise @SMExaminer
Tips for a Better Zoom Experience: @DebraEckerling

Promo / Speaking

Speaking Tips for Authors to Switch from Live to Virtual: @YvonneOrtega1 @EdieMelson
How to Get Speaking Engagements to Promote Your Book: @mike54martin

Publishing / Miscellaneous

10 Free Literary Magazines Publishing Outstanding Fiction, Poetry, and Nonfiction: @anitatrimbur @IndieBookView
The Benefits of Being a Small Press Intern: @hedwig5150 @apexmag
Self-publishing News: Book Clubs Go Digital: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLI
Sourcebooks Announces Partnership with PRH's DK for Europe, UK: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Children's Author Kate Woodard Breaks Language Barrier in Brazil: @Howard_Lovy @IndieAuthorALLI
How to Support Indie Bookstores Online: @LittleInfinite
Rights Roundup: Coming Soon to a Trading Platform Near You: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Tbilisi Book Fair States Support for Belarus Opposition; PEN America Backs Alexievich: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Words Without Borders in September: ‘Asian Peruvian' Writing: @Porter_Anderson @wwborders @pubperspectives
Germany's Springer Nature Opens a ‘Digital Hub' for Frankfurt: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @pubperspectives
Announcing a New ‘Green Book' Consortium: Canada, USA, and UK: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Wiley Partners With Project DeepGreen in Germany on Research Distribution: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

Creative Self-Publishing — Your Books, Your Way: @OrnaRoss @IndieAuthorALLI

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

Agent Spotlight: Lauren Bieker Interview and Query Critique Giveaway: @lauren_bieker @NatalieIAguirre

Publishing / Process / Book Design

Book Covers 101: Updating Your Cover: @MelindaVan

How Writers Should Choose Their Pseudonyms: @BookEndsJessica

Writing Craft / Beginnings

WIP Diagnostic: Is This Working? A Closer Look at Developing an Opening Page: @TigerXGlobal

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

Intuitive Writing and Character Formation: @WriterChurchill @WomenWriters
Tips for Protagonists and Antagonists in Your Novel: @Margo_L_Dill @womenonwriting
Character Profile Templates (For Scrivener and More): @authorbrittwang

Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists

The Nutshell Protagonist: @stacitroilo @StoryEmpire

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

3 Mistakes in Tone: @davidfarland

Writing Craft / Conflict

What are examples of conflict? @WritersTable

Writing Craft / Dialogue

Where to place dialogue tags in fiction: @LouiseHarnby

Writing Craft / Diversity

Diversity in Kidlit: Better Isn’t Enough: @bronniesway @DIYMFA

Writing Craft / Drafts

Why You Should Edit That Last Scene Before Moving On: @Janice_Hardy

Writing Craft / Endings

How to End a Novel or Screenplay: Picking the Perfect Resolution: @scribesworld

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

The Nine Star Wars Movie Climaxes, Compared: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
Deconstruction of Netflix’s Tiny Creatures: @SueColetta1

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

Acting Techniques to Deepen Your Writing: @tessaemilyhall @A3writers
Storyteller's Rulebook: Create a False Mystery: @CockeyedCaravan
“How Do I Write Like an Adult?”: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
How to Write the Climax of a Story So It Keeps Readers Up All Night: @scribesworld
Tips for non-linear narratives: @NathanBransford
Universal Truths Can Help Your Readers Relate: @richardgthomas3 @LitReactor

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

The Hero’s Journey: How to Use This Classic Story Structure: @JerryBJenkins
How to Use Mind Mapping for Better Writing: by Tom Beck @WritingCoop

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Research

Thoughts on Incorporating Research into Juvenile Fiction: @513sherrye

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept

Anatomy of a Story Idea: @PaulaSMunier @CareerAuthors

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

Whose Writing Feedback Can You Trust? @MegDowell

Writing Craft / Scenes

Critique: 4 Ways to Write Sequel Scenes That Grip Readers: @KMWeiland

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

The Challenge of Creating Powerful Settings: @LiveWriteThrive
Setting the Mood for Your Writing: @dreamstobecome @FloridaWriters1

Writing Tools / Resources

Virtual learning opportunities for writers: @nickimporter @TheWriterMag

Uncategorized

6 Crucial Character Relationships: @LMacNaughton wkb1

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on October 03, 2020 21:01

September 27, 2020

Incorporating Research into Juvenile Fiction

by Sherry Ellis, @513sherrye

Our job as writers is to create believable and entertaining stories for our readers. This is true whether you’re writing for children or adults. Details about the setting — location, time period, and everything that goes with it — are what make the story realistic. Research is part of the process. Writers need a clear picture in their minds to build their imaginary worlds.

The trick is knowing how much information to include without making it seem like an info dump. You might be interested in who the architect of a famous monument is, but more than likely, your reader won’t care. When including facts from your research, ask yourself if it moves the story forward. Does it establish the setting? Does it advance the plot? Does it help explain the actions of your characters? If you’re not sure, put the information into a separate folder and see if there may be a place for it somewhere else in the story. In the case of writing juvenile fiction, topics about the supernatural, or mythical characters may be of interest to the reader. Including them, even if they don’t directly move the plot forward, may be a good idea as long as they somehow relate to the story.

Readers care about characters. Your research should make them as realistic as possible. It’s fine to occasionally include facts and trivia, especially if you’d like young readers to learn something, but they should never take the reader out of the story. When including those things, consider how your characters will react to whatever information you provide.

Research is more for the author. It helps you know the facts so that you can be more of an authority when writing fiction. If it feels real, and it’s entertaining for your intended audience, you’ve done your job.

Author @513sherrye With Tips For Incorporating Research Into a Story:
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Published on September 27, 2020 21:01

September 26, 2020

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Business / Miscellaneous

How to Network Effectively During Lockdown: @dkparsonswriter @SelfPubForm
There's no excuse for not knowing where your book fits in the market: @NathanBransford
7 Tips to Co-Authoring Without Violence: @cyallowitz

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Canada's Cundill History Prize Shortlist: 10 Instead of Eight This Year: @Porter_Anderson @CundillPrize @pubperspectives
Guest of Honor Canada Announces Frankfurt Digital Events: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @Book_Fair

Creativity and Inspiration / First Novels

Why Not Everyone Who Wants to Write a Novel Will Follow Through: @MegDowell
Become an Author – 5 Basic Tips: @KarenCV

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

What Novelists Can Learn from Webtoons: @AuthorSAT

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

Psychological Suspense With an Absence of Violence and Gore: @MargotKinberg
Stephen King Is Quietly Enthralled By “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”: @BrennaEhrlich @CrimeReads
6 Horror Short Stories That Haunt Us: @nicolemhill @TorNightfire
Five SF/F Stories That Make You Wish For a Sequel: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcom
The Brontë Sisters: How Emily, Charlotte & Anne Changed The World: by Mel Sherwood @HistoryExtra
7 Books About Being Young and Messy in New York: @gregmania @ElectricLit

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

How Do We Go On Writing Our Little Fictions When Outside The World Is On Fire? @chris_shultz81 @LitReactor
Pros and Cons of Being a Pro Writer: by Tom Meitner @ProWritingAid
Five tips for working from home from a pro by @DeannaCabinian: @MelissaOnline
10 Tips for Writing With a Busy Schedule: by Josalyn McAllister @NaNoWriMo
33 Favorite Pieces of Advice for Life: @RyanHoliday
“What the Irish and British Writing Communities Mean To Me”: @Damo_Dangerman @TheIWSG
Writing With the Door Shut: Keeping First Drafts Private:
Navigating (and Writing in) a Corona-Colored World: @Janice_Hardy
“Three Lessons Skyrim Taught Me About Living With PTSD”: @ashleyblooms @tordotcom
How To Give Back To Your Readers: @EldredBird
Eleven Signs It's Time To Share Your Work: @10minnovelist
“A Letter To Myself As A Younger Writer”: by Jeanine DeHoney
Write Another Book: @RachelleGardner
How to Overcome the Fear Every Writer Has of Repeating Themselves: @ADDerWORLD

Genres / Fantasy

The 4 Pillars Of Fantasy: by Oliver Fox @Writers_Write

Genres / Mystery

Plan Your Mystery with Plottr: @ZaraAltair
Putting the Thrill in Thriller Stories: @AJHumpage
Crime Writing: Tactical Communication: The Difference Between Fiction and Reality: @MickiBrowning @WomenWriters
Dangerous Walks in the Woods in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinberg
How to Write an International Thriller: @damyantig @CareerAuthors
Old Social Customs as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinberg

Genres / Non-Fiction

5 Selfishly Great And Satisfying Reasons To Write A Nonfiction Book: @jckunzjr

Genres / Romance

20 Mistakes To Avoid in ‘Enemies To Lovers': @writingandsuch

Genres / Short Stories

Writing Flash Fiction: Serve Neat, With a Twist: @mareasie @apexmag

Genres / Western

The Bloody New Nostalgia of Splatter Westerns: @AmongTheZombies @tordotcom

Promo / Ads

Book Brush: Make Quick, Professional Book Ads: by Arielle Haughee @FloridaWriters1

Promo / Blogging

48 Creative Geniuses Who Use Blogging to Promote Their Art: @LeRegalla @smartbloggerhq

Promo / Book Descriptions and Copywriting

Three Items Writers Hate to Write: by Mae Clair @StoryEmpire

Promo / Book Reviews

The Book Review Dilemma: How to Get Readers to Review Your Book: @Authors_Market

Promo / Book Signings and Launch parties

Marathons, Sprints, and Pounces: 3-Tiered Approach to Book Launches: by Barbara Linn Probst @JaneFriedman

Promo / Miscellaneous

How to Keep Consistent Book Sales Over Time: @kikimojo
Ten Local Resources That Could Help You Sell Books: @10minnovelist

Promo / Social Media Tips

A Different Approach to Social Media: @ph_solomon @StoryEmpire

Publishing / Miscellaneous

25 Cookbook Publishers Who Can Serve Up Your Recipes: @ReedsyHQ
PRH Opens ‘The Conversation' To ‘Sustain Antiracist Engagement': @Porter_Anderson @PRHDigital @pubperspectives
Collective Pictures Picks Up Wattpad's ‘Float' by Kate Marchant for Film: @Porter_Anderson @wattpad @pubperspectives
NPD Book Cites a ‘Switching of Gears' in the US Market: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Rights Roundup: Getting Over ‘Virtual' and Down to Business: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Audiobooks: Audible, Podimo Join Storytel in Unlimited Subscriptions in Spain: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
China Bestsellers in August: Nobel Winner Mo Yan Hits the Charts: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
International Insights: Global Book Distributors — Apple, Google Play and Nook: @thenewpubstd @IndieAuthorALLI
SDG Book Club for Young Readers: A Portuguese-Language Expansion: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
In Brussels, the Federation of European Publishers' New Leadership: @Porter_Anderson @RudyVanschoonbe @FEP_EU @pubperspectives
Amazon International Markets Explained: @DaveChesson
Publishing Perspectives Offers a Live Update on Translation From the Arab World on Monday: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

How to Publish with KDP: @HarmonyKent @StoryEmpire
Draft2Digital Review: @ReedsyHQ

Publishing / Process / Contracts

Book Contract Components: @mike54martin

Publishing / Process / Legalities

How to Do Honest and Legal Giveaways as an Author: @ChrysFey @JaneFriedman

Publishing / Process / Translation

World KidLit: Translation Rights and Challenges in Children's Books: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectives

Writing Craft / Beginnings

How to Write A Powerful Opening Line For Your Novel: @LexicalForge @CareerAuthors

Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists

How Do I Foreshadow That a Character Is Really a Villain? by Chris Winkle @mythcreants

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

Do a Best Day and Worst Day For Your Characters: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors
The Essential 3 M's of Character Setup: @LiveWriteThrive

Writing Craft / Flashback and Back Story

How to Spot an “Info-dump”: by Bucket Siler

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

The Umbrella Academy Is a Show About Growing Beyond Familial Abuse: @use_theforce_em @tordotcom

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

The Elements of a Solid Novel, Plus Steps to Take Before You Even Start Writing: @ogdensnutgone
Emergent Voices: @Porter_Anderson @WriterUnboxed
12 Tips To Write Tight: by Debbie Burke @annerallen
Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make Writing Relationships: @Bang2write
Creating Atmosphere in Fiction: @EmyliaHall @thenovelry

Writing Craft / POV

What is a second-person narrative point of view? @LouiseHarnby
Guide to Writing: From Multiple Points of View @writingandsuch

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

How to Write a Plot Twist: @shaelinbishop
10 step guide to planning your novel: @JenKerslake @cbcreative
Plot Twist? @mtjohnson51 @A3writers
Plotting for Pantsers: @MindyObenhaus

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Research

Writing Research: Firehouse Slang: by John Gilstrap @killzoneauthors

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Beats

High Noon Beat Sheet: by Naomi Beaty @savethecat

Writing Craft / Revision

Edit For Your Reader: An Exercise and Checklist: @BethBarany @JFbookman

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

Process Writing Critiques Effectively: @LoriAnnFreeland
The Writer's Guide to Beta Readers: How to Deal With Beta Reader Feedback: @sarahstypos @write_practice

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

Description Makeover: Creating Magical Atmosphere: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants

Writing Craft / Subtext

7 Techniques for Using Subtext to Supercharge Your Scenes: by Joslyn Chase @write_practice

Writing Craft / World-Building

How to Do World-Building Research: by Bucket Siler

Writing Tools / Apps

Free Tools Any Author Can Use: @SarahBolme
3 Apps That Help Novelists Brainstorm: @schreiltalk @WriteToSell
3 Apps for Writers to Boost Productivity: @schreiltalk @WriteToSell

Writing Tools / Miscellaneous

Writing Hacks: Keyboard Shortcuts: @SueColetta1 @killzoneauthors

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on September 26, 2020 21:01

September 20, 2020

Writing With the Door Shut

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I came across an interesting post by writer Meg Dowell, Writing With the Door Closed. She called herself a closed-door writer for her first draft (she has a different approach for the following drafts). She says:

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a “closed-door” writer. Not that I’ve always written with the door physically closed — though I often do — but that I’ve always made it a point to work alone. I’ve never consulted others, I’ve never asked a friend what they thought about my story as I was writing it. I just went into my space, closed the door, and started writing.

I've been thinking about this, because this is exactly what I do for a first draft. I have a good number of people ask me what I'm currently working on…family members, friends, acquaintances. And, although I know it gives me an opportunity to pitch my work, I never do. I'll just say, “Oh, I'm working on a Myrtle.” Or “I'm on a Southern Quilting mystery now.”

The reason I've always done this is because hearing people's thoughts on an unfinished novel messes me up. It's sort of like telling someone the name you've picked out for your unborn baby. If the name isn't official yet because the baby is in utero, people seem to feel free to say the name reminds them of someone they didn't like in 5th grade. Or to tell you names they've always liked. But if you haven't told anyone the name until the baby is born, they just smile politely and say how cute the baby and the name are.

It's much the same with a story…and frequently, they mean well. But it can make you lose confidence in the manuscript or possibly send you off in another direction that you hadn't planned on going on.

A proviso…there is one time that I can think of where I actively searched out someone's thoughts on a work-in-progress and that was because I was stuck (these are the days before I started outlining) and was right on top of a deadline with Penguin. It was very helpful that time because this person knew a lot about the subplot I was working with (a subplot that tied into the mystery).

Everyone is different and other writers might find it very helpful to share their work as they're writing it…either in a critique group or with friends.

But, if you don't find it helpful, know you're not alone. If you get a lot of questions over the holidays about what you're working on, you could be vague like I am and not feel bad about it: you could say you're working on a mystery, a romance, a science-fiction story. And then leave it at that.

Then, once that first draft is finished, it might feel more comfortable to have folks weigh-in. As Meg Dowell says:

And when that first draft is done and you realize it’s a mess and that you’re going to need some help cleaning it up, go ahead. Turn the knob, let the door swing open, share your struggles. You have something to work with now. You’re going to do this. It’s all going to turn out great. Eventually.

For further reading:

Jami Gold on pros and cons of sharing a work-in-progress.

Caroline Ratajski on why she avoids workshops.

Elspeth Futcher's humorous take on why she doesn't share early drafts.

Do you write your first draft with your door open or shut?

On Keeping a First Draft to Yourself:
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Published on September 20, 2020 21:01