Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 48

October 3, 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.

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 / 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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Photo on VisualHunt.com

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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

September 19, 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 September 19, 2020 21:01

September 13, 2020

The Art of the Constructive Critique

by Lucia Tang @Reedsy

Nothing thickens your skin like a writing career. When it comes to fielding acid-tongue critiques, most of us have strategies for calming down and keeping it all in perspective. But what happens when you’re the person having to give the harsh critique?

Offering feedback on a fellow writer’s work-in-progress is a delicate, often emotionally draining task, as challenging in its own way as architecting a plot twist or capturing an elusive character’s voice. Like plotting, critiquing a manuscript requires big-picture thinking and a bird’s-eye view of the story’s overall goals. And like character development, it’s an exercise in empathy — for the writer, and for the readers who will encounter their work in the future.

Penning a thoughtful critique uses some of the same mental muscles as writing a book review or polishing your own draft. But you have to keep in mind that the work is A) not your own and B) still unfinished.

At the end of the day, the constructive critique is a genre all its own, with conventions to follow and an audience to keep in mind. To learn how to master this subtle, challenging form, I spoke to my colleague Jenn Gott, a six-time indie author whose superhero novel snagged a starred review on Publishers Weekly.

Jenn participates in a regular writing group, as well as a critique partnership with a fellow indie author, so offering — and receiving — constructive criticism is a major part of her writing practice. Here are her tips for offering feedback as clearly, graciously, and helpfully as possible.

1. Read the text on two levels — as a professional, and as a fan

Needless to say, examining the draft of a novel with an eye to improving it feels nothing like indulging in a published beach read. It’s like the difference between a chef tasting a soup mid-simmer to check the salt levels, and a diner luxuriating in that same soup after it’s served up with a spring of garnish. Instead of sinking into the story, you have to study it with some distance — taking note of what works and prodding at what doesn’t.

That said, Gott cautions against taking yourself completely out of the readerly point of view. Part of your function as a critique-giver, after all, is to anticipate what later, less-critical consumers of the story will think. “The more polished the draft is”, Gott notes, “the more easily I get swept up in it and forget to be critical. So that’s part of how I tell how much more work it needs.”

To offer a nuanced, well-balanced critique, try reading the text twice. On the first run-through, allow yourself to respond to it as a reader, paying attention to what piques your interest and what ignites your fannish need to know more. Your second pass is when the proverbial red pen can come out. Reading this way will yield you both positive and critical points to incorporate into your feedback. You can then layer these in a criticism “sandwich”, interpersing your “cons” between “pros” to craft a critique that goes down easy.

2. Focus on the writer’s aims

In addition to getting into future readers’ heads, critiquing a manuscript demands empathy for the writer’s point of view as well.

Offering feedback on a colleague’s work is different from revising your own in one key respect: their voice, sensibilities, and overall goals might not align with your own. And while critiquing gives you an opportunity to help fashion their work into its ultimate shape, you have to be careful not to force it into a copy of your style.

For Gott, the key to offering helpful, empathic feedback is working from a solid understanding of the writer’s aims. “Any time I critique,” she says, “it’s really important for me that I’m not turning their work into my work. You want to make sure that your suggestions are bringing the story closer to the author's vision for it.” Of course, you can’t just assume you get the author’s vision based on what you see on the page — you should ask them directly, giving them an opportunity to articulate what they’re trying to achieve.

But what if they’re trying to achieve something you just can’t wrap your head around — whether they’re promoting a political agenda you don’t agree with, or working with tropes you just can’t see the appeal in? In cases like that, Gott suggests, it might be best to recognize you’ve hit an impasse and pass the work on to someone who’s better positioned to critique it. (It’s good practice, of course, to let the author know why you feel uncomfortable reviewing their work — they may not have a good sense of just whom they’re alienating!)

3. Offer solutions

If you do feel capable of offering a thoughtful, constructive critique, be sure to follow through on it. One thing Gott tends to find frustrating as a recipient of feedback is “drive-by criticism” — cursory notes that aren’t elaborated upon, from a critic who shuts down if you try to ask them questions.

If you don’t want your critique partner to feel like they’ve been left hanging, it’s helpful to make yourself available for a round or two of clarifying Q&A’s. That way, if any part of your feedback is unclear, they don’t have to puzzle it out on their own.

To avoid being bombarded with questions, though, try to offer solutions alongside your criticisms in the first place. If you point out a bit of inconsistent characterization, for instance, work in a comment about how you might expect that character to behave instead. And if you flag a weak verb, list a few more vivid alternatives they might try on for size.

Offering solutions to the problems you pinpoint will make your critiques feel like entry points in a genuinely collaborative relationship — not mean-spirited nitpicking. Even if you never work that manuscript again, you’ll still have helped that writer produce the best work they can. And that’s something both of you can celebrate.

Lucia Tang is a writer with Reedsy , a marketplace that connects self-publishing authors with the world’s best editors, designers, and marketers. Reedsy also provides tools to help authors write and format their books, as well as free courses and webinars on publishing. In Lucia’s spare time, she enjoys drinking cold brew and planning her historical fantasy novel.

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Published on September 13, 2020 21:01

September 12, 2020

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Business / Miscellaneous

Avoid these Common Article-Writing Mistakes: @LoriHatcher2 @A3writers
Interview Transcription: Is Software the Answer? @AnneJanzer
How to Sell Ebooks on Amazon: 7 Tips For Making Money as An Author: @ReedsyHQ
What's the Primary Environment of Your Book–Physically, Emotionally, Intellectually, Spiritually? And Why Does It Matter? @writeabook
How to use simple psychology and basic common sense to sell more books: @sugarbeatbc @annerallen
Is Copyright Broken? Artificial Intelligence and Author Copyright: @OrnaRoss @thecreativepenn @IndieAuthorALLI

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Frankfurt Book Fair Pivots to a Digital Show in 2020: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @pubperspectives
The British Academy's Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize Announces 2020 Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @BritishAcademy_ @TanyaTalaga @charleskingdc @HazelCarby @PriyamvadaGopal
Juergen Boos: Frankfurt Book Fair Cancellation of 2020 Physical Exhibition: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @Book_Fair
International Publishers Association Announces Jakarta Its 33rd Congress City: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @IntPublishers
2020 Literarian Award Given Posthumously to Carolyn Reidy: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Maggie O'Farrell Wins the UK's 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction: @Porter_Anderson @WomensPrize @pubperspectives

Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting

12 Reminders for Writers Who Aren’t Even Close to Halfway Through Their 2020 Goals: @MegDowell

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

10 of the best novels set in Germany – that will take you there: by Paul Sullivan @GuardianBooks
Still stuck at home? Read these 7 books in which . . . very little happens. @augiewatts @lithub
8 Books About Cross-Generational Friendships: @DianeZinna @ElectricLit
Poets of Color: A Required Reading List: @LittleInfinite

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

Tips for Better Essays: by Charity Singleton Craig @tspoetry
Stop Zooming, Start Writing: by A.J. Ogilvie @ProWritingAid
The Happiness of Writing Stories: @Peter_Rey_
Knowing what to say as a writer: @pubcoach
“Why I’m writing this on a treadmill”: @pubcoach
Airplane mode to stay grounded: @austinkleon
Back to Basics: 6 Methods to Right-Size Your Next Writing Project: @annkroeker
Channel Your Inner Creative Badass: @JennyHansenCA
How to Stay Productive Working From Home: @dkparsonswriter
When to end a series? Thoughts from various mystery writers: @MargotKinberg
Should You Keep Working on a Writing Project If You Think It’s Terrible? @MegDowell
How to Fight Burnout, With Writer Anne Helen Petersen: @lifehacker
Pens, Ranked: @BillFerris @WriterUnboxed

Genres / Fantasy

Magic, Politics, and Relationships: Using Fantasy to “Literalize the Metaphor”: @DjangoWexler @DIYMFA

Genres / Historical

6 Principles for Writing Historical Fiction: @andrew_noakes @JaneFriedman

Genres / Horror

“5 Horror Movies I Wish Were Books First”: @JoshMalerman @tordotcom

Genres / Miscellaneous

Tips on Making Your Adventure Story Convincing: @FeltonJessah @LiveWriteThrive

Genres / Mystery

Book Length for Mysteries: @MargotKinberg
Rethinking the Meaning of “Border Noir”: @getalex @CrimeReads
Crime Writing: Who’s In Charge Here? The Who, What, Where, Of Police Jurisdiction: @MickiBrowning @WomenWriters
Ambition as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinberg
Cultural Differences in City vs Rural Living as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinberg
Sibling Relationships as an Element in Crime Fiction: @MargotKinberg
Mystery Series that Ended After Just a Few Books: @MargotKinberg
Crime Writing: The Survivors: After The Death Notice: @LeeLofland

Genres / Non-Fiction

How to Write a Biography: 7 Life-writing Ideas: @nownovel

Genres / Picture Books

Writing in Rhyme: @KarenCV

Genres / Poetry

How to Write Good Poetry: 7 Tips for Aspiring Poets: @LittleInfinite @IngramSpark

Genres / Screenwriting

Screenwriting: Believe, Care, Invest: Lady Bird: @CockeyedCaravan
5 Screenwriting Secrets in Alfred Hitchcock's North By Northwest: @scriptsleuth

Promo / Ads

Behind the Scenes of a Bookbub Featured Deal – Are They Worth It? @kikimojo

Promo / Blogging

Yoast SEO Secrets from the WP Elves Can Boost Blog Traffic: @annerallen

Promo / Connecting with Readers

How Knowing Your Reader Can Sell More Books: @Bookgal @BwkrSelfPublish

Promo / Miscellaneous

Marketing tips for reaching your first readers: @DavidGaughran @NathanBransford
4 Book Marketing Mistakes to Avoid in 2020: @ReedsyHQ @TheIWSG
How 1 Writer Made More Money with a Free First-in-Series Book: @LEWilsonAuthor @BookBub
How to Develop an E-Book Marketing Plan: @mike54martin

Promo / Newsletters

Getting E-mail List Sign-ups: @DavidGaughran @IndieAuthorALLI

Promo / Video

5 Ways to Use Videos to Promote Authors and Books: by Cristian Stanciu @JFbookman

Publishing / Miscellaneous

PEN America Names Ayad Akhtar Its Next President: @Porter_Anderson @ayadakhtar @PENamerica @pubperspectives
AAP's StatShot: US Trade Books Up 17.9 Percent in July, Year Over Year: @Porter_Anderson @AmericanPublish @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / Amazon

Self-publishing News: Brushing and Fake Reviews: Amazon's Trust Issue: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLI

Publishing / News / International Publishing

International Insights: Amazon: @thenewpubstd @IndieAuthorALLI
Italian Publishers: Small-Press Aid From Rome, Solidarity With Frankfurt: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Rights Roundup: The Frankfurt-Bound Rights World Revs Up: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / Process / Book Design

Combining serif and sans serif fonts to improve your book design: @BookDesignBook
“Cover Design Mistakes I Made and How You Can Avoid Them”: @NehaYazmin

Publishing / Process / Legalities

How Do I Put A Copyright Into My Trust? by Kelley Way @BethBarany

Publishing / Process / Services to Avoid

Writer Beware®: The Blog: The Impersonation Game: @victoriastrauss

Writing Craft / Beginnings

First Page Critique: Making UsCare About A Guy Going Bad: by PJ Parrish @killzoneauthors
Help the reader get their bearings: @NathanBransford
10 Ways NOT to Start Your Novel: @MegLaTorre @iWriterly

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

How Do Authors Create Characters? @Julie_Klassen
Tips for Creating Believable Characters: by Yen Cabag @TCKPublishing
Using Personality Types to Create Characters: @Weifarer

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

Deadly Writing Sins: @davidfarland
Writing that Shows and Tells: @Lindasclare

Writing Craft / Diversity

Screenwriting: 10 Quick Tips To Write Better Disabled Characters: by Elena Paolini @Bang2write

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

A Good Plot Is Made Out of Two Things: @charliejane @tordotcom
10 Tips for Irresistible Writing: @KatyKauffman28 @EdieMelson
Story Surprises and Revelations: @davidfarland
Why Storytellers Fail at Grimdark and How to Fix It: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
Writing About Characters with Disabilities: @rj_anderson @GoTeenWriters
Character vs Plot-Driven Stories: @shaelinbishop @ReedsyHQ

Writing Craft / Pacing

5 Ways to Power Up Your Story’s Momentum: @jessicastrawser @CareerAuthors

Writing Craft / POV

How to show the emotions of non-viewpoint characters: @LouiseHarnby

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

How to Plan a Novel: From Idea to First Draft in 7 Tips: @ReedsyHQ

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

Why Write Wrong? Incorrect Usage: @MarciaMeara @StoryEmpire

Writing Craft / Revision

3 Ways You Can Edit Your Manuscript With an Editing Tool: @HayleyMilliman @thewritelife
On Applying Edits: @richardgthomas3 @LitReactor
Before and After: Authors' Manuscripts: @thenovelry
Catching Echoes in Your Writing: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors

Writing Craft / Scenes

The Dinkus: 6 Uses for Scene Breaks: @nownovel

Writing Craft / Series

Writing A Series. Satisfy Readers And Make More Money: @GoblinWriter @thecreativepenn

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

The Power of the Writer's Descriptive Eye: @CindyDevoted @EdieMelson
Setting a Story in an Actual Place: @diannmills @SouthrnWritrMag

Writing Tools / Apps

Scrivener vs. Final Draft: Choosing the One that’s Right For You: @JCBakerAuthor @FloridaWriters1

Writing Tools / Resources

10 Best Podcasts for Self-Publishers and New Writers: by Jeanna Bray @shaylaleeraquel

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on September 12, 2020 21:01

September 6, 2020

Creating Believable Characters

by Yen Cabag

When we read a novel, we want a story that grips us, and characters that feel so real they’re almost our friends—or enemies, as the case may be. And when we turn the last page, we feel an almost bittersweet parting because we had been so involved in their lives for the last three hundred pages.

But believable characters don’t just walk onto a page all by themselves, even if that’s what it feels like sometimes. As a writer, you have the power of creating three-dimensional characters that your readers can relate to from the very first time they meet, and follow their journey all the way to the last page.

How to Create Believable Characters

So when you start to write a book, here are some tips to help you create characters that are so real, they become a part of your readers’ lives:

1. Be meticulous about their backstory.

Some writers shy away from creating backstory because they think it’s unnecessary or bogs down the narrative. But knowing what makes your characters tick is crucial for making them come to life both for you and for your readers.

Explore your character’s past experiences, especially things that make a deep impression on him. From there, you will find logical responses that you won’t have to invent but just automatically springs up as you write that character out.

One of the most important things you need to decide from the get-go is what drives your character. What are his fears, dreams, ambitions? What’s hindering him from achieving those goals? What is a lie that he believes about himself or about the world that’s keeping him from all he wants in life? And how does he need to change in the process?

2. Give them strengths and weaknesses.

There’s nothing more boring than a character who’s always predictably good or always predictably evil. After all, in real life, people always have different facets to their personality, and no one is strictly black or white.

One way of doing this is to create a character profile for each of your main characters. Think especially of strengths and weaknesses that will affect how they react to the events in your plot.

3. Explore colloquialism and other nuances in your characters’ language.

One way of creating characters that live on in your readers’ minds is by giving them a distinct voice. Is one of your characters from the South? Then give him a Southern twang. Do you have a well-educated man conversing with a man whose family had always been farmers? They will obviously use different words.

Colloquialism, when done well, is a great way to bring characters off of the page and have their voice ringing in your readers’ ears. For example, L.M. Montgomery’s Pat of Silver Bush effectively uses the Irish twang for one of the main characters, making her identifiable even without dialogue tags.

4. Show your reader how your character responds.

A piece of common advice for writers is, “Show, don’t tell.” This is an even more crucial tip when it comes to character development. Don’t just tell your readers that Miss Prissy is meticulous about her clothes; show how she smooths it down every five minutes, and yells at the maid for a missed spot, or immediately goes back in to change when she gets a tiny drop of tea on it.

Creating Compelling Characters

In the end, look at creating memorable characters is like making new friends: when you get to know your friends, you see aspects of them that you don’t always observe from your first acquaintance. Add layers to your characters’ lives, and they will become clearly more interesting people to know and remember way after the story ends.

And who knows, if you succeed in endearing your readers to them, maybe that will inspire you to write a second book!

Author Bio:

Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.

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Published on September 06, 2020 21:01

September 5, 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 56,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on September 05, 2020 21:01

August 30, 2020

Flawed Protagonists: Resources

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I've worked on two of my series for so long that I can't really even remember the genesis of the protagonists' personalities. But I do remember creating their flaws. Both protagonists of the series have flaws that are closely modeled on my own as well as flaws of people I know well. I knew how those flaws trip me up and family up and it was easy to work those into the characters. The funny thing is that the protagonists are nothing like each other except when it comes to their flaws.

Developing a third series this year, I had to really sit down and think about flaws and which might be useful for the new sleuth. The last thing I wanted to create was a Mary Sue/perfect protagonist. I used a couple of tools to help me create Ann, including Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi's book The Negative Trait Thesaurus to help me really consider the direction I wanted to go in.

If you have a character that's too perfect, readers aren't going to relate. We all have our flaws. Even Superman had kryptonite. It just gets boring reading about someone who never screws up. And I think it would probably make for a very short book, too.

Writing about my own flaws and the flaws of people I knew was the easiest way to tackle it. I was intimately familiar with them and their outcomes and it was cathartic writing about them. I was under a deadline or two with my publishers and it was really a no-brainer. But you can't just pick on the same flaws for every new series.

Besides the book, I used a few favorite articles to help me hammer out my new sleuth's issues:

September C. Fawkes' post, “Fixing the Mary Sue Character in Your Story”

Janice Hardy's “5 Traits to Help You Create Your Character's Personality”

E.V. Scarlet's “62 Character Flaws for Creating a Well-Balanced Character”

Amanda Patterson's “123 Ideas for Character Flaws”

K.M. Weiland's “5 Ways to Use the Enneagram to Write Better Characters”

What kinds of flaws have you saddled your characters with? How did you find inspiration for those flaws?

Resources for Creating Flawed Protagonists:
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