tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39937917432922288512024-03-05T18:33:21.721-08:00Writing Without The DramaWhere we learn how to keep the drama on the page and out of the writing process!Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-60028005817570789942011-07-24T07:10:00.000-07:002011-07-24T07:12:03.901-07:00Blog Vacation...As you might have noticed I have been a little quiet of late. Actually I have been so insanely busy that I haven't had a chance to post here in a while.<div><br /></div><div>My plan is to take the rest of the summer off and hopefully return in September to my regular posting schedule #fingerscrossed</div><div><br /></div><div>As always though I will be on my Twitter stream @writingnodrama so stay in touch with me there :-) :-) :-)</div>Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-82574837772783086422011-06-26T11:21:00.000-07:002011-06-26T11:28:49.284-07:00Writing... The End Result<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDX6I1Dvg2nXRioKuuhg5wpNNQeyrrZBtOuTfAshzb6C36_wnP2UhXXWZ_eDVNQzQJm8AhxKu6BJWLyhaNXri9t1ZMWgJGTDxMiMOvQvbjIGFDB_uuNJC65xBYm843MQo8Rgm_wqLyTA/s1600/DollarsE.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDX6I1Dvg2nXRioKuuhg5wpNNQeyrrZBtOuTfAshzb6C36_wnP2UhXXWZ_eDVNQzQJm8AhxKu6BJWLyhaNXri9t1ZMWgJGTDxMiMOvQvbjIGFDB_uuNJC65xBYm843MQo8Rgm_wqLyTA/s400/DollarsE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622595621490890930" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:black;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:black;"><div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10.0pt;">So we finally faced our fears, wrote through all of our terror and end up with a finished book!<br /><br />#woot #woot<br /><br />But then what?<br /><br />In the olden days (read three years ago), you shopped this manuscript around to agents and publishers and crossed your fingers that it sold. If it didn't... um... #crap That manuscript was dead in the water. You might as well stash it in a drawer, weep softly then start writing the next one (whose fate more than likely would be the same).<br /><br />Oh sure, you could VANITY PRESS. But, um, with a name like that and the stigma attached to it, who wanted to do that?<br /><br />Then the digital revolution happened. Amazon.com opened wide its 'doors,' inviting anyone to publish.<br /><br />At the same time readers began flocking to digital books and avoiding the traditional brick and mortar stores (hence why Borders is practically out of business and Barnes and Noble is being sold).<br /><br />The shift in the publishing world cannot be overstated.<br /><br />And the biggest beneficiary, beyond the reader who now can shop from the comfort of their living room and start reading within moments of purchase? The indie author.<br /><br />Me. You. All of us.<br /><br />Now I know there are a lot of stiff backs right now and hackles up, and sure last year we could have argued the merit of self-publishing, but now? Now that the houses are clamping down on purchasing ANY books by new authors? Now self-publishing is nearly your only option.<br /><br />The Big 6 and every small publishers is hemorrhaging right now. Privately they talk about "catastrophic" declines in sales.<br /><br />There has never been a worse time to try and sell a book. And try to get a house to fork out any advertising money? Darlin', they just don't have it.<br /><br />So indie it is... or... you know... store your manuscript's file on your harddrive and start writing the next one.<br /><br />Luckily, many have gone before us though and shown the way and I have had a pretty good run of sales the last year (far better than the VAST majority of published (even mid-list authors) I know ($20,000 and counting this year so far).<br /><br />And this week the book I wrote with my fellow Indie Book Collective's Co-founders, Amber Scott and Rachel Thompson...<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dollars-Sense-Definitive-Self-publishing-ebook/dp/B00584MJF2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1309112614&sr=8-1">"Dollars & Sense: The Definitive Guide to Self-Publishing"</a> is launching.<br /><br />"Dollars & Sense" can take the indie publishing neo-phyte from manuscript to publication, using a step-by-step method. The book walks you through making sure your work is in publishable shape, to formatting, to learning social media, to how to potentate your book sales.<br /><br />And the best part? Thru June 29th it is just 99 cents! Crazy right? A total blue-print for indie publishing success for less than a buck!<br /><br />So if you have any hopes and dreams about publishing (even if you go traditional publishing, you are going to need to know all this info since your house EXPECTS you to know how to use social media etc to gain name recognition), hop on over to Amazon and pick up your copy! #now #Imeanit :-)</span></div><div class="im"><br /></div></span></span>Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-73466849128032543732011-06-19T21:39:00.000-07:002011-06-19T21:43:06.957-07:00Beating the Drama of Writer’s Block<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGhJioCElfBKgVsCafpYtDF3hpoufn5j-WpJGex_wSvgbvXIIDF5qaQeqMrdGyNPhIhfOEFPfalzOeY1Egr0wJxd8lx5B6uD6TSemJ2dD_ZCY5GjKJZ2-D8vEz3b3mnz01xzrvCSRnw/s1600/woman-with-gun.jpg"><img 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mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]-->To create better drama in your writing, you need to beat the drama of writer’s block. <p class="MsoNormal">This may be obvious. But when your curser is sitting on a blank page taunting you with the repetitive blinking and your mind spins and lurches, sifting through everything and settling on nothing, writer’s block can be debilitating. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, how do you beat it? </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ll tell you a secret that may make you hate me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I never get writer’s block. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, don’t get me wrong, I definitely get lazy, or distracted, or addicted to tweeting. I have many things that keep me from writing. But I never get blocked. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">How? </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I shall fill you in on my dirty little secret. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;" >The Games We Play As Children</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My brother and I have this game we play. I now play it with my fiancé, who is also a writer. (And no, not THAT kind of game. Get your minds of the gutter!) </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">How does it work?</b></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Pick a subject, any subject.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Then pick a genre. (poetry, short story, scene, essay, anything you want!) </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Now, TIME IT! You and your partner (or partners) decide on a short time (1-3 minutes) and write about what you picked. </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Finally, share and laugh. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">A real life example. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The Subject:</b> A woman in a living room, naked with a gun.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The genre: </b>scene</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The results…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>My brother Neil wrote a scene about a woman who was using her gun for some special time when… oops! It went off!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>I wrote a scene in which a woman was pregnant, trying to give herself an abortion in a very unlikely way. #itdidntwork</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, say what you will about our mental stability, we rocked those stories and went on to write more. Poems about cigarettes. The alphabet as a story. A Dear Mom letter from camp. (You DO NOT want to know what my bro did with THAT one!) </p> <p class="MsoNormal">You get the idea!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Why this works.</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">These games free up your creative muse. They get you thinking about things in a new and fun way and force you to write from a new perspective. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">They also break you out of any block. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">These games stood me well when I went to college and had deadlines for papers.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">They saved me when I wrote professionally for newspapers. When you are on deadline of a few hours to get a front page news story in, you don’t have time for blocks. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The truth is, we don’t really get blocked at all. We just get trapped in our own minds, over-thinking what should be a creative process. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">By playing with our muse, rather than forcing it, we free ourselves to be the creative genius we most desire.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So get out there and play! If you don’t have a partner, play with yourself. #again #mindoutofgutter</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Your muse will thank you. 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mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 20pt;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Kimberly Kinrade is a Young Adult fantasy author whose first book, "</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bits-You-Pieces-Me-ebook/dp/B004SCZR0E/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif";color:windowtext">Bits of You & Pieces of Me</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">," was not YA, but rather a collection of short stories, poems and essays that tell the tale of a young girl in love with love who discovers the demon of a splintered heart when that love turns violent.<br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:20.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif""></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Watch for her YA fantasies, </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><a href="http://kimberlykinrade.com/death-by-destiny/"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";color:windowtext">Death by Destiny</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"> and </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><a href="http://kimberlykinrade.com/2011/03/the-reluctant-familiar-sneak-peak/"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif";color:windowtext">The Reluctant Familiar</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"> this fall! Find her on </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><a href="http://twitter.com/KimberlyKinrade"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif";color:windowtext">Twitter</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">, </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/KimberlyKinrade"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif";color:windowtext">Facebook</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">, or her </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><a href="http://kimberlykinrade.com/"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif";color:windowtext">website</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">. She also writes </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><a href="http://lifarre.com/socialnetwork/pg/blog/read/3161/mending-broken-hearts-writing-in-love"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif";color:windowtext">a blog for Lifarre</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">, the new women’s network, and is a staff member for the </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><a href="http://indiebookcollective.com/IndieBookCollective/Home.html"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif";color:windowtext">Indie Book Collective</span></a></span><span style="Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-family:";font-size:11.0pt;color:#333333;" ></span> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-65294488685809283522011-06-12T18:10:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:49:38.464-07:00Setting with Feeling<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-uNGoRYpdn0t0eyWHaejzahC0p_lUcVUMqqeUYe5jozPfPLb4GQ&t=1"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 225px;" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-uNGoRYpdn0t0eyWHaejzahC0p_lUcVUMqqeUYe5jozPfPLb4GQ&t=1" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />A Guest Post By Dmytry Karpov<br /><br /></i> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Things to Remember</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">A setting isn’t a place, it’s a character. Too often, writers describe what a location looks like and move on. The prose, if beautiful, may be memorable, but the setting will be flat and forgettable. Even action scenes deserve arenas, so locations deserve word count. With these three tips, make your settings three dimensional.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Add Drama</span></span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Atmosphere: </b>You’ve probably learned about it in English class. (And no, it’s not the thing that floats around our planet. Homonyms, people!) It is the feel of a setting. It is the sum of sensations it creates. In order for a setting to have atmosphere, its descriptions must hint at mood. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">If the room is dark, the walls peeling and covered in webs, feelings of decay and darkness are achieved. Add a little blood, and an atmosphere of horror is created. Mention a sunny day, and sensations of warmth arise. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Every detail helps create or destroy atmosphere. If present, it will pair your setting with an emotion, be memorable, and enhance your scene. It will draw sensations from your characters and readers. Atmosphere gives setting emotion. History gives it depth.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Dig Deeper</span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">History: </b>(Not the tedious heavy textbook kind.) Every location, unless absolutely and unrealistically untouched, has it. There are coffee stains on the table within a family’s home. There are pictures on the wall within a child’s room. Castles are built upon old ruins, marked in a language long forgotten. Space ships are covered in posters put up by the crew. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Such details make setting a character. They create interest, mystery. They allow the setting to change and grow. Not only can it have feelings and depth, it can affect people.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't Forget Action</span></span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Life: </b>Most settings are filled with it. Drunks cheer at a bar. A spider crawls across the floor. Engines roar. Children laugh. A bird sits on the windowsill. A mouse sits in the corner. In fantasy, trees and rock may come alive. In Science-Fiction, computers may beep and talk. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Settings can move. They can change. They can affect characters and demand responses. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Don’t make your setting a place.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Make your setting a character. Make it important. </p><p class="MsoNormal">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p>Dmytry Karpov is an Adult Fantasy writer tired of cliches and girl-meets-vampire plots. His first book, The Nemean Lion, is set in a post-apocalyptic world where both zombies and fairytale creatures exist. And Ann, a fierce girl trying to return home, sets out on a quest with a leprechaun. Of course, she would have preferred a vampire, but not everyone's that lucky.<br /></p><p>Dmytry is also the editor of numerous published short stories. Find him on <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/DmytryKarpov">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DmytryKarpov">Facebook</a></p>Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-34451667840488765042011-06-05T14:34:00.000-07:002011-06-05T14:49:54.180-07:00Losing yourself in your writing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1F1squqEjawxE5komMKGLwJkqxfhrum4vQhSXO4HYS5yQT2VgnPQnZSeOPVyShRRHa84t6wVqsw3pgIagX78mCwNFhLHaQo6ZSTMkdprbXIRgC0pDbzRlWwMBP6e5dfB8ds8MpKuIg/s1600/SNV31596.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 218px;" 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10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style> <![endif]-->A Guest Post by Nai'lah Carter...<br /><br />As a writer, you have to become one with your story but also know when to step away from it. You have to give yourself time to write but also time to be, you. Even though the writer and individual are two in one, each needs breathing space. <p class="MsoNormal">When you write, </p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in">Live your characters—know who they are, their likes, dislikes and the way they would react in different circumstances. </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in">Write the story the way it comes to you. </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in">Don’t stop writing to edit or worry about logics. Allow your characters to tell their story. </li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, the story is completed and you’re excited to see the final product. Find something to do—knit or delve into a new book then return to your story. As you read it, even though you’re the author you are bewildered at the turn of events. Edit your story and assure that all dots are connected. If possible, have someone else read it.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What’s worst than a writer being his/her own critic? A writer trying to change the story their muse presented to them. “I don’t like the ending…let me change it.” STOP! Let your story breathe. This is the hardest task to ask a writer to perform but—remove yourself from your work and allow your story to, be. I can guarantee you, you will see how wonderfully flawed your characters are and they way they took control. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Often times the individual is broken into greater sub-sections: spouse, sibling, daughter, friend, and so on and the writer struggles to find time to devote to his/her work. The solution is simple in theory but not practicality. Every writer should:<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops:list .25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;" ><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Schedule writing times.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops:list .25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;" ><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Give yourself deadlines</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops:list .25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;" ><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>When life’s emergencies come into play, your writing becomes secondary. In order to adhere to your deadlines, utilize your next ‘writing hours’ to make up for lost time. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops:list .25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;" ><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Pay attention to what you’re doing as opposed to what you didn’t get a chance to do. No matter how minute it may seem; you’re being productive.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">If this is your dream, fulfill it by executing! Here’s where support comes in. Your family and friends should understand your goals—long and short term. However support should be reciprocated, just as your friends and family support you, you have to allot time to be there for them. Just as you find time to write, you must find time for them. Do not allow yourself to become so enthralled into your work that you lose yourself in it.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When you’re writing, write. When you’re working, work. When you’re spending time with your family, be there in action and thought. In addition you also need, ‘you’ time. Allow your, self to serve precedence over, The Writer. Hard work pays off but everyone needs time for him/herself. Ample rest is as important as producing material. It is critical to make time for each role you play to preserve sanity.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wishing you all the best,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Nai’lah.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:black;"></span></span></p><div><span><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:black;">Nai'lah Carter is a full-time mother and wife attempting to make my dream a reality. I'm a passionate writer--focused and dedicated to my gift. With hard work, results are show to follow. I believe in creating opportunities as opposed to waiting for them.</span></span></div><br /><span><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:black;"><br /> <div><a target="_blank" href="http://nailahcarter.com/">Http://nailahcarter.com</a></div> <div><a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/nailahcarter">www.twitter.com/nailahcarter</a></div> <div><a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/TheNailahCarter">www.Facebook.com/TheNailahCarter</a></div> <div><a target="_blank" href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3933904">www.LinkedIn.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3933904</a></div></span></span><p></p>Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-88354907190795820192011-05-22T18:15:00.000-07:002011-05-23T06:02:07.391-07:00Writing the Drama with No Drama, guest post from Christopher Alexander<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_jiJwR87-16PpkYbZkdeh5SXGqjiewhWJGgXHV9RVWZMYXAgaBSOqJGuYAquJQlMd-JigiKONroqHqU6OvecUWtPPNcdlE_XvpRUPmfSltNVNk3_eaq0FbibaY2V1MYVo14bvOnxag/s1600/Writing_on_the_Walls_by_thatonephotographer.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 375px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_jiJwR87-16PpkYbZkdeh5SXGqjiewhWJGgXHV9RVWZMYXAgaBSOqJGuYAquJQlMd-JigiKONroqHqU6OvecUWtPPNcdlE_XvpRUPmfSltNVNk3_eaq0FbibaY2V1MYVo14bvOnxag/s400/Writing_on_the_Walls_by_thatonephotographer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608789149773090610" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><pre style="font-size:9pt;"><tt><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Ironic? Hypocritical? Really doesn't make any sense, </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">right?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Well, the fact is that most things in life that we do </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">end up with some sort of consequence and we always </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">hope for the best and never the worst.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Writers, my peers, do you know why the stereotypical </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">writer is a "tormented soul" fast-bound to some sort </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">of short life over loaded with cigarettes and whiskey? </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Well, as someone once said, "we kill ourselves as the </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">price we pay for playing God in our creations."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Sounds epic, doesn't it? And not the Ke$ha (insert </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">eye roll for word-generalization) kind, but think of </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">it, why do we think we have to be so tortured and </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">conflicted?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">As Carolyn has stated time and time again, as a writer </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">you are not your character. But, let me tell you, as a </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">writer you must ask yourself if you write for </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">entertainment or closure.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Sounds strange, right? Heh, maybe even freudian..? </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Anyway~</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">The reason why I've boiled it down to those two areas </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">is because a writer who writes for entertainment is one </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">who is going to write for fun, think of funny/crazy and </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">things they find really interesting. The other kind of </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">writer, the bull's eye-hit or miss are those who write </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">as a way to cope and deal with something going on in<br />their </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">life. Which is why the character(s) and story<br />are really </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">awesome and powerful or... really awful<br />and emo.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">The tricky part is, figuring out how to master that </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">emotional vulnerability and make it detached from you.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">I started out writing for fun, I had been writing dumb </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">little stories since I was in elementary school and<br />picked </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">it up again towards the end of high school. The<br />thing that </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">very few people, if any picked up on, was<br />that some thought </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">I was writing about me and my<br />situations that were going on </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">at the time. After all,<br />it was high school. When was drama </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">not involved?<br />Anyway, I think you get the point, and I never </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">knew why<br />someone would even think that.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">After a good while I realized I was writing for closure<br />but </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">not the characters as myself and the people involved,<br />but I </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">wrote the situation as a way to deal with it in my<br />own life. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">I even had a professor say that she did the<br />same thing when </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">her daughter had to go over seas with her<br />husband for work, </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">which made her really scared.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">See? We all tend to do that at some point but there is<br />a </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">point in which being too involved within that self-<br />created </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">coping mechanism that suffocates the story you've<br />already </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">began telling. Of course that means the readers<br />and the </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">story pay the price because you were too involved,<br />which </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">means the story became about you and no one else<br />to be able </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">to enjoy, relate, and read.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">We use anything and everything in our disposal to create<br />our </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">own work of art, a story, book, poem, or something<br />along those </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">lines that requires creative energy and just<br />a little bit of </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">our soul for art. But we should write<br />only what we know, right? </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Its the best way to be<br />trustworthy for the reader, but if we </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">know dramatic and<br />traumatic situations then we can write about </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">them, right?<br />Of course! I encourage you to do so because </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">already<br />you're going to have a flow of conflict to carry the </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);"><br />story along. And that's what makes things interesting,<br />the</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);"> conflict!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">You always have to remember what your audience wants to<br />read, </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">that's if you have an audience already reading your<br />work. If </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">you don't have an audience yet, time to think of<br />what your </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">target audience is and pull the trigger!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Being detached once you get started with your drama (in<br />the </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">story of course), prevents hitting the hurdles<br />head-on of, </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">"oh crap, this is me. I couldn't do these<br />things, why should </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">that character do them?" Or, "this<br />hits too close to home... </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">my own drama isn't over, how<br />can I ever wrap this story up?" </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Or better yet, "I give<br />up... why put this character through </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">what I'm going<br />through. Its not fair for me and not for them."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Don't they really sound awful?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">I think we've all bumped into those hurdles and really<br />hit </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">the dirt and then the guilt hits us from starting<br />something </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">and then axing it. Or better yet, the story<br />keeps going on </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">and remains in the "planning" stages<br />that is itching to</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);"> come forth and live.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">That's why its important to remove yourself in order<br />to let </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">the story flow on its own course and be the<br />middle-man just </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">telling it as best you know how!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">And like Carolyn has always said, no one knows your<br />story </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">but you.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Now, write from the heart, tweak with your wit, and<br />edit </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">with your audience in mind.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Use your drama to remove the drama in writing it!</span> </tt></pre></span></span>Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-6699880064984290772011-05-14T17:43:00.002-07:002011-05-14T19:54:33.544-07:00Rise and Fall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjef31fEl9r6QN7F6kwreWyiRLXyjAiS-8teWP-tL56DA0G_1-KQTqoGe5MCrXNw4KOWxqQapuuPj364v16S73tryG-PxSfzBCY_Z1iGbvWuKZwRm7Lc3znOM_ilZ7yGSa_KErEBnRk0w/s1600/waves.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjef31fEl9r6QN7F6kwreWyiRLXyjAiS-8teWP-tL56DA0G_1-KQTqoGe5MCrXNw4KOWxqQapuuPj364v16S73tryG-PxSfzBCY_Z1iGbvWuKZwRm7Lc3znOM_ilZ7yGSa_KErEBnRk0w/s400/waves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606741206137555346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yep, I am back after a brief sabbatical of trying to get not 1 but 3 books into publication shape!<br /><br />I have also been doing a lot of writing coaching and as always I have sensed a pattern common to newer writers and I felt like everyone (even authors 5-100 books in have to remind themselves of this) could use a little reminder of making sure your writing has rise and fall.<br /><br />What do I mean by that?<br /><br />Simple. Your writing should breathe...<br /><br />There are times when you will take quick, short breaths. Other times you will sigh gently.<br /><br />Through out the book, section, chapter, paragraph and even sentence your writing should have a sense of movement.<br /><br />You need to be not only going somewhere with it, but going with purpose.<br /><br />Another analogy would be the make sure your writing is shaded. Not everything should be black and white. Especially your character's motivations. There should be a million shades of gray in there.<br /><br />I know, I know... easier said than done.<br /><br />But not really. You can truly breath life into a paragraph just by making sure that your sentences are not all the same length (and therefore the thought process behind them). Make sure that either external or internal dialogue rises from the character and not just from you. Make sure your prose is written through the eyes of the SPECIFIC character that you are in their POV.<br /><br />Normally by applying these simple criteria, you can really get your writing MOVING :-)<br /><br />Example:<br /><br />The bedroom's walls were a dull white whereas the carpet was a light beige. There were not many knicknacks on the dresser however the closet was full to near bursting. All manner of clothing, shoes, and sports equipment threatened to tumble out at any moment.<br /><br />Explanation:<br />There is nothing really wrong with the above paragraph, except of course it is told in passive voice. However, beyond that it is monotonous and lacks any rise and fall.<br /><br />Rewrite:<br />Dull, dull, dull. The walls, the carpet, even the bedspread looked like they had been washed in the same dirty creek. Even weirder the dresser was so spare it felt Spartan yet the closet was like a level-5 Hoarding situation. Who the hell lived like this?<br /><br />Can you feel the difference? The difference in sentence structure. The difference in SPECIFIC language and an internal POV evident.<br /><br />How about you test your rise and fall. Go pick a random page. Point out at least 5 places where you demonstrate movement and draw the reader in.<br /><br />Feel free to comment below with a sample and I will swing by and critique it if you like!<br /><br />#Goodtobeback :-)Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-65866180276647278472011-05-08T18:16:00.000-07:002011-05-08T18:16:00.494-07:00Going Crazy for Character, a guest post from @actingnodrama<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cute-kawaii.com/images/japanese-culture/japanese-cosplay-character.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 675px;" src="http://cute-kawaii.com/images/japanese-culture/japanese-cosplay-character.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The first thing I'm going to say about character I'm sure will raise a couple of eyebrows. Characters don't really exist.<br /><br />Now before you go all postal on me, stop for a moment. I'm not saying character isn't important, or that I don't love character work, or that everything you've been doing up to this point with your character development isn't worthwhile. Not at all. I'm an actor, fercryingoutloud. Of course I think character work is vital to what we're doing as writers.<br /><br />What I'm saying is that sometimes, in our quest to make our characters "real" we forget that they... well... aren't. They are two-dimensional constructs made up of black characters on a white page (typically... and typographically... speaking). Can they feel real? Absolutely. Can they begin to act and speak for themselves in our work? Hopefully.<br /><br />And...<br /><br />Along with that, I think it's good for us to remember that our characters are capable of an almost limitless range of choices. We sometimes box them in with our desire to be "realistic". We don't allow our characters to truly surprise us. And while characters should be consistent, one of the truly consistent things about real people is that they have the ability to change. Sometimes rapidly. There's always motivation for the change, but that change can be quite shocking, both to outside observers and even to the people themselves.<br /><br />Use some caution here--I'm not talking about the writer's hand. In other words, don't just make your character do something because you need them to, regardless of motivation or established character traits. What I'm discussing is allowing characters to go in unexpected directions. Allow them to surprise you.<br /><br />Because as much as surprises in real life may not appeal to everyone, in fiction they are GOLDEN. :)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ben Hopkin (</span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://twitter.com/actingnodrama">@actingnodrama</a><span style="font-style: italic;">) is an actor, as well as a writer, director and producer. He teaches online acting classes, and hosts an </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://bit.ly/bfhXS7">online radio show</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> on Thursday evenings at 8pm PST. If you're interested in acting, you can check out more of his ideas at </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://actingwithoutthedrama.blogspot.com">www.actingwithoutthedrama.blogspot.com</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span>Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-69449259592865975632011-05-01T17:32:00.000-07:002011-05-01T17:32:00.102-07:00Cheerleaders, a guest post from @MelissaTRomo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pHrrdBPfhZbMbQ68esBzwoQYTITLOd5iktQjRggLA1tWqzFWpsOD8Ff-hU-pORwczLJkQc-QFKB0e0sVUbWWZsbbCYT7WhvbsXLGr2dOP7XnkJ_zoRvEtvDWPxnlGIpUmEBBdilVcmw/s1600/cheerleader.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pHrrdBPfhZbMbQ68esBzwoQYTITLOd5iktQjRggLA1tWqzFWpsOD8Ff-hU-pORwczLJkQc-QFKB0e0sVUbWWZsbbCYT7WhvbsXLGr2dOP7XnkJ_zoRvEtvDWPxnlGIpUmEBBdilVcmw/s1600/cheerleader.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: navy; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">About the time I started writing my first novel, a friend of mine, who had been working on her first, was just starting to swim in the dissolving bits of her marriage. It turns out that she was married to a person I call the “anti-cheerleader.” Maybe he thought he was being helpful, but he wasn't. <i>You can't do this. It's a long shot, you shouldn't really try. When are you going to move on to something else? I don't want you to be disappointed.<br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><br /></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When we met recently to catch up, she marveled that I was at the point of being able to pitch my novel to agents. She had never gotten that far. <i>How did you ever do it?</i> she asked. Guiltily, I immediately knew the answer and didn't really want to confess it to her. It had nothing to do with me being a better writer, or more disciplined. I just had this ace in my corner: a spouse who knew how to be a good cheerleader.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Whenever I tell my friends that he's the reason I was able to finish a novel, they all offer a <i>that's nice</i> kind of smile. That can't be the only reason. But, really, I'm here to tell you it is. The voice of the spouse or significant other is insanely loud, for good or ill. Her novel was in a drawer. Mine was ready to pitch.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Why do the cheerleaders and anti-cheerleaders in our writing lives have such an impact?</b> For me, it had something to do with staying on the course I set for myself. There are moments during my writing life when I definitely start scanning the room for the exit. It's not because I don't like writing. I love it. Stringing together words that work just right is the best drug there is.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">But sometimes writing can seem just plain difficult, and rewards and validation only seem to come so often. I hate to admit it, but sometimes the question <i>Why am I doing this?</i><span style=""> does enter my mind.<i> </i></span>I can't tell you how many times I've called my husband, reciting a posting for a “real job” from Monster.com. But he knows I want to write, so he hangs up on me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">When a writer has those moments when they might want to throw in the towel, that’s when cheerleaders make the difference. Even by hanging up. Spouses, significant others, friends, family, whoever.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">But like I said, the spouse’s or significant other’s voice in particular is insanely loud and powerful. This person tied their life to mine. They must know something I don't know.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">I thought about myself in those moments of doubt and having the anti-cheerleader saying things to me like what my friend's husband said. I would have headed for the exit in the first five minutes. A lot of good, talented people would have. Like any long, lonely race, writing can challenge your fortitude. Like a long-distance runner, you might hear a little voice that says <i style="">Owww, this hurts. When can we take a break?</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><i style=""><br /></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">But I got very, very lucky. Every time I get close to the exit, I hear the voice of the person I had the dumb good fortune to tie my life to whispering <i>Keep going. Come back around after you've done a little more. You can do it.</i> And the other cheerleaders who've since looped arms with him say the same thing. <i>You can do it. Don't give it up.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><i><br /></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">I'm nothing special. If I make anything out of this journey, it's because of the cheerleaders in my corner who keep me on course. If you know a writer, especially if you're the spouse or significant other of a writer, be their cheerleader. And if you can't, then say nothing. Don't be an anti-cheerleader. Because as full of doubt and fear as a writer can be, they really don't want to find the exit.</span> What they really want is for you to bar the door that leads out to someplace that's not the dream in their heart.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Melissa Romo writes about her writing journey at </i><a href="http://thebookorbust.blogspot.com/">http://thebookorbust.blogspot.com</a><i>. She lives in Hoboken, New Jersey with her cheerleader and two cheerleaders-in-training. </i></p>Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-14457441238333041222011-04-24T18:37:00.000-07:002011-04-25T14:35:22.128-07:005 Common Dialog Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them--Guest Post from @AnnetteLyon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mLThpYDuxpEH0nbLRT9Tv8D2x9LnNNAJDcLkFOMUTBwdjk6jVGpXHQTrwNQ8v_sXkWV0Seq8fDjVxoIlpJCWB_aEVYVtUqBgOQFTufeDTv6An_hUT_r_NeDBsgQwjcGDtH-fgfQQWw/s1600/Dialog-WND.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mLThpYDuxpEH0nbLRT9Tv8D2x9LnNNAJDcLkFOMUTBwdjk6jVGpXHQTrwNQ8v_sXkWV0Seq8fDjVxoIlpJCWB_aEVYVtUqBgOQFTufeDTv6An_hUT_r_NeDBsgQwjcGDtH-fgfQQWw/s400/Dialog-WND.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599175470765009090" border="0" /></a> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }strong { }em { }p { margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }span.apple-style-span { }span.apple-converted-space { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >My high-school creative writing teacher taught me a lot of great things, but she was dead wrong about one: dialog.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Miss Winn insisted that the best way to learn how to write realistic-sounding dialog is to record actual conversations and then mimic them in your writing.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Slight problem: real conversation is almost always drier than burnt toast, and it doesn’t accomplish what dialog in fiction needs to.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Even when real conversation is interesting, the speakers often meander from topic to topic. (My sister and I can cover 30 subjects in a 10-minute car ride. Not even almost kidding.)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >In addition, most talk isn’t propelled by conflict. It rarely has a tidy, logical progression that advances events. Conversation doesn’t have to make sense. Plus, we often repeat ourselves or loop back to earlier topics. On top of all that, real speech is littered with pauses and non-words like <i style="">um, so, well, huh</i>, and more.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >None of that makes for compelling dialog in fiction. Using actual speech as a template would create mind-numbingly bad fiction.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >The truth about great dialog is that it creates the <i style="">illusion</i> of reality. It resembles what we <i style="">think</i> real conversations are actually like. Good dialog rings true. It can’t be awkward or stilted or overly formal, or readers balk that it’s not “real.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Give readers solid dialog, and they’ll be happy—even though it’s not close to the real thing.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Here are five things great dialog does do:</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >#1—It Doesn’t Meander</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Unless you have a compelling reason for making a conversation take side roads (revealing character, setting, planting foreshadowing, or something else), keep the dialog on topic. Meander can include covering irrelevant information, long internal monologues, and those icky filler words (<i style="">um, yeah, well</i>, etc.) that are a little too <i style="">real</i> to be believable.<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >#2—It Has Natural Movement</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >This means that Johnny’s reply refers to what Jenny just said and that the conversation logically moves from point A to B to C. You as the writer may need you characters to eventually discuss F, but don’t jump there just because the story demands it, and don’t twist the conversation into a convenient pretzel to get it there. Pay attention to what each character says and what the response is—and be sure the progression makes sense.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >#3—It Has a Purpose</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >The most common purpose is usually creating conflict. What’s at stake in this? For whom? Because dialog can serve other purposes, try to have each conversation do more than one thing—reveal character, establish setting, foreshadow, or something else. Beware of scenes with no solid purpose, like the one I read in a manuscript where a bunch of characters sat around discussing what they ate for dinner last night.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >#4—It’s True to Each Character’s Voice</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >To use an example most people are familiar with: think of Hagrid, Dumbledore, Snape, and Hermione. Each has his or her distinct way of speaking, and we’d never mistake Hagrid’s speech for Snape’s or anyone else’s. Keep your characters sounding like themselves—which means they <i style="">don’t</i> sound like you, the author.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >I once read a story where a poor, uneducated, immigrant started spouting off with eloquent English like some Harvard professor. Any illusion of a story world collapsed.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >To make your characters unique, take account things like age, gender, geographical background, likes and dislikes, personal quirks, educational level, and more. The way my teenage son asks for a cookie is very different than the way his grandmother does, which is different from how my husband does. They all use different vocabulary, sentence structure, and tone.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >#5—It Isn’t for Dumping Information on the Reader</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Dialog can be a great way to <span class="apple-style-span">give reader important information, but too many beginning writers use it as a crutch. Avoid long speeches where a character explains backstory, technology, or—my personal peeve—things the characters already know. I call this the “As you know, Bob” problem.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >For example: If two women are best friends, they’d know one another’s family, lifestyle, and so on. So if Betty’s husband gets laid off, she wouldn’t tell her best friend about it like this: “My husband, John, was just laid off from ABC Software.”<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Her friend would already know his name and where he works. “John was laid off” is enough. The reader can figure out that John is Betty’s spouse, and if we need to know where he worked, we can fit that into the story or conversation later (in a natural way!).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >My favorite example of telling the audience crucial information in a non-info-dumpy way is from an episode of M*A*S*H. Hawkeye looks at a microscope slide with the blood of a wounded soldier. He sits back, visibly upset. BJ comes in and looks at the slide too. Both doctors know the patient’s problem, but the audience doesn’t.</span></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span">Having either doctor say, “As you know, that slide means he has . . .” would feel utterly fake. How did they tell us about the soldier’s condition</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>without</em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="apple-style-span">an info dump? </span><br /><br /></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >They had BJ look at the microscope again. Then Hawkeye shakes his head and says, “It doesn't matter how many times you look at it. It’s still going to be leukemia.”</span></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="">Pow. </i>The audience feels the weight of the diagnosis—and we learned about through words Hawkeye really would have said.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Dialog is one of the best tools writers have for creating vivid stories. Avoiding these five pitfalls will help you create powerful writing with character, conflict, and emotion that keeps the reader turning pages.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Blog: The Lyon’s Tale</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><a href="http://blog.annettelyon.com/"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >http://blog.annettelyon.com</span></a><span class="apple-style-span"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Web Site: </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><a href="http://annettelyon.com/"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >http://annettelyon.com</span></a><span class="apple-style-span"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Twitter: </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >@AnnetteLyon</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 8.25pt 0in 0.0001pt; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(40, 40, 40);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 8.25pt 0in 0.0001pt; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(40, 40, 40);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Bio:</span></span></p><p style="margin: 8.25pt 0in 0.0001pt; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(40, 40, 40);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Annette Lyon has been writing ever since second grade, when she piled pillows on a chair to reach her mother's typewriter. A cum laude graduate from Brigham Young University with a degree in English, she has had success as a professional editor and doing newspaper, magazine, and business writing, but her first love is creating fiction. Band of Sisters, her seventh novel, is about five women who come together during their husbands' deployment to Afghanistan.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 8.25pt 0in 0.0001pt; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(40, 40, 40);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"></span></span></p><p style="margin: 8.25pt 0in 0.0001pt; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(40, 40, 40);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Her newest release, a cookbook called Chocolate Never Faileth, is a delicious departure from fiction and the culmination of over five months of test kitchen craziness and fun.</span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 8.25pt 0in 0.0001pt; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(40, 40, 40);"><br /></span></p> <span style="line-height: 115%; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt;" >In 2007 Annette was awarded Utah’s Best of State medal for fiction. She’s a two-time Whitney Award finalist and has received three publication awards from the League of Utah Writers.</span>Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-21171750299266598152011-04-17T15:25:00.000-07:002011-04-17T15:34:38.971-07:00How I Stay Focused--Guest Blog from @GP_Aldrich<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYjq3aQKHli09uqeXOEUzAWTJe5kzXovKJhXSJtQZECWrUJ48ji184gCNcuQwtjie5tYPVKnRn3y3gc8WU73T8aObGjkoxbLyAks6MzHVgofzH6EnVNfm_K_cv09EUf5_Z9DGjKTQGw/s1600/focus.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYjq3aQKHli09uqeXOEUzAWTJe5kzXovKJhXSJtQZECWrUJ48ji184gCNcuQwtjie5tYPVKnRn3y3gc8WU73T8aObGjkoxbLyAks6MzHVgofzH6EnVNfm_K_cv09EUf5_Z9DGjKTQGw/s400/focus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596683903962847266" border="0" /></a><br /> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Times"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">How do I stay focused and block time to write?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">My motto is “always writing”, because that keeps me focused. But there’s more than just those two words to staying focused and blocking out time to write.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">A long time ago I noticed that I was flitting from writing project to writing project to some other project.<span style=""> </span>I lacked focus, I needed something to keep me on point.<span style=""> </span>I found it by looking at the big picture and then cutting it down to those two words.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Let’s start at the time.<span style=""> </span>At the begging of every quarter I decide on two projects.<span style=""> </span>That means on the 1<sup>st</sup> of January, April, July and October, I pick two projects.<span style=""> </span>Read that again, TWO, is not TWENTY or even three.<span style=""> </span>Just two projects. I don’t waver for that quarter.<span style=""> </span>I am working on one of those two projects.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">If I can’t work on the main project, meaning there’s a part of the story I want to think about more, or maybe there’s something that stops me from working on it, then I can branch over to focus on project two.<span style=""> </span>Since there is no project three, I have to work on one of these two.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In my case my two projects this quarter are a murder mystery and promoting my writing. I think this guest blog post is evidence enough that I am working on project two.<span style=""> </span>Project one is coming along fine as well, you just can’t see it.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">As most creative people do, I have my doubts, what if I pick the wrong two projects?<span style=""> </span>I don’t let that even enter my thoughts, because I am focused on COMPLETING these projects.<span style=""> </span>The project is not to test to see if this is a good concept, but rather the project is to write the story.<span style=""> </span>I can make the re-writing, or editing, or throwing on the trash heap, of this quarters project, a project for NEXT quarter.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Focus on those two projects, not the doubts or concerns.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">OK, now we have two projects.<span style=""> </span>How do we block out time? First of all, I have dirty dishes in my sink.<span style=""> </span>I’m a single guy and as long as they aren’t stinking or making little science experiments, the dishes can wait.<span style=""> </span>They wait because my focus is writing, and I have two projects.<span style=""> </span>But life is busy. We can’t just drop everything to write.<span style=""> </span>My method is to set a mini-project when I know I have another task to accomplish.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I walk my dog, I am thinking about character background.<span style=""> </span>I could be thinking about work, or family, or the dishes in the sink, but I set a goal for the walk.<span style=""> </span>At the end of the walk I will know more about my main character.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">If I am awake, I know I can be writing because I set these mini goals.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Let’s talk about actually sitting down and putting words on paper, or screen as the case may be. I have been setting these mini goals ever since the last time I was in from of my computer, I know what will happen next in the story, what the dialog is, how the setting will change, it’s just a matter of typing it.<span style=""> </span>Think about it, is the act of typing, writing?<span style=""> </span>No.<span style=""> </span>Writing is the creation of the story and therefore doesn’t require paper, only your active imagination. By the time I get to the typing part, the story is flooding out my fingers. That makes those short times I can block out, highly productive.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I don’t believe there is a writer out there who sells his first draft.<span style=""> </span>I think the first draft is a mental dump of everything the writer thinks should be there.<span style=""> </span>I don’t worry about rules, or if my grammar is perfect.<span style=""> </span>I set all of that aside to let the story flow.<span style=""> </span>My project for the quarter is to get it all out, not to get out only the good parts. Open the dam, watch the water flow.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wrapping it up: “Always writing” means set the big project, the mini goals and set the rules aside as your imagination flows. And it WILL flow because you’re focused on this project for the next 90 days.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">G.P. Aldrich lives with his dog Carmen, in San Francisco California.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You can find him on Twitter @GP_Aldrich, that is, when he’s not writing.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">His blog can be found at: <a href="http://www.gpaldrich.blogspot.com/">www.gpaldrich.blogspot.com</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-53179488881787496722011-04-10T15:56:00.000-07:002011-04-10T16:08:56.302-07:00Writing Group--If You Don't Have One, Get One<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://readwritetalk.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/writing-group.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 425px; height: 282px;" src="http://readwritetalk.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/writing-group.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /> <style>p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">Today's guest blog comes to us from Jo Ann Yhard, @JoAnnYhard. Enjoy!</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Do you have trouble fitting in writing time? Don’t feel alone, we all do. But it can be done. After all, this is our passion, right? We need to do it.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-CA">How does a writing group help? <span style=""> </span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I’ve found it to be the key to completing writing projects. I can be the world’s worst procrastinator – even though I love to write. Our group meets weekly and commits to bringing fresh writing. That weekly deadline is a powerful motivator. No one wants to get ribbed for continually not bringing anything. Most of us write YA and middle readers and try to bring a chapter a week.<span style=""> </span>It adds up!<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-CA">How do I form a writing group? </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Our group evolved from a series of children’s writing workshops. We didn’t want to stop when the workshops ended, so naturally formed into a writing group. I know it’s not always that easy. But through Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and your local writing community, you can find others who write in similar genres and have common goals. Names are probably coming to you as you read this. If you aren’t able to meet in person, consider forming an online group. Our group shares through email for feedback when we can’t meet.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-CA">What is the format of meetings? </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">A lot will depend at what stage you are in your writing and what the group’s goals are. In our group, we provide hard copies to everyone, read our chapter out loud, then listen to feedback. Many write notes and edit on the hard copy. It can be scary, I know, sharing your work. And reading…OUT LOUD??? But having a regular group builds a trusting and supportive environment. One member used to break out in hives when she read. Not anymore. Hearing your work out loud, you become aware of issues in your stories that were not evident before. And if you can’t meet, read your writing out loud to yourself. You’ll be amazed at what you notice.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-CA">But negative feedback will hurt my feelings… </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">It does sting a little at first. But it’s not negative, it’s constructive. In the beginning, our meetings focused on positive feedback and encouragement. But while praise is a wonderful thing, it alone doesn’t help to improve our craft. So, as we got more comfortable, we still encouraged each other, but used more of the time to concentrate on trouble spots – things like point of view, pacing, plot, dialogue, voice, even brainstorming to stimulate ideas. So toughen up your skin – feedback improves your work! Include guidelines for the group to ensure respectful feedback. And keep in mind that in the end, you’re the boss and feedback is opinion. Be true to your work and try to balance incorporating only the feedback that strengthens your piece.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-CA">How is spending time on others’ writing useful to me? </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA"><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">While we share the meeting time, I’ve found that giving feedback has strengthened my own writing skills. Noticing trouble spots in others’ writing helps you to watch for those same pitfalls in your own. Also, I’ve learned things about writing in general by listening to discussions in the group. You benefit from everyone else’s knowledge.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-CA">Are there other benefits to me? </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Definitely! And it’s not always when things are going great. Don’t get me wrong, the champagne corks fly for the happy times! But we’re also there to help each other through the disappointment of rejection letters. And there have been plenty of those. It can be heartbreaking and easy to give up. But the support and understanding of your group, the ones who have been in the trenches and experienced it, helps you to survive those tough times and keep writing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-CA">Will it help me get published? </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">If publication is your goal… </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">None of us were published when we started approximately seven years ago. Now, various members have three published novels, with three more coming out in 2011/2012, along with assorted writing contest wins and placements. And we’ve all grown as writers, both in our skills and self-confidence. So, if you haven’t been in a writing group, think about it. It’s one of the best things you can do for your writing journey. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA"><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA">About me: </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA">My first middle grade mystery, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines</span>, was released by Nimbus Publishing in April 2010, and is a Canadian bestseller. My new book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Lost on Brier Island</span>, is coming out in May 2011. <span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA">Website <a href="http://www.joannyhard.ca/">www.JoAnnYhard.ca</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA">Facebook Page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Jo-Ann-Yhard-Author/161198207246873">http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Jo-Ann-Yhard-Author/161198207246873</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA">Twitter. <a href="http://twitter.com/JoAnnYhard">http://twitter.com/JoAnnYhard</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA">Books: </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA">The Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fossil-Hunter-Sydney-Mines/dp/1551097605">http://www.amazon.com/Fossil-Hunter-Sydney-Mines/dp/1551097605</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-CA">Lost on Brier Island <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Lost-Brier-Island-Ann-Yhard/dp/1551098199">http://www.amazon.ca/Lost-Brier-Island-Ann-Yhard/dp/1551098199</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><pre><span style="font-style: italic;">Thanks, Jo Ann, for that very informative post. If any<br />of you writers out there are interested in having a guest<br />post on Carolyn's blog, please feel free to submit your<br />ideas to writingnodrama (at) aol (dot) com.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></pre>Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-70449930852674305592011-04-03T17:51:00.000-07:002011-04-10T15:54:40.416-07:00"The 7 Deadly Sins of Querying" Guest post from @DorothyDreyer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWULkSP2GOdF-0lTNtEH6rd0fMAx-gSGr1bShUJN4Ldsd5EDhplBXt0Q19rXi23LxHuBI8Cl2MquI55yPDltsRGBtBymWquzwgsIMGwn-0uT85twb5GuiMKh7sJrcwGaZ-vpoC6yItg/s1600/7_DeadlySins_poster.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWULkSP2GOdF-0lTNtEH6rd0fMAx-gSGr1bShUJN4Ldsd5EDhplBXt0Q19rXi23LxHuBI8Cl2MquI55yPDltsRGBtBymWquzwgsIMGwn-0uT85twb5GuiMKh7sJrcwGaZ-vpoC6yItg/s400/7_DeadlySins_poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591468351035953778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.huntingbigsales.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Seven-Deadly-sins.jpg"><br /></a><br /><pre><span style="font-style: italic;">So, writers... while Carolyn is on hiatus this month,<br />we are going to </span><span style="font-style: italic;">be treated to some wonderful guest<br />entries from some great writers from </span><span style="font-style: italic;">the stream.<br />Today's post comes to us from @DorothyDreyer. Enjoy!</span><br /><br />Bad querying is a sin and can guarantee you a one-way<br />ticket to Hades. Okay, not really, but it certainly<br />won't help you get an agent. To help you avoid damnation<br />on your querying quest, let's go over the seven deadly<br />sins you must not be tempted by.<br /><br />GLUTTONY: Do you stuff your query full of more junk than<br />found in a Vegas buffet? Does your email query address<br />EVERY agent who ever lived? Is your pitch ten fat pages<br />long (and still doesn't get the point of the story across)?<br />We know you want to quadruple your chances by telling as<br />many agents as possible every single detail about your<br />BEST NOVEL EVER, but avoid doing this. Keep your pitch<br />simple and concise with a killer hook, address one agent<br />at a time, and you shall be saved!<br /><br />ENVY: Do you use sentences like "My book is ten times<br />better than the crap found in bookstores nowadays." or<br />"All the bestsellers I've read suck. I'm a REAL writer!"?<br />Could it be what you really feel is jealousy that you're<br />not published? Could it be that you just insulted every<br />single client your dream agent has? Avoid putting down<br />other writers, big or small, and you shall be saved!<br /><br />LUST: Do you slut yourself out in an attempt to land an<br />agent? Do you send provocative pictures along with your<br />query letter? Do you offer time-share condos in the<br />Bahamas or send coffee cups stuffed with your lacey<br />underwear in hopes to sway an agent's judgement? Do not<br />try to seduce your way into the hearts of agents, and<br />you shall be saved!<br /><br />PRIDE: Do you brag that your mommy says your novel is<br />the best piece of literature she's ever read? Do you<br />claim that all your friends think you are the smartest<br />person alive? Avoid proclaiming how great a writer you<br />think you are and let your writing speak for itself, and<br />you shall be saved!<br /><br />SLOTH: "My fiction novel is attached." Is that your best<br />attempt at a query letter? Do you address the agent with<br />To Whom it May Concern? Do you even know if the agency<br />you're querying represents the genre you write? Don't be<br />lazy. Do your research, follow submission guidelines,<br />and take the time to perfect your pitch, and you shall<br />be saved!<br /><br />GREED: "My novel is so good I'm certain I'll get six-<br />figure offers from multiple publishers." "I know the<br />publishing industry usually takes time, but my novel is<br />so kick-ass that I'll land an agent, get a publishing<br />deal, and my book will be in stores IN A MONTH!" We<br />know this is your dream, and you have every right to<br />chase it. But don't let your greed make you delusional.<br />Be sensible, and you shall be saved!<br /><br />WRATH: "How dare you reject my masterpiece! I'm going to<br />write a scornful blog post wherein I tell everyone I know<br />how much you suck! Agents are just jealous because they<br />can't write!" Have you seen the statistics of how many<br />query letters an agent gets a week, and the percentage<br />of those writers who actually get requests for submission,<br />and the percentage of those writers who actually land an<br />agent? Do not let rejection make you a monster. Be<br />professional, and you shall be saved!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Special thanks to Dorothy for that wonderful post! If<br />any of you</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> writers out there are interested in having a<br />guest post on Carolyn's</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> blog, please feel free to submit<br />your ideas to writingwithoutthedrama </span><span style="font-style: italic;">(at) aol (dot) com.</span><br /></pre>Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-35180136642917467612011-03-20T15:53:00.000-07:002011-03-20T15:53:00.295-07:00Checking in on your commitments...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TEV4kbSrG0IHLP9zAKwjOnsmjLmPUQ1BSiBzwXHWuhvDcWBuuC-PZdU-yyT5t4a4CA4Q4RE8p-X4a06_7ny4gVcENXHfZglB10ijoqlKle51SLnlbsu1vSOhVcsG-rZ9_W1nEusO3LQN/s1600/frazzled+mom+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TEV4kbSrG0IHLP9zAKwjOnsmjLmPUQ1BSiBzwXHWuhvDcWBuuC-PZdU-yyT5t4a4CA4Q4RE8p-X4a06_7ny4gVcENXHfZglB10ijoqlKle51SLnlbsu1vSOhVcsG-rZ9_W1nEusO3LQN/s400/frazzled+mom+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577402955766382818" border="0" /></a><br />You made a commitment to your writing this year, didn't you? Right? Right???<br /><br /><br />It has been three months since the start of the New Year so let's take a look at how your dreams and aspirations held up to the real world. LOL<br /><br />If you did not make a commitment to your writing, how about doing one now? Seldom do amazing things in life just happen by chance or luck. The things that really matter usually require dedication, persistence, and patience.<br /><br />Writing your book or selling your book are perfect examples.<br /><br />But let's say for the purpose of this blog that you did take me up on my "Absolutely No Excuse" challenge to write your book, and market it, this year.<br /><br />By now, writing 25 pages a week so you should be at about 200 pages.<br /><br />For YA, you are in the home stretch.<br />For many genre novels you are over 2/3 there.<br />For larger works you are 1/2 through.<br /><br />Doesn't it feel great???<br /><br />Oh, wait. You mean you aren't at 200 pages?<br /><br />Let's see... Life got busy. The kids got soccer. Your boss expects overtime.<br /><br />Ok, no worries. Let's be realistic and cut the hopeful page count in half.<br /><br />So, awesome! You've got 100 pages of your novel done!!!<br /><br />What? Not even 100 pages?<br /><br />That's okay too, because I am not here to guilt you (perhaps in other blogs, but not this one - LOL).<br /><br />I am just here to remind you how much you love your story.<br /><br />How excited you were when you first sat down to write your book. How many hopes and dreams you had when you could see your book, written, in your mind.<br /><br />I am a big believer in the 'never too late' motto.<br /><br />Ok, so life got in the way. Your dedication wavered. That doesn't mean you can't re-commit. It doesn't mean that you can't find a way to time manage better.<br /><br />All you have to decide is... how important is your story to you?<br /><br />Then, once that is decided, simply.... act like it :-)<br /><br />P.S. I wanted to thank everyone that shouted me out, DMed me and commented on this blog. Your kind words really were appreciated.<br /><br />With that said, my schedule is so busy that I think I am going to take a month-ish long break from the blog and radio show until May when my two large projects are done.<br /><br />I will however still be on Twitter so feel free to hit me up there!<br /><br />Until May (when you should have another 100 pages done BTW. I may be gone, but don't worry, I will still be cracking the whip in the background :-)Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-82952517720345503862011-03-06T16:08:00.000-08:002011-03-06T16:08:00.651-08:00Your Tent pole. Is it high enough...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8n9mHlfBKvAqCcAvzxCpR9ieX_-kDVth16Je-kydYICmHaUpN7mfCMbzEf9qlh2R30sob-qyY-35I5WFLiogq9fjAYDbz8M4jTTQXN9mKfBPcnlGfUYK4Q2YGr_i4-_iBtmyCqi96PA/s1600/Tentpole.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8n9mHlfBKvAqCcAvzxCpR9ieX_-kDVth16Je-kydYICmHaUpN7mfCMbzEf9qlh2R30sob-qyY-35I5WFLiogq9fjAYDbz8M4jTTQXN9mKfBPcnlGfUYK4Q2YGr_i4-_iBtmyCqi96PA/s400/Tentpole.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577413275486090594" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, let the giggling begin!<br /><br />Once you compose yourself, we can move on to the topic at hand!<br /><br />But while you are still trying to control the snickering, let me give you an update on "30 Pieces of Silver's" Bestseller for a Day showing...<br /><br /><br /><br />Ok, now that you have sobered a bit, let's talk Tent pole.<br /><br />No, not that one that engenders giggle-fits, but the one that is at the heart of your story.<br /><br />For those of you who haven't read my other structure blogs, you can head here to start.<br /><br />Today, I am not so much talking about the Tent pole in relation to the 3 Act structure but about what the Tent pole means to your story.<br /><br />This action sequence (and remember you can have INTERNAL action as well as bombs and stuff) is a MAJOR raising of the stakes, which we know is key to build any story and satisfy a reader.<br /><br />This Tent pole also helps to punctuate, carry, and motivate the character work that occurs in Act 2. You need something in the middle of that long Act 2 to kind of not only spice things up but also kick your Hero in the groin... again.<br /><br />This Tent Pole action shakes up the group dynamic. Many times killing members, making us know how very serious the stakes are becoming.<br /><br />This is also the point where your villain shines. He isn't just a nuisance, he is a THREAT.<br /><br />So in summary, the Tent Pole (mine, not yours #wait, #thatdidntcomeoutright) has to be MAJOR. Your villain needs to hit your Hero and hit him good. It is what the entire first portion Act 2 leads up to and the aftermath of this major battle (whether internal or external) is what drives the last part of Act 2.<br /><br />Build your Tent Pole right, and it primes your audience for your climax. And yes, I do know how that sounded, but you know what I mean!<br /><br />Alright, onto a more serious-ish subject.<br />This blog. <a href="http://twitter.com/writingnodrama">My Twitter stream</a> and <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/writingnodrama">radio show</a>.<br /><br />Basically I am super, duper, wooper busy and obviously maintaining Writing Without the Drama takes a certain amount of time and energy.<br /><br />If you want me to continue with all of this, I need to feel the LOVE.<br />You need to follow this blog. You need to leave comments, you need to RT or @ me on the <a href="http://twitter.com/writingnodrama">stream</a>. You need to call into the radio show or leave comments on the<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/writingnodrama"> BTR page</a>.<br /><br />If you want the free advice to keep flowing, I need to know that it is doing some good out there!<br /><br />I will be at SXSW speaking as an expert in digital publishing so there will be no blog next week... well, depending on your response, there may never be another blog! We will just have to see.<br /><br />Of course if I see that this blog/twitter stream/radio show is really helping people, I will continue. If it turns out I am talking into a vacuum...well, my time is probably best spent on my own writing and marketing of my books :-)<br /><br />So tell me... Do I continue????Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-63997605332179668982011-02-27T16:34:00.000-08:002011-02-27T16:34:00.677-08:00A Call to ActionI try to keep the Writing Without the Drama stream and blog about you... the writer.<br /><br />Today, however I am going to make it about me.<br /><br />Well, not actually about me, but about my book and what it can do for the indie market, and therefore for you too.<br /><br />You see I also founded the <a href="http://www.indiebookcollective.com/">Indie Book Collective</a> to help any author whether self or traditionally published learn how to use social media to its fullest potential to sell their books.<br /><br />Today (2/28/11) is a huge day for the IBC and for myself.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgZD1xgAr9HnAHI0lBjhCBcXayXKAKV3C5VGVMyFL9iv2uexyrtgelS2Y7VqziN-O0HTKS0-YLiyzGVxzZEynJrs6Va2K2EKKn-XF8VF2DxgbFtzY7V-O3fTlxlpCTpTHdC5ojWA3CA/s1600/30+Pieces+of+Silver.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgZD1xgAr9HnAHI0lBjhCBcXayXKAKV3C5VGVMyFL9iv2uexyrtgelS2Y7VqziN-O0HTKS0-YLiyzGVxzZEynJrs6Va2K2EKKn-XF8VF2DxgbFtzY7V-O3fTlxlpCTpTHdC5ojWA3CA/s400/30+Pieces+of+Silver.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577411192646037090" border="0" /></a><br />Why? Because my controversial historical thriller, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/30-Pieces-of-Silver-ebook/dp/B004HB1W82/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1298585320&sr=1-1">30 Pieces of Silver</a>" is up for "Bestseller for a Day."<br /><br />This is an event where the selected author and the Collective join together to drive an indie title as far up the Kindle charts as possible.<br /><br />And today is my turn. I could not be more thrilled. #seriously #Iamdoingthepeepeedance<br /><br />I have practiced what I preach.<br />I have written the best book I could.<br />I had it professionally edited (twice, but that is a whole other blog).<br />I obtained a blurb from thriller-great James Rollins.<br /><br />I have even lined up my 'dream' agent to be watching the results of today's sales. If I can hit it out of the park, I am represented by an A-list agent. If not... well, let's try to dwell on the positive.<br /><br />What do I need from you, my precious blog reader?<br /><br />All I ask is that you spend 99 cents of your hard earned money and go to<a href="http://www.amazon.com/30-Pieces-of-Silver-ebook/dp/B004HB1W82/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1296852705&sr=1-1"> "30 Pieces of Silver's" Kindle page</a> and purchase my novel. #likerightnow #prettyplease<br /><br />Then watch my kindle numbers rise, baby!<br /><br />Not only will you be doing me a favor and potentially changing the trajectory of my writing career, but if you ever hope to publish and/or sell you book as an indie, this event and my level of success can only help your career too!<br /><br />Oh and did I mention if you purchase <a href="http://www.amazon.com/30-Pieces-of-Silver-ebook/dp/B004HB1W82/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1296852705&sr=1-1">"30 Pieces of Silver"</a> today and go to the <a href="http://www.bestsellerforaday.com/">www.bestsellerforaday.com</a> website you can enter to win a FREE KINDLE?<br /><br />My little way of saying 'Thank You.' :-)<br /><br />Also don't forget that my Patterson-style thriller with a dash of Hannibal, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Plain-Jane-Brunettes-Beware-ebook/dp/B004DERF5M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1296852779&sr=1-1">"Plain Jane: Brunettes Beware"</a> is the "Bonus Buy" today (find out more at <a href="http://www.bestsellerforaday.com/">www.bestsellerforaday.com</a>.)<br /><br />Yep, if you purchase "30 Pieces of Silver" along with "Plain Jane" you can head on over to <a href="http://www.bestsellerforaday.com/">www.bestsellerforaday.com</a> and get a full rebate for your purchase price of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Plain-Jane-Brunettes-Beware-ebook/dp/B004DERF5M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1296852779&sr=1-1">"Plain Jane!"</a><br /><br />That's 2 amazing books for the less than $1!!!<br /><br />Again, thank you so much for your support and next week we will go back to our regularly scheduled program...<br /><br />The topic "Is That Your Tentpole... or are you just glad to see me?" Yes, you can start making the jokes now :-)Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-58635753100265741582011-02-20T16:40:00.000-08:002011-02-20T16:40:00.125-08:00To Theme or Not to Theme<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChInVJmQUn0DGBvebzgoK0EeN7hoy8j_wFAScOnTB1oLMRlxwlcWnD7iQJday5DCePrA1tR8pcDqPiHskyScgZw-3ETGHs1OyZNGmJ2viiBRgH_xkKhUFNhX_J12ehnkT8iLrj82YOw/s1600/mosaic6567622.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568750242529565826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChInVJmQUn0DGBvebzgoK0EeN7hoy8j_wFAScOnTB1oLMRlxwlcWnD7iQJday5DCePrA1tR8pcDqPiHskyScgZw-3ETGHs1OyZNGmJ2viiBRgH_xkKhUFNhX_J12ehnkT8iLrj82YOw/s400/mosaic6567622.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<br />
First off, not all novels need a theme.<br />
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As a matter of fact if a theme doesn't naturally bubble up from your subconscious, you probably don't want to try and wedge one in there just because it sounded cool to have a theme.<br />
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We have all read those books where the author thought the color chartreuse was awesome and found some way (usually not a very pleasant way) to interject it freaking everywhere.<br />
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If you are going to have a theme it really should be subtle.<br />
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A theme is the perfume of writing.<br />
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Its essence should be pleasing and help create an overall ambiance, but not be overpowering.<br />
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A light hand is usually called for.<br />
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You also can't really say that you have theme and introduce the notion mid-way through your book.<br />
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That is like saying you have a rooster themed home (which how awesome would that be), but when you walk in the house, not a rooster in sight. As a matter of fact, no roosters until the second floor. What a let down! You could not charge for that admission.<br />
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The same goes for your theme. Subtle but consistent.<br />
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For the most part you want that theme introduced (or at least hinted at) from the get go.<br />
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Again, if you aren't organically feeling the need to paint your first few chapters with your theme's brush... um... it probably isn't a theme. You can certainly have reoccurring elements to a story but unless they are woven deeply into the fabric of your story, they are not a theme.<br />
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Why did I devote an entire blog to this subject?<br />
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Um, because I see a lot of new authors tout their amazing 'theme' and present it as a high point in their artistry, yet the book does not live up to the hype.<br />
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Again, so much of the reader's experience is about fulfilling their expectations.<br />
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Do NOT set yourself up for that kind of fall!<br />
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Your assignment...<br />
Decide if you really have a theme or not.<br />
If not, go write some pages.<br />
If you do, make sure that it spans the entire novel and is pleasing without becoming overbearing!Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-46538015504535433502011-02-13T15:39:00.000-08:002011-02-13T15:39:00.419-08:00Romantic Tension - A Valentine's Day post!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieP0362ORDaZ0q7b0sscnyW4zHjAmu0fz9mOnCfpZv7ZgWWtXM7MoIAyRaIRYYqgi11MVi3FSNAQbIcL9Rj71clo6TGzg0fLkdfPMXqDTFCcKLRdwhWxw5GqYH-nbQ48lLHF6o5R5Qdg/s1600/Cupid-Arrow-Bad-Aim.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieP0362ORDaZ0q7b0sscnyW4zHjAmu0fz9mOnCfpZv7ZgWWtXM7MoIAyRaIRYYqgi11MVi3FSNAQbIcL9Rj71clo6TGzg0fLkdfPMXqDTFCcKLRdwhWxw5GqYH-nbQ48lLHF6o5R5Qdg/s400/Cupid-Arrow-Bad-Aim.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568870331506909778" border="0" /></a><br />Whether you write mysteries, historical fiction, or straight up romance, you need to know how to generate romantic tension.<br /><br />Notice I did not say sexual tension. Sure, if you write erotica you probably are going to focus more on the physical attraction, but for just about every other genre, we are really talking about the emotional attraction, the romance of it all.<br /><br />Even in more male oriented genre fiction, the more crackle you can create, the better it compliments the other 'action' in the piece.<br /><br /><br />Now many people's first instinct is to go to the "opposites attract" model. You know, the "Moonlighting" or "Romancing the Stone" type of romance where the couple bicker the whole time.<br /><br />Now if the dialogue is witty enough and the story moves along fast enough you can pull this off, however not all romantic tension has to take the form of confrontation.<br /><br />The sideways glance or accidental brushing of the shoulder can go a long way to building up tension without all that annoying arguing. Not to say that your couple should be all lovey-dovey and agree on anything. That is on the other end of the spectrum... boring.<br /><br />So somewhere between annoying and boring is an entire land of romantic tension just waiting to be generated.<br /><br />The single most important factor to generating true spark is you must have some reason why the couple doesn't just fall in love and spoon constantly.<br /><br />Because if you do your job and show the couple's attraction, you now must create a reason to keep them apart. Obviously bickering can do it. The two can't get over their pride to show their true feelings.<br /><br />But what about it you don't want them bickering? There are an infinite number of other ways such as...<br /><br />One or both are in another relationship or promised to another (although you need to be careful on this one because disloyalty is a major sympathy-crusher for a character)<br /><br />One or both are afraid of commitment<br /><br />One or both knows or holds a horrible secret about themselves or the other and fear if they are too intimate, they will spill the beans<br /><br />One or both have a body issues that make it difficult for them to feel intimate<br /><br />One or both of them have a task or quest that feels like it does not allow for romance<br /><br />One or both of them have either parental or mentor related interference to the romance. (Romeo & Juliet)<br /><br />Now that was a very short list of a very long set of techniques that can be used to distance your lovers.<br /><br />There should be a yearning (or awakening to yearn) with an equally strong reason they can't get together. That is what creates the tension part of romantic tension :-)<br /><br />Join me on Saturday at 2pm PST on my LIVE <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/writingnodrama">radio show</a> as we discuss all the various forms of romantic tension and how you can ratchet yours up!<br /><br />Want to see romantic tension in action?<br />Then check out Amber Scott's romantic comedy "Play Fling." This is her "Bestseller for a Day" event 2/14/11 so "Play Fling" is only 99 cents today!<br />Click on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Play-Fling-ebook/dp/B003JBI2AM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1296851478&sr=1-1">"Play Fling"</a> to go to her Kindle page and help her march up the charts.<br /><br />There are also two <a href="http://www.bestsellerforaday.com/">"Bonus Buys"</a> associated with "Bestseller for a Day." Basically if you purchase "Play Fling" at the same time as Amber's erotic novel "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Lust-ebook/dp/B004IEA1RG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1296851536&sr=1-1">Love Lust"</a> and/or my contemporary romance <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Indian-Moon-ebook/dp/B001H55R8M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1296851569&sr=1-1">"Indian Moon"</a> you can get your full purchase price of "Love Lust"/"Indian Moon" completely rebated.<br /><br />That's right, if you work it right, you can get 3 amazing V-day reads for less than a buck! #awesome. Just had over to the <a href="http://www.bestsellerforday.com/">www.bestsellerforaday.com</a> site for more details!Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-61612999127193867052011-02-06T16:13:00.000-08:002011-02-06T16:13:00.232-08:00Turning a Phrase<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBhRpjUdbsY4PyTBj-MhBoKlM3jkBUSjq7V7eH0cGdjyWnfhnNZ85fdi34f8awOwIJb9sfishZKkKfxRVMp1KkXYKz9tsZtrqSNGSBzQgNEci8UyH78OFIeiDUEJaPk4VUbm3KIfbMQ/s1600/ghk-folding-laundry-1209-de.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBhRpjUdbsY4PyTBj-MhBoKlM3jkBUSjq7V7eH0cGdjyWnfhnNZ85fdi34f8awOwIJb9sfishZKkKfxRVMp1KkXYKz9tsZtrqSNGSBzQgNEci8UyH78OFIeiDUEJaPk4VUbm3KIfbMQ/s400/ghk-folding-laundry-1209-de.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568744869464872578" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In fiction we hear that term a lot... "Wow, that author really knows how to turn a phrase."<br /><br />You probably think, ya for them!<br /><br />But unless you are getting spontaneous compliments about how you turned a phrase well, you probably... um... you know... aren't turning them well!<br /><br />For any new writers out there wondering what in the heck I am talking about, here's the dictionary definition...<br /><br />A sequence of words intended to have meaning.<br />a. A characteristic way or mode of expression.<br />b. A brief, apt, and cogent expression.<br /><br /><br />Okay, ya, that didn't help me out either. In my world "Turning a phrase" is when you take a fairly routine notion such as folding laundry and find a way to say it so much cooler.<br /><br />Ex: Elizabeth sighed as she folded yet another towel.<br /><br />Not a bad sentence. We've got sighed in there so we know her emotional state and the 'yet' adds to our characterization of Elizabeth.<br /><br />However, that is not turning a phrase, I simply wrote the sentence well.<br /><br />The towel was her nemesis. The hamper... her Everest.<br /><br />Is that the best turned phrase I have ever written, no (give me a break , it's 5 in the morning)! But it does show you the basics of what I am talking about.<br /><br />Usually turning a phrase means taking your point off the nose and flowering it up.<br /><br />It is when you read something that is not action or dialogue related and think "That was so freaking cool."<br /><br />I know I am being by far more vague with this blog but that is because we are not talking structure here, we are talking art.<br /><br />How 'well' you have turned a phrase is completely subjective. Some people may love it. Some people may not.<br /><br />The point of this blog is to bring your mind to the subject. We have all 'felt' when we needed to turn a phrase.<br /><br />You wrote something down, but the words just aren't rising to the occasion. You know you could make it cooler somehow, but just don't know how.<br /><br />That is when you instinctively want to 'turn the phrase.'<br /><br />So when those moments happen and your fingers stall on the keyboard remember that you want to 'turn' the phrase. That means actively doing something to it.<br /><br />Look at what you just wrote as a place holder. Now describe in your head all the things you wished you had said. Ramble. Riff. Think far afield. Go for it.<br /><br />You will usually have 3-5 ideas in there and usually the next to last or last one is the best or closest to the essence of what you wanted to say.<br /><br />Now re-write the sentence. If you didn't hit it out of the park, no worries. Many times I will come up with the best turn of phrase hours later on my walk or in the bathtub.<br /><br />Also don't let a 'turn of phrase' stall let it stall your writing for the day. Sure, take a few moments and ponder how you could improve that section, but if nothing comes to you, then move on.<br /><br />That's what editing is for :-)<br /><br />All right, that is it for the day.<br /><br />Your assignment?<br />Go forth and find some phrases to turn!<br /><br />And don't forget we will be taking about this subject and answering any questions you have about any aspect of writing craft (which you can leave either here, on my twitter stream <a href="http://twitter.com/writingnodrama">@writingnodrama </a>or call in LIVE) on this week's <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/writingnodrama">radio show </a>on Saturday at 2pm PST!Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-34254097427773883362011-01-30T16:51:00.000-08:002011-01-31T07:25:38.241-08:00Know Thy Genre<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeazP3K1AuTGxp_yHfwK6davdVViTQZ5G7o1IaFw_bdEgPCICn3upSJr6SfSJIJxzvs4jDL0hSMOpGlF0xGvOftRZrOWiN8-zmtkVf7tpSxkvFfXhvpELKuzdllxAYMZHQTPGLpWTow/s1600/shakespeare.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeazP3K1AuTGxp_yHfwK6davdVViTQZ5G7o1IaFw_bdEgPCICn3upSJr6SfSJIJxzvs4jDL0hSMOpGlF0xGvOftRZrOWiN8-zmtkVf7tpSxkvFfXhvpELKuzdllxAYMZHQTPGLpWTow/s400/shakespeare.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568371473316027346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />You would think this one would be a no-brainer, yet you would be surprised!<br /><br />There seems to be a movement within the unpublished/self-pubbed author community that is rebelling against genre.<br /><br />That some how being 'labeled' and 'branded' is the antithesis of art.<br /><br />Um...we could debate a lot of finer points about this, but I am simply going to ask you one question that I know ask any pre-client that chaffs at the concept of identifying 1 major genre with 2 minor sub-genres...<br /><br />Do you want to sell your book?<br /><br />If no, then great. This isn't a very helpful blog for you and you might want to go read some of my story structure or dialogue blogs.<br /><br />If the answer is yes, then you really need to not only embrace your genre, but research it as well.<br /><br />Know the top 5-10 authors in your main genre. Know what they are doing. What stories they are writing, what elements they are hitting hard.<br /><br />And no, I am not recommending that you write for the market, although in this new digital age it actually is becoming more and more of an option if that is your thing. I am advocating that you know WHAT the market is.<br /><br />I love my colleague and fellow Blog Tour de Force author ("Irish Moon"), Amber Scott's take on this... If we were about to start a T-shirt company, any business consultant worth their salt would tell us to research, research, research our competition. Writing is no different.<br /><br />Can you imagine if we put in all the time and effort to build a company, get vendors, hire employees only to find out that someone else (usually much larger) is already making "Team Edward" t-shirts?<br /><br />Your time investment in your book is equally valuable. Don't squander it!<br /><br />Also can you imagine if you were making "Team Edward" t-shirts and ardently refused to call your product a t-shirt and refused to use any reference to "Twilight" in your marketing campaign.<br /><br />Plus, you are writing a book meant to be read (if, of course you answered 'yes' to the above question). And each genre has their own set of 'rules' and expectations from the reader.<br /><br />For example, most high fantasy novels tend to be long since the reader expects a lush world building experience and lots of description. You could turn in a 500 page fantasy manuscript and no one would blink.<br /><br />A 500 page urban fantasy manuscript? WHAT? Way too long for the most part.<br /><br />That is why I advocate that you go and buy the top 5 books in your genre (plus more if able) and check page count. Read for similarities and differences.<br /><br />Then, and only then, figure out a way to put your unique spin on it, because after all that is why someone would want to buy YOUR book!<br /><br />I will be talking about this subject in depth on my <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/writingnodrama">radio show</a> at 2pm PST on Saturday so tune in or better yet, call in with your questions!<br /><br />Also today is the last day of the Blog Tour de Force so head on over to the <a href="http://indiebookcollective.wordpress.com/">IBC blog</a> to join in on a scavenger hunt to end all scavenger hunts to get entries to win that Kindle!!!<br /><br />And to anyone who commented on my last blog for a free eBook of "HeartsBlood" please have patience! I also hosted on <a href="http://twitter.com/craftycmc">@craftycmc</a> blog and had over 128 comments so I am slowly working my way through those to give away. If you haven't gotten yours yet, please check your comment and be sure that I can easily contact you (either through your blog, an email or twitter handle).<br /><br />Thank you so much and see you next week!Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-26139808084044019852011-01-23T16:22:00.000-08:002011-01-23T16:22:00.432-08:00Work Shopping Your Writing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKlbcC-gUCzypSRecOZkuGLQbIjiUz3telC-fKpiAGwYjRhQDuZ4PaIQ9uwDfFbUO4eXht9wc6rhdfppL-4PjgkwiBHh5p4Od9hrJo-3oE7BGtpr0s-tHhQ5PXPwlNDEiCDcVmtSy8w/s1600/workshop_athene_016.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKlbcC-gUCzypSRecOZkuGLQbIjiUz3telC-fKpiAGwYjRhQDuZ4PaIQ9uwDfFbUO4eXht9wc6rhdfppL-4PjgkwiBHh5p4Od9hrJo-3oE7BGtpr0s-tHhQ5PXPwlNDEiCDcVmtSy8w/s400/workshop_athene_016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555852605757078018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There are lots of techniques out there for improving your writing, but I have found none to be as helpful across the board than work shopping.<br /><br />Actually I learned this from screenwriting where it is ESSENTIAL your dialogue crackles and your plot holds together (since you only get 100 pages to get it right).<br /><br />I also went to a few prose writer's groups that did something very similar.<br /><br />Trust me, hearing your words read aloud can either be the equivalent to angels singing in your ear, or finger nails on a chalk board.<br /><br />Big gaps or slight imperfections are brought to light.<br /><br />Now the only problem with work shopping is the caliber of the people you have in your group. Because let's face it, in most writing groups there are those people you just don't respect but they do great line edits so you let it pass.<br /><br />Work shopping is a bit different. There needs to be a little bit higher level of trust. You have to really respect the other writers opinions to get the most value out of the experience.<br /><br />Then it comes to who is going to read it.<br /><br />Do YOU read it aloud? I usually don't recommend that since you know the work fairly well and many times, without you even knowing about it, you fix grammar, spelling, and word choice as you read along.<br /><br />No, it is always better for someone else who is unfamiliar with the work to read it. But let's face it we are writers, seldom talkers. To get the best effect of a work shop, it truly is best to have a trained actor read your stuff.<br /><br />Actors have great instinct about character and story and if you find them consistently 'not getting' your style, that is a good indication that you take a look at 'your style.' :-)<br /><br />Again, this is one of those things where the caliber of actor you get is going to influence the how much benefit you get from the work shop.<br /><br />Even outside the major metropolitan areas there are great actors. Look on-line for them. Post a Craigslist ad. A meetup group. Go to the local college or even high school.<br /><br />Actors are always looking for new and different ways to perform and are usually eager to jump in. I can't tell you how much my own experience with actors (thank you Ben, <a href="http://twitter.com/actingnodrama">@actingnodrama</a>) has vastly improved my writing.<br /><br />Work shopping (even more so than a writer's group) also has the side effect of being incredibly motivational (which of course you need if you are going to fulfill your "Absolutely No Excuse" campaign pledge to finish a book and publish it this year). There is a thrill like none other when you hear your words read and they work #trustme<br /><br />Don't believe me? Tune into my BlogTalkRadio show every Saturday at 2pm PST where we talk craft, craft, and more craft! But this week we will be focusing on work shopping to improve your craft!<br /><br />Tune in and listen LIVE or better yet call in and ask your questions live. If you aren't available on Saturdays at 2pm PST, no worries, you can subscribe via iTunes and listen to the archive! <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/writingnodrama">Listen right now</a>!<br /><br />If you would like to have your work read-on air, please email me at writingnodrama (at) aol (dot) com. Also if you would like to join on-line classes where we do a lot of work shopping, also just drop me a line or DM or @ me on the <a href="http://twitter.com/writingnodrama">@writingnodrama</a> stream!<br /><br />Until next week! #keepwritingWriting is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-46040874053720466302011-01-16T16:17:00.000-08:002011-01-16T20:40:44.237-08:00Blog Tour de Force!!!!<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);font-size:130%;" >Stop #1 HeartsBlood!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOj5457Ju76zMz2TPbZ5b6uHNDihatk-vYL7oHmGsBJJz_-wkCmh8oBIUXwbXAE0QzCcImuq2Q08H1F9z2JzQqMnxWOlK_QGaL046A1IOuL_-weocvQ5f05Z_eIXDH8z8dxU-i9nf5Q/s1600/heartsblood2x3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOj5457Ju76zMz2TPbZ5b6uHNDihatk-vYL7oHmGsBJJz_-wkCmh8oBIUXwbXAE0QzCcImuq2Q08H1F9z2JzQqMnxWOlK_QGaL046A1IOuL_-weocvQ5f05Z_eIXDH8z8dxU-i9nf5Q/s400/heartsblood2x3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562903899803324978" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">That's right, people!</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Blog Tour de Force has officially begun and this little ole blog is where the fun begins!</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">For any of you who have been living in a cave, I am one of the founders of the <a href="http://twitter.com/indiebookibc">@IndieBookIBC</a><a href="http://twitter.com/amberscottbooks">@amberscootbooks</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/rachelintheoc">@rachelintheoc</a> and @<a href="http://twitter.com/lmstull">LMStull</a> we threw together the mother of all blog tours!</span> plus I write a bunch of stuff. And I would love a bunch of people to read my bunch of stuff. So with </div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">"Get Loaded...Your eBook reader that is" </span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">That's right, 12 authors banded together to put together a Grand Prize package that includes... wait for it... a Kindle! </span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">That's right, you can win a Kindle and not only that but have it loaded with all 12 authors books plus a gift basket filled with gifts from each author.</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Even the 1st Prize is off the hook with all 12 authors giving your their eBook for free! And those are just the overall prizes. </span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Each stop on the way will have its own set of prizes from the author. Free eBooks. Free signed paperback copies. Individual gift baskets. You name it, it'll probably be given away!</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">But, let's get back to me #myfavoritetopic</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Today we are celebrating my paranormal romance/urban fantasy "HeartsBlood"</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">How would I describe it? Um... how about I let a few reviewers do it for me?</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">“<i>Oh. Dear. God. I loved HeartsBlood! </i></span> </div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>When I was reading it, I couldn't put it down. When I wasn't reading it it was all I could think about. I loved that I couldn't figure out what was coming next. The plot was truly spellbinding. </i></span> </div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>Seriously, I laughed, I cried, I worried. And when I finished the book I wanted to pick it back up and start from the beginning again.”</i></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" align="RIGHT"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Lori W. (<a href="http://twitter.com/funkycakes">@funkycakes</a>)</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" align="RIGHT"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">“<i>HeartsBlood is a paranormal romance? I hate to argue with Carolyn, but this is a kick-but-and-take-names urban fantasy. No, it is a thriller. Wait. I think it might be an action packed story of love and magic that defies classification!</i></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>I fear only women will read HeartsBlood when it was one of the most exciting thrillers I have read in a long while!</i></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>Guys, take note HeartsBlood is for you too!”</i></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" align="RIGHT"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Ben Hopkin (<a href="http://twitter.com/actingnodrama">@actingnodrama</a>)</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" align="RIGHT"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Also please check out my review sponsors...</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://parayournormal.blogspot.com/" _cke_saved_href="http://parayournormal.blogspot.com">ParaYourNormal</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://brighterscribe.blogspot.com/" _cke_saved_href="http://brighterscribe.blogspot.com">BrighterScribe</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://fadeintofantasy.blogspot.com/" _cke_saved_href="http://fadeintofantasy.blogspot.com">Fade into Fantasy</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://thrillersrockt.blogspot.com/" _cke_saved_href="http://thrillersrockT.blogspot.com">ThrillersRockTwitter</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.markofthestars.com/" _cke_saved_href="http://www.markofthestars.com">Mark of the Stars</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://yourneedtoread.blogspot.com/" _cke_saved_href="http://yourneedtoread.blogspot.com">YourNeedToRead</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://ieatwords.net/" _cke_saved_href="http://ieatwords.net">I Eat Words</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/bonnieeugene" _cke_saved_href="http://www.twitter.com/bonnieeugene">Bonnie Gene Adams</a></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">I really appreciate all their kind words! Please check each and every one of them out for their opinion of "HeartsBlood" (because Lord knows you shouldn't trust me!) plus find even more ways to enter the Grand Prize Drawing for that "Loaded Kindle!"<br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">So Amber told me I needed to write something really pithy and fun for this blog. You know, something I hadn't told any other reviewer. That I really needed to hit it out of the park.</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Obviously she has never read anything previous on this blog otherwise she would have known it was a lost cause (and thank gawd I am going first so you can't judge me against the others!).</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">But what I can say is... If Tyr (the uber-hot, stubbled, tall, dark and dangerous hero from HeartsBlood) came walking down the street...</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">a) I would swoon</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">b) He would step over my unconscious body</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">c) I would be okay with that!</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">The other really cool thing about the Blog Tour de Force is that I got meet a lot of really great other indie authors. The first I'd like to mention is Kris Tualla. Her "A Matter of Principle" is historical fiction at its best.<br /><br />The third in her series, you are going to love the chemistry and romance of Nicholas and Sydney. Set in St. Louis during the 1800s, the plot unfolds like a delicious meal. Tempting tidbits of mystery to start, building to an incredibly satisfying conclusion, with, of course, a silky smooth dessert to finish it all off with.<br /><br />You are going to want to immediately go out and buy books 1 & 2! I know I did!<br /><br />"A Matter of Principle's" Blog Tour day is tomorrow 1/18 so hit her up <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://kristualla.wordpress.com/">here</a>! #seriously #Iwillbewatching<br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Then there is Susan Schreyer's "Death by a Dark Horse." Being a veterinarian you can imagine how hooked I was by a book with one of the main characters being a horse suspected of murder! I mean, come on! I get to use my veterinary and my love of police procedure to solve a crime! How often does that happen #notnearlyenough<br /><br />Even if you aren't a horsey-girl like myself, I think you will find the complicated relationships and exquisite mystery more than satisfying in and of itself.<br /><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Susan's blog day is January 29th. Mark your calendars so you can hit her up <a href="http://writinghorses.blogspot.com/">here</a> (or better yet sign up for our <a href="http://www.blogtourdeforce.com/Blog_Tour_de_Force/Newsletter.html">newsletter</a> so you don't have to 'remember' anything! Get a daily reminder along with author news and super secret BONUS ways to enter the Kindle give away!).<br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Also don't forget that the tour will conclude at the <a href="http://indiebookcollective.wordpress.com/">Indie Book Collective</a> on January 31st with an incredible scavenger hunt for loads of different ways to enter the Grand Prize drawing for that free Kindle! </span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Plus you can go to <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.blogtourdeforce.com/">www.blogtourdeforce.com</a> and sign up for our newsletter - just that alone gets you 5 entries into the drawing for brand spanking new Kindle, plus you get fun content from the authors and EXCLUSIVE ways to rack up lots of entries! <a href="http://www.blogtourdeforce.com/Blog_Tour_de_Force/Newsletter.html">Sign up NOW</a>!<br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">But what about HeartsBlood you ask? What spectacular prizes are you giving away TODAY?</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Why, I am so glad you asked!!!</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">First off, anyone who follows this blog and leaves a comment (even 'yo, Carolyn') gets a free eBook! #howawesomeisthat</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Second my gift basket is in my opinion, kicks some serious booty!</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Not only do you get a free eBook, but you also get a signed paperback copy of "HeartsBlood" along with a gift basket that includes some blood red nail polish (for obvious reasons), a cut crystal necklace just like the one in "Heartsblood," and a hand-stained and burned-in leather bookmark. A truly unique keepsake! And a "Hello Kitty" pen, just to keep it real. #Iamsuchagiver</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">How do you enter for the "HeartsBlood" gift basket? Simple!</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Simply go to smashwords.com and download your free 100 pages. Then simply leave a comment with your favorite line from pages 24-30! #toldyouitwassimple!</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Oh, and did I mention that I need your help to kick the other author's butts? Because for us authors there is a free book trailer at stake! And I know how much you want me to be the proud winner! So please remember to go the the Indie Book Collective blog on Jan 31st and vote for me!!! #youknowyouwanna :-)</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Alright, I am going to wrap this puppy up with a great big THANK YOU to all my readers, hope you enjoy "HeartsBlood" and I can hardly wait to see who wins my gift basket!</span></div> </div> <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <div><br /></div> </div> <span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <div> </div></span></span>Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-74885585621602487982011-01-09T16:02:00.000-08:002011-01-09T16:02:00.818-08:00You have realized you are a writer... But no one else seems on-board???<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistcupn6QSCHAXfHcwYsbyyc7ulT_tq_NCzUVw0qDNb-J8YaDwz1rMvFgLsx4xFrMtbLku715-rFU7M7RD8GoF0QzYcJgkOkskPFJ2abWeqRD-os2fwQIdRu0C9XM0aNIb2siTTpsdiw/s1600/lonely+dock.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistcupn6QSCHAXfHcwYsbyyc7ulT_tq_NCzUVw0qDNb-J8YaDwz1rMvFgLsx4xFrMtbLku715-rFU7M7RD8GoF0QzYcJgkOkskPFJ2abWeqRD-os2fwQIdRu0C9XM0aNIb2siTTpsdiw/s400/lonely+dock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555846540836899410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Yes, I have heard you loud and clear on the stream.<br /><br />Maybe you have even embraced my "Absolutely No Excuse" campaign and are determined to write and publish a book this year.<br /><br />But......<br /><br />No one else in your world thinks that's a good idea. Maybe your parents think it is a total waste of time. Your kids see it as a real inconvenience to their taxi service, and let's face it even the dog wants to go on more walks.<br /><br />So what do you do? Give up? Throw up your hands and let yet another year go by in which you dream of writing, but you know... don't write?<br /><br />Or is this the year you figure it out? You figure out how to politely nod to those nay-sayers yet still apply some time management skills to your life and find the time to write... consistently?<br /><br />It would be wonderful (and for those of you who do have support on the home front, I am a little jealous so just count your blessings and don't rub it in :-) for everyone in our lives to embrace our writing and help us in any way possible.<br /><br />Ya, right! Most of us have family and friends that look at us like we are crazy and either exude a kind of apathy at helping you achieve your goals, or sometimes are downright determined to sabotage you.<br /><br />Yes, that sucks. But hey, that's life.<br /><br />Remember your story is YOURS. It was given to you by whatever muse you believe in. It was not a small gift, but an extraordinary one. No one else in the world has one exactly like it.<br /><br />It isn't your family or friends decision to see that story through to the published end. It is yours.<br /><br />So... you know... write it.<br /><br />I am here to help you in any way possible :-) :-) :-)<br /><br />How can I help you ask (ok, you didn't ask, but throw me a bone :-) ...<br /><br />I have the BlogTalkRadio show every Saturday at 2pm PST where we talk craft, craft, and more craft! Tune in and listen LIVE or better yet call in and ask your questions live. If you aren't available on Saturdays at 2pm PST, no worries, you can subscribe via iTunes and listen to the archive! <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/writingnodrama">Listen right now</a>!<br /><br />I am also offering on-line writing classes for the new year. Actually more like coaching. No lectures per se but evaluating work and giving advice/critique/techniques to take your writing to the next level :-)<br /><br />If you want more info on the classes just @ or DM me on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/writingnodrama">@writingnodrama</a> or email me at writingnodrama (at) aol (dot) com. I offer group/semi private/private classes!<br /><br />And on a final note, next week I will be hosting my stop on the #BlogTourDeForce blog tour for my new paranormal romance HeartsBlood. Please stop by the blog will be fun and there are a ton of prizes up for grabs including a brand spanking new KINDLE!<br /><br />For more info just hit up www.BlogTourDeForce.com<br /><br />Until next week!Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-62979306223810644432011-01-06T13:45:00.000-08:002011-01-06T15:13:59.920-08:00Wriiting Workshops...The Writing Without The Drama Way!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeoZmtWealFH0Lvl0rQD93dtcL_rT5It3lyZoaw4_MMu2lvaE3VrmeQ9Sg-hSr3QKrqoHbP7HuMLD7r3pBaSajLwDKqsdYyDwGFjn9CbtCbj-9gFqVdDxRr6TLbheWxZsfgVx_2dy_Q/s1600/Pencil+and+paper.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeoZmtWealFH0Lvl0rQD93dtcL_rT5It3lyZoaw4_MMu2lvaE3VrmeQ9Sg-hSr3QKrqoHbP7HuMLD7r3pBaSajLwDKqsdYyDwGFjn9CbtCbj-9gFqVdDxRr6TLbheWxZsfgVx_2dy_Q/s400/Pencil+and+paper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559197842741121282" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So after putting out the "Absolutely No Excuse" challenge I got flooded with requests to help people not only embrace the challenge but to get their story into publishable shape.<br /><br />After threatening to do this for months, I have finally been convinced to start workshops.<br /><br />These are an intense 1 hour to1 & 1/2 hour group workshop where I look at each person's (if 5 people are in the session, it is an hour if we have more it will run 1 1/2- 2 hours depending on the number of people maximum of 10 people) writing and pin-point its strengths and weaknesses.<br /><br />Each person's work will get about 10 minutes each, but I am telling you that you will want to stick around for the whole session because you actually learn more when it ISN'T your work being discussed. You aren't nervous, or tense and can take in way more information plus you learn things you didn't even realize you could use until 2am a month later when you go "Ah-ah! That's what Carolyn was talking about!"<br /><br />Any level of writer can join the workshop. If your stuff is nearly ready for publication, I can help polish it until it shines. If you are just in your first edit stage or even still writing the manuscript I can give invaluable pointers to make your life easier and your writing more powerful.<br /><br />We don't hold hands. We don't sing around the campfire, we just roll up our sleeves and analyze and enhance our writing!<br /><br />The cost is $10.00 per session.<br /><br />The sessions are on Saturdays and start at 3pm PST (right after my radio show on <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/writingnodrama">Blog Talk Radio</a> at 2pm PST which has TONS of tips and tools for free). Please schedule at least 1 1/2 hours of time to dedicate to the workshop since part of the workshop is getting feedback from your peers as well and for you to give feedback to your peers :-)<br /><br />If you are interested simply email me at craftycmc (at) aol (dot) com.<br /><br />I will put your name on the list and give you instructions on how to pay (all payment must be made by Saturday at noon to make it for that day's session).<br /><br />Once you have made your payment, you will be sent instructions on how to attend the webinar (you will need a computer and either call in or use your computer's headset to listen in). I will be sharing my desktop so everyone can see the words on the page and any notes I may write about them ;-)<br /><br />I can't wait to workshop with you!!<br /><br />***Additional information...<br />Okay, I have already gotten a bunch-o-questions so let me address them here...<br /><br />Yes, this workshop is geared towards the serious writer looking to get their work in shape to be published. That includes anyone that has just written their first chapter ever to someone who is polishing their fourth novel. It isn't the stage of your career that tells you whether this workshop is for you, it is YOUR level of dedication to improving your writing.<br /><br />Yes, this will be a loving, emotionally safe and supportive environment... and at the same time be very honest. Too many authors attend class or workshops or get told by family and friends that their writing is 'great' only to spend all the time and energy on publishing only to find it, you know... sucked... or worse wasn't commercial.<br /><br />See below for the list of questions I ask all participants to answer for their fellow writers. I know I will be honest. Not brutal, but honest in my assessment of your work. If I feel it is not in publishable shape, I will tell you so. If I would not buy the book based on the pages submitted, I will tell you so. The beauty of The Writing Without The Drama way is that I will then give you very specific ideas on how to improve any weakness I detect :-)<br /><br />*** More details on how this writing workshop will be conducted.<br />Before each session, everyone will submit 10 pages. If this is your first session that will be the first 10 pages of your book. And that is all you submit. Just the title of the book, your name and those 10 pages. Do NOT include genre, age group or other information. I want these reads to be COLD. This gives us all the best information back without any preconceived notions that muddy the waters.<br /><br />Everyone signed up for the session will read all participants' 10 pages.<br /><br />Everyone will answer the following 3 questions for each submission:<br />What genre did you feel these pages represented?<br />What age group do you feel these pages were geared for (ex. Everyone, Grade 12+, YA, etc) ?<br />Based on these pages would you buy this book?<br /><br />Okay, hopefully that answered this round of questions, I am sure I will be back with more info and the questions roll in :-)Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993791743292228851.post-29663042843249238832011-01-02T15:45:00.000-08:002011-01-02T15:45:00.530-08:00The "No Excuses" Campaign...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKwkzNDxGpfcXOrnoGtDI-D5U51_FedwpvtTowIXAcMe23kedjqfEtVhA5IlXv4N85XvkQkIJJ319i_xC446xnhabUhNVXz4VwBMwkKKXU00rINxQ5YfYFbVqbVoTVETjRZTtOdK4KQ/s1600/state-newspaper-excuses.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKwkzNDxGpfcXOrnoGtDI-D5U51_FedwpvtTowIXAcMe23kedjqfEtVhA5IlXv4N85XvkQkIJJ319i_xC446xnhabUhNVXz4VwBMwkKKXU00rINxQ5YfYFbVqbVoTVETjRZTtOdK4KQ/s400/state-newspaper-excuses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555839307065281794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ok, so not so much a campaign as me just telling you that there is no absolutely no excuse IN THE WORLD that you can't write, edit, and publish your own book this year.<br /><br />NONE!<br /><br />If you want to go the traditional route, no worries, let me rephrase. "There is absolutely no excuse IN THE WORLD that you can't write and edit a book and submit it to every appropriate agent/editor and if you don't get picked up, publish your own book this year.<br /><br />I don't care if you don' have a word written yet. I don't care if you haven't even outlined it. Doesn't matter, you can do it.<br /><br />And for all those frustrated NanoWriMos out there.... yes you can either take that hot mess you created in November and edit a book out of it or simply use the skill set you developed in November to write a whole new book.<br /><br />Got a manuscript you abandoned to your drawer 5 years ago? Cool, let's work on that.<br /><br />The whole entire point of this "campaign" is simply to get us ALL in the head space that there is nothing scary, difficult, or daunting about writing a book and getting it out into the world. NOTHING.<br /><br />Is there editing? Sure.<br />Is there crying into our hands that we can't write as well as Stephen King (I refer, of course, to the early years)? You betcha.<br />Is there staring down our inner critic and firing their ass? Um... definitely.<br /><br />But the question simply becomes, do you want to write a book or not?<br /><br />If the answer is yes, please leave the ennui at the door and come on in.<br /><br />Now I can hear the outrage, the pounding of fists, and general clamor.<br /><br />I'm too busy! My kids have soccer! My boss is a taskmaster!<br /><br />Perfect. You have just described in one way or another just about all of us. We are ALL busy. We all have time constraints. We all wish we had a three month vacation with free beverages alongside a sandy beach to write at a leisurely pace.<br /><br />Um... we don't. So now is a perfect time to figure out how you are going to work in writing (then editing, then marketing) into your schedule.<br /><br />We find the time to brush our teeth (ok, most of us), we can find time for this.<br /><br />I am probably going to write 2-4 books this year. I know I am going to. Because, you know, I have done it before.<br /><br />But did I know that the first time I sat down to write a book? Nope. I had to take it on faith.<br /><br />So here's to the "Absolutely No Excuse" Campaign!<br /><br />Leave your commitment in the comments below!!!!<br /><br />I will be checking in at least one a month to keep everyone on track!<br /><br />Oh, and if you need more help than that I am getting together on-line writing classes. Actually more like coaching. No lectures per se but evaluating work and giving advice/critique/techniques to take your writing to the next level :-)<br /><br />If you want more info on the classes just @ or DM me on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/writingnodrama">@writingnodrama</a> or email me at writingnodrama (at) aol (dot) com. I offer group/semi private/private classes!<br /><br />Also don't forget that I have a BlogTalkRadio show every Saturday at 2pm PST where we talk craft, craft, and more craft! Tune in and listen LIVE or better yet call in and ask your questions live. If you aren't available on Saturdays at 2pm PST, no worries, you can subscribe via iTunes and listen to the archive! <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/writingnodrama">Listen right now</a>!<br /><br />Have a great (writing) week! :-)Writing is Easy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03063162355090099844noreply@blogger.com5