Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 97

Updating a Facebook Page

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I don’t spend the time on Facebook that I probably should (it’s never been my favorite platform). But I understand the importance of Facebook to my overall social media presence. I know it’s where my readers are and I hear from them regularly there. I want to make sure that I’m available on the platform so that I can easily connect with my readers.

I realized last week that I really needed to perform some sort of Facebook page tune-up.  Sure enough, I found lots of things that needed to be updated or tweaked.

Ideas for areas to address on your own page:

First of all, it’s always a good idea to check your security settings and basic profile information.  I discovered that, in my contact section, Facebook had once again in all its wisdom decided to display my cell phone number. I removed it.

How is your bio?  Is your newsletter signup mentioned there?  A link to your book page?

You have the ability on your Facebook page to add a call-to-action button.  For authors, one of the best options may be the ‘shop now’ button (the newsletter signup button would also be a valuable option).  I link mine to my website’s book page, which links to all three series and each book at each retailer.  That way anyone can find my books at any retailer or on any reading platform.

A couple of other things are worthwhile to consider.  One is adding milestones to your Facebook page.  A milestone, when read in order, reads as a story on your Facebook page. You can add a milestone (and back-date it) to your Facebook page by going to your timeline and clicking ‘offer, event +’ and then clicking ‘milestone.’

There are probably plenty of ways we could implement milestones.  I chose to go very simply with it–I only correlated milestones with the releases of each book of each series.  You could do release dates, conferences, panels, great reviews: anything that helps you put across your brand and story best.

There is also an area where you can add videos.  I do have a couple of videos of me talking about mystery reading and writing (one that I uploaded to my Amazon Central page and one I was asked to create for an event that I wasn’t able to attend in person), so I did upload those to my Facebook page.

Unfortunately, checking the ‘do not show on my newsfeed’ box doesn’t mean your followers won’t get notified about your milestones or videos. So, just a heads-up…if you update everything at once (as I did), you might be unintentionally spamming your followers on Facebook.

Another important thing to check is newsletter signup integration.   If you use a service like MailChimp (free for up to 2,000 subscribers), have you connected your MailChimp account to your Facebook account?  Readers can then sign up for our newsletter from our Facebook page.  I went into that process a little more in depth in this post.

Have you done a Facebook page tune-up lately?  How do you use your Facebook page to connect with readers?

Checklist of Updates and Tweaks for Your Facebook Page:
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Photo via Visual Hunt

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Balancing Pace with Reader Inclusion

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Sometimes in my stories, I want to pick up the pace, especially to move the mystery along.   I’ll quickly move through a scene, summing up something that’s happening–a party, a walk that several friends are taking, a picnic–to get to what I think of as ‘the important part’…whatever that might be at the time.

One of my editors at Penguin would frequently type notes in Track Changes at these spots: “Could you expand on this  scene and let the reader see this happening? I think they’d enjoy being part of it.”

The truth is that showing takes time. It takes time to write and read.  But my editor was right: there are parts that I shouldn’t rush through as a writer, even when I feel the pace of the narrative needs to pick up.

For a while, I just gave completely in.  Let’s say we’ve got a carnival going on as a good set-up for our protagonist to be able to casually speak to another character in the story (this character supplies information of some sort for our protagonist).

If I’d originally felt like the story were dragging a little, I might have said something like:

The carnival was fun and exhausting at the same time.  The bright lights, the barkers’ calls, the heavy food combined to make John ready to head home. Although he wouldn’t have wanted to miss the highlight of the evening: when he beat his best friend at the strongman game.

John was finally making his way toward his car when he was surprised by a bitter voice behind him.

That sort of wraps up the carnival in a couple of sentences before moving into a dialogue with a catalyst character.

This is a good example of a spot where my editor might have asked me to elaborate and bring the reader into the carnival.  Before, I might have done that by writing a page or more as to what John and his best friend did and saw, did, and ate at the carnival.  To make sure this wasn’t skimmed by the reader, I’d have provided some character development along the way, or maybe developed a subplot at the same time.

Now I’d (usually) handle it a different way. I still want to move the mystery along. But I’d want to let the reader experience the carnival, too.  It would go more like this:

The carnival was fun and exhausting at the same time.  The bright lights, the barkers’ calls, the heavy food combined to make John ready to head home.

“You look worn out,” said Peter.

“I think I’m ready to call it a day.” John patted his pockets to find his car keys.

“Which is fine, but not until we play the High Striker. You know, the strongman game.”

John sighed, shoving his keys back in his pocket. “Even though I was just saying I was tired?”

“The perfect time for me to win!”

Another few quick lines could be added to show John winning the game and heading back out.

By interspersing dialogue and exposition,  readers can get an inside look at the action surrounding the protagonist and feel part of the scene, while I move things along.  It took me a while to learn to balance these elements.

How cognizant are you of pace in your story?  Any other tricks to edit for pace?

Tips on balancing pace with reader inclusion in a scene:
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Photo credit: B Gilmour. via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

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Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

A weekly roundup of the best writing links from around the web.

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 35,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

Nail That First Line:  http://ow.ly/yein305satR @PBRWriter

3 Tips for Collecting a Wealth of Humorous Material:  http://ow.ly/guy0305sbCD @JeanWilund

How to Write When Life Turns Upside Down: http://ow.ly/Mh6O305vAHG @RuthanneReid

On Making Comic Books For the Blind:  http://ow.ly/rxFL305N5dF @ingredient_x @lithub      

How to Write a Novel in Six Months:  http://ow.ly/It4w305vACG @monicamclark

Tips for tightening up our writing:  http://ow.ly/vvXX305vBrE @inkylinks

Promoting a Sequel in a Book’s Back Matter: http://ow.ly/NQzX305vAqz @DianaUrban  @BookBub

Finding your Voice as a Horror Writer:  http://ow.ly/Yeof305vBa2 @parttimescribe

Master Outlining and Tracking Tool for Novels: http://ow.ly/EvSu305vAN9 by Iulian Ionescu  @FantasyScroll

Should Published Stories Be Set in Stone?  http://ow.ly/x5mC305vAnS @JamiGold

The importance of keeping our website updated for 2017:  http://ow.ly/CpVg305vBjv @AnneKnol1

An Evernote Guide for Writers: 5 Ways to Use it for All Your Projects:  http://ow.ly/cwIR305vAAi @jkwak

Creating Single-Author Box Sets:  http://ow.ly/Mqrx305vAkQ  @MarcyKennedy

7 Point Story Structure [Resources]:  http://ow.ly/5qvl305eumF @HunterEmkay

10 Easy Jokes for Your Dialogue:  http://ow.ly/ObVP305euwJ by Chris Winkle @mythcreants

10 Tips for Writing Through Family Stress:  http://ow.ly/1KPg305xTxj @bclaypolewhite

Hadbawnik on Translating Virgil: ‘An Exercise in Failure’ http://ow.ly/PaGI305LZZJ @vestigiaflammae @DennisAbrams2

10 Questions To Ask Yourself About Your Author Ethics: http://ow.ly/GRx0305xTCV @10MinNovelists

Problem Solve POV with Color:  http://ow.ly/cfTm305xTAi @NeelyKneely3628

The Secret to Writing Dynamic Characters: It’s Always Their Fault:  http://ow.ly/8ESJ305sahV @KMWeiland

5 Ways to Stay Motivated in Your Writing Journey:  http://ow.ly/Lczh305samg  @WritersRumpus @amycourage7

Author @VivWrites on the importance of your first sentence: http://ow.ly/FjrJ305QqzE

Character Motivation Thesaurus Entry: Having a Child:  http://ow.ly/7Elq305sb54 @beccapuglisi

Sharjah Book Fair’s Professional Program: Business in the Arab World http://ow.ly/rNgX305LZRa @Porter_Anderson @mtamblyn

Connecting with an audience means sharing your voice:  http://ow.ly/9dIT305sazE @DanBlank

Perks and Pitfalls of Twitter Pitches:  http://ow.ly/LsGh305sac0 @jeribaird11

5 Apps to Help You Revise Your Manuscript:  http://ow.ly/DCeO305saRq @WhynottEdit

10 Steps to Nail Your Story:  http://ow.ly/8zeE305sbaF @diannmills

3 Problems with Suspensive Hyphenation:  http://ow.ly/Kpyq305sa9v @writing_tips

3 Steps to Engaging Your Readers By Making Your Characters Vulnerable:  http://ow.ly/CKeq305saKR @AngelaAckerman

What Makes Fantasy Epic? http://ow.ly/Sxbg305sagV @JillWilliamson

Why Writers Should Schedule Distractions:  http://ow.ly/KipX305saTS @RosanneBane

On Writing the YA Voice:  http://ow.ly/1ktp305saIN @Ava_Jae

“Help! My book isn’t selling!” 9 Things to Consider Before Giving Up:  http://ow.ly/IiyP305rBUt @Bookgal

5 Easy Steps To Make Readers Laugh Using The Absurd:  http://ow.ly/hXbi305sbgJ @JeanWilund

How to Write Better Headlines for Facebook, Twitter and Search:  http://ow.ly/4BuM305r4Hs @Ashread_ @buffer

Ultimate list of Best #Author Tools:  http://bit.ly/2dBybJY @BirdsOAFpress @IndieAuthorALLI

The UAE Exempts Books From VAT, Gives Workers Reading Time:  http://ow.ly/nI6f305LZuG @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @JoseBorghino

17 Questions for Writers to Ask Themselves While Reading: http://ow.ly/gKq5305rC0l @Writers_Write

How A Sacred Work Space Will Help You Write and Live Better:  http://ow.ly/Yuil305rBSW @katekrake

5 Books That Make You Wish You Had Magic:  http://ow.ly/PFQk305rBNi @sarahbethdurst  @tordotcom

Creating Your Villain’s Journey:  http://ow.ly/ZBOC305rC95 by Chris Winkle @mythcreants

Real Life Diagnostics: Where to Put Your Dialogue Tags:  http://ow.ly/Mptn305sbtt @Janice_Hardy

5 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself Before Hiring a Book Editor: http://ow.ly/ZoCa305rBLJ @ValBreitEditor

What Ann Patchett Can Teach Us About Giving Away Your Story:  http://ow.ly/bU4e305rBXo @jennienash

5 Ways to Hang Onto Motivation:  http://ow.ly/tM6p305rBPn @KateMColby

Giving Characters Too Little Information:  http://ow.ly/vV30305oDWd @Kid_Lit

The Hot Sheet: industry newsletter for authors (30 day free trial): from @Porter_Anderson & @JaneFriedman: http://ow.ly/xy3W305MCqs

5 Sci-Fi Books That Make Use of Music:  http://ow.ly/vWrt305mrqi by Christopher Priest @tordotcom

Children’s Book Summit: @Nielsen  on Kids, Their Trends, and Their Parents: http://ow.ly/jY90305LZjb @Porter_Anderson @NIELKristen

The Best of Genre + The Best of Literary Fiction = Awesome:  http://ow.ly/8O6r305lSmZ @Benjamin_Percy @lithub

Rejections: Serenity, Courage, and Wisdom:  http://ow.ly/y64s305LOyi @ChrysFey @TheIWSG

Hermione Granger: More Than a Sidekick:  http://ow.ly/IvYS305oEdx @gaileyfrey

The Importance of Genre Specific:  http://ow.ly/fzaF305oDD5 @oosuzieq

John Green on Mental Illness and Creativity:  http://ow.ly/Jnwb305oDGl @johngreen

How to Broadcast With YouTube Live:  http://ow.ly/AcNk305oDtb @kristihines  @SMExaminer

The Truth About Adverbs http://ow.ly/bzp1305oE0O by Michael McDonagh @QueryTracker

What it Takes to Be a “Real” Writer:  http://ow.ly/EQrH305oDNo @KristenLambTX

Getting Published by a Traditional Publisher: 7 Ways to Look Your Best:  http://ow.ly/hroQ305oDwG @LisaTener

10 of the Best Books on Writing:  http://ow.ly/6dwY305oDBj @Kristen_E_Pope

3 Kinds of Story Arcs:  http://ow.ly/zYk2305oDSN @beccapuglisi

Where Drama Really Comes From:  http://ow.ly/1mbn305mr5M @LisaCron

On Writing, Mothering, and Slouching Towards Fulfillment:  http://ow.ly/9nzb305mree @scurtisgraziano  @brevitymag

Stephen King’s 2010 Essay on ‘The Blair Witch Project’: http://ow.ly/qLrd305mryR @FreddyInSpace  @BDisgusting  @StephenKing

Top 5 Reasons Authors Need a Mailing List:  http://ow.ly/YwK2305mrE7 @RMNSediting

The Tipping Point For Successful Authors: 9 Authors With Tips:  http://ow.ly/EAZN305GUih @GarryRodgers1

11 Legendary Literary Hoaxes:  http://ow.ly/DX4i305lSbp @WithEdSimon @lithub

New Deadline for German Translators, New Jefferis Winner for Australia http://ow.ly/ZLOt305CSoc @Porter_Anderson

Novel Plot Mistakes: 7 Don’ts:  http://ow.ly/bLlW305mrut @nownovel

Steve Martin: a Wild and Crazy Role Model:  http://ow.ly/2MgU305mr9j @sarahrcallender

How (And Why) You Should Plan A Podcast To Market Your Book:  http://ow.ly/fRsb305mrmm @standoutbooks

7 Myths About Creative People:  http://ow.ly/lwag305mrIn @emily_tjaden

How to Find Writing Inspiration from African American History:  http://ow.ly/D8Hv305mrw2 @monicamclark

Creating a support system for your creative work:  http://ow.ly/enLs305mrju @DanBlank

The 5 Most Realistic Ways to Make a Living as a Writer:  http://ow.ly/e2OS305j8rS @GlenLong

The Ultimate List of #NaNoWriMo Tips:  http://ow.ly/deFZ305IASH @YeseniaVargas32

Prepping for #NaNoWriMo 2016:  http://ow.ly/vGK5305koAy @NovelEditor

#NaNoWriMo Prep: Getting To Know Your Characters:  http://ow.ly/R3mP305koI0 @KhaosFoxe

What’s Scary For Writers: http://ow.ly/PgBU305H2d1

Diving into #NaNoWriMo Preparations:  http://ow.ly/iuxK305koXC @NatePhilbrick

Writing a Novel in a Month: #NaNoWriMo Prep:  http://ow.ly/rfpP305koTL @nownovel

10 Creativity Catalysts to Win #NaNoWriMo:  http://ow.ly/rgiF305kokY @joebunting

What is #NaNoWriMo? 10 FAQs and resources:  http://ow.ly/kdrZ305kowg @nownovel

#NaNoWriMo Prep: Plotting, Planning, And Outlining:  http://ow.ly/zswV305koDN @KhaosFoxe

Pre- #NaNoWriMo Tips:  http://ow.ly/QcPs305koPh @Ava_Jae

#NaNoWriMo Prep: World Building:  http://ow.ly/NWR1305koLY @KhaosFoxe

Top 5 #nanoprep tips:  http://ow.ly/5xVC305koZE #nanowrimo @KattyB3

Doing #NaNoWriMo? Nail it with this resource kit: http://ow.ly/TTAE305koqX @Roz_Morris

Triumphing at #NaNoWriMo: 4 Important Ways to Get Ready:  http://ow.ly/lFou305kmlh @KathyEdens1  @ProWritingAid

#NaNoPrep, NaNoPlanMo or Preptober [Resources]: http://ow.ly/vgJJ305klDD @HunterEmkay  #nanowrimo

#NaNoWriMo: After 8 Years and a Contract:  http://ow.ly/LTiF305kkL1 @jamieraintree

7 Reasons Fall Is The Best Season To Read Outside:  http://ow.ly/IvjT305Fy6Z  @juliaseales

Hiring the Self-Publishing Services You Need At The Right Price: http://ow.ly/H5Rz305rj6A #IAF16 @reedsyhq @IndieAuthorALLI

5 Tips for #NaNoWriMo Learned from a 825-Day Writing Streak:  http://ow.ly/SIqd305klWV @jamietr

5 Types of #NaNoWriMo Participants and the Tools You Need:  http://ow.ly/tXWK305kkZD @Magic_Violinist

How To Write 50,000 Words In A Month With @grantfaulkner   http://ow.ly/pcaT305kmav @thecreativepenn

How To Plan Your #NaNoWriMo Novel In 15-Minute Sessions:  http://ow.ly/RW6A305kkR9 @Write_Tomorrow

Preparing for #NaNoWriMo (Write Good Books Podcast):  http://ow.ly/FjHn305klkt @jasonbougger

The top writing links of the week are on Twitterific:
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From First Sentence To Book Deal

by Vivian Conroy, @VivWrites

When the editor called me to offer me a 3-book deal for my Lady Alkmene Callender 1920s’ mysteries, she told me that after reading a sentence or two she already knew this book was something she’d want to buy. Of course my book had to deliver as a whole (appealing characters, a solid plot) but her remark made me realize something extremely important for writers:  whether you are submitting to a contest, including pages with a query to an agent, or sending in requested work after a conference pitch, your first sentence or first paragraph has to hook the reader right away.

The first sentence has to do many things at once: set the tone of the story, show that something is about to happen that the reader wants to be a part of. When I typed the first sentence of my manuscript, I saw a very clear picture in my mind that I wanted to convey: an unconventional aristocratic woman at a party, reaching for a lighter to relight her cigarette and overhearing a few whispered words that pique her interest and involve her in what is to become her very first murder investigation.

We meet the heroine, Lady Alkmene, at a point of change in her life, where she hits upon something, by coincidence, yes, but something that also clicks with elements that were already present in her character: the need for excitement, insatiable curiosity, fascination with human psychology. Traits that will serve her well as she takes her first steps as a budding detective.

In the first chapter we don’t learn a whole lot about Lady Alkmene in terms of backstory, but we do see her in action, or rather almost hear the cogwheels in her mind churning as she puts information together. Because we are clueless like she is, we sort of automatically sleuth alongside her, trying to work out what on earth is going on here. Sprinkle in some details about the setting, reveal character in words and actions, and you are good to go.

So if you’re putting together a submission, go over your first sentence and your first page and see how you can grab readers right away and place them in the world you have created where everything starts unfolding in a natural way. Don’t be too worried that the reader won’t follow along if some details are left until later. The most important thing for you as writer is to show readers a scene they get curious about, a character they want to know more about, and you’ve accomplished your first task.

Then of course there is all the rest of the work that goes into a full-length novel.

But trust me when I say that writing a strong opening scene can get you an editor’s attention … and a book deal!

In love with the mystery genre since she read her first Agatha Christie at thirteen, Vivian Conroy writes the Lady Alkmene Callender 1920s’ mysteries for an imprint of HarperCollins. Book 1, A PROPOSAL TO DIE FOR — described by reviewers as ‘a cross between Downton Abbey and Miss Marple’ — hit top ten Cozy Mystery in Australia.  Book 2, DIAMONDS OF DEATH, where Lady Alkmene has to dig deep in her own family’s secrets to clear a cat burglar of a murder charge, has just been released while book 3, DEADLY TREASURES, in which Lady Alkmene travels to Cornwall on the trail of fabled gold, will release on November 21 (already available for pre-order). Each installment can be read on its own. When not writing or plotting a new mystery, Vivian enjoys hiking, growing her own windowsill herbs and experimenting with felt and clay. For all things #LadyAlkmene, with a dash of dogs and chocolate, follow Vivian on Twitter via @VivWrites or find the mysteries on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

Author @VivWrites on the importance of your first sentence:
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What’s Scary–For Writers

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

It’s Halloween, the perfect time to mull over fear.

I read a lot of really scary stuff online.  None of it has to do with monsters, either.  There is a lot of both advice and just negative blanket statements out there for writers to deal with–most of it well-intended, but some of it ultimately unhealthy for writers.

Here are a few examples of the scary statements and advice that writers hear:

Reading is losing to the competition, especially to social media and gaming.

True.  But, if you think about it, people are actually reading more, I think, than they used to.  When I was growing up, everyone was watching TV and on the landline phone.  Now they’re reading–it just happens to be micropublishing.  They’re reading Facebook posts, blog posts, Twitter posts, text messages. But everyone is reading–and writing–more.  Instead, consider experimenting with online writing platforms like Wattpad.

There is a ‘wall of content’ for writers to compete with.

Yes.  But what’s our ultimate goal? If it’s writing for a large audience, we may have to make shrewd sacrifices to make our stories stand out. Possible solution:  make sure our book stands out with an excellent cover and editing. If commercial success is important, write more in line with the market.

Write first thing in the morning before checking email, social media, or doing anything else.

I personally ascribe to this one.  But I live with people who are not morning people.  This method would not work for them or for many people.  Instead, write whenever you hit your creative peak each day.

Outlining is the best method for professional writers.  If you’re not an outliner, you may feel that you’re not working as productively as other writers.   But whatever works for you is the best method for you.  Only re-evaluate if your writing isn’t going as well as you’d like.

Adverbs are to be avoided at all costs.  They have their uses. Maybe you just need to evaluate if you’re leaning too heavily on them in your project.

Traditionally published writers get marketing help and support. Unless you’ve written a blockbuster, the marketing most writers receive is simply bookstore placement and a mention in the publisher’s catalog.

Show don’t tell.  This advice works well sometimes and not so well at others.   If you’re wanting to increase pace and develop tension quickly (an action scene, for example), then you’ll want to tell instead of show.  More on this from editor Linda S. Clare.

An interest in making money means you’re not a serious artist.  As far as I’m aware, even artists have to eat sometime. I think it’s valuable creating books that encourage people to read (and to pay for the entertainment).

Traditionally published writers make more money than self-published writers.  Some of them may. My own experience didn’t corroborate this statement.

Writers need long periods of time to focus on their writing.  For some writers, there’s never a perfect time to write; there’s never a time when they couldn’t be doing something else important.  Sometimes writing in short segments of time, finding 10 or 15 minutes at a time, is the best way to accomplish a writing goal.

Writers write when they hear the Muse speaking to them.   Many writers never feel particularly inspired to write but sit down and make the inspiration happen as they go.

Do you hear any advice or blanket statements on the market that make you feel uncomfortable?  Which ones did I miss?

What's Scary: for Writers:
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Photo credit: source via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

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Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

A weekly roundup of the best writing links from around the web.

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 35,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

4 Ways to Pre-plan Your #NaNoWriMo Story: http://ow.ly/lcb7305klvu @WordDreams

How to Outline Your #NaNoWriMo Novel:  http://ow.ly/Sq7S305klok @NatePhilbrick

On #NaNoWriMo and Finding Time:  http://ow.ly/x7gO305kkXF @Ava_Jae

5 Things You Need To Do Before #NaNoWriMo:  http://ow.ly/Szvu305klMS @KMHodgeAuthor  @WomenWriters               

Day-by-Day #NaNoWriMo Outline: Characters & Themes Cheatsheet:  http://ow.ly/aM2m305kl6m @BetterNovelProj

Should Indie Authors Go KDP Exclusive Or Go Wide? http://ow.ly/JDfH305rjSH #IAF16 @pippadacosta @susankayequinn @IndieAuthorALLI

Build Blog Traffic by Guest Posting: http://ow.ly/2r5w305k6ah @mollygreene  @JeriWB

Stephen King’s 20 Tips for Becoming a Frighteningly Good Writer:  http://ow.ly/ehMs305j8kn @GlenLong

10 Tips to Help You Rock #NaNoWriMo:  http://ow.ly/9NYC305k6ZK @JennyHansenCA

Top 16 Close-Talking, Double Dipping Tips to Succeeding At #Nanowrimo: http://ow.ly/qQtx305k74r @10MinNovelists

How To Use #NaNoWriMo To Structure Your Fiction-writing Business:  http://ow.ly/FKUX305rjJT #IAF16 @grantfaulkner @IndieAuthorALLI

#NaNoWriMo Prep: Using Positive Reinforcement And Rewards:  http://ow.ly/8hK4305k79A @KhaosFoxe

#NaNoWriMo 2016: Is It for You? Caution:  http://ow.ly/5xCA305k6Cw @JerryBJenkins

4 Visual Tricks for Writers Who Want To Rock #NaNoWriMo: http://ow.ly/KDnd305k6Od @RobinRWrites

15 Story Beats to Keep Your #NaNoWriMo Novel on Track:  http://ow.ly/iGWm305k6Sc @HeatherJacksonW

New #NaNoWriMo Author? 3 Tips To Avoid Anxiety And Stress:  http://ow.ly/HQpi305k6hw @angee

7 reasons why to avoid binge writing:  http://ow.ly/DlcT305k6GS @pubcoach

Increase Your #NaNoWriMo Success With Word Sprints:  http://ow.ly/5cqg305k6um @WritersEdit   @KyraThomsen

The Pros and Pros of #NaNoWriMo:  http://ow.ly/ygZ5305k6Vb @LovettRomance

Paul Beatty is the First American to Win the Man Booker Prize:  http://ow.ly/mAsw305CSGI @ManBookerPrize @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

3 ways sentences turn: http://ow.ly/BQBu305hM8X @kseniaanske

Freelance Writing: 10 Steps, Tons of Resources:  http://ow.ly/EnQ3305hLKN @aliventures

Germany’s Startup Oolipo (‘like Tinder for mobile stories’): http://ow.ly/nLtz305CRQQ @Porter_Anderson @oolipo @rdavidmullins

The Chosen One Trope:  http://ow.ly/2huo305hLZN by Brian DeLeonard @mythicscribes

Tips for balancing parenting and writing: http://ow.ly/jKwh305CXzG

Cinestate in Dallas: a ‘Book, Audio, and Film Venture’:  http://ow.ly/qRAS305CRB1 @Porter_Anderson @willevans @cinestatement

Body Language: What Your Character Is Really Saying: http://ow.ly/LJxE305hMi4 @LisaEBetz

7 Masterplots or More: http://ow.ly/MXRu305hMds  @hunteremkay

How Your Main Character Can Help You Get Unstuck:  http://ow.ly/byQA305hMmr by Olivia Smit @GoTeenWriters

Getting it done:  http://ow.ly/TP3t305hLMX @DanBlank

Why Authors Need Blogs:  http://ow.ly/y2GH305hMf6 @SukhiJutla

Hyphenation for Self-Publishing:  http://ow.ly/PtMH305hM5F @NovelEditor

5 lessons learned while submitting to literary journals:  http://ow.ly/rgLp305hLUh @Icess

2 Surefire Remedies for Creative Burnout:  http://ow.ly/7taP305hLPu @TopLineComms

4 Tips for Holding a Contest On Your Blog:  http://ow.ly/F3v5305hLXJ @Margo_L_Dill

6 Ways to Market Your Books:  http://ow.ly/euHk305AqSX @AmazonKindle

This is Your Platform:  http://ow.ly/wuuf305fwJY @hopeclark @JaneFriedman

Build your Novel Synopsis Before you Write with Netflix and Wikipedia:  http://ow.ly/ciw4305yRcT @TheRightMargin @willb_sullivan

7 Reasons Every Writer Should Journal:  http://ow.ly/e7sg305fvL7 @WilsonTheWriter  @LitReactor

5 Signs Your Story Is Sexist…Against Men:  http://ow.ly/wPIW305fwyL @mythcreants  by Chris Winkle

Real Life Diagnostics: Is This YA Opening Too Slow? http://ow.ly/hKa0305fwke @Janice_Hardy

Stop trying to be original and be prolific instead:  http://ow.ly/qh3e305fwoP @Write_Track

How do you discover the books you want to buy? Thoughts on book marketing:  http://ow.ly/yWcx305Apnf @Roz_Morris

What To Do After You Write A Book:  http://ow.ly/uoVV305fwi3 @joebunting

How to declutter your hoarded story ideas: http://ow.ly/mexb305fvqU by Catherine A. Welch @TheWriterMag

What a Writer Can Learn From Watching “Chopped”: http://ow.ly/W6N4305fw78 @FinishedPages

Is your spec script wrapped around a high concept?  http://ow.ly/ZE7S305fvHw @UnkScreenwriter

Solving Fiction Problems: 3 Kinds of Story Arcs:  http://ow.ly/r2MH305fwdH @beccapuglisi

When a Trilogy Becomes a Sextuplet:  http://ow.ly/qRNA305fveR @author_sullivan

Creating a Three-Dimensional Character: http://ow.ly/kvl6305fvZj @woodwardkaren

5 Reasons #NaNoWriMo Planning Can Help You Hit Your 50,000-Word Goal:  http://ow.ly/42Y9305kpdE @Janice_Hardy @WriteNowCoach

Using @IngramSpark  to Develop a Print Business Plan:  http://ow.ly/df5o305rjzA #IAF16 @ingramcontent @IndieAuthorALLI

Closing an Empathy Hole and Opening Up a Motivation Hole in Chinatown:  http://ow.ly/F37V305euqv @CockeyedCaravan

Character Archetypes  –  From Archetype to Character:  http://ow.ly/Ghr6305eupk @HunterEmkay

38 Top Tips for Winning #NaNoWriMo: http://ow.ly/l2Rs305yRCf @ReedsyHQ

The Only 5 Ingredients You Need for Story Subtext:  http://ow.ly/YQUd305eu9j @KMWeiland

5 Things to Remember When Designing Your Book Cover:  http://ow.ly/th9T305euyE @AuthorHelenJ

How to win #Nanowrimo: 8 tips for smashing success:  http://ow.ly/hPQA305vHNj @Creativindie

10 Tips to Help You Rock #NaNoWriMo: http://ow.ly/ggsh305vHGi @JennyHansenCA

3 Ways To Use The Setting To Steer Your Story’s Plot:  http://ow.ly/WOCE305euao @AngelaAckerman

7 Things I’ve Learned so Far as a Writer:  http://ow.ly/UOaA305eus5 @GibneyShannon

5 Stories with Unexplained Fortean Phenomena:  http://ow.ly/KPt2305euik by Jack Womack @tordotcom

6 Ways to Cultivate Urgency To Captivate Fiction Readers:  http://ow.ly/hAZi305eufe  @TheRightMargin

How to Infuse Tension into a Scene Without Vivisecting Your Plot:  http://ow.ly/9ff1305eucL @Saboviec

Authors: Do You Have the Perfect Pitch?  http://ow.ly/3mRT305qTkW @JudithBriles

The Dreaded Synopsis: How to Get Started & Why We Need One Before Writing the Book:  http://ow.ly/jSJ8305qTgw @KristenLambTX

When Should You Write for Exposure? 5 Questions to Ask:  http://ow.ly/o5ZJ305qTb8 @JaneFriedman

10 Things To Expect During #Nanowrimo (The Good, The Bad, The Crazy) http://ow.ly/qrIK305qSRL @katekrake

Road Trip to #NaNoWriMo : Don’t Be Afraid of Writing Setting:  http://ow.ly/uywT305qSRH @WatsonStories

5 Ways #NaNoWriMo Makes You a Better Writer:  http://ow.ly/Zqdw305qSRt @DIYMFA @writingrefinery

“NaNoWriMo Sucks…But Here’s Why I’m Playing Anyway”: http://ow.ly/XC37305qSRn @shauntagrimes

A Book Reviewer’s Bill Of Rights:  http://ow.ly/kjd8305cX35 @helpfulsnowman @LitReactor

6 Twist Endings to Avoid: http://ow.ly/xIXl305cX1d @GiveMeYourTeeth @LitReactor

How Branding Can Help and Hinder Your Writing:  http://ow.ly/w8YB305qT7R @DrewChial

What’s the Difference Between Narrative and Exposition?  http://ow.ly/Zbnb305cWTF @ProWritingAid

Writing Myth: You Must Write Every Day:  http://ow.ly/6ME3305cWLg @timgrahl

Create More Time with Tips & Tools from @PaulTeagueUK http://bit.ly/2dDpWzX #IAF16 @IndieAuthorALLI

Considering Our International Audience: http://ow.ly/3S9o305t3db

A Business Mindset Means A Rights Mindset: http://ow.ly/zzrG305rjtL #IAF16  @ornaross @helensedwick @IndieAuthorALLI

Mystery Thriller Week Celebration Feb. 12-22. (Call out for Mystery writers and Bloggers):  http://ow.ly/sETb305s60q @thewritingtrain

Download 2016 Frankfurt Book Fair Show Daily Magazines on Rights, Politics, More:  http://ow.ly/5gjr305sPde @HannahSJohnson @pubperspectives

Frankfurt Industry Notes: Visitor Attendance, @C_Emcke ‘s Peace Prize: http://ow.ly/5xGa305sP0s @Porter_Anderson

7 of the Best Books On the Line Between Religion and Science:  http://ow.ly/wfAg305cWEy @TobiasCarroll  @SignatureReads

8 Ways To Salvage Your Yearly Writing Goals:  http://ow.ly/8Hyv305cWP6 @missriki

Creating Settings Readers Can’t Forget:  http://ow.ly/SPqi305cWDD @Rachel_Aaron

What Works & What Doesn’t: ‘Halloween’:  http://ow.ly/XsRu305cWQw @chris_shultz81

Writing “As If”:  http://ow.ly/RDvH305cWXK @SPressfield

Script To Screen: “The Shining”:  http://ow.ly/inm1305cWWp @GoIntoTheStory

A Few Words About Photo Copyrights:  http://ow.ly/FqLe305cWX5 @SusanSpann

What New Authors Need to Know About Library Systems:  http://ow.ly/L9HG305cWKd @WriterLibrarian

How to Automate Writing and Editing Tasks:  http://ow.ly/MkzP305cWFy @CKmacleodwriter

4 Tips for Preventing Flat Descriptions: http://ow.ly/82Md305cWCd @Janice_Hardy

Inciting Incident = Hook:  http://ow.ly/KKSa305cWVn @SPressfield

Author @cathryanhoward on advantages of being a hybrid and on starting self-pub workshops:  http://ow.ly/i4cl305sSn3 @TheIWSG

Crime Writers: Juvenile Crime: Before and After the Arrest: http://ow.ly/IkuQ305cWMB @LeeLofland

297 Flabby Words and Phrases That Rob Your Writing of Its Power: http://ow.ly/QcTl305j8da @GlenLong

Funerals as elements in crime fiction: http://ow.ly/htYb305s3WC @mkinberg

What are the Best Day Jobs for Indie Authors? @DebbieYoungBN http://bit.ly/2e2X036 #IAF16 @IndieAuthorALLI

How An Author Assistant Can Grow Your Business:  http://ow.ly/8yI4305rjhH #IAF16 @K8Tilton @IndieAuthorALLI

Personality Types, To Do Lists, and Productivity: http://ow.ly/Pba7305aWtA @RoniLoren

Amazon searchability tip for authors:  http://ow.ly/wL0d305aWGF @sandrabeckwith

Fear of success can be even more debilitating than fear of failure:  http://ow.ly/UWQy305aSSb @annerallen

5 tips when finding a Critique Partner:  http://ow.ly/4DPc305aSGd @AGYoung_author

The Frankfurt Book Fair for Authors: http://ow.ly/pFCi305riWg #IAF16 @Porter_Anderson   @OrnaRoss  @IndieAuthorALLI

The top writing links of the week are on Twitterific:
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Parenting and Writing

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Parenting and writing.  It can be a challenging combination … or can it?  A lot depends on the child/teen in question, the parent’s schedule and non-child stressors, and the writing we’re trying to accomplish.

I read a lot of blog posts and the majority of what I read about writing mothers (in particular…writing fathers tend to have a different mindset, which I’ll get to in a moment) makes me sad.  They seem conflicted and guilty, torn between writing and wanting to do a good job as a mother.

A beautifully well-written piece from  writer Sarah Curtis Graziano in Brevity:

Please don’t disturb mommy for one hour while I write, just one hour. Barely ten minutes pass before one of them opens my office door to peek in at me, always to ask a ridiculous question. The answer doesn’t matter. She only wants a visual of this mother, so different than the one she used to know, with her hundred-yard stare, her finger repeating a tight circle on her temple as she works on something that steals her away like a boat sweeping her off toward the horizon. What is it? my child wonders, reaching out her hand to pull me back.

To be perfectly honest, part of what makes me sad when I read these types of  articles is that they make me guilty that I’m not  guilty.  Although I’m very susceptible to guilt in a general sense, my approach balancing parenting and writing is one area where I really don’t feel it as much–the only times I’ve felt it, in fact, is when I know I’ve broken my own rules. A rule, for instance, would be looking at my laptop when my son or daughter is trying to have a conversation with me (during a specified non-writing time).

And, believe me, when my kids were younger, I had the same exact type of experience as Ms. Graziano.  Here is a blog post I wrote in 2009 about my experience on a radio show.  I juggled a radio appearance with picking up a nauseated child at school, and handling an 8-year old who was not following instructions.  Did I feel guilty that I was on this program and that my child was knocking on my bedroom door the whole time?  No, honestly, I didn’t.  I was more annoyed and perplexed: why weren’t my directions being followed? (I later found out that I hadn’t done a good job explaining that being on the radio meant being on the phone.) I also had a big picture sense of the afternoon: in the overall scheme of things, unless the house is burning down while I ignored the knocks on my door, an hour or 30 minutes for a promo-related call was not going to permanently damage these kids.  I followed up my radio time, as I recall, with a calm, productive chat with my daughter on the theme of boundaries and then played the hula-hoop game on the Wii with her.

Why don’t I feel guilty when my writing or promo takes me (really, ever so briefly) away from my kids?  Because I’m demonstrating that art is worth spending dedicated time on.  And that my art is worth spending dedicated time on.  Just as they’re both important for me to spend dedicated time on.

99% of the posts that dads write on parenting and writing are different–they don’t seem to have the guilty undertones. In fact, these dads usually feel they’re spending better quality or more time with their kids.  I wonder if this has to do with general societal expectations for a mother versus a father.

Here is an excellent post from writer Alec Nevala-Lee.  An excerpt (forgive its length, but I found the message so helpful):

When children arrive, you’re suddenly confronted by enough complications for a second job, and between daycare, toilet training, trips to the doctor and afternoons at the playground, most of your inner resources become devoted to satisfying the demands of the insatiable creature in your house. And you’re already doing that with a novel.

But what I’ve found is that having a child has made my life more simple, not the opposite. It imposes a kind of ruthless editing of the nonessential: one by one, the things that I took for granted have fallen away, from going to the movies to sleeping late, and I’ve found that I don’t really mind. And it forces me into the sort of perpetual engagement with the world—largely through my daughter’s questions about it—that a writer needs more than anybody. When you’re single, or married without kids, you find ways of filling your spare time: few of us can spend more than five or hours writing without burning out, and the rest of the day is occupied with miscellaneous activity. Having children leads to a fundamental reorganization of those free moments. You find yourself streamlining relentlessly, to an extent that wouldn’t occur to you if you didn’t have that internal pressure, until you’re left with work, kids, and not much else. That’s simplification in its purest form, and it leads to a series of renunciations, a letting go of the superfluous, that stick to an extent that they otherwise wouldn’t. If a writer’s psychic goal is strip away the meaningless while focusing intently on the meaningful, having kids is as effective a way as any.

Writer Dan Blank also feels as if he’s prioritizing his family life while being a working writer, and for the same reasons: he’s making adjustments in his free time to spend it as a family.  He explains in this post:

“For example, spending time with my family matters deeply to me. Because of that, I work from home full-time, and I say “no” to nearly every social obligation that doesn’t include them.

Is that a little extreme? Yep. But I never lay awake at night worried that I’m not spending enough time with my family. My reason for this? Because again and again, I’ve heard older generations express that one of their big regrets in life was not spending enough time with family. I am listening to their wisdom, and I am taking action on it.”

So some of the balance problem and the guilt may be due to societal pressures and general mindset of the writer.  I have a few suggestions for balance and for feeling better about writing while parenting:

Infants:

I put my daughter in a safe place (crib) for ‘quiet time’ for both her and me when I first started writing.  I gave her board books (from both our home collection and the library’s…all of which I’d read to her at least 100 times apiece, so she knew the stories) and told her to read while I wrote.  Again, I kept this at 10-15 minutes. I think that’s a fair amount of time for most infants/toddlers.

Younger kids: 

You can’t explain too much about what you’re doing.  Really.  Case in point is my post on the radio show outcome.  I shouldn’t have said I’d be on the radio…I should have said I’d be on the phone and to give me some time while I’m on the phone.  You can also set an actual timer outside your door that counts down to zero and has an alarm when it’s okay to come in.  For preschool age, I used to try just 10 minutes.  I can write a page in 10 minutes and we can all at least make some very focused progress in that amount of time (lists are a great tool to stay productive in shorts amount of time if you don’t feel you can work on the actual text of your story in that period).

The next part is for kids of all ages:

Give them a time when you are available. Reward them for giving you time to write (especially the younger kids).  Play Old Maid. Throw a Frisbee. Get on the wii. Read a book to them. Ask them how school went (I found the more specific the questions, the better: who did you sit with at lunch?)

Tied in with availability: 

When you are spending time with them, spend it with them…not in front of a laptop.  Focus on them.

Tips for older kids (really, even preschoolers can engage in some of this): 

Involve the kids as much as possible

Do they have an opinion between two potential covers?

Explain what you’re working on (coming up with an outline, writing a scary story, trying to connect on social media).

Older children can help with downloading spreadsheets of KDP earnings, advise on social media, update a website, etc. This process can even help them learn skills that could help them in school or work.

Something to experiment with: I found there was peace in numbers–invite their friends over.  Or take them all to the park or the skating rink–oddly, it can be easier to write when there’s a crowd.

In general:

Write in short, dedicated bursts. Try writing sprints. Afterwards, check for continuity errors and transition issues.

And I’ll end with probably my most controversial suggestion to consider.  But I feel like it’s realistic and may make our writing more viable (this is strictly from a commercial standpoint). What is it that you’re trying to write? That’s not to say that every book doesn’t have its own individual challenges, but some projects are inherently more challenging than others.  Maybe, if you know you’re heading into a rough patch (you’ve got a newborn, your teen is having a tough time with several classes in school,  you’re trying to potty-train, your child has been diagnosed with a health issue that it will take some time to tackle with a variety of doctors) , it might be good to put off the research-laden project for a book 2 or 3 in a genre-fiction project you’ve got going.

With everything in life, there should be balance.  I don’t think we should spend all our available free time writing.  I don’t think we should spend all our available free time parenting.  I hope any parent who is feeling a little overwhelmed and torn can experiment with these or other approaches, or modify these approaches to see if it can help them feel more satisfied with their performance as both a writer and a parent.

Do you ever feel guilty about your writing time?  What tips can you offer for other parents?

Tips for balancing parenting and writing:
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Considering Our International Audience

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Are your books available to an international audience?  I’ve found that my international sales have picked up after I implemented a few tweaks.

First off, do you have an Amazon Author Central profile on the international sites that support them?  Be aware that, depending on the site, you may need to create a new login (instead of using your usual Amazon login), and that some sites don’t have all the features that others do.  You can use Google Translate to help you with a bio, etc. (my recommendation would be to go very basic with it) or you could pay a translator at a site like Fiverr to have your bio inexpensively translated.

USA

UK

Germany

France

Japan

Amazon India also has an Author Central, but our profile populates automatically there.

Here is the list of international Amazon sites (not all of them offer Author Central):

Australia


Brazil
China
France
Germany
India 
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Netherlands
Spain
United Kingdom
United States

Visiting the sites can be very helpful, in terms of figuring out our international pricing.  Let’s take Mexico as an example.  I visited the Amazon Mexico site (translating the page to English with a click of my mouse), and searched for my genre, cozy mystery, in the Kindle store.  I sorted the results by popularity and could see that the most popular in that category were priced between 114–$123 peso.  According to Google’s currency calculator, that’s between $6.04 and $6.51 US dollars.  For me, that’s a bit high.  I also saw on that page books as low as 0.00 and 38.41 peso, which is  $2.03.  Better.

So, instead of just basing the international prices on our US prices, we can look on the sites, see which books are selling well, and price accordingly (or at least use it as a guide).

Another thing to consider is our international print distribution. Although Amazon does a great job distributing ebooks to foreign markets, it’s good to evaluate our approach for print distribution.  Printed books are expensive overseas because the shipping costs are exorbitant.

One alternative is to use IngramSpark to fulfill international print orders. They have printers all over the world and distributing print on demand from these printers helps to defray the readers’ shipping  costs. As David Penny wrote in his article for the Alliance of Independent Authors a year ago:

Ingram has facilities in the US, UK, France and Australia, and services other territories through partner arrangements. As of 2015 there are partners in Germany, Russia, Poland, Brazil and South Korea. By the end of 2016 they will be putting in place partner arrangements in South America, South Africa, China and India.

You can use the same interior and cover PDFs you uploaded to CreateSpace to upload to IngramSpark, but because there are some differences between the two businesses, you may need to get your spine tweaked (I believe there is a difference in page thickness).  If you go this route, you’ll want to opt out of expanded distribution at CreateSpace.  Additionally, you’ll need an ISBN for your book to be published by Ingram (not the free one that you may get from CreateSpace).  There is, as well, a set-up fee for IngramSpark of $49 a book, although there are frequently coupons to reduce or waive that cost.

Personally, I’ve found going on IngramSpark worth it.  Last month I netted twice as much from them as from CreateSpace.

Additional reading and resources: 

A Facebook group called The International Indie Author, headed by writer Mark Williams.  You will need to ask permission to join.

I’ve referred to this article by Giacomo Giammetteo before, but it’s such an excellent overview of CreateSpace vs. IngramSpark that I’ll list it again: Watchdog: Ingram Spark vs CreateSpace for Self-publishing Print Books .

Have you got Author Central profiles for the different international Amazon sites?  How do your international print sales look?  Any tips that I’m missing?

Tips for expanding our international audience:
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Photo credit: Karen Roe via Visualhunt.com / CC BY

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Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

A weekly roundup of the best writing links from around the web.

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 35,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

5 Easy Steps to Being a Better Writer:  http://ow.ly/p2KC3058Yqd @Victoria_Noe

Tackling the Synopsis:  http://ow.ly/fhRp3058Yf1 @rachaeldthomas

The Psychology of Creative Success @ornaross http://bit.ly/2e5V3GQ #IAF16 @IndieAuthorALLI

Clause By Clause: Non-Compete: http://ow.ly/UTV83058Xyb @bookishchick

5 Practical Tips for World Building:  http://ow.ly/UuKV3058XEP  @AlexBledsoe

6 Ways to be a Prepared Speaker:  http://ow.ly/wIoQ3058Y8M @lisajlickel

Actionable Productivity for Authors:  Tips @markmcguinness bit.ly/2dgTZJO #IAF16 @IndieAuthorALLI

The Publishing Gamble That Changed America (On Fighting for Lady Chatterley’s Lover) :  http://ow.ly/UR7k3058Ywj @BarneyRosset               

Indie Author Business Plan Basics: @writerplatform http://bit.ly/2dqWM6F #IAF16 @IndieAuthorALLI

4 Writing Myths and Why They Suck the Ink out of Writers:  http://ow.ly/KuHY3058XlC by Eric Roberts @ProWritingAid

5 Novels About the Sordid Lives of High-Minded People:  http://ow.ly/oKPG305b8OK @thenation @michelledean

Finding Your Character’s Hook: The Skill or Talent that Elevates Your Manuscript:  http://ow.ly/UEml305aSz2 @AngelaAckerman  @MartinaABoone

New Agatha Christie Stamps Feature Clues:  http://ow.ly/RR8m305aWMH @finebooks   @nate_pedersen

The Crowdfunded Publication Model:  http://ow.ly/KvXg305aWxa by Helena Echlin @Kid_Lit

Future Perfect? Past Continuous? The Verb Tenses: http://ow.ly/akLO305aSCS @ProWritingAid

When is it time to be a full-time author? @cjlyonswriter @thecreativepenn bit.ly/2dRa8Kl #IAF16 @IndieAuthorALLI

Why Authors Need to Understand the Sales Funnel:  http://ow.ly/q8JF305aSoG @cksyme

Pace and story structure hook readers:   http://ow.ly/D73c305aSvG @Roz_Morris

Do Authors Owe Us Their Whole Selves? http://ow.ly/N3NG305aSrF @jaelmchenry

Key Contract Clauses To Watch For @tobymundy @ornaross http://bit.ly/2dNZ1zN #IAF16 @IndieAuthorALLI

How professional writers beat writer’s block: http://ow.ly/T9lV3058Yjq @ryangvancleave  @TheWriterMag

Indie Author Business Plan Basics:  @writerplatform http://bit.ly/2dqWM6F #IAF16 @IndieAuthorALLI

5 (More) Ways to Support Your Favorite Authors:  http://ow.ly/c9I03058Xtw @Ava_Jae

Free Book Promotions: Are They Worth It? http://ow.ly/Y5Gj3056RPF @CaballoFrances

Dating Your Character:  http://ow.ly/WUXz3058XKr @briannehogan  @CreativeScreen

How to Create Your Setting From Scratch:  http://ow.ly/69io3058Y4h @DaniPettrey

Poetry in the 18th century [interactive timeline & timemap] :  http://ow.ly/gm9F305oH8v  @My_poetic_side

Syrian refugee @NujeenMustafa’s  Journey to World’s Literary Stage:  http://ow.ly/CM1N305oGxs @Porter_Anderson @christinalamb

When Librarians Are Silenced: http://ow.ly/LkBg305oEBI by Francine Prose @nybooks

7 characteristics of successful #writers that cannot be taught:  http://ow.ly/GRSc3056RJv @tobywneal

Thriller author Patrick Kelly with 4 tips for better backstory: http://ow.ly/ZmVm305oHmq

Spreadsheeting Your Scenes:  http://ow.ly/tlYH3056S1m by Shawn Coyne

A Checklist for Publishing Your Book: http://ow.ly/UqmB3056Roj @UncoveredMyths

Free Book Promotions: Are They Worth It? http://ow.ly/Y5Gj3056RPF @CaballoFrances

‘We Are Arrested’: Restrictions on Freedom of Speech in Turkey:  http://ow.ly/612f305mtNo by Olivia Snaije @pubperspectives

Should you turn your personal story into a novel? http://ow.ly/V48o305oGsd @Roz_Morris

23 Fiction Writing Ideas To Revitalize Your Story:  http://ow.ly/3ssq3058yC1 @WritingForward

Pros and Cons of Writing in Multiple Genres:  http://ow.ly/4t7n3058yy9 @ceciliaedits

Why Authors Need to Be as Accessible as Possible:  http://ow.ly/ODSA3058yKe @katiemccoach

Practicality’s Place in a Writing Education:  http://ow.ly/6DOs3058yiP @gooddirt

Hunting Down Story Holes Using a Novel Journal:  http://ow.ly/f96h3058yt4  @DavidHSafford  @AngelaAckerman

Measuring the Success of a Low-Budget Book Launch:  http://ow.ly/aFyc3058yoG @andilit

8 Places to Get Deals on Book Cover Design:  http://ow.ly/Bsxe3056QX9 @joshuajdesign  @theindiepubmag

Tips for writers with page fright:  http://ow.ly/NaWP3056Rgq from The Writing Freak

Pranks and mischief-making as elements in crime fiction:  http://ow.ly/D3rQ305mzOq @mkinberg

Are Your Characters Talking At Cross-Purposes? Why Not? http://ow.ly/Cn1v3056gpN @standoutbooks

7 reliable grammar resources for writers: http://ow.ly/TcoW3056g8A @nownovel

A Mini Checklist for Writing Life Sustainability:  http://ow.ly/CDkr3056gdC @reallucyflint

5 Reasons to Attend Indie Author Fringe:  http://ow.ly/fPXA3053Yft #IAF16 @IndieAuthorALLI @jayartale

The Hot Sheet: industry newsletter for authors (30 day free trial): from @Porter_Anderson & @JaneFriedman: http://ow.ly/pon3305mtZk

Writing deaf characters:  http://ow.ly/xKa73056gLm @T_Frohock

How to Write Cozy Mystery Novels with Elizabeth Spann Craig:  http://ow.ly/HeR3305mRE6 @lornafaith

Canadian Copyright Modernization Act: Chronicle of a Disaster Foretold:  http://ow.ly/jd8L305mtye by Nicole Saint-Jean @pubperspectives

Why Roald Dahl Never Sugar-Coated His Stories for Kids:  http://ow.ly/heDK3056fR6 by Jennie Yabroff @SignatureReads

10 Realities About Writing a Sequel:  http://ow.ly/Dv273056gt3 @JennyBravoBooks

Frankfurt ‘The Markets’:’From education to trade…stressing freedom of expression’:  http://ow.ly/8SHw305msim @Porter_Anderson @rogertagholm

Where Should Your Thriller Hero Go Next?  6 Tips on Setting:  http://ow.ly/4xik3056gmW @toddjmoss  @WritersDigest

7 Comedy-Writing Techniques for Nonfiction Writers:  http://ow.ly/4Tq53056gfY @MerylWilliams

How to Write a Submissions Cover Letter: http://ow.ly/4InQ3056fXt @JeriWB

3 Romantic Scenes for Romance Novels and More:  http://ow.ly/6EQo3056gFy @jeffelk

Where to Find Images for Blogs and More:  http://ow.ly/OoSV3056g2v @JeriWB

Calendar Hacks of 5 Successful Authors:  http://ow.ly/2E2E305kqMQ @WriteNowCoach @LisaAlber @LoriRaderDay @jesslourey

12 Self-Publishing Services Authors Should Beware:  http://ow.ly/LssC3053XWC @JohnDoppler @IndieAuthorALLI

Poet at Work: How Should a Poet Make Money?  http://ow.ly/rfk73053Xud @thepointmag by O. T. Marod

How to Create an Author Brand:  http://ow.ly/Gvdd3053WYP @MsBessieBell @IndieAuthorALLI

Instagram for Business: 30 Actionable Tips http://ow.ly/6GW73055uJa  @Ashread_

4 Tips for Preventing Flat Descriptions:  http://ow.ly/jQdO3055uzh @Janice_Hardy

15+ Tactics for Writing Humor:  http://ow.ly/mlyE3055uz0 @SeptCFawkes

Imperfect Words: the unfathomable power of placeholders:  http://ow.ly/ThPu3055uUh  @DamonSuede

10 Reasons Why Reciprocal Reviews Are Unethical:  http://ow.ly/4uUZ3055vaH @10MinNovelists

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3 Tricks for Character Names:  http://ow.ly/ibJa3055uSb @RobinRWrites

Are You a Push Marketer or a Pull Marketer? http://ow.ly/o1mr3055uOq @cksyme

Use Instagram Stories to Engage With Readers: http://ow.ly/d8tb3053Jpz @MartineEllis

Great Story Titles: 17 Fiction Writing Experts Reveal Their Secrets:  http://ow.ly/aYyW305j7K7 @RidethePen @beccapuglisi @GlenLong

Translating @KettuKatja ‘s ‘The Midwife’: One of AmazonCrossing’s ‘Biggest Books of the Year’: http://ow.ly/uX4N305fFyM @Porter_Anderson

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How to Write Every Day:  http://ow.ly/xSp13053JIc @zen_habits

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6 Reasons You Need to Make Way More Writing Mistakes:  http://ow.ly/32NS3053JVH @KMWeiland

How to write at least 4 novels a year:  http://ow.ly/er4F3053JFV @tobywneal

The Art of Writing Scenes:  http://ow.ly/Tj2U3053Jxh @AJHumpage

5 Editing Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Nonfiction: http://ow.ly/HhmH3053JPH @shelleyhitz

NaNoWriMo Tips:  http://ow.ly/gZG03053JDf @Ava_Jae

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What X-Men Can Teach About Storytelling:  http://ow.ly/H5cM3053JSm @willvanstonejr

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4 Tips For Self-Publishing Your First Book:  http://ow.ly/9Sds3051fBN @pokercubster

Tips for Managing Crowds of Characters:  http://ow.ly/xils305fuqg

The Importance of Tech Literacy for Publishers:  http://ow.ly/2DIT305fESf @has_many_books  @Porter_Anderson #TheMarkets2016

How Snapchat is Changing the Way We Communicate:  http://ow.ly/IBRN305frpn @BethanysStories @MediaShiftOrg

Benefits of Authors Writing Book Reviews:  http://ow.ly/XcQj305fd5N @mishy1727 @TheIWSG

Book bloggers with tips for authors: http://ow.ly/tdME3051h0b @RavenousReadr  @diamondxgirl

Buffer for writers:  http://ow.ly/uYtf3051fYH  @beckywadewriter   @DaniPettrey

5 Ways to Turn Around a Bad Writing Week:  http://ow.ly/yI3w3051fef @besscozby  @DIYMFA

Pitch Your Novel Perfectly:  http://ow.ly/xI0H3051fWm @SusanSpann

5 Sci-Fi Novels That Satirize Society As We Know It:  http://ow.ly/nWsn3051fqR by Luke Rhinehart @tordotcom

Where Did Your Character’s Journey Really Begin? http://ow.ly/kGHY3051fRc @ShanDitty

Tricks to Enhance a Deep POV:  http://ow.ly/hraM3051gyQ by Karen Witemeyer @DaniPettrey

How To Write Animal Characters:  http://ow.ly/5Wn53051gR4 @jleungbooks

Responding to In-Your-Face Criticism:  http://ow.ly/FVzj3051fMT @mdilloway

How to Guest Blog Successfully:  http://ow.ly/CMvt3051fh0 @LisaTener  with Sara Pence

Pros & Cons of Signing with a Small Press:  http://ow.ly/OYDL3051hg6 @tessaemilyhall

On Identity and Visibility:  http://ow.ly/G09y3051fGV @Ava_Jae

Do You Think Your Character Might Be Depressed? Psych 101 for Writers:  http://ow.ly/AqZ930501cn @FionaQuinnBooks

How to Write a Great Book Description:  http://ow.ly/Bcx53050176 @aliventures

The links I shared last week:  http://ow.ly/n3RE305e2q6 .All the links (35K+) I’ve ever shared, free and searchable: writerskb.com

Character Archetypes From A to Z:  http://ow.ly/RbF830501ge @HunterEmkay

‘All in the Curation’: Scaling up Book Club Recommendations: http://ow.ly/3VHz305bcyC @Porter_Anderson with @EllysChoice Nathan Hull

7 Ways to Amp Up Your Support Team:  http://ow.ly/3sM630500eV @kcraftwriter

Writing Myth: Writing is a Solitary Activity:  http://ow.ly/VZ5a30500yV by Allison Fallon

The Literature of Creepy Clowns:  http://ow.ly/FdDr30500Dg @TobiasCarroll  @lithub

The Writer’s Life: How to Juggle Multiple Tasks and Thrive:  http://ow.ly/AGGa30500pu @WriteNowCoach

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Weaving Backstory into Mysteries

 

by Patrick Kelly

For two and a half years I slaved over my first novel, arranged and rearranged the plot, constructed and deconstructed the characters, and polished each sentence twice. Then I gave it to my editor and waited . . . anxiously . . . for three weeks.

Her response came.

She loved the story and my writing but had some “meta-feedback.”

First suggestion: Delete the first five chapters.

OUCH!!!!

My baby.

What about my hero? Readers need to know where he comes from, why he’s here, and all about his relationship to the other characters. They care about these things.

Ah . . . actually . . . they don’t, at least not yet.

I need to SHOW readers the backstory, not TELL them (Heaven forbid I should tell them . . . SHOW don’t TELL).

Ah . . . actually . . . don’t do that, either.

What readers care about up front is THE FORWARD STORY not the backstory. They want to know what the story is about, and they want to be hooked, early.

Get to the forward story fast and weave the backstory in as you go.

To study how one successful author handled backstory, I suggest you read (or reread) the first chapter of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

I counted forty instances of backstory in the first chapter, which seemed like a lot, but Collins integrated it into the forward story so well that millions of readers (repeat-millions of readers) gobbled it up and went on to read the entire series.

Let’s take a quick look at how Collins wove backstory into the first few pages:

Katniss wakes up alone at home. Her little sister sleeps nestled against her mother in the next bed.

Backstory: Her mother was once beautiful but now looks worn and beaten down most of the time.

Backstory: Her sister, Prim, is so sweet she once gave the name Buttercup to an ugly, diseased kitten.

Backstory: Katniss is a hard-ass. She nearly drowned the same kitten because they couldn’t afford to feed it.

Katniss dresses in hunting clothes and leaves the house while the others sleep.

Backstory: She lives in District 12, where the industry is coal mining. The miners are poor, hunched over, with dirty fingernails.

Backstory: Nobody works today because of something called the Reaping.

Katniss walks through the poor section of town to the fence that surrounds District 12.

Backstory: The electric fence is seldom turned on because of a lack of power.

Backstory: Wild animals roam free outside the fence: cougars, bears, venomous snakes, etc.

Katniss sneaks under the fence.

Backstory: Katniss’ father died in a mining explosion five years earlier. She still mourns him.

Backstory: Katniss has supported her family for years by hunting game outside the fence.

Backstory: Her father taught her to hunt with bow and arrow.

And so on.

Notice that Collins feeds morsels of backstory to her readers between solid courses of live forward action. She continues this pattern for the entire chapter, until Katniss and Prim attend the Reaping, where Prim is randomly chosen to fight to the death in the hunger games.

At that point Collins has thoroughly hooked the reader and given essential backstory—all in eighteen pages.

How do you write a first chapter as compelling as that of The Hunger Games? I can’t help you there; much depends on the strength of your story world and characters and plot.

But I can give you some guidelines on how to handle backstory:

1. Weave backstory into the POV character’s thoughts naturally.

Collins introduces nearly all of the backstory through Katniss’ thoughts.

Katniss and her hunting partner, Gale, have a conversation. There is no romance between them, or at least that’s how Katniss sees it.
Katniss next thinks about how Gale could easily find a girlfriend because he’s so handsome.
Then she thinks about how his physical traits, and hers, are similar to those of all the miners in District 12.
Then she thinks about how her mother and Prim don’t look like the miners, because her mother comes from the merchant class.
From there she thinks about how her mother (a merchant) married her father (a miner).
And then it’s time for more forward action.

2. When in Doubt, Leave it Out

In early drafts of my second novel I included a boxing match in the prologue. I loved that scene. It ran two thousand words. But the boxing match wasn’t essential to the forward story, so I cut it out and put it in my Little Darlings drawer. It’s still there.

In the final draft, I conveyed the essential information (the hero knows how to box, he won the match, he loves his girlfriend) in a few short sentences of the first scene.

Our natural tendency is to supply too much backstory. The next time you write a first draft, consciously try to err on the side of too little backstory. Readers don’t need to know everything. In fact, they like intrigue, and writers create intrigue by withholding information.

3. Never share now what you can share later.

By chapter five of The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins is well into the forward story and rarely shares backstory, but in chapter four she includes a long flashback sequence that explains how Katniss learned to forage food. That information, while essential to the overall story, was not required to hook the reader, so Collins waited and the result was a shorter and faster first chapter.

4. Tell don’t Show

If depth is not essential to the forward story feel free to tell the backstory in as few words as possible.

Katniss loved her father. She still has nightmares about the explosion that killed him. Suzanne Collins could have devoted an entire chapter to a flashback scene of Katniss with her father to show the reader their relationship. Instead, Collins told the reader the essentials in four short sentences, a total of forty words.

No reader cried over those four sentences. But that’s okay, because the relationship was not important for the forward story.

Back to my first novel and my editor’s suggestion to delete the first five chapters: In the end, I compromised by cutting two chapters and shortening the other three. But if I knew backstory then as I know it now, I’d take another crack at deleting the first five chapters.

Best of luck with weaving backstory, and I hope you write often, write well, and earn faithful readers.

Patrick Kelly holds a BA in software engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA in finance from Carnegie Mellon University.

He served as Chief Financial Officer for six different companies before beginning his career as an author of the Joe Robbins Financial Thriller series. For more information on Patrick Kelly or his latest novel, Hill Country Siren, please visit patrickkellystories.com

 

 

Thriller author Patrick Kelly gives 4 tips for better backstory:
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