Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 54

December 21, 2019

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.

Happy holidays to everyone! I’ll be on a blog break to spend time with my family. I’ll be back on the blog on Monday, Jan. 6. :)

Business / Miscellaneous

Get the Most of Writing Coaching: @KarenHWhiting @EdieMelson
Six Things Editors Want Writers to Know: from Jeanette the Writer @DIYMFA

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

List of Book Fairs and Book Festivals by State: @robertleebrewer @WritersDigest
PEN America Announces 2020 Longlists in Its $330,000 Literary Awards: @Porter_Anderson @PENamerica @pubperspectives
International Prize for Arabic Fiction: The 2020 Longlist: @Porter_Anderson

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

Writing Tips: Using Visual Inspiration For Your Stories: @JillHedgecock @thecreativepenn
The Ultimate Writing Prompt: @wordgrower @ProWritingAid
Want a More Creative Life? Read a Novel: @kcmaher3 @BookTrib

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

Reading Makes You a Better Writer: @ShanDitty @GoTeenWriters
7 Books About the Struggle of Being a Writer: @v_gnesis @ElectricLit

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

How to Make Time For Writing Outside Your Day Job: A Quick Guide: @MegDowell
Snatch Writing Time When You Can: @terrywhalin

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

Don’t Let Your Confidence Issues Stop You From Writing: @MegDowell
How to Become a Full-Time Writer: @sacha_black @jennamoreci
3 Ways to Get Past What’s Holding You Back: @sandrabeckwith @JFbookman
Be Kind To Yourself: @mishy1727 @TheIWSG
Capturing Natural Coincidences, in Fiction and Life: @signoramartha @lithub
3 Ways to Sneak in Writing During the Holidays: @BeingTheWriter
How to deal with a new book idea: @pubcoach
Swimming Sideways: Navigating Grief As A Writer And An Artist: @ChuckWendig

Genres / Dystopian

Things to Consider When Writing a Dystopia: from Sandy Dragon

Genres / Mystery

Crime Writing: Avoiding an Ambush: @LeeLofland

Genres / Picture Books

A Picture-Perfect Picture Book — Five Tips: by Trinka Hakes Noble @DIYMFA

Genres / Romance

Tips for Writing a Flirty Conversation: @rfwriters

Genres / Science Fiction

The Other Final Frontier: Writing Ocean Settings: @victoriarius_ @sfwa

Genres / Screenwriting

Why Do Movie Monsters Keep Kidnapping Women? by T.L. Bodine

Promo / Blogging

14 Things No One Ever Tells You About Having a Blog: @MegDowell

Promo / Connecting with Readers

What Makes Readers Give an Unknown Author a Chance? by Barbara Linn Probst @JaneFriedman

Promo / Miscellaneous

Whatever You Do, Make it New: @BE_Sanderson
Using Audiobooks As Part Of Your Author Marketing Strategy: @KimberleyGrabas
Yes, Writers, it is Possible to Get Past Your Fear of Marketing Yourself as an Author: @losapala @TheRyanLanz

Publishing / Miscellaneous

McNally Jackson Independent Booksellers’ Workers Opt to Join Union: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
AAP Joins Broad Opposition to Proposed Trump Policy on Journal Articles: @Porter_Anderson @AmericanPublish @scholarlykitchn @ThomTillis @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Top Russian Titles and Highlights at Moscow’s 2019 Non/Fiction Book Fair: @HannahSJohnson @pubperspectives
China Bestsellers November 2019: ‘Weathering’ Heights: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Sharjah World Book Capital Program Backs Kenyan Library Restoration: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Sheikh Zayed Book Award’s World Outreach Prompts Seven Translations: @HannahSJohnson @pubperspectives
Translator Marilyn Booth on Arabic in Publishing: ‘An Encouraging Sign’: @Porter_Anderson @UniofOxford @TheBookerPrizes @magdalenoxford @sandstonepress @HoopoeFiction @CityLightsBooks @OneworldNews
Rights Perspectives From Guadalajara as a ‘Gateway to Latin America’: By Adam Critchley @pubperspectives
Rights Roundup: A Season of Sales: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Writing Craft / Beginnings

How to Ground (and Hook) Readers in Your Opening Scene: @Janice_Hardy

Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists

The Villain Checklist – How to Create a “Great & Terrible” Villain: @LexicalForge @CareerAuthors

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

How to describe a character (with free character development crib sheet): @amabaie
Five Things Readers Need to Know About Character In Your First Pages: @Kid_Lit
A Writer’s Guide to Understanding People: @KMWeiland

Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists

5 Questions for Choosing a Protagonist Who Represents Your Story’s Theme: @KMWeiland

Writing Craft / Characters / Supporting Characters

Use Your Secondary Characters Wisely: @beccapuglisi

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

Top 5 Edits Mistakes Writers Make: @Bang2write

Writing Craft / Conflict

Conflict Thesaurus Entry: Discovering a Spouse’s Secret: @beccapuglisi

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

Narrative Drive – Do You Have It? @JordanDane @killzoneauthors
Motive: The Key to Writing Stories Readers Can’t Put Down: @KristenLambTX
Back to the Basics: What Makes a Great Story: @eseckman @TheIWSG
Free Indirect Discourse: Its Advantages: @woodwardkaren

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

Plot Mapping With Characters: from Fix Your Writing Habits

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept

How to Develop your Book Idea: 8 Exercises: @nownovel

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

Punctuation Series: How to Edit Slashes: @tishmartin1416 @A3writers

Writing Craft / Revision

Pre-Editing Checklist: by Bucket Siler

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

5 Tips for Building a House or Setting That Comes Alive for Readers: @DMPulleyAuthor @WritersDigest

Writing Craft / Special Needs

How to Properly Portray Mental Health Issues in Fiction: @shy_holland @ebdawsonwriting @_HannahHeath

Writing Craft / Tropes

Six Rape Tropes and How to Replace Them: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants

Writing Tools / Miscellaneous

Tools for writing: 3 mobile dictation apps that save writers time: by Paul Morton @wearearticulate

Uncategorized

Did Hemingway say “write drunk, edit sober”? Nope—he preferred writing sober. @JessZafarris @WritersDigest #TopTweets2019
Make Free Book Trailers with Lumen5: @MJBowersock @IndiesUnlimited #TopTweets2019
Why “Bird Box” Starring Sandra Bullock Was Such a Ginormous Hit for Netflix: @JeffYorkWriter @CreativeScreen #TopTweets2019

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
Click To Tweet

The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 21, 2019 21:01

December 15, 2019

Five Things Readers Need to Know About Character In Your First Pages

By Mary Kole, Good Story Company, @kid_lit

For the last ten years, I’ve been teaching all about characterization: what writers can do to flesh out their characters. As a former literary agent, I also know the importance of first pages. So I thought I’d put the two together: how to best characterize your protagonist in the first pages of your manuscript. Make no mistake, readers bond with character first. I truly believe that character is a reader’s lens into story. So if you don’t hook your reader (or agent, or publisher) quickly, they may not stick around to see if it “gets good later.”

Here’s what readers will want to know about your character right away:

Something nice: Even if your character is rough around the edges, they will need to prove themselves as someone worth following for the next few hours. Take a cue from Save the Cat by Blake Snyder and weave in an opportunity for your protagonist to show their nice side, even if nobody else sees it. For all their potential flaws, your character needs to demonstrate some fundamental goodness with a kind word or gesture.
Something secret: Readers love vulnerability. It feels true and honest and we can all relate to it. Nobody else in your story world needs to know your protagonist’s vulnerable underbelly, but readers must. Vulnerability is best delivered in your character’s interiority (their thought process), and ideally, it will have to do with the character’s inner struggle or goal (see below).
Something stormy: Inner struggle is a huge part of what makes a character interesting. Usually, our inner struggle is internal conflict that stems from something in our past or our present that we don’t like. Whether it’s a conflict with self, like wanting to feel accepted, or a conflict with others, like needing validation from a partner, this is the sand in the bottom of our shoe. Your character should have something that frustrates them, because this creates conflict and tension. Those are the engines of story. You should, of course, develop an engaging external plot in addition to this, but giving character something that bothers them is a good way of keeping conflict high throughout.
Something past: I wouldn’t recommend starting your story with a strong eye toward the past. Flashbacks and info-dumping in your first few pages are a big no-no. However, it’s wise to plant some seeds of past tense as a way of informing present tension. Is there a big event in the past—whether it’s distant past or recent past—that haunts your character and drives their present action? Let readers know about it, even if it’s a quick mention. Now they will be eager to learn more, and you will explore it further when the time comes.
Something future: Perhaps the most important thing to introduce about your character right away is their object, or what they want. This will drive them throughout the story, and it’s infinitely relatable. We all know what it’s like to want or need something. By setting up a clear objective, you are sending a signal to your reader: This goal is what will drive this character, and this will be a great source of tension throughout. After that, readers will be eager to know whether your protagonist achieves their objective or not.

Putting all of this data into your first few opening pages might seem daunting. Remember, the enemy of dynamic first page action is information. Try to deploy as much of these five things in action, dialogue, or reaction, if possible. You should be starting your story in scene or with forward momentum anyway.

If you launch into your manuscript with strong character, readers will “go there” and dive headfirst into your compelling story.

As a former literary agent, I know the ins and outs of the publishing industry firsthand. Now, I focus on—simply—helping writers craft a good story. I founded Mary Kole Editorial in 2013 and provide consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, mystery, sci-fi, romance and memoir. I founded Good Story Company in 2019 with the aim of providing valuable content—like the Good Story Podcast and Crit Collective writing forum—to writers of all categories and ability levels.

On the craft side, I hold an MFA in Creative Writing and have worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. I’ve been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. My book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer’s Digest Books.

5 Things Readers Need to Know About Character In Your First Pages (by @kid_lit ):
Click To Tweet

Social Links

Company: https://goodstorycompany.com

Editing: https://marykole.com

Blog: https://kidlit.com

Podcast: https://goodstorypodcast.com

Forum: https://critcollective.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/goodstoryco

Facebook: https://facebook.com/marykoleeditorial/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/goodstoryco

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kid_lit

Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodstorycompany

YouTube: http://bit.ly/ytgoodstory

Submission Course: https://bit.ly/kolesub

Book: http://bit.ly/kolekidlit

Photo on Visualhunt

The post Five Things Readers Need to Know About Character In Your First Pages appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 15, 2019 21:02

December 14, 2019

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

New Stuff

Eldon Sarte (who helped me design this site and has done other web-related work for me) and his son are running a special promo for book marketing graphics. They also have some free downloads of motivational quotes for authors. For more information, head here.

Business / Miscellaneous

Why Self-Publishing Authors Should Consider Establishing Their Own Imprint: @Wogahn @JaneFriedman
How to Become an Editor: A Comprehensive Guide for Writers: @danasitar @thewritelife
How to Create a Self Publisher Imprint Name and Logo: @carlaking @BookWorksNYC

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

How You Too Can Build a Literary Festival: @StoryADayMay @WriterUnboxed
Newly Developed Data To Fuel IPA’s 33rd World Congress in Norway: @Porter_Anderson @IntPublishers @Bodour @pubperspectives
The Dos and Don’ts of Making School Visits: A Writer’s Survival Guide: @RealAlexWoolf @WritersDigest

Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting

How many words should you write each day? @pubcoach

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

Find Your Creative Heart: @JFbookman @IndieAuthorALLI

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
Click To Tweet

The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 14, 2019 21:04

December 12, 2019

Why Writers, Like Athletes, Should Cross-Train

by Lucia Tang with @Reedsy

Cross-training is exercise gospel. Gung-ho gym-goers gush over its benefits, from speeding up recovery time to improving overall fitness. Best of all, switching up a fitness routine can stop overtaxed muscles from getting so tired of moving they collectively riot, forcing the unwilling athlete to take up permanent residence on the couch.

No wonder you’ll see gymnasts run, runners cycle, and cyclists swim. But for those of us whose primary form of exercise is flexing our fingers at the keyboard, specialization is the name of the game — often not even on a single genre, but on a single work.

How am I supposed to finish this novel if I keep starting new ones? I should just sit down and force myself to slog through it. You’ve probably told yourself something like this before. That is how the conventional wisdom goes, and it really might help you finally churn out a finished manuscript.

But what if you’re thinking on a larger scale — beyond this one manuscript, to your long-term future as a writer? In that case, this kind of literary single-mindedness can do more harm than good, inviting boredom and burnout.

Like cross-training athletes, writers can and should move between projects — not guiltily, but with intention, as part of a well-organized plan for artistic development. Here are three reasons why.

1. You’ll gain versatility, making everything you write more well-rounded

We all tend to write what we’re good at, gravitating towards projects — and genres — that play to our strengths and paper over our weaknesses. Say you’re often at a loss when it comes to plot, but you’re a lyrical wordsmith who strings gorgeous sentences together on instinct. Then, you probably spend your time writing lit fic instead of thrillers, prioritizing elegant style over tantalizing inciting incidents and satisfying resolutions.

It makes sense to keep doing what works. But if you want to push yourself and expand your range as a writer, it’s a good idea to work against the grain of your own inclinations from time to time.

If you’re more a stylist than a storyteller, try your hand at a genre like crime fiction, where you can’t hide behind your natural lyricism. On the other hand, if you build up intricate storylines as easily as breathing, but have trouble peopling them with a complex, realistic cast, experiment with some quiet, character-driven slices of life. If you normally shy away from dialogue, go all in on it: write a scene from a screenplay. And you tend to rely on stoic, analytical protagonists because you struggle to depict intense emotion, try to build a piece around a real drama queen.

Chances are, the writing you produce in this experimental mode won’t be as polished as what you normally put out, but that’s just the way it should be. After all, even a world-class runner won’t be able to out-swim Michael Phelps when he cross-trains in the pool. The important thing is, you’re developing your overall fitness as a writer, shoring up your weaknesses instead of boxing yourself in.

2. You’ll need less recovery time between work sessions

Writing is exhausting, even if it doesn’t tax your lungs as much as running a marathon. There’s no denying that it takes something out of you to turn the images in your head into well-formed paragraphs. No wonder it feels like you need two hours of Netflix, Candy Crush, or online “research” for every hour you spend plugging away at that novel.

And often, the siren call of the internet and its myriad attractions aren’t the only things making you lose focus. So many of us get chased down by a dozen new plot bunnies as soon as we make any headway in an existing project. You can try to swat them away. But what if these new potential stories keep hopping circles around your head, making it hard to resist starting a whole new novel?

Stop resisting. Toggling between two projects at once — if not three or four — might sound like the perfect way to court writerly disaster. But some judicious multi-tasking can actually help you finish each project faster than working on them one by one.

Feeling trapped by a particularly thorny plot problem? Having trouble getting into your villain’s head? Tired of spending time in the world you’ve built? Start a new story, and you’ll be able to switch gears whenever you get stuck — and then return to the problem feeling refreshed.

Think of it this way: an athlete who hits a plateau will often switch up their training. You’re doing the same thing. And this way, you’ll still be writing instead of eking out another level of Candy Crush.

3. You’ll be able to keep the writing process fun

When you’re knee-deep in a dreaded revision, eyes glazing over and mind moving like a rusted gear, it can be hard to remember why you even started writing in the first place. That’s the perfect time to put your manuscript away and work on something else: not a second project, but something just for fun, like an epic poem dedicated to your cat or a self-indulgent fanfic about your favorite pop star going to Hogwarts.

Don’t worry about whether your words will ever see the light of day. Just write with abandon — try to rediscover the joy of seeing your ideas in motion, no matter how ridiculous they are. It’s like taking the day off from jogging your usual trail to drop in on a swing dance class. You may not come back every week, but isn’t it exhilarating to try something new?

Remember, writing is something you do for you. Don’t let it turn into a chore! After all, boredom and suffering aren’t signs of artistic progress: they’re harbingers of burnout. And you can hone your craft while still having fun.

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.

3 Reasons Writers, Like Athletes, Should Cross-Train by Lucia Tang @Reedsy:
Click To Tweet

Photo on VisualHunt.com

The post Why Writers, Like Athletes, Should Cross-Train appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 12, 2019 21:01

December 8, 2019

The Usefulness of a Series Bible

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

If you’re starting a series, or even if you’re already several books in, I highly recommend a series bible. A series bible, or a document that helps you keep track of trivial details in your stories, is a useful tool to keep from making mistakes.

I don’t think I really realized how important a series bible was until readers started emailing me to let me know about errors that I’d made…usually contradictions. In one book, I’d said that a character had never smoked. In another, I said the character had been a former smoker.

It’s easy to toss out these little details and then promptly forget about them, especially if you have a long-running series. But it’s horrifying when a reader finds the mistakes. And readers these days, in our binging entertainment world, sometimes read books back to back that we wrote over a course of years. If there are errors to find, they’ll find them.

That’s why a series bible is so helpful. Any sort of minutiae that might crop up again can be carefully recorded. Then, before making a statement you’re not completely sure of, you can check it. Are a character’s glasses wire-rimmed or rimless? Exactly how old is a recurring child character? What’s the name of the local cemetery (handy to know in a mystery)? The denomination of the church the protagonist attends?

Naturally, it’s easiest to record the facts in book 1…that’s what I’ve done with my new series. But it’s not too hard to do it for older books in an active series if you’re good at skimming. Just pick out content that is important for you to track or which might come up for a future story.

With my series bible, I list my recurring characters and all of the trivia about them. Then I list details for recurring settings. I have any recurring subplots, tropes, story memes, etc. listed after that.

Whenever I add a fact to the bible, I document where it came from, abbreviating the book title to keep it pithy.

I also track style notes. (Is the newspaper The Bradley Bugle or the Bradley Bugle? Is the dog’s name Noo-noo or Noo-Noo? Is the name of the quilting guild The Cut-ups or the Cut-Ups?)

The Types of Things I track:

Character habits or details: Early riser. Kills houseplants. Subscribes to the newspaper. Peanut allergy. Cries at weddings. Scrapbooks. Reads nonfiction only. Likes jazz. Attends church. Exercises daily. Eats junk food. Smokes. Drives a minivan.

Character description: Wears glasses (and type/color of frame), never wears flats, blue eyes, gray hair, fondness for bowties, age, height.

Character beliefs: Political leanings, spiritual beliefs, attitudes toward family or spouse.

Character backstory.

Setting details. The color of a house, the name of the character’s street, the favorite hangout for the characters, what type of food their favorite restaurant serves, the character’s living room. Population of the town.

Continuing subplots: A character’s health issue, a character’s relationship with another character, a character’s issues with his work or his family. Story tropes: a character’s bad cooking, silly book club meetings, a lazy housekeeper’s “thrown” back, a character’s chronic insomnia.

The most important thing is to use the series bible once you’ve taken the time to put it together. I’m not going to say I don’t make mistakes anymore, but I’m doing a whole lot better, despite being on book 16 of one series and book 12 of another.

For further reading:

How author Lorna Faith uses a series bible.

Author Heidi Hormel on the IWSG explains how to create one using Excel.

Anne Walk on creating a bible using Scrivener

Do you use a series bible to keep your story facts straight? What kinds of things do you track?

The Usefulness of a Story Bible:
Click To Tweet

Photo on Visualhunt.com

The post The Usefulness of a Series Bible appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 08, 2019 21:01

December 7, 2019

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

London Announces Writers’ Summit; Reed Completes India Event Buys: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Translation Awards: Banipal Prize Shortlist and Others in London: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
In London, Raymond Antrobus Named 2019 Young Writer Award Winner: @Porter_Anderson @YoungWriterYear @JuliaArmfield @yazzarf @kimtsherwood

Conferences and Events / NaNoWriMo

So You Lost Nano? @WordNerdsVlog @DesirayeTheNerd

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

Weird (but Worthwhile) Websites: Using the Internet for Novel Ideas: @shaylaleeraquel
How to Use Music as a Writing Inspiration: by Curtis Dean @A3writers
Need Some Writing Inspiration? | Getting Inspired To Write: @kwistent
What Filled 1 Writer’s Creative Well in 2019:

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Quotes

20 Great Writing Ideas from the Art of Fiction: @nownovel
10 Jojo Moyes Quotes About Writing for Writers: @amymjones_5 @WritersDigest
Anne Enright’s 10 Rules For Writing Fiction: @Writers_Write

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

A Cultural History of Nancy Drew: @oldrutigliano @CrimeReads

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

4 approaches to finding time in busy schedules: @Eva_Bec @beprolifiko
“My Journey to Developing a Good Writing Habit”: @BeingTheWriter @womenonwriting

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block

Reboot Your Creative System: Five Tips to Get out of a Slump: by Savannah Cordova @ReedsyHQ
Break Through Writer’s Block: @thejkstudio

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly

Why You Should Pretend Your Internet Is Down: @PaulineWiles
Use Data to be a More Productive Writer: @rachelmcwrites @IndieAuthorALLI

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

Things I Forget to Remember: Writing Can Be Uncomfortable: @sarahrcallender
Skill vs. Talent – Which do you have? @TheRyanLanz
Are you getting enough sleep for writing? @pubcoach
The In-Between Writing Plan: @KMAllan_writer
13 Reasons it’s Scary to Live with a Writer: @EdieMelson
10 Hard Truths of Being a Writer: @jennamoreci
How To Write Your Darkness: with David W. Wright @thecreativepenn
“The Sheldon Cooper in Me”: @katmagendie @WriterUnboxed
How To Prevail As A Writer: @ADDerWORLD

Genres / Dystopian

Building a Realistic Dystopia: Interview with Rob Hart: @robwhart @DIYMFA

Genres / Fantasy

Five More Underused Settings in Spec Fic: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants

Genres / Memoir

How to Write a Compelling Memoir (and Stay Sane in the Process): @tpajevic @WritersDigest

Genres / Miscellaneous

Commercial vs Literary Fiction: @alexadonne

Genres / Mystery

Crime Writing: What Authors Need To Know About Being Arrested: @FredBobJohn

Genres / Screenwriting

Screenwriting: Top 5 Formatting Mistakes Writers Make: by Ashley Halsey @Bang2write

Genres / Short Stories

Using Short Stories to Deepen Your Expanded Universe: @beth_wangler @phoenix_fiction

Promo / Blogging

Tips for Writers Who’d Like to Blog: by Amanda Zieba @hopeclark

Promo / Metadata

Kindle Keywords for Self-Publishers: Should You Use All 50 Characters? @DaveChesson

Promo / Miscellaneous

How to Market Your Book Using Competing Book Titles: @Bookgal
How to Promote Books and Have Fun on the Radio: @ElizabethDucie @IndieAuthorALLI

Promo / Platforms

A Guide to Branding Yourself as a Writer: @TiffanyYamut

Promo / Social Media Tips

Facebook Marketing: How Authors Use Facebook to Promote Their Books: by Evelyn Maguire @BookBub
Become a Social Media Maven: by Hayley Milliman @ProWritingAid

Promo / Websites

How to choose a hosting company for your author website: @debemmitt

Publishing / Miscellaneous

Penguin Random House Uses UK Designer for Holiday Campaign, Donates 300,000 Books: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
US Publishers Back Congressional Letter on Copyright Restatement: @Porter_Anderson @AmericanPublish @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Content From More than 200 of Spain’s Publishers at Guadalajara Fair: @Porter_Anderson
The Philippines’ SPi Global Is Buying Springer Nature Group’s SPS: @Porter_Anderson @spiglobal @SpringerNature
HarperCollins India’s Ananth Padmanabhan: Maker of Small Films: @Porter_Anderson @jilpanz @pubperspectives
Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair Reports 16,145 Trade Visitors: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
In China, the 2019 Prix Fu Lei Honors New French-to-Mandarin Translations: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectives
India in Guadalajara: ‘Translation is Part of Our Mental Makeup’: By Adam Critchley @pubperspectives
Mediacorp Series Based on Wattpad’s ‘Slow Dancing’ Announced at ATF: @Porter_Anderson @mediacorp @wattpad @pubperspectives
Danish AI Software Specialists UNSILO Announce Japanese and US Deals: @Porter_Anderson
Guadalajara’s Marisol Schulz: ‘The Biggest Challenge Is Not Repeating Ourselves’: @Marisolschulz @pubperspectives by Adam Critchley

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

“Why I Chose to Self-Publish My Debut Novel (an Adult Space Opera)”: @MegLaTorre

Writing Craft / Beginnings

Don’t establish a mystery without giving us a reason to care (Page critique): @NathanBransford
Real Life Diagnostics: Is This Idea Worth Pursuing? @Janice_Hardy

Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists

Creating A Compelling Protagonist: @JustinAttas @thecreativepenn

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

Character Actions: How to Make Characters Take Action: @suelarkinsweems @write_practice

Writing Craft / Conflict

Objects of Desire, Objects of Conflict: by Larry Pass @StoryGrid
Conflict Thesaurus Entry: A Repressed Memory Resurfacing: @AngelaAckerman

Writing Craft / Diversity

Is It Okay for My Disabled Character to Use Futuristic Assistive Devices? by Fay Onyx and Chris Winkle

Writing Craft / Drafts

How to Start Your Second Draft Right: @WriteToSell

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

3 Powerful Writing Tips From “Joker”: by Chris Jones @Bang2write

Writing Craft / Literary Devices

Irony: What It Is and How to Use It: @ReedsyHQ
Finding the Theme of Your Story: The Vomit Draft: @woodwardkaren
How to Get the Most from Your Themes: @AJHumpage

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

7 reasons to write in English when it’s not your first language: @TheLeighShulman
6 Ways to Immerse Your Reader in the Setting of a Story: by Joslyn Chase @write_practice

Writing Craft / Pacing

Narrative Balance: A Pacing Necessity: by Arielle Haughee @FloridaWriters1

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Outlining

See How Quickly You Can Structure Your Book This Way: @ChadRAllen

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

Predicate Nominative and Predicate Adjective: @writing_tips

Writing Craft / Revision

Why Listen to Your Book for Rewrites? @penpaperpad
The Final Cuts on Your Story: by Mark Alpert @killzoneauthors

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

Forget Writing What You Know. Write Where You Know: @andrewshatch @CrimeReads
How to Describe Your Main Character: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors

Writing Craft / Voice

Writing with Authenticity–Why It’s Important to Foster a Unique Voice in Your Art: @writeabook

Writing Craft / Word Crafting

Three Tips for Crafting Lyrical Prose: by Angelica Hartgers
Why Word Choice Matters: by Tom Ashford @SelfPubForm
19 New Words to Spice Up Your Vocabulary in 2020 (Infographic): by Isabel Cabrera

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
Click To Tweet

The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 07, 2019 21:02

December 5, 2019

What Filled My Creative Well in 2019

by Elizabeth Spann Craig, @elizabethscraig

I had a lot of changes going on for 2019. On the professional end, I started a new series (the first for about nine years). On the personal end, I ended up with an empty nest and a husband who started working remotely from home.

I also had a very productive year. Because of the new series, I wanted to put out two new books in the series fairly close together. I ended up writing five books in 2019 instead of my usual 3.5.

This all means that I needed to refill my creative well a little more than I usually do. And I did. Despite writing more than usual and despite all the changes (and I’m not one who handles change easily), I didn’t experience any burnout or the usual irritability that comes with change/not being in control of things.

I did quite a few writing sprints, using my timer. Sometimes I followed the Pomodoro method and sometimes I made the sprints a bit shorter. Following the sprints, I took breaks. Some of the breaks were pretty long, but I found I could still hop back into my story easily for the next sprint. Having breaks definitely helped keep me motivated.

What kinds of things filled my breaks?

I’ve listened before to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, but only erratically and when I followed a link to them. But this year, I’ve really enjoyed listening to them (they’re short…only about 15 minutes) and discovering a variety of different musicians and types of music. When I found someone I liked, I added their music to my Amazon Prime Music playlists or Spotify.

I’ve also listened to podcasts again this year. There are so many different choices out there that anyone should be able to find something of interest. A few years ago, I was more interested in listening to fiction on podcasts and also writing-business-related podcasts, but this year it was nonfiction…true crime on Crime Junkies, This American Life, etc.

I’ve also spent more time watching films this year…mostly independent or classic films instead of films from big studios. I’ve found these on free accounts through my local library on Kanopy and Hoopla.

Writer and artist Austin Kleon’s newsletter has provided a weekly rabbit hole of inspiration and creative well-filling.

Can exercise help fill your creative well? I wouldn’t have said so (and I don’t enjoy exercising…I enjoy having exercised) but I’ve found that my daily walk on the treadmill I purchased in February has really helped me in terms of focus and general well-being. I’m going to reluctantly add it to my creative well list. :)

What has helped you fill your creative well in 2019?

What Helped Fill 1 Writer's Creative Well in 2019:
Click To Tweet

Photo on Visualhunt.com

The post What Filled My Creative Well in 2019 appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

1 like · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 05, 2019 21:01

December 1, 2019

A Guide to Branding Yourself as a Writer

by Tiffany Yamut, @TiffanyYamut

I started writing online in 2015 not having a niche, unique voice, and loyal readership. Like a new hire, I felt lost and wanted to belong.

Because of that, I grabbed every opportunity that came my way.

As I became more mature in my writing, I realized how essential it was to brand myself. And I believe that every writer, newbie or experienced, should take branding seriously if they want to succeed.

You’ve come to the right place.

Today, I’ll be showing you why branding matters in your writing career and how you can build a personal brand.

Why Is Branding Important for Your Writing Career?
1. Sets you apart from other writers

Like running a business, you want to be known for something. Are you focused on one thing or spreading yourself too thin?

When you think of Stephen King, you imagine tales of horror and suspense. If it’s JRR Tolkien, fantasy images fill your mind.

As a writer, you want to be known for something. That way, people know whom to seek if they need content on a certain topic. Branding increases your authority.

2. Allows you to stay focused

Can you imagine writing about 10 different niches at the same time? It won’t be long before you’ll go crazy!

You see, focus is extremely important to create the highest quality content. Because when your mind is cluttered, you cannot give your “all” to a task.

Focus helps you effectively research and plan your content before you start writing. And as you write, you’ll be able to “get in the flow.”

3. Gives you a sense of pride and satisfaction

Building a personal brand helps you feel most accomplished. You’ll have high regard for your writing work. You know where you excel and you’ve played to your strengths.

Tips on Creating a Personal Brand as a Writer
1. Consider your passions and interests.

First, you need to identify your strengths. What are you good at? Are you most passionate and interested in fiction? Blogging in B2B niches? Legal writing? Know your niche/genre and the kind of writing skill you have.

2. Decide on your look.

Visual cues matter in branding. People should be able to tell that it’s you who wrote a piece of content by its appearance. Your logo, colors, fonts, and graphics should spell Y-O-U.

3. Be visible to your readers.

To demonstrate your personal brand, you need to create an online presence. Your target audience should be able to discover you. Here are ways to establish yourself online:

Blog regularly

Start a website that showcases your expertise. Make sure that it has a blog section where you can write about topics that offer value to your target audience. Share your experiences as well as tips and strategies.

Post social media content

Social media is a must these days. Having a social media presence ensures that people see your written content. Complete your social media profile with your image and description. Keep your updates relevant to your brand.

Start an email newsletter

An email newsletter helps you communicate your brand messages more often. That way, you can stay in touch with your audience.

Final Thoughts

These are just some of the things you can do to develop a personal brand in your writing career. A personal brand allows you to stand out, produce better work, and stay happy! If you have additional tips to share? If so, please leave them in the comments section below.

Tiffany Yamut is the founder of Freelance Writing With Joy. She has ghostwritten thousands of articles online since 2015.

Through her blog, she hopes to share everything she learned as a professional freelance writer so that aspiring writers can thrive and excel in their journey. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn.

Image credit: Pixabay

Writer @TiffanyYamut with a guide to branding yourself as a writer:
Click To Tweet

The post A Guide to Branding Yourself as a Writer appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 01, 2019 21:01

November 30, 2019

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Business / Miscellaneous

How to Speak to Journalists Before Your Book is Published (And Not Give It All Away): @LisaTener
What Do Editors Do Anyway? @topshelfedits
A Novelist’s Necessary Evils: @jaelmchenry @WriterUnboxed

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

8 Tips for Attending Writer’s Conferences and Getting the Most From Your Writing Conference Experience: @robertleebrewer @WritersDigest

Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting

Want to Write a Book? Here are 3 Must-Ask Questions for Planning Success: @JLHarrisCoach

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

How to Court Serendipity When You Write: @Peter_Rey_
Turning creative sparks into a fire: @pubcoach

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Quotes

8 Leigh Bardugo Quotes About Writing for Writers: @AmyMJones_5 @WritersDigest

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

Five Sci-Fi Books Featuring Futuristic Technology: by Veronica Roth @tordotcom
9 Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories about Music: @SarahPinsker @ElectricLit

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block

6 Ways To Stay Productive In A Creative Slump: by Macy Thornhill @thecreativepenn

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

Why Publish: Iseult Murphy on the Power of Getting Your Writing Out There: @sarahstypos @write_practice
Fears That Usurp Writing: @chicklitgurrl
Showing, Telling, Making: @davidfarland
6 Myths About Writing: @katy239 @TheRyanLanz
7 Tips To Remove Distractions While Writing and Blogging: @akshayhallur @Writers_Write
Can Writers Lose Their Fingerprints? @SueColetta1 @killzoneauthors
Writing Under Duress: How to Persevere When Your Job, Life, and Kids Are Also a Priority: @saderotica @LitReactor
Selectively Keeping My Mouth Shut about My Writing: @AmrenOrtega
Should You Really Get Up Early to Write? @AnneJanzer
I Don’t Feel Like Writing, Yet Here I Am. @MegDowell

Genres / Mystery

The 5 Essential Elements of Unforgettable Crime Thrillers: @DerikCavignano @CrimeReads

Genres / Romance

5 Necessary Characters in a Romance Novel: @woodwardkaren

Genres / Screenwriting

The Protagonist’s Lack of Metaphor Family, Argument Tactic, Strong Motivation, Goals, Insistence, and Decision-Making Ability in “Get Out”: @CockeyedCaravan
Script to Screen: “Zombieland”: @GoIntoTheStory
Wrapping Up the Internal and External Journeys of “Get Out” : @CockeyedCaravan

Genres / Women’s Fiction

Get Real: 4 Tips for Writing Bestselling Women’s Fiction: by Brenda Copeland @CareerAuthors

Promo / Blogging

Is blogging dead? @DanBlank

Promo / Book Descriptions and Copywriting

Compelling Book Descriptions: by David Kudler @JFbookman
How to Improve Your Amazon Book Descriptions: @Bookgal @JaneFriedman

Promo / Miscellaneous

How (and Why) to Market Yourself: @EJWenstrom @DIYMFA

Promo / Newsletters

Designing the Perfect Product Funnel For Your Online Business: @KarenBanes

Publishing / Miscellaneous

Tips on Audiobook Production for Indie Authors: @KyleRbrtShultz
Daunt at FutureBook Live: Barnes & Noble’s ‘Crucifyingly Boring’ Stores: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @TheFutureBook
How Audiobooks Became a Powerful, Unexpected Format to Sell Books: @Rhys_Keller
FutureBook Live: Audiobooks, Katie Espiner on Publishing Management: @Porter_Anderson @kesp @pubperspectives
No, Woke Culture Is NOT ‘The Death Of Storytelling’: @Bang2write
Remembering German Publisher Monika Schoeller: by Hannah Johnson @pubperspectives
7 Things You Should Know About Kobo: @Joni_DiPlacido @RomanceUniv
Self-publishing News: AI and the Indie Author: @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLI

Publishing / News / International Publishing

BookNet: Canada’s Book Club Memberships Have Doubled This Year: @Porter_Anderson @BookNet_Canada
China Bestsellers October 2019: Better Days by Jiu Yuexi: @Porter_Anderson

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing

The Woes of Unsolicited Manuscripts in Publishing: @CindyDevoted @EdieMelson
Are Your Expectations for a Literary Agent Too High? @tessaemilyhall @A3writers

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

Make your plot tangible (Query critique): @NathanBransford
How to Write a Query Letter that Makes Agents and Editors Swoon: by Michael Cristiano @TheRyanLanz
Submitting ork? Build a Better Battering Ram: @davidfarland

Publishing / Process / Book Design

How To Make An Animated Book Cover That Rocks: @ADDerWORLD

Writing Craft / Beginnings

How to Ground (and Hook) Readers in Your Opening Scene: @Janice_Hardy

Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists

The Secret to Writing Fascinating Villains: @LMacNaughton

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

How to Reinforce Your Characters with Detailed World-Building: @NaNoWriMo
Character Type: Orphan: @GoIntoTheStory
When Your Character Is His Own Worst Enemy: @LiveWriteThrive
5 ways to make a character more sympathetic: @NathanBransford
Readers Must Sympathize with Characters: @Lindasclare

Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists

How Do You Know If Your Protagonist Is Strong Enough? @AngelaAckerman

Writing Craft / Conflict

Conflict Thesaurus Entry: A Car Accident: @beccapuglisi

Writing Craft / Dialogue

How to Get the Most Out of Your Dialogue: @AJHumpage

Writing Craft / Diversity

Diversity in Fiction: Writing the Character You’re Afraid to Write: @sacha_black

Writing Craft / Humor

Five Proven Ways to Add Humor to Your Story: @ElleCarterNeal

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

6 Ways Terry Pratchett Can Help You Improve Your Writing: by Robert Wood @standoutbooks
Why it works: “Go Tell It on the Mountain” by James Baldwin: @NathanBransford

Writing Craft / Literary Devices

The figurative language of John MacLachlan Gray: @pubcoach

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

Narrative Drive – Do You Have It? @JordanDane @killzoneauthors
10 Tips for Writing a Story That Will Become a Fandom: @_HannahHeath
Joseph Finder’s 8 Tips For Writers: @Writers_Write
Chekhov’s Gun: The Importance of Follow-Through in Fiction: @annerallen
Writing Callbacks: @SeptCFawkes
What Does It Mean to Write About Happiness? by Andrea Lundgren @TheRyanLanz
What’s Your Point? Figuring Out What Goes Into Each Chapter: by PJ Parrish @killzoneauthors
What is Your Core Message? @LisaEBetz @A3writers

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Outlining

Plotting, Pantsing & Personality Type: @Julie_Glover

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Research

Things to Consider When Writing About Royalty: from Sandy Dragon

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

A Comma Here, A Comma There: by Carlton Hughes @A3writers
How to Make Words That End in Y Plural: @GrammarGirl
Punctuation Marks: The Serial Comma: @WritingForward

Writing Craft / Revision

Quick and Tidy Tips to Streamline Editing: @GinaArdito @TheIWSG
Shoot the Weasel Words: @AndreaMerrell

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

World Building: Physical Setting: @FaeRowen

Writing Craft / World-Building

6 Tips for Worldbuilding on a Time Crunch: @rebekah_loper @NaNoWriMo

Writing Tools / Resources

8 Resources for Info and Inspiration for Writers: @Roz_Morris

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
Click To Tweet

The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 30, 2019 21:02

November 23, 2019

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I had two books come out last week. :) Hushed Up and Overdue are now available for purchase.

Happy Thanksgiving to my US blog readers! I’m taking the week off to spend time with my family, but will be back here next Sunday again. (You may also find that the website is down sometimes for maintenance and design work during this time. Thanks for stopping by!)

Business / Miscellaneous

5 Steps to Finding Profitable Book Topics on Amazon: by Alexandria Evensen @sabsky
Branding for editors and proofreaders – beyond me-me-me: @LouiseHarnby
10 Financial Rules for Writers: @PaulaSMunier @CareerAuthors
An agent on the value of an electronic footprint: @Janet_Reid
Should You Join an Association for Writers? @RJCrayton @IndiesUnlimited
Working with (Those Dreaded) Editors: by Florence Osmund @JFbookman

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Aspen Institute Names Its 2020 Aspen Words Literary Prize Longlist: @Porter_Anderson @AspenWords @adriennebrodeur
The US National Book Awards at 70: Looking for Permanence: @Porter_Anderson @nationalbook @pubperspectives

Conferences and Events / NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo Week 3: Reinvigorate Your Story: @syd_thedreamer @NaNoWriMo
Changing a NaNo Project Halfway Through: @savyleiser

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

5 Practices to Increase Your Creativity: @createastorylov
How Reddit Can Inspire Your Novel: @alexadonne

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Quotes

C.S. Lewis Quotes on Writing: @stevelaubeagent

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

Thrillers in Disguise: @debraimmergut @CrimeReads
So You Think You’re Cool? On Referencing Pop Music in Fiction: @RobertHallerNY @lithub
Cool Male Protagonists Everyone Should Know: @jrc2666 @ReadItForward
On the Appeal of Ex-Library Books: by Mark Sieber @CemeteryDance

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

Scheduling Time to Outline or Write: from Fix Your Writing Habits
Struggling to Write? How to Stay Motivated When Life Gets in the Way: @KimberleyGrabas

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block

Writing: Why You’re Procrastinating, and How to Stop: @RebeccaNeely1

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

12 Keys to Successfully Returning From a Writing Hiatus: @MegDowell
5 Steps to Make the Most of Your Writing Session: @the_writing_pal
You’ll be miserable if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do: @austinkleon
Self-belief vs Self-delusion: @dlwebb @WomenWriters
Téa Obreht On Abandoning a 600-Page Novel: @FirstDraftADOW @lithub
Readings for Writers: No Friend but the Pen: @ElizabethHuergo
Author Mindset: 4 Practices For Overcoming Self-Doubt: by Philip Kenney @thecreativepenn
Writing Purpose — How to Find Yours: @sowulwords @DIYMFA
Overcome Fear to Unbox Your Best Writing: @erikaliodice @WriterUnboxed
Libraries Are Even More Important to Contemporary Community Than We Thought: @EricKlinenberg @lithub
The Strangest Questions Ever Asked of New York City Librarians: @nypl @lithub
The Joys and Perils of Writing Longhand: @LisaTener

Genres / Fantasy

Combining Fantasy and Science Fiction Elements: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
History for Fantasy Writers: Journeymen: by E.L. Skip Knox @mythicscribes

Genres / Horror

How to Write Effective Horror: @ReedsyHQ

Genres / Mystery

How to Write Suspense: @ReedsyHQ
3 things a reader doesn’t like in a cozy mystery: from Cozy Mystery Tea Time

Genres / Non-Fiction

How Indie Authors Can Sell More Nonfiction Books: @mtjacobsen @IndieAuthorALLI

Genres / Romance

Toxic Romance? @ClareLangleyH @killzoneauthors

Genres / Screenwriting

4 Secrets To Selling Your Screenplay… And Not Your Soul: @Pendensham @CreativeScreen
How to Get Your Gritty Horror Movie Made While Working a Full-Time Job: @JasonHellerman @nofilmschool

Genres / Short Stories

Anthony Doerr on Throwing Out All the Rules for Writing a Short Story: @lithub
On the Many Different Engines That Power a Short Story: @TheLincoln @lithub

Promo / Book Descriptions and Copywriting

How To Write Compelling Back-Cover Copy: @StephMorrill @GoTeenWriters

Promo / Book Signings and Launch parties

Once Upon a Book Tour: @Kristan_Higgins @WomenWriters

Promo / Miscellaneous

3 Book Marketing Ideas You Should Be Using: by Angelica Hartgers @TheRyanLanz
Book Marketing: Publicity Tips For Your Book: @KayePublicity @thecreativepenn

Publishing / Miscellaneous

Alibaba nets $1 bn in 68 seconds. Beats Amazon’s last quarter revenue in one day: @TNPS10
What it Means to be a 21st Century Author: @Roz_Morris @vicdougherty
AAP’s StatShot for September: Modest Gains in the US Market: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Three Books, Three Lessons: by Richard Charkin @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / Amazon

Amazon Reducing Orders to Publishers: @PublishersWkly

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Environment and Climate on ‘Beyond the Book’: New Delhi’s Smog Crisis: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
The US National Book Awards’ Lisa Lucas: ‘The Times We Live In’: @Porter_Anderson @nationalbook @likaluca @TheBookerPrizes @NewDirections @riverheadbooks @sandstonepress @wwborders @LitTranslate @chadwpost @open_letter
Industry Notes: IFFRO Elects New Board, Cara Duckworth Joins AAP: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
UK’s £50,000 Baillie Gifford Prizewinner Will Be Announced Tonight: @Porter_Anderson @BGPrize @StigAbell
Hallie Rubenhold Wins 2019 Baillie Gifford Nonfiction Prize for ‘The Five’: @Porter_Anderson @HallieRubenhold @BGPrize
On World Children’s Day, the UN and IPA Highlight the SDG Book Club: @Porter_Anderson @IntPublishers @pubperspectives
Industry Notes: John Murray Launches US Basic Books Imprint in the UK: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
BIEF’s Fellowship for Arab Publishers: Contrasts and Commonalities: @oliviasnaije
Publishing Scotland’s Translation Fund Reopens, One Eye Watching Brexit: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @PublishScotland
Polish Publishers Launch an Online Bookstore Called Inverso: @jaroslawadamows @pubperspectives

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing

Preparing to Make an Offer of Representation: @BookEndsJessica

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

“Why don’t people want to rep the book?” @Janet_Reid

Publishing / Process / Book Design

Questions to Ask Before Hiring Your Interior Book Designer: by Mary E. Neighbour @BethBarany

Writing Craft / Beginnings

An editor critiques a YA submission: @Kid_Lit

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

Character Inspiration Is All Around You: @thekayleighwebb @NaNoWriMo

Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists

5 Questions for Choosing a Protagonist Who Represents Your Story’s Theme: @KMWeiland

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

Rookie Mistakes Indie Writers Make: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors

Writing Craft / Endings

Writing your Final Chapter: 6 Do’s and Don’ts For a Satisfying Conclusion: @annerallen

Writing Craft / Literary Devices

Theme—The Abstract Element of Novel Writing: @NeelyKneely3628 @EdieMelson

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

Why Your Character (and You) Should be an Expert in Something: by Alyssa Hollingsworth
7 Tips to Write Better Fiction: @createastorylov
3 Areas Of Your Fiction Craft To Hone: by Angelica Hartgers, @SelfPublishing7
The Intersection of Character Transformation and Moral Dilemma: @LiveWriteThrive
10 Character Traits of an Espionage Hero: @PiperBayard
Three Important Story Elements: @hanque99
Breaches That Elicit Fear in Your Characters: by Bonnie Randall
Fresh Writing Sells: Power To The Hug: @MargieLawson

Writing Craft / POV

How to Exploit Uncommon Points of View in Your Novel: @HDemchick

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Naming

Edith Wharton Will Teach You Everything You Need to Know About Naming Characters: @AdamOPrice @The_Millions
These Four Websites Are A Huge Help With Naming Your Characters: @BrynDonovan

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

Why Being An Expert At Structure Helps Your Writing: @Bang2write

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

Can You Start a Sentence With “Because”? Oh Heck Yeah, You Can: @KathrynPetras @thewritelife

Writing Craft / Revision

Learning to Love Book Revision: Process is Key: @AnneJanzer
How to Edit a Book: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide: by Michael Aragon

Writing Craft / Tension

How to Write Tension and Twists by Karen S. Wiesner: @womenonwriting

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
Click To Tweet

The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

View more on Elizabeth Spann Craig's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 23, 2019 21:02

← Previous 1 2 … 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 … 256 257 Next →

Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog

Elizabeth Spann Craig's profile
470 followers