Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 58

September 8, 2019

Beta Readers: The Key To Improving Your Manuscript

by Hank Quense, @hanque99

The best way to improve your manuscript is to show it to other writers. This article discusses the role of beta readers and it ends with a list of questions beta readers should answer.

One milestone in writing a book is reaching a point where you can hire a content editor to examine it. However, content editors are expensive, perhaps prohibitively so.

An alternative to hiring a content editor is to recruit other writers and ask them to critique your work. Critiquers are also called beta readers by some folks including me.

One mistake inexperienced writers often make is to ask family members to comment on the story. Besides the potential for embarrassing the family members, these readers can offer no advice on how to improve the book unless they are also writers.

While some readers may have a good sense on what works for them, they don’t have the background to tell an author ‘why’ it didn’t work. The reader may not like a character or may get turned off by the plot, but statements like that are too vague to be of much use to the author. The author needs to hear why the character is not likable (too many bad habits perhaps). As for the plot, there are many factors that can make it go awry. These include: illogical developments, twists that aren’t properly developed and explained, irrational actions by the characters and many more. If the author gets feedback from other writers on these factors, the author can take steps to fix the problems.

Beta readers will often agree to work on your story in return for you taking a look at their book. Thus, it’s a quid pro quid arrangement. An objective with beta readers is to have at least three of them work on your book. Six would be a better number and a dozen is ideal. This will give you a range of comments and opinions to look at.

The comments from the beta readers will identify problems that must be addressed. If they do their job correctly, they will likely tear your book apart and that can be a painful process for the inexperienced author who probably thinks the work is already damn-near perfect.

Beta reader comments also present the author with a decision that has to be made: are the comments valid or not? It is not unusual to come across an occasional comment that will not improve the book and can be safely ignored. Other comments may actually dis-improve it if implemented..

It is the author’s responsibility to weigh the comments with an open mind and choose the ones that will make the manuscript stronger and better. Oftentimes, this selection process will result in major revisions that must be incorporated into the book before the publishing process can move forward. You certainly don’t want to send the unrevised manuscript to an editor and you certainly don’t want to spend time formatting a version that will have dramatic changes in it later on

This is why it is necessary to recruit and use beta readers as early as possible.

Ask the beta readers to return their comments within a month, a reasonable request unless they are in the middle of their own writing or publishing project.

I send my beta readers a list of questions I’d like them to answer after they finish reading the manuscript. The questionnaire is listed here:

Please answer as many questions as you feel are relevant. There is no need to answer ALL of the questions (unless you want to)

1: Did the story hold your interest from the very beginning? If not, why not?

2: Did you get oriented fairly quickly at the beginning as to whose story it is, and where and when it’s taking place? If not, why not?

3: Could you relate to the main character? Did you feel her/his pain or excitement?

4: Did the setting interest you and did the descriptions seem vivid and real to you?

5: Was there a point at which you felt the story lagged or you became less than excited about finding out what was going to happen next? Where, exactly?

6: Were there any parts that confused you? Or even frustrated or annoyed you? Which parts, and why?

7: Did you notice any discrepancies or inconsistencies in time sequences, places, character details, or other details?

8: Were the characters believable? Are there any characters you think could be made more interesting or more likable?

9: Did you get confused about who’s who in the characters? Were there too many characters to keep track of? Too few? Are any of the names of characters too similar?

10: Did the dialogue keep your interest and sound natural to you? If not, whose dialogue did you think sounded artificial or not like that person would speak?

11: Did you feel there was too much description or exposition? Not enough? Maybe too much dialogue in parts?

12: Was there enough conflict, tension, and intrigue to keep your interest?

13: Was the ending satisfying? Believable?

14: Did you notice any obvious, repeating grammatical, spelling, punctuation or capitalization errors? Examples?

15: Do you think the writing style suits the genre? If not, why not?

16: Did I introduce too many characters in the first scene?

This list is based on https://writingcooperative.com/15-questions-to-send-beta-first-readers-please-steal-3ff9fa198b5

~ ~ ~

This article was taken from my new book, How to Self-publish and Market a Book.

Are you considering self-publishing your first book? Naturally, you have questions and concerns. This book has your answers. It integrates both the publishing and the marketing to provide you with a complete project plan to market your book while you publish it.

It will be available on September 15, 2019. Until then, the pre-order is on sale at $2.99, a 40% reduction.

The book is available at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Zbrx54

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/2Y2rewE

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/949789

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2ltLzbU

And other online book sellers

Hank Quense writes humorous and satirical sci-fi and fantasy stories.

He also writes and lectures about fiction writing and self-publishing. He has published 19 books and 50 short stories along with dozens of articles. He often lectures on fiction writing and publishing and has a series of guides covering the basics on each subject. He is currently working on a third Moxie novel that takes place in the Camelot era.

He and his wife, Pat, usually vacation in another galaxy or parallel universe. They also time travel occasionally when Hank is searching for new story ideas.

You can connect with Hank on his Amazon Author Page.

Author @Hanque99 Explains the Importance of Beta Readers:
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Published on September 08, 2019 21:02

September 7, 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.

Business / Miscellaneous

Should Break from Their Brand? @JulieCantrell
Why Editing Matters: by Juliet Marillier @WriterUnboxed
The Decline of Mainstream Fiction: Why Authors Must Choose a Genre: @annerallen
Author Earnings – How Do You Write Full-Time? @sacha_black
Why Self-Publishing Authors Should Consider Establishing Their Own Imprint: @Wogahn @JaneFriedman
How to Choose a Trademark: by Kelley Way

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Former Winners Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie on 2019 Booker Prize Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @PeterFlorence @TheBookerPrizes @woodgaby

Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting

This is why you need clear writing goals: @TheLeighShulman

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

When Are You at Your Most Creative? @MaeClair1 @StoryEmpire
Let Your Imagination Run Wild: @DIYMFA @jcwalton24

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

The first lines of classic male-authored novels rewritten as dude lit: @jessiegaynor @lithub
Sometimes you need a break from reading. OK, break’s over: by Allison K. Hill @ocregister
5 Recent Books about Humans Colonizing Other Planets: @charliejane @tordotcom

Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation

The Key To Getting Your Writing Mojo Back: @KMAllan_writer

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block

Writing Tips: Why Writing Yourself Into Your Own Hero’s Journey Can Help You Get Unstuck: @larazielin @thecreativepenn

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly

How to Fast Draft your Novel: @_KimChance

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

8 Things Every Writer Needs to Remember: @SherLHoward
Why Working Out Is Imperative For Writers And Their Writing: @swetavikram @WomenWriters
The Liberation and Consternation of Writing a Whole Book with Paper and Pen: @JeffGordinier @lithub
6 Things Writers Need To Stop Worrying About: @jakonrath
All your favorite songs reimagined as vintage book covers: @knownemily @lithub
How Joining a Writing Community Helped These 11 Authors Get Published: @joebunting @write_practice
5 Tips for Juggling Multiple Projects: @AneMulligan @EdieMelson
6 tips for using notebooks: @metcalfwriter
Digital Nomad – How to Write while Traveling: @lainey_cameron
Why Your Writing Needs Distance: @BeingTheWriter @womenonwriting
Journaling Through Grief: Managing Loneliness: @writingthrulife
Location, Location, Location: Discovering the Perfect Place for Writing Your Novel: @rkirshenbaum @WritersDigest
6 Skills Fiction Writing Will Give You: @SeptCFawkes

Genres / Fantasy

How to Create a Monster School: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
Fantasy Unlocked: How to Get Teens Started with Writing Fantasy: by Alex Baker @mythicscribes

Genres / Memoir

Write Your Memoir In 15 Minutes A Day: by Nancy L. Erickson

Genres / Miscellaneous

A Graphic Novel before the Term Existed: by James Sturm @parisreview

Genres / Non-Fiction

How To Write Nonfiction Book Proposal: @SueColetta1 @killzoneauthors

Genres / Picture Books

5 tips for writing for children: @NathanBransford

Genres / Screenwriting

Conventions, Clichés and Lazy Screenwriting: by Josh Miller @CreativeScreen

Genres / Short Stories

Flash Fiction And Making A Living As A Writer: by Jason Brick @thecreativepenn
How to Start a Short Story: 5 Lessons from Great Writers: @nownovel

Promo / Blogging

5 Tips for Popular Posts on Your Author Blog: @ShelleySturgeon @JFbookman
5 Benefits of Guest Posting: by Bess Cozby @DIYMFA
5 Ways to Convert Your Blog Readers to Subscribers: @DaveChesson @BookWorksNYC
Considering Blogging? A Few Tips:

Promo / Miscellaneous

Before You Market Your Book, Set Your Objectives: @bclearwriting @JaneFriedman
13 Ways to Use a Book Award for Marketing: @sandrabeckwith @JFbookman
7 Actionable Steps to Promote Your eBook: @seosmarty

Promo / Social Media Tips

Maximizing Your Author Presence on LinkedIn: @nedadallal @penguinrandom

Promo / Speaking

Reading Your Work In Public: 12 Tips : by M.K. Rainey @WritersDigest

Publishing / Miscellaneous

Who Owns Your Books? @agnieszkasshoes @IndieAuthorALLI
Developing an Audiobook: An Indie Author’s Perspective: By Ray Flynt
“On Producing My Own Audiobook”: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors
A Publisher’s Own Platform: Norway’s Beat Technologies at Frankfurt Audio: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / International Publishing

US-Based NetGalley Becomes Sole Owner of NetGalley France: @Porter_Anderson @NetGalley @pubperspectives
Interview: Beijing Book Fair’s Liying Lin on Books and 5G: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
The Eighth Publishing Next Conference Set for Southwestern India: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Spain’s ANELE Publishers Warn of a Splintering Educational Market: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Metabooks Brasil Reaches 100,000 Active Titles in Its Database: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
France’s Rentrée Littéraire Sparks New Criticism: Too Many Books: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectives
Words Without Borders Honors Edith Grossman with 2019 Ottaway Award: @Porter_Anderson @wwborders

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Rejections

Rejections: 8 reasons why your manuscript is getting them: @annerallen

Publishing / Process / Book Design

How to Spot a Professional Cover Designer: Industry Standards: by Mary Neighbour

Writing Craft / Beginnings

Flog a Pro: Would You Pay to Turn the First Page of This Bestseller? @RayRhamey @WriterUnboxed

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

A Common Reason Novels Fail: @Janice_Hardy

Writing Craft / Dialogue

Create Dialogue That Fits Your Character: @ZoeMMcCarthy

Writing Craft / Diversity

13 Reasons Why Your Novel Sucks At Diversity: @ajthenovelist @LitReactor

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

What Can Fiction Writers Learn from the Avengers? @MT_Cassidy @FloridaWriters1
5 Ways P.D. James Can Help You Improve Your Writing: @FredBobJohn @standoutbooks

Writing Craft / Literary Devices

How to Make Your Plot a Powerful Thematic Metaphor: @KMWeiland

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

5 Key Turning Points of Great Novels: @createastorylov
In Search of a Moral Compass for Characters: @DavidCorbett_CA @WriterUnboxed
Deep Character Motivation in Stories: @SHalvatzis
Rogue Characters: The Secret to Compelling Fiction: @RuthHarrisBooks

Writing Craft / Pacing

An agent on a common pacing issue: @Janet_Reid

Writing Craft / POV

What’s the Right Way to Include Multiple POVs? @KassandraLamb @JamiGold

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept

Be Honest, Writers – Do You Really Have A Story? @Bang2write

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

Punctuation Series: How to Edit the Em Dash: @tishmartin1416 @A3writers

Writing Craft / Revision

Completing the Micro Analysis of a Story: @valerie_francis @StoryGrid

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

How to Make Tough Feedback Work for You: @literarylady42 @WritetoDone

Writing Craft / Series

How to Plot a Sequel or Series: @ScholarlyFox

Writing Craft / Tension

Goal-Oriented Storytelling: Tension: @mythcreants

Writing Tools / Apps

Why Authors Love Wonderdraft for Mapmaking: @ScholarlyFox
Best Grammar Checker Tools: These 6 Will Make Your Writing Super Clean: @thewritelife

Writing Tools / Books

6 Career-Changing Books on Writing: @TraceyDevlyn @RomanceUniv

Writing Tools / Miscellaneous

What is SCBWI and Should You Join? @bronniesway @DIYMFA

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on September 07, 2019 21:02

September 5, 2019

Thoughts on Blogging

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I somehow let ten years of blogging slip by last year, but I’m noting my eleventh now. Well, it also slipped by about a month ago, but at least I’ve sort of remembered the anniversary. :)

It doesn’t really seem like eleven years. It seems like it’s been a while, though.

I know I didn’t have much of a plan…just that my publisher was very pro-blogging and blogging in 2008 was what everyone seemed to be doing.

I did actually list what I planned to cover in my first blog post. And I stuck with some of it: sharing resources, most notably. But I’ve rarely posted a book review here (as I said I would). Mostly because I’m a terrible reviewer and am much better at endorsements. There were plenty of posts on balancing writing and parenting, another area I said I’d cover, although now my kids have grown up and need a lot less parenting at 22 and 18.

Is blogging necessary?

When I started out, I know that agents and editors saw blogging as very necessary. Now there are so many social media platforms that I’d say a writer should just do what they’re most comfortable with and what they can best keep up with. Although, I’ll point out that having an active blog can really help with a website’s SEO, maybe making it easier for readers to find you and your books, even if your blog is directed to writers.

What to consider, starting out:

The first thing to decide is whether your blog is for readers or writers. I’ve seen some that are directed at both (some days for writers, some days for readers), but I think that’s tricky. I started out from day one blogging for a writing audience for a few reasons. The main one was that I felt more comfortable writing for writers. But it was also easier for me to write for writers. Also, I wanted to be part of the writing community by finding and sharing resources and hearing other writers’ tips.

For further reading, industry expert Jane Friedman has an excellent post, “What Should Authors Blog About?” The cool thing is that she separated the various blog models by levels of difficulty.

Finding a community:

This is probably one of the harder things about blogging at first. No one wants to feel as if they’re writing into a void. But if you visit and comment on other blogs regularly and respond to comments on your own blog, you’ll slowly start building your community.

Staying sane:

I miss the writers who have stopped blogging. Most have just had a tough time keeping up with the blog while balancing work, family, and writing demands. Here are a few tips to help make blogging easier:

Keeping an editorial calendar helps. Brainstorm post topics and then create a simple schedule. Mine is just a list with my post dates for the month and the topic of the post.

Blog on the same day/days. This helps your blog readers keep up and know when to check in. It also can help you remember to blog and maintain a habit.

Consider slow blogging if you’re having a hard time keeping up. You don’t have to blog every day. Writer Anne R. Allen makes a solid case for the benefits of slow blogging.

If you’re a blogger, when did you start? Is your blog different from when you first started out?

Considering Blogging? A Few Tips:
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Published on September 05, 2019 21:02

August 31, 2019

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Hope my US blog readers have a good Labor Day! I’ll post again on Friday. :)

Business / Miscellaneous

How To Find Your Comp Authors: @DavidGaughran
6 Marketing Myths That Harm Fiction Writers: @LisaHallWilson
Organizing Business Cards for Marketing: @KarenHWhiting @EdieMelson
How To Waste Money Self-Publishing a Book: @ThDigitalReader
How authors make money: @NathanBransford
What You Want in a Publisher: @davidfarland

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

How To Be Sure Your Trade Show or Book Fair Appearance is Not a Disappointment: @FrugalBookPromo
BolognaFiere Leads a First Children’s Book Tour to Moscow Book Fair: @Porter_Anderson
Frankfurt BookFest Gala: Atwood, Follett, Lunde, Shafak, Whitehead: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Book Aid International’s Maurice Sendak Film Is Up for EVCOM Awards: @Porter_Anderson @EVCOMawards

Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting

Writing Goals: One Word To Help You To Achieve Your Dreams: @angee

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

3 Ways Too Much Social Media Can Hijack Your Creativity: @AnthonyEhlers @Writers_Write
Where 9 Famous Authors Got Their Ideas: @Writers_Write

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

Finding Small Comfort in the Panic of Shirley Jackson: @miciahbay @lithub
5 Unexpected Continuations of Beloved Stories: by Stubby the Rocket @tordotcom
What Fiction Teaches Us About The Allure of Cults: by Kali Wallace @CrimeFest
Top Four Shakespeare Podcasts: @jvlpoet
8 Thrillers Featuring Ambitious Women: @LayneFargo

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

The 50 Best One-Star Amazon Reviews of To Kill a Mockingbird: @knownemily @lithub
Managing Distractions as a Writer: by Richard Risemberg @TheRyanLanz
The How and Why of Decision Making for Writers: @christinadelay
Thoughts on Finding Writer Friends and Sharing Our Work: @StephMorrill @GoTeenWriters
How Introverts Can Thrive in The Online Writing Community: @SimonisLauren @kristen_kieffer
Why Do Some Readers Give Writers Such Harsh Feedback? @MegDowell
Crying in the Library: by Shannon Reed @parisreview
How To Stop Self-Doubt From Holding You Back From Writing: @TheLeighShulman
How to Focus on FUN as You Write Your Story: @createastorylov

Genres / Miscellaneous

How Do You Choose Your Story’s Genre? @NaomiBeaty @savethecat

Genres / Mystery

Grappling with PTSD in Crime Fiction: @hilarydavidson @CrimeReads
Cozy Mystery Writing: the Challenges of Trying Something New:
A Pathologist on Presenting Forensic Details to Readers:

Genres / Poetry

5 ways writing poetry will make you a stronger writer: @TheLeighShulman

Genres / Screenwriting

Chernobyl: How To Write A Miniseries: @thejkstudio

Promo / Blogging

How to Choose Keywords for Your Blog (and Attract the Right Audience): @MarionSelista @WritetoDone

Promo / Miscellaneous

The Truth About Book Launches: @DanBlank

Promo / Platforms

Mistakes You’re Making With Your Author Brand (And How To Avoid Them): by Manuela Williams @DIYMFA

Promo / Social Media Tips

What One Writer Loves About Pinterest (and is Frustrated By): @jvlpoet

Promo / Websites

How to Resize/Fix the Image Files on Your Author Website: @ThDigitalReader
3 Secrets to an Effective Landing Page: @ThDigitalReader @JFbookman

Publishing / Miscellaneous

The Breakout Novel and Why Publishing is Desperate for the Next Big Thing: @KristenLambTX
What to Look for in a Small Press: by T.L. Bodine
23 Best Font and Fancy Text Generators: @TCKPublishing

Publishing / News / Amazon

The American Publishers’ Lawsuit Delays Rollout of Audible Captions: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / Data

US Book Publisher Revenue Up Nearly 7% in First Half of 2019: @Porter_Anderson

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Beijing International Book Fair Cites 320,000 Visitors, High Tech Interest: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Frankfurt’s 2019 THE ARTS+ Focuses on ‘The Future of Culture’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
South African Book Fair and Book Week: Toward a Reading Culture: @Porter_Anderson
Singapore’s Asian Festival of Children’s Content: Taking Kids’ Lit Seriously: @Porter_Anderson @sgbookcouncil
Ahead of Frankfurt, Norway Launches 10 New Translations in China: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
China Bestsellers for July: An Urban Online Gaming Culture Drives Sales: @Porter_Anderson

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

Amazon Self-Publishing Royalties: Here’s What You Need to Know: @ReedsyHQ

Everything Authors Need to Know about Pen Names: @kikimojo

Publishing / Process / Translation

On Translation by Arthur Sze: @PoetryFound

Writing Craft / Beginnings

Writing Your Novel’s Opening: @Lindasclare

Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists

Sacrificial Heroes: by Antonio Del Drago @mythicscribes

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

4 Writing Pitfalls to Avoid at All Costs: @LMacNaughton

Writing Craft / Conflict

Conflict Thesaurus Entry: Seeing an Ex with Someone New: @beccapuglisi
Writing Fight Scenes: @DN_Bryn

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

What Skyrim Can Teach Us About World-Building: @SMCarriere

Writing Craft / Literary Devices

10 Literary Devices to Master: @cleemckenzie @TheIWSG

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

5 Writing Ideas To Transform A Boring Scene: @KMAllan_writer
9 Ways To Write With Literary Flair: by Oliver Fox @Writers_Write
Writing Book Club Fiction: What 5 Reading Guide Questions Can Teach Us: @kcraftwriter
How to Write About Pain in Fiction: by Stacey Bowditch @pbackwriter
Five Information Technology Blunders and How to Fix Them: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
What’s a MacGuffin, Anyway? by Larry Pass @StoryGrid
Advice on Writing Great Friendships: @AuthorMarilene
Story Goal, Story Question, Inner Need: @NovelEditor
5 Ways to Ensure Readers Don’t Abandon Your Book: @scribesworld @JaneFriedman
Are You Preaching or Persuading? @AnneJanzer
12 Female Literary Characters Who Are More Than Damsels in Distress: @TCKPublishing
Extrapolating the Past: @PJTAuthor @DIYMFA
Three Simple Questions That Will Unlock Your Story: @LisaCron

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept

How to Sort and Stack Your Ideas and Tasks to Transform as a Writer and Person: @annkroeker

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

When to Use a Semicolon vs. Colons: @GramrgednAngel @BookWorksNYC

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

6 Tips for Finding a Great Critique Partner: @Julie_Glover
How to Handle Feedback about Your Work: @WritersCoach

Uncategorized

How to Find Old Tweets By Time Period, Keyword, And More: @Emily @lifehacker wkb71

Five Popular Tropes Writers Struggle With: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants wkb13

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on August 31, 2019 21:03

August 29, 2019

Cozy Mystery Writing: Trying New Things

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

When I came back from my France trip in July, several people asked me if I was planning to ‘take Myrtle on a trip to Paris.’ Although I think my octogenarian sleuth would likely love Paris and I’m not totally ruling it out, there are problems with taking Myrtle there…or anywhere that isn’t her small town that she usually lives in.

I have taken Myrtle on a little field trip…a cruise a few years ago. What I discovered, though, was that sometimes readers like the idea of a change. But when the change is made, sometimes they’re not as enthusiastic.

Here are ideas for shaking things up a little in a long-running cozy mystery series (and some likely pros and cons for doing so):

Taking Characters On A Trip

This can be fun to write and also to read. The pros are that you’re taking your characters to a different setting and seeing how they act in that different environment. They’ll meet new people along the way and will experience different and interesting places.

The big issue here is that you probably can’t move your whole story world. Although I did get some positive feedback from readers when I took Myrtle on vacation,

Trying a Manor House/Country House Approach

How do these work? The ingredients are pretty simple: a large, remote home; a house party; and a murder. Extra points if bad weather keeps the guests confined. The field of suspects is limited and tension runs high.

One of the potential problems with this approach is the same as the issue with taking the characters on a trip: are you going to move your entire cast of characters to the country house? If so, what’s the occasion (and just how big is that house?)

To read some examples of these stories, check out this post by Stephen Giles of Crime Reads and this one on Cross-Examining Crimes.

Introducing New, Recurring Characters

This is one way to inject something a little different into a long-running series. Maybe it’s a character who rubs your protagonist the wrong way and can add some conflict to the stories. Maybe it’s a love interest for your protagonist or another character. Whatever it is, they add a new element to the series.

A con of this approach is that you’re adding to your cast of characters…which may be fine, or may be a problem if you already had a large cast. Also, this is another character you’ll need to write for so it can add to a work load if it’s a recurring character you’re going t o keep up with.

Lesley A. Diehl has a good post on this, specific to cozy mysteries.

As a reader, what do you like to see as a new element in a long-running series? As a writer, do you look for ways to keep a series from feeling stale?

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Published on August 29, 2019 21:02

August 25, 2019

A Pathologist on Presenting Forensics to Readers

by Jane Bennett Munro

Medical practice, particularly pathology practice, is rife with jargon. I can’t not use it; that would destroy the authenticity. I don’t want to dumb it down; that would be patronizing. I don’t want it to be a lecture; that would put readers to sleep.

While I was married, I frequently had to explain things to my husband. He was a medical technologist, as was I, when we first met. Later he became a histotech and worked for me. Many times I assumed he would know things because we worked so closely together, and would be surprised when it turned out he didn’t. Unfortunately, working together wasn’t a good idea and we ended up divorcing after thirty years.

So in my Toni Day mysteries, I have Toni explain things to her husband, Hal, or to her mother, or friends, employees, and other doctors. I have them ask appropriate questions that Toni can answer, so instead of a lecture, it’s just dialogue.

Now, with regard to those who are squeamish; how do I present forensic details in a way that won’t make them sick? I don’t. By their very nature, murder scenes and autopsies have a certain ick factor that can’t be denied. It would destroy authenticity. Toni isn’t squeamish. She couldn’t be a pathologist if she were. It would be out of character for her to sugarcoat the gory details.

I’d be lying if I said nobody has ever complained. Of course I’ve had complaints. One of my friends said after reading Too Much Blood that she was shocked to be plunged right into a “full-on autopsy” in the first chapter. But it didn’t stop her from finishing the book and buying all the rest of them.

My hairdresser was so turned off by my description of the body that went splat! on the Lido Deck that she stopped reading and put the book aside for six months before she could go back and read the rest of it. But she did finish it, as well as all my other books, and loans them to her friends. Now her big complaint is that she never gets them back.

I did an interview back in 2012 for the early morning show on our local TV station, after the publication of my first book, Murder under the Microscope, and we got onto the subject of why people think all pathologists do is autopsies. I explained that nowadays most pathologists do very few autopsies unless they are medical examiners. One has to be board-certified in forensic pathology which requires an extra year of residency, and one has to work in a large city to make a living at it. Our coroner’s cases go to Boise.

Hospital autopsies have become vanishingly rare now because of imaging techniques that allow radiologists to see everything and stick a needle in it for a biopsy. I read an article in a journal recently that said autopsies were now so rare that residency programs are obliged to use “virtual autopsies” for teaching purposes.

Hospital-based pathologists like me and Toni Day spend the bulk of their time on surgical specimens. They also review all the abnormal Pap smears, and they do all the non-gynecologic cytology, as well as bone marrows, fine needle aspirations, and of course running the lab. They work closely with radiologists, surgeons, and oncologists (the cancer doctors) and other doctors with questions about lab results that they don’t understand, or don’t know exactly which tests they should order.

But, as I explained to my interviewers, Nick and Danielle, all that would look very boring if it was in a movie. Unless, of course, I went into the histology lab and there was, like, a big juicy colon… Nick and Danielle went “Whoa! I hope nobody’s eating breakfast right now!”

Oops.

Rhonda had recorded my interview on the DVR and we watched it together when I got home. After the interview was over and I had left, Nick turned to Danielle and said, “That was probably the first time the words ‘big juicy colon’ have been spoken on television.”

But it wasn’t the last. Nick and Danielle interviewed me two more times, after Too Much Blood and Grievous Bodily Harm came out, and they brought up the saga of the “big juicy colon” during the interview both times. Then they moved to the east coast, and subsequent interviews weren’t nearly so much fun.

Now, everybody I tell this story to finds it hilarious. As one of my fellow residents said as I was grossing a particularly weepy malodorous leg amputation for gangrene, “They don’t call it ‘gross’ pathology for nothing!”

Gross can be fun.

Jane Bennett Munro has been a hospital-based pathologist for 40 years, incorporating her medical and forensic knowledge to give her books a realistic and riveting feel. Her novel, “Murder Under the Microscope,” received a 2012 IPPY Award. Her novel “Too Much Blood” won a 2014 Feathered Quill Award. She is also the author of “Grievous Bodily Harm,” Death by Autopsy,” and “Body on the Lido Deck.” Munro is semiretired, and lives and writes in Twin Falls, Idaho.

The newest book in her series, “A Deadly Homecoming,” takes Toni on a trip from Twin Falls, ID, back to her hometown of Long Beach, CA, to investigate the sudden disappearance of a dearly family friend, Doris’s, husband. At the same time, Doris is dealing with a mysterious illness that sends her into a coma. With the help of her mother, step-father, husband, Toni begins to piece together this complex case, while also uncovering clues that leaves her own life at risk.

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Published on August 25, 2019 21:02

August 24, 2019

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Business / Miscellaneous

Attraction Marketing And Tips For Creative Business: by André Chaperon @thecreativepenn
A Writer’s Guide to ROI: @annkroeker

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

India’s Jaipur Literary Fest Announces New York Stop on International Tour: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
German Book Prize Releases Its 2019 Longlist: A ‘Stimulating Discussion’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
During the Edinburgh Book Festival: Publishing Scotland’s 2019 Fellowship: @Porter_Anderson @PublishScotland @edbookfest
Beijing International Book Fair: Phoenix Publishing’s Global Strategy: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Creativity and Inspiration / Careers in Writing and Day Jobs

Side Hustles for Writers: @RachelleGardner

Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting

Achieve Your Writing Goals: @jimdempsey @WriterUnboxed

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

Creativity: How to Draw Nothing: @rfishewan @DIYMFA

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

On the Power of Ghostly Narrators: @mamtachaudhry1 @lithub
7 Novels Set in Deserts: by Ruchika Tomar @ElectricLit
How Fiction Fuses the Incompatible Realities of Religion and Comedy: by Randy Boyagoda @lithub
Spurned in Love, Edith Wharton Turned to Poetry: by Irene Goldman-Price @lithub

Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation

Why it’s Important to Know Your Motivation for Writing:

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

Too busy to write? Here’s what to do: @pubcoach
How to work in the summer, when you don’t feel like it: @pubcoach

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block

Use These Novel-Writing Tips to Get Unstuck: @NYBookEditors

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

Dealing with Haters: Some Motivation Against the People That Try to Poo-Poo Your Writing: @MichaelLaRonn
How to Manage Criticism: @MADaboutWords @FloridaWriters1
10 Ways to Support Other Authors: @AlexJCavanaugh @TheIWSG
Meditation Techniques and At-Desk Exercises for Writers: by Kelsey Worsham @WrittenWordM
Are You Too Distracted to Write? @pubcoach
8 Ways to Improve Your Writing: by Bucket Siler
5 Tips to Grow Your Vocabulary: @TimSuddeth @EdieMelson
How to Host a DIY Writers’ Retreat: @LisaEBetz @A3writers
5 Essential C’s for Writing: by Orly Konig
When a Story Leaves You Feeling Emotionally Drained: @MegDowell
How To Build a Writing Community: @JamiGold

Genres / Fantasy

12 Times SFF Characters Trained Their Own Duplicates: by Stubby the Rocket @tordotcom
Foodbuilding as Worldbuilding — Creating Fantasy Cuisines: by Karstenberg @mythicscribes
History for Fantasy Writers: Cowboys of Europe: by E.L. Skip Knox @mythicscribes

Genres / Horror

A Brief History Of Folk Horror In Literature: @chris_shultz81 @LitReactor
A Look Back at the Horror Influences of “Stranger Things”: @HauntedMeg @BDisgusting

Genres / Mystery

Crime Writing: Speed Loaders for Revolvers: @LeeLofland
Crime Writing: A Cop’s Duty Belt: @LeeLofland

Promo / Ads

BookBub For Authors: The Ultimate Guide (+ Free Submission Calendar): @ReedsyHQ

Promo / Blogging

Book Marketing: How To Make Your Blog Work For Books And Author Brand: @amyshojai @thecreativepenn
Getting Out Of A Blogging Rut: @KMAllan_writer

Promo / Book Descriptions and Copywriting

Writing Your Novel’s Book Description: @stacitroilo @StoryEmpire

Promo / Book Reviews

9 ways to use reader reviews in book marketing: @sandrabeckwith

Promo / Images

Ten Free Online Image, Graphic, and Photo Manipulation Tools: @ThDigitalReader

Promo / Newsletters

Why Do Authors Need a Newsletter? @AHuelsenbeck
Email Marketing: Your Secret Weapon: @DavidGaughran

Publishing / Miscellaneous

On Pirating Books: @helpfulsnowman @LitReactor
One Story, Many Paths: @JoEberhardt @WriterUnboxed
How Long Should a Book Be? @shauntagrimes
7 Mistakes to Avoid When Recording Your Audiobook: @GordonRothman @IndieAuthorALLI
Audiobooks’ International Volume: Spanish Audio and US Publishers: @Porter_Anderson @javiercelaya @pubperspectives
Wattpad and Viu in Partnership; Yellow Bird Options ‘Spotify Untold’: @Porter_Anderson @wattpad
Why Do So Many Bad Books Sell on Amazon? @KMWeiland
Serendipity in Publishing: by Richard Charkin @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / Amazon

“Debate Flares Again Around ‘Fake and Illegitimate’ Online Book Sales” at Amazon: @Porter_Anderson @DavidStreitfeld

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Russian Publishers Say Social Media Users May Read Audiobooks on VK: by Eugene Gerden @pubperspectives
Asian Bookstore Forum 2019: The Retail Context in China Today (‘Moving Away from Physical Stores’): @Porter_Anderson
Germany’s Projekt DEAL and Springer; Baker & Taylor Signs McSweeney’s: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

Give Your Self-Published Book Its Best Shot: @lwreyes

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

1 Writer’s Experience Querying and Getting an Agent: @AuthorSAT

Publishing / Process / Book Design

Which Looks Better, Hardcovers or Paperbacks? @ruthbuchwald @ElectricLit

Publishing / Process / Formatting

How to Format Your eBook for Easier Distribution: by Kelsey Worsham @WrittenWordM

Writing Craft / Beginnings

A First Page Critique: @ClareLangleyH @killzoneauthors

Writing Craft / Conflict

Conflict Thesaurus Entry: A Deadline Being Moved Up: @AngelaAckerman

Writing Craft / Dialogue

Real Life Diagnostics: Does the Dialogue in This Scene Work? @Janice_Hardy
How to Write Dialogue: Tips to Captivate Readers: @Roz_Morris @IngramSpark

Writing Craft / Diversity

It’s Time To Face Facts: Diversity Makes Stories Better: @Bang2write

Writing Craft / Endings

Writing Your Novel’s Ending: @Lindasclare

Writing Craft / Flashback and Back Story

Character Backstory: @JulietteWade

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

5 Ways John Steinbeck Can Help You Improve Your Writing: @FredBobJohn @standoutbooks

Writing Craft / Literary Devices

How Jane Austen Creates a Theme: @themaltesetiger

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

5 Tips for Writing Violence That Doesn’t Turn Readers Off: by Carter Wilson @WritersDigest
Coincidence in Stories: @SHalvatzis
Story Fundamentals Make A Story Great: by Dawn Field @BookBaby
Tips for Weaving Romance into Your Novel: @LiveWriteThrive
Writers Beware: Micro-managing: @Lindasclare
Story and the Question of Self-Identity: @GoIntoTheStory
Are the stakes too high? @jasonbougger
How to Ensure Readers Won’t Throw Your Book Across the Room: by Laurie Tomlinson

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Outlining

Quick Tip for Writers: Save Your Outlines:

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

Plotting Made Easy: Do You Need the Three-Act Structure? @RidethePen

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

Use Commas and Semicolons Effectively: @AJHumpage

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

How to Tolerate Uncertainty When You’re Waiting for Feedback: @enhughesiasm @emiliewapnick
How to Determine Who to Ask for Feedback to Your Writing: by Bridgitte Jackson-Buckley @WomenWriters

Writing Craft / Synopses

Nail Your Book Synopsis Quickly with These Two Sentences: @Weifarer

Writing Tools / Apps

How to Set Project Targets in Scrivener: @harmony_kent @StoryEmpire

Writing Tools / Miscellaneous

The 8 Best Notebooks for Writers: @TCKPublishing
Best Writing Software: Seven Writing Tools For Authors: by Kelsey Worsham @WrittenWordM

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on August 24, 2019 21:03

August 22, 2019

Your Motivation for Writing

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I’ve posted a lot recently on writing for an audience and writing to genre conventions. As I’ve posted, there’s been a little uneasiness on my end…because some writers don’t need to worry about these things. There are writers out there that will only be unnecessarily strung-out by this advice. These are also writers who might feel really stressed out by forums and blog posts focused on heavy marketing.

There are plenty of other reasons to write and there is nothing wrong with writing for your own enjoyment. Some writers would rather their work and their names remain private. Some writers would rather craft a story exactly as they want it and create their story world as they wish and not have to worry about anyone else. And there are, sure, writers who want to share their work. I’ve mentioned before that I was foisting my writing on my parents’ unsuspecting dinner guests back when I was in elementary school. We’re all wired differently.

I think that it would be incredibly demotivating to read posts urging you to write faster, write to an audience, run ads, and promote when your only interest is in pleasing yourself with writing a story for your own satisfaction.

But I also wonder if some writers haven’t really completely thought through what they want. If they truly want to put their work out there for a broad audience. Or, if they even want to publish their work at all. Maybe, after reading all the online commentary about the writing craft, reaching an audience, book cover design, and advertising, they just blindly start moving in that direction.

Of course, there’s no wrong answer. No wrong direction to take. But I do think it’s important to think about what you want. When I saw this fairly comprehensive quiz on Colleen M. Story’s Writing and Wellness blog, I thought it was a great place to start. Not only may it help guide writers into thinking about motivation-related questions, but it can also help writers realize what does drive them. Some of the listed motivations include achievement and recognition, creative fulfillment and transcendence, and connection and relationships.

Knowing what you want out of your writing means that you may not need to bury yourself in learning about crafting the best BookBub pitch or an amazing query letter. It can help you stay focused on whatever is important to you about the writing craft.

As a writer, what motivates you to write (I think the answer is slightly different for everyone)?

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Published on August 22, 2019 21:02

August 18, 2019

Quick Tip: Save Your Outlines

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Here’s a quick tip for those of you who already like to outline: save your outlines for your older books.

I’m now over 30 books in and I’ve found my memory seriously failing when it comes to remembering non-recurring characters and plots. The problem is most-evident with books published 8-10 years ago, but I may also struggle with details from books I wrote last year. There are just too many books. Or maybe it’s just that my memory completely stinks. :)

Once I had to re-read an entire book of mine before speaking to a local book club about it. I was happy to do it because I would have felt awful if they’d known the book better than I did, but I didn’t really have the time to do it.

In the past, when I’d finished and published a book, I ditched the outline as just another unnecessary file taking up space in Word. Then I realized…these outlines were the perfect cheat-sheets. I could pull them out and they’d jog my memory.

This has helped me not only with book club appearances, but with emails received from readers on particular books, and on Wattpad where sometimes I’m receiving a lot of comments about a book I’m uploading that I’ve written long ago.

An important point: if you decide to use your old outlines this way, be sure to note deviations from the outline on your document or else you’re not going to do yourself any favors. I do frequently diverge from the outline and I’ll make a short note with Word’s comments feature in track changes.

Do you keep your outlines? Any other uses for them that I haven’t thought of?

Why Outlining Writers Should Keep Their Old Outlines:
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Published on August 18, 2019 21:02