Saying for Writers #64

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

"The most valuable of talents is never using two words when one will do." - Thomas Jefferson

Tip O'Day for Writers #79

Guest blogger Ray Garton says textured characters are essential.

No matter what genre you write in, no matter what kind of story or novel you're writing, a reader will not come back for more if you don't give him characters he recognizes, can connect with emotionally and will want to follow to the end. Your reader doesn't have to like all of these characters, but they must ring true to him. He must be able to feel they are in some way like people he has known, or at least like people he could know.

This should be true of both protagonists and antagonists. If your villain is simply villainous, he will be flat, unbelievable and uninteresting. But if he has human characteristics that are likable -- even admirable -- his villainy will be more effective because it comes from a well-rounded human being and has understandable motivations. If your hero is only heroic, he will not ring true. His flaws and weaknesses will make him far more appealing to the reader, because we all have those and must overcome them.

Even if you are a master of plot, nothing will bring a reader back faster than characters with depth, flaws, strengths and familiar experiences and emotions. A great example of this is Stephen King. Sure, he writes books that twist reality in creepy ways and sometimes involve strange creatures or people with bizarre abilities. But they are populated with characters who resonate with readers, and those characters make all the weirdness much more believable. Having written mostly horror fiction in the last 27 years, it seems natural and perhaps even cliched for me to use him as an example, so let me recommend another.

John Irving, the author of THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP, has created some of the most eccentric characters since Dickens. But no matter how odd they are, they are still recognizable as human beings and their quirks are understandable. We may not like all of them, but we recognize the humanity in them and we enjoy getting to know them and following them through Irving's novels, which tend to span generations.

Plot is only part of the battle. Nothing will make your plot sing more beautifully than a cast of fully-fleshed characters with whom your readers can make an emotional connection. If your readers care about those people, it will make your plot more riveting, more compelling, and your readers will come back for more.

Saying for Writers #63

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

"I never spent less than two years on the text of one of my picture books, even though each of them is approximately 380 words long. Only when the text is finished ... do I begin the pictures." - Maurice Sendak

We've all met people who say, "I've been thinking about writing a children's book. Twenty pages, how hard can that be?"

Tip O'Day for Writers #78

Guest blogger Dave Jeffery advises on writing dialogue.

Dialogue fulfills two important roles: it perpetuates the story and gives shape to your characters. Stilted and unrealistic dialogue distracts the reader and yanks them from the world into which you are trying to immerse them.

I tend to follow this process:

a. What message are you trying to get across?
b. Distill the message to its essence
c. Think of your characters
d. Ask yourself the question: "How would these characters put their messages across, given their personality?"
e. Write the dialogue with this in mind.

Giving your characters some vocal inflections, using slang, and providing other unique ways of expression can easily add shape to them. If done correctly, the reader will be able to tell who is speaking by the way a sentence reads on the page. This is particularly useful for short story writing where word count is a factor.

UK bestseller Dave Jeffery is author of NECROPOLIS RISING. He writes adult and YA supernatural and horror, as well as YA adventure, and nonfiction on mental health issues. His website can be found at http://www.davejeffery.web/

Dixon says - Many beginning writers struggle with writing dialogue, and try to avoid it, but few other aspects of fiction add the energy, mood and immediacy of dialogue. Instead of avoidance, plunge in!

Read authors who are known for their dialogue, and study their techniques. In crime fiction, Elmore "Dutch" Leonard, Richard Price and the late Robert B. Parker are masters.

Another great way to study dialogue is reading screenplays because they're... well... pretty much all dialogue.

After some of this study, sit down with a yellow pad and write a complete two-character scene that's all dialogue - no attributions, no action, no descriptions. Make it at least 3-4 pages handwritten or 2 pages typed double-space. Then show it to your critique group (if you have one) or share it with a few writer friends. Consider the advice you get, and then try to rewrite the scene in a way that is more dramatic, humorous, mysterious, or whatever message you were trying to get across. (See Dave's a thru e above.)

Saying for Writers #62

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

"This is always the key: you have to write the book you love, the book that's alive in your heart. That's the one you have to write." Lurleen McDaniel

This is the absolute truth. We all hear so much about the latest trends - sensitive vampires, zombie romances, yada yada yada. The characters that keep you sleepless and the plot that distracts you while your wife is telling you what the kiddies just did in the yard, those are the stories you need to bring to life.

Tip O'Day for Writers #77

Guest blogger Tod Langley comments on setting tone and foreshadowing.

I checked out your blog. I thought some of the discussions were extemely valid. One that I remember still sticks in my mind, and I try to think about it during every chapter re-write: the importance of establishing tone, scene, and POV within the initial paragraph.

You could also make the argument that the first sentence of the first paragraph is the most important of the chapter. This is especially true for the beginning of the novel, but I use the premise for every chapter.

I also like to use the scene setting within the initial paragraph to foreshadow the rest of chapter - sometimes hinting at something dire occurring later in the book.

Saying for Writers #61

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

"Metaphors have a way of holding the most truth in the least space." - Orson Scott Card

Dixon says - This brings something else to mind. I keep hearing writers dismissing a line of dialogue because 'Oh, that's such a cliche.' But having someone speak largely in cliches can be very revealing about character.

Also, a cliche can convey a great deal of information in just a few words. If Joe says of his romantic rival, "He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth," we know precisely the image Joe wishes to communicate.

Tip O'Day for Writers #76

In only 25 words, M.L. Hamilton dispenses some brilliant advice.

Write because you can't stop. Write because your characters want life.
Then try to get published because there is absolutely no reason not to try.

Saying for Writers #60

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

"Cut out all those exclamation marks. An exclamation mark is like laughing at your own joke." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

In my local critique group, the Grammar Nazis (myself included) will ROUGH YOU UP if you put more than a couple exclamation marks in each chapter. If you are using powerful words and creating dramatic scenes, those marks are unnecessary!!!

(Along with all caps and boldface. We'll let you use italics to emphasize a word or phrase, as long as it's not overused.)

Tip O'Day for Writers #75

Nicholas Royle & Shaun Jeffrey say “talk to yourself.”

Nicholas Royle: My tip is to read your work out loud. Never consider it done until you’ve read it out loud to yourself. You will catch all sorts of hidden problems – linguistic infelicities, awkward phrasing, unwanted repetition – that you will otherwise not notice. Read it slowly, out loud, with the proper enunciation, as if you were giving a public reading, and highlight problems as you go.

Shaun Jeffrey: Read your work aloud and it will allow you to spot things that don't sound right.

Dixon says - there are a few alternatives. It can be just as helpful to have someone else read your story to you. Maybe your local critique group would consider helping with that, or a writer friend you could swap services with.

Also, if you have a Kindle, you can send your work to that device from your computer. After it's downloaded, use the read-back feature. You have the choice of a male or female voice, and most folks find the male voice sounds more natural and conversational.

Saying for Writers #59

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

"A writer's job is to imagine everything so personally that the fiction is as vivid as memories." - John Irving

Tip O'Day for Writers #74

A guest post from Blake Crouch on minor characters.

Many times, when I’m stuck on a scene, I realize after the fact that the reason is because I haven’t truly thought through a new character I’m introducing. Every character, no matter how small, should steal the show.

Dixon says: Robert B. Parker had a special touch with those walk-on characters. Even if it's just a pizza delivery boy or a waitress bringing over a cocktail, everybody in the Spencer, Paradise or Sonny series got a few words of description. More than that, their descriptions and their actions/dialogue would subtly reinforce some aspect of the setting, the mood or the story.

To me, a story full of faceless tertiary characters smacks of lazy writing and missed opportunities. Unless they're zombies.

Saying for Writers #58

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

"Writing is rewriting. A writer must learn to deepen characters, trim writing, intensify scenes. To fall in love with the first draft to the point where one cannot change it is to greatly enhance the prospects of never publishing." - Richard North Patterson

Tip O'Day for Writers #73

Three writers on the value of criticism.

Alex Ryder: Take criticism to be a positive thing and review your work accordingly. They may just have a point, or they may not. Be objective and then you can decide.

Margaret Callow: When others read your book, there is often conflict when it comes to a possible weakness. It can mean you end up altering something on one piece of advice and then having to change it again later. Now, I wait before making changes and then, if several people point out the same thing, I seriously consider and probably end up agreeing they could be right. If so, I make the change.

Dixon Rice (your genial blog host): I relentlessly search for criticism, because I don't recognize my own faults. Everything I write is golden. Then a member of my critique group asks if action ABC is consistent with how character XYZ acted in previous chapters...

Damn. Why didn't I see that? Thank you, guys.

Like Margaret, if just one person makes a comment, I may take it with a grain of salt. If a couple readers have the same criticism, it definitely must be taken seriously. That doesn't mean I'll make a change but I will certainly consider it. Sometimes the greatest value of a critique is forcing you to look at your work with fresh eyes and review the decisions that led to the incident in question. Then, if you decide to stick with it, you can do so with confidence.

Saying for Writers #57

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

“You don't write because you want to say something; you write because you have something to say.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Tip O'Day for Writers #72

Guest blogger Joan Connor believes random thoughts can benefit your prose.

I keep a writer's journal. When I am writing I open it at random and make myself choose one word to incorporate at that instant. It makes the writing a little less overdetermined.

For example, I was writing an essay about horseback riding lessons with my son, opened my writer's journal and found this snippet a colleague mentioned in a meeting -- we need to cover bird cages at night because they don't think the day is ending; they think the world is ending. (HOWEVER did she know this?) At that point in the essay I had to seek the connection between the horseback riding lesson and the bird lore and it pitched me into unexpected metaphoric discovery.

That's an interesting way to keep your writing fresh and spontaneous.

I like to put my characters at a crossroads where a decision is necessary, and push them in a counter-intuitive direction. For example, the guy who's been a plodding CPA all his life runs away with a hooker. Or the politician on the brink of election as governor betrays his mentor in order to help a homeless illegal immigrant.

However, the counter-intuitive moment must be believable. What has been simmering inside the CPA over the years, to make him recognize the promise within the whore? After a lifetime of compromises and back-room deals, what made the politician take a moral stand, regardless of the consequences?

Surely there's a reason. But can I make it part of the story through "showing, not telling?"

Saying for Writers #56

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

“Writing and rewriting are a constant search for what it is one is saying.” - John Updike

When I started doodling on MONTANA IS BURNING, I had a vague concept that it would be interesting to plop a Born Again cop from the city into a rural police force made up of coarse, heavy-drinking rednecks. Then the characters I had created decided they had a different story to tell, and dragged the novel off in unexpected directions. My subconscious mind has been very, very busy, and I'm still figuring out what I'm trying to tell myself.

Tip O'Day for Writers #71

A brief yet poetic comment from guest blogger Christine Columbus.

My advice on writing…quit worrying about every leaf on every tree and enjoy the forest. A novel is more than one word, comma or misplaced modifier. A forest is more than a branch on a tree.

Saying for Writers #55

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

“If you haven’t got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.” - Bob Hope

Kindly keep that in mind when you critique other writers. A dash of charity and a dab of diplomacy make any dish better.

Tip O'Day for Writers #70

Guest blogger Franz McLaren says “Less is more.”

Over the years I have had many valuable tips from notable writers. However, one stands out above all others. This one came from Del Howison (author, actor, Stoker-winning editor, and co-owner, with his wife Sue, of Dark Delicacies). His tip can be boiled down to three words; Less is More.

It is true that most classic literature is drowned in adjectives. But there is a reason. A century and a half ago few people could afford books. When they did manage to grab one they wanted it to last. Hence Dostoyevsky. Few modern publishers would consider publishing him. Today there are far too many distractions available and writers must cater to a general ADHD if they wish to survive. A faster pace creates a sense of tension between the author and the reader drawing them on before they can set themselves and prepare for the next revelation.

Less is more also applies to how much an author should convey. The great draw of reading, over any other form of entertainment, is that it allows the reader to create the scenery. No matter how we try as authors, the book will always be in the mind of the reader. Take the following example:

"Through heat shimmers, a dozen silhouettes rose above the horizon. They were coming and, out here, there was no place to hide."

Twenty-two words that describe little. However, most readers will develop an inner view of this world and what is happening.

For me, the most important part of editing is in removing that which adds less than it provides. The object of a well written line is not in how much of the author's perspective it portrays, but in how much it allows the reader to become a part of the tale by making it their own.

There's another reason classic authors like Dickens threw buckets of adjectives into their works. They were paid by the word. So you might see a sentence such as:

"He was a large man, a really, really, really, really large man."

Dixon

Saying for Writers #54

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

“Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.” -
Arnold H. Glasow

Tip O'Day for Writers #69

Carol Weekes offers three tips for the price of one!

1. Create a writing space: Although writers can and do write anywhere in order to get the word down, having your own space with all necessary materials puts one into the mindset to write. When you're there, you write, rewrite, edit, muse, etc. Make it special, make it your own. Decorate it to inspire you. Ensure it has good light, enough room to spread out papers, notes, etc. and to contain any necessary reference materials, as well as your computer.

2. On getting published: Get enough material out there and keep it circulating. If something gets rejected, note if you receive a few similar comments on a rejected piece - if so, consider a rewrite. If the rejections are form types, and you know you've done your best work, keep sending the piece out again and again until you 'hit home' with an acceptance. Some pieces take longer to sell than others. Persevere. Perfect your craft. Then submit, submit, submit. Learn to take criticism towards strengthening your craft; don't take anything personally. Believe in yourself - eventually, if the writing is good, you will break through.

3. Try collaborating with another writer on a piece from time to time; it can be fun if the 'synergy' between your styles is there. It allows two people to take turns submitting the piece. It allows for any discussion of a rejection, and is doubly exciting when the piece sells. It provides insight into how another writer works and develops an idea.

Carol has a blog at www.carolweekes.com

Saying for Writers #53

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

"Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." - E.L. Doctorow

In the ongoing debate between Planners and Pantsers (writing by the seat of your pants), I'm firmly in the middle. I know generally where I'm headed, and have a clear plan for the next few chapters. I keep on writing, always knowing what will happen in the next 50 pages or so.

I see the road as the headlights expose it, and for me, that keeps the trip exciting.

Tip O'Day for Writers #68

Guest blogger Toby Tate says “Don’t let time steal your muse.”

Letting too much time pass between writing chapters in your book, scenes in your story, or paragraphs in your magazine article can put a serious damper on your enthusiasm. Trust me, I speak from experience. I have taken long breaks from stories only to come back later and have no motivation to finish what I started.

Taking breaks is good in short doses. A couple of days to think about plotlines or character development can be a positive thing because it allows you to rework parts of your prose that may not be panning out. On the other hand, getting lazy and just saying, "I don't feel like racking my brain anymore" can be detrimental to the whole creative process by putting too much time between you and your story.

No one said writing was easy, but you have to follow through until you finally type "the end." That's when it's time to put down the book or the story and give yourself a breather, then you can go back and look at it with fresh eyes.

Toby Tate is a freelance writer and the author of DIABLERO and SHADOWLAND.

Saying for Writers #52

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

“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” - Robert Byrne

My favorite 9-word quote.

Tip O'Day for Writers #67

Guest blogger Laura Elvebak says “remember your timeline.”

As I work on the final edit on my WIP, I realize that I haven't been clear on the time when all the action takes place. You can do this with your initial outline, while writing the first draft or while editing the final draft. If you wait until the final draft, you might find you need to make some changes, add details of the weather or time of day.

Saying for Writers #51

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

"Imagination has brought mankind through the dark ages to its present state of civilization. Imagination led Columbus to discover America. Imagination led Franklin to discover electricity." - L. Frank Baum, author of WIZARD OF OZ

Tip O'Day for Writers #66

Guest blogger Chantal Boudreau says “the story is what counts.”

Stylistically, despite what others may quote as the "rules" of writing, writers have to figure out what works best for them, which differs from person to person and sometimes from story to story. Practice and testing your work, are the best ways to find your best methods.

On the most basic level, the story is what counts, because that's what will draw in your reader, and the technical elements are secondary (although still important.) You can have a technically pristine manuscript, but if the story falls flat and does not engage the reader, nobody's going to want to read your technically sound work.

Saying for Writers #50

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

“Writing only leads to more writing.” - Sidonie Gabrielle

Tip O'Day for Writers #65

Guest blogger Douglas Preston suggests you become a photographer.

Anyone who has aspirations to be a writer should take up photography. A writer must learn how to see things in a fresh and different way. This is an excellent way to do it.

NYT bestseller Douglas Preston has written 17 techno-thrillers and horror novels, most with co-author Lincoln Child. He has also written NF books about the legendary Seven Cities of Gold, Angkor temples, the Monster of Florence serial killer, and the Amanda Knox murder case. He teaches an intensive, week-long writing workshop every year for ten people, and one of the central aspects is photography.

Saying for Writers #49

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

“The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.” - Joe Ancis

The same goes for fictional characters. Sometimes it takes some digging to uncover their inner creepiness.

Tip O'Day for Writers #64

Today's guest blogger Debra Burroughs says we should learn from others, work hard and read a lot.

As a fairly new author, I have tried to learn from others who have blazed the trail of writing and publishing before me. One of the greatest people I have found to follow is J.A. Konrath and his blog JAKonrath.blogspot.com. He and his blog are a wealth of good information and inspiration for anyone hoping to make writing their full-time career.

He offers an eBook called The Newbie’s Guide to Publishing for next to nothing. It is a compilation of five years’ worth of his blogs, is rich with meaty information. The following is a quote from that book which always encourages me in my quest to be a successful author:

“Writing is a craft, and craft can be taught. If there’s a super-talented egomaniac with a sense of entitlement that matches his flair for prose and an average Joe who studies the market, hones his craft, responds to feedback, and keeps at it, my money is on Joe Average getting published first – then having a more successful career when he does. Hard work trumps talent. Persistence trumps inspiration. Humility trumps ego.”

Beyond that, someone once told me that you will never write better than the books you read. Pick a few successful authors in the genre you want to pursue and consistently read them. It will make you a better writer. I know it has worked for me.

Debra Burroughs is the author of CHICANA, a gripping account of survival, prejudice, heartbreak and love. It is available on amazon.com.

Saying for Writers #48

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

"The profession of book writing makes horse racing seem like a solid, stable business." - John Steinbeck

Tip O'Day for Writers #63

Three guest bloggers post that you must persist.

Jason Wolfgang Gehlert: "Persistence... never give up and keep your momentum going."

P.L. Parker: "The best tip I have is to not give up. Keep trying and someday the right publisher comes along and the connection is made, but you have to keep trying."

Jennifer Allis Provost: “Write every day, aim for a specific word count (I aim for 2000) and get that story out. Don't worry about editing; that'll happen once the story is there. If you're suffering a case of writer's block then write something else - a poem, a short story, a blog post. It all adds up, and each word brings you closer to your goal.”

If you would like to submit a guest post for this blog, please email it to montananovels@yahoo.com

Saying for Writers #47

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

“An archeologist is the best husband a woman can have; the older she gets, the more interested he is in her.” - Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie was indeed married to an archeologist. She was an amazingly productive author, penning both the Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot series. I believe she also wrote the first mystery from the villain's POV, not disclosed until the final few pages.

Tip O'Day for Writers #62

Guest blogger Bob Weinberg says there are three steps to becoming published: Read constantly, learn from what you read, and write constantly.

You need to read all sorts of material, but especially the type of story you want to write. You need to be familiar with the structure of the stories you plan to create, know the vocabulary, and know your rules of punctuation.

You need to learn from what you read. A good writer learns from every book he or she reads. I still find myself noticing interesting sentence structure or wordplay by other writers, and that's after 35 books.

You need to read, to learn, and then to write and write and write. Plus, after you write you must submit what you have written and keep on submitting. The secret of most published writers is that they are determined to sell what they have written. So you need to write and submit constantly. If you continue to learn and continue to submit, you will sooner or later start selling. Simple as that. A good writer is a determined writer.

Bob Weinberg is the author of 17 novels, 2 short story collections and 16 non-fiction books. And editor of over 150 anthologies.

I originally posted this on May 12th but it somehow vanished overnight. Don't understand how this could happen; however, here it is once more.

Saying for Writers #46

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

“Genius means little more than the faculty of perceiving in an unhabitual way.” - William James

Post O'Day for Writers #61

Guest blogger Burl Barer posts about the difference between pros and amateurs.

Buying a stethoscope doesn't make you a doctor. Owning a pen doesn't make you a writer, and running off copies of your material doesn't make you a "published author." Harlan Ellison once said that there are no great unpublished works for the simple reason that great work gets published. There are professionals and there are amateurs. One is not superior to the other. The difference is whether you are paid for your work, or if you pay to work. I come from a family of journalists and authors. We find nothing unusual or extra-special about writing for a living. A family of real estate speculators or a family of ranchers regard their professions in the same manner.

I recently attended a writers group where people who didn't know the basics were helping each other remain ignorant. They critiqued a woman's ten page short story, suggesting her protagonist's name be changed from Mary to Sue, or perhaps Suzette. They argued over the type of sofa upon which she reclined on page five.

When my turn came, I read the first paragraph aloud and then stopped. "If you came across this story in a magazine, would you keep reading? No. Of course not. It makes no sense, says nothing of interest, and does absolutely nothing to engage the reader. Why bother discussing her name, the sofa, or anything else if you don't entice the reader in the first paragraph?"

Silence.

Well, thanks for dropping by. Sure. No problem. Now, excuse me. I have three books on deadline.

All great writers, and mediocre ones, have books written that may never be published. Why? Because they suck. They are the wrong book with the wrong characters at the wrong time for the wrong market.

If you wrote a book that no publisher wants, there is probably a damn good reason -- a reason better than the book. So, when your novel is rejected, write another one, and keep at it until you write one that someone wants.

Dixon says: Let me tread carefully here. I've learned that if I applaud 95% of a guest post and criticize 5% - well, you know what happens. However, I think the above post deals with important issues within the writing community, and I'm not sure there is a right or wrong way to approach them.

First of all, most of us lust for publication but I know a significant number who write for the pure joy of putting words on paper. Their "trunk novels" will never see the light of day, and they're perfectly happy with that. On the one hand, there is nothing wrong with that approach. As Burl says above, "One is not superior to the other." These writers probably embrace the title of amateur. On the other hand, not seeking publication doesn't mean they shouldn't still seek to improve their prose or poetry.

Secondly, I understand impatience towards writers who "don't get it." My local critique group has seen potential members over the years who (1) couldn't write a coherent paragraph if their lives depended on it, and (2) just wanted a pat on the back rather than constructive criticism. The good news is that they usually run screaming into the night at the first sound of honest feedback.

However, honest feedback can still be delivered in a diplomatic manner. Higher standards can be established and enforced with a kind heart. This won't happen overnight. It may never happen in a group that has become a social gathering rather than a self-improvement group. But I have seen it happen.

So I really appreciated Burl's comments, and hope all professionals can find a space for mentoring in their toolboxes.

Saying for Writers #45

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

"Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night." - Glade Byron Addams

Dixon says: I collect quirky quotes, which I post regularly in this blog. I collect weird country song titles, which I post on FB every single day, no doubt bugging thousands of strangers. I collect strange people I meet on the street, in the library or on the soccer pitch, and then twist and turn them until they become characters in my stories.

I guess I'm addicted to collecting. Luckily, it's fairly harmless compared to other addictions I've fought through.

Tip O'Day for Writers #60

Guest blogger Sammi Carter suggests you write every single day.

Learn the discipline of writing every day while it doesn't really matter. Once you sell and the pressure of deadlines and being under contract for books you haven't even conceived of yet settles on your shoulders, it can often be difficult to present yourself at the keyboard on schedule. The urge to wander off, to read, to think, to research, to walk, to catch up on reality TV -- to do anything else or everything else increases at a frightening pace once legally binding deadlines are on the horizon.

Even if you can get yourself to the keyboard, producing words at that stage of your career can be surprisingly difficult. That is not the time to decide that you need to be serious about the business of writing. The time for that decision is long before, when you still have the luxury of waiting for the muse to dance by and issue an invitation to write.

Sammi Carter is author of the Candy Shop mystery series.

Sammi's comments are so true. Have you ever noticed when a deadline is looming, you start wondering how long it's been since you turned the mattress? Or maybe you should replace the air in your tires. This FEELS like a productive use of your time, but it's that familiar old bugaboo, procrastination.

Saying for Writers #44

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

“Lady Godiva put everything she had on a horse.” - W.C. Fields

Just a favorite quotation that unfortunately has nothing whatsoever to do with getting published. Or Mother's Day. Or springtime or rainy weather or...

Wait! There is a topical tie-in - the Kentucky Derby! Yeah, that's the ticket.

Tip O'Day for Writers #59

Guest blogger Jamie DeBree says “Make your plot twist unpredictable.”

Whenever I find myself writing something that feels old or clichéd, I ask myself how I could twist just one part to make it more original. A character who gets mugged walking through a park is predictable. To twist that scenario, I’d have the mugger *give* something to the victim, rather than take something away. Perhaps the victim wouldn’t realize that until the mugger is gone, and the victim is getting up off the ground, checking for damage and loss. Relatively small twists like that can have a huge impact on the entire story, and make your work even more fresh and intriguing.

Jamie’s website is found at http://jamiedebree.com/

Saying for Writers #43

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

“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” - Ernest Hemingway

Tip O'Day for Writers #58

Drew Cross says “don't look back too soon.”

“Until you've got a complete first draft, resist the urge to start polishing your manuscript or you risk losing momentum and never finishing it. It's a little harder to find a market for a 'perfect' but incomplete book.”

Drew has publishing contracts for a children's trilogy (US) and a crime fiction series (UK) so far.

Saying for Writers #42

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

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." - Les Brown

Writing Tip O'Day #57

Getty Ambau shares the secrets of The Art of Storytelling. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone.

1. Write from your heart NOT from your head.

2. Show NOT tell. The sun is shining--is telling. A glint of light coming off of a broken glass--is showing.

3. Identify with the characters in your story--go with them through the emotional and mental journey you are putting them through.

4. Don’t treat your characters like robots--they should be a living and breathing group, with all the frailties, vanities, attitudes and emotions all humans possess.

5. Choose all the qualities you admire in someone you know for the lead character--you need to make him/her likeable if the readers are going to love him/her and continue reading the story. Chose all the worst attributes or qualities of a person you know and give them to the bad person (antagonist) of your novel.

6. Involve as many of the senses as you can in your storytelling.

7. Open your chapters with a visual element to draw the reader right there in the place you are describing.

8. Write as if you are telling the story to a friend sitting next to you.

9. Write simply. Using big words is not only unnecessary but could also distract the readers and impede their progress.

10. Don't use cliches or tautologies. The first is a tired language, and the latter can be redundant.

11. Make sure your characters are distinguishable from each other but also memorable.

12. Challenge your reader to think, reflect and time-travel.

Author Getty Ambau’s website can be found at gettyambau.com

Dixon says: This is an excellent list, but I take some exception with #5. Many times I've heard the old saw that the protagonist must be someone the reader can admire and relate to; however, I've read some marvelous stories with a downright despicable protagonist. THE BROTHERHOOD by John Grisham comes to mind - there's not an admirable character anywhere between the covers.

Also, I think it's more interesting when the protagonist has some flaws and the antagonist has at least one positive characteristic. For example, I once read a crime novel in which the antagonist, a contract killer, is struggling to find a nursing home for his aged, demented mother, even while trying to kill off the protagonist. Awwww, he's a nice boy who loves his Mommy...

Saying for Writers #41

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

"Writing is an occupation in which you have to keep proving your talent to those who have none." - Jules Renard

Writing Tip O'Day #56

Guest blogger Joanne Kells says to follow your imagination.

"For me, experience and research deepen a story tremendously. However, it’s the writer’s imagination that fuels it all in the direction you want it to go. At times, it’s best to forget the rules of writing and go with the flow of words. The rest will inevitably follow, the more layers you write."

Her novel, RED SKIES, was scheduled for release last month – hope it’s going well, Joanne.

Saying for Writers #40

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

“Cats are like Baptists. They raise hell but you can’t catch them at it.” - Anonymous

Obviously, this quote has nothing to do with getting published. However, I've noticed many of my FB writer friends have profile pics featuring their cats. Not sure if they are shapeshifters or just run-of-the-mill pet lovers.

Truth to tell, I ran across this quotation years ago, and have been itching to use it somewhere, somehow. Hope you enjoyed it.

Writing Tip O'Day #55

Laura Joh Rowland and Roquel Rodgers are planners, not “pantsers.”

Laura: "Write a synopsis before you start your book. It will be your road map and your chance to test-drive the story before you invest a lot of time in it. Also comes in handy to show editors and agents. A lot of people would rather 'fly by the seat of their pants' but I'm not one of them."

Roquel: "For first drafts - S.I.O. (S**t. It. Out.) Just get it out on paper, let it flow, and go back and fix it when it's all down. But before the s**tting - outline, outline, outline."

Dixon says: I met Roquel at the 2010 Flathead River Writers Conference in my home town of Kalispell, Montana. A lot of the discussion there was about whether it's best to be a planner or a pantser. I think those two positions are at the edges of a wide spectrum and most of us toil away somewhere between those points. Some genres are fairly anal in the plotting requirements, and in some experimental styles you can't find a plot. A lot depends on your personality as a writer, your genre, and your market.

Saying for Writers #39

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

“Easy reading is damn hard writing." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Tip O'Day #54

Clea R. Gellar talks about books from the perspective of reader and reviewer.

“I am a very visual person, so a good cover is often the first thing that attracts me to a book. If the cover is bad, I won't pick it up. One thing I have been discovering as a reviewer is that not all books are well edited. That is a key ingredient to making me want to read more from an author or a publishing house. A poorly edited book is very distracting, no matter how good the plot and writing are.

“As for being attracted to certain authors or genres, I think that I go through phases as to what snags my attention. In my early 20's, I couldn't get enough Anne Rice. As I got older and had children my tastes changed to chic lit and stories of friendships and women struggling through life. After being married for 18 years, I find myself reading books with more romance and passion. As I get older I have begun looking for new things to spark my interest, more sci-fi and fantasy. I think I tend to travel toward books that will satisfy something I may feel is missing in my life at that moment. “

Saying for Writers #38

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

"Thankfully, persistence is a great substitute for talent." - Steve Martin

Happy Easter to all my writer friends!

Tip O'Day #53

Guest blogger Bill Craig says “the best tip I can give is to write.”

“Write through blocks. Write through adversity, write through sickness, but write. I find working on more than project at the same time can be helpful because if I get stuck on one, I can work on the other until a solution presents itself on project one.”

Bill Craig is author of The Jack Riley Adventures: Valley of Death, Mayan Gold, Dead Run, Pirate's Blood, The Child Stealers, and The Mummy's Tomb; as well as, The Fantastic Adventures of Hardluck Hannigan: Emerald Death, The Sky Masters, River of The Sun, Ghosts of the Sargasso, Curse of the Kill Devil and The Spear of Goliath. Plus the Sam Decker Mysteries: Scorpion Cay, Killshot and Decker P.I: Death Song. And the Noir suspense thriller The Butterfly Tattoo. His website is at http://billcraig.webs.com/

Saying for Writers #37

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

"Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act." - Truman Capote

Tip O'Day #52

Guest blogger Gregory Frost says don't try for perfection.

"Always give yourself permission to screw up. Many times. Perfectionism has no place in writing fiction--it's a free trip to the hamster wheel of death."

Dixon says: This is powerful advice. I heard UCLA writing guru Dennis Foley say at Authors of the Flathead sessions many times that we needed to "allow ourselves to write crap" before it finally sank in. You can edit crap. You can take it to your critique group for their advice. You can amp up the drama, humor, sex and action in crap. None of those things are possible with a blank sheet of paper, which is what we get when we're afraid of screwing up.

BTW - "Hamster Wheel of Death" - awesome! I can't sing or play a musical instrument yet I yearn to start a rock band just so I can use that name. Wait! Maybe it could be a book title...

Saying for Writers #36

Attention shoppers! A Blue Light Special - Two quotes for the price of one!

Tina Fey: "It has been said that to write is to live forever."

Steve Martin: "The man who said that is dead."

Tip O'Day #51

Jake Mactire, author of M/M cowboy stories, says to edit, edit and edit again.

Make certain it's in the format the publisher wants prior to submission. Also get a group of beta readers, people who will be honest, and listen to what they say. It can be a bit hard to keep from being defensive at times, but by listening to their viewpoints, you will ultimately have a stronger book.

The final decision is yours as the author, but sometimes you have to cut something you just love but everyone else just hates.

Saying for Writers #35

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

“Everyone who’s ever taken a shower has had an idea. It’s the person who gets out of the shower, dries off and does something about it who makes a difference.” - Nolan Bushnell (founder of both Atari and Chuck E Cheese)

Tip O'Day #50

Author and today's guest blogger Sharon Ricklin Jones shares ideas on creativity.

So far, I have gone with my "gut feeling" on all of my ideas and methods. I try to write every day, but sometimes take a break for a day or two. The problem with that: writing, to me, is almost like breathing. I have to do it. I love doing it. And I would be lost without it.

Now and then I imagine some horrible thing happening and think to myself: Oh-my-God. What would I do if I broke a hand or even a finger...how would I type?

I do not use an outline. That sounds too much like work. I keep a notebook handy and jot down character's descriptions, main ideas, ideas that pop into my head but do not fit into the story quite yet. I usually write my story from beginning to end; however in my current novel, I found myself writing the ending about half-way through the middle.

When I first started reading about other authors and their "muses" or "letting their characters lead them," I thought they were nuts. But I have since found out, and am very happy to report that I too, have found my characters leading me down paths I never thought we'd go down. It is an awesome feeling, as though I am reading the story while someone else dictates it to me. (I do have those times too, where the words evaporate into thin air, and I have to coerce my characters back to helping me.) And for some strange reason, a lot of my ideas come to me while standing in the shower!

Sharon showers often, writes “romance with a twist” and blogs at http://color-me-read.blogspot.com/

Saying for Writers #34

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

“I am a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” - Stephen Leacock

Tip O'Day #49

Gerald L. Griffin suggests holding off on blogging until you get published.

I believe blogs for a writer are most useful only after one has been published and has a website and fan base. At this point my biggest suggestion to you is to GET PUBLISHED! Then set up a website! Your blog then becomes more useful. But first steps first.

To get published, as every writer knows, the greatest help is to find an agent. But these cats, particularly in these times, are difficult to come by, especially for an unknown writer. So you may have to seek a publisher without an agent. This will require a search quest on your part, but a publisher you must find! And until you do, any other suggestions become inappropriate.

So, friend, find a publisher, or in some way become published --- and we can take it from there. Never forget, this is a business --- a hard business! To survive, you must have a passion for writing, and read the books of those who have demonstrated this passion, hoping that some magic will rub off.

Gerald’s website can be found at http://www.authorgeraldgriffin.com

His fourth published novel is OF GOOD AND EVIL and he is near completion of number five. Gerald is a very helpful, supportive gentleman, but I’m not sure about the first bit of advice he offers. Former lit agent Nate Bransford recently blogged that it’s never too early for writers to start establishing their online platforms.

What do you think?

Saying for Writers #33

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

"Thank God for books as an alternative to conversation." - W.H. Auden

Tip O'Day #48

Guest blogger Dan L. Hays says his work benefits from a series of edits. (He starts by referring to my earlier comment that "I can't find my own mistakes.")

Ditto, Dixon! I am submitting articles to an online magazine and the editor is working with me because I sometimes shift into a passive voice without knowing it. Just trying to see when I do it is half the battle, even when she gives me examples.

I need several editing looks at anything I'm doing. First, I will go through my work several times to clean up the things I can pick up on. Then I need someone to look at it from the global perspective - as a reader, whether the story line holds water. Third, I need a line edit to work out specific details like the passive voice thing. My work improves greatly with each round of editing!

You can learn more about Dan L. Hays, author of FREEDOM’S JUST ANOTHER WORD, at http://www.danlhays.com - he also blogs at http://danlhays.wordpress.com

Saying for Writers #32

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

“Facts are stubborn things.” - French novelist Alain Rene Lesage originated this saying, which was borrowed by John Adams for the Boston Massacre trial.

Tip O'Day #47

Eve Paludan says to consider a “tie-back” ending.

The ending is the part of your novel that your reader takes away like a triumphant souvenir. When titling your novel, think about the last thing the reader will remember about your story, how it ended, and try to tie your ending back to the title of the novel (see The Body Departed by J.R. Rain). This gives the reader that "aha" moment of clever understanding, about how you made the novel come full circle back to your title.

Alternatively, you can do a tie-back ending to themes and clues from the beginning of your novel, which is also a "full-circle" technique (see The Star by Arthur C. Clarke). Think about the endings of novels that you enjoyed and try to analyze the structure of the ending. Additionally, check out these great resources about endings and examples of them:

http://sheryltut.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/six-common-types-endings/
http://www.fmwriters.com/Visionback/Vision20/themekeyes.htm
http://americanbookreview.org/PDF/100_Best_Last_Lines_from_Novels.pdf

Eve Paludan, twice a #1 Writer's Digest Book Club bestselling author, is also an editor of scholarly work at a state university, as well as a freelance fiction editor, e-publisher at NoTreeBooks.com, and a book reviewer. To contact her:

http://NoTreeBooks.com (now seeking short stories for anthologies)
http://EvePaludan.com/
http://twitter.com/evepaludan

Saying for Writers #31

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

“Always behave like a duck; keep calm and unruffled on the surface but paddle like the devil underneath.” - Jacob Braude

Tip O'Day #46

Guest blogger Michelle Horst advises avoiding repetition.

"I always tell people not to abuse these words; and, but, that, just, and then Use a thesaurus and improvise. Never use the same word twice in one paragraph to express a feeling or describe a person like beautiful; rather move on to gorgeous or stunning. For but there are quite a few options.

"Always try to improvise."

Dixon says: Nice tip, Michelle. This is another reason to join a critique group or find a writing partner to review your prose. We all have words we overuse, but we're usually blind to them. Myself, I use the heck out of just and find that 99% of the time, I can cut it without losing the meaning I intended. In other writers, I often notice then and suddenly cropping up in nearly every paragraph. In storytelling, each action or observation naturally follows another, so then and suddenly are unnecessary signposts.

By the way, why isn't there another word that means the same thing as thesaurus?

Saying for Writers #30

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

“Listen to anyone with an original idea, no matter how absurd it may sound at first. If you put fences around people, you get sheep.” - William McKnight, former president of 3M Corp.

Tip O'Day #45

Novelist Drew Cross suggests you figure out where you fit in the market.

"To get published, include a marketing plan with your submission - show the publisher the great ideas that you've got for making yourself stand out in a crowded market."

Drew Cross has publishing contracts for a children's trilogy (US) and a crime fiction series (UK) so far.

Saying for Writers #29

In Honor of the NCAA Final Four, Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) inspire you to write:

“Only people who attempt nothing are always successful.” - Former Georgetown University basketball coach John Thompson.

Tip O'Day #44

My Facebook friend "Editing House" has some tips on being professional:

The best advice I could give any aspiring or established author when submitting their manuscripts is to do their homework. Rather than send out a blanket letter with their submission, they need to research each publisher's submission criteria. For example, some publishers/agents request the first/any three chapters, others like the first 30 pages, others need a submission form to be completed, and so on. If you submit your manuscript without doing your homework then you are likely to be rejected on this basis alone.

You also maximize your chances of being noticed if your manuscript has been professionally edited/proofread.

I actively solicit other authors and those working in publishing for suggestions on how writers can improve their craft and/or get published. "Be professional" is a very common refrain.

Anybody with a writing tip is welcome to email it to montananovels@yahoo.com and I do publish nearly every comment, even those I don't necessarily follow in my own writing. I sometimes combine pro and con viewpoints into a single post, or put together a series of very brief tips on the same subject. I reserve the right to do minor editing because, well, that's just the way I am.

Saying for Writers #28

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

“I have always believed that writing advertisements is the second most profitable form of writing. The first, of course, is ransom notes.” - Philip Dusenberry

I don't like to criticize another writer but I think writing bank robbery notes should be either 1st or 2nd. As with other forms of writing, a lack of professionalism can lead to poor results. For example, don't write the note on the back of your own deposit slip. Dixon

Tip O'Day #43

Dixon says, "Make your first paragraph carry some weight."

One of the most helpful things I’ve learned from my critique group is to start each chapter with a paragraph that makes it clear (1) where the action takes place, (2) which characters are present, and (3) which one is the POV character.

For those who use omniscient POV, this last aspect may not seem so vital. As a reader, however, I sometimes feel cast adrift if I can’t answer this question pretty quickly – “Whose story is this?” I remember reading a paragraph from a Tom Clancy novel. It starts in the mind of a Secret Service agent, jumps to some thoughts by the President, takes another jump to the mind of a wannabe assassin, and ends up back in the head of the Secret Service guy. Clancy is a great storyteller but maybe a bit undisciplined. (I should be nice, though, since he’s never said an unkind word about me. Fact is, he’s never heard of me.)

I originally wrote a scene for MONTANA IS BURNING where Paul Longo, my detective protagonist, and another man are having a conversation in a sparsely decorated room. Halfway through the scene, the reader learns Paul is confessing to a Catholic priest. Trouble is, nobody who read the scene enjoyed it. They all felt I was being sneaky. Yeah, they were right. As a literary agent told me at the first writers conference I ever attended, “Dixon, don’t be so damned subtle. Sometimes you just need to come right out and say what’s what.”

So I have come to believe that suspense comes from a well-plotted story, not hiding the facts from my readers. (They both get cranky if they can’t figure out what’s going on.) One last point - when writing your opening, keep in mind you’ve got a whole paragraph to work with. There’s no need to cram everything into that first sentence.

Saying for Writers #27

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) Inspire You to Write:

“A goal is a dream with a deadline.” - Zig Ziegler

Tip O'Day #42

Two writer friends I've gotten to know on Facebook deliver advice that's "short but sweet."

Samantha Kane: As for getting published, perseverance has gotten more writers published than brilliant prose and a great hook.

You can check out romance author Samantha Kane at http://samanthakane.us/

Along the same theme, from Conda Douglas: Write, edit, submit, repeat!

Saying for Writers #26

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) Inspire You to Write:

“This book is one of the worst books I have ever read. I got to about page 3-4.”

From an anonymous reviewer on Amazon.com regarding the re-release of TROPIC OF CANCER by Henry Miller.

Tip O'Day #41

Claudette Walker says to protect your eBook rights.

On Amazon and Pubit you have a one-time choice when you launch an eBook to select "Manage My Rights." I chose it. What this means, as far I can tell, is that no other eBook publisher/pirate can copy from their eBook format and resell or give away your eBook. So far we have been safe. Only those two locations have my eBooks – Nook & Kindle.

Claudette blogs at http://abacusbooks.blogspot.com/

Saying for Writers #25

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) Inspire You to Write:

“Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money.” - Moliere

Tip O'Day #40

Barbara Pugh suggests we use writing to keep sane. Although she has “never tried to get published so I've never written specifically with that aim in mind…” she still has suggestions for fellow writers.

Writing can be very useful for keeping your mental equilibrium! Hate your boss? Write about it, and let your imagination go bonkers. Want him boiled head first in a vat of fudge sauce by mutant zombie law students? No problem. Mother-in-law revealed to have been working for years as a cold heartless russian spy/assassin? Yep we can do that.

Hate your boyfriend and want..well keep that one to yourself, maybe.

Sometimes just using your writing to enjoy and sustain yourself is a goal in itself!

Saying for Writers #24

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) Inspire You to Write:

“The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean.” - Robert Louis Stevenson

Tip O'Day #39

Dennis Foley on becoming a better scene writer:

We can learn something from the Cold War Soviets. They often created weaponry from reverse engineering weapons the US and NATO invented in the 60s and 70s. They'd start with reconnaissance photos of something and then work backwards until they had a similar weapon.

As writers we can use a variation on the same technique to become better scene writers. Scenes are the basic increment of the novel, the heart of everything we write and not an optional skill to master.

Improve your scene writing skills by watching a favorite DVD or recorded TV program and paying attention to one scene. Watch it, turn it off, go write what you just watched. Then play it again and see if your prose was complete and effective at what you see in the scene. Doing this often, and with favorite scenes, will sharpen your skills as a scene writer. Good scene writers become good novelists.

Novelist/screenwriter/producer/writing instructor Dennis Foley blogs at http://dennisfoley.blogspot.com/

Saying for Writers #23

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) Inspire You to Write:

“Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.” - Woody Allen

Tip O'Day #38

Today's guest post is from novelist Gary Williams: Writing fiction is a full-time job.

"I don’t mean in the literal sense that I’m writing 8-12 hours a day. What I mean is that, in everything I do throughout the course of the day, I’m looking for story ideas. It doesn’t matter if I’m in the middle of developing a storyline, working on a manuscript, mowing the grass, watching TV, or driving. I always look for the next idea, that special seed that will germinate into a great book. I’ve found that the best thing to do is keep a document for rough ideas so they’re not forgotten. Then, when the time comes to start a new project, you’ll have a head start. It’s far easier to develop a story when the idea is already waiting for you as opposed to forcing it to emerge."

Along with co-author Vicky Knerly, Gary Williams is signed with Park Literary Agency in New York City, NY. Their first novel is expected to be released in 2012.

Saying for Writers #22

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) Inspire You to Write:

“Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

I've seen this many times, occasionally attributed to Mark Twain. Sooner or later, anything humorous is laid at the feet of the immortal Twain.

Tip O'Day #37

My FB friends "Crimespree Cats" keep the advice simple: Be patient and read every day in your genre.

Dixon says: Man, I keep forgetting about that last part. Life is so frenzied with meetings, deadlines, networking, keeping in touch with friends and family...

But when I squeeze in some time for reading, the craziness seems to slow down a bit. It doesn't go away but it's a bit more manageable. And when I sit down to write, my Voice comes more readily. I'm not copying Robert B. Parker or Dutch Leonard or Richard Price or whoever I'm reading at the moment - it's my own unique narrative expression - but the Voice is more accessible when I've been reading within my genre.

Saying for Writers #21

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) Inspire You to Write:

"Almost anyone can be an author; the business is to collect money and fame from this state of being." - A. A. Milne

Milne doesn't seem to be channeling Winnie the Pooh with this statement. Despite the fact many of us write for our own enjoyment, this is a good reminder that publishing is a business.

Tip O'Day #36

Be Professional, say writers Stella Deleuze and Devyn Quinn.

First, Stella Deleuze from her blog http://synopsisandbookfactory.wordpress.com/ (used with permission):

If you decide to join an online forum for writers, Facebook, twitter or if you own a blog – any public forum, in fact - you should keep it professional. Agents and editors are scouting for new writers and if they see the author of this good and publishable book is behaving like an idiot, constantly arguing, posting all sorts of things that make them look bad, there’s a great chance of him or her walking away. Opportunity missed.

Nowadays, everything is trackable; Google yourself and you will find a lot of proof for that, especially if you are active in online communities. Agents/editors/potential employers who receive your e-mail and like what they see, might be put off as soon as they search your name in Google, if they are confronted with foul language and online-fights, you calling others names.

Publishing houses don’t want difficult. They want easy-to-get-on-with authors, employees. Yes, you can be a square-thinker, but be professional about it. One can have a good discussion without getting personal.

In the end, if you are invited to an author-interview you won’t start yelling at the interviewer just because he asked a question you don’t like, would you?
I have heard of authors who have been ‘released’ from their contracts before their book went into print, because they have shown a different side to them after signing.

Being a paid author has to be considered a job and therefore, to be taken as seriously as one. Your online presence is your personal reference, make the best of it.

Along the same line, here is author Devyn Quinn:

The thing is, there are no "tips" for getting published. It's a business and you approach as such. It's like showing up to an interview in shorts and sandals when business attire is expected. Agents and editors expect to work with authors who know what they are doing, not simply guessing how the business works.

Saying for Writers #20

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) Inspire You to Write:

"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." - Mark Twain

Tip O'Day #35

Guest blogger Mike Pettit says: Consider Print on Demand.

My story is like so many other authors today. Months and months spent trying to get an agent, with rejection after rejection. Publishers won't talk to you without an agent, if then. The mainstream Agent/Pub crowd is sticking with proven moneymakers. They don't want to invest the time or money in new authors.

I finally gave up and took my career into my own hands. I found a P.O.D (Print on Demand) publisher, iUniverse, and now have four novels out on Amazon, B&N and several other sites. Sale are okay, but I'm not really in it for the money. I enjoy the notoriety of being a published author. It's a daunting task to be your own marketing, sales, and PR person but you have to do it. The mainstream guys are in a panic because of all the e-book action.

More and more authors are going this way. Depending on your goals, you need to decide what is best for you.

Mike writes the John Locke series of suspense thrillers and blogs about thrillers and other topics at http://johnlockethriller.blogspot.com/

Saying for Writers #19

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) Inspire You to Write:

“A book is like a garden carried in the pocket." - Chinese Proverb

Our prayers go out to the tsunami and earthquake victims in Japan and throughout the Pacific Rim. Haven't heard about casualties in China, and perhaps they were shielded from the worst damages.

Tip O'Day #34

Faye Rapaport DesPres, today's guest blogger, shares thoughts on dealing with critiques.

I think you have to find the right middle-ground between being confident in your own work, style, and ideas, and being open to constructive critique.

Early on, it's good to drink in all of the critique with an open mind (and without taking it personally), especially from more experienced writers. Accept and work with what feels right to you, and let go of what doesn't. There is no "right" or "wrong," because readers and writers have different tastes or sensibilities. But if your teachers or readers are finding and pointing out similar issues in your work, it's a good idea to pay attention to what they're saying.

It takes time, but eventually you will find that there are certain aspects of your writing, or a of a particular story or essay or poem, that you simply can't or don't want to change because those words or sentences or structures feel right to you, and you have good, solid reasons for sticking with what you have. At the same time, you will know in your heart when someone is pointing out something that could be improved in your text. In those cases, for me, it's best to be open to hearing it, and to think of it as a gift. Generous teachers and readers want your text to be as good as you want it to be.

Comment from Dixon: Great advice. I belong to a wonderful critique group and get pretty good feedback from the members. However, there's sometimes one or two who want to write my book for me. Until I reach those magic words "The End" even I don't know which scenes and characters are going to survive. So I'm very open to advice on logical inconsistencies, bad grammar or spellings, lazy language and so on, and pay not so much attention to critiquers who seem to have a different vision for the book as a whole.

If one person has a problem with a certain aspect of my writing, I take that with a grain of salt. Maybe she's just having a bad hair day. But if I hear the same criticism for several members, then I know there's a problem I need to deal with.

Saying for Writers #18

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) Inspire You to Write:

“Confidence is the feeling you have before you understand the situation.” - Unknown

Tip O'Day #33

Thoughts from writer Claudette Walker:

Are you a great storyteller? Can you take your reader on an unforgettable journey? Does your work tell a remarkable, true, or believable story? If you can say yes to these questions, file numerous copyrights during the creation process of your book – one for each significant revision of your work. Find the best editors you can (I prefer at least two editors). They do not need to be the most expensive; check colleges for candidates. Have them sign a confidentiality agreement before they begin to look at your work. Bring one editor on board early for proof reading, content, and editing. Then bring in the most technically trained editor on board for the last few edits for grammar, punctuation, and the like.

Read more about Claudette's work at http://abacusbooks.blogspot.com/

Saying for Writers #17

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) Inspire You to Write:

"A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body." - Benjamin Franklin

Post O'Day #32

Guest post from writer and funny guy Gary Williams: Don't force it.

When you’re writing a section and it’s not working, come back to it later. Sounds simple huh? What I mean is, don’t force yourself to write a section if it becomes a grueling endeavor.

I’ve spent an hour writing one paragraph because the words and phrases just wouldn’t mesh to my satisfaction. Sometimes it’s because I’m in my “dead zone” but other times it’s simply brain fatigue, hunger or my concentration is off. Instead of getting frustrated and writing bad material, walk away from your PC and take a break. Often, a 5-minute pause is all it takes. Other times, you may need to break away for a day to clear your mind.

You’ll be surprised how a temporary disconnect will be rewarded with satisfying prose which you could never have achieved otherwise.

Gary Williams (along with co-author Vicky Knerly) is signed with Park Literary Agency in New York City, NY. Their first novel is expected to be released in 2012.

Saying for Writers #16

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) Inspire You to Write:

“Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.” - P.J. O'Rourke

Tip O'Day #31

A short but sweet tip from writer Ruth Dupre:

The biggest tip I have is to open up the file and write. Every day. Even if it'd horrid. Even if it stinks like three day old desert highway road kill and the vultures are circling over your computer-- write. You can always fix it in rewrites.

Saying for Writers #15

Another Quotation which Might (or Might Not) Inspire You to Write:

“A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a quip and worried to death by a frown on the right man’s brow.” - Charles Brower

Tip O'Day #30

Similar writing tips from two awesome ladies - Get an outside eye.

Multi-talented Jessica Knauss: "A tip that has made a huge difference in my writing has been stepping out of typical writer's isolation and seeking critique partners. An outside eye can do wonders for how one considers one's own work. For anyone who lacks literary acquaintances, www.critique.org has a workshop for every style and genre."

Laura Schultz, one of founders/directors of the Writers Etc group on Facebook: "I usually don't submit a piece unless I have someone I trust read it aloud to me, so I can hear it versus just reading it myself. Another voice and pair of eyes always helps to see what I cannot."