Terry Odell's Blog, page 70

The Ears Have It

The Ears Have It

Ive posted about having the computer read your manuscript before, but Im reprising my posts over at The Kill Zone Blog today.

I thought it would be timely, because if youre like me, you might be having trouble concentrating on writing, or your creative juices are stuck in the mud. Or you might simply have extra time on your hands.

Maybe your filling it with more games of Words With Friends, or Candy Crush, or listing your 10 favorite what-have-yous on Facebook. Or my time...

Get Close to the Source for Research

Get Close to the Source for Research.

Image by bonsantegroup from Pixabay

Getting information from people as close to the source as possible is important if you want your books to be accurate. Straight from the horses mouth as it were.

While the internet makes looking things up fast, if at all possible, I want confirmation from real people.

Id reached a scene where paramedics would be attending one of my characters, and I wanted to verify that what Id dug out of the Google Machine was...

Friday Bargains and Giveaways

Bargains and Giveaways

For those of you who have time to read, I have some free books and bargains. Please know that all of my single-title books are  $3.99 or less, or you can buy some as bundles and save more.

Here are the freebies:

Finding Sarah

When Danger Calls

Deadly Secrets

Second Chance Rose and Other Stories

Bargains:

Ive also got two books at half price at Kobo.

For Identity Crisis, go here and use Coupon Code Identity50 at checkout.

For In Hot Water, go here and use Coupon Code ...

COVID-19: The Obligatory Update Post

COVID-19: The Obligatory Update Post

Image by dianakuehn30010 from Pixabay

Consider this the obligatory COVID-19 Virus post.

As a retired, introverted writer, being under stay-at-home orders is neither a hardship nor much of a lifestyle change. My twice-a-week yoga classes have been cancelled, as have routine medical appointments and salon visits. Otherwise, our routines are almost the same as theyve always been. One thing well miss is our family get-together for Passover. Well connect on...

What’s the Future of Fiction?

Whats the Future of Fiction?

Image by Pintera Studio from Pixabay

When we watch a play, a movie, or read a work of fiction, theres an understood suspension of disbelief. We understand and accept that things arent playing out exactly the way they would in real life. Crimes dont really get solved in 42 minutes, transporters cant beam us to and from planets, you cant thumb a safety off a Glock, and there arent always parking spaces exactly where you need them.

How much were willing to forgive as...

ACX vs Findaway Voices Revisited

ACX vs Findaway Voices Revisited

A while back, I did an overall comparison of using ACX vs Findaway Voices to produce and distribute audiobooks.

My narrator has just finished his draft of Deadly Fun, and Ive sent back my pickups. Once hes made the corrections, Ill start the upload process, so Ive been thinking about where I want to upload the book.

There have been a lot of changes since I first started putting my books into the audio format. Back then, ACX was the only game in town. Now there...

Happy April Fools’ Day

Its April Fools Day.

Im sure some of us wish we could have awakened this morning to find that everything going on was just a joke, but thats not going to happen.

When my brother was about 3 or 4, he loved April Fools Day. I think he regarded it as a chance to tell little lies, like You have dirt on your face, or Your shoes are untied, and then shouting April Fool.

Some people go to great lengths to fool the public, like the great spaghetti harvest or the Sydney iceberg.

But when did this...

Word Choices

Word Choices

When were writing, we constantly make choices about which words to use. We want the word that best conveys the setting, the emotion, the characters thoughts and observations.

**Note: often, these word choices come in the rewrite/revise process. If Im stuck thinking of the perfect shade of blue, or a stronger verb, rather than waste time, Ill put [brackets] around the word. Or, when Im doing my nightly reads, Ill circle the words that need to be stronger.

But what about the...

Friday Giveaway – Audiobooks

Because Colorado is under a stay home order, which means I cant go to the Post Office to mail a physical prize, this weeks giveaway will be audiobook codes. Something to listen to while youre keeping your distance.

Want one?  You can find the books I have in audio format here. 
Go to the page, listen to samples, and leave a comment telling me which one youd like. Thats all there is to it.

Offer good through March 31st. Titles subject to availability. Some titles available through Audible;...

Social Media Behavior and Things I Learned in School

Social Media Behavior and Things I Learned in School

Back in the Dark Ages, I earned a degree in Psychology from UCLA. I also continued on for a Teaching Credential. I learned a few things I wish more people paid attention to now.

So, call it advice, call it a rant, call it my opinion, call it whatever you like. Its my blog, so I get to say what I want. And no, its not a writing post today.

Social Media gives us a chance to connect with people while were being told to stay home. However,...