Adventures in Writing: May 2013

Next week, I’m starting a series of articles on Jim Butcher’s first “Dresden Files” novel, STORM FRONT. "The Dresden Files" is considered the gold standard of urban fantasy as well as one of the first and most successful of these series.

I'll be talking about urban fantasy, the mystery within urban fantasy, STORM FRONT as a PI detective story, and STORM FRONT as a fantasy novel. I'll also be analyzing Harry and the other major characters.

Even if you aren’t a fan or writer of urban fantasy, I suggest you keep up with these articles because you’ll learn something. This novel may also show you what you’ve been missing by not reading urban fantasy.

Reader participation will be very welcome.

You will have at least two weeks to find and read STORM FRONT before I start talking spoilers.

SCHEDULE NOTE: I’ll be posting these articles every Monday, and I will continue my Wednesday “Links of Interest.”

QUESTIONS: I’ll continue to answer writing questions, but I’ll answer them directly to you rather than via my blog so you’ll receive them in a timely manner. I’ll post the questions to the blog after I finish this reading course. To ask me a question, use my blog or my listserv to contact me.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Links of Interest

WHY “SAID” IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR US:

http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com/2013/05/whats-wrong-with-said.html

THE WHAT IF? PROCESS OF PLOTTING:

http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/2013/05/what-if-method-for-developing-ideas.html

THE TEN KEYS TO SUCCESS FOR AN AUTHOR, PART 2:

http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/ten-keys-to-success-and-survival-part-2/

AUTHORS AND ESTIMATED INCOME TAXES:

http://chiseledinrock.blogspot.com/2013/05/think-outside-w-2-authors-and-estimated.html

LAYERING CONFLICT:

http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2013/05/layering-conflict.html

AUTHOR SOLUTIONS SCAMS AND THE BIG PUBLISHERS WHO OWN OR USE THEM:

http://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/the-author-exploitation-business

GETTING A SELF-PUBBED PAPER BOOK INTO BOOKSTORES:

http://kriswrites.com/2013/05/15/the-business-rusch-shifting-sands/

PITCHING A SELF-PUBBED BOOK TO A PUBLISHER:

http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-pitch-self-published-book-to-publisher-2.html

FOUR THINGS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR PLOT UNBELIEVABLE:

http://marcykennedy.com/2013/05/how-to-ensure-your-plot-is-believable

WORLDBUILDING, THE SMALL DETAILS:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2013/05/world-building-tips-learned-at-louvre.html

GETTING THE CHARACTERS’ NAMES RIGHT:

http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com/2013/05/whats-in-name.html

HOW TO FIRE YOUR AGENT:

http://jennybent.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-fire-your-agent-post-by-jenny.html

THE OPTIMAL PRICE FOR EBOOKS?

http://paidcontent.org/2013/05/09/whats-the-best-price-for-a-self-published-ebook-3-99-smashwords-research-suggests/

HOW TO ADD CLICK TO TWEET TO YOUR BLOG:

http://www.authormedia.com/how-to-add-click-to-tweet-to-your-blog-posts/

AMAZON AND RIGHTS OWNERS TO ALLOW FANFIC TO BE SOLD:

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/amazon-to-allow-writers-to-sell-fan-fiction_b70906

WORLDBUILDING DETAILS AND WORD USE:

http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2013/05/world-building-102-word-smiths-craft.html

AN INSIDE LOOK AT TODAY’S BLOG BOOK REVIEWERS:

http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/an-insiders-tips-to-getting-your-book-reviewed/

AN OVERVIEW OF CURRENT AND PENDING COPYRIGHT COURT CASES AND CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION ON THE SUBJECT:

http://www.trademarkandcopyrightlawblog.com/2013/05/copyright-law-reform-engages-both-courts-and-congress

Monday, May 20, 2013

Why This First Line Works

“The Friday before winter break, my mom packed me an overnight bag and a few deadly weapons and took me to a new boarding school.” THE TITAN’S CURSE, Rick Riordan.

The first line of THE TITAN’S CURSE stopped me in my reading tracks.

I studied it to figure out why such a simple declarative sentence grabbed me.

A few words told a huge amount about the narrator. “My mom.” “Winter break.” “A new boarding school.” Obviously a modern kid below the age of driving.

Then the juxtaposition of the common-- a boy having his bag packed by his mom to go to a new boarding school, and the uncommon--a few deadly weapons. The mundane juxtaposed with the dangerous.

Since this was a young adult fantasy adventure, I knew I wasn’t reading about a mass murderer family on the way to massacre some kids. Some adventure was beginning.

In just one sentence I was given enough information to get a sense of the book and the main character, and a surprise within that information.

I’m also given several questions I want answered. Why the weapons? Why the new boarding school? Why is his mom not upset with deadly weapons?

All this will keep me reading.

Now, that’s a good first sentence.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Links of Interest

UNDERSTANDING THE CSI MINDSET:

http://forensics4fiction.com/2013/05/08/understanding-the-csi-mindset/

MINIMIZING RISK AS A WRITER:

http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/2013/05/minimizing-risk-as-writera-guide-for.html

CONTRACT TERMS, OUT OF PRINT:

http://chiseledinrock.blogspot.com/2013/05/out-of-sight-out-of-mind-out-of-print.html

AUTHOR ESTATES AND WILLS:

http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/who-will-you-trust-wills-in-author-estate-planning/

STRUCTURING YOUR YA NOVEL’S PLOT:

http://howtowriteshop.loridevoti.com/2013/05/driving-your-young-adult-novels-plot

CREATING SUSPENSE:

http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/writerstrong-creating-nail-biting-suspense/

APPS FOR WRITERS:

http://thewritersalleys.blogspot.com/2013/05/great-apps-for-writers.html

WRITING THROUGH THE FEAR:

http://labelleseditorialservices.com/blog/writing-through-the-fear/

TEN KEYS TO SUCCESS AS A WRITER:

http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/ten-keys-to-success-survival-in-the-romance-industry/

HOW TO PITCH A SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK TO A PUBLISHER, PART 1:

http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-pitch-self-published-novel-to-publisher-1.html

THEME AND HOW TO DEVELOP IT:

http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/2013/05/theme-what-is-it-and-how-do-we-develop.html

REVISION:

http://www.writersdigest.com/uncategorized/4-truths-that-will-revolutionize-your-revision-process

15 THINGS A WRITER SHOULD NEVER DO:

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/15-things-a-writer-should-never-do

THE REAL COST OF SELF-PUBLISHING A BOOK:

http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2013/05/the-real-costs-of-self-publishing-book

Monday, May 13, 2013

How Many Books a Year?

QUESTION: How many books a year should I write?

It's become standard, particularly in paranormal romance and urban fantasy series novels, for the author to have the first three books printed in very short succession. I've seen several authors with three books out in three months.

The closely spaced books allow a synergy of promotion, word of mouth, the short attention spans of readers, and the addictive nature of readers to build phenomenal sales.

This method is so successful that sf and fantasy lines as well as thrillers now do the same thing.

The good news for authors, both traditionally published and self-published, is novels in short intervals are great for the career.

The bad news is the schedule is a physical, emotional, and creative monster some authors don't survive.

I know of several publishers who have told authors that if they can't produce on a fast schedule, the publisher isn't really interested.

You have to ask yourself how many books a year you can write and maintain your health, sanity, and your real life.

Editors and agents may insist that you follow such a brutal schedule of books, but they care primarily for their bottom line, not the price you will pay, so think carefully before you agree to such a schedule.

Also, remember that the quality and uniqueness of the books will probably suffer if you have no time for rewrites or creative time to think through your new book.

Even very successful name authors get caught in this trap so that their published books are in dire need of a serious rewrite and are so repetitive as to be boring.

NOTE: Some self-published authors who aren't required to produce particular lengths for their novels report the same success as multiple novels by producing a series of shorter, often novella length, works.