Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Links of Interest

SPY GADGETS: Gadgets currently available to the public for spying.


http://www.pcworld.com/article/201699/spies_like_us_spy_gear_for_your_inner_secret_agent.html?tk=nl_dnx_h_crawl


PROMOTION: The use of niche marketing.


http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2010/07/26/boost-your-book-sales-with-the-magic-of-niche-marketing/


CRAFT: 10 things a story must have.


http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2010/07/10-steps-to-better-story.html


MARKETS: Short story, novel, and short nonfiction markets mainly in sf/fantasy.


http://pbackwriter.blogspot.com/2010/07/sub-op-ten.html


GRAMMAR: Misplaced modifiers. A very common mistake for most writers.


http://clarissadraper.blogspot.com/2010/07/grammar-guide-misplaced-modifier-words.html


PACING: Recommended how-to reads.


http://scribesisters.blogspot.com/2010/07/whats-involved-in-pacing.html


RESOURCES: Online writer resources, mainly databases of names, dictionaries, etc.


http://thewritersalleys.blogspot.com/2010/07/treasure-chest-of-resources.html


THE ELEVATOR PITCH: How to give a verbal short description of your novel.


http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/2010/07/mastering-elevator-pitch.html


THE LIFE OF THE WRITER: Changing your plans and keeping your courage so you can succeed.


http://www.genreality.net/pitching-the-johnny-cash-way


CRAFT: What those weak adverbs are telling you during your rewrite. Excellent advice.


http://storyflip.blogspot.com/2010/07/re-write-wednesday-overcoming-adversity.html


SELF-PUBLISHING RESOURCES: Links to some excellent books and websites on self-publishing.


http://storyflip.blogspot.com/2010/07/re-write-wednesday-overcoming-adversity.html




~*~


WORKSHOP


Magic, Monsters and Amour: Creating a Believable Paranormal, Fantasy, or SF World. October 4-31, 2010 at SavvyAuthors.com October 4-31, 2010 at SavvyAuthors.com


http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=173


Are vampires, fairies, and space aliens real? If you create the right background for your paranormal romance, they will be to a reader. I'll show you how to create a fantasy or paranormal background from scratch and how to make it utterly believable.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Bad Weather and Other Disasters for Writers

Are you, as a writer, ready for bad weather or emergencies?

Preparing for bad weather can be as simple as having a storm alert radio that will cut on, if dangerous weather approaches, so you can shut down that computer before lightning fries it. The storm alert radio also doesn't interfere with writing like a regular radio for those of us who like to work in quiet.

Is your computer plugged into an alternate power source (APS) so it won't be damaged or your current work lost if the power goes out? (If you are still not sure what an APS is, go here: http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/911559/APC-Back-UPS-ES-550-Battery/?cm_cat=2000000371 )

Most alternate power source makers claim an APS with a surge protector will protect your computer and peripherals from lightning, but nothing will protect electronics from a close lightning hit. A good friend lost everything when lightning hit a transformer over a block away, and he had high-end surge protectors and an APS system.

The safest thing to do is unplug everything, including the APS.

Also remember to unplug your modem from the electricity and your computer. Dial-up modems are particularly prone to lightning. A cable modem is supposed to be much safer, but I err on the side of paranoia and unplug mine.

If you have a laptop as well as a desktop, you need to keep it charged to use during bad weather so keep it plugged in, but remember to unplug it, as well, when a storm comes.

If you want to keep working through bad weather, remember to save a copy of your work to a flash disk, CD, or whatever to move your work to your laptop so you can continue to work.

Weather preparation isn't just for a short summer or winter storm. It's for major disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and wild fires. Always have a back-up copy of all your works in another location, or, better yet, several locations.

In the days before I wrote by computer, I had paper copies of my books at my home, my mom's beach house and my brother's home near Charlotte. Despite being in different parts of the state, all three homes were damaged by Hurricane Hugo, but the manuscripts stayed safe. That experience has reaffirmed my determination to keep copies of my manuscripts and important papers elsewhere.

These days, I also keep a flash disk copy of my books in my safety deposit box at the bank so I can keep my updates recent. A flash disk or drive, if you're not familiar with the term, is one of those tiny storage units you plug directly into your USB or Firewire connection on your computer or iPod. (If you still aren't certain what a flash drive is, go here: http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/357507/Action-Sport-Drives-Burton-Fix-SnowDrive/ )

It's always a good idea to have an emergency bag or briefcase for your writing partially packed and ready to go in case you need to get out fast because of an approaching hurricane or wild fire.

Things to keep in this bag include a power plug for your laptop and an updated flash drive. Also include copies of current book contracts as well as notes, etc., of what you are working with at the time. A paper list of all your passwords is another must.

It would also be prudent to have a recent complete copy of your computer drive in case your home computer is destroyed.

If you use an external hard drive as a backup, you can pack this up very carefully. (Motion can damage desktop innards.)

This bag is also a good place to store a copy of your house and car insurance, pictures of your valuables, etc., in case disaster strikes. Also include a CD with copies of your favorite family pictures, etc., in case the worst happens, and there's no home to return to.

Make a list of the last minute things you will need to pack and stick that in the front of the bag. When emergencies happen, we tend to forget the most basic things so that list will be well worth the time.



~*~

WORKSHOP

Magic, Monsters and Amour: Creating a Believable Paranormal, Fantasy, or SF World. October 4-31, 2010 at SavvyAuthors.com October 4-31, 2010 at SavvyAuthors.com


Are vampires, fairies, and space aliens real? If you create the right background for your paranormal romance, they will be to a reader. I'll show you how to create a fantasy or paranormal background from scratch and how to make it utterly believable.


Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Links of Interest

QUERIES: An agent's suggestion on what not to include.


http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/2010/07/query-donts.html


CHARACTERS: Why the hero shouldn't need a hero.


http://storyflip.blogspot.com/2010/07/dont-hold-out-for-hero.html


BUSINESS OF WRITING: Incorporating yourself as a business.


http://kriswrites.com/2010/07/15/freelancers-survival-guide-incorporation/


WORLDBUILDING: Stephen Hawkings says time travel IS possible.


http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2010/07/stephen-hawking-time-travel-to-the-future-is-possible.html


CRAFT: When the plot goes astray.


http://storyflip.blogspot.com/2010/07/when-plots-go-astray.html


WORLDBUILDING: Creating your own alien/fantasy language.


http://io9.com/5582021/how-to-write-the-next-great-alien-language


WORLDBUILDING: More on creating your own language.


http://talktoyouniverse.blogspot.com/2010/07/creating-next-great-alien-language-why.html


WORLDBUILDING: For those who don't want to spend the rest of their life creating a language, I suggest my blog article on how to get around not having a language.


http://mbyerly.blogspot.com/2008/03/can-you-say-that-in-elf.html


PROMOTION: Building traffic on your blog.


http://www.blogussion.com/blogging-tips/reader-participation-blog


CRAFT: Switching between viewpoint characters to up the suspense.


http://nancyjcohen.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/bait-switch-tactics/


CRAFT: Prologues.


http://letthewordsflow.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/prologue-woes/


CRITIQUE GROUPS: Rules for success.


http://sylviadickeysmithbooks.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/guidelines-for-a-writers-critique-group/


CHARACTERS: The price your main character must pay for success.


http://www.darcypattison.com/first-drafts/price-of-success/


PUBLISHER WARNING: RWA has banned Dorchester from RWA Nationals for nonpayment of advances and royalties.


http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2010/07/public-knowledge-now.html


SETTING DESCRIPTIONS: They aren't just for the beginning of the novel.


http://storyflip.blogspot.com/2010/07/setting-up-and-winding-down.html



CHARACTERS: The moment of change in both the book and the query.


http://behlerblog.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/the-charles-darwin-moment-vs-the-ta-da-moment/


BUSINESS OF WRITING: Getting the most out of a writers' conference.


http://www.genreality.net/working-a-writers-conference-part-ii-getting-the-most-out-of-your-money-and-time


CRAFT: The basics of story structure.


http://behlerblog.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/the-basics/


CRAFT: The importance of self-editing.


http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2010/07/importance-of-self-editing.html


CRAFT: The danger of the infodump.


http://storyflip.blogspot.com/2010/07/re-write-wednesday-to-dump-to-dump-to.html


RESOURCES/WORLDBUILDING: Links to astronomy resources.


http://www.mikebrotherton.com/?p=2322


STEAMPUNK RESOURCE: The history of the airship.


http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/a-very-brief-history-of-airships/




~*~


WORKSHOP


Magic, Monsters and Amour: Creating a Believable Paranormal, Fantasy, or SF World. October 4-31, 2010 at SavvyAuthors.com October 4-31, 2010 at SavvyAuthors.com


http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=173


Are vampires, fairies, and space aliens real? If you create the right background for your paranormal romance, they will be to a reader. I'll show you how to create a fantasy or paranormal background from scratch and how to make it utterly believable.


Monday, July 19, 2010

The Cast of Thousands Syndrome, CRAFT

Have you ever been at a party or professional event where you have met a small group of the attendees some time back so you barely remember them, and there are dozens of other people attending as well?

You stood there with a glazed look in your eyes as you struggled to remember the names and relationships of the people you've already met while even more people are introduced to you, and you have to figure out how these people fit in with the first group.

A nightmare, wasn't it?

Yet many writers forget how hard it is to keep up with characters in a novel. They insist on starting the novel with a group scene in which all the heroine's coworkers are introduced. Each character enters the scene, does a little song and dance so you have some idea of who they are, then the next one enters and does the same thing. By the fourth or fifth character, the reader is in shell shock if she's still reading.

Then, the novel opens up, and even more characters are introduced.

Other writers of series, particularly paranormal romance series, have an ongoing group of characters--usually the happily married heroes and heroines of past novels who have to have a cameo or minor role--as well as the new hero and heroine to include with their short term bad guys and minor characters, but, wait, the author really wants you to meet the half a dozen new hunks waiting for their own novels, heroines, and happily-ever-after as well as the bad guys waiting in the wings for their comeuppance.

Some readers can keep up with all these people, but most of us can't. Many of us reach a point where there's so much character clutter we can't connect with the major characters and the main plot so we close the book and vow never to read another of them.

How do you escape this cast of thousands syndrome?

First, you must realize that while you spend many months with these characters and know them very well, the reader won't.

Keep the introductions to a very few at a time. Secondary characters should only be introduced when they are needed in the plot. Those officemates of the heroine may play big parts in later books, but only the wacky receptionist who will introduce the heroine to her new love interest and play clumsy matchmaker will be needed in this book so only she should be introduced.

As great as the other characters are and no matter how eager you are to introduce them, don't.

If you have characters from other books, don't bring them back unless they serve a specific plot purpose.

If you have new characters for the next book in the series, don't put them in unless they serve a very specific plot purpose.

If you are lucky enough to have readers wanting to know how Lance and Patty from your first book are doing and whether their baby has been born, you can write a short story or novella about them as a freebie on your website. Fans love that.

Many of us don't love the author tossing these former characters into the current novel with no other reason than to please a few fans.




~*~

WORKSHOP

Magic, Monsters and Amour: Creating a Believable Paranormal, Fantasy, or SF World. October 4-31, 2010 at SavvyAuthors.com October 4-31, 2010 at SavvyAuthors.com


Are vampires, fairies, and space aliens real? If you create the right background for your paranormal romance, they will be to a reader. I'll show you how to create a fantasy or paranormal background from scratch and how to make it utterly believable.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Links of Interest

PUBLISHER WARNING: SF/F publisher Night Shade appears to be up to no good.


http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/genreville/?p=547


BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING: Territorial rights and ebooks or why you can't buy some ebooks in English outside of North America.


http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2010/07/why-you-cant-buy-ebook-in-english.html


CHARACTERS: The paranormal and urban fantasy heroine, according to three editors.


http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/07/editorial-roundtable-paranormal-romance-heroines-and-heroes#more


LIFE OF THE WRITER: Writing chores to do on those days when you are simply too tired to write.


http://www.ninc.com/blog/index.php/archives/tedious-tasks-for-writers


PROMOTION: Using the local angle to sell books.


http://blog.writersdigest.com/norules/2010/07/12/ANovelsSettingCanBeYourMarketingPromotionLinchpin.aspx


THE SYNOPSIS: How to write.


http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2010/07/synopsis-writing.html


THE SYNOPSIS: Yet more on how to write.


http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2010/07/follow-up-on-synopsis-writing.html


PROMOTION: Tips from a PR person.


http://amarketingexpert.com/ameblog/marketing/secrets-to-successfully-marketing-fiction/


CRAFT: Raising the tension.


http://writerunboxed.com/2010/07/07/it’s-not-the-cougar/


CHARACTERS: The dark protagonist.


http://backspacewriters.blogspot.com/2010/07/opening-or-making-dark-protagonist.html


BLOG PROMOTION:


http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/2010/07/starting-out-with-your-blog.html


BUSINESS OF WRITING: How your presence on the Internet can change a book deal or can find those lies on your publishing resume.


http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2010/07/12/the-author-background-check-cautionary-notes/


CRAFT: Why your opinions shouldn't be obvious in your fiction.


http://behlerblog.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/sideswipes-are-they-really-necessary/


CHARACTERS: Questions to ask your characters.


http://talktoyouniverse.blogspot.com/2010/07/know-your-character-inside-and-out.html


PUBLISHER WARNING: PublishAmerica under a new name.


http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2010/07/publishamericas-brand-new-start.html


WRITER CONFERENCES: What kinds of events you should focus on at RWA National, etc.


http://www.genreality.net/maximizing-a-writers’-conference-part-i-writing-craft-workshop-or-agent-panel-which-should-i-go-to



~*~


WORKSHOP


Magic, Monsters and Amour: Creating a Believable Paranormal, Fantasy, or SF World. October 4-31, 2010 at SavvyAuthors.com October 4-31, 2010 at SavvyAuthors.com


http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=173


Are vampires, fairies, and space aliens real? If you create the right background for your paranormal romance, they will be to a reader. I'll show you how to create a fantasy or paranormal background from scratch and how to make it utterly believable.