Saying for Writers #101

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) inspire you to write:

“All my best thoughts were stolen by the ancients.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tip O'Day for Authors #147

Guest blogger Bill Gauthier thinks obsession isn’t all bad.

Write the story that grabs you, that becomes your obsession, that just won't get out of your mind no matter how much you try not to think or write about it. When you finally sit down and write it, do so honestly. Don't be afraid of what your friends, lovers, employers, children or neighbors think.

I recently wrote something so dark, someone close to me hated it but I still intend to tweak it and submit it for publication. The story stuck around in my head for almost 3 years and needed writing. As Harlan Ellison has said, "You must never be afraid to go there." I have that taped near my computer and, dammit, I try to live by those words.

Bill’s website is www.billgauthier.com and he currently has two novellas out, Alice on the Shelf (Bad Moon Books) and Shadowed (Delirium Books).

Tip O'Day for Authors #146

Guest blogger Dellani Oakes offers a couple writing tips.

First, write often, even if it's only 100 words a day.

Second, don't sweat so over the details that it keeps you from writing. Take a deep breath and plunge in. Errors can be corrected later; the important thing is to get the idea down before it goes away.

Dellani’s book, INDIAN SUMMER, is available at www.secondwindpublishing.com as well as Amazon and Smashwords. Some of her short stories are available free at www.smashwords.com/profile/view/dellanioakes
She blogs at dellanioakes.wordpress.com/ and writersanctuary.blogspot.com

Tip O'Day for Authors #145

Guest blogger John F. Allen on an e-book marketing strategy.

When new authors look to get their e-books published, I recommend they take the time to formulate a marketing and distribution strategy. A simple start would be to look at advertising using social media such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc… This will allow the authors to inform a wide range of people that they have a book coming out, in order to build a level of anticipation. This can also serve to allow potential readers a glimpse into the author’s mind and process/writing methods. This can help to humanize authors and allow for interaction between them and their readers.

Next, they might determine where they will sell their e-books. Barnes & Noble has a platform for Independent Authors known as PubIt!. With this platform, the author creates a free PubIt! account, uploads their manuscript to the Barnes & Noble website, selects a price point and places the work for sell. Readers can purchase the e-book directly from the website for download to their PC, nook reader, or other mobile device by utilizing a free and easy to download app.

Amazon.com is another place to sell e-books. They have a similar platform called Kindle Direct Publishing which allows independent authors the ability to make their work available on the Kindle. With both of these platforms the author must agree to allow Barnes & Noble or Amazon to collect a percentage of the retail cost (usually a third or less, depending upon the price point set for the work). The remainder of the money is then deposited into a bank account designated by the author as a royalty. Going this route gives the author a slight reputation boost by having their work distributed by a two of the largest and most well known distributors of books.

Another avenue is for authors to sell copies of their e-books exclusively from their websites. With this option, the authors receive all of the profit made by selling their work; however, they are also solely responsible for getting the word out about their work. What authors gain in maximizing profits, they lose in having their work associated with a well known distributor and a generally larger platform for circulation.

I personally recommend using all three in conjunction with print on demand (POD) options, in order to maximize exposure and profit. I’d also advise authors to offer a pdf version of the work from their websites as well. This allows for those who haven’t yet obtained an electronic reader or other mobile device to have access to your work on their PC.

To learn more about John F. Allen, go to his website at www.johnfallenwriter.com

Tip O'Day for Authors #144

Guest blogger Ezra Barany says adding a time lock turns any scene into a page-turner.

Need to build more suspense in your scene? Add a time lock! In fiction, a time lock is a deadline that the character must meet. It can be as blatant as a time bomb set to go off in three minutes, or as subtle as a young woman working up her courage to forgive her father who is on his deathbed. Adding a time lock turns any scene into a page-turner!

Warning! Use a time lock that fits the story! Unnatural time locks are only good for creating absurd scenarios. For example, imagine a young woman working up the courage to forgive her father as he's resting on a bomb set to go off in three minutes.

Ezra Barany is an instructor for authors at SavvyAuthors.com. His recent thriller The Torah Codes (#1 book in the UK Torah category!) is available at http://www.amazon.com/Torah-Codes-Ezra-Barany/dp/0983296014/

He asks that you not fax him Brussels sprouts. He does not like them.

Tip O'Day for Authors #143

Two authors duel over “write what you know.”

Timothy Louis Baker: Write what you know. You will enjoy it more than writing something you don't know anything about and have to look up everything.

Your readers will like it more too, especially when they find out that you actually do know what you are writing about and that it didn't come totally and completely from a volume on a shelf somewhere concerning a topic that you really didn't know what you were writing your book about. Choose a topic about which you are knowledgeable and you will do best.

To learn more about Timothy, check out his website at http://sbpra.com/authortimothybaker

Mobashar Qureshi : The old saying is “Write what you know.” I say, “Know what you write.”

More often than not, writing instructors preach that you should only write what you know. If I wrote only what I know, then that novel wouldn’t really be all that interesting. As a writer I am also a reader. I read books to learn new things. Hopefully, I pick up a few things from each book, essay or short story I read. This is the same with writing. While I write, I explore new things. I hope that by the end of writing that book, I will have learned a few things along that route, also.

Conclusion: Do your homework. Research enough that when you write you know what you are writing.

Mobashar is the author of RACE, The October Five, and The Paperboys Club, all now available on amazon kindle. To learn more, visit www.mobasharqureshi.com
or his blog Mobashar's Musings

Saying for Writers #100

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) inspire you to write:

“A word is not the same with one writer as with another. One tears it from his guts. The other pulls it out of his overcoat pocket.” - Charles Peguy

Tip O'Day for Authors #142

Guest blogger Garret Garrels says to dance with your true self.

I used to be so focused on the finished product, I forgot to dance while the music was playing. Writing is not about the final draft. I now think of writing the same as dancing. If we wait until the song is over, we miss the fun. It's within the process that we dance with our true self.

Garret is a motivational author and speaker, and a Montanan.

Tip O'Day for Authors #141

Guest blogger Merrill Heath discusses tools for outlining.

There are any number of tools you can use, from low-tech to high-tech, depending on your preference. The method I prefer is actually very low-tech – multi-colored index cards (or large post-it notes) and poster boards. This is easy to use and provides a great big-picture, visual depiction of your plot.

Here’s what I do. I use different colored cards for the main plots and subplots and red dots to signify the “hooks.” Hooks are simply points where I want to provide surprises or throw out something that will keep the reader turning pages. On each card I write a quick note explaining what happens in that chapter. Then I stick the card on the poster board. If the chapter includes both MP and SP content then I’ll put the SP card below the MP card on the board.

I prefer different colored cards because it makes it very easy to survey your plot to make sure everything is flowing like you want it to, that the SPs are woven through the story at the proper intervals, and that you’re providing enough hooks at the right places to keep the reader interested. You can easily shuffle things around if you find gaps or problems with the sequencing of events. You can add hooks if you identify any slow areas that need a boost. And you can quickly see where you’re repeating yourself or putting in scenes that aren’t really needed.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to write out your chapter cards in order, either. You can write the cards as the chapter ideas come to you, then shuffle them around to see how they best fit together. And if you’re one of those writers who feels that outlining stifles your creativity, this is still a great tool to use after you’ve finished the first draft. On subsequent rewrites and edits it will help you identify areas that need work.

Merrill blogs on writing at http://merrillheath.wordpress.com/

Tip O'Day for Authors #140

Guest blogger Al Lamanda has quick tips on getting published.

Your book is done. You’ve spent many months, possible years writing and polishing your manuscript and it’s finally complete. Now what? What good is your book without readers, so the obvious next step is to publish your work. Not even ten years ago, your only choice was traditional publishing. Today you have EBooks to consider as a second choice, but before you try the EBook route, you want to give traditional publishing your best shot.

To do that, you have to capture the attention of someone who loves your book. Someone has to read your words and say, “Wow.” But, who? The quickest and most effective way to a traditional publisher is through an agent. After all, that is what agents do, open doors for you to a publisher. To capture the attention of an agent, you must write the perfect Query Letter. Less than one page, to the point, a short bio if you have one, it has to capture the agent’s attention because they receive hundreds of query letters in any given week. Yours must stand out or it gets deleted. For some examples of query letters see the links I’ve included below.

Once you’ve written the perfect query letter, you now must send it out to agents. Do not make the rookie mistake I did and blanket agents with your query. That is a waste of time, theirs and yours. Here’s why. Agents generally read queries about books they are interested in and want to represent. Most will tell you upfront what they like and will represent, so why bother sending your mystery/action query to an agent looking for historical romance. Find the agents interested in your genre and query them. For a list of agents see the links I’ve included below.

What now? Well, be prepared for an agent to request a synopsis of your book, along with three or more chapters. Some will ask for the entire manuscript, but three is the general rule. A synopsis is a difficult thing to write. You must put into six to ten pages your entire 75,000 word plus novel, and do it in such a way that the agent is sold on you and will want to sell your book to the highest bidder. Check the links I’ve included for samples of Synopsis’s. Write yours, then rewrite it and polish it to perfection before sending it out.

There are no guarantees in the publishing world, but being prepared and professional does give you an edge. I hope these tips carry you forward, and good luck to you all.

Links to check out:
www.agentquery.com
www.guidetoliteraryagent.com
Predators & Editors

Al Lamanda is the author of the mystery/action novels Dunston Falls, Walking Homeless, Running Homeless and Sunset (2012 release date.)

Tip O'Day for Writers #139

Guest blogger Vanessa Cavendish warns that tips will cause you extra work.

This article HUMAN XEROX originally appeared in "The Asylum" (used with permission). Longer than usual for this blog, but I found it interesting.

I recently suggested to my fellow inmates at The Asylum (J. S. Chancellor’s blog http://welcometotheasylum.net/ ) that the best advice is the kind you learn the hard way. That goes double for writing tips, because what you get from a tip is only the sharp end of the arrow, minus the parts that make it fly. What else you don’t get is the litter produced by the sharpening process—all the chips that get knocked off the stone to make it pointy and slender enough to bind to the shaft with a strip of rawhide from an animal you did not have to hunt and slaughter and skin. Also not included is the bird from which to pluck the feathers to fletch the other end of the shaft and the prayers you have to say as you apply your personal and tribal markings to the branch you have to strip and shave and balance for your lonesome.

Do I mean to imply that writing tips are worthless? Not in the least.

I do mean that each piece of writing advice you decide to act on will cost you a ton of work that might seem unrelated to your own writing, until you develop the knack of seeing how one activity complements another. And because a knack is something you pick up gradually, through something akin to what a pianist or a kick-boxer calls muscle memory, each thing you do as a writer, you have to do over and over again in order to get the hang of it. I’m sorry, but you have to drill. And you are going to get your ass handed to you time and time again.

So here is tip number one for the new writer and a reminder to the veteran: Shake hands with Sister Frustration; she will be your constant companion, nemesis and mentor. If you do not sense her near, you must have invited Miss Complacency to your party, and the two of them cannot be in the same room together.

Tip number two: When you find a writer who does a particular thing really well, copy it. I did not say emulate, I said copy. Find the passage that struck you dumb and write it out, longhand, word for word. A scene, an opening, an exchange of dialog—whatever it is that you wish you could do that well. Copy it down verbatim, over and over and over again. Ien Nivens, who taught me to do this, says the rule of thumb is to copy a passage 20 times. I say, do it until you have internalized the flow, the thought process, the rhythm that went into the creation of that piece of writing—until you feel something click inside you and, if only for a split-infinity, you become that other, better writer.

Let the work sink in. Go take a nap.

Tomorrow or the next day, copy someone else who is good at the same thing. Get a notebook, a thick one, and use it for nothing but copying. Fill it up and buy another one. Think of it as learning how to chip a flint. You watch your elders do it, and you copy them exactly. You tie your ego, your identity, to that other writer and forget about things like style and voice, because in this business, vocal chords need time to develop.

Ien estimates that two writers in ten thousand will take this advice. Five years from now, we’ll be reading both of them. Her vocal range, his command of human emotion, will astonish us. We’ll wish we could write like either one of them.

Vanessa also blogs at http://vanessacavendish.wordpress.com/

Saying for Writers #99

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) inspire you to write:

“Be obscure clearly.” - E.B. White

Tip O'Day for Writers #138

This blog usually features tips on improving your writing craft or getting published, but today some readers share thoughts on what they look for in books:

Marilynne Smith. I'm finding a lot of my books among the mid-range writers. I like mysteries and I am often disappointed by best sellers. I have many writer friends and I'm willing to give them a try. In return I've found many a great read.

Marilynne blogs at maxiebooks.blogspot.com

Joe Hartlaub. What prompts me to read a book: The inside front cover.
Let me know in the first paragraph (or sentence) what the genre is, and where the story is set. I am a sucker for hard-boiled detective novels set in New Orleans or anywhere in Ohio. Tell me that early.

Sandy Nathan. Why I choose one book over another: Voodoo. Magic. Sorcery with words. I read all sorts of books, all the time, whether published by traditional publishers or indies. What makes me finish a book and recommend it is an emotional/psychological/spiritual wallop that really good writing packs. Examples? The Swedish author Jan Guillou's Crusades Trilogy, three long books that I gobbled down. Historical fiction at its best. White Oleander - just finished that. Incredibly depressing and painful, but the words soared. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. Diana Galbadon's Outlander Series, all nine million pages of it. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. All of these grabbed me, charmed me, had me telling my friends about them. (They were also well written in proper English.)

Tip O'Day for Writers #137

Guest blogger Megan Held on daily goals.

Don't aim for a minimum word count.

When it comes to writing, don't create a word count target. This may stress out the natural writing flow by making a writer add unnecessary details. A word count should be a guideline, not a must reach.

Most novels for adults are between 60,000-100,000 words, the larger amount being more for fantasy or epics. This is a great range to aim for. Always aim lower because if you exceed that amount it is a great feeling. Once you edit, you can add details needed and eliminate details not needed. But, remember, just write and conclude when the novel needs to.

To learn more about Megan, see her blog at http://meganheld.blogspot.com/

Dixon says - I agree one shouldn't create an info dump, simply in order to meet a self-imposed word count. That would be a very, very, very, very, very bad, awful, insidious, cruel, dangerous and unethical thing to do, accomplish or actuate.

On the other hand, some of us frail humans need daily goals and weekly deadlines to keep us focused on our craft. Sometimes I feel that, without my critique group, I wouldn't get a thing accomplished.

Saying for Writers #98

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) inspire you to write:

“A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.” - Samuel Goldwyn

Hollywood buffs will recognize Samuel Goldwyn as the studio boss who referred to screenwriters as “schmucks with Underwoods.”

Tip O'Day for Writers #136

Guest blogger Sandy Nathan likes social networks for reasons other than you’d think.

Facebook and Twitter are invaluable writing aids. Having to create a convincing, emotionally compelling message in 140 characters is a terrific exercise. Ditto fitting your message onto Facebook with its limited number of lines/characters to accompany an initial post. Just pruning your "too long" message to fit is a great discipline. (I love the way Twitter says, "Over 140 characters. You have to be more clever." You do.) Then apply the above to everything you write.

Sandy writes fiction and nonfiction for both adults and kids. She likes challenging herself with contests, and so far has won 17 national awards. Her website at http://sandynathan.com has links to her blogs and other helpful information.

Tip O'Day for Writers #135

Guest blogger Kathleen 'Kat' McLaughlin on the dreaded edit-to-cut-word-count.

If you face the dilemma of reducing your word count, there are several things to keep in mind when revising your manuscript. Of course, the obvious is deleting the word 'that' since in most cases 'that' isn't necessary. Using gerunds eliminate unnecessary words, but don't go overboard. Reword sentences to eliminate prepositional phrases. Use contractions unless a character's first language isn't English; not using contractions gives flavor to a foreign character in lieu of speech patterns clogging the dialogue, making it difficult for the reader to understand.

The most important rule is not to rush revisions or you'll end up revising more times than necessary. Slowing down the revision process will sharpen your editing skills. Carving sentences and sculpting words lowers your word count, and raises the quality of your writing. You might even find passion for the art of self-editing.

Kathleen 'Kat' McLaughlin is an aspiring writer who is working on the final revision of, BLOOD CLOUDS, the first manuscript in the Jordan Ireland Series. Connect with her through her blog (http://kathleenkatmclaughlin.wordpress.com/), Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/KatMcLaughlin), or email (kathleenjeanemclaughlin@hotmail.com).

Tip O'Day for Writers #134

Guest blogger Jessica Keener on her magical Drawer.

As much as I’ve resisted this strategy, I’ve come to respect the magic that comes with putting my work back in The Drawer. The Drawer, it turns out, has become an essential part of my writing life cycle. When I utilize The Drawer, wonderful things happen.

My writing life cycle goes something like this: First there’s the excitement of working on something new, ideas are flowing, etc. At some point, though, ideas begin to bog down, problems with scenes and plot points and characters emerge and clog up the pages. I struggle to clear log jams, to solve puzzles, but at some point I may lose my way or grow confused. That’s fine. I tell myself to keep struggling away. That’s part of my writing cycle. Eventually, I will bear down so hard on the work it begins to feel as if it’s evaporating. It’s disappearing. I've lost it. I’ve failed. That’s when it’s time to put my work in The Drawer.

The Drawer is a dark, quiet place. I think of it as a proofing place—bread rising, baby sleeping in crib. My work gets to rest and do some unconscious thinking there. It may sleep and dream. It may stretch out and grow. Once my work goes into The Drawer, I’ll distract myself by starting on something new or I might find there’s another work waiting to come out of The Drawer. (Disclosure: some of my work has been in The Drawer for years, some for just a few days.)

Here’s where the magic happens. Work lifted from The Drawer looks different. I can read it as if someone else wrote it and that’s when I become an efficient editor and writer. I can cut, add, rearrange sentences without emotional duress. It’s cleansing. Things move forward with clarity. The work improves substantially. Often, this is when I am able to finish the work. If synchronicity happens, I’ll send it out, and the work will get published. So, my writing tip is to encourage writers to embrace the creative and transformational power of The Drawer. It’s real.

Jessica’s website is www.jessicakeener.com and her novel, NIGHT SWIM, is coming out from Fiction Studio Books http://fictionstudiobooks.com/Fiction_Studio_Books/Home.html

Saying for Writers #97

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) inspire you to write:

“Everywhere I go I'm asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them. There's many a bestseller that could have been prevented by a good teacher.” - Flannery O'Connor

Tip O'Day for Writers #133

Guest blogger Bob L. Morgan on what to write & how to get published.

As far as choosing one book to write over another, that just comes down to what excites me enough to sustain my interest through the entire process. If I'm not excited then I can't keep my readers excited. The only thing I always promise is that my readers will never be bored when they read one of my books. They might be grossed out, or disgusted or maybe ticked off but they will never be bored.

As far as getting published: I just write what I really like reading then look for publishers who seem to fit the type of book that I just put together. But don't be too picky. There is no perfect fit. If you search for the perfect fit you'll be searching forever. My stuff blends several genres at once so finding publishers has not been easy. You just keep throwing it out there. Somebody will publish it.