Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 75

June 3, 2018

Goodreads Review Widgets

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

It has taken me a long time to warm up to Goodreads. As a writer, I’m still very wary of some aspects of the environment over there. But I’ve grown to use it as a tool, both as a reader and a writer.

I recently posted about my experience using Goodreads giveaways. I’ve also started using a few Goodreads widgets…carefully. Today and next Monday I’ll be covering a couple of widgets that I’m using there and Friday Chrys Fey will be talking about three other important things to do with Goodreads.

The way I’ve set up my website is for each book to have its own page, which helps with title SEO and visibility. I’m starting to add the Goodreads review widget on my book pages for a little visual interest and perhaps some social proof. I won’t add them to all of my book pages because I don’t want to slow my site down when it starts loading. I’m thinking the last few releases would be good enough.

But! We need to tinker with the settings on the widget a bit. Below are the default settings:

Goodreads is a tough environment for writers. Reviews on the site (even for good reviews) are frequently a lot lower than what you’d see on Amazon. I think this is because readers mark books as a reminder to themselves how they liked a book/series compared to other books/series. It makes sense, but can be rough on authors who are used to higher ratings.

The review widget on Goodreads defaults to a minimum 1-star rating. Obviously, we don’t want to have 1-star reviews on our website.

Don’t get me wrong–as writers, we need those lower reviews in order to prove that real readers (not just Mom, Dad and Sis) have read our books. But those lower reviews don’t make for great sales copy.

I’d advise that you change the minimum rating to 3 or 4 for advertising purposes. Here are my changes:

You can see that I changed the ISBN (necessary for them to pull up the book), changed the number of reviews to show to 3 (because I didn’t want the widget to take up the entire page), changed the minimum star rating, and altered the header text. From there, you hit submit and then copy/paste the code into a webpage (using the ‘text’, not the ‘visual’ compose setting). Then you end up with something that looks like this:

Next Monday I’ll cover the Goodreads widget for Facebook (Friday look forward to a post from Chrys Fey covering three things you’re probably not doing on Goodreads, but should).

Have you spent time on Goodreads? As a reader, a writer, or both? Do you use widgets?

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Published on June 03, 2018 21:01

June 2, 2018

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 45,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here.

New Stuff:

The folks at Kirkus Reviews are offering a free self-publishing guide for authors. The PDF can be accessed here.

Reedsy has a free downloadable character template PDF that looks pretty cool for helping with character development.

There’s a new, free, app called Taskade (a pro version is coming soon). CEO John Xie calls it a “bullet journal reimagined” and “a beautiful outliner for brainstorming, note sharing, and managing tasks.” You can see an example of a project road-map here. It even offers collaboration, if you’re co-writing. Something to check out if you’re looking for a way to plan or organize your life or projects. FAQ is here.

Business / Miscellaneous

Accounting for Writers: @FictionNotes

When and How to Change Your Book Title: @DaveChesson

Building Your Business Model as a Writer: @JaneFriedman

How to Get Your Story or Poem Unpublished: @NathanielTower

Barnes & Noble chief Len Riggio: ‘Open More Stores Than We Close’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @BookExpoAmerica

How AI Technology Will Change Literature: @jenxuewrites

Everything You Wanted to Know about Book Sales (But Were Afraid to Ask): @TheLincoln @ElectricLit

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

At the Hay Festival, the Man Booker Prize Announces Its Anniversary ‘Golden Five’ Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Details for the next #IWSGPit Twitter pitch on July 19: @TheIWSG

As BookExpo Approaches, US Publishers Cite Revenue Up In First Quarter: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

‘Lincoln in the Bardo’ Wins 2018 Audie Awards for Random House: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Book Clubs – The Human Touch in Marketing: by Debbie Burke @killzoneauthors

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

102 Ways to Spark Novel Ideas: @TheMerryWriter

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

10 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Novels Featuring Characters Living with Mental Illness: by Matt Staggs @unboundworlds

Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation

Make Your Writing Anxiety Disappear By Thinking Small: @anne_staw @JaneFriedman

You and Your Writing Deserve the Grand Gesture: @annkroeker

You’re Never Too Old, Never Too Bad, Never Too Late, Never Too Sick to Start From Scratch Once Again: @block_sandra

What You Really Need to do as a Discouraged Writer: @colleen_m_story

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

The Easiest Way to Get More Writing Done: @Janice_Hardy

Stop Making Excuses: Make the Writing Plan You Need: @the_writing_pal

Making Time to Write: Time Management For Screenwriters: by C. Bryce Fuller @WritersDigest

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

5 Caffeine-Free Beverages to Boost Writing Focus & Energy: @colleen_m_story

The importance of deep breathing: @pubcoach

5 Writers, 7 Questions, No Wrong Answers: @lithub @askanyone @TisforThompson @MegWolitzer

You Need to Drink More Water, but Watch Out for This: @colleen_m_story

On Distractions That Keep Us From Writing: @LindaGilden

A Homework Assignment from W. H. Auden: by Anthony Madrid @parisreview

11 Highly Literary Tote Bags: by Jo Lou @ElectricLit

Writing and the Creative Life: One key to creativity… naps? @GoIntoTheStory

The Sanitized Words of Complicated Women: @diancalondon @byshondaland

Don’t Be Satisfied With Competence: @jamesscottbell

So Longhand: Has Cursive Reached The End Of The Line? @GeoffNunberg @NPR

Is a Workaholic Writer Unhealthy? @colleen_m_story

Five Movies About Master Writers: @librarylore @DIYMFA

I Have Wasted My Life: by Patricia Hampl @parisreview

An Open Letter to My Dog: I Couldn’t Have Written This Without You: by Cinelle Barnes @lithub

Genres / Fantasy

History for Fantasy Writers: Money: by E.L. Skip Knox @mythicscribes

Genres / Humor

The 3 Steps to Writing Humor: Channeling Erma: by Diane Laney Fitzpatrick

Genres / Memoir

6 Simple Ways To Help You Find Out What Your Memoir’s About: @Writers_Write

Genres / Miscellaneous

Know Your Writing’s Genre: @Lindasclare

5 Tips to Understanding Genre in the Publishing Industry: @SydneyMathieu @KillerNashville

Genres / Mystery

Why Crime Authors Need to Stop Pretending They’re Badasses: @Gabino_Iglesias @LitReactor

The perfect crimes: why thrillers are leaving other books for dead: @hesutton @GuardianBooks

Trophy Wives and Boy Toys as Elements in Crime Fiction: @mkinberg

Crime Writing: How To (Legally) Get Away With Murder: @SueColetta1 @killzoneauthors

How to Write the Perfect Mystery: Writing Advice from the Greats of Crime Fiction: @CrimeReads

Promo / Book Descriptions and Copywriting

Make sure your book description doesn’t include spoilers:

Promo / Book Reviews

8 Rules to Help You Handle Bad Reviews: @RachVD

Promo / Miscellaneous

Contact Info and More in Amazon Author Central:

Promo / Newsletters

Website Tools to Build Your Author Email List: @selfpubbootcamp

Promo / Social Media Tips

5 Simple Tips for Creating Video Content for Social Media: @Bookgal

Publishing / Miscellaneous

A Bunch of Hard Truths About Publishing: @RuthanneReid

BookExpo’s CEO Roundtable Cites Stability, Growth, Promise for Books Ahead: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Some of the First Sketches of Winnie-the-Pooh and the Collaborative Process of Shepard and Milne: by James Campbell @lithub

“Goodreads is credited by Penguin Press for helping to rapidly build the popularity of bestseller ‘Little Fires Everywhere’”: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

“Why (and how) I chose a small press publisher”: @jasonbougger

Publishing / News / Amazon

Beat KDP Select’s Catch 22: @ianhsuth @IndieAuthorALLI

Publishing / News / Data

Amazon’s control over ebook sales data should upset everyone in publishing: @thu @qz

Publishing / News / International Publishing

University College London Press Passes 1 Millionth Open Access Book Download: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

April 2018 Bestseller Lists From China: Young Readers Cheer a Celebrity-Powered World Book Day: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Industry Notes: China Literature at Rights Fair; Amazon Publishing Signs Cornwell Series: @Porter_Anderson @1pcornwell

‘…(R)eaders are being penalized with an additional 20-percent VAT for choosing to embrace digital,’: @StephenLotinga : @Porter_Anderson

As BookExpo and New York Rights Fair Open: Warnings for Publishers: @Porter_Anderson @BookExpoAmerica

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

A Free Self-Publishing Guide for Authors (PDF) from @KirkusReviews :

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing

A week in the life of a small press: @Roz_Morris @ForestAvePress

Why Publish Your Novel with a Traditional Publisher? @SnowflakeGuy

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

Don’t query before your novel is complete, revised, and ready: @LisaPoisso

Publishing / Process / Book Design

10 Book Designers Discuss the Book Covers They Rejected, And Why: by Jo Lou @ElectricLit

Publishing / Process / ISBNs

Why indie authors should buy ISBNs: @selfpubbootcamp

Writing Craft / Beginnings

How to Craft the Perfect Opening Scene: @ShanDitty

Your Ultimate First Chapter Checklist: Writing the Opening Scene: @KMWeiland

Writing Craft / Chapter Endings

Controlling Chapter Lengths in Your Novel: @SnowflakeGuy

Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists

Types of antagonists: Creating riveting opponents: @nownovel

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

Mining Our Characters’ Wounds: @RLLaFevers

Seven Common Problems in Character Creation: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants

Developing a Character with a History of Sexual Assault: @SloanTamar

Writing Craft / Characters / Emotion

Writing Emotions In Layers: @LisaHallWilson

Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists

Wounded Heroines as Strong Female Characters: @ZoeMMcCarthy

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

7 Ways to Master “Show, Don’t Tell”: @LMacNaughton

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

Writing Craft / Conflict

How to Find the Conflict in a Story: @DavidHSafford

Writing Craft / Endings

How to End a Book: @writingrefinery @DIYMFA

Writing Craft / Flashback and Back Story

How to Write a Flashback: @SnowflakeGuy

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

Chapterettes, Prologues, Introductions, and Other Spare Parts–What Purpose Can They Serve in a Book? @writeabook

Character Driven Stories through Life Values: by Leslie Watts @StoryGrid

Writing lessons from Tom Wolfe: @pubcoach

Why Storytelling Advice Is Such a Mess: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants

Addressing the Reader: @Janice_Hardy

A Short Guide To Unusual Chronology: @FredBobJohn @standoutbooks

Writing Craft / POV

Marketing Copy: The First- Versus Third-Person Debate: @jan_ohara @WriterUnboxed

Should I Use a “Throwaway” POV to Add Tension? by Chris Winkle @mythcreants

Minor Viewpoint Errors: @SeptCFawkes

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

7 Essential Elements of a Story: @jasonbougger

Are There Only 7 Stories in the World? @EditingWizard

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Research

Help with researching royals: @Roz_Morris

A Writer’s Guide to Firearms: Shotguns: @Nicholas_Rossis

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept

Top 5 Concept Mistakes Writers Make: @Bang2write

Writing Craft / Revision

5 Self Editing Essentials To Perfect Your Novel: by Dana Isaacson @CareerAuthors

How to Be a Better, More Efficient Editor of Your Own Writing: @AnnieMueller

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

How to Handle Critiques: @ClareLangleyH @killzoneauthors

Writing Craft / Scenes

How To Craft High Impact Scenes for Your Stories: @StephMorrill

Writing Craft / Series

How NOT To Mess Up Your Book Series: @sacha_black

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

How to Write Unforgettable Settings: @KristenLambTX

Appealing to the Senses: @davidfarland

Writing Tips: 3 Techniques to Write Better Settings: @thecreativepenn

Writing Craft / Tropes

On Writing Genius: from Art Attempts Writing

Writing Craft / Voice

How To Make Sure Your Characters Don’t Speak In The Same Voice: by Rebecca Langley @standoutbooks

Writing Craft / Word Crafting

7 Types of Phrases That Add Detail to Your Writing: @JJ_Burry

Writing Tools / Apps

The New Scrivener 3.0 – Should You Upgrade? @KMWeiland

Writing Tools / Resources

Writing worksheet to help writers create a home environment in their story world: @EvaDeverell

The World at Large: A Worksheet to Aid in the Creation of a Story World: @EvaDeverell

Writing Tools / Thesauri

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Outdoor Guide: @AngelaAckerman

The top writing links from last week are on Twitterific:
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Published on June 02, 2018 21:04

May 31, 2018

Accidental Spoilers

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I have a quick, cautionary tale for you today.

I released book nine in the Southern Quilting series in late-April. I consider the series to be one that can be read out of order with no problem…there’s really no continuing story arc for the main story, since each mystery is wrapped up at the close of every book.

But there are subplots that arc for this series. As usual, I tend to think that nothing is more important than the mystery. That’s been a stance that I’ve had to reconsider through many years and many editors, but my first instinct always concerns the mystery.

Another note: I always write my book description before I write the book. In fact, I write it months before I write the book…when I have my cover designer create the cover. I’m focusing so hard on the wording that maybe I have tunnel vision.

That’s the set-up. And here’s what I did in the first paragraph of the back cover copy: (if you’re a reader of mine who hasn’t read all of the last 9 books….spoiler alert!)

When Beatrice takes on a new case, she must solve it before anyone else rests in pieces.

Beatrice and her new husband, Wyatt, have started their life together. Their first big event as man and wife is another wedding: that of Beatrice’s daughter. It’s a happy occasion and a beautiful ceremony—aside from the appearance of the odd and uninvited Ophelia. Ophelia argues with another guest, who is later discovered dead.

When the book released, I received an email almost immediately from a reader. She said, “I suppose it’s my own fault for not being caught up with the series, but the synopsis for Rest in Pieces begins with a giant spoiler: Beatrice and her new husband, Wyatt.” She signed it “still a fan.”

I slapped myself on the forehead. The subplot of the sleuth and Wyatt’s developing relationship was something started in book one. Not everyone is on board with book nine. Some readers have faithfully followed along but missed book eight. Or book seven. Or whatever.

I wrote back and apologized to the reader. Then I just as quickly opened up a bazillion publishing dashboards to change the book description.

It was quickly edited to:

When Beatrice takes on a new case, she must solve it before anyone else rests in pieces.

It’s a beautiful evening for a wedding and Beatrice couldn’t be prouder as the mother of the bride. It’s a happy occasion and a beautiful ceremony—aside from the appearance of the odd and uninvited Ophelia. Ophelia argues with another guest, who is later discovered dead.

There you go. What not to do! I figured if I could so easily and cluelessly mess this up, it could be worth sharing to prevent other writers from doing the same thing. It seems to be easier to accidentally give series spoilers than it does for the book itself.

Have you accidentally spoiled your own books? Thoughts about spoilers (for books, films, etc?)

Make Sure Your Book Description Doesn't Include Spoilers:
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Published on May 31, 2018 21:02

May 26, 2018

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

In observance of Memorial Day, I won’t be posting tomorrow, but I’ll be back with a post on Friday. Enjoy your weekend!

Business / Miscellaneous

The 34-second Rule for Writers: @SarahSallyHamer @EdieMelson

3 Truths About the Mindset of a Successful Authorpreneur: @lornafaith

The Business Of Being A Writer With @JaneFriedman : @thecreativepenn

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

No Corks Popped: The Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Jury Has No Winner: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

‘Fix Our Marketplace,’ Canadian Publishers Tell Parliament in Copyright Modernization Act Hearings: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

UK’s CrimeFest Conference Confers Its 10th Annual Awards: @Porter_Anderson

The New York Rights Fair Changes the Rights Floorplan at BookExpo: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Rights Roundup: War, Allegory, and Crime Drama Ahead of BookExpo: @Porter_Anderson

Interview: Man Booker International Winners Olga Tokarczuk and Jennifer Croft on ‘Flights’: @Porter_Anderson @ManBookerPrize @jenniferlcroft

The European Union Prize for Literature Opens Its 10th Anniversary Public Reading Project: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

The UK’s Forward Poetry Prizes’ Shortlists: ‘Nuclear War to Motherhood’: @Porter_Anderson @ForwardPrizes

Authors Guild Honors VIDA, Announces ‘Boot Camps’ for Authors Outside New York: @Porter_Anderson @AuthorsGuild

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

Feng Shui Tips to Inspire a Writer’s Creative Flow: @OliviaWJones1 @colleen_m_story

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

“How I Revitalized my Reading Life Through Structure and Rules”: @KarisRogerson @LitReactor

10 Classic New England Thrillers: @PeterSwanson3 @CrimeReads

A Tale of Two Cities Was Ahead of Its Time: Dystopia, PTSD, and Dickens: @BerryFLW @SignatureReads

10 Surprising Facts About Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein on Its Bicentennial Year: @JoyLanzendorfer

Why Does Reading Make You a Better Writer? @EditingWizard

Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation

How to Increase Your Writing Productivity in the Next Three Months: @NinaAmir

What Helps You Keep Writing? @AndreaWriterlea

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block

3 Tips for Writing Through A Block: @KelsieEngen

How To Break Free Of A Writing Slump: @StephMorrill

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

“Are You Pregnant? Can I Have Some Creamer? And Other Questions I Get at the Library”: @Kristen_Arnett @lithub

Filling Your Creative Well: @Helen_Lacey_ @RomanceUniv

How to Clean Your Germ-Ridden Writing Computer: @colleen_m_story

Resurrecting a Shelved Manuscript: @SonjaYoerg @WriterUnboxed

4 Ways Writing Is Like Running: by Karen Krumpak @WritersDigest

A Writer’s Lessons in Failure: @msheatherwebb

Why We Do What We Do: @KristineRusch

When Should You Drop Your Story? @SnowflakeGuy

11 Tips To Keep You Writing While Traveling: @helpfulsnowman

How Mindfulness Can Help You Enjoy Your Book Release Day: @swetavikram @WomenWriters

Publishing is a Business: 10 Tips to Protect Your Creative Self: @annerallen

How to Plan a Writer’s Retreat on a Budget: @kikimojo

The Zen of Standing Desks: @LindaKSienkwicz

On Telling Ugly Stories: Writing with a Chronic Illness: @TisforThompson @parisreview

Why and How to Use Evernote for Journaling: @writingthrulife

Genres / Memoir

How to Start Writing Memoir: @LynseyMay @scottishbktrust

Surviving the Ordinary: Why We Need Memoirs of Regular Lives: @MaryLauraPh @lithub

Genres / Mystery

You’re Officially a Crime Writer When … : @LeeLofland

Writing the Crime Scene: Blood: @repokempt @LitReactor

Plotting Your Psychological Thriller: @Wendy_Walker

Crime fiction subgenres: Where does your novel fit? @LouiseHarnby

Genres / Non-Fiction

How to Make an Index (for a Nonfiction Print Book): @ChrisDMcMullen

Genres / Science Fiction

A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Science Fiction: by Georgina Roy @writingtipsoasi

Promo / Blogging

Are You a Writer Who Hates to Blog? You’re Not Alone: @losapala

Promo / Metadata

How A Keyword Sells A Book On Amazon: @kadaxis

Promo / Miscellaneous

How to Overcome the Smothering Fear of Marketing Your Writing: @JamesPrescott77

Promo / Podcasts

Extend Your Author Brand with a User-Friendly Podcasting Platform: by Phil Stamper-Halpin @penguinrandom

Promo / Social Media Tips

Social media for authors: @NathanBransford

Publishing / Miscellaneous

Industry Notes: PBS’ ‘Great American Read’ Opens; Ingram Partners With Open Road’s ‘Ignition’: @Porter_Anderson

Two Authors Sue Publisher Cengage Over Subscription-Model Royalties: @Porter_Anderson

Publishing / News / Amazon

Amazon Gets Medieval on Paid Reviews: Real Reviewers Leaving: @annerallen

A closer look at KDP Print: @EricVanDerHope

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Beleaguered Access Copyright, Turning 30, Is Honored by Canadian Publishers @Porter_Anderson @CdnPublishers

Publishing / Options / Hybrid Publishing

Everything You Need To Know About Hybrid Publishing: by Rebecca Langley @standoutbooks

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

Do you need a Literary Agent? @TheMerryWriter

Things You Should Never Say to an Agent: @TheMerryWriter

Publishing / Process / Book Design

What is Typesetting? Your Guide to Interior Book Design: @ReedsyHQ

Writing Craft / Beginnings

How to Establish Routine While Building Character on the First Page: @peterselgin @JaneFriedman

Real Life Diagnostics: Is This Protagonist Sympathetic? By Maria D’Marco @Janice_Hardy

Your Ultimate First Chapter Checklist: Hooking Readers: @KMWeiland

Writing Craft / Chapter Endings

How Long Should a Chapter Be? @LauraDiSilverio

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

Wants, Needs, Fears – The Compelling Triangle Of Motivation: @AnthonyEhlers

Who Are The 3 Characters Driving Your Plot? @AnthonyEhlers

Writing Craft / Characters / Emotion

7 Ways To Evoke The Emotions You Want From Your Readers: @Writers_Write

Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists

How To Show Your Alpha Hero is In Control Even When Writing In Deep POV: @LisaHallWilson

What Are Your Protagonist’s Relationships Like? @Janice_Hardy

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

How to Fix an (Accidentally) Autobiographical Novel: @sarahstypos

Writing Craft / Dialogue

Short Chapters and Lots of Dialogue: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors

5 Tips for Dazzling Dialogue: @SueBEdwards @womenonwriting

Writing Craft / Endings

Plot Out the Perfect Ending with Blake Snyder’s Five-Step Finale: @JillWilliamson

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

5 Ways Ernest Hemingway Can Help You Improve Your Writing: @FredBobJohn @standoutbooks

Writing Craft / Literary Devices

Five Ways to Hide Your Foreshadowing: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

Synonyms For Very: from Ellie Writes Stories

Prologues Can Be a Microcosm of the Story: @CockeyedCaravan

Writing advice for artists and visual thinkers: @austinkleon

Teaching Writing to Young Students: Reinvigorate Writing Workshop With Joy Through Ind. Writing Projects: @kelsey_corter

What You Need to Know About Doubling and Doppelgängers: by Robert Wood @standoutbooks

Middle Scenes: A Non-Linear Approach: @DonMaass @WriterUnboxed

Fighting to Write Between Two Languages: by Eréndira Ramírez-Ortega @The_Millions

Teaching Writing: “My Five Favorite Share Sessions”: @MermelsteinLeah

Signpost Scenes: The Care Package: @A_K_Perry @DIYMFA

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

Where Writers Get Stuck: Planning: @allisonmaruska

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

How To Use Grammarly To Improve Your Writing: @thecreativepenn

Interrupting Dialogue with Action: @NovelEditor

Writing Craft / Revision

On Revising with Flashcards: @Ava_Jae

6 Ways to Improve Your Big-Picture Revision Skills: @LisaPoisso @JamiGold

Self-Editing For Success: Final Edits: @TheMerryWriter

Writing Craft / Scenes

Drafting a Book One Scene at a Time: @ShanDitty

How To Write A Scene That Works: The Story Grid Way: @valerie_francis @thecreativepenn

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

Creating a Mountain Setting: by Dheolos @mythcreants

Maximizing or Minimizing Your Setting: @SeptCFawkes

Writing Craft / Synopses

Writing a Killer Synopsis: @TheMerryWriter

Writing Craft / World-Building

Resources for Worldbuilding: @writingandsuch

5 Tips on World-Building Through Collaboration: @paolobacigalupi @tobiasbuckell @WritersDigest

Writing Tools / Apps

Best Proofreading Software of 2018: Grammarly vs Hemingway vs ProWritingAid: @DaveChesson

What 1 Writer Loves about Scrivener 3.0: @LynnHBlackburn

Writing Tools / Resources

Computer Tips and Tricks for the Tech-Challenged Writer: @WidrickLinda

The top writing links from last week are on Twitterific:
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Published on May 26, 2018 21:04

May 24, 2018

Contact Info and More in Amazon Author Central

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I have seen some pretty pitiful bios on Amazon…usually when I’m looking for contact info because there is no contact info on the author’s website or blog. This makes me realize that there might be a need for a basic reminder to check on your author page on Amazon.

Most writers are on the KDP dashboard a lot, checking on sales or adding new books. But how often do you check your author page to make sure it’s up to date and has all the information readers are looking for?

Contact Information to Include in a Bio:

Your newsletter signup link. This is a great way to announce releases and keep readers updated.

Include a link to your website. Your website will give readers another opportunity to sign up for your newsletter as well as give them a showcase of your available books and formats.

Include a social media link. I think some bios get a little link-heavy (especially since these links aren’t hyperlinked), but I think a listing of a Facebook or Twitter contact info can be good, especially worked in naturally. As an example, here is Lee Child’s:

Find out more about Lee Child and the Reacher novels on his official website: LeeChild.com, on Facebook LeeChildOfficial, on Twitter #LeeChildReacher, and YouTube leechildjackreacher.

While you’re there, is there anything else you need to do?

Update your bio? When was the last time you updated it there? I had to change mine recently as I was referencing myself as the mother of ‘two teenaged children.’ And I have a 21 year old. :) That’s now changed to ‘mother of two.’

Connect your blog to your author page? I like my author page to look dynamic and connecting your blog (if it’s kept updated) is a great way to do this.

Upload pictures? It can be a good way to help readers connect with you/your life/your pets.

Upload videos? Again, this is another nice way to connect. You could upload a video of you speaking to the reader directly about your series, do a reading, or even upload a book trailer.

Going a step farther, you can set up your author page on international Amazon sites:

UK – https://authorcentral.amazon.co.uk

German – https://authorcentral.amazon.de/

France – https://authorcentral.amazon.fr/

Japan – https://authorcentral.amazon.co.jp/

For further reading and step-by-step instructions on setting up these elements, see this article by Dave Chesson.

Have you checked in on your Amazon Author page lately?

Tips for a Better Amazon Author Central Page:
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Published on May 24, 2018 21:02

May 20, 2018

Two Different Talks As Writers

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I can go quite a while without doing any speaking, and then I’ll have a flurry of engagements. I used to have to put a lot more time into preparation than I do now (not that I don’t put a lot in…just that I don’t put as much in. And it’s very nice not to sink more time in than I need to. Here are my thoughts on the two types of talks I give and tips for making them easier.

The reader-facing talk:

I’ll be honest, this talk has not traditionally been my favorite. But now I seem to have a winning template that I modify for the audience…a template that seems to be a success after trying different things (and stumbling a couple of times).

I start out asking my audience how many of them grew up reading mysteries…Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, etc. I talk about mysteries in general (keeping my audience in mind and what might interest them as readers). I then go into how I went from mystery reading to writing, how I started my writing career, how mysteries are constructed (very generally), and then end up with the writing life and routine. I work in as much humor as possible and I don’t stand behind lecterns.

The asking-the-audience-a-question thing tends to go over very well. It loosens up the audience, makes the room feel friendlier, and helps me relax, as well.

The writer-facing talk

This is a much easier talk for me. Once I know the target audience (beginners or seasoned writers), I can tailor a presentation on a particular topic. I have several talks for areas that I know very well…I wouldn’t be comfortable speaking as an expert on something when I don’t have a lot of in-depth knowledge, especially during question time.

The nice thing about talking to writers is that you share a common experience and it feels like less of a performance and more of a conversation/resource share. Even when I speak to high school writers, it just feels a lot more natural than a reader talk.

Questions to ask the event organizer/host:

How long should you speak?

Is the room equipped for a slideshow?

Should you bring books?

Remember to:

Keep an eye out on the event organizer’s social media. If they post information/promo for your talk, be sure to share it.

Arrive early to be familiar with the room layout, technology, and to greet the audience as they arrive.

Pause during your speech for laughter and/or effect (this is tough for me).

Making it easier on ourselves:

Develop a standard talk or series of talks for each type.

Write out an introduction for yourself for both types of talks (you’ll likely be asked for the info in advance).

Have a newsletter signup sheet available at the talk

Bring small bills if selling books

Time our talk to make sure we have enough time for audience questions and that we have enough material for the allotted length of our talk

What I’d rather not do:

Push a particular book or any book. I simply suck at sales. It’s pointless to push a novel at a bunch of writers and I didn’t like trying to push it on readers, either. I’ve felt some guilt at that over the years (especially during a book tour in my Penguin RH days), but I’ve decided that I agree with the late author Pat Conroy’s (Prince of Tides) thoughts on book events (this is taken from his 2018 release My Exaggerated Life, as told to Katherine Clark via USC Press):

“Nowadays I am famous for never talking about the book I’m trying to sell. I have driven the book reps nuts in every company that’s ever published me…And I’ve always told the reps, “Look, here’s my theory. If they like me and enjoy me, they’ll buy the book. If I bore them to death about the book, they’re not going to buy a book.”

Have you given both types of talks? Any tips that I’ve missed? Done any public speaking lately?

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Published on May 20, 2018 21:02

May 19, 2018

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Business / Miscellaneous

3 Steps for Spring Cleaning Your Artist Statement: @gigirosenberg

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Insights From the Foreign Rights Specialists Shortlisted for Tonight’s 2018 British Book Awards: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

In London, British Book Awards Include Political Commentary Amid Celebration: @Porter_Anderson @PhilipPullman @pubperspectives

UBM Partnership Adds Children’s Books Rights and Licensing to Beijing Book Fair: @Porter_Anderson

‘Tehran Book Fair Uncensored’ This Year Adds an Anthology of Writings Forbidden in Iran: @Porter_Anderson @indpuballiance

The 213 Year Old New England Society Names Five 2018 Book Awards: Fiction, Nonfiction, Art, and Travel: @Porter_Anderson @NewEnglandSoc

Creativity and Inspiration / First Novels

What Should I Expect From My First Novel? @jamesscottbell

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

Five Fascinating Facts about the Limerick for National Limerick Day: @InterestingLit

Reading as a Writer: @10MinNovelists

15 Page-Turning Podcasts for Readers: @TCKPublishing

9 of the Most Memorable Mothers in Literature: @AnnieNeugebauer

8 of the Most Terrifying Mothers in Crime Fiction: @Chesanek @CrimeReads

Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation

The Key to Unlocking Your Writing Potential: by Jason Binder @LiveWriteThrive

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

How Writing in Chunks Can Make You a More Productive Writer: @Janice_Hardy

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block

How to Outsmart Writer’s Block with Neuroscience: @KeltonReid @copyblogger

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

How to Avoid Burnout as a Writer (and as a person): @DeannaCabinian

Teaching Little Ones to Value Books and Stories: 9 Tips from the Trenches: @MargaretWelwood @Nicholas_Rossis

The 5 Keys to Writing with Depression: @SloanTamar

6 Ways To Know You’re Writing For The Long Haul: @sowulwords

You Can’t Create Alone: On Fostering Literary Community: @cimjones @loftliterary @The_Millions

22 Photos of Famous Authors and Their Moms: @knownemily @lithub

10 Literary Holidays We Desperately Need: @helpfulsnowman

Who Decides if a Writer has Talent? @SnowflakeGuy

Little green monsters: How to handle writer envy: @ryangvancleave @TheWriterMag

Genres / Fantasy

Writing Lessons from Video Games: Conquest of the Longbow: @VictoriaGHowell

Genres / Miscellaneous

Publishing Success: Genre Loyalty vs. Plot Bunny Saboteurs: @KristenLambTX

How Reddit is launching the careers of webcomic artists: @simonowens

Genres / Mystery

Crime Writing: Murder Scene Checklist: @LeeLofland

Crime Fiction: When a Small Offense Leads to Something Bigger: @mkinberg

Old-Fashioned Characters as Elements in Crime Fiction: @mkinberg

Genres / Picture Books

“My Long Journey to Becoming a Published Children’s Book Author”: @kidsbookbuzz

Genres / Romance

Writing Sensual Romance 101: from Miranda Shepard

Genres / Science Fiction

A Primer on Primates for SFF Writers: @DanKoboldt

Promo / Blogging

The Return of Blogging: @DanBlank

Promo / Book Descriptions and Copywriting

The Organizing Principle, for Fun and Profit: @PaulaSMunier

Book Description Basics: @AuthorKSBrooks @IndiesUnlimited

Promo / Miscellaneous

6 Top Tips for SEO on Amazon: @JyotsnaR @IndieAuthorALLI

5 Quick Ways to Ramp Up Your Amazon Author Central Page: @Bookgal

Promo / Platforms

A Smarter Author Platform for the Digital Era of Publishing: @JaneFriedman @WriterUnboxed

Promo / Social Media Tips

Social Media Phobic? Facebook is (Still) Your Friend: @sharonbially @WriterUnboxed

6 Steps to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile: @BetJett @EdieMelson

Overcoming the Social Media Fear: @emma_darwin

Shakespeare’s Twitter Account: @ByKateDwyer @parisreview

How to Use Twitter Hashtags for Writers: @EmilyWenstrom

11 Tips To Using LinkedIn To Promote Your Book: @Mollie_Porein

Publishing / Miscellaneous

How to Link your Kindle Book Edition to your Paperback Edition on Amazon: @EricVanDerHope

How to Preview Your Kindle eBook: @ChrisDMcMullen

Collaboration within a Sub-Genre: @grivante @IndieAuthorALLI

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Film Notes: BookExpo Adds Screen Panel; Anna Todd’s ‘After’ Names Telles, Tiffin at Cannes: @Porter_Anderson @imaginator1d

Industry Notes: Translator Nick Andrews Wins Gutekunst Prize; France Offers Grants in Canada: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Brexit Gets Personal: An Illustrator Draws a Picture of Publishing’s Dilemma: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Russian Government Initiates a Program Promoting a Return to Summertime Reading: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Canada’s Penguin Random House Gets a Female CEO; Sweden’s Universities End Elsevier Contract: @Porter_Anderson

Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction Shortlisters: Lawyers in Love With Literature: @Porter_Anderson

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

How to Self-Publish a Book: The Sweet Science of Indie Publishing: @ReedsyHQ

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing

Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing. Pros and Cons: @EldonnaEdwards @annerallen

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Pitches

Mastering The Art Of The Elevator Pitch: by Robert Wood @standoutbooks

Publishing / Process / Formatting

Word to Kindle Formatting: @ChrisDMcMullen

Formatting your Novel Manuscript for Submission: @LaraEdits

Publishing / Process / Translation

What’s the Best Way to Promote Literature in Translation? @_michaelbarron

Writing Craft / Beginnings

Do You Feel Grounded in This YA Fantasy Opening? by Maria D’Marco @Janice_Hardy

Get Some Blood Pumping in Your Prose: @jamesscottbell

Screenwriting Tricks for Authors: Character Introductions: @AlexSokoloff

Improving a First Page: The Wagon Wheel of Suspense: @SueColetta1 @killzoneauthors

Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists

Writing Realistic Antagonists: @TyreanMartinson @TheIWSG

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

Tips for better character development: @DN_Bryn

How to Create a Character in Short Fiction: by Lesley Nneka Arimah @SignatureReads

How Empathizing With Your Character Can Make a Better Story: @mkinberg

Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists

Protagonist Examples: Creating Memorable Main Characters: @nownovel

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

Show Don’t Tell? Not Always. Here’s When to Use Summary: by Bucket Siler

Writing Craft / Conflict

Externalizing Internal Conflict: by Jessica S Hinds @CreativeScreen

Writing Craft / Endings

Stories With a Happy Ending: by James R. Preston

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

Silver Screen Inspiration For Short Story Writers: @MiaJouBotha

Creative Lessons From Screenwriting: @thecreativepenn

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

How to Write Relationships Your Readers Can Get Behind: from Let’s Write Some Novels

7 Frequently Asked Writing Questions: @KMWeiland

Unlikable Characters (That Readers Still Relate To): @RMNSediting

Writing Craft / POV

One-Two-Three. P-O-V. : @stacitroilo @RomanceUniv

Straying from the Party Line: The Power and Peril of POV in “A Game of Thrones”: @CockeyedCaravan

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

Never Get Stuck For A Plot Point Or Story Twist Again: @AnthonyEhlers

Free Falling into the Unplotted Novel: by Caroline Taylor @WomenWriters

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

3 Examples of Interpolated Coordination: @writing_tips

Writing Craft / Revision

The Difference Between a Revision, a Rewrite, and a Redraft: @Janice_Hardy

The Dangers of Premature Editing: Pruning Our Stories vs. Pillaging Them: @KristenLambTX

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

How to Handle Critiques: @ClareLangleyH

Courteous Critiquing: @DN_Bryn

Writing Craft / Scenes

The Question You Need to Ask for Every Scene: @Janice_Hardy

Writing Craft / Scenes / Conflict

4 Types of Conflict—and How to Use Them in Your Writing: by Karen Ann Lefkowitz @WritersDigest

Writing Craft / Series / Series Bible

Why You Should Keep Track of Your Story Details: @Janice_Hardy

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

5 Most Common Mistakes with Setting: @SeptCFawkes

Mapping Your Story’s Setting: @SaraL_Writer

Tips for Adding Visual “Texture” to Your Story: by Glynna Kaye @SKRViLL

Writing Craft / Word Crafting

How to Decide Between Plain Prose and Beautiful Prose: @KMWeiland

Writing Tools / Miscellaneous

Novel Writing Tools: The Draft Notebook: by letswritesomenovels

The top writing links from last week are on Twitterific:
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Published on May 19, 2018 21:04

May 17, 2018

Empathizing With Your Character

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Every once in a while, I’ll grind to a halt with my story. I’ll either want to flesh out a subplot or develop the main plot a bit more, but I won’t be sure which direction to go in.

I always manage to muddle my way through and solve my problem, but I’d never sent a lot of time thinking about how I solve it.

I read a post by Steven-John Tait recently and one of his tips really resonated with me. Tait said, “Find empathy. If you can empathize with a character, you can get into their head. Once you’re in their head, you can fill in the blanks.”

Tait’s tip was intended to help with developing a protagonist, but it works well with all of the characters in the story. This is one of the main methods that I use when I’m ‘muddling’ through the book to find my way.

Plot Development

For instance, when I was working on developing a subplot recently, I put myself in the shoes of one of my minor recurring characters. I realized that I’d left her kind of stalled-out in her life for several books…that she wasn’t really arcing. When I put myself in her shoes, I realized that she needed to move forward in her relationship and in her life and needed a dramatic change. I wrote it in.

When I put myself in the shoes of my story’s killer, it was interesting, too. I can’t say that I empathized with her, but the exercise did help me realize what might be going on in that character’s timeline at various points in the story.

Character Likeability Check

Tait has a point–the protagonist is likely the most important character for us to be able to empathize with. After all, if we can’t, then our readers likely won’t be able to. And readers can be tough on characters that they can’t connect with in some way.

This is a tough one for me because I tend to like unlikeable characters. In fact, I have two protagonists who can be prickly. As the writer, you can leave your unlikeable characters completely alone, or you can tweak them to please readers more…your choice.

If your character is borderline or even over-the-top unlikeable, there are pretty easy fixes. Blake Snyder famously developed the “save the cat” approach where the protagonist does something kind to create empathy. You can also show a potential for kindness from the character. These approaches are explained by Robert Wood of Standout Books in this post.

You could also explore what makes them prickly or otherwise unlikeable. Some skilful use of backstory can help with this.

Character Consistency

Putting ourselves in our characters’ heads is a good way to make sure they’re acting in character, too. That they’re behaving like themselves. Or, if they aren’t, we need to find a way to explain why they aren’t.

Do you ever use this method as a way of keeping your story on track? Have you ever used it for developing plots and subplots?

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Published on May 17, 2018 21:02

May 13, 2018

A Tip for Building Your ARC Team

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I have been building my ARC team (Advance Reader/Review Copy team) organically for years. Organically as in…I didn’t do the building myself. If a reader reached out to me and asked to be on my list (a list that I never mentioned and never promoted), then I agreed to the add.

But recently, I’ve been more interested in increasing the number of ARC readers . I do like the early reviews and social media mentions and I think they help spike interest in a new release.

Since I’m a pretty late adopter, I decided to make it very simple on myself. Instead of putting something on my website, I reached out to my most dedicated readers–my newsletter subscribers. When my last release came out and I sent an email to my subscribers to notify them, I included a special section in my newsletter:

Would you like the opportunity to read new Myrtle Clover and Southern Quilting mysteries before they are published (and for free)? I have a limited number of spaces on my ARC team (that’s an advance reader copy team). Applicants must be able to read ebooks (on Kindle, epub, or PDF since there won’t be any print galleys). I would love honest reviews submitted to Amazon, Goodreads, or other retailers/reading communities . ARC members receive an early copy 1-2 weeks before the book is published. ARC team members are also eligible to get signed, printed copies of my books at a reduced rate (just the cost of printing and shipping) when purchased directly from me. If you’re interested, click this link to fill out a short form for consideration. Thanks!

The link went to a free SurveyMonkey form. (You could also use a free Google Form.) My form was mostly geared to making sure that any applicants had the technical ability to load books on their ereading devices, although I plan on sending them the ARCs via InstaFreebie (and InstaFreebie offers tech support). I also wanted to know which series they usually read (I’d rather send ARCs of their favorite series, but I may from time to time send free books as samples of the series they haven’t read).

As soon as the newsletter went out I started getting responses.

I notified the accepted applicants to thank them, explain that they’d receive a link to the upcoming book via email, that they’d be reading an uncorrected copy, and remind them that any posted reviews needed to have a disclosure that they’d received the book for free.

Make sure you’re in compliance with Amazon’s Terms of Service/Community Guidelines, in particular this bit:

Book authors and publishers may continue to provide free or discounted copies of their books to readers, as long as the author or publisher does not require a review in exchange or attempt to influence the review.

I didn’t have a lot of hoops to jump through, but other authors do. I’ve seen everything from deadlines for posting reviews to sending proof of a review to the author. However, because of my concerns about following the Amazon ToS, I won’t explicitly require a review. However, I did stress in my email that there was a waiting list for my ARC team and if life became too busy to read and review, I’d appreciate if they’d let me know so that someone else could have the opportunity to be on the team. I will likely review the ARC team in the future and see if it is helping with sales.

Here are some other examples of ARC forms and copy to take a look at. Some ask very specific questions of the readers to help the authors determine who might be a more valuable member for their team. Some include requests not to issue spoilers for the books that they read in any reviews. Some ask which retailer in which country the reader buys books from (in order to potentially gain international reviews). Again, I’d personally be careful about requiring reviews and requests for reviews, but I think there are other good takeaways from these sites.

C.J. Ellison

Stacia Stone

Ivy Layne

Basically…just ask. Ask your most dedicated readers if they would be interested in joining your ARC team.

Do you have an ARC team? How have you added members?

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Published on May 13, 2018 21:02