Writing Links 1/15/18

January 15th, 2018

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Writing Links 1/15/18

Traci Kenworth

Fantasy/Dystopian/UF/Paranormal/SF:

https://phsolomon.com/2018/01/07/interviews-with-tordug-part-2-an-arrow-against-the-wind/ “a fictitious news report.” Trouble brewing for sure.
https://unicornbell.blogspot.com/2018/01/herding-sheep.html “Misdirection fascinates me.” A handy trick to practice.
https://legendsofwindemere.com/2018/01/12/life-of-an-innocent-bystander/ “This post is more about the mentality of an innocent bystander than how to use them because they’re fairly simple.” I sometimes give them as much trouble as my main characters. I can get just as sad for them as the star.

MG/YA:

http://avajae.blogspot.com/2018/01/different-kinds-of-pov-slips-and-how-to.html “POV slips are incredibly common, in large part because there’s a variety of them and because, well, when you’re the author who knows everything it’s easy to forget your POV character isn’t privy to everything you know.” They can happen to the best of us.
https://amytruebloodauthor.com/announcing-the-2018-sun-vs-snow-agents/ Agents announced! Jan. 23 Sun vs. Snow contest.
http://yatopia.blogspot.com/2018/01/aspiring-in-2018-with-laura-steven.html “Dreams are often portrayed as things that’ll only happen in the distant future. Aspirations a longing to get there. But what if we defined them in another way? What if our aspirations weren’t an endless longing? What if we blocked off the deafening noise in our heads that say “one day, one year, I will achieve this NEW BIG SHINY THING and I will struggle every inch of the way to get there.”? (In the case of writers this is often: get an agent, sell a book, wow readers, get good reviews, great sales, rinse, repeat.)” I need to do this more. Keep my eye on what I can do today!

Romance/Women’s Fiction:

http://romanceuniversity.org/2018/01/07/what-lies-at-the-heart-of-a-novel-by-katia-lief-aka-karen-ellis/ “I tend to give my protagonists whatever is most on my mind, and this time it was going to be a doozy.” Hmm, I’ve done this with one book, but it didn’t work out. I tried to write a MG after my cousin’s death where I wanted to deal with grief but yeah, it was too much for me.
http://romanceuniversity.org/2018/01/12/seriously-series-by-laurie-schnebly-campbell/ “Would you ever consider writing a series?” Most of what I write is a series. I’m only doing my first standalone book on my current project.
http://www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com/body-language-an-authors-occupational-hazard/ “All authors have to be masters at description, and human beings are mainly what we describe. A story is mostly about what our characters think and how they act. But their appearance (either the one they’re born with or the one they create) can have a powerful impact on their thoughts, their actions, how other characters react to them, and–ultimately–how our readers respond.” I agree.

Christian:

https://novelrocket.com/2018/01/3-steps-toward-writing-fearlessly-2.html/ “studies show when you feel you are allowed to make mistakes, you are less likely to make any.” I’m taking more risks this year. I’m working on more writing. That could at times mean less blogging time, but it’s important to me, to make more of an effort in my writing. After all, I am a writer. I need to show that more.
https://stevelaube.com/three-things-ive-learned-agent/ “A lot of books are being written, sold, published, and—I pray; Lord, how I pray—read every single day. So, while in my little corner of the world the opportunities for writers may seem discouraging and even apocalyptic at times, people are still writing and selling and publishing and buying books. Boy howdy, they are.” His advice is to not self-publish without a strategy.
http://www.booksandsuch.com/blog/keep-your-eye-on-the-ball/ “Stop worrying about side issues and simply write your book.” Real places don’t need to be avoided.

Historical:

http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com/2018/01/place-of-caves-beneath-city-of.html “None of these caves are natural. They are all man made.” Interesting, the many uses the caves went through.
http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com/2018/01/lfgyva-mystery-woman-of-bayeux-tapestry.html “The woman in the Bayeux Tapestry called Ælfgyva has given commentators and historians alike, food for thought for as long as the Bayeux Tapestry has been studied. “ Who do you think she was?
http://awriterofhistory.com/2018/01/09/a-year-of-reading-2017-part-2/ “Last Tuesday I posted twenty novels read during 2017. Below are another nineteen read in the second half of the year.”

Scary:

http://www.thisishorror.co.uk/tih-186-orrin-grey-on-never-bet-the-devil-classic-horror-monsters-and-finding-your-writing-voice/ “Orrin Grey is a writer, editor, amateur film scholar, and monster expert who was born on the night before Halloween.” Important lessons growing up, beta readers, and The Mummy movie.
http://www.thisishorror.co.uk/streaming-screams-modern-television-and-the-cinematic-style/ “Good, old-fashioned storytelling is the number one answer. A deeper dive into the episodes casts a bright light on the fundamentals. Think of each episode as a chapter in a book. Or, even better, think of each episode as an issue of a comic book series.” TV shows are pushing the boundaries.
http://www.thisishorror.co.uk/news-round-up-week-ending-5-january-2018/ “Here’s a small selection of the horror and genre news.” Lifetime achievement award for Linda Addison, first African-American to win four Bram Stoker awards.

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense:

http://annerallen.com/2018/01/8-qualities-more-important-than-writing-talent/ “And if they don’t have skills—which they probably don’t if they’re newbies—their job is to acquire some; not rely on some stranger’s opinion of what abilities they were born with.” I agree. I spent a lot of time worrying about whether I had talent when I should’ve been learning the skills I needed.
https://margotkinberg.wordpress.com/2018/01/06/to-be-alive-again/ “Rebirth. This structure usually features a main character who falls under some sort of spell, enchantment, or other ill fortune, and is trapped, literally or metaphorically.” This can sometimes be handy!
https://www.suecoletta.com/how-many-active-serial-killers-stalk-your-streets/ “Would you know a serial killer by sight? Probably not. Knowledge and lifestyle choices are our best defense to lessen the chances of becoming a victim.” The tech used to search for serial killers.

Short Stories/Anthologies/Novella:

https://richardankers.com/2018/01/06/ghost-writer-59/ “one too many syllables.” I love how he condenses down a story.
https://johnwhowell.com/2018/01/06/stream-of-consciousness-saturday-prompt-eco/ “Humm how about economic, ecotourism, ecospecies, ecosystems, ecospheres, economised, economise, economized?” He definitely has more eco words than I would, lol. He’s great at these!
https://donmassenzio.wordpress.com/2018/01/08/short-story-serial-monday-no-pain-no-gain-part-15/ “Strong chemicals didn’t work. Electrical shock didn’t work.” This is a strong, interesting story!
https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/01/12/wet-ink-flash-fiction/ ““How much longer?” The man asked, squirming face down in the chair.

“It’s done.” Diavolo laid the iron on the table. The ink wasn’t dry, but the tattoo was finally finished.”

https://saraflower.wordpress.com/2018/01/12/you-still-dont-know-why-an-aspergians-chemical-romance/ “You can’t stop the feeling of systems shutting down when the rage overcomes you all contained in a single sound the pressure has been building, for years on end but you love your family, so you remain silent you cross paths with newfound friends you work in diligence, and calmly blend in but your soul […]”
https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2018/01/13/running-on-empty-2/ “Look at this one as a real-world example of being an author today.” Some crazy days for sure. We had the cows escape next door and scare the heck out of our cats when one of the bulls did a face-to-face in our picture window, lol. Our cat jumped just short of the ceiling to get away from the window and bull.

Poetry:

https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/2018/01/07/writephoto-what-is-a-window/ “A peep into another world of splendor and opulence.” I love that she describes it later on as anything. That is exactly right!
https://juantetcts.wordpress.com/2018/01/07/daily-post-winsome/ “Having seen something large and having found the right words to say it small.” She always has such inspiring words to share!
https://vashtiqvega.wordpress.com/2018/01/12/haiku-friday-magic-hope/ “I believe we each make our own magic.” I second that!
https://johnwhowell.com/2018/01/12/friday-john-ku-aka-tgif-23/ “Starting many things,” John has a new book coming out soon with Gwen Plano, I was honored to be a beta reader for them. Keep an eye out for it! I’ll review upon release.
me/2018/01/12/just-a-thought-2/ “You think you’re so wise” I love Erika’s outlook on life!
https://syl65.wordpress.com/2018/01/12/friday-inspiration-an-everyday-god/ “You’re not a part time God” He gets right to the point.

Indie:

https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2018/01/bring-social-media-to-your-blog-with-embedded-posts/ “Embedding your social media posts on your blog or elsewhere on your website can benefit your website in several ways.” Do you use embedded codes this way?
https://www.janefriedman.com/best-book-marketing-advice-2017/ “round up and comment on book marketing advice.” Self-publishing advice for all. Everything from covers and packaging to podcasting.
https://selfpublishingadvice.org/wordpress-for-authors-and-book-marketing/ “A growing number of indies are using WordPress to build their author website (this ALLi blog you’re reading now is also WordPress-based) for reasons explained below.” Most of this is how to set-up a self-hosted site.
https://selfpublishingadvice.org/best-way-to-self-publish-print-books/ “This post provides a handy introductionfor anyone new to self-publishing print books on the most cost-effective and efficient routes to paperback production. It also offers a succinct reminder for experienced self-publishers on how to avoid the most frequent pitfalls.” CreateSpace and Ingram.
https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2018/01/12/improve-audio-podcast-radio/ “If you want to be a successful author, then at some point, you are going to have to do an audio recording.” I’ve been told I have a pleasant voice, but I still get chills thinking about doing a live reading. Someday, maybe.
https://gibsonauthor.wordpress.com/2018/01/11/im-back-with-several-courses-for-publishing-authors/ “After a short break, I’m back with news of several publishing coursesnow available for only $10.99 (down from as high as $200)!” Have you tried any of these courses?

Craft:

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/secrets-of-good-storytelling/ “By “principles,” I mean basic storytelling truths that ring true in every” I guess I’m a little easy on stories. I know when I don’t like something. For the most part, I’ve read some great stories lately. Studying craft hasn’t spoiled that for me although I do notice the plot twists, foreshadowing, and dark moments more.
https://www.janefriedman.com/favorite-digital-tools/ “Zoom is my go-to online meeting service.” Has anyone used any of these tools? I’ve tried Evernote a time or two, but haven’t committed to it. I’m interested in Paprika, for recipes. Wave might come in handy for business expenses once I get to that stage.
https://www.livewritethrive.com/2018/01/08/masterful-narrative-scenes-in-novels/ “Show, don’t tell. Yeah, we know that’s the rule. But there are times when scenes can be masterfully told by the POV character.” Bringing your character’s voice into the viewpoint is important. Visualize the scene with them in it. Use your senses to note things.
http://blog.janicehardy.com/2018/01/4-reasons-readers-stopped-caring-about.html “It’s one of the biggest dreads writers have—will people care about my story?” Give the reader a character they care about. Give them a problem. Raise the stakes.
http://writersinthestormblog.com/2018/01/the-one-technique-you-need-to-nail-your-writing-goals/ “women tend to feel more emotional attachment to their goals than men do (a good thing when it comes to personal motivation), women are not as good at envisioning their goals.” I have to work at this visualizing thing.
http://writershelpingwriters.net/2018/01/occupation-thesaurus-entry-therapist-mental-health/ A therapist may open their doors to any clientele or they may focus on an area of specialization (marriages and families, substance abuse, grief, life coaching, etc.). Stephen and Owen King used this occupation in Sleeping Beauties for their prison psychiatrist.

Other:

http://www.thepassivevoice.com/2018/01/searching-for-the-self-loathing-woman-writer/ “PG knows lots of female writers and can’t think of any he would describe as self-loathing. Perhaps he’s thick, but when he talks about their writing, he’s impressed by the feeling that lots of female authors know what they want to do and where they want to go and how they’re going to get there.” I haven’t met a woman writer who feels like such. Most are like me, pretty positive.
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2018/01/hiding-from-the-mission.html “We do this in two ways:” I was vague on my mission until the beginning of this year. I think I have a better grasp of what I want to do after listening to an interview with Steve Laube recently.
https://annetterochelleaben.wordpress.com/2018/01/07/angel-messages-january-7-2018/ “EMBRACE”- A line from heavenly messages that might help.
https://scvincent.com/2018/01/07/beyond-the-glass/ “The seasons meet on my threshold; only a transparent veil of glass separates me from the winter. Whatever the weather, comes into the room to be a part of my living space and yet its changes do not touch me until I open the doors and invite Nature in.” Like this way of thinking. Not sure I could follow it though. Between the below freezing temps we have in OH right now and worry about inviting trouble to my door, I would be nervous. I remember when we were younger though, the door was always open to our home.
https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2018/01/07/the-return-of-smorgasbord-open-house-interviews-for-all-writers-and-other-creative-artists/ Open for 25 weeks, four sets of questions.
https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2018/01/07/meet-guest-author-gregg-savage/ “So, I was never going to be a late-blooming mathematician, but, I did score a bonus year.” I’ve done this twice in my life, thinking I was older than I was, lol. It’s nice to find some extra time ahead of you.
http://www.vulture.com/2018/01/sensitivity-readers-what-the-job-is-really-like.html “In 2016, more than a quarter of young adult and children’s books featured characters of color, compared tojust 10percent in 2013. There’s a catch, though. Most of the authors are white. As a sensitivity reader, Clayton’s job is to help nonblack authors avoid portraying black characters in a way that feels inauthentic or uninformed.” I understand the need for sensitivity readers. We could all use someone-in-the-know looking over our books. I just think it shouldn’t go back to where books used to be about a certain group only. I think we need writers of all groups being published. Only then, will we get a whole view of life.
http://www.paul-andruss.com/how-the-whale-became/ “While on tour a prominent zoologist recognized the skull as that of an ancestral whale.” Interesting.
http://emmadarwin.typepad.com/thisitchofwriting/2018/01/switching-from-one-to-more-than-one-point-of-view-heres-help.html “So, if it was all from Ann’s PoV, how do you decide what to re-work in Bill’s, or Con’s? There are two main things to think about:” I’d start with deciding whose more important in the story. Bill or Con? Then tell the second viewpoint from their pov.
https://jadelmwrites.wordpress.com/2018/01/12/top-ten-reads-of-my-2017/ Leigh Bardugo is still on my list of reads.
https://kimwrtr.wordpress.com/2018/01/13/do-you-want-a-good-writing-cheat-sheet/ “If you’re searching for an expression to explain how very excited (psyched) a character is, check out her post and learn how to avoid ” Like others, very is like the plague for me.
http://teagansbooks.com/2018/01/13/thistledown-midsummer-bedlam-20-hanging-by-a-hair/ “This episode is a brief return to the point of view of Bedlam Thunder.”
https://nicholasrossis.wordpress.com/2018/01/12/bedtime-book-list-2018/ “Bedtime stories are a must in my household, and every night since he was a wee baby, there has always been a story to be read.” I used to read to the kids when they were young. Miss that!
https://twodropsofink.com/2018/01/12/spot-on-humor-a-genius-example-all-writers-can-learn-from/ “It can be injected into a tense story to lighten the mood, usually just so the emotional temperature can rise again, or it can be the primary axis of a great book.” I LOVE humor in a book and use it mostly in my sidekicks, but sometimes the main.
http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2018/01/13/do-you-plan-your-new-year-reading-guest-post-by-jaq-d-hawkins/ “It does bring up the question of planned reading. Do people who plan ahead manage to read more good books? Like many people, I see books on my shelves and keep thinking, “I must read that soon.” I don’t plan. I read when I get a chance. Other than the ones for Netgalley which are on a schedule in which I have so many days to read and review them. It makes it harder to fit other books in that I want to read too, but I do try. Usually, I pick a book from my shelves for times I’m waiting in dr. apts. or waiting for the kids.