June Shaw's Blog, page 4
May 27, 2016
WRITING DURING THE ELECTIONS
By June Shaw
Are any of you like me--trying to pour out words and emotions and characters and settings--while being bombarded with presidential candidates? Or presumptive or potential candidates?
I don't want to sit and watch much of the chatter about the upcoming election, although in it we will elect the most powerful person in the world. Good grief, just thinking of that makes me feel I need to sit up and take notice. My vote can make a difference. So can yours.
My publisher has book one for...
Are any of you like me--trying to pour out words and emotions and characters and settings--while being bombarded with presidential candidates? Or presumptive or potential candidates?
I don't want to sit and watch much of the chatter about the upcoming election, although in it we will elect the most powerful person in the world. Good grief, just thinking of that makes me feel I need to sit up and take notice. My vote can make a difference. So can yours.
My publisher has book one for...
May 25, 2016
FM MEREDITH SHARES SECRETS ON ORGANIZING A BLOG TOUR
Marilyn Meredith, aka FM Meredith, is one of the most prolific writers I know. The woman is a bundle of energy and I can't figure out how she does it. As all writers know (and most reader's suspect) writing a book is a huge and complicated job.
One of the first hurdles to clear is to sell your book to a publisher and sign that contract:
SIGNING THE CONTRACTMany readers think that the last chore on a writer's to-do list is typing 'The End,' at the bottom of the last page.
WRONG!
Today...
May 11, 2016
Writing What You Know
“Write what you know,” said my first fiction instructor back in 1954. I was 17 and already a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma. Needless to say, I was in deep water and way over my head—at least socially. Due to this traditional writing advice, like most novelists, I drew from my personal life to write fiction.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Book 1
Grace Gets in TroubleTHE INCONVENIENT CORPSE, first book in my B&B mystery series, stars Grace Cassidy. She marries too young, l...
Book 1 Grace Gets in TroubleTHE INCONVENIENT CORPSE, first book in my B&B mystery series, stars Grace Cassidy. She marries too young, l...
May 6, 2016
Ten Things You Should Never Include in a Crime Novel
by Jean Henry Mead
I discovered an article in my files written by Andrea Campbell for The Writer magazine. It’s titled “10 Things Police Wish [Crime Writers] Would Omit" and I’m going to paraphrase here so as not to plagiarize:
Don’t have your cops always eating donuts. Most eat salads while on duty and they drink bottled water. They also work out to stay in shape, so if at least one of them mentions visiting a gym, it's realistic.
Policemen and veteran crime writers hate over-dramatization a...
I discovered an article in my files written by Andrea Campbell for The Writer magazine. It’s titled “10 Things Police Wish [Crime Writers] Would Omit" and I’m going to paraphrase here so as not to plagiarize:
Don’t have your cops always eating donuts. Most eat salads while on duty and they drink bottled water. They also work out to stay in shape, so if at least one of them mentions visiting a gym, it's realistic.
Policemen and veteran crime writers hate over-dramatization a...
May 4, 2016
An Unforeseen Hazard
by Carola
I recently received the copy-edited manuscript of my fourth Cornish Mystery, Buried in the Country, from my publisher. (I just had my 70th birthday so I'm allowed to refuse to learn how to do it on the computer.) I quite enjoy editing copy-edits--with a stet stet here, and a stet stet there--so I was pleased to see the package.
Until I opened it. The stink of cigarette smoke gave me an instant headache.
I spread the contents out, on my sofa, and sprayed citrus essence air freshen...
I recently received the copy-edited manuscript of my fourth Cornish Mystery, Buried in the Country, from my publisher. (I just had my 70th birthday so I'm allowed to refuse to learn how to do it on the computer.) I quite enjoy editing copy-edits--with a stet stet here, and a stet stet there--so I was pleased to see the package.
Until I opened it. The stink of cigarette smoke gave me an instant headache.
I spread the contents out, on my sofa, and sprayed citrus essence air freshen...
April 27, 2016
WRITER CONFERENCES WILL RECHARGE YOUR BATTERIES
By Jackie King
There’s a certain creative energy that fills the air and actually permeates the cracks and crevices at Writer Conferences. Speakers vary, technical techniques evolve, markets wax and wane; but the atmosphere is always the same. Pure electricity. I’ve been attending different conferences for a good many years and I always come home physically exhausted (who wants to miss anything?) but mentally refreshed. New ideas seem to spring alive and old ones freshen. Or in plain Okie-speak...
There’s a certain creative energy that fills the air and actually permeates the cracks and crevices at Writer Conferences. Speakers vary, technical techniques evolve, markets wax and wane; but the atmosphere is always the same. Pure electricity. I’ve been attending different conferences for a good many years and I always come home physically exhausted (who wants to miss anything?) but mentally refreshed. New ideas seem to spring alive and old ones freshen. Or in plain Okie-speak...
April 23, 2016
Writing on Deadline
By June Shaw
I've never had to write a book with a deadline from a publisher, I recently realized and wish I'd had that experience.
Many writers today put out two or three or even more books a year. How can they? I can't imagine doing that--but then, I don't write quickly.I could. I have the time now--something I thought I never would say--but somehow I don't get the words down too much faster than when I was teaching.
Okay, that's not true. I write more now that I am retired and my f...
I've never had to write a book with a deadline from a publisher, I recently realized and wish I'd had that experience.
Many writers today put out two or three or even more books a year. How can they? I can't imagine doing that--but then, I don't write quickly.I could. I have the time now--something I thought I never would say--but somehow I don't get the words down too much faster than when I was teaching.
Okay, that's not true. I write more now that I am retired and my f...
April 14, 2016
Tired of Writing a Mystery Series?
by Jean Henry Mead
Some serial mystery authors have grown tired of writing about the same characters. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle grew bored with Sherlock Holmes and killed him off although he later resurrected the infamous sleuth. Agatha Christie also grew to hate her arrogant little detective Hercule Poirot and wanted to end his career as well as his life. My own Logan and Cafferty mystery/suspense series became tiresome after I had finished novel six, Murder at the Mansion. However, af...
Some serial mystery authors have grown tired of writing about the same characters. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle grew bored with Sherlock Holmes and killed him off although he later resurrected the infamous sleuth. Agatha Christie also grew to hate her arrogant little detective Hercule Poirot and wanted to end his career as well as his life. My own Logan and Cafferty mystery/suspense series became tiresome after I had finished novel six, Murder at the Mansion. However, af...
April 13, 2016
Are Critique Groups Worth the Bother?
by Jackie King
The short answer is, "Yes." Finding a Critique group that is a perfect fit is more complicated.
Locating the right critique group can be a bit like dating. I can be time-consuming, frightening and emotionally painful. You may have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince. But if you’re persistent, the results can be a wonderful enrichment to your life. Only you can decide if it’s worth the investment of your time.
A good critique group is a valuable tool to any writer, b...
April 10, 2016
What Is Jonathon Caine Thinking?by Ben SmallIn one f...
What Is Jonathon Caine Thinking?
by
Ben Small
In one fell swoop, Jonathon Caine is fired from his hedge fund, has his assets frozen and faces probable criminal indictment for securities fraud. Then, piling on, his trophy wife leaves him and throws him out of his penthouse apartment. With nowhere else to turn, Jonathon is forced to move to his hospitalized father’s house, where he attempts to sort out his life and analyze the mistakes he’s made.
To clear his head, Jonathon decides to attend...
