R.L. Syme's Blog, page 8
June 20, 2017
Episode 47 – Find Your Best Market And Sell More Books
June 17, 2017
Episode 45 – Three of the Biggest Book Marketing Myths Debunked
January 2, 2017
The Problem With Setting Goals
I’ve been working through a couple of goal-setting books in the last couple of weeks. I won’t name either one of them, because there is nothing magic about the particular goal-setting book you use. They’re all mostly the same. They all encourage you to set goals (six, ten, fifteen, whatever number) and then ask you […]
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December 26, 2016
The Problem With Setting Goals
November 1, 2016
Productivity Hacks For Writers
August 15, 2016
One Day Sale Just For You
July 20, 2016
Making the Series Bible
After listening to Jaci Burton and Jill Shalvis’ workshop from #RWA16 about making a series Bible, I’ve decided to try the “analog” version of a Series Bible, myself. So I started with the character sheets, and I’m going to do a little bit more on new layouts every time I get some free time.
I’ve got the version of the character sheets that I think I want. The one thing I think I might try to add is a specific place to focus on their Flaw. But otherwise, I feel like I have everything I need, so far, on this page.
I’m using a couple of different systems for character development. One is the Deb Dixon GMC piece, the Outer Journey. (Goal, Motivation, Conflict) The other is Michael Hauge’s six-part character development system that he’s been working on, for the Inner Journey. (Sounds like he might be writing a new book–he did the workshop at RWA16, and it was fantastic.) That’s the Longing, Wound, Belief, etc. And that informs some of the rest of the character development.
Then, of course, the vital statistics (which I condensed down from a few different longer lists–and these might change, depending on the genre/character). I also use the Hero/Heroine Archetype system, so there’s a box for that and the traits. And then, I have a personality section. Myers-Briggs, DISC, Color System, and Strengthsfinder. This is something that probably not everyone will need. Because of my background using psychometrics, I’m really familiar with these things and it’s a short-hand for values and actions. It’s like knowing the core of a person. That helps me. But not everyone would need those things.
Then, there’s a backstory section because I’ve found that breaking down their backstory into 5-year increments really helps me to get to know them fully. This will force me to condense them down into highlights, which was the whole point in the first place.
Right now, I’m using a Moleskine notebook, which also houses my BuJo spreads, for right now. But I’m not totally sure how that’s going to work for the long term. Right now, I’m just getting the spreads the way I want them. I haven’t actually started filling them out.
Next, I think I’ll start doing chapter outlines for each book. Maybe this can replace my Scapple planning. Or enhance it. We shall see. But for right now, I’m definitely enjoying using the BuJo as a way to think about the Series Bible. I like that the layouts can be changed and amended, and there’s nothing set in stone until I put it there. I like that I can use the pretty colored pens (even though I’m not drawing anything, really) to make it interesting. And I really like the idea of having one series bible for each series. I think that would be really nice.
Plus, I can slip them in and out of my Traveler’s Notebook.
So. Who knew! Who knew I would be that person who does analog series bibles. 
In a BuJo notebook, even. I guess we’ll just have to see how it goes from here, and how it works. I’ll keep posting about the layouts I develop, just in case they will help anyone else.
May 7, 2016
#amreading Summer Reading Challenge
#amreading16 Summer Reading Challenge (with prizes!)
We’re opening the Summer Reading Scavenger Hunt with the announcement of the categories. The graphic to the left is the “official” version of the list. I’ll try to keep this posted regularly, so you can see what the categories are. Here’s how to play.
You can participate via the Becca Nation Facebook group (or the R.L. Syme / Becca Boyd Facebook page), you can use the Twitter hashtag #amreading16. You can join via email, or in the comments of the #amreading16 posts on this blog (rlsyme.com).
Prizes are: a $100 gift card, an assorted paperback book package, and a full set of Becca Boyd’s Line of Fire paperbacks. Each of these prizes will be awarded to a different person.
Here’s how to play:
Read at least one book from as many categories as you can between May 1st and August 31st, 2016.
Tag Becca on Twitter (@beck_a_tron) or use the #amreading16 hashtag, send us an email with a link to your Goodreads review of the book, or post in the Becca Nation Facebook group with the title of the book and the category it fulfills.
Here’s how to win:
A $100 gift card will be awarded to one random participant (every entry counts)
A giant paperback book package will be awarded either to the person who reads the most categories, or to a randomly selected winner among the people with the most categories read.
If you read seventeen books, and have fulfilled all seventeen categories between May 1st and August 31st, and notify us as you read each book, you will automatically win a full set of Becca Boyd’s Line of Fire paperbacks.
We reserve the right to add more prizes as the summer goes on. You can participate live with us on Twitter or on Facebook, or email me your books (assistant at rlsyme dot com) and categories and Goodreads links as you read them! Can’t wait to see what everyone is reading!
CATEGORIES:
a book released before I was born
a book with a number in the title
a novel by a woman of color
a biography or memoir
a novel set in my state
a book about spies
a foodie book
a nonfiction book
any genre fiction book
a librarian’s choice book
a Newberry award winner
a book that was also a movie
a book by or about a Veteran
a book on the @BailysPrize list
a book with a disabled main character
a novel I have started an not finished
a novel from someone else’s “Must-Read” list
Happy reading!
April 18, 2016
The Seventh Son: Latest From Bestselling Author Ashley York
This week’s edition of Medieval Monday features bestselling author Ashley York. Ashley writes historical romance full of passion and intrigue set in 11th and 12th century Ireland, Scotland, and England “where life was wild and survival was never guaranteed.” She also has a Facebook page if you’d like to get better acquainted as well: https://www.facebook.com/ashley1066york/.
Ashley just released the newest book in her Norman Conquest series called The Seventh Son. Here’s a peek at the story:
Drogheda, Ireland 1076
The sixth son bears a curse as certain as the seventh son bears a blessing. When Tadhg MacNaughton’s betrothed is ripped from his arms and married to another, he believes the legend is true.
Tisa O’Brien’s life slams into a downward spiral at the news she is no longer betrothed to the love of her life but married to the tanist of a warring, prideful clan with dangerous political aspirations—the Meic Lochlainn. She faces her destiny with all the strength and dignity of her Irish heritage despite dealing with a husband who resents her, fighting off the lustful advances of her father-in-law, Aodh, and longing for the husband of her heart.
Tadhg MacNaughton makes a deal with the devil to ensure the survival of his clan as he is commanded to fight with Aodh who envisions himself the new Brian Boru, High King of Eire. Up close and personal, Tadhg must witness his true love’s marriage and remain silent even as it rips him apart. When a sinister plot to over throw King William of England led by the exiled Leofrid Godwin and Clan Meic Lochlainn comes to light, Tadhg is faced with saving his clan or endangering his sister and her Norman husband.
An Irish beauty and a warrior betrayed—doomed in love from the start or does fate have something else in store for them?
You can read an excerpt from her newest book below, but be sure and grab a copy on Amazon by clicking here.
Excerpt:
“Tisa. Yer betrothal to the MacNaughton has been severed. Ye’ll marry into the Meic Lochlainn clan of Inishowen. They’ll be here in two days time.”
The pain in her chest intensified with every word he spoke, like nails hammering into her heart, but her brain refused to understand his meaning beyond his first statement.
Your betrothal to the MacNaughton has been severed.
Her betrothal to Tadhg? They’d been betrothed forever. They grew up knowing they would one day be wed. Tadhg was all she wanted in a husband.
Her father’s eyes never wavered from her face. Surely he measured her reaction as if he cared.
“Ronan came here to make the agreement on their behalf. He has been a great help to our clan.”
The kind eyes seemed familiar but no. Those would have been the eyes of her father that loved her. A father that wanted her to be happy. A father that wanted her settled nearby. This? This was a man that cared nothing for her. A man that would rip away her future dreams of happiness. A man that would send her away from him. A man that would give her to strangers. Strangers that saw her as nothing more than…breeding stock.
No. She was more than that. She would not stand here and be handed off to a stranger and not even a word of protest.
“Why?” Damn her eyes. The tears swelled and her father became a blurry figure. “How?”
He looked away. “The MacNaughton broke our agreement.”
Her jaw dropped. A slap to the face would have hurt less. “No!”
“After Moira died, Padraig sent word he would not see his son married to an O’Brien.”
“And ye did not think to tell me this?”
Her head reeled with the implications.
“And Moira? Tadhg’s mother is dead?” Her breath hitched. Moira had been like a mother to her. “When was she buried? I wish to pay my resp—”
“Ye will not! Padraig would not allow us to come. None of us.” Her father finally faced her. “We are no longer welcome on his land. He wants nothing to do with us.”
“Nothing to do with us? They are our kinsmen.”
“No longer.”
“Ye canna just let him cut us off like this.”
“I was given little choice in the matter.”
“Then go to him! Beg his forgiveness for whatever you have done!”
“I have done nothing wrong! ‘Twas Padraig’s doing. He chose to give me no reason. I will abide by his decree.”
Tisa’s mind struggled to make sense of what her father was saying. There must be something he was not saying. “Why would Padraig treat us like this?”
He looked past her. “It matters not. What does matter is that the O’Neill threatens us to the west.”
“When will Seamus and Ian return?” Her only unwed brothers had been away going on two years now.
Her father’s eyes rounded in pain. “I dinna wish to upset ye but yer brothers will not be returning. They died in battle against the O’Neill.”
Tisa cried out. “When?”
“We received the news spring last.”
“Again ye decide to keep this from me? Do ye think I am a child? If that is the way of it, ’tis because my own father kept me from the truths in life, shielding me as if I would break.”
“Ye brothers went against my wishes. My anger was at them, not ye.”
“Be angry then. Be sad. Be devastated! But dunna keep me from the truth.”
“A great loss.” Her father closed his eyes against the pain.
Her own heart cried out. They were much older than her as were her sisters. The MacNaughton’s were closer in age and felt more like family. Brighit was like her own little sister.
“I must make decisions that ye may not wish to abide by—but ye will. The O’Neill will not back down. We need an alliance with a strong clan. I need men I can count on, who will fight with me against them.”
“The MacNau—”
“They will not fight for us now. ‘Tis not their land that is threatened.” He shouted the words, his nostrils flaring. “They have broken our agreement, daughter. We are defenseless. Ronan was good enough to make a new alliance for us.”
“At what cost to us?” Tisa knew the answer as soon as she asked the question. The way Ronan had looked at her, assessing her worth as a mate.
“You will marry their tanist.”
“So I am to be exchanged for the promise of protection?”
“Ye will have a place of prominence in their clan.”
“I do not care about prominence! I want the life I had always been promised. The life I was raised for.”
“That life is gone, Tisa. This is the life ye will have.”
“I do not accept this…betrayal.”
“Ye have no choice.”
