Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 51

April 18, 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 50,000 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.

New Stuff: C.S. Lakin is offering a new course for writers: “Your Cast of Characters.” Writers who sign up by May 1, 2020 can use the code EARLYBIRD to get $50 off the $149 price. For more information, click here. Please note that I'm an affiliate.

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on April 18, 2020 21:01

April 12, 2020

Pivoting

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

It's been an interesting last month, hasn't it?

I read an article in the local paper about the difference between restaurants in Charlotte (the area I live in) that survive and the ones that are closing down. The article said that restaurant success in the past had to do with things like the quality of the menu items, the ambience, and the location of the business. But now, the article went on to state, the success has to do with the restaurant's ability to pivot. Some have moved to a model where they prepare meals and customers take them and bake them. Some have easily switched to online ordering and fulfillment.

I thought a lot about that. I have a lot of good traits as a writer. I'm stubborn. I'm routine-driven. I'm organized. And it's incredibly difficult to hurt my feelings (a helpful quality, I've found, when combing through one's reviews).

And I've always been awful at pivoting. When my day goes awry, I freeze up. I had a plan. When the plan is no longer in play, I'm at loose ends, looking back at my unfinished to-do list and making a face.

The interesting thing I've found, though, is...like a lot of things...the more you practice at something, the better you get at it.

I've been sick with a virus (The Virus? Who knows....can't get tested here unless you need to be trucked off to the hospital) for just over 10 days. It's been mercifully mild, but really persistent. I'm guessing I'm in the final stretch, from what I read online.

Over the last month, I've noticed and celebrated when I've been able to adapt to all the changes around the house. Here are my tips as a novice pivoter on what's helped and what I've gleaned so far:

General tips:

Give yourself some grace: I often say things to myself that I would never consider saying to a friend, so I've tried to think of myself as a friend that needs someone to be a bit kinder to them.

Give others a little grace: Most of us are quarantining with others...who are doing their best in a tough situation.

Remember that refilling the well should go on your to-do list: Stress can be bad for creativity. Spend a few minutes to make a list of ways you want to spend your free time...pick some books to put on your to-be-read list. Compile a watch-list of TV shows and movies that may inspire your own creative process. Create playlists of music to enjoy when things get a little hairy.

On pivoting:

Remember there can be too much time to write: We're all dealing with different circumstances. Some of us may be put into a spot where there's much less time to write because we're caring for our kids or working a demanding job from home. Some of us might be in a spot where we think there's a lot of time to write, but the words don't want to come. If you have too much time to write, try setting a very specific point in the day (limiting your time) and use a timer. Or just mull the story over in your head. It may not be realistic to knock out as many words in a day as you're used to.

Re-evaluate what works as often as you need to: One day what worked was to get ahead on my current book. One day what worked was to learn more about Facebook ads. Another day what worked was to read and watch British television shows. Sometimes what worked at 6 a.m. wasn't working at 2 p.m. Try to be responsive to your own needs.

Do a brain dump of all the different things you can think of that need to be done: This works for me in a couple of different ways. First off, it keeps me from waking up in the middle of the night remembering tasks. But it also helps when you're not in the right frame of mind to write, but are in the right mindset for coming up with a promo image for an ad or to announce an upcoming release.

Do what you can: And know that might change from day to day.

How are you doing with the new status quo? Any tips to share for what's working for you?

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Published on April 12, 2020 21:02

April 11, 2020

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

A meaningful Passover and Easter to all who celebrate. :) Hope everyone is doing well.

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on April 11, 2020 21:01

April 5, 2020

How I Wrote My Murder Mystery “Murder, Just Because”

by Yolanda Renée, @yolandarenee

When I decided to sit down and write a mystery — I did just that. I sat down and started writing. It's what I've done with every story I've ever written. I've been an avid reader ever since I was a child. I started out with Nancy Drew and progressed from there. In other words, I've read hundreds, if not thousands of books. When I decided to write my own, I was more than ready.

I chose the mystery genre
because I wanted to write what I enjoyed. These are the steps I took. Each
bullet has a link that I'm sure will give you the information you seek on each
topic. The web is full of great information, and I doubt I could improve on it,
but these are my steps, and I hope they'll give you the push you need to start
your writing adventure.

1. Decide on the type of mystery you want to write.

There are at least twelve types of mystery
genres.

2. Decide on your Setting.

The setting is key, in more
ways than one!

If you don't know the place personally, do your research.
Use maps to get street names and know and use the names of businesses such as
restaurants, parks, etc. And yes, you can use the correct names of places,
streets, hotels, etc. It will make the situation real for your readers.

3. Choose the protagonist.

Be sure you've chosen wisely.

Who is your detective or sleuth? Create a full description with
a complete background. Know them as well as you know yourself. Just be prepared
once you've created them to accept changes, which will come from the character
themselves once they find their voice. (They will speak to you and sometimes
disagree with your direction. Listen to them. They know the story better than
you.)

4. Who is your antagonist?

This character can be even
more important than the protagonist.

I've found they love to take over the story. In these cases,
I make sure the protagonist and the villain get equal time.

5 Create interesting secondary characters.

Vital to the story's action.

Don't be surprised if a new individual makes their voice
known once you're deep into the story. And don't forget your victim or victims.
You'll want some empathy from your readers for them.

6. Do your research.

How to write a thriller.

If you don't know anything about motivation or serial
killers or murderers in general, do your research. The FBI has several good
sites online, and there are dozens of books available. Having your own
reference library handy is a plus.

7. What's your weapon of
choice?

Know your weapon.

Guns, knives, poisons, ball bats, an ax, or whatever you
choose. Each killer has a preference, a reason for the weapon they use. Decide
what that is, or better yet, let them tell you. My serial killers love to make
themselves known.

I own books on investigation, motive, and weapons. I even
have a book of poisons, but there's plenty of information online. However, a
personal library is fun too.

8. Start Writing!

You're ready. Right?

Maybe three steps are all it
takes?

I usually begin my books with a murder. By creating tension
right off, you draw the reader in. They'll want to know who did what and why?

What better way to introduce your protagonist than at the
scene of a crime.

9. Show, don't tell!

Do you know how?

Forget detailed backstories on your main characters. All that character
description and backstory you've already written, is just that, your notes. Key
elements can be added as the story moves forward either in dialogue, brief
introductory descriptions, thoughts, or reactions of the character, and even
dreams. But keep the action going!

10. Action, action, action!

Keep the pace moving…

Grab the reader from the
get-go!

You want a page-turner, with cliffhangers at the end of all
your chapters because you want your readers to say they could not put it down!

11. Snappy dialogue.

DON'T bore your readers.

Make your conversations relevant to the scene, and don't forget to add
humor.

12. Be prepared for “writer's block.”

The easiest part of writing is the first few chapters. You're psyched. You're
into your story. You even know how it's all going to end, and you get ahead of
yourself and write that amazing final scene that's been playing out in your
head.

This is easy, you think. But then you realize you've got eleven
chapters and the ending. Oops, how did your characters get from here to there?

The middle of your book is missing, and you have no story
left inside. That's the real definition of writer's block.

My advice is to walk away. Read a book. Take a long walk or
do the laundry. The point is, just put the story away for a while. The answers
will come to you when you least expect it.

My go-to solution to “writer's block” is to ask
the questions I need the answer to during meditation or right before I fall
asleep. The answer is always there in the morning.

If nothing else works, try
these tips…

13. Finished!

Celebrate! You deserve it! Take a break, at least a week,
then go back and start the re-write. Don't be surprised if new ideas jump out,
or that you decide to delete whole chapters. This is where the fun begins, and
the story finally solidifies.

“The End! –Well, maybe
not!”

*****

Thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing my latest book release and my

how-to for writing.

I hope it inspires just one would-be mystery writer.

Writer @yolandarenee With 13 Steps to Writing a Mystery:
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It’s a pleasure to be participating in author Yolanda
Renee’s MURDER, JUST BECAUSE Blog Tour through MC Book Tours today.

The author is offering an awesome tour-wide international giveaway. More
information on the giveaway is listed below.

MURDER, JUST BECAUSE

by Yolanda Renée

◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

◊ Publisher: Yolanda Renee

◊ Series: Detective Quaid Mysteries

◊ Paperback: 291 pages

◊ Print & eBooks

◊ ISBN-10: 0985820632

◊ ISBN-13: 978-0985820633

◊ Contains explicit sex & graphic violence

“While
this book does contain explicit sexual language and graphic violence, it could
easily be taken from the daily headlines. The content is plausible and
realistic as we look at the world around us. The events in the book are not
overly done but give a pragmatic look at the terrifying actions killers can and
sometimes do take.”

It was a matter of beginner’s luck, but rookie detective Steven
Quaid’s career and reputation as an elite investigator skyrocketed when he
captured one of the most sadistic serial killers in Alaskan history: Stowy
Jenkins, AKA the Snowman. But that was ten years ago.

And now…Jenkins is back. Escaped from prison and on the move, his
bloodlust is stronger than ever, and his methods of torture are even more
horrifying than before. As his bloody rampage continues and the number of
mutilated bodies mounts, terrified Alaskans increasingly doubt Quaid’s ability
to catch the killer again. The detective’s reputation is on the line, and he’s
going to need a lot more than luck, because this time, Jenkins is driven by
more than the thrill of a random kill.

This time, it’s more personal. He’s out for revenge…and his
ultimate target is Quaid. In a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, Jenkins starts
picking off the people in Quaid’s life…slowly, gradually tightening his circle
of corpses and drawing ever closer to the most important person in Quaid’s
life…his wife. Can Quaid do the impossible again? Can he outmaneuver the
killer, or has the detective's luck finally run out?

Author Yolanda Renee

For those
who aren’t familiar with the author, here’s a bit of background on her in her
own words.

At
one time Alaska called to me, and I answered. I learned to sleep under the
midnight sun, survive in below zero temperatures, and hike the Mountain Ranges.
I’ve traveled from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, and the memories are some of my most
valued. The wonders, mysteries and incredible beauty that is Alaska has never
left me and thus now influences my writing.

Despite
my adventurous spirit, I achieved my educational goals, married, and I have two
handsome sons. Writing is now my focus, my newest adventure!

For more on
Yolanda and her writing, you can connect with her here:

Blog
*     Facebook
*     Twitter
*     Pinterest

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This
tour-wide giveaway is for a complete set of the Detective Quaid Mystery series
books for one winner, paperback copies of MURDER, JUST BECAUSE
for five winners, a $25 Amazon Gift Card, and a Kindle copy of MURDER, JUST BECAUSE for
10 winners.

To enter the
giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the
instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.
If the widget doesn’t show up, just click HERE and you’ll be directed to
the widget.

Thanks for
stopping by and be sure to follow Yolanda on her week-long tour HERE. You never know what you
might find out. Do you enjoy watching a character grow from one story to the
next?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Published on April 05, 2020 21:02

April 4, 2020

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Hope everyone is doing well! Stay safe and take care.

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on April 04, 2020 21:01

March 29, 2020

A Fiction Writer Tackles Nonfiction

by Jemi Fraser, @jemifraser

I am normally a fiction writer. I write romance, suspense, and flash fiction from a wide variety of genres. When our family was hit by dementia, I decided to tackle this new-to-us disease in writing in order to help other families facing those early stages of the disease.

Nonfiction and fiction share some similarities, but they are also different in many ways. I discovered that writing nonfiction is easier than writing fiction. It is also much more difficult.

Easier: the story is already there

Harder: the story is already there

Sure, the story is there, but (at least in the case of Dancing With Dementia) the story is life itself. The story is all parts of life intertwined in a big, jumbled mess of timelines and emotions and details.

Choosing which parts belong in a story that is to be shared with the world is the challenge. The parts you choose need to be interesting and connect to your theme and they need to showcase that theme while staying true to life.

Easier: the characters are real people

Harder: the characters are real people

In fiction, we create characters. We invest time and energy into creating characters who are as real as we can make them.

In my non-fiction work, the characters are fully evolved people complete with backstories, emotional investment in the story, flaws, and strengths. Putting those people on paper to share with the world involves all kinds of risks, both to the people in the story and to the author. Keeping an unbiased perspective on the characters (and yourself if you’re a character as well) is difficult but necessary.

Easier: audience is key

Harder: audience is key

If an author wishes to sell, it’s important to keep the audience in mind. Who is the target audience? Why will they want to read the book? What do they want from the book?

Fiction tend to focus on entertainment. Nonfiction (in this case anyway) focuses on a blend of information and entertainment. Even informational texts should be entertaining enough to keep the audience reading.

Knowing what parts of our experiences would help the audience and entertain them at the same time was a challenge. In the end, some of our stories involving Mom didn’t make the cut for the book because they weren’t sufficiently entertaining or informative.

So how do we switch our brains from fiction to nonfiction mode (or nonfiction to fiction)?

For me it’s all about character and emotion. No matter what I’m writing, I need to put myself in the head of the character.

For Dancing With Dementia, it wasn’t hard to slip into my concerns about Mom as those concerns were never far from the surface.

How about you? Any other thoughts to add about the difference between fiction and nonfiction? When you read nonfiction, do you want to be both entertained and informed?

A Fiction Writer Tackles Nonfiction (by @JemiFraser) :
Click To Tweet

It’s a pleasure to be participating in author Jemi

Fraser’s
Recognizing and Coping with the Early Stages of Dementia Blog Tour

through MC Book Tours today.

The author is offering a tour-wide international giveaway of an Amazon

Gift Card. More information on the giveaway is listed below.

Recognizing and Coping with the Early Stages of Dementia

by Jemi Fraser
◊ Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir

◊ Publisher: Just Jemi Books

◊ eBooks

◊ ISBN-13: 978-1-9991258-1-3

Dementia and Alzheimer’s touch the lives of millions around the

world, but so much is still unknown.

As first-generation Canadians, we didn’t recognize

the early warning signs. We didn’t know the differences between regular aging

and the early stages of dementia. We’ve made mistakes but we’ve learned a lot.

DANCING

WITH DEMENTIA will help you:

•Identify those early warning signs

•Use visuals to improve communication

•Choose your words wisely

•Redirect and reassure

•Stay calm and cope with your own emotions

•Consider nursing home options

•Improve caregiver self-care

We’ve learned to dance the early steps of the

disease with our love and laughter intact. If you are looking for help

recognizing early signposts along with practical ways to cope with early

Dementia and Alzheimer’s, this book is for you.

DANCING

WITH DEMENTIA buy

links:

Amazon.com Amazon.ca Apple Books

Barnes & Noble Kobo

Add DANCING WITH DEMENTIA

to your Goodreads shelf

For those

who aren’t familiar with the author, here’s a bit of background on her.

Jemi Fraser

writes both fiction and nonfiction. Her nonfiction work focuses on the ways

that dementia has impacted her family. Her fiction work varies from

contemporary romance to suspense and flash fiction. Years as a teacher have

taught Jemi that life is short and that happy endings are a must.

Jemi lives

in Northern Ontario, Canada where snow is always a topic of conversation and

the autumn leaves make everything better.

For more on

Jemi and her writing, visit her following sites:

Website

Just Jemi Blog

Dancing

With Dementia blog
Amazon

Page

BookBub Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter

Quick

Tips Videos

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This

tour-wide giveaway is for a $20 Amazon Gift Card . The giveaway is

open internationally.

To enter the

giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the

instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.

If the widget doesn’t show up, just click HERE and

you’ll be directed to the widget.

Thanks for

stopping by and be sure to follow Jemi on her week-long tour HERE. You never know what you

might find out. I hope dementia hasn’t touch your family or friends, but in

case it has do you have any tips to share on dealing with this terrible

disease?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Photo on Visualhunt.com

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Published on March 29, 2020 21:02

March 28, 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 March 28, 2020 21:01

March 22, 2020

Bibliomysteries—Educating Readers in a Fun Way

By Libby Ware and Charlene Ball, aka Lily Charles

A bibliomystery is a mystery where books are involved. The stories can take place in bookstores, libraries, auctions, or old houses, and can involve books, manuscripts, or scrolls. Some bibliomysteries center on books while others have a bookish setting only. Some are centered on murder, others on researching a paper trail regarding an author or manuscript.

We both love reading mysteries and especially bibliomysteries. Her are some of our favorites:

Possession, by A. S. Byatt, involves literary research by two twentieth century scholars who are trying to uncover the truth about a nineteenth century British poet.
The Bookman’s Tale; First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen; and The Lost Book of the Grail, by Charlie Lovett, are mysteries involving manuscripts. Their protagonists are researchers or booksellers.
The Cliff Janeway series by John Dunning stars an ex-police officer who opens a used bookstore. The first is Booked to Die. Each book features a valuable book or books and Cliff Janeway’s search for the book and the culprit.
Camino Island, by John Grisham, is about theft from the Princeton Rare Books Library and an antiquarian book dealer in Florida. Grisham has written a follow-up book, Camino Winds, which will be published this year.
The Booktown Mystery series by Lorna Barrett is set in a booktown in New Hampshire. Tricia Miles owns Haven’t Got a Clue, a mystery bookshop, and has a habit of finding dead bodies.
The Secret, Book, and Scone Society series by Ellery Adams features Nora Pennington, who owns a bookstore in a small North Carolina village. She uses books as therapy by picking out books that her customers will benefit from. (Ellery Adams has also written other series, for example, the Books on Bay series.)

When we told a bookseller friend that we were writing a bibliomystery, she got excited and said, “My favorite part of bibliomysteries is that I learn something.” In our Molly and Emma Bookseller series, we concentrate on one category of books in each novel. Murder at the Estate Sale is about a secret occult library and a missing 17th century manuscript of magic spells. We are currently working on Murder at the Book Fair, which will focus on Children’s and Illustrated Classics.

Molly and Emma are antiquarian book dealers, and since they frequently travel to book fairs to sell their wares, each book will take place in a different setting. Emma is newer to the bookselling world so Molly serves as a sort of mentor to her, so that readers can learn about the arcane world of antiquarian bookselling through their conversations.

We want to introduce our readers in a fun way to the world of bookselling and to different types of collectible books. In Murder at the Estate Sale, for example, right under each chapter title is a brief bookseller’s description of a different collectible occult book. We got the idea from Lea Wait and her Antique Print mystery series in which she has a description of a collectible print under each chapter title.

We hope that, as our readers pursue murders, kidnappings, thefts, and chasing unsavory characters, they will also have fun learning about rare book dealers, manuscripts, book fairs, and the fascinating world of vintage books.

Charlene Ball and Libby Ware. Photographer Amy Gibbons

Lily Charles is the pen name of Charlene Ball and Libby Ware. Under the name Toadlily Books, they sell antiquarian and collectible books. Charlene and Libby married in 2016 and live about a mile from each other in Atlanta. Find them at lilycharles.com

Charlene Ball is also the author of DARK LADY: A NOVEL OF EMILIA BASSANO LANYER (She Writes Press, 2017), winner of the Sarton Award from Story Circle. She has published short stories and articles in academic and literary journals. Until 2009, she worked as a college administrator and instructor.

Libby Ware is a member of Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and president of Georgia Antiquarian Booksellers Association. She is a fellow of The Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences. Her debut novel, LUM, won the American Library Association’s Stonewall Honor Book in Literature, a gold medal by the Independent Publishers Association, and was a finalist for Lambda Literary’s Debut Novel Award.

Tips for Writing Bibliomysteries by Lily Charles:
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Published on March 22, 2020 23:02

March 21, 2020

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Business / Miscellaneous

For Publishers and Nonprofits Facing Cancellation, https://t.co/1xgCklUkaP Offers Services Free: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Should I Use A Sensitivity Reader? @helpfulsnowman
No Sales or Lackluster Sales: It Isn't the Reader, It's the Book…Really: @KristenLambTX
Planes, Readings, and Mayhem: 1 Writer's Year on the Road: @Gabino_Iglesias @LitReactor
How to Create a Business Plan for Your Indie Author Business: @miblart @IndieAuthorALLI
How much does it cost to self-publish a book? @BookDesignBook
Why Do Writers Hire Book Coaches? @jennienash @JaneFriedman
Posting reviews when you're a writer: @Janet_Reid
Will the Coronavirus Hurt Book Sales? @MichaelLaRonn

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Attend the Free SelfPubCon: @AngelaAckerman
IPA and Norwegian Publishers Association Cancel Lillehammer's World Congress: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Jacks Thomas Leaves the UK's Reed Exhibitions and London Book Fair: @Porter_Anderson @jacksthomas @LondonBookFair @pubperspectives
British Book Awards: Ceremony Postponed, Some Winners Announced: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
BookExpo Moves to July in New York City: Coronavirus Update: @Porter_Anderson
Books that were to be presented at London Book Fair: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting

5 Places to Keep Goals … and 2 Places you Shouldn't: @DebraEckerling

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

Best-selling children’s author Mo Willems on sparking creativity and joy: @The_Pigeon @paulsolman
3 Life-Changing Rules for Finding More Writing Inspiration: @KMWeiland

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

8 Stories About What Really Happens on Campus: @ElectricLit @carolinezancan
A Beginner's Guide to African Crime Fiction: @detectivekubu @CrimeReads
Your coronavirus reading list: reader suggestions to bring joy in difficult times: @GuardianBooks
7 Biographies That Are Secretly Memoirs: @jennshapland @ElectricLit
8 True Crime Podcasts to Listen To in 2020: by Lizzy Steiner @CrimeReads
12 Books About Pandemics: @ElectricLit
Italy's Answer to Coronavirus is a Classic Published Almost 200 Years Ago: @alessioperrone @lithub
Sometimes You Need a Book To Just Make You Laugh: A Reading List: @TheNormanNation @lithub
5 Pandemic Books to Enjoy During Self-Isolation: by Tom Ashford @SelfPubForm

Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation

Getting Serious About Your Writing Career: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

Making Time To Write: @evmysterywriter @killzoneauthors
You Might Be Scheduling Your Writing Time All Wrong: @MegDowell
The Key to a Writer’s Productivity: Just Say No: @PaulaSMunier @CareerAuthors
“Done vs Good: What I’ve learned so far about getting unstuck”: @nancy_reddy @pankmagazine

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly

How To Focus And Be Indistractable: @nireyal @thecreativepenn
“Why I’m Not Tracking My Writing Progress Anymore”: @MegDowell

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

Going to Dinner with Your Troll, and Other Tales of Writing Gone Viral: @cmaum @lithub
When You Fear What Others Think: @10minnovelist
Why a Writer Suffers Jaw Pain and How to Fix It: by Ken Marshall @colleen_m_story
26 Things to Remember About Being a Writer: @EdieMelson
11 Library Hacks for Riding Out the Coronavirus: @EveryLibrary
How to Build Your Best Writing Life in 2020: @kristen_kieffer
When hope is hard to find: @hmgardner @TheIWSG
Spring Cleaning for Writers:
5 Tips for Creating a Relaxing Writing Space: by Heather Viera @DIYMFA
10 Lessons from a Decade of Writing: @MBjorkWrites
Writers, Sometimes We Just Need to Admit We Can’t Do It All: @bethvogt @EdieMelson
The New Story Idea You Never Asked to Meet: @MegDowell
Writing Tips In Perspective: @caridubiel
How Italian booklovers are coping in the coronavirus lockdown: @MassimoCarlotto @GuardianBooks
COVID-19: A Writer's Guide to Self-Care: @MBjorkWrites
Margaret Heffernan on These ‘Uncharted' Days of Coronavirus Pandemic: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
“My book comes out next year. Do I even believe in next year?” @lillydancyger @ElectricLit
6 Steps to Setting Yourself up Financially as a Writer in 2020: @sacha_black
Do You Really Want to Be a Writer? @jimdempsey @WriterUnboxed
9 Places To Meet Fellow Authors (And How To Connect Once You Do) : by Rebecca Langley @standoutbooks
Tips for Working From Home: @PenPaperPad

Genres / Fantasy

Five Common Masquerade Explanations and Why They’re Bad: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
Six Military Blunders in Speculative Fiction: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
Pro tips for writing and publishing speculative fiction: by Jack Smith @kijjohnson @Janice_Hardy @LindaNagata @TheWriterMag
How Can I Put Swords in a High Tech World? by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants

Genres / Horror

Six Works of Meta-Horror That Break All the Rules: by Sam Reader @TorNightfire

Genres / Miscellaneous

Crossing Genres: A Wild Writing Path: @kathieshoop @WomenWriters

Genres / Mystery

Are Small Town Mysteries Comforting Fictions—or Terrifyingly Relevant? @amykgreen @CrimeReads

Genres / Poetry

A Primer on Speculative Poetry: @BlueTeaEditing @wvancamp

Genres / Screenwriting

Writing The Perfect Hallmark Holiday Romantic Comedy Movie: by Mark Sevi @CreativeScreen

Genres / Young Adult

Awesome Tropes in YA Fiction: @_HannahHeath

Promo / Book Descriptions and Copywriting

Writing A Book Blurb In 4 Easy Steps: @KMAllan_writer

Promo / Miscellaneous

BookBub Reviews Offer an Alternative to Goodreads and Amazon: @annerallen
Social Distancing: The Perfect Time for Digital Outreach: by Sue Campbell

Promo / Social Media Tips

The Essentials of Your Goodreads Author Page: @mindofkyleam @ProWritingAid
Social media doesn't sell books, but… @DanBlank
How to Get More LinkedIn Engagement and Clicks: by Robert Brill @SMExaminer

Promo / Speaking

How Writers Can Craft an Ending for Their Presentation: @YvonneOrtega1 @EdieMelson

Publishing / Miscellaneous

The 3 Levels of Trust in Publishing: @johnpwriter
Publishing's Workforce: Early Shifts to Remote Operations in the Coronavirus Pandemic: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: Macmillan and PRH Ease Library Digital Book Availability: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: Amazon Temporarily Deprioritizes Books and More: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Turkey's ITEF Calls for Fellows; Ferrante Audio Rights Go to PRH: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Coronavirus Has Ground Chinese Publishing to a Halt: by Na Zhong @lithub
Coronavirus: International Publishers Make COVID-19 Research Content Freely Available: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @AmericanPublish
Coronavirus: Sharjah's World Book Capital Ceremony Cancels, as Does Canada's Tech Forum: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: Spanish and Italian Book Industries Sound the Alarm: @Porter_Anderson

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

What is Indie Publishing? And How to Get Started in 2020: @ReedsyHQ

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

10 Things Literary Agents Look For in an Author: @bookendslit @jmcgowanbks
What does it mean when an editor or agent says your manuscript is “quiet?” @TracyMarchini @bookendslit

Writing Craft / Beginnings

5 Common Story Openings to Avoid—If You Can Help It: @JaneFriedman
Middle Grade Critique: @Kid_Lit

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

The reader should generally know what your narrator knows: @NathanBransford

Writing Craft / Conflict

Creating Conflict in Your Story: @KarenCV

Writing Craft / Drafts

The Freedom of Writing Without Chapters: @Janice_Hardy

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

Believe, Care, Invest: Sethe and Others in Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”: @CockeyedCaravan
Believe, Care, Invest: Rahel in Arundhati Roy’s “The God of Small Things”: @CockeyedCaravan
How Edith Wharton's Novel of New York High Society Speaks to Class Divisions Today: @Egangoonsquad @lithub

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

The Coronavirus and the Crisis Novel: by Mark Alpert @killzoneauthors
Pandemic and Pandemonium: Sickness in Horror: by T.L. Bodine
The Subjective Mood: @AdamOPrice @The_Millions

Writing Craft / POV

Tips for Writing Multi-POV Novels with Distinct Voices: @katelizabee @WomenWriters

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

Additional Reading on the Theme of Man and the Natural World: @Sara_HeartStory @DIYMFA
What makes a plot intriguing? 6 ideas: @nownovel

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

Capitalizing Disease Names: Why Ebola Is Capitalized and Coronavirus Is Not: @GrammarGirl

Writing Craft / Subtext

Context, Text, Subtext: Understand How Each Works in Storytelling: @SeptCFawkes

Writing Craft / Tension

How to Build Tension in a Scene: 3 Nail-Biting Ways: @suelarkinsweems @write_practice

Writing Craft / Voice

How To Find Your Writer's Voice: @Bang2write

Writing Craft / World-Building

Worldbuilding in the Story Grid Methodology: by Victoria R. Girmonde @StoryGrid
Dive into Worldbuilding: Managing Spaces: @JulietteWade
Worldbuilding: Productivity in Your Society: @JulietteWade

Writing Tools / Apps

Best Book Transcription Services for Authors: @DaveChesson

Uncategorized

Be like Emily:
Social-distancing may prove good for book sales:
Tips from an expert on participating in virtual book events:

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on March 21, 2020 21:02

March 15, 2020

Spring Cleaning for Writers

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

It's spring (or very close to it) …and time for my yearly spring cleaning. I've never been an enthusiastic cook, but I have been a fairly enthusiastic cleaner. Somehow it helps clear my head. And, with all the emphasis on hand-washing and sterilizing stuff lately, this couldn't come at a better time.

But it's not only closets and cabinets and surfaces that get the spring cleaning treatment at my house: it's also my computer and writing-related items.

Website Updates: This doesn't have to take long. I like to make sure that my social media links aren't broken, that my bio doesn't need updating, and that my sidebars, header, and footer are in good shape. Is your news/events page updated (this is one that's frequently neglected). It's also a good time to make sure your site includes all the recommended basics for writers. See this article by Gill Andrews for Anne R. Allen to make sure you're not making these 5 common mistakes.

Social Media and Amazon Author Page Profiles: This is another area where I make sure my bio is updated. I like to run a quick check on my privacy settings (especially on Facebook, which always seems bent on invading them). It's also good to review which apps are accessing my accounts. Are all my books linked to on my Amazon Author Central page? Am I still happy with the book descriptions on my book pages? How do the editorial reviews look now–should I add any positive reviews?

Email Inbox : This is one of those areas where I could spend an entire morning cleaning up, so I make sure I have a plan and a timer before I start. I take a look at my newsletter subscriptions and unsubscribe to any I've not been opening . I look up specific senders and delete everything from those particular groups or people. I also check to see if I should set up more filters to help make my email more efficient.

Back Up Documents, Covers, and Other Important Files: We've all heard disaster stories. If you don't back up regularly, do it now while you're thinking about it. Even better, set up a system for the future. It could be as simple as emailing files to yourself. Or you could invest in an automatic backup if you'd like to set it up and forget about it.

Organize Files: For more info on how I take care of this task, see this post I wrote last year. If I don't stay on top of this process, I end up with a confusing mess on my computer of early-stage cover drafts, older and un-updated mobis and epubs, and drafts of everything from translations to outlines.

Newsletters: Take a look at your subscribers and consider weeding out readers who have never opened your emails. This is also a good time to check for duplicate subscribers.

Are your business cards updated?

Are you a spring cleaning nut like me? What kinds of things do you do to keep organized and decluttered?

Spring Cleaning for Writers:
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Published on March 15, 2020 21:01