I feel a little sorry for non-writers sharing a home with writers.
It’s got to be challenging, sometimes. And most likely no one warned you it was going to be. Writers should come with warning labels.
So I came up with some friendly warnings. :) You can check them out over on A Good Blog is Hard to Find.
My family and I saw a great performance of Cats on Saturday. I’d seen the musical a couple of times before, but it’s been forever since I last saw it.
One of the things I hadn’t remembered from 20 years ago is that the cats who weren’t on center stage were still acting around the edges of the stage…in character. So while Old Deuteronomy might be in the spotlight, singing a solo, Rum Tum Tugger was flirting off to the side of the stage. Grizabella was trying unsuccessfully to engage with other cats. They were acting in character, even while the spotlight wasn’t on them.
It made me think about character development. One way that I like to learn more about my characters is to think about what they do when my characters aren’t on stage.
Most of the time I don’t actually use the information in a book (although sometimes it comes in handy.) But usually it just helps me to know how a character would react in a particular situation. How do they deal with emergencies? Do they laugh when they’re embarrassed or are they the kinds of people who get angry, instead?
Knowing a little bit about what characters do in their spare time and their background helps me to figure out how to portray them in a story—and sometimes they take the story in a different direction.
If you’d like some resources to help you think more about your character’s identity, here are some helpful links (and you can find a ton more on the Writer’s Knowledge Base):
Character Questionnaires and Worksheets: The EPIGUIDE.COM Character Chart for Fiction Writers The Script Lab’s Questionnaire Fiction Writer's Character Chart Adventures in Children’s Publishing worksheet- Part 1 (the other parts to this excellent series are in the left sidebar) Scribe Sisters Questionnaire
Mind mapping for Character Development and Plotting: Quips and Tips for Successful Writers Write for Your Life Routines for Writers
Nice article on Character Development Story Fix: 3 Dimensions of Character Development
What kinds of things help you develop your characters so they come to life on the page? And--Happy Memorial Day to all my American friends...and a big thanks to all our soldiers.
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Finger Lickin’ Dead launches June 7th
![Terry3_thumb[1]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v68WnMKHlKQ/TUTKuXG5ThI/AAAAAAAACR4/_dcBJHIyjiA/s1600-h/Terry3_thumb%5B1%5D%5B160%5D.png "Terry3_thumb[1]")
Below are writing links that I’ve posted to Twitter in the last week.
The Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine, designed by software engineer and writer Mike Fleming, makes all these links searchable—try it for searches on plotting, characterization, querying, book promo, and more.
Chaperoning a field trip is like a well-told story: http://bit.ly/jSr4VB @laurapauling
The Art Of The Blurb Request: http://bit.ly/kYwfnn
A Critical Marketing Secret: Don’t Go It Alone: http://bit.ly/jzFXjf
The Art of the Two-Book Deal: http://bit.ly/mzSvWX
5 Sentences Saved by Em Dashes: http://bit.ly/it8waV
How to Start a Writers' Group (And Keep It Going): http://bit.ly/jKnoUu
Chatty Main Characters: http://bit.ly/l4gfJx
An editor on hyphenated compound adjectives: http://bit.ly/myrIhp
How to find out if your agent is an idiot: http://bit.ly/lbPpfy
10 questions to consider when hiring a freelance editor: http://bit.ly/kzVyjv
Tips for writing natural dialogue: http://bit.ly/kXpetZ
The Importance of First Impressions: http://bit.ly/lr0aiu @ingridsundberg
Is your idea blog-worthy or book-ready? http://bit.ly/kzixCc
9 Tips For Finishing That Novel: http://bit.ly/mChqLr
Diversity in SF/F for Young Readers, part 1: http://bit.ly/kKdeVf , part 2: http://bit.ly/j3RzVH , part 3: http://bit.ly/mqQox3
As a writer, it's normal to struggle: http://bit.ly/m7cyCC
PublishAmerica Will Be Your Literary Agent...For $199: http://bit.ly/kRRGxu
8 Ways to Use Blogging as an Interactive Marketing Tool: http://bit.ly/jeatLb
Find your unique hooks: http://bit.ly/mGIu7S
How to give a good interview: http://bit.ly/iDNBg2
Is there really such a thing as an original story? http://bit.ly/kRX5pk
Revisions Rock the House: http://bit.ly/kzDvzv
Strengthen Your Voice: http://bit.ly/kVgDC4
Do Stories Need a Theme? http://bit.ly/kAzeCx @jamigold
How to Tell a Compelling Story in 3 Steps: http://bit.ly/lvPzVf
Best Articles This Week for Writers 5/27/11: http://bit.ly/kPUHnF @4kidlit
Studying books you love: http://bit.ly/iJXkeH
Creativity Tweets of the Week : http://bit.ly/mjSZRH @on_creativity
An editor on chapter headings: http://bit.ly/iFVjOR
The Joy of Writing (Not More, Just Better) Sex: http://bit.ly/lpYIqD @BTMargins
5 Free E-Books Every Writer Needs: http://bit.ly/jFj6zf @janefriedman
Scenes in swim lanes: http://bit.ly/ipdzPN
5 ways to avoid an info dump: http://bit.ly/kvLUMo
62 ways to improve your press releases: http://bit.ly/jxHC0k
Are Your Blog Comments Good, Bad or Ugly? http://bit.ly/mmGtwY @BloggingMentor
How Many Projects Should You Have Before You Submit? An agent answers: http://bit.ly/lEVnFb
Tips for writing openings: http://bit.ly/lLauqd @authorterryo
10 Short Lessons From The World’s Best Copywriters: http://bit.ly/lAwwHp
Lose gaudy tag lines in your dialogue: http://bit.ly/l7Pchx
5 simple ways to make your blog more visually appealing to readers: http://bit.ly/lyVmHR
Marketing Lessons From Mom: http://bit.ly/izEMJR
8 journalists fired for tweeting: part 1: http://bit.ly/ksaRzP & part 2: http://bit.ly/k5oNcF
Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Eggplant Bruschetta? http://bit.ly/lF1jSk
What not to do as a writer--a full rewrite: http://bit.ly/jRJz27
Best Films From Books (Daily Beast): http://bit.ly/lmGdpA#
Thinking in Nonlinear Terms: http://bit.ly/iQ0K9n
Can I Turn 'Children’s Book Writer' Into a Full-Time Job? 2 writers answer: http://bit.ly/mDyJcC
Coming Up With a Strong Conflict: http://bit.ly/m9WtoB
Are you growing, as a writer? http://bit.ly/j8FOZ1 @katieganshert
How To Find Music for Your Book Trailer: http://bit.ly/kKAd9m @galleycat
12 insider interview tips from 2 accomplished writers: http://bit.ly/kIgvqN
30 Signs You're a (Children’s) Writer-Parent: http://bit.ly/mAAqb0 @CherylRWrites
Capitalize on Keyword Searches on Amazon: http://bit.ly/jajjY9
22 ways to stay focused on writing: http://bit.ly/jw3LWa
Is That a TV Show You’re Reading? http://bit.ly/jUDqqz
Is Google Planning an E-Book Rental Service? http://rww.to/lUyxqU
13 principles of plot: http://bit.ly/itlQXT
The “New Era” of the Author is Imminent: http://bit.ly/kzwrJh
10 Tips to Balance Parallel Sentence Structure: http://bit.ly/mIBVhg
Previously Published Authors & Their Decision to Self-Pub: http://bit.ly/mNzODz
How Can We Possibly Connect With ALL Our Followers? http://bit.ly/kr0svH
Ebook covers are different from print: http://bit.ly/iBe0A4
One Surefire Way to Increase Your Productivity: http://bit.ly/lJ7zxn
7 Tips for Falling in Love with Your Blog All Over Again: http://bit.ly/ioxOjT
The endless war between pantsters and outliners: http://bit.ly/j1bqIx
Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Killer Strawberry and Chicken Entree & Murder ala Mode Book Giveaway http://bit.ly/g4MtQa
An author's career arc: http://bit.ly/jDcZMl @pubperspectives
Challenges and rewards of being a pro writer--and qualities we should have: http://bit.ly/iN1Il2
5 Steps to Subconscious-Driven Creativity: http://bit.ly/mPo7wC
25 useful Mac apps for writers: http://bit.ly/j5PSnK
One writer's difficult choice between self-pub and small press: http://bit.ly/k9QAML @HeatherMcCorkle
Thoughts on writing action scenes: http://bit.ly/iXxeSH
Track goals to make your dreams a reality: http://bit.ly/j3uCE8
Finding the Right Writing Group: http://bit.ly/iqcKcW @bluemaven
Tips for Reducing Eye Strain for Readers and Writers: http://bit.ly/jbDLR0
7 things teen writers can do to hone their craft during break: http://bit.ly/kisonu
A Look at POV Shifts--5 ways to spot them: http://bit.ly/l2FFpq
Worldbuilding: What's on the page? http://bit.ly/jqMoDb
Common flaws 1 writer has noticed in self-pubbed books: http://bit.ly/kNPIxZ
Are You Making Any of These 5 Mistakes in Your "About Me" section? http://bit.ly/jpTCDT
Blog Law – Is Your Giveaway Legal? http://bit.ly/jUfahB
Give characters a chance to grow: http://bit.ly/joNTzR
The 2 Types of Blogs and Which One Is Right for You: http://bit.ly/lL2sQl
3 Reasons Action is Important, 3 Reasons It’s Not: http://bit.ly/iKnM2M
2 Tricks to Keep Your Online Reading Manageable: http://bit.ly/lMR8c7
Kill writer's block and become a master copywriter in 3 hours a day: http://bit.ly/joVZgX
Including crotchety and annoying characters in our books: http://bit.ly/ljwToN @mkinberg
How to Run a Successful Social Media Contest: http://bit.ly/mkG7k0
Killing a writing career? http://bit.ly/lruko0
This Week’s Twitter Fail Whale–The Hashtag Ho: http://bit.ly/loCDZe
No, That Character Is Not You: http://bit.ly/iidpV2 @LesaHolstine
Keep an eye on your objective, when writing: http://bit.ly/laQf3R @RavenRequiem13
Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Pink Lemonade Pie—by Riley Adams http://bit.ly/jFdwm6
Detectives & their Drink: Cocktail Recipes & Thin Man Martini Video: http://bit.ly/iwCwxP @JanetRudolph
Tips for indie booksellers--hand-selling dos and don'ts: http://bit.ly/mMF38P and social media tips: http://bit.ly/mKjGwj
Word power--misaligned subjects: http://bit.ly/ip4qyT
A mash-up of helpful links for self-publishing: http://bit.ly/lssH3w @jhansenwrites
Reversals in Novels and Movies: http://bit.ly/mPlmnl
Why One Writer Doesn’t Count Followers, Mentions, Google Alerts, or Blog Hits Anymore: http://bit.ly/iOBUfn
Creating endings that resonate: http://bit.ly/iAJ56A @juliemusil
10 Commandments of Grammar for Fiction Writers: http://bit.ly/lRezTj
Romancing the Bookseller--dos and don'ts of working with bookstores to promote books: http://bit.ly/izvqzl @pubperspectives
How to Fix Big Problems with Small Changes: http://bit.ly/lcD5gJ @JamiGold
3 things to think about when writing modern dialogue: http://bit.ly/jH6v0B @DeeScribe
Improv tip for writers--keep it here and now: http://bit.ly/k6ETfs @thinkStory
3 Publishing Trends Writers Must Stay On Top Of: http://bit.ly/kPECKU
How Often Should You Update Your Blog? http://bit.ly/mbKBA0 @BloggingMentor
Critique Feedback: Accentuate the Positives: http://bit.ly/iSo2uE @keligwyn
A rapidly changing future for agents: http://bit.ly/mhYBbD
Creating a Series: http://bit.ly/koLvqy
Steampunk Sub-Genre Bingo: http://bit.ly/lic3U2
Why One Writer Still Believes in Big-Press Publishing: http://bit.ly/jXVwDJ
Goal Setting Success – the Charlie Brown Method: http://bit.ly/lj66Ku
How do you "write what you know" in SF/F? http://bit.ly/ifffwd
Myst. Lov. Kitchen: A Healthy Snack: Foolproof Stuffed Mushrooms from Cleo Coyle and a Giveaway from ... http://bit.ly/lQUxbW
The write apps: apps there *should* be for writers: http://bit.ly/jcSn2H
The importance of voice in your query letter: http://bit.ly/ldQRH9 @writeangleblog
2 things Hitchcock taught one writer about adding details to a story: http://bit.ly/jUHYu5
Building an Online Presence 101: Getting Started: http://bit.ly/jKkDjS
Plot Basics—The Events of Story: http://bit.ly/if9J39
Time to get passive aggressive – get your main character out of the back seat: http://bit.ly/lBP2oO @dirtywhitecandy
Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 5/20/11): http://bit.ly/mF8U1X @janefriedman
The evolution of a writer: http://bit.ly/khEXdT
How 1 writer has consciously worked to improve his writing: http://bit.ly/iKck6O
The all-important writer bio: http://bit.ly/kmad7d
21 quick steps for blogging success: http://bit.ly/kltpeT
The Constant Drumbeat for Every Writer: http://bit.ly/kITBb6
Get Your Character Through That Door: http://bit.ly/ipcqlF
World Building: Don’t Do It! http://bit.ly/kqiCCK @thecreativepenn
The Kung Fu Panda Guide to Writing Action Scenes: http://bit.ly/mgFeVb
Tips for character creation: http://bit.ly/miyfqS
The 10 Terrible Truths of Book Marketing: http://bit.ly/jRLdi4
How to use the power of Twitter to develop and promote your zone of genius: http://bit.ly/jy36Hz
Search my tweets-- http://dld.bz/KPgS
How to Indicate Unspoken and Indirect Discourse: http://bit.ly/m8zT4K
LinkedIn: The Social Media Tool Writers Should Not Ignore: http://bit.ly/jwgwUI
Konrath on Why You Won't Succeed As A Self-Published Ebook Writer: http://bit.ly/j0vRaO
Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Chocoholics Unite! http://bit.ly/lSLU6G
Helpful plug-ins for Wordpress bloggers: http://bit.ly/isYsIC @storiestorm
Top 10 most frightening books for teenagers (Guardian): http://bit.ly/jmlSva
On the future of journalism: http://bit.ly/mz9qKf
So How, Exactly, Does a Writer Grow? http://bit.ly/mbUQNb
20 tips to accomplish your dreams: http://bit.ly/mnmP5A
Do Facebook and Google Control Too Much Personal Information? (The Atlantic): http://bit.ly/m0Ofdp
Slow and Steady: http://bit.ly/lEw5Ip
Breathing new life into books with official hashtags: http://bit.ly/kY2OeB
Finding Your Blog’s Unique Voice: http://bit.ly/kYHxpI
A helpful thesaurus for settings, emotions, symbolism, & weather--now with character traits: http://bit.ly/mQINxh @AngelaAckerman
What it Really Means When Your Book Gets Rejected: http://bit.ly/j0CPKC @annerallen
Will Your Manuscript Survive to Page 20? http://bit.ly/j0aAVz
Why contemporary romantic suspense is an improvement over old school novels: http://bit.ly/kOsVnT
Don’t discard the librarians (Globe and Mail): http://bit.ly/ijmJb1
Tips for word thieves: http://bit.ly/jZCJ9y @juliemusil
Beyond the First Draft–Preparing the Perfect Proposal: http://bit.ly/lqeDHg
A cautionary comic for writers: http://bit.ly/lJbxV7 @inkyelbows
On Punctuation Gimmicks: http://bit.ly/lFukWn
The Resume Is Dead, The Bio Is King: http://bit.ly/kMSG2r
Balancing inner and outer story in your book: http://bit.ly/jbwkBg
4 Types of Reference Books You Didn’t Know You Needed: http://bit.ly/j0eZux
Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Welcome Guest Blogger - Larry Sweazy! http://bit.ly/kMqken
Writing late? Writing early? How Little Sleep Can You Get Away With? (NY Times): http://nyti.ms/kyZnXZ
10 Steps to Finding Your Writing Voice: http://bit.ly/iWADJe @JeffGoins via @designerdaze
Putting your work in the market and keeping it there until sold: http://bit.ly/jelev9
Publishing--a small press adventure: http://bit.ly/mEDwbP
My writing friend, Jan Morrison, had a great post on Thursday about the book The Kaizen Way by Robert Maurer.
Jan explains that Maurer’s approach to life involves asking ourselves small questions to move forward toward goals. Jan said that by posing small questions to ourselves we don’t freak ourselves out by goal-planning and subconsciously sabotage our efforts.
I like this idea a lot because while I’m a huge list-maker and goal-planner, the thought of the Big Picture of the next 20 years of my writing life tends to freak me out a little. If you were to ask me, off the cuff, where I’d like to be with my writing 20 years from now, for example, I’d probably be so overwhelmed that I wouldn’t even know how to answer the question.
In fact, my agent asked me a similar question about a year ago (we were having a coffee together at a conference) and I looked at her like she’d grown horns.
Sometimes I feel like I can’t see the forest for the trees—I’m just so darned busy. I’m working toward the next deadline at all times.
What my agent’s question forced me to do last year, though, was to actually pull myself out of my minute to minute scrambling and think about the big picture. It still freaks me out, though. My answer to my agent’s question, at the time, was to say that I wanted to keep doing what I was doing right now. That I was interested in exploring other genres and ideas….later on. I was very vague about it all.
Jan posted her list of small questions to herself on her blog post. She gives some good direction on how to start thinking about goals for life and writing. And asking myself questions is a much nicer way to approach goal-setting than making a bulleted list.
I also like the idea of breaking down goals (once I’ve identified them) into small steps…it makes it so much easier to reach a goal.
Have you set goals for yourself, as a writer?
I just finished reading a very disturbing book all the way from cover to cover—so you know it must be book club time for me. :)
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t pick a story to read that gives me nightmares at night, but my book club seems to have a proclivity for picking them.
I was reading the harrowing and unusual tale with great trepidation when I suddenly came across some story elements so familiar to me that they comforted me—and it all started with a crazy wife locked in a remote section of a large house. Jane Eyre! I thought with relief, and was able to keep reading the book club selection. Sure enough, the story was on a real Gothic kick from that point on.
I’ll sometimes hear writers worry about writing a really original, breakout story.
But I really don’t think there are any really original breakout stories to be written. I think that each of us has the opportunity to do a really bang-up job on an old story in our unique voice.
It’s been said that there are only seven basic plots in all of literature. Actually, there have been said to be several different numbers of basic plots, but seven is the number mentioned most frequently.
This site lists 1 basic plot, 7 , 20, and finally, 36 basic plots.
What if there are as many as 36 basic plots in literature? That’s still not many.
And yet, with all the similarity in theme, we’re not getting bored with books. Or movies, because films are limited to these plot lines, too.
That’s because each writer brings something of themselves to the book. It could be an amazing character they created or a fabulous setting. It could be the writer’s voice in the way he tells the story.
Just the fact that the writers are all different means that their stories will be unique. Their takes on the stories will be unique. Out of the 36 plots, one writer might use a particular plot in a thriller and another might use it in a romance.
It’s our different takes on life that make plots unique.
Do you ever notice this repetition of plots in books and movies? Most of the time, I’ll admit, I don’t…each story seems very different.
Lately, looking at my to-do list, I’ve felt pretty snowed. I’ve got Finger Lickin’ Dead releasing June 7th, a book due July 1, and a complete outline for another book due August 1.
And the children are almost out of school for the summer. :)
I’m good at prioritizing the things I need to do, but when everything is a priority, it makes it tough.
What I’ve found keeps me knocking through the items on my to-do list, is a couple of different approaches.
Some days I’ll put several quick and easy tasks on my to-do list—stuff that I need to do, but that only take a second. So my list could have these things on it: 1) Put sunflower seed in the birdfeeder 2) Water potted plants on front porch 3) Put newspapers in recycling bin
Honestly, I feel so smug after crossing three things off on my list, that I start attacking the rest of the to-do list with renewed vigor. Sad, but true.
My other approach is to put the most loathed, procrastinated task on the top of my to-do list. Then, the whole rest of the day, I’m proud of myself for knocking it out. It gives me more motivation to keep crossing things off my list.
I’m a productivity nut, so please share how you stay motivated and don’t get overwhelmed by your to-do lists. Inquiring minds want to know!
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Sign up for the free, monthly Writer’s Knowledge Base newsletter for writing tips and resources and to be entered in our first giveaway. Details here.
Finger Lickin’ Dead launches June 7th
In the book I’ve just finished writing, my protagonist is a successful, self-assured, retired museum curator. She’s moved to a small Southern town to be near her daughter and get a break from the hectic pace of her life.
Of course, things don’t go all that smoothly for my character. Besides getting mixed up in a murder investigation (the main plot), she’s also faced with a number of challenges on a smaller scale—everything from dealing with the change of pace, to learning quilting (something she’d had no plans of ever learning.) My protagonist is pushed from her comfort zone at every opportunity.
Looking for the perfect way to challenge your character? Ask yourself how they view themselves. What do they think they’re good at? What do they find personally challenging?
Why we should play to a character’s weaknesses instead of their strengths:
It gives them the opportunity to fail. Who likes perfect characters?
It gives them the opportunity to try again. And persistence is a likeable trait.
It provides additional conflict for your book. Sure we’ve got the main plot and all the conflict that goes with it. But extra conflict adds tension to a book and makes for an interesting subplot that can motivate the reader to keep reading to see how the character deals with it.
It gives them an opportunity to ultimately succeed. Because we all like to see hard work rewarded.
Have you given your characters a chance to grow lately?
In my blog reading last week, I came across an interesting post on the Seeing Creative blog.
Sometimes I think stereotypes are nice for writers. I know that sounds odd to say, but if you’re writing a minor character--if you have your stock nerd, jock, prom queen, etc., the reader instantly gets the character. There’s not a lot of work needed there. It’s easy. And it’s easy for the reader, too—particularly if they’re trying to get acquainted with all the other characters (the important characters) in your book.
But stock characters won’t work for a protagonist or other characters with large roles. Obviously, if our books are overflowing with stereotypes, we haven’t done our jobs as writers.
A cool way to shake up stereotypes and help create unique characters was mentioned in the post “Creating the Non-Stereotypical Character.” Stina Lindenblatt said that author Mary Buckham recently conducted a workshop through her local RWA chapter. In the workshop, she had the writer either pick the occupation or hobby/interest of the main characters in their novel, then list 5 character traits associated with those careers. Ms. Buckham then had the author switch the traits around. You can see some results here.
Another good way to create unique character is by blending the traits of several different strong personalities of people you know.
How do you keep your characters unique? Do you sometimes use stock characters for minor roles in your book?
I came across an interesting post the other day by Michael Margolis called The Resume Is Dead, The Bio Is King.
In the story’s lead-in, the writer states:
If you’re a designer, entrepreneur, or creative – you probably haven’t been asked for your resume in a long time. Instead, people Google you – and quickly assess your talents based on your website, portfolio, and social media profiles. Do they resonate with what you’re sharing? Do they identify with your story? Are you even giving them a story to wrap their head around?
Margolis also gives a list of questions that can help you to formulate your bio in story format.
How many bios/taglines do you need? Probably more kinds than you think.
Blog: I’ll admit that the bio, or “About Me” is the first thing I look for on a blog—before anything else. That’s because blogging is about developing relationships and I want to know just some really basic information first. What do you write? What’s your name (and a pen name is okay—lots of anonymity online)? A picture can help readers identify with you, or, barring that, a book cover or an avatar that you feel expresses a little about who you are. It’s nice to also see one additional bit of information about the writer—are they a parent? Devoted dog owner? Avid filmgoer? Wine aficionado?
Email signature: I’ve mentioned before that this is a great way to tell your friends and family you’re a writer. Your email signature could have your blog link under it, and a link to a book or article that you’ve written. I have a different one for my personal email than I do for my writing-related account.
Twitter bio: Obviously, this one is tricky because of the space limitation. I play with my bio on Twitter from time to time. You can see it above. I’m basically saying what I write (and the name of the different series), giving my purpose on Twitter (tweeting interesting writing links), and then providing my blog address for anyone who’s interested.
Short bio: There are many times that I need a short bio. There are book catalogs for different organizations that ask for short bios and short book descriptions. Panels and conferences want a short bio. If I’ve written an article for a print magazine (which sometimes I still do, to keep my hand in it), they always want just a line. So it’s good to think up a very abbreviated way to tell who you are and where folks can find out more about you.
An adaptable base bio—a basic bio that can be adapted. Mine is a few paragraphs that I can take bits and pieces from, depending on the situation. I have one that’s sort of cute and funny when I’m writing humorous guest posts or if I’m talking about fun topics on a panel. I have one that’s very businesslike and professional sounding if I’m speaking in a more formal setting or on a more serious topic.
Facebook: Facebook just turns your basic info into a bio for you. Mine says where I work (which are the publishing houses I write for), where I went to school, and where I live. I’ve been meaning to dabble with my FB bio a bit—it would be easy to change your occupation to “writes traditional mysteries,” etc., if you wanted to showcase that info on your FB profile page instead of what your day job is.
Guest post bio/tagline: If you’re guest posting, there’s probably something that you’re trying to accomplish. Wanting to expand your blog readership? Promote a new book? For my upcoming blog tour, I mention my new release first (with a buy link hyperlinked to the book’s name….this is the main purpose for my tour), and the name I’m writing the series under (Riley Adams). Then I mention the other series I write. Then I mention my blog, the Writer’s Knowledge Base, and my Twitter handle (and I hyperlink those things, so they’re live links). Then I figure everyone has all the basics—and can click links to find out the rest. (And it’s shorter than it sounds…I think short works better.)
Have you got different bios for different occasions or different social media? Have any tips for writing bios or thoughts on what information you’re hoping to discover when you’re reading someone’s?
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Sign up for the free, monthly Writer’s Knowledge Base newsletter for writing tips and resources and to be entered in our first giveaway. Details here.
Finger Lickin’ Dead launches June 7th
Below are writing links that I’ve posted to Twitter in the last week.
The Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine, designed by software engineer and writer Mike Fleming, makes all these links searchable—try it for searches on plotting, characterization, querying, book promo, and more.
Tips on cliffhangers: http://bit.ly/kknQxX @juliemusil
What Ju-Jitsu Can Teach Us About Writing: http://bit.ly/krFW5S
Creating the non-stereotypical character: http://bit.ly/kSgmks
5 Fixes for Pop-Culture Pile-Ups: http://bit.ly/ka4aTt
Summer Survival Guide for Writers: http://bit.ly/kwuFOE
4 tips for dissemination of info in your story: http://bit.ly/le8Xkb
Writing Myths Busted: http://bit.ly/mr2Vla @yaHighway
Do You Tell People You Write? http://bit.ly/mTDOF1
5 ways to know your characters before you even meet them: http://bit.ly/kyznnc @jammer0501
When You Feel Like a Nobody: http://bit.ly/lAOle9
What Not to Write–The Submission: http://bit.ly/kRjUD5
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Thanks to Diane @TheBookResort for hosting me on her blog: http://bit.ly/luVJxv Finger Lickin' Dead releases Jun. 7th! http://amzn.to/iRM9Hw
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Why Doesn't Your Blog Click? http://bit.ly/lyGoZd @hopeclark
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Overall, I’m feeling pretty smug that I’m adapting to the changing publishing environment.
I have a Kindle. I’m not at all opposed to putting backlist items out as ebooks (I’ve even got a book in mind for it). I edit my manuscript on my Kindle when I’m on the go. I feel fairly progressive.
But when the Charlotte Observer called me up last week and offered to give me a special price to make the move to an electronic edition of the newspaper, I was practically speechless.
“It’s an exact reproduction,” the sales representative said soothingly. “Even the ads. It’s a PDF.'”
“Uhhhh…” I said.
“When you go out of town, you can still read the Charlotte Observer. You can read it anywhere in the world!”
“Ummm….” I said.
“It’s interactive, too. And you can search the archive, make the font size bigger, and you can access it 24/7! And it’s a lot less expensive than the print edition.”
It all made a lot of sense…I just couldn’t do it. But first of all, I asked if I had to do it—was the print edition going under in the immediate future? Because I’d rather read an e-edition of the newspaper than lose my local paper altogether.
It wasn’t to the point of the print edition disappearing, thankfully. There’s still something very nice about unfolding a newspaper and sipping my coffee while catching up on the news.
But I’m 40---and the representative, laughing a little, said that was the gray area. She said that everyone over 40 was very indignant at the thought of losing the physical, newsprint paper….that everyone under 40 was excited to get the same paper, as an e-edition, for a much lower price than the printed edition.
This is interesting to me, because I think a lot of Kindle users are middle aged and up. But maybe there’s a difference between getting a book on a reader and receiving a newspaper that way. I know there’s a difference for me. And I’m not sure I want to interact with my newspaper, anyway.
Are there some areas where you’re just not wanting to make the switch yet? Or are you fully onboard with the ebook revolution?
I was speaking to a group of writers a couple of weeks ago when a question came up about what my opinion of a good review on Amazon was.
I winced, because I knew what the questioner was getting at.
If I were reading a movie review, 3 out of 5 stars means a good movie to me. Maybe it’s no Academy Award winner, but it’s good entertainment. It’s no waste of time to watch. 4 stars seems to mean very good to me…maybe a more complex plot with some top-notch acting. 5 stars? I should be watching Casablanca, Citizen Kane, or The Manchurian Candidate (1962).
Now, if it’s Amazon, then it’s totally different. Many of the published authors that I know consider anything less than a 5-star review something of a slap in the face. I’m not saying that’s right or wrong…I’m just saying that’s what I’ve heard. Of course, none of us feel good about a 1-star or 2-star review, but most authors aren’t rejoicing over a 3 or 4 star one, either.
If I were to apply the same rating system to books that I apply to movies, I’d make a book like The Complete Works of Shakespeare a 5 star, The Great Gatsby a 4 star (because it’s VERY good, but not really on par with Shakespeare), then I think many of the rest of us would be 3-star-good. Good entertainment… a nice read… good use of a reader’s valuable time.
Would I actually use this scale to rate my friends’ books? No, I sure wouldn’t. I wouldn’t have a whole lot of friends left. The way the Amazon scale runs is more like a recommended/not recommended rating—if it’s 5 stars, you heartily recommend it. If it’s fewer than 5 stars, in the Amazon environment, you’re not really recommending the book to others. I’m not saying this is right, but it seems to be what authors and what I think many Amazon readers believe. Amazon could practically switch to a Facebook-esque thumbs up or thumbs down symbol and just cut to the chase, if that’s the way we’re all treating their ratings.
To me, it looks a little phony to have all 5-star reviews. It has the appearance of being in cahoots with our reviewers. I just don’t think that everyone is going to love my book. I’d love it if everyone did, and I deeply appreciate the readers who feel that way, but the reality is that different readers enjoy different types of books. Some might love my book, some might think it was pretty good, some might put it down and pick up a thriller instead. I know I prefer some types of books over others.
The emphasis on a standing ovation review was driven home to me on Wednesday at the pharmacy when I was asked by my pharmacist to call a number on my receipt and complete a survey to be entered in a drawing. “But please,” he said, “don’t give us any fewer than 5 stars. Anything less than that is a strike against us, in Corporate’s eyes. If you’re only somewhat satisfied, please just don’t fill out the survey at all.”
It left me with a icky feeling that someone could suffer negative consequences from an overall favorable review of their service.
What do you think? Has Amazon changed the way we think about book rating and review? What’s a good review on Amazon? Are you hesitant to give fewer than five stars for a book?
When I first took my now-14 year old son to kindergarten, I didn’t completely understand the elementary school carpool line. Actually, I didn’t understand it at all. And there seemed to be a lot of rules that I wasn’t aware of—where to turn in, which entrance was for what grade, where it was acceptable to drop off your child, where it wasn’t.
My very first day in the carpool line, I pulled up to the curb by the sidewalk that led into the school. But I didn’t pull up at the right place. As my son got out of the car, the teaching assistant—a stern-looking older lady—bent to look through my passenger window and fussed, “Excuse me! You’ll need to pull up allllll the way up here in your car. That way more cars can pull up behind you! We don’t have all day to unload!”
She was very indignant at my carpooling ineptitude. I was indignant, too. Here I was, a kindergarten parent with a baby in the backseat….how the heck was I supposed to know how the crazy carpool line worked?
We’ll just say that I started off with a negative impression of this teacher.
Over the years, though, I learned a lot more about the teacher from volunteering at the school. She has an old-fashioned way of phrasing sentences and a dry, sharp wit. She’s extremely well-read and sometimes makes obscure literary references that perfectly match whatever situation we’re in.
She’s now one of my favorite teachers at the school—and I think I like her even better than some other teachers because I so thoroughly disliked her at the beginning.
As a reader, I’ve felt the same way about characters that have grown on me. Particularly if the protagonist and I both share the negative opinion of the supporting character.
I remember, as a kid, thinking that Ben, the gardener in The Secret Garden was a total grouch. Then, as I reader, I found out with Mary that Ben was friends with a robin, was a real lover of nature, and was excited for Mary to start gardening.
Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series was another character that I detested at first, but then found really grew on me.
So I’m not really talking about a character that changes and becomes more likeable, I’m talking about one who stays the same, but has characteristics that make readers eventually, maybe grudgingly, like them.
I was thinking about this the other day in the carpool line, realizing I wanted to write some more characters that a reader can grow to like…because I’ve enjoyed reading them so much that I’d love to try my hand at writing one.
Have you read any characters that grew on you? As a writer, have you written any?
As a fantasy author, creating the worlds my characters inhabit is half the fun. But it can also be a lot of work, because there’s so much you need to know to create a whole world – and most of it never even makes it into the book. To make this easier on myself, I like to use real places as a foundation and build my worlds from there.
For my adventure fantasy, The Shifter, I wanted to create a lakeside Venice, so I started researching the world’s biggest lakes. Lake Superior had interesting possibilities, but it was pretty deep and cold, and anyone building a city on a lake would probably need it to be shallow. Lake Tanganyika was an option, but it was too long and skinny for what I had in mind. I wanted my city to have a sense of isolation that only a vast expanse of water could create. Then I found Lake Victoria in Africa. Round, shallow, interesting geographic location—it was perfect.
Now that I had my lake, I researched what plants grew in that area, what people ate, and what kind of animals there were. All the little details that make a world come to life, and things that I could easily grab when I needed a detail for a scene. Fishing would obviously be important, so that would be a large industry and where most of Nya’s (my protagonist) odd jobs would come from. In a small city riddled with canals, vehicles would takes up a lot of space, so most people would probably walk. Carriages and horses would be restricted to the very rich or powerful. Instead, boats would likely be used to carry people and goods from one side of the isle to the other. With just a little research I could already see my world coming to life.
I also found some fun real life details I could use. Like how water hyacinths are a problem around Lake Victoria, because they grow so fast and get caught in boat propellers. This translated into a problem my city of Geveg could have, with plants clogging the canals and boat owners needing someone to yank them out by hand. Sounded like a risky job to me, so why not make it even riskier by adding crocodiles to the mix? People desperate for a job would risk being eaten to pull a few plants now and then. And since I knew Nya was going to be poor, this could be something she might consider doing. (And it turned out to have devastating consequence in the third book, Darkfall)
Once I had a basic world foundation, it was time to think about the technology. I wanted my people to be advanced enough to have certain things like clocks and glass, but still maintain a fantasy feel (which can't have too much science or it starts to feel like science fiction). I picked 16th century Italy, giving the world a Renaissance undertone. Education was available, books existed, commerce was more developed, but it was still an old-fashioned world. I cross-referenced this with the natural resources of my African lake climate, so I could see what technologies would have developed and which wouldn't have. For example, if there's no access to gold, then you don't have gold smithing or gold jewelry.
Then it was on to style. (This is where the artist in me came into play) What would the art look like? How would these people decorate? Again, I went back to my base influences. The African lake and the Italian city. I decided to mix the two and go for a Byzantine feel. Arches, tiles, mosaics, beads, bright colors and patterns. Textures.
And of course, every culture has a religion (if not several). I decided to give my world a spiritual side, but not one that required the deities to actively participate in the lives of the people. Something that guided morality and faith, but didn't dominate it. Saints popped into my mind (couldn't even tell you what inspired that) and since the story involved sisters, I wanted to make all the Saints female and sisters. Alliteration naturally took me to the Seven Sisters, and that worked into the seven deadly sins. My Saints became the opposite, and represented the seven virtues. Nya’s patron Saint is Saint Saea, Sister of Compassion. That really fits Nya since she gets into the trouble she does by being compassionate.
Slowly, my world took shape, and it was time to start naming things. I used an African lake as a world foundation, so I thought it would fun to create names from African words. I chose Geveg as my city’s name, because geveg means struggle, which suits a city struggling under the occupation of enemy forces (which it is). That enemy is called Baseer, which is a derivative of beseer or hurt, because they’re the ones doing the hurting. Pynvium, the magical metal in my story, comes from pyn, the word for pain. Few people are ever going to know the meanings when they read the book, but having a little secret makes it more fun for me. And since Afrikaans is close to Dutch, I’ve actually had readers e-mail me asking if a certain name really does mean something in particular. Many of my names have hidden meanings in them, and you can get a hint about those characters if you happen to know what their name means.
Once you name something it’s yours, so I had my world and my story and I was ready to write it. And figure out what kinds of troubles I could cause poor little Nya in her fun little world. Because for me, the other half of the fun is seeing how my characters get out of the messes I put them in.
*********************
Janice Hardy always wondered about the darker side of healing. For her fantasy trilogy THE HEALING WARS, she tapped into her own dark side to create a world where healing was dangerous, and those with the best intentions often made the worst choices. Her books include THE SHIFTER, and BLUE FIRE. DARKFALL, the final book of the trilogy, is due out October 4, 2011.
She lives in Georgia with her husband, three cats and one very nervous freshwater eel. You can visit her online at www.janicehardy.com, chat with her about writing on her blog, The Other Side of the Story (http://blog.janicehardy.com/), or find her on Twitter @Janice_Hardy.
In the post, WTF is Up With Cursing in YA, agent Jennifer Laughran answers writers’ questions on offensive language and its location in a manuscript.She also points out that you’ll want to make sure you’re not sending a profanity-laced book to a publisher that focuses on younger-YA books or clean YA. She states that profanity can work:
Provided of course that it is right for the character, that it makes sense in context and you aren't just randomly throwing words around….cursing CAN be a lazy writer's way of making a character seem "edgy."
I write traditional mysteries, also called cozies. Use of profanity is generally discouraged in these books—it’s just not what the reader is expecting or looking for when they purchase a cozy mystery.
Conversely, if a reader has chosen a novel that focuses on the harrowing day-to-day life of members of a Mafia family…they’re going to be shocked if there’s no profanity. That would likely be something they’d expect (especially since Goodfellas and The Godfather have conditioned us to it).
So I think reader expectations can play an important role in whether a writer should include profanity in a book. Readers are, ultimately, the people we’re trying to please if we’re publishing.
Some things to consider when deciding on use of profanity in your book:
Would the character ordinarily use it? Is it realistic?
Does it make sense in the context? Is it really needed in the particular situation? Could it be left out and have the scene be just as effective?
Do you have to use dialogue with the profanity, or can you just state: Kevin cursed fluently as he hit his thumb with the hammer?
Does it fit your genre? Your audience?
Could it potentially be offensive to a reader, or is it fairly mild?
Is it distracting in the text? (By its frequency, wording, etc?)
Is it gratuitous? Is it there just for shock value or does it add something (realism, character insight) to the story?
Does profanity work with your genre and your intended readers? How much is too much?
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Finger Lickin’ Dead launches June 7th!
Being a writer is not about how many people have read your work. It is not about getting an agent who will take you on as a client (or, for that matter, who will respond to your repeated contacts). It is not even about being published. If you have passion for writing and you’ve ever put a pen to paper, then you’re already a writer.
All those other things are nice, of course. There could be writers out there who don’t dream about being on the New York Times bestsellers list, but I haven’t met them yet. Being published in twenty-seven different languages, selling tens of millions of copies, and seeing your work transformed into movies starring Hollywood’s A-list celebrities would all be really cool. But nobody expects that of you right out of the gate, and you shouldn’t either.
I have been a voracious reader all my life, and I’ve always dreamed of being a published writer. Note the word “published” in there. That’s where the glamour comes from, isn’t it? Holding a book in your hand with your name on the front and your head shot on the back? That’s what I dreamed of. I didn’t stay up at night thinking about the actual writing process, which is weird, because that’s really where my passion was.
And looking back, I realize that in my own way I’ve been a writer most of my life. Even as a kid I wrote stories, mostly just for fun. Whenever a writing assignment came up in class I’d jump on it.
I remember in fifth grade we were directed to read a book and write a story about ourselves set inside the book’s world. It was a very creative assignment, actually. I chose “The Indian in the Cupboard.” The story, if memory serves, was supposed to be a minimum of five pages, typed and double-spaced. Mine was thirty-something. I’ve searched and unfortunately cannot find a copy of it anywhere.
I’ve always been a writer, but I wasn’t confident enough to call myself one, which is sad. I was shy about it. I didn’t dare share that passion with friends or family. I didn’t attend writing seminars. I didn’t take writing courses in college.
I thought I had to have an agent, or be published, before I could call myself a writer. I expected way too much out of myself, much as I imagine so many others out there do too. I thought that because I didn’t have my name on a cover, I wasn’t really a writer.
It took actually getting my name on a cover to realize how superficial that was. I recently published my first book, a work of poetry titled If It Still Has a Head, It Isn’t Quite Dead. I’ll probably never forget the moment when I first held a copy of that book in my hands. Wow. It was overwhelming. But after that moment passed, I realized something I should have known all along.
Books don’t make writers. Writers make books. Not having a book yet does not mean you’re not a writer. It just means you’re a writer who hasn’t made a book yet. I didn’t pick up that book and become a writer. I just picked up a book.
I’ve wanted to write all my life, but I didn’t pursue it until very recently, thanks in large part to encouragement from my wife. I should add, I didn’t even open up to her about my desire to write until long after I should have.
Why was I so afraid?
I don’t know. I suppose I was afraid of being judged, afraid of failure, afraid of all the things anybody might be afraid of before doing something new. That was probably natural for me. It was also really stupid! I put off doing something I loved, and for what? Fear?
I didn’t have the courage to share with my friends and family what I wanted to be until after I had that book in my hands. Can you believe that? I was publishing a book, and I didn’t tell anyone. It was among the most exciting things I have done in my entire life, and I didn’t tell anyone. It shouldn’t have taken me so long, and if you are in a similar place to where I was a year ago, don’t let it take you that long either.
Write, dammit. Set up a blog. Write poetry (it worked for me, which believe me, still boggles my mind). Write short stories. Post them online for all to see. Email them to anyone you think might read them. Solicit everyone and their mom for feedback. Grow.
In the process you’ll build a fan base as well, so that once you finally do have that book in your hands, you won’t be starting from scratch.
I was afraid. I can’t go back and change that, but perhaps I can help some readers out there who have similar fears overcome theirs faster than it took me to overcome mine.
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Harrison is a very proud first time author. He invites readers to follow him on Twitter @Harrison314 and to visit his website: www.harrisonbradlow.com. His book, If It Still Has a Head, It Isn’t Quite Dead: A book of poetry on zombies, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, ghouls, and other generally scary monster-type creatures, is available online from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com, among other outlets. Poetry excerpts from the book are available at his website as well.
Below are writing links that I’ve posted to Twitter in the last week.
The Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine, designed by software engineer and writer Mike Fleming, makes all these links searchable—try it for searches on plotting, characterization, querying, book promo, and more.
Hidden Treasures You Find at Conferences: http://bit.ly/m5gxwN @hopeclark
One writer's 10 steps to novel completion: http://bit.ly/mhjpl2
Staying Out of the Story: http://bit.ly/m6RIKn
202 Tips To Increase Your Blog Traffic: http://bit.ly/jXKO5C
The downside of the e-revolution in publishing: http://bit.ly/mthOYP @BSquaredInOz
Myst. Lov. Kitchen: CONSIDER THE ASPARAGUS http://bit.ly/mnYna5
Writers Are Worth It: http://bit.ly/iXavj3 @merylkevans
Starting Erotic Stories: Two Things That Work, and Two Things That Don't: http://bit.ly/kS7cD7
20 Tips for Freelance Writers: http://bit.ly/mfq4LU
Choosing Your Main Character and His/Her Essential Counterpart: http://bit.ly/m2JxUb
How Online Writers and Publishers Still Rely on Each Other for a Payday: http://bit.ly/jFVttu
Best Articles This Week for Writers 5/13/11: http://bit.ly/j8Pq0D @4kidlit
Libraries are in crisis, but literary culture is thriving (Guardian): http://bit.ly/kpt8VI
5 Questions Never to Ask at a Bookstore Reading: http://bit.ly/khdDDL
Query letters – do you have personality? http://bit.ly/ixNKSa
Viewpoint Character and the Need to Choose Wisely: http://bit.ly/mB672h
12 Easy Steps to The Making of a Book Trailer: http://bit.ly/kP5jpk
The inexorable link between Science Fiction and Fantasy: http://bit.ly/lhPLiX
20 email list-building tips: http://bit.ly/libkdP
5 Ways to Kill Your Creativity: http://bit.ly/jY4f8n
Why Writers Are So Antisocial: http://bit.ly/ketTqj
5 Fast Differences Between YA and MG: http://bit.ly/iJ5rcs
What Self-Publishing Isn’t: http://bit.ly/jEdwBO
How journalists can make use of Facebook Pages: http://bit.ly/mu3QSG
5 tips for writing flash fiction: http://bit.ly/kqE4R1 @mkinberg
Why libraries still matter (Salon): http://bit.ly/mFgDsa
Should you self-publish after a near miss? http://bit.ly/mvlwjR @janefriedman
Crime writers--The Difference Between Extortion and Blackmail: http://bit.ly/j29DrU
Helpful books on writing: http://bit.ly/iqqOAR
Tackling revisions: http://bit.ly/jd1Skr
Story Structure, Part 1: Beginnings: http://bit.ly/lviwfx
Tips for finishing a book: http://bit.ly/jjiWnd
What a trendsetting book is, and isn't: http://bit.ly/ji21KE
Lessons learned from a pencil: http://bit.ly/iGK9uk
Facebook Dramatically Restricts Authors & Publishers’ Ability To Host Contests: http://bit.ly/kf7B8n
Tips for confident writing: http://bit.ly/mUcp4a
The Chekhov's Gun Plot Device & How To Use It When Writing Your Novel: http://bit.ly/lq5bNj
Get More Done with Creative Quickies: http://bit.ly/mFHc8Y
Narrative Tension and the Ticking Clock: http://bit.ly/kAgdYi
Formatting red flags: http://bit.ly/isBR78
Does Your Story Have a Hook or Merely a Gimmick? http://bit.ly/kStVsh
Self-doubt and writers: http://bit.ly/l0MPPt
Best practices for finishing that book: http://bit.ly/jcoyoT @patriciastoltey
5 tips for writers who want to publish: http://bit.ly/jjiWnd @4kidlit
Five Things Writers Must Do Before They Die: http://bit.ly/iruBnZ @clarissadraper
When is it time to sign an author-agent contract? http://bit.ly/jDWHk4
"Write-by-number" Synopsis Recipe: http://bit.ly/lKETYR
Search my tweets-- http://dld.bz/KPgS
Name your protagonist: http://bit.ly/lbhZAV
Editing: It's About the Big Picture, Too: http://bit.ly/jAxb4J @authorterryo
Using Storyboard W to Structure a Self-Help Book: http://bit.ly/iXGksu
Best practices for beta readers: http://bit.ly/jPIwca
Should I Use Absolute Phrases? Absolutely: http://bit.ly/myCSVs
19 Ways to Use Images to Enhance Your Blog: http://bit.ly/it4msq
Tips for body language and description: http://bit.ly/mmylI7
Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Avery's Garlic Blue Cheese Fondue http://bit.ly/incswU
Learning to Find a Balance in Showing Versus Telling: http://bit.ly/iYXDcd @jodyhedlund
The Importance of a Literary Nemesis: http://bit.ly/jFWc99
Dumping Those Info Dumps: http://bit.ly/iIzvDt @jemifraser
How an Agent Works with a Self-Published Author: http://bit.ly/jFaD7C @galleycat
Key Story Elements: Into The Special World: http://bit.ly/moUzww
How to Get into a Subjunctive Mood: http://bit.ly/l7hpep
Ticking Clock or Option Exhaustion: 2 Ways To Bring Your Novel To A Crisis: http://bit.ly/jin0Q3
5 Key Research Sites You May Have Missed (Plus Cool Tricks): http://bit.ly/mADZQB @janefriedman
Writing Out of Order: http://bit.ly/mMQLGK
10 Simple Ways to Support Authors You Love: http://bit.ly/lSbj93
How Spelling Diverges Between American and British English: http://bit.ly/muKiEF
Synopsis Example: ''The Fly'' (Horror / Sci-Fi): http://bit.ly/lXiRm8
Mindful Writing: Accepting Failure: http://bit.ly/koiDtF
Tips for giving readings: http://bit.ly/jtw0lK
5 Common Writing Pitfalls: http://bit.ly/iQcuhF
When Characters Lie: 8 Questions to Ask: http://bit.ly/lBoWAp @CherylRWrites
Tips for Writing Picture Books: http://bit.ly/mBh3QV
5 questions that can save your book: http://bit.ly/mp2Okq
How to Practice Perseverance: http://bit.ly/lekZnq
Discouraging Decisions: http://bit.ly/jANR7P
Why traditional publishing is about more than a few weeks of chain bookstore distribution: http://bit.ly/jnestQ
10 Scifi Novels To Give People Who Hate Sci-fi: http://bit.ly/ixFEMv
Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Bacon and Buttermilk Garlic Mashed Potatoes http://bit.ly/mN9bm6
A Bookseller Who Bridges Print and Digital: http://bit.ly/l8YGRZ
Surfing the fantasy network: http://bit.ly/jyfZq3
How Many Times A Day Should You Check Your Email? http://bit.ly/lQjsip
How The Right Cover & Title Can Help Women’s Fic Cast A Wider Net: http://bit.ly/irR1rc
Promo time vs writing time: http://bit.ly/mMUXPA
Royalty statements update: http://bit.ly/luh4a7
Why writing advice is utterly meaningless: http://bit.ly/makY6v
Choosing a Theme for Your Novel: http://bit.ly/iDUIF6
Blog categorizing and tagging: http://bit.ly/kusGUL
3 things one writer learned from graphic novels: http://bit.ly/lCU4ga
How to write more-the only thing you NEED to do: http://bit.ly/ljl2ft
Make your boring character a fish out of water: http://bit.ly/jr4ARq
Bringing characters together:http://bit.ly/juZrxd
A tangled plot structure: http://bit.ly/lYtSYn
How to Blog Without Comparing Yourself to Others: http://bit.ly/m690Nw
Creative Marketing for Indie Authors: http://bit.ly/kaF6ch
Beat writer's boredom: http://bit.ly/jBLa5f @clarissadraper
Why One Writer Wants Her Women’s Fiction Published By A Traditional Publisher: http://bit.ly/mfenZ2
Crit partners in crime: http://bit.ly/kLlO4j
Never bring a knife to a gun fight: http://bit.ly/krbGtP
Sign up for the monthly WKB newsletter for the web's best writing links and interviews: http://bit.ly/gx7hg1
Do Plots Just "Happen"? http://bit.ly/ioqYa9
Top 7 Repeated Science Fiction Phrases or Words That Have Become Annoying: http://bit.ly/jV9QxK
9 reasons to visit your real-life setting: http://bit.ly/ji59la
Ebook Authors: 17 Great Information Sources: http://bit.ly/k9KJEp
Myst. Lov. Kitchen: HUSBAND vs WIFE: Cleo Coyle asks, "Is it a Sauce or a Soup?" http://bit.ly/llM8vB
The Joy of Booking: http://bit.ly/k03LEt
Making the most of the Kindle's "Before You Go" screen: http://bit.ly/iF1LAc
10 Ways to Create a Plot Twist: http://bit.ly/my7K0W
8 ways writers can make the most of online video: http://bit.ly/iQe4Xf
How to Avoid Freelancing Burnout: http://bit.ly/iTVBEH
The 3 ages of becoming a writer: http://bit.ly/mAkgRi @dirtywhitecandy
Creating Archetypal Characters To Fill The Dramatic Functions in Your Novel: http://bit.ly/lpcw1r
10 Ways to Totally Screw Up Your Novel: http://bit.ly/mD7nh5
Juggling parenthood and writing: http://bit.ly/mN6I6H
3 tips for writing horror: http://bit.ly/mrsNUX
Twitter For The Shy Writer—Secrets of Stress-free Tweeting: http://bit.ly/jUQaSA @annerallen
Romance novels and the dogpoo filter: http://bit.ly/k8V0BL
10 Kindle Tricks and Tweaks: http://bit.ly/kjKtLT
What Works: Promo for Ebooks: http://bit.ly/l5LBc9
Single Quotation Marks—A Reader’s Question: http://bit.ly/lOjDWX
Online branding for authors--how it really works: http://bit.ly/jAlHYY
The ABCs (and Ds and Es) of Plot Development: http://bit.ly/lLXN7p
How to Become Wildly Successful at Anything: http://bit.ly/mljulE
Avoid the 3 “Tell-Tale” Signs of Self-Published Books: http://bit.ly/lAK1ca
How to quickly change a document’s spacing with a single keyboard shortcut: http://bit.ly/mH1LA1
Subsidy Publishing: Proceed With Caution: http://bit.ly/m8V9Qn
The tasks of technical writing: http://bit.ly/l3KtEy
Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Mini Cherry Sponge Cakes http://bit.ly/mrGT4c
6 tips for fitting writing into a hectic schedule: http://bit.ly/jdLZqL @Sarafurlong
Metaphors vs. Similes: http://bit.ly/mI5nQ3
Weekend writer: http://bit.ly/lgsB2R
Writing--finishing what you start: http://bit.ly/jhnL2n
Happy Mother’s Day, Mrs. Bennet: Jane Austen’s Mothers: http://bit.ly/jd17w1
The Rise of Urban Fantasy: http://bit.ly/jpqZZG
Help for restless writers: http://bit.ly/iA6uUs
5 Reasons Why Moms Matter in Children's Literature: http://bit.ly/lzWXLv
10 essential self-editing tips: http://bit.ly/iDAMcw
Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 5/6/11): http://bit.ly/kNwBXI
How To Create A Plot Outline In 8 Easy Steps: http://bit.ly/lHq5Od
How one writer uses Scrivener to plot with flexibility: http://bit.ly/mfZypM @SarahKetley
The Dos and Don’ts of Your Online Presence: http://bit.ly/iwJmJU
The rule of 3 in fiction: http://bit.ly/lGypLz
Character building tools for writers--astrological signs: http://bit.ly/mj3qfu
Social Networking: Twitter v. Facebook: http://bit.ly/l9HUY7
5 Things to Consider Before You Spend Time Editing: http://bit.ly/m82DDG
Collaboration: 3 Rules You Can’t Break: http://bit.ly/lcjecF
An Editor’s Quick Tips on Submissions: http://bit.ly/iiKBkN
Creativity tweets of the week: http://bit.ly/jCxRdZ
Voice: The Right Words: http://bit.ly/mTF99f
Writing Passionate People: http://bit.ly/m1mNGT
How Self-Published Authors Found Success by Staying Local: http://bit.ly/iB6kCm @galleycat
Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Happy Mother's Day - Not Just Desserts http://bit.ly/kAEDeI
How to Build Your Twitter Tribe: http://bit.ly/kKf3Sg
The World’s Best Libraries: http://bit.ly/lhXIrf
How role-playing games (RPGs) can improve your writing: http://bit.ly/k2Wkq5
How to Be a Conference Extrovert: http://bit.ly/mK7xCG
Writing an eBook: How to Get Started (and Finish!): http://bit.ly/kffCwO
Organizing a Writers Workshop: Marketing-- http://bit.ly/jlsdhr
Present tense problems: http://bit.ly/kARovC
Writers Write–Creativity Is a State of Mind: http://bit.ly/iS9HIA
The Practice of Ying / Yang Productivity: http://bit.ly/jjpsQq
4 laws of characters: http://bit.ly/jlvNJm
Narrative conflict vs narrative tension: http://bit.ly/jVsNMK
The Muchness of a YA Heroine: http://bit.ly/muI06B
Check Your Adjectives at the Door: http://bit.ly/l0uUWM
3 Edgy Little Tips to Make Your Story More Compelling: http://bit.ly/m7V8Fd
How To Meet Literary Agents and Editors on the Web: http://bit.ly/lQ6srW
An editor on the importance of good dialogue: http://bit.ly/mfWYTT
Bullying in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/lBxIFz @mkinberg
Ready to query? Step away from that send button: http://bit.ly/mkx58u
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