Right now, in the world, I see a lot of scary things going on. I’m sure we all do. It’s not enough to say these things have always been going on. Or that chaos is a constant. It shouldn’t be. We shouldn’t let it. Our voices need to lift and call out danger and wrongs. There are those who would like to take the world backwards. To destroy and condemn. Honestly, sometimes, I’m not sure humanity is worth saving.
We’ve done this to ourselves. We had plenty of opportunities to change the world, to overcome but still, we return to fighting and tearing down. We’re like rats in a maze who don’t know any better. Except, we do. The trouble is, will the good people remaining stand against what is to come?
This is beyond politics. Beyond feuds with neighbors or families. There is a growing horror in the world that would diminish man to being savaged by another man, pinned to the ground without an ability to fight back or defend oneself. Make no mistake, this violence doesn’t target the lone wolf in the crowd but all of us.
It wants us to join in, to take up arms against one another. That’s how it wins. That’s it’s whole goal: destroy from within. Remember how united we were on 9/11? How quickly did that fade. Today, we are quick to point the finger at this person or that. We want someone in power who tried to destroy the country. Who would pin us to the ground if he could and slit our throats without remorse.
Someone who aspires to be a dictator but who is more than meets the eye. All his lies, all his manipulations. The way he uses people. Are we blind to what he represents? There are those who think he’s Jesus but let me tell you: he’s no Jesus. Jesus didn’t kill others. He wasn’t the father of lies. He didn’t bludgeon others to get ahead. He wasn’t a slumlord from New York.
He was good and kind. He helped people. Do we even try to do that anywhere in the world today? Or do we turn aside in fear for ourselves or our families? Speaking out has instilled an old fear in us. Jesus stood for love, peace, and forgiveness. He didn’t get up in front of a crowd and preach how he didn’t need forgiveness. He was baptized by John in the wilderness lake. He knew all sins so that he could become our savior. That man standing on the court room steps bemoaning the fact that he can’t take the stand to defend himself because of a gag order is fooling a lot of people. I hope you’re not one of them.
We need people like you to stand up. To challenge evil when it comes. And let me tell you, it’s here. If this man gets elected again, it is doomsday for all of us. There won’t be a turn of the clock back. So fight now so that you won’t be alone in this tomorrow.
Some links around the web you might enjoy! All opinions above are mine and not associated with anyone below.
The last few weeks have been packed with cool things, from stills from the MY LADY JANE show being released (holy crap!!) and the NIGHTRENDER paperback coming out. I also got ARCs of my next solo book!
No cats this newsletter because it’s already so image heavy. Anyway . . .
Jodi is a young adult author that I have long admired. Check out her great substack posts!
This month marks the 4 year anniversary of Regular Girl Devos. To celebrate, each month I will share one of my favorite past posts, adding thoughts on where my head was then and now.
I hope my recollections bring back memories of your journey over the last 4 years. I pray, as each year passes, you continue to grow more confident in God’s endless love and grace.
In my darkest times, he was the voice that called to me over many others that would’ve had me destroy myself. I will always be grateful for his comfort and the amazing change and peace he brought into my life through my kids and my writing.
3. Stephanie Land: Finding Inspiration in a Plush Monkey – by Stephanie Land (substack.com) For the past few months, I’ve been thinking a lot about plush monkeys. Maybe that requires a bit of explanation. My therapist is attachment-based, and asked a couple of weeks ago if I had ever heard of the wire monkey. I don’t remember why. Probably because I brought up my mom in some way, which is a likely and safe assumption given that it would make her think of a monkey comprised of spikes made out of steel.
Although my childhood was not always great: we lived in poverty though we had a house and car but often, little food after my dad was laid off due to an injury. Looking back, my parents did the best they could. When I was older and got a job, I helped put food on the table and times were better. I regret that I walked away with my abusive husband but one thing I will never regret as a result of that is my two children. My son and daughter are everything to me. My other family, minus my dad who died after the birth of my daughter, are a lot closer now. I try to be a better person everyday then I have been over life. I’m at peace with who I am now.
4. K.M. Wieland Writers Helping Writers: Enneagram Types for Writers: Types 5-9 – Helping Writers Become Authors Welcome back to our journey through the Enneagram types for writers. Last week, we talked about how the complexities of the Enneagram provide valuable insights that can enhance self-awareness and
I found myself identifying with the Loyalist type the most in this segment. Because of my abusive ex and damaged past, I do prefer isolation and have a hard time trusting others with the exception of my children, family, and friends. I tend to like to research where I stand and how to do things “right” which does aggravate me at times. I would prefer to push ahead but worry that I’m making mistakes.
5. Nathan Bransford Helping Authors Achieve Their Dreams: Your mind needs time to wander – Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing Boredom ended for much of the world in the mid-2010s. Once we all possessed a tiny portal in our pocket that could transport us into immediate contact with friends, enemies, the worst news the world has to offer that day, arguments, vacation ideas, and charming videos of various cute animals, boredom as we knew it ceased to exist. All we had to do was open our phones.
Even when I lay down in the afternoon to rest and don’t fall asleep usually, I’m thinking through things. My stories, the past as he says in this blog post, little every day things I have to do, just generally a wealth of ideas. It’s good to consider where you’re going, where you’ve been, and where you want to go. Examining helps us make better decisions, I think.
Who are some of your favorite storytellers? I have many. A lot of them in different genres. Some in long fiction, others in short. Some traditionally published, some Indie. Today, the focus is on: Nora Roberts.
Nora Roberts is known as one of the most prolific writers out there. I do love her stories, but I especially like her fantasy romances. They are usually done as a series of books with me impatient to read each one.
One series I’ve been trying to read (Yes, there still somewhere in the packed boxes in the garage, lol) is The Stars of Fortune trilogy. It’s about a dark goddess who faces off against three moon goddesses and the humans they send to defend Earth.
Each of Nora’s books features a couple, moving from the “weaker” to the “strongest” powers in the group at the end. I quite like this idea. You get the whole story from a set of different players. She brings the people together, one by one, until their group is whole.
In The Cousin O’Dyers trilogy, another of my favorites, a woman visits Ireland, having been told her relatives are from there. When she meets her cousin, she is startled to realize that the three are descendants from a dark witch that once fought a sorcerer who is back, trying to wreak havoc.
The stories are told with such eloquence, such depth, and great mystery that it just yanks you in and demands for you to hear their stories. It’s like hearing about dark fairytales you might have been read to at one point or another. Scary and delightful but you always know you’re in good hands.
The Pagan Stone Chronicles were the first of her trilogies for me to read. I had just started to get bored with other romances and hadn’t quite gotten all the way into fantasy then. “The Pagan Stone” just sang to me of other worldly things, something I’ve come to pull into my own fiction. There’s a strangeness to them, a need to investigate, and wonder to keep you riveted.
So while, I haven’t quite got into her contemporaries and that’s not to say there’s anything wrong with them, her fantasy romances are my cup of tea. Each one makes my imagination soar and promises me a good read.
I even hope to write a series like these someday. They’re more into the areas that interest me. Before, I always thought I was heavily into the horror genre, but I’ve come to find fantasy is more of where I belong. There are horror elements in them but just that, horror elements. The whole story is not fully horror as it should be in that genre.
How about you? Do you like Nora Roberts? Any particular type? If not, who are some other notable writers that you love to read? Have a great week, take care, and God bless!
Some posts around the website that peaked my interest:
Entertaining Stories: Did I do it? | Entertaining Stories (wordpress.com) stewed about breaking down my third act with too many section breaks. I managed to smooth away a couple of these, but some have to remain.
Today, I wrapped the story up with a bittersweet ending. I left a glimmer of hope for the future in the last two paragraphs.
This one kicked my butt, and took me longer than most stories, but I really like it. I used some new techniques, and learned by doing. That’s the most profitable part of this gig. Being a self published author isn’t about money. (Other than that going out the door.) Learning, improving, and getting better at what I do
It’s both a relief and an absolute collapse from exhaustion when completing a story. At least for me. I can sleep for a week. And then my elation kicks in. I did it! I stayed the course and produced a story! Nothing makes me happier. I like when writers talk shop. Craig opens up about his stories in a way that draws you in but doesn’t spoil things. Give him a read! And check out his fiction!
Myrna, Leonie, and Chrissy meet every Thursday to sample fine cheeses, to reminisce about their former lives as professors, and lately, to muse about murder. Decades ago, a vicious cabal of male poets contrived—quite publicly and successfully—to undermine the writing career, confidence, and health of their dear friend Fern. Now, after Fern has taken a turn for the worse, her three old friends decide that it’s finally time to strike back—in secret, of course, since Fern is far too gentle to approve of a vendetta. All they need is a plan with suitably Shakespearean drama. But as sweet and satisfying as revenge can be, it’s not always so cut and dried.
Book reviews are some of the most important and kind things you can do for an author. They help them establish an audience for a book. What might not be your cup of tea, could be another person’s. Reading is a joy and a discovery for all. Why not share a book today?
Inspiration is strange, at least for me. Either it comes, and I get poked by stories, scenes, characters, ideas, words until I write, or nothing. Nada. Zilch. And it can pop up any time – often just when I’m not in a position to write (in the bath, in bed, at work) and I have to jot something down or hope I remember it for later. There’s not one specific thing that inspires me – everything, nothing, nature, news, other stories, random thoughts zinging about in a neurodiverse brain.
This reminds me of the Russian fairytale, The Bear and the Nightingale. I had never heard of kitchen imps before that.
I found that really, really disturbing as well, and I wondered how many of you know how your sons and grandsons are being groomed?
Grooming is usually associated with sexual abuse, but it can also refer to mental and emotional brain washing. Teens without good role models will go searching for someone to emulate. Girls go looking for glamorous women on social media. Boys search for strong, successful men who make them feel good about themselves.
Fiction Favorites: Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Show | Fiction Favorites (johnwhowell.com) When will the brain-saving liquid show up? It has been an eternal minute since the process was engaged. It seems to me there might be a glitch in the brewing mechanism. No wait. There it is, the first few drops of Elixer slowly making their way to my cup. Finally complete, the first sip is a reminder to grab that clock. I set it for April 26th, 1924, with the location in London. The duration is two hours. When the plunger is pulled, we are immediately transported to Aeolian Hall in London.
Lucky us because we get to witness the first performance of Tzigane, a rhapsody for violin and orchestra by French composer Maurice Ravel. Tzigane, the title of which is derived from the generic European term for “gypsy,” was composed in a short time in 1924. The violinist performing is Jelly d’Arányi, who is of Hungarian descent. He is joined by Henri Gil-Marchex at the piano.
The premiere piece’s performance lasts eleven minutes, and the audience applause is deafening. Maurice is most famous for his Bolèro, which was written in 1928, so he clearly has
Imagine being able to pounce into other times, to watch shows you wished.
I asked today’s guest author what makes great writing. I also gave ChatGPT commands to tell me great writing tips.
Writers Helping Writers: Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Nice Guy/Girl – WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®DESCRIPTION: Nice guys and girls are decent, kind, morally upright, and are generally liked by everyone. They’re similar in personality to the Girl or Boy Next Door, but while the latter is often a love interest for the protagonist, nice people make great friends and allies.
FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Samwise Gamgee (The Lord of the Rings), Beth (Little Women), Cassian (A Court of Thorns and Roses), Neville Longbottom (the Harry Potter series), Goose (Top Gun)
Who doesn’t love a nice guy/girl? They often help the hero/ine succeed.
Anne R. Allen: Agents: The Good, The Bad, The Downright Disgusting (annerallen.com) our agent is your representative in the publishing world. A good or great one will have wide knowledge of the current trends — are historicals hot? Is alien sci-fi romance coming up? Is medieval adventure staggering along on its last legs?
Your agent will know where best to target your work, which editors are looking for exactly what you’re writing, which publishers do a great job with your genre — and which ones don’t.
He/she will know which publishers are great with lit fic and which ones couldn’t place Leo Tolstoy with the perfect in-house editor if his/her life
Most of my contact with agents has been through the mail or emails. I had one interested once—until her company got investigated for fraud. She switched to a legit agency and never looked back.
Helping Writers Become Authors: 7 Growth Milestones to Build a Character Arc – Helping Writers Become AuthorsFrom KMW: On the one hand, deciding how to build a character arc is pretty simple: the character changes, the end. On the other hand, building a character arc can often seem monumentally overwhelming. How can we possibly take so nuanced and complex an experience as personal change and convey it realistically through the events of a story?
As you all know, I love tools that help writers zoom out to look at the big picture, allowing us to break down the complexity of creating a story into simpler categories. Today, I’m pleased to share with you a guest post from Becca Puglisi, of Writers Helping Writers and co-author of The Emotion Thesaurus, that offers an accessible tool for creating, enhancing, and guiding your characters’ P
This goes along with what I’ve been learning in Apex classes. Always push your character and show the growth they go to do better. It really makes their humanity shine as they win or lose.
Horror Book Reviews: Book Review for The Witches of Wildwood Cape May Horror Stories and Other Scary Tales from the Jersey Shore by Mark Wesley – Horror Novel ReviewsThe Witches of Wildwood Cape May Horror Stories and Other Scary Tales from the Jersey Shore, by Mark Wesley Curran, is a collection of short horror stories (plus one novella) about supernatural mishaps, evil or otherwise, that exist in New Jersey. Whether it be love gone wrong, or tragedies intertwining with paranormal mayhem, Curran taunts his readers with visages of the dark, all the while gaslighting them as to whether or not they’re real.
I absolutely loved The Girl in the Attic. The psychological twist as to whether or not the girl-next-door is a vampire reminds me of books where the protagonist questions whether or not the person really is who they say they are. The same could be said for a story like Dante’s Inferno at Castle Dracula;
Book Reviews!!
Steve Laube Agency: The Goofy English Language – (stevelaube.com) stumbled over this poem about odd plurals in the English language. There was no attribution. If you know who wrote it, please let me know so I can give proper c
Hello and welcome to my first newsletter! I had planned to get this out earlier but things kept getting in the way. Mainly, a new home, health problems, and a car accident. The good news is that I LOVE the new home, my health is getting much better (I’ve lost 38 lbs.), and although my car was totaled in the accident, I wasn’t hurt too bad. The doctor said I have a slight concussion and I bruised myself in places such as the top of my right foot. Luckily, the airbag deployed. And, yes, I was the driver. No one else was in the vehicle with me thankfully. The other driver was okay too. At least, as far as I know. The insurance took over everything.
Anyway, let me introduce myself if you don’t know me or about me. I am Traci Kenworth/Dowe and I also write romances under Loleta Abi. The Traci Kenworth is for short stories and blog purposes while Traci Dowe will be my YA penname. I have been taking Apex classes with such wonderful teachers as Dave Farland (Yes, I know he’s deceased but he has recorded podcasts and the site was his brainstorm), September Fawkes (who was Dave’s personal assistant), and Forrest Wolverton (Dave’s son and professional motivator, also Dave wrote under Dave Wolverton in the Star Wars universe). His other son, Ben Wolverton, is the site handler now. All have been absolutely wonderful to listen to and learn from them.
I recently attended classes with Gary Goldstein, the Hollywood producer, and Lisa Kastner, from Wild Productions (I think I have the right, sorry if I missed the correct name.). They were both encouraging and inspiring. Most of the teachers I’ve had in the past haven’t been as such so I am incredibly happy. As I wrote on my blog recently, I thought I’d learned everything on writing with my own research on the subject but not even close, lol. They prepare you for the writing world because they’ve all been in the writing world for a long time.
Brandon Sanderson, James Dashner, Stephanie Meyer, and more have been taught through Apex and Dave Farland. They are podcasts with them as well. You learn their secrets, how they pull off the bestsellers that they do. And there are more teachers every day. Roz Morris, for instance, was on last night (though, unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to attend). She is a ghostwriter and an author in her own right and has been around the blog universe for a while with her podcasts.
Angela Ackermann has been on Apex with a class. The list goes on and on. Anyway, I just wanted to relate some of my training at Apex. I have been writing since I was old enough to pick up a pencil, though I preferred the pen, lol. I just haven’t gone anywhere in the writing world because my fears held me back. With an abusive marriage behind me, I didn’t want to run into that scenario again so that’s why I use pennames. Traci is my first name and parts of the other names have been part of my past.
Right now, I am working on two YA stories. One is a YA Fantasy with horror elements and the other is a YA horror. I also have a historical romance on the back burner on the Loleta Abi side. There is another YA Fantasy, but I think I’m going to set it aside for now. It is first drafted. It is about giants of old and humans. The YA I’m working on now is about a world in chaos due to a religious cult and those that rise to fight it. The YA horror is about a group of students brought together for whom evil comes calling.
I plan to publish my YA through traditional means while the romances are going to be Indie. In any case, I feel ready to take on my future: to be the author I always wanted to be. I want a career not just one book. I want bestsellers. That will all happen in time, I just have to keep after it. Thank you for reading this. For sticking with me through everything. I am excited and pleased at where my journey will lead me. Have a great weekend, take care, and God bless!
There will be new guest posts on Monday and Wednesday of this week and a book giveaway on Friday. But first, before announcing the schedule, here are last week’s pieces in case you missed any of them.
Roz was on Apex a couple Saturdays ago and I had to miss it because I’d been in a car accident. She knows her stuff, having written ghostwriting for years with her clients.
A novel’s beginning is under a lot of pressure. It has to introduce the protagonist and characters, setup the world and story, and get the plot moving, all while hooking our readers and making them want to turn the page.
With all that setup and introduction, it’s no wonder a first draft often has the wrong opening scene, or takes too much time to get going.
Beginnings often are the hardest to write but once you get going and like Janice said, fit it with your end like a bookend, you can do amazing things. Recommend you try more than a few at first.
4.Steve Laube Agency:Before Pressing SEND – (stevelaube.com)I love seeing work from talented authors. Reading a marketable proposal from a hardworking author interested in a long-term career makes me take notice.
Are you this author?
If so, what I’d like to help you do today is to keep you from being rejected because of a misstep that’s easy to avoid.
Ellipses, em dashes, hyphens, and semicolons are rare beasts in the punctuation realm. Authors who rely on spellcheck may be getting the wrong advice when it comes to the use of rare punctuation.
When Tali decides to quit college and become a civil rights activist, her disappointed parents encourage her to think it over. What better spot for contemplation than at her aunt and uncle’s Harbor Pointe Inn, a charming seaside getaway with its own lighthouse? The place is under renovation and empty of guests. All she’ll have to deal with is the construction crew.
But the inn is far from peaceful. Tali discovers an old Bible hidden in the lighthouse keeper’s cottage. Strange prayers angle down the margins, all but one ruined by the sea. When she deciphers the crude writing, a dark portal gapes open to a pre-civil war night when an escaped slave in a foundering ship prayed to his voodoo God. A winged creature emerges from the watery void, and her stay transforms into a nightmare.
Teri always brings to light some great books, including her own!
History Facts:7 Ways the Year 1968 Changed America — History FactsIt’s been referred to as the year that changed America: In 1968, the United States experienced an unprecedented upheaval of long-held values and practices that left an indelible — and still reverberating — mark on the country. Facing the assassinations of beloved leaders, protests against the Vietnam War and racial inequality, and a major shift in media and pop culture, the nation was forced to confront some of its most deeply rooted issues, and evolve in the process. While the year was marked by tragedy and division, it also led to significant progress in civil rights and political activism, inspiring a generation of Americans to fight for equality and justice, and in turn, reshape the country’s social landscape. Here are seven events from 1968 that changed America.
In this brilliantly read audio version, we are taken through Anne’s early years with expertise. Gemma Lawrence doesn’t just know her subject she is passionate about it, and in this first person narrative, Anne comes across as so charming, clever and carefree. It is all the more heartbreaking as we know what will happen to this sympathetic young girl. Lawrence does not sugar-coat anything though. Anne describes a happy childhood with warmth and humour, and there is no doubt that she is much-loved, but she has no illusions about her ambitious father, for example. The characters and customs of the Tudor Court are expertly filleted by this very clear-seeing Anne.
You sit down to write but no words come. Or you grind out a few dozen or hundreds of words, then delete them all because the structure wasn’t there or the characters weren’t right or the sentences were crap. You bemoan the fact that writing is hard and you think maybe this writing gig isn’t for you. If this describes you, don’t despair. You aren’t the first writer who has struggled with getting words on the page. And you won’t be the last one. Nor will this week, month, or year be the last time you experience this struggle.
Why does it have to be so hard? There’s a lot to learn about developing story ideas, about writing effective sentences, about the craft of story, about what works best for you, and many more big and small pieces of the process. You could be in a state of word-paralysis because you fear you don’t know enough. Or you agonize over not having enough talent, or about snaring this or that agent or publisher. Maybe as you write, your internal editor is telling you that what you’ve written will get you a scathing review on Amazon. Take a deep breath.
Writing is hard but it shouldn’t always be hard. Yeah, a crappy first (second, third, whatever) draft can be torment, but allow the bliss to happen, too.
Oh, I have been here! The self-doubt is a killer. The search for perfectionism. It just doesn’t exist. It’s never going to be perfect but it can be as amazing as you let. Get out of your own way and write!
Kindness is something we need to practice to one another. It takes no more time than a smile or hug, a nice greeting. Wishing someone a good day, raining blessings upon them. I’ve had my mood lifted by strangers and done the same for them. How much more should we do for those loved ones closest to us? They don’t always put a need out there. Go out of your way to make them feel important to you. It’s how we win the battle against the violence and terror in the world.
John Howell: Tuesday – Anything possible – Kreativ Kue #428 by Keith Channing | Fiction Favorites (johnwhowell.com) “Using this image (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really. Either put your offering (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before the end of the week. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here. Thank you for taking part.”
John is brilliant with the imaginative way he looks at these stories! I just love them!
Today, we’re going to talk about hobbies. For some, writing is a hobby. I think you’ll all agree that we writers “must” write. Something within compels us to put words on paper (or computer). It may be a journal, short stories, family memories, non-fiction, or a full-length novel. But wehave to write.
Entertaining Stories: New words and Asian pears | Entertaining Stories (wordpress.com) My pear is in full bloom. The whole thing is quite pretty right now. I got a couple of good snaps, but the honeybee pushed one over the top as new wallpaper. Not gonna lie, I had a hard time giving up those maple leaves, but it’s time.
Another great blogger who helps as many writers as possible. He always there to lend an ear or spark an idea.
What I’m listening to: FF VII through FF X. I love the music from these and they inspire me as I write. I just search them up on Spotify and let the soundtracks play. They are great for fantasy and I suppose science fiction stories, perhaps. It’s like building your world around you as you go.
What I’m reading: Misplaced my Kindle but I’m still reading Phillip Pullman’s The Book of Dust. I’m nearing the end and it’s said because I know from His Dark Materials series what happens to the protagonist. But I’m hoping there’s a happy for now ending.
Family news: It’s been a rough month or so. First, I got a NASH diagnosis (non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver). I had a car accident and totaled my car. My son bought another vehicle and let me take over the payments for his 2020 Chevrolet Equinox which was one of the first cars I wanted way back. Doctor says my heart is good but my stress levels are off-the-charts. No kidding. My aunt died last weekend. She was kind and inspirational to me after my abusive marriage ended and gave me the strength to fight for custody of my children and I won. That small battle led to many more wins and brought me back to myself. My son got a new Chevy Trailblazer with all the decked-out features. Life is funny how it works sometimes. We can only meet it head-on and never give up. Have a great week, take care, and God bless!
I just finished my final guided outline for class for my book Darkness. It is a YA fantasy set in another world. I’ve heard others say that it reminds them of His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman which I love as he’s one of my favorite authors. Basically, at heart, it is fear and control versus love and acceptance. Both my protagonist and the influence character come at the world from opposite angles in their run up against one another. I have learned SO much from my classes on The Triarchy Method from September Fawkes. I thought I knew what story structure was and all the components that go into a story but it’s like my vision’s been cleared.
Of course, I’m not done taking classes at Apex. There are ones I get through my membership each month that I’m not finished with as of yet. And there are others you can purchase as you go along. Still others, that are advertised as future courses to take, which is where I came across September’s class. Believe me, I’m very budget-minded and it was a challenge for me but I’m glad I worked payment arrangements out with Apex to take the class. I understand why classes can be hard to afford but I found, once I took the risk, with my instructor it was just so worth it.
I had naively assumed that I knew about writing but nah, there’s just so much to learn and to take into account. For instance, theme was something I didn’t care about in the specifics of a thematic statement. I didn’t think all stories needed them but really, the theme is the root of the story, your foundation to build upon. Yes, characters are important but if the story doesn’t “say” something, they have no basis to stand on. Some things we covered I did know about but my learning broadened even then.
Did you know, just like music, there are beats to writing? Relationship beats, for instance. This is where the relationship goes from beginning to end. It doesn’t have to be couples either. It can be friends. Enemies. Even mentor/student. She explained beats from different movies out there. I really liked the break-down and behind the scenes explanations. I learned more about Star Wars and Hunger Games then I thought possible to name just a few we went over. Things I had no idea about.
She went over the gray areas that can pop up in everything from a character’s choices to the theme at hand. We learned how to graph out our stories to check they meet our expectations. Such as in my story, for instance, like this.
Loving others (better)
Love (positive) Hatred (negative)
Loathing others (worse)
Self-hatred (negation of negation)
Hope I did that well enough. I had a bit of problems with the graphs but they are still helpful and after all, you can’t get everything all at once! So, I just wanted to talk a bit about my learning and how things turned out. Now, I’m just putting things together and we’ll get ready for send when the time comes. Have a great week, take care, and God bless!
Some posts around the web you may like:
Substack Newsletters vs. Blogging (annerallen.com) For the past few years, authors have been urged to give up blogging for newsletters, especially using the trendy Substack. Substack encourages users to put their good content behind a paywall, so only elite readers have the privilege of reading the entire newsletter.
I was going to write a whole post about the Substack fad, but last month Jane Friedman wrote such an excellent post on the subject, all I can do is provide a link. Do read it. I’ll wait 🙂 : Why Substack is Both Great and Terrible for Writers.
Substack Is Both Great and Terrible for Authors | Jane Friedman I have been trying to convince writers of the value of a consistent email newsletter for more than a decade. Recently I dug up a 2014 presentation I gave at the James River Writers Conference, where the first slide says, “Email is not dead.” After that slide, I quoted novelist Dana Stabenow, who gave an inspirational talk where she couldn’t resist offering a practical tip at the end:
I have been wrestling with newsletters for years. Producing one, that is. I ironically, was going to open a newsletter on Substack later this month. However, I’ve been discouraged about some of the nastiness on there. I don’t want to be associated with anything tainted like that. I do know a lot of YA authors I’ve looked up to are on there and it’s been a blessing to learn from their newsletters. Yes, it is a pay scale thing. Jane mentioned either Ghost or Beehiiv for newsletters, but I’d probably be just shooting in the dark. Maybe I’ll just put the newsletter on the blog? I know one of my teachers recommends a newsletter too but how can you create one when you don’t have emails? I know, I know, wait until you garner some. That’s what I mean. Maybe, the blog will help me connect better with readers. Thoughts?
Fantasy Cafe (fantasybookcafe.com) Tomorrow marks the start of the second week of the thirteenth annual Women in SF&F Month. Thank you so much to all of last week’s guests for making it an excellent first week!
There will be more guest posts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this week, too. Before announcing the schedule, here are last week’s essays in case you missed any of them.
I hardly know where to begin. Well, maybe it’s best to begin with the name change. I like Traci Kenworth as a pen name and hope to continue to use it on short story writing. However, I have been taking Apex classes and I’ve learned that maybe Kenworth would be too close to another famous author in the book section.
Not that I think I’d compare to him, but I don’t want to have my books turned aside because a better known author comes out with a new book. Therefore, I wanted to go with something a bit closer to my Maiden name which is where this journey all began.
So, I shortened my Maiden name by one letter and came up with Traci Dowe. I plan to traditional publish my YA under this name. On the other hand, I’ve decided to also Indie publish my romances under Loleta Abi. I guess that’ll make me a hybrid writer.
The classes at Apex are wonderful and the instructors awesome. I am taking a course called The Triarchy Method with September Fawkes right now. There have been some familiar topics but a lot of things I didn’t realize or look into before.
Theme, for instance, I’m having a bit of trouble with that in class right now. Now, I know the basic theme of my story is about good versus evil. I just didn’t realize that underneath it all, my story is about control and fear versus love and acceptance.
In the past, I didn’t give much thought to theme except for the broad good versus evil. I’m learning when you narrow things down, make them more specific and concrete, you end up with a better story. That’s what we all want: a better story than the puddle we start with, lol.
These posts are going to be rotated with another on this blog and vice versa on the Loleta Abi site twice a month. Yes, they are new topics but exploring the options is always a good thing. I’m still not all the way moved in. In fact, it may take me forever, lol, but I’m getting there.
I will be starting a newsletter in April via Substack. I like the way the posts run on there (obviously, not the controversial ones) but the newsletters written by other authors. They can connect with other writers as well as readers in a way I haven’t seen in a long time on a platform.
A lot of the newsletters from authors are pay-to-support their craft but there are some that are free too. I enjoy both types. The pay ones are more in depth, of course.
The following are some links to posts I found helpful or interesting:
FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Catelyn Stark (A Song of Ice and Fire), Lady Jessica (Dune), Mother Abagail (The Stand), Madea Simmons (the Madea franchise), Abuela Alma (Encanto)
AC Flory Paypal email scam, 2024 | Meeka’s Mind (wordpress.com) I just received an email, purportedly a ‘receipt’, that referenced Paypal AND addressed me by my full name. This is a screenshot of the body of the email: The most I’ve received lately are a certain candidate’s team members texts which amount to threats if I don’t vote for him. What lovely people these are! (sarcasm, of course).
This chilling tale of siblings, the emotional toll of the places you once called home, and the necessity of confronting and moving beyond past trauma brings together the psychological horror of The Babadook with the found footage and supernatural eeriness of The Blair Witch Project.
Sally is. the biggest supporter of Indy authors on the planet and her site is worth a visit to check out how you can participate with her help. She is also a talented author and her books are worth visiting as well.
Ann Allen’s blog…with Ruth Harris It’s the Age of AI: How to Survive and Thrive as a Writer (annerallen.com) Whether it’s making new music or creating social media personalities, AI has dabbled into everything around us, including writing. This brings us to the one major question – Will human writers become obsolete?
While artificial intelligence programs can certainly assist writers with ideas and inspiration, some can completely replace writers in specific fields. However, despite being quick and cheap, AI-generated content lacks the emotion, reasoning, and creativity of the human mind.
With AI on the rise, it has become more important now than ever to protect and reward human writing and educate others about how artificial intelligence cannot replace them entirely.
After all, humans “connect” through art, culture, music, and literature, and no amount of tech can bring that to the table.
‘When writing a piece of dialogue, do you need synonyms for “said”? Doesn’t it get boring for the reader? What about words with a bit more expression, such as exclaimed or spat or shouted or yelled?’
Currently reading: I am working on getting my books unboxed to find the ones I was reading before the move including my Bible. I am using an app called the Book Collector to keep track of what I have and note any extras. The app also does movies, comic books, etc. However, it does cost $29.95 a year. The low price is worth it!
Currently watching: Honestly, I don’t watch TV much anymore. I’m spending my time taking Apex courses which also costs $29.95 but per month, not year. There is a yearly option but I’m on the budget-side of town, so…
Hello, everyone! News!! News!! We found it! Our dream home! This one makes the search all worth it! It is THE best one out of all the others we looked at including the first which tells me: it was just meant to be. We still have to do the inspection and appraisal but on the surface, so far, there are only minor repairs needed. The only hitch? The seller hasn’t found their next home yet so we have to wait for that. Hopefully, it’ll be easier for them now. We still have to sell this one once we move. Not sure how I will proceed until then but I’ll do some figuring and we’ll see. Have a great week and take care!
The house was perfect on the lower and upper levels, but the stairs leading up to the upper level and down to the basement were scary. As well as there was an admitted structural problem so we passed. Still looking. We’ll find our home someday, hopefully, soon. Enjoy your week!
A lot of things have happened. Number one: we’re still at the manufactured home park. The house we were going to buy turned out to have a lot of code violations and the bank wouldn’t finance the loan because of it. We tried to do a renovation loan but the seller refused to work with us because he was so upset that the appraisal found the code violations. He doesn’t quite understand that he won’t be able to sell the house without fixing them unless he finds someone to buy it with cash only and then I doubt he’ll get what he wants for it. Sigh. We had to take this place back off the market and start looking for a new home. Not sure how long it’ll take. Meanwhile, our stuff is all in storage to keep it simple to sell this place next time. Take care and God bless!
You can have all the beauty in the world and still find that beauty has its limitations. The fairest of all, after all, was hunted by her own stepmother simply because she was more beautiful than her. Beauty herself was trapped in a castle with servants that were dinnerware and a beast that she must discover a way to love and break the curse that binds them. Fairytale after fairytale proves beauty a hindrance to the female in question.
And what of the males? Well, the beast was basically cursed for being in love with his own beauty. Even Farquaad from Shrek cared more for his own supposed elitism than the princess. He sent Shrek to battle the dragon for him to win her hand in marriage. Beauty can be a deadly sword to any character if maneuvered right.
Let’s look outside fairytales for a moment. Beauty often gets you held hostage or used as a bargaining chip. It is the weakest role for any cast in it unless it comes to a horror movie. In them, it tends to make you stronger. Of course, there’s more layers added to that particular character to do so. Take Sydney Prescott.
She had already suffered a traumatic life before the movie began. Her mother was murdered, and she found the supposed murderer, Cotton Weary, over the body. So, when a serial killer stalks her town her senior year in high school its like the map points straight to her and her friends.
Then there’s I Know What You Did Last Summer wherein a group of beautiful people are tormented by the fisherman they hit the summer before and tried to cover up. One by one, they are taken down until the final two face the consequences. Never say the past doesn’t come back to haunt a character.
Beauty can be a spiky path to walk but it can also be a smooth path to the finish. Whichever is in your character’s future is up to you as the author. Marilyn Monroe was one of the most famous beauties of our times. Joan Collins, another. Both lived lives that included misery and pain and success beyond their wildest dreams.
Likewise, Scarlet O’Hara did a lot of questionable deeds in her time. She lost those she loved around her to an unfortunate war. Her selfishness knew no bounds. She was guilty of using those around her as well. Even as Tara crumbled, she fought for a man who belonged to another. Forsaking the man, she’d married and promised her future.
Another newer soap opera type book brought the beautiful people into the world of a perfume empire in Bare Essence. There was the mother who had everything except the daughter she left behind, Tyger. Tyger, meanwhile, tried to learn how to balance who she was versus the empire’s lies. A movie was put into the works and starred quite a few celebrities in the eighties.
It just goes to show you that stories can take place anywhere with a great cast of characters. Yes, beauty does have its limitations, but it also has its winners. Stories abound from fairytales to horror stories with different degrees on how beauty can affect them. Perhaps you’ve seen the same in some of your own writing.
Happenings: A chance conversation with my daughter’s coworker led us to a possible ranch home providing everything goes all right. It is part of an estate sale so we have to find out the details of that, if there’s any hidden fees, liens, or taxes owed and if we can swing them or if they’re too much. This is a three bedroom, two full bath with nine rooms in all including a sunroom which I’ve always wanted (and it’s heated!) and a breakfast nook. It has a backup generator which would be useful with how often electric tends to go off around these areas. Two car garage. A shed. Nice little town a bit outside where we live now. We may have to wait a bit depending on how far along the house is in the courts or if it’s clear, maybe not. So fingers crossed and prayers threaded. Lol.
Our real estate agent is going to film the house on Wed. and let us know what she finds.
On the health front, I found out that my harsh breathing may be due to my enlarged liver after all. Another doctor told me things tend to get pushed up and can affect breathing. Still waiting for appointment with GI for what to do about it.
Update on the house: The filming of the house got pushed back till Thurs. Everything looks good. We do have to put carpeting down but my daughter works at a flooring company so she can get a discount! On the other front, the property is clear of the courts as well. We put an offer in.
Update 2 on the house: They accepted our offer! I wasn’t expecting things to move as quickly as they did. We have to get this house ready to go and see if the park will take it back. If not, it’ll go on the market. Packing isn’t going to be fun but I’ll get through it. As of now, however, I’m going to be taking a hiatus from the blog. Not sure how long as I’ll need to unpack and set things up after move too. Hopefully, not too long though. This is my dream home! Take care and God bless!
Some things around the web you might be interested in:
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/07/edge-of-their-seats/ Whether you’re writing a coming-of-age story, a serial killer thriller, a quilting cozy, a paranormal epic, a historical romance, or a children’s bedtime story, you want there to be enough tension to keep readers eagerly turning pages. Donald Maass observed that people do this when they’re seeking relief from some kind of “apprehension, anxiety, worry, question, or uncertainty.” That means, even if you don’t want to make seven-year-olds feel uneasy before bedtime, you still want to make them curious. And you want to sustain that curiosity — that tension — throughout the entire story. This is the kind of curiosity that generates movie reviews about keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. These people can’t take a break because: They’ve gotta know what’ll happen! Will the Vikings prevail against the ocean’s fiercest storm? Will the jealous ex show up before the long-awaited kiss? Will the killer overhear the hostage signaling for help? As writers, we need to raise questions. Leaving those questions unanswered — whether they’re small ones that’ll be resolved in another few pages or big ones whose resolution will take until the end of the book — is guaranteed to create tension within your readers. And they’ll love you for it. (Oscar Wilde said of a story he was enjoying, “The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last.”) Of course, the amount of tension will vary depending on your audience. Readers of different genres have different expectations regarding how much is over-the-top, and how little is yawn-worthy. Keeping that tension going even if it’s a little thing like getting a glass of water can help turn those pages. Imagine not being able to get a drink in the middle of the night when you’re thirsty because the water’s out!
Story Empire https://storyempire.com/2023/07/28/metaphysical-elements-in-fiction-writing-palmreading/ Palmistry is an ancient practice that can be traced all the way back to the days of Aristotle. From the number of hands painted on walls in prehistoric caves, it would seem the human hand has held an interest for humans since the stone age. Archaeological discoveries have discovered hands made from different mediums, such as stone, wood, or even clay, by ancient civilizations. Since our prehistoric ancestors left no written records, we can only speculate as to why they painted hands on the walls of their caves. Palmistry experienced a revival in 1839 with Captain Casimir Stanislas D’Arpentigny’s publication La Chirognomie. So, what is Palmistry? We all have lines on our hands that are unique and individual to us, just as our fingerprints are. Palmistry is the art or practice of reading a person’s character or possible future or past from the lines on their palms. There are eight basic lines and hundreds of little lines, mounds, and other points on the hand that are included in palm reading. And as with any form of divination, it is subject to the reader. However, there are some basics that carry forward across the board. Contrary to popular belief, a shortened life line does not predict an early death but instead signifies your level of independence. The head line can indicate intellectual curiosities and pursuits. The heart line is also known as the love line and governs all matters of the heart and relationships. The mounds on the hands also have meanings, as do the tips of the fingers and the shape of the hand. So, it is a rather detailed art. Interesting!
Rosie Amber https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2023/07/29/%f0%9f%8c%bblast-saturday-in-july-sixonsaturday-from-my-hampshire-garden-gardeningtwitter-loveflowers/ Photo one is the first of the red sunflowers. I saved lots of seed from last year, I can tell by comparing this to photos of last year that this one is a cross breed, it is a lot more orange than the red of the Velvet Queen from last year. The second flower is one of the trailing mixed varieties of Nasturtium, it looks like the garden fairies have been out with their red paint brushes, making the yellow flower prettier. The third photo is of a happy bumble bee getting covered in pollen from the Hollyhocks. I love flowers so!
Roberta Writes https://roberta-writes.com/2023/07/28/roberta-writes-thursday-doors-vervet-monkeys-and-tanka-tuesday-pastoral-ambivalence-thursdaydoors-vervetmonkeys-poetry/Welcome to Thursday Doors! This is a weekly challenge for people who love doors and architecture to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos, drawings, or other images or stories from around the world. If you’d like to join us, simply create your own Thursday Doors post each (or any) week and then share a link to your post in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time). If you like, you can add our badge to your post. You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2023/07/27/paying-respects/ During our recent trip to St Lucia in South Africa, we saw a lot of vervet monkeys. These little creatures are so cute with their wizened faces and tiny fingers, but they are very naughty and can be a pest. On our first morning in town, the weather was lovely, and the vervet monkeys were having a smashing time raiding the dustbins and rushing through dining areas, grabbing an item, and making a fast get away. I never even saw the one that stole a yogurt off our table. I just saw the mummy monkey sitting on the wall, sharing it with her baby (it was very sweet). Aren’t they something?
Books and Such https://teripolen.com/2023/07/28/blogtour-house-of-roots-and-ruin-by-erin-a-craig-bookreview-ya-gothic-fantasy-thriller/A modern masterpiece, this is a classic Gothic thriller-fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Erin A. Craig, about doomed love, menacing ambition, and the ghosts that haunt us forever.In a manor by the sea, one sister is still cursed.Despite dreams of adventures far beyond the Salann shores, seventeen-year-old Verity Thaumas has remained at her family’s estate, Highmoor, with her older sister Camille, while their sisters have scattered across Arcannia.When their sister Mercy sends word that the Duchess of Bloem—wife of a celebrated botanist—is interested in having Verity paint a portrait of her son, Alexander, Verity jumps at the chance, but Camille won’t allow it. Forced to reveal the secret she’s kept for years, Camille tells Verity the truth one day: Verity is still seeing ghosts, she just doesn’t know it.Stunned, Verity flees Highmoor that night and—with nowhere else to turn—makes her way to Bloem. At first, she is captivated by the lush, luxurious landscape and is quickly drawn to charming, witty, and impossibly handsome Alexander Laurent. And soon, to her surprise, a romance . . . blossoms.On TBR pile!
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/07/30/whats-the-best-way-to-learn-to-be-a-writer-by-anne-r-allen/ I’m often approached by parents or grandparents of children who’ve shown a talent for writing. They ask how a child can learn to be a writer. Or sometimes a person going through a mid-life job change will ask my advice about going back to college to pursue a long-deferred writing dream. I have to tell them the truth: learning to write is hard — and earning money from writing is way harder. I’m not saying certain types of writing can’t be immediately lucrative — “content providers” can find careers in advertising and various tech fields — but that’s usually not what the doting grand/parents or career-changers are thinking. They might be imagining plays or screenplays, or even journalism — a fast-fading profession too — but mostly they’re thinking memoir and novels. But writing book-length narrative is one of the toughest ways to earn a living — and it’s getting tougher all the time. The average book advance from a traditional publisher is less than half of what it was twenty years ago. And even though some self-publishers make a good living, almost all writers need day jobs. The savage truth. Sigh.
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/07/29/some-days-it-all-works-out/ I’m still fighting this cold, even though I returned to work on Thursday. It forced me out of bed around 6:00 to blow my nose and that signaled the dogs it was time for breakfast. I sequestered myself in my office room, with a humidifier, and went to work. I’m into it an honest 3500 words today. I really lunged the story forward, and the WIP is at 37,800 right now. It would be easy to keep going, but I have other things to attend to. This is the scene where all the mystery boxes find answers, and that poses a new problem. I’m going to have to shift gears from learning about the mystery to figuring out what to do with the answers. Jenny wanted to be an investigative reporter, and her story is in front of her. There are are a couple of other characters who need to wrap some things up. I still have not accounted for the stalkers, and I will for the most part, but the story has to shift gears now. It stops being about what’s going on, and shifts to what to do about it, and how to protect themselves from those who want the answers for another reason.I just love his gift of connecting with his audience even when discussing the story on his blog. It’s the sign of a good writer!
Life in the Realm of Fantasy https://conniejjasperson.com/2023/07/26/cover-letters-and-queries-amwriting/ Every author who wants to sell their work will find themselves crafting a query or cover letter at some point in their career. This is frequently a requirement for submission to a magazine or contest. Some authors despise that process so much that they go indie, thinking they won’t have to leap that hurdle. But there is no escaping it. The difference between queries and cover letters is this: while both are letters of introduction, cover letters assume the editor will read the attached work. Editors ask for them when they have open calls for short stories. Queries are letters requesting permission to submit unsolicited work to an agent or publisher. They have not requested it, so don’t assume the attached synopsis and first chapter will be read—your query must convince the editor to look at your work. Writing these kinds of personal introductions is a pain—but only because we don’t know what is expected or what we should include. I’ve attended several seminars on queries and cover letters. While I no longer query agents, I have written many cover letters. Submissions to anthologies, contests, and magazines all require cover letters. The best place I have found with a simple description of what your query letter should look like is at the NY Book Editors website. Very helpful!
There are a lot of genres out there but how do we know when we’ve found one that speaks to our hearts? In other words, one that we’ve tuned into and want to write more about? When we first come to writing, we may flounder trying to figure out what genre we want to explore. Or there could be more than one.
After all, we don’t have to confine ourselves to a single genre. Fiction can take us down many paths. Which one or more we choose is up to you as the writer. Although if you go traditional, it may be limited by the publisher. This is so they can fit you into an easier category for marketing.
Genres are like guidelines. They tell us what might be included in a particular story. Not that you need to be restricted by that. You can always bring in something new that occurs to you. That’s how genres broaden their appeal. What I mean might be included is certain known tropes in that genre. For instance, in fantasy: dragons. In sci-fi: spaceships. And so on.
That doesn’t mean if you’re writing a fantasy, you have to include dragons. Maybe you’ve thought of something better. More fantastic. Whatever it may be, get it down. Work with it. Create what it is. Breathe life into its framework. And watch readers turn the pages to discover more about your creation. That’s how things work.
Genres don’t have to be complicated. They’re not an A-Z thing. You have to explore. Strengthen. Figure out how to make it yours in the story. Know what’s gone before. Keep an eye on the current market. Take some risks. That’s how you both grow as a writer and stay relevant. It’s not all cut-and-dried. You have to make an effort.
Show up and bring your game, so to speak. Today’s big authors do this time and again in their stories. They push boundaries. Their characters are fresh and complex. Their settings steep the imagination with both history and story. All of this combines to make their writing the best that it can be. So, grasp that magic inside of you and spill it down on the page.
Happenings: Went to the doctor this past week and a ct scan showed that I’d passed a kidney stone. I still have a small one to go. It also revealed my liver is enlarged and on Monday, the doctor wants to discuss how to deal with that. It’s not from alcohol it’s called a fatty liver, I’ve had one for a long time now. But now it’s time to treat it. Basically, my history started with a huge weight gain following the meds they put me on through my PTSD and the discovery of bipolar. The weight gain made my liver enlarge. Or rather, the meds. It also caused all my health problems. They tell you to expect that, have you sign a paper, but when the years pile up and all this happens, it’s just–I feel sad, aggravated, worried, and so much more. What can I do? I had to go through all that to become stable and now it bites me where it hurts. Sorry, to rant.
Here are some links around the web that may have better luck cheering you up after that.
Chris and the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/07/09/weekend-serial-atonement-in-zugzwang-episode-17-featuring-anita-jaye-marie/ Thanks for coming back to Atonement, TN. As you know, I first wrote the Atonement “universe” back in 2012, and there are two novels and one collection of snort stories. This serial uses several of the minor characters from the books, and a new heroine. I’ve avoided using the main characters from the novels because I didn’t want this story or heroine to be confused with the others. However, Deme has been determined to get the grumpy, “bardolator” sheriff, Robin Warden, to at least have a cameo appearance. Robin’s back story predates the novels. I recommend that you read it before reading today’s serial episode (if you haven’t already). If you do, then you’ll enjoy this segment more.Read Robin’s short story here free. My featured guests today are Anita Dawes and Jaye Marie. They share their…
Fiction Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/07/08/stream-of-consciousness-saturday-prompt-acronym/ My blinking SOS with my eyes had no effect on the clerk. WTF went through my brain as the clerk handed me my temporary membership card. Making faces and rolling my eyes did nothing to alert the clerk that my condition was SOL. Jessica grabs my arm and pulls me away from the desk. “Let’s get to the statue,” she says through her teeth. Seeing that the clerk will be no help, there is no choice but to enter the store. My mind is racing as the checker waves us on. The only thought that comes is to stall as much as possible. Pointing in the direction of the last row clear across the store, we start moving in that direction. Wishing the opportunity to grab someone and scream bloody murder would come up, my objective is to move as slowly as possible. “Quit stalling.” Jessica seems to be on to me. We pass the clothing displays, and Jessica does not appreciate me pointing out the terrific saving on bib overalls. We come to a woman holding a tray of cream cheese on cracker samples, and again, Jessica takes exception to my offer of trying one. She grips my arm with enough pressure to turn my hand black. “I’m not afraid to use this gun right here. Unless you want to be DOA, my suggestion is you get to the statue proto.” A sigh passes my lips, realizing that my goose is now in the oven. Wait, an idea pops into my head. All that needs to be done is to go to the rotisserie oven and grab a couple of hot birds. Tossing them at Jessica and the big guy might be enough of a diversion for me to start screaming like a girl and get some help. With the plan in mind, I steer them toward the hot chickens. Grabbing two birds and flinging them catches both Jessica and the big guy off guard. Jessica starts swearing. The big guy decides to start eating my contribution is a scream that could crack the crystal. I enjoyed the nice finish to this!
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/07/08/no-progress-for-me-this-weekend/ It depends on how you look at it. Old What’s Her Face is off this weekend and we have a bunch of errands to run and chores to take care of. Nothing interesting or blog-worthy, but things everyone has to do. I could bemoan the loss of my precious writing time, or be grateful for the bachelor weekend last week. I really moved the chains on my projects last weekend. I will appreciate the time I had last weekend. It would be nice to work on my personal projects, but not at the expense of other things. Yep, that’s very true!
Life in the Realm of Fantasy https://conniejjasperson.com/2023/07/07/fineartfriday-wind-waves-and-the-monarch-of-the-beach/ But no matter how fast our human lives change, pelicans, puffins, terns, seagulls, and rare wide-winged wanderers from far out to sea still come to nest on the Monarch of the Beach, Haystack Rock and his attendants. Tidal pools change from day to day, but still they shelter starfish, anemones, and a multitude of other small creatures. These tiny water-worlds remind us that we are part of something larger, something deeper, a mysterious world far more bountiful than we who walk the land can know. The sea is never the same. Untamed and dangerous one day, it is calm and serene the next. The most important thing I’ve learned from my many walks among the tide pools at the foot of the Monarch is this: we humans are not islands—we are part of a world that extends below the surface and conceals secrets and lives we surface dwellers can only dimly imagine. Above the eternal sea, on the strand below and around the God Rock, the Monarch of the Beach, my husband and I rediscover who we are, and we are made stronger. The bonds my family forges each year in this place bind us together. These ties will always remain, no matter how far apart we are or how long we are separated, even after the Monarch of the Beach crumbles into the sea. This is my favorite portion of what she wrote.
Story Empire https://storyempire.com/2023/07/10/why-professional-editing-is-vital-for-all-authors/ We are writers. It’s what we do. Some writers are fortunate enough to earn a little extra cash from their work. Others can live a life of luxury because they have connected with millions of readers across the globe. But for the majority, a day job or pension is what keeps us alive. Writing is just what we do on the side while dreaming of better days. Even so, that’s still not an excuse to trust our own eyes to the very important task of editing our work before it ends up on the websites at Amazon or Barnes & Noble. I understand the notion: I’m a good writer. I know where to place the commas and the periods. And I can spell encyclopedia in my sleep. As fine as that may be, it doesn’t make you a professional editor. Editors do more than search out misspellings and poor punctuation. Editors can sniff out bad grammar, trouble with the POV character, and the over-abundance of useless minutia that so often bogs down the story. Editors are not your friends or your family. They tend to be blunt and honest. If your story has problems the author cannot or will not recognize, the editor is there to fix them before they get loose and shred your readers to pieces. It’s always worth the time and money to bring in a professional editor. And no, Mom or Aunt Mathilda do not count as editors. They’ll only tell you your work is wonderful. It’s their job to do so. The last thing a writer needs is to be surrounded by yes-people. I get paid to edit books. I even edit my own work as I write. However, I always hand my work off to another editor for that final proof. So, what do we look for in the professional editor? There are several types of editing. We must do the work to find which works best for our latest project.
Teagan Books https://teagansbooks.com/2023/06/19/happy-midsummer-celebrate-with-the-magical-friends-of-thistledown/ Some of you are already familiar with Thistledown — Midsummer Bedlam. With Midsummer at hand, I thought it would be fun for us to play the “name game” that got that story started. I had found a “What’s your fairy name” thing online and shared it on Facebook. When friends there started asking for a story related to the names, I made my own version of the game (and I used the older spelling of the word — faery). However, it was just too sugary for me, and I also created a “scary faery” chart. With everyone’s names as inspiration, I wrote the story. Are you ready to play? To find your Thistledown faery name match the first initial of your first name to the table below. That’s your first name. To get your last name. Go to the month in which you were born. Use the same method to find your scary faery name.
Books and Such https://teripolen.com/2023/07/07/the-isles-of-the-gods-by-amie-kaufman-bookreview-ya-fantasy/When Selly’s father leaves her high and dry in the port of Kirkpool, she has no intention of riding out the winter on land while he sails to adventure in the north seas. But any plans to follow him are dashed when a handsome stranger with tell-tale magician’s marks on his arm boards her ship, presenting her and the crew with a dangerous mission: to cross the Crescent Sea without detection so he can complete a ritual on the sacred Isles of the Gods. What starts as a leisure cruise will lead to acts of treason and sheer terror on the high seas, bringing two countries to the brink of war, two strangers closer than they ever thought possible and stirring two dangerous gods from centuries of slumber…Magic, romance, and slumbering gods clash in the start of a riveting fantasy series that spans gangsters’ dens, forgotten temples, and the high seas from the New York Times bestselling author of the Aurora Cycle.I’ve read other series I’ve thoroughly enjoyed co-authored by Kaufman, but never one penned solely by her. Based on the other books, I was anxious to dive into this novel.
Myths of the Mirror https://mythsofthemirror.com/2023/07/07/june-book-reviews-3/ I’m back from a busy June! And though I’ve been running around like a nut, I made time to read. I’ve got some great books for you to browse. June’s reviews include my 4 and 5-star reads of fantasy and sci-fi, a murder mystery, middle-grade historical fiction and middle-grade fantasy, and a collection of short stories. Click on the covers for Amazon global links. ***** All Of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and C. L. Herman The first two are on my TBR pile!
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/07/building-sufficiently-advanced-magic-in-your-world/ Fans of speculative fiction have no shortage of things to argue about when it comes to dividing fantasy and sci-fi into subgenres. If something has wizards and takes place in Boston in the year 2003, is that Urban Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, or Contemporary Fantasy? But one thing that reliably separates fantasy from sci-fi is the presence of magic. Some people prefer fantasy over sci-fi both as readers and writers because magic is a one-word solution to making any fantastical thing possible and plausible within a setting. It takes the limiters off, allowing a shortcut into exactly the sort of story you want to tell. But anyone who relies too heavily on “a wizard did it” runs the risk of removing the stakes from a story or frustrating readers with inconsistent, unsatisfying plot elements. So what do we do? Do we avoid magic entirely? Do we stick to the most minor of mystical elements? No! All we need to do is make sure we construct our magic system with drama and consistency in mind. Today, we’re going to talk about how to avoid the pitfalls of bad magic by going through elements of good magic. Because all it takes is some consistent and compelling rules and limits, a reasonable bar of entry, and some well-thought out components. Let’s start from the top.
Story Empire https://storyempire.com/2023/07/07/flawed-characters-part-ii/ Hello SE friend, Gwen with you today. Last month, I began a series on crafting flawed characters and considered Post Traumatic Stress as a personality component. You can review that post here. Today we continue the discussion, but first I begin with a story. Last week I returned from a visit with my adult children in the greater New York City area. During the visit, I spent time with my beautiful teenage granddaughter. She often spoke about climate change and what she is doing to bring awareness to that problem. Then, in one conversation, she shared her belief that life would soon end unless there are dramatic changes. Though I was saddened to hear her assessment, I found myself jumping back in time to when I was around her age. During my college years, three of the people I looked up to were assassinated: President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and presidential candidate Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Then on May 4, 1970, four Kent State University students were shot and killed by the Ohio National Guard as they protested the Vietnam War. It was a time of great disillusionment, and many young people thought life would end soon. My granddaughter’s concerns, though shared by me, are different from my young concerns. And I’m left wondering if history truly does repeat itself at least with turmoil. As writers, we try to capture TIME in our stories. We create characters that suffer or celebrate their circumstances. We research the era for identifiers of the generation. Sometimes we also include the emotional impact. If our story is set in the 2020s, what might our characters experience – emotionally? With the current tensions across the world, I think we’d all identify depression as one of the emotions. Per Sage Therapeutics, an estimated 246 million people worldwide experienced a major depressive disorder in 2020. Imagine what those numbers might be if all the silent sufferers were included in this research.
We’ve all been there at one time or another: moving with animals. It can be a frustrating experience if you let it. Here are some tips for moving with animals. I’ve found it helpful to not let them know they are getting ready to move. As in, don’t bring the cat carriers out until almost the last minute. If they don’t see the carriers, they don’t get as nervous.
Although, they are a bit nervous with the furniture and other boxed items disappearing up to this point. One at a time, sneak them into the carriers. The others will gather around the one in the carrier to investigate their cries and make it easier to catch them. I find placing a small covering over the carrier helps as well.
They’re going to cry, they’re going to yowl on the way to the new place, that’s normal. Just try to speak to them every now and then with soothing words. It reassures them you’re there, with them. They like to be reminded their people are there. It won’t stop the noise, but it’ll get you all through.
When you get to the new house, have a room or rooms set off to shut them in, still in the carriers until the movers are gone. The last thing you need is a scared kitty running out the door to a new place they know nothing about. It’ll also calm them if you keep the lights off for a bit and just let them settle.
I’m sorry, I’ve only moved with kitties. We’ve had other animals, but they’ve all been acquired after the move and then passed away before the next one. It had been eighteen years since the last time we moved and that was three years ago. This next move will be sooner due to unforeseen difficulties. If you’d like, leave advice in the comments on other animals during a move. Thanks!
Happenings: When a higher-priced home came on the market, we realized we’d need a couple thousand more of a downpayment for it. It was one with better choices and less to no work which would prove a plus. So, we’ve decided to hold off and save further for now. Unless, of course, something else comes along that meets our price. We got an increased loan amount but again, that would take more money to meet that. This future goal is about halfway to that number.
I had to go back to my primary doctor for my diabetes as my chronologist hasn’t responded to my asking for prescriptions for the past couple of months. Same with my dexcomm service who’s been trying to get in touch with him for 2 1/2 months. I let another doctor go for my HS for the same reason. The chronologist is the same doctor that told me on the last visit that it didn’t look good for me and basically wrote me off for dead. I don’t have time to waste on doctors like those two.
My most recent pc broke down on me at last. It’s been going the last few months from blue screen to black screen and back again. It was hard to get any work done on it and keep up with things. My daughter just bought me a new hp all-in-one (the kind I usually get) that was on sale for the 4th. It arrived Friday night and we started setting it up on Saturday. This is my first full day with it (Sunday) and I need to try and knock out a blog post for tomorrow within the day. The post itself is written. It’s just setting it up for the site and getting the happenings and links put in.
Elsewhere, my schedule should be changing for the better after this week when I’ll have more time to write and take care of myself, the household, and things. As well, as the kitties. My son is going to switch to working at my daughter’s company. It pays better and the hours are better. Afternoons, which means no more early morning hours or separate runs. My schedule will take on a better shape and I can get back to more of what I love. That’ll change even more when I get one or both trained to drive and get other vehicles. The other vehicles have to wait until after this park though as there’s no room for any other than my car.
Here are some links around the web you might like!
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/07/02/other-duties-for-me-today/ Otto and Frankie allowed me to sleep in a bit this morning, and I was grateful for that. This allowed me to feed them, make coffee, etc. before I called my mother. This has been a weekly arrangement since I moved to Idaho decades ago. I like chatting with her, and we tend to spend a lot of time on it. After that, it was time for Dutch Baby 2.0. This time I incorporated a few changes. One was offered by John Howell, and that was to make sure my ingredients were all room temperature. I came up with a couple of others on my own. First, I think the 10 inch pan was overkill, so I opted for an 8 incher. This made me adjust the timer from 15 minutes to 12. That was a guess, but it worked out well. Definitely looks delicious!
Annette Rochelle Roben https://annetterochelleaben.wordpress.com/category/attitude-of-gratitude/I am thankful for reading on the weekends! It’s been so long since I’ve been able to enjoy a good book! Time and other things have kept me away from the enjoyment. Hope to fit it back into my schedule!
Rosie Amber https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2023/07/02/%f0%9f%8c%baenchanting-gardens-today-we-visit-topdock-in-his-alabama-garden-gardenigntwitter-lovegardening/Please tell us where in the world you live and how long you have had your current garden. My home garden is situated in the Southern USA and specifically in Vestavia Hills which is a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. The area is in Hardiness Zone 8A which changed a few years ago from Zone 7B. Although that should mean we might expect milder winters, that was not the case last December when we experienced record cold temperatures for several days and that cold caused significant damage to many of the plants in my garden. I have lived in my present home since 1981 but my intensive gardening began in 2014 when I retired. I am a big fan of flowers!
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/07/02/publishing-contracts-you-shouldnt-sign-by-erica-verrillo/ When writers finally get that long-awaited offer of publication, their first reaction is jubilation, rapidly followed by “Yes, yes, a thousand time YES!!!” But with contracts, as with marriage proposals, it’s better to step back before making a commitment, because divorces are long, messy, emotionally draining affairs. Here are a few of the red flags – taken from real contracts I haven’t signed – that should serve as indications that your work deserves to be in better hands. A must-read!
Fiction Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/07/01/stream-of-consciousness-saturday-prompt-rock/ Jessica continues to hold the gun on me. I ask her kindly if she might be willing to aim it at the big guy driving the car. She chuckles and gives me a smile that says, “Fat Chance.” A look out the windshield lets me spot a coffee shop on the next corner. I suggest we all stop in hopes that everyone else in the car is suffering a brain bleed from the lack of caffeine; Jessica scoffs and reminds me that if our destination turns out to be a hoax, I won’t need caffeine ever again. My mind is racing, trying to figure out a diversion. A well-placed rock thrown with some velocity could be a good diversion. Just as my brain centers on the idea of running for my life, we stop; the guy in front says, “We are at the address.” Jessica looks out the window. “This is a Costco,” she whispers. “How the hell did the statue get into Costco?” She turns to me with fire in her eyes. “This better not be a trick.” To make her point, she shoves the gun under my nose. My stuttering explanation of the logic of hiding something in plain sight causes her to lower the cannon. She motions for me to get out, and the guy standing outside the door thwarts the thought of running. He opens it and motions for me to step out. Jessica comes around the car, and the gun is hidden somewhere. Her eyebrow lift tells me it is hidden but easy to pull out. “Move it,” she orders. We stroll toward the entrance. When we get inside, a person asks for our membership card. “Show her your card, big shot.” Jessica does not sound pleased. “I don’t have a card.” My voice comes out in a squeak. Jessica turns a shade of red never before seen by humans. Her snarl causes the Costco person to step back. The big guy comes forward and asks about the next move. Jessica puts her hand to her chin. Her eyes brighten. “Let’s go to the service desk and sign up.” She turns to the Costco person and says. “We can do that, right?” The Costco person nods, and we are off to the desk. That rock would be handy about now.
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/07/media-software-for-writers-that-wont-break-the-bank/ Video has become such a powerful tool on social media that authors, whether independent or traditionally published, can’t afford to ignore the medium. In one of my previous posts here on WITS, I talked about building a Mobile Media Kit to make recording videos on the go easier. But now that you have the raw footage, what software can you use to produce your videos without emptying your wallet? Let me introduce you to some of my favorite programs to help you get started without busting the budget. This won’t be a tutorial, as there are online communities and hundreds of great videos on YouTube to help you learn the software, but more of a “why I like this program” article.
Marcia Meara Writes https://marciamearawrites.com/2023/07/03/letstalk-marketing/ Happy Moon’s Day, Everybody! Hope your day is going well, and that at least some of you are in the mood to talk a bit about marketing today. Confession time: I have never marketed my books anywhere but on my blog or at my local wildlife talks, and I think it’s way past time to change that. The question I’m posing today is, what inexpensive marketing have you tried, and how did it work for you? I’m not in a position to do something as costly as Book Bub, though I’ve heard it’s well worth every penny, but there are quite a few smaller, less expensive alternatives out there that would likely be far better than not doing any at all. (Fussy Librarian comes to mind, but I know there are other affordable options around, too.)
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/07/01/trying-new-things-and-learning-along-the-way/ I wanted to sleep in this morning, but the dogs weren’t having it. After I gave up, I did my morning chores then went to work on my MS. This story is something new for me and I may, or may not, pull it off. It’s a mystery box style. I have a lot going on with character development which serves to delay the larger plot reveals. It sounds bad when I write it that way, but there is good stuff happening as the story moves from box to box. One of the things it’s forcing me to do is modify my personal goals for chapters. I have some that are the target of ten pages, but there are some that only reach seven and a couple in the neighborhood of fifteen. I know this isn’t wrong, but it still bugs me and here is why. I am using more section breaks in this story. It would be easy to eliminate some of them to even out the chapters to a degree. Meaning I could move the pages before a section break up to the previous chapter that came in short. An example might be in order. I have Cody meeting this new girl that I previously posted about for a drink. As they are leaving the tap house together, I closed the chapter. I opened the next chapter when they changed locations and things got steamy. After that, I had to use a section break to show his mother worrying about him while trying to get some work done. (Cody and his mother Jenny are co main characters.) I think this opens up a good discussion chapter lengths. I’ve always believed they should end where they end. However, that doesn’t mean a chapter length of 5, 7, and then 2. Moreless as equal as possible with the occasional varying one.
Writers Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.net/2023/07/character-type-and-trope-thesaurus-the-chosen-one/DESCRIPTION: This character is predetermined by fate, prophecy, or a higher power to save the world or do something equally heroic that no one else can do. They frequently possess special abilities—magical, supernatural, or symbolic—that set them apart from others. FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Harry Potter (the Harry Potter series), Frodo Baggins (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Rand al’Thor (the Wheel of Time series), Paul Atreides (Dune), Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) COMMON STRENGTHS: Adventurous, Ambitious, Bold, Courageous, Enthusiastic, Focused, Honorable, Hospitable, Independent, Industrious, Observant, Persistent, Private, Resourceful, Responsible, Talented COMMON WEAKNESSES: Apathetic, Cocky, Cowardly, Indecisive, Inhibited, Insecure, Uncooperative ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES Having special birth circumstances or lineage Being driven by purpose Being highly responsible Eagerly accepting new challenges Being respected or well-liked by supporters and allies Feeling like they were made for more Ah, the chosen one.
Books and Such https://teripolen.com/2023/06/30/blogtour-the-night-it-ended-by-katie-garner-bookreview-mystery-thriller/Finding the truth seems impossible when her own dark past has her seeing lies everywhere she looks…From the outside, criminal psychiatrist Dr. Madeline Pine’s life appears picture-perfect—she has a beautiful family, a successful mental health practice, and a growing reputation as an expert in female violence. But when she’s called to help investigate a mysterious death at a boarding school for troubled teenage girls, Madeline hesitates. She’s been through tragic cases before, and the one she was entangled in last year nearly destroyed her…Yet she can’t turn away when she hears about Charley Ridley. After Charley was found barefoot and in pajamas at the bottom of an icy ravine on campus, the police ruled her death a tragic accident. But the private investigator hired by her mother has his doubts. If it were Madeline’s daughter who died, she’d want to know why.Arriving at the secluded campus in upstate New York, Madeline’s met by an unhelpful skeleton staff and the four other students staying on campus during winter break. Each seems to hold a piece of the puzzle. And everyone has secrets—Madeline included. But who would kill to protect them?
Story Empire https://storyempire.com/2023/06/30/benefits-of-rabbit-trails/ Hey, SE Readers. Joan with you on this last day of June. In my last post, I talked about the importance of getting facts straight when using real-life events in fiction. Doing that requires one of my favorite things. Research. I’ll admit when I first began writing, I didn’t want to bother with “pesky little details.” All I cared about was getting a story written. At that time, I didn’t have a clue about the ins and out of writing fiction. Since then, I’ve learned a lot more work goes into writing a novel than simply writing. I’ve come to love research. So much so that I can pause to look up something, then find that an hour or two has passed because I’ve gone down several rabbit trails—none of which I planned. I have to admit to annoyance myself at the rabbit holes but I’ve come to enjoy the tales they might inspire within the story or in one of their own.
Beauty and its underpinnings, or to be honest “traps” can hinder your character in certain situations. Some might say that beauty couldn’t possibly be a trap but think about it. All the stalkers out there. Let’s face it, some men and women, live in fear for their lives. Why wouldn’t our characters do the same?
Think of medieval times. Women were considered a prize. Wars were fought over them. Heck, women are still considered a prize to some men. There are different groups out there obsessed with what they define perfection to be. The unfortunate object of those obsessions is in a vulnerable position.
Beauty can keep a woman from being taken seriously. She is undermined just because of her looks. She couldn’t possibly have any brains to go along with them, they think. Women, most of all, can be so catty to one another, trying to one-up the other in offices or elsewhere in the race for success.
It would be nice if we could just do our work and go home and not have to deal with the office pressure. The effort to please people you’re never going to please. There’s always something about you they don’t like. Something that has to be crushed for their sakes.
Another sad reality is that a lot of women chase beauty or ageless qualities even going under the laser to take away those fine lines. Those fine lines are what make us special to the people we love. Age should be worn with grace. We shouldn’t be ashamed of who we become.
We’ve earned the miles, the respect of those around us. I worry about women who go under the laser too much. It’s so sad to see. I mean, don’t they think they are worth anything without all the pin and tuck procedures? They are more than just a face and body. They are somebody to the people who love them. It seems to me to be an addiction just like anorexia or bulimia. You are destroying your body because of some “ideal image” that doesn’t exist.
Can you imagine how tired some beautiful people get from others fawning over them? Maybe they feel isolated from those around them. Being the object of interest can be a hard thing to be. It might sound wonderful, to be adored by all. But there’s a dark underside to it all.
Think of feeling insecure that your spouse might leave you if you lost your looks. Of worrying about the crazies out there who might actually attack you to take those looks. It would be a seesaw-of-a-life. Not knowing who you could trust and who you couldn’t.
Let’s look at the other side for a moment. That of a person who feels themselves to be “plain” or even weird looking. They can be just as bruised and battered by others as the beautiful. After all, their looks often rob them of getting ahead in life. They often fall for abusers who belittle them every chance they get. Not that beautiful people don’t fall for abusers. They do as well. It’s just that for these not-as-attractive people, they find the walls in their lives often close in even further with no help in sight.
You can have the biggest heart-in-the-world and still have others dump on it. People can be petty. They can break others without much of an effort. You see it all the time on social media with the youth. Suicides. The hating. The between the locker behavior has now come out online. These fragile souls need someone to reach out to them not to be ignored.
I guess if you consider it: it’s not really nice to be on either side of the aisle when it comes to beauty. Lives fracture and with hope, rebuild. Your characters should experience such and more. We must get down to the very skin of the matter. Beauty can be both a blessing and a curse. So can the other side of the blemish.
Happenings: The house search continues. We looked at a place that needed work on the foundation and rewiring in the house. It was built in 1847. Too much work, so we passed. Two others were gone before we could even see them. The bids are going so high, it’s crazy.
I saw my heart doctor recently and got a good report. My heartbeat is coming down from the fast rate it was. My cholesterol is better. The water pills are working. He’s very pleased. I feel much better except for my arthritis in my legs. There’s so much pain in my knees. My movement is limited at times. I’m still a fall risk.
I’ve come to realize something as well with my writing. I’m slowing down a bit. I just can’t go as fast as I used to with everything. Hopefully, that’ll change down the line as things stabilize more. I don’t plan to give up or stop. Just chug-along.
I ordered checks recently and got into an argument with my bank as they charged me a fee for sending my checks to my old address. We’ve been here three years now. They said I needed to do a change of address. I did that three years ago. My account had the updated info. They said that I needed to take my check box to the post office and tell them my address changed. They already know that and only forward your mail for six months after you move. You can’t go back now and do a change of address. The thing they’re not thinking about is the box is addressed by the bank to the old address. They said the post office did that. I shake my head. Common-sense.
In other areas of upset, the park we live in is threatening to charge us a hundred weekly to mow two strips of grass not more than a couple feet because of a few dandelions that grew after it rained. They threatened another neighbor for her fence being too dirty and made her wash it from top to bottom. It is just so ridiculous. Praying the days turn fast till we get gone from here.
Fiction Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/06/24/stream-of-consciousness-saturday-prompt-starts-with-ab/ A guy about 300 pounds and six foot four unties me while Jessica stands, pointing a gigantic handgun at my nose. “Okay, wise guy, “she says. “You said you knew where the statue is, so now’s your chance. Get up, and let’s go.” She waves the gun in the direction of the door. The big guy steps aside to let me go first. “You wouldn’t have a spare cup of coffee, would you?” My words sound like that kid in a forgotten product commercial where he holds up a bowl and asks pitifully for some more food. Jessica tells me to shut up and to move through the door. The bright sun renders me a temporary Mr. Magoo and absolutely clueless about where to go. The big guy grabs my arm and drags me to a big black car. He opens the door and unceremoniously shoves me inside. Jessica slides in on the other side and doesn’t have to say much about making any false moves. The cold steel against my temple says all there is to say. “Now, smart ass. Tell the driver where to go before you’re sporting a third eye.” Not wanting to abort my living being status, my mumbling vague directions will hopefully buy me a little time. Jessica asks the driver if he understands where to go, and a surprising nod causes my breath to let go. Jessica gives me a jaundiced look like she knows a stall when she hears one. “You get one chance, dipshit. No statue, and you’ll enjoy a long dirt nap.” These are such fun stories!
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/06/24/odd-kind-of-productivity/ I managed about 1200 words today. Kind of lousy, but had some other projects I wanted to dedicate my time to. One of my scenes involved a steamy event, and I’m moderately happy how it turned out. Yes, me. I wrote a steamy scene. I also wanted to work on some research for my next Story Empire post. This took more time than I wanted, but I did it anyway. I roughed out the article, but am not completely happy with it. There are a few weeks left to whip it into shape, so I hope I can. This took up most of my available time. Both of my WIPs are at a transition phase. I generally think too hard on these for decent ways to get to the next event in the tale. Transitional scenes are often the biggest hold up in my work. Someday, I will defeat them!
Writers Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.net/2023/06/character-type-trope-thesaurus-lover/DESCRIPTION: Lovers are passionate, sensual, and devoted, seeking the bliss of togetherness and love. They live life in full, show their heart in relationships, and focus on building closeness and intimacy with those they care about. Often this involves a romantic partner, but it can also manifest as strengthening core bonds with friends or family, making them feel loved and valued. Gone too far, emotions can become volatile, leading to obsession. FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet); Lady and the Tramp (Lady and the Tramp); Ross Geller (Friends); Alex Forrest (Fatal Attraction)
Nathan Bransford https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2023/06/students-and-authors-sue-florida-this-week-in-books This week! Books! A quick programming note: there will be no new posts for the next two weeks as I do some summer traveling. I’ll still be checking email for editing inquiries, and if you’re thinking of booking a consultation call I’m now booked out clear through to August, so try to book early. Now then! Links! Little Brown Books for Young Readers Editor-in-Chief Alvina Ling and author/illustrator Grace Lin were kind enough to host me recently on their excellent Books Friends Forever podcast, where we discussed recent publishing controversies and the state of the industry. Give it a listen!
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/06/ways-for-authors-to-cross-promote-their-books/ One aspect of the book business that authors dislike is marketing their work. Not all of us are born salespeople. Some authors are extroverts who enjoy putting themselves out there, and easily juggle a day job, writing, and family time. Not all of us have this superpower and find that time to promote ourselves and our writing is difficult. People cannot read your work if they don’t know it exists. Authors need time to successfully promote their books. We can’t borrow time but we can expand our reach by cross-promoting with other authors, particularly but not exclusively with writers in the same genre. Don’t worry about competition. Readers consume far more content than any of us can write. Teaming up makes sense.
Does a character’s past weigh them down? Is it necessary to bring all their known for into the next casting? Think of Dracula, for instance. Do we need to bring each element that he’s known for into a role? Or can we fiddle with events and tell a different tale? It’s interesting to consider, isn’t it? Whether you need to drag everything with a character to make them true.
What about Doc Holliday? There are so many incarnations of his character in movies and TV. Each one is different from the rest. Because they don’ t necessarily let past things he’s known for change what they want in that version. I saw a TV skit on SNL recently where Doc Holliday was sick and just kept blasting everyone with blood. It was a hilarious difference of how things went down.
Working with characters that have been done before in some form can leave you with fewer options to create something new. Sometimes, it’s all in the angle of how you look at things. Spiderman got twists in each movie, the current one being the closest to the comic book image. However, making him Iron Man’s protegee added a new angle to the character.
But what if you have a character that hasn’t been done before? You have to create somewhat of a past for them just the same, don’t you? You can start where they came from: their family, their upbringing, their friends. What age are they? Where do they go to school or are they graduated? A worker down at the mill? What kind of mill? The questions are endless.
Perhaps your character has a reputation as being a hardliner. This is true of a lot of western characters. It’s almost impossible to tell them apart. Unless you bring something new to the mix. A broken-down gunslinger with a soft spot for kids and widows? Someone who just wants to put the violence behind them and move on to peace. Can they do so in a world of chaos?
In some stories, there’s more pasts than just the one to consider. The so-called widow could be just pretending to be a widow because her husband has run off and left her and her young son to fend of the Native Americans on their own. A hardened drifter trying to warn settlers about the danger makes contact with them and gets involved in their lives, helping them with things. Chaos results when a Chief takes an interest in the young son.
Or how about someone who ventures to a new land to escape their past and yet somehow, it still follows. It’s in the way we view things, the way we interact with others, and the decisions we make about life. Our past influences everything. We can’t escape it no matter how hard we try. I wonder if Han Solo wouldn’t have liked not to have that bounty around his neck from Jabba the Hut. Maybe he’d like to be somewhere quiet, a drink in hand, and talking to Chewbacca.
Luke, on the other hand, was weighed down by his desert farmer’s past. He didn’t think he’d ever escape Tatooine. Isn’t that like a lot of us? Wanting to get out from the place we were raised? Sometimes coming home to it after years makes it look different in our eyes. That’s life. We grow. We change. And our past with us.
Happenings: My health seems to be improving still. I feel more energetic and able to do things than in a long time. They are trying to introduce a new med to help with the depression I think brought on by my heart issues but it is not going well. I am ill when I take it. Update on that: when I take a half doze it doesn’t bother me so we’re introducing it slowly.
In other news, we are looking for a new house! Yep, we hope to be out of here as soon as we can! The loan has been pre-approved and we’re looking with an agent. So far, the pickings are slim but we’re holding out hope.
Some happenings around the web you might like:
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/05/how-to-overcome-obstacles-to-writing-part-1/ All great relationships have obstacles, including the relationship we have with writing. Sometimes the muse loves us, other times…not so much. What to do When the Muse Stops Talking It’s hard to hear your muse when you’re worried. Worry is loud. It drowns out the wonderful inner voice that spurs your creativity. Instead of stressing because nothing is coming to mind try: Meditation. Freeing the mind for as little as five minutes can dredge up interesting thoughts that might be useful to your writing. Going for a walk. Physical activity is great for releasing stress and clearing the mind. Playing with a pet. Our pets, or if we are speaking of cats, our roommates, seem to have a sixth sense regarding our feelings and often know that we are stressed out before we do. Playing with them is freeing. Your inner voice will be back in rare form in no time. Dwelling on the inability to hear your muse is a waste of time. Step away from the keyboard, do something mindless, and the inner voice will return. Obstacles can be a problem for anyone. Time, responsibilities, you name it. This article has some good tips on how to deal with things. Give it a look.
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/05/19/next-adventure/ I’m writing this on a Thursday night. This is because I have to drive to Nevada after work tomorrow. I don’t want to be dark, because I’ve been moderately successful maintaining a Friday post. I woke up this morning from a reasonable dream. I could actually hear the voices as a strange caller dialed in to Night Bump Radio. This one needs some time in the fermenter, but it should make a fun bit for a future Hat tale. I need to make it more absurd, then find a way to blame Lizzie and the hat for all of it, but it’s a glimmer of something. Lorelei, the Muse hasn’t completely abandoned me this Spring. Nevada should be my last road trip for a few months. While I still have other things going on, this might allow me to get back to my works in progress. I’m seriously debating driving tomorrow in silence. That usually temps Lorelei to ride along.
Story Empire https://storyempire.com/2023/05/19/homonyms-with-harmony-part-3-the-origins-of-homonyms/ The origins of homonyms go all the way back to the development of speech and words and to the borrowing of expressions from various languages. Today, we’ll take a look at the ways in which homonyms are used in different language groups, as well as the importance of homonyms in communication, and how they help to make our writing more precise and efficient. Because homonyms have been around since the dawn of worded speech, we humans have used them in many different languages and cultures. The ancient Greeks, for example, used them, as did the Romans. Most languages, including English, employ homonyms. We can use such words to add humour and wit to our writing, as well as to distinguish different meanings. Here, I might refer back to the usage of ‘fanny’ we mentioned in our last post, Homonyms with Harmony, Part 2–American and British English Conventions … or, we could skip right past that bit of warped humour and look at another one I used for my Interludes books, where I deliberately misspelt ‘whet’ and used ‘wet’ for a fun pun and play on words in the slightly risqué tagline: A collection of short erotic fiction that will tickle more than your taste buds and wet [sic] more than your appetite. (Booklinker has stopped working, so instead of a universal link, here are the US and UK links in case it still isn’t working when you click on it. Sorry. I’ll do my best to find an alternative and change links on all my books as soon as I’m able.) She’s done great explanations that everyone can understand!
Writers Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.net/2023/05/character-type-and-trope-thesaurus-entry-sage/DESCRIPTION: Sages are wise, always seeking knowledge, but they also are willing to impart their learnings to others. This makes them ideal mentors and parental figures. FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Mother Abagail (The Stand), Merlin (The Once and Future King), Obi-Wan Kenobi (the Star Wars franchise), Mr. Miyagi (The Karate Kid), Mr. Keating (Dead Poets Society)COMMON STRENGTHS: Calm, Centered, Confident, Cooperative, Curious, Decisive, Disciplined, Discreet, Generous, Gentle, Honorable, Intelligent, Just, Kind, Loyal, Mature, Observant, Philosophical, Protective, Resourceful, Responsible, Spiritual, Studious, Talented, Uninhibited, Unselfish, Wise COMMON WEAKNESSES: ontrolling, Fussy, Know-It-All, Perfectionist, Possessive, Pushy, Worrywart ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES
Roberta Writes https://roberta-writes.com/2023/05/19/roberta-writes-thursday-doors-va-waterfront-cape-town-tanka-tuesday-thursdaydoors-tankatuesday/ Mom, Michael and I flew to Cape Town on Thursday, 4 May. It is approximately a 2 hour flight and its the first time I’ve flow domestically since before Covid. I don’t dislike flying, I just prefer to make road trips and stop off in funny little downs and investigate them. The flight was fine and we arrived at 12pm as planned. After settling into our hotel, we went to the V&A Waterfront which is the old Cape Town Harbour. It is still a working harbour but has been glamourized and has a large shopping mall, an aquarium, art galleries, the beautiful Victoria and Alfred Hotel, and lots of restaurants and watering holes. These are a few of the pictures I took for Dan’s Thursday Doors:
Fiction Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/05/19/friday-johnku-aka-tgif-fri-yay-good-news-45/ It was a rescue that police said had never been done before hanging off the edge of a Staten Island ferry boat. They were there because an emotionally disturbed man had inexplicably climbed out of the window onto a railing on the outside of the ship, seemingly ready to jump. Then, after trying to reason with the silent would-be jumper, Officer Gambino, who was roped to the boat from an anchor point above, moved like lightning to grab hold of the individual and press him up against the side of the boat. “Some people were in dry suits, and some were in rope harnesses in case he went into the water or stayed on the ferry,” said NYPD Emergency Service Unit Sgt. Darion Brooks. “We were prepared for both.” Brooks told ABC 7 news that this particular rescue strategy had never been attempted before but that the ESU trains for dozens of different situations, some of which have involved potential jumpers. The moment of arrest was captured in stunning detail by a news helicopter, and the man was transported to a hospital where he could receive psychiatric attention. That would’ve been something!
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/05/20/7-effective-ways-to-integrate-setting-into-your-mystery-story-by-zara-altair/ In the realm of mystery writing, few elements hold as much power as a well-crafted setting. A thoughtfully developed and vividly described location captivates readers, luring them into the intricate web of your story while immersing them in an atmosphere that evokes intrigue and suspense. The foundation of an unforgettable mystery is laid not just through intriguing plot twists and complex characters but also by seamlessly integrating the story’s setting. The role of setting in a mystery transcends mere aesthetics or background detail. It serves as an essential component of the narrative, enhancing the plot, inspiring the characters’ actions, and eliciting emotion from the reader.
Rosie Amber https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2023/05/21/%f0%9f%8c%baenchanting-gardens-this-week-frdvils-garden-in-normandy-france-gardeningtwitter-lovegardening/ Over the next few months I will be adding to my regular #SixOnSaturday posts with Sunday spots for fellow gardeners. I always look forward to Fred’s Saturday post as he grows some unusual plants and has lots of good gardening advice. It was Fred who inspired me to try growing ginger and last year’s plant was a great success. This year I have had to try harder to get a ginger growing, but hopefully it is now on it’s way. It was always my dream to create little areas of garden at my house. I wish I could’ve but physical limits confine me from doing so. I can watch others though and enjoy!
Nail Your Novel https://nailyournovel.wordpress.com/2023/05/18/a-wild-imagination-a-shy-disposition-a-writer-im-interviewed/ When a message pops into your inbox and you think: I know that name. Didn’t I meet him years ago when I was speaking at a self-publishing conference? I did. And he was still writing and publishing, and building a body of work. His name is Harrison Hickman. He recently started a blog and asked to interview me. I love how writing is a long game. That years can pass, and a person you met on a creative afternoon pops out of the ether and says ‘Hi, I’m still here, I still do this. I’m working my groove, making my stuff. Let’s talk.’ Isn’t that wonderful?
Life in the Realm of Fantasy https://conniejjasperson.com/2023/05/17/layers-of-depth-the-uneven-distribution-of-information/ Plot points and conflicts are driven by the characters who have critical knowledge. The fact that some characters are working with limited information creates tension. In literary terms, this uneven distribution of knowledge is called asymmetric information. We see this all the time in the corporate world. One party in a business transaction has more or superior information compared to another. That inequality of information gives them an edge against the competition. In a story, as in real life, a monopoly of informationcreates a crisis. An idle conversation will bore your reader to tears, so only discuss things that advance the plot. A conversation scene should be driven by the fact that one person has knowledge the others need. The reader must get answers simultaneously as the characters, gradually over the length of a novel. When I am writing a scene, I ask my characters three things: The first question I ask is: “What is the core of the problem?” In the case of one story that was begun several years ago and never taken beyond the first draft stage, the core of the problem is Jared, my main character. The story is set in the World of Neveyah, and one of the canon tropes of stories set in that world is that all mages are trained by and work for the Temple of Aeos.
Books and Such https://teripolen.com/2023/05/17/where-darkness-blooms-by-andrea-hannah-bookreview-ya-supernatural-thriller/Andrea Hannah’s Where Darkness Blooms is a supernatural thriller about an eerie town where the sunflowers whisper secrets and the land hungers for blood.The town of Bishop is known for exactly two things: recurring windstorms and an endless field of sunflowers that stretches farther than the eye can see. And women—missing women. So when three more women disappear one stormy night, no one in Bishop is surprised. The case is closed and their daughters are left in their dusty shared house with the shattered pieces of their lives. Until the wind kicks up a terrible secret at their mothers’ much-delayed memorial.I love creepy towns, I’ll give it a read.
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/05/ignite-your-readers-imagination-with-the-inciting-incident/ How do you, as a writer, capture your readers’ hearts and minds? With a spark that grabs the reader. No, that spark is not the first sentence, though it is important. The spark that grabs the reader is an inciting incident that ignites the reader’s imagination. Crafting the right inciting incident is crucial to laying the foundation for a can’t-stop-reading story. To create the best one for your story, you must understand what it is, why it’s a powerful piece of your story, and how to create one. What is an Inciting Incident? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, to incite means to move to action,stir up,spur on,urge on. So far, so good. But there’s more to what an inciting incident is. Let’s look at what some writing experts say the inciting incident is. Kathryn Craft at Writer Unboxed says: “A story exists because something happens in a character’s life—the inciting incident—that upsets her equilibrium and arouses her desire to restore balance.” According to Sara Letourneau on DIYMFA it’s “the launching pad that thrusts a character into the conflict.”
A character is made up of more than the physical details of their person. There’s, of course, personality. But what I’m getting at here is: you don’t have to go down a certain list: eyes: blue, check. Hair: brown, check. There’s more to showing who a character is than repeating these details.
And again, we’re not just talking about a bunch of personality traits here either. We want “actions” that show who a character is. Maybe they’re an aggressive, backwoods type. Try not to think stereotypical. Unless that’s what you’re going for.
How about a mousy-blonde girl quiet by day and the pillar of society and at night, a theater actress. It was done very successfully by the author Jess Michaels in Graham: The Broken Duke. It just goes to show that you can reveal character by how they treat others and how they are treated by the same in the different roles they perform.
Or what about an assassin only seventeen taken from a prison camp that she was sent to after the death of her boyfriend. Her family had been wiped out by the king. A king she must fight for and prove the best assassin if only to win the game for her life. Also done very well in The Throne of Glass series.
There are so many books out there who let you catch a glimpse of who the character is simply by them performing a role they are suited for or perhaps not suited for. I mean, there are times when a character is trying to sneak into a base and realizes who they are won’t work, so they snatch another disguise. Perhaps a bumbling fool? The Scarlet Pimpernel, anyone?
So, remember when coming up how to best show your character, it doesn’t always have to be physical. Show who they are. A daredevil or maybe a broken youth. Who could’ve predicted a youth would’ve survived The Maze Runner?
Place them into action and watch them shine!
Happenings: Well, got the new tires and had to replace battery after all. It was leaking acid so that was draining and it and leading to starting issues. Running good now.
My daughter got a raise and my son will be looking at one here in a few months, hopefully. We are making plans for a vacation for the first time in early August. Can’t wait!
Here are some links around the web you may find interesting:
Meeka’s Mind https://acflory.wordpress.com/2023/05/06/touch-the-missing-link-in-vr-gaming/ Haptic gloves that simulate touch are not new, but up till now they have been waaaaay too expensive for the tech to be integrated into gaming. That could all change with the Bifrost Pulse VR glove: That’d be an interesting tool!
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/05/07/writing-fiction-like-nonfiction-by-erica-verrillo/ I abhor writing rules. If you follow them, you will produce cookie-cutter prose that sounds as if it has been written by a machine. (Although, I am told this may be what publishers are actually looking for.) One of the most egregious of these rules is: “Write nonfiction like fiction.” I have read the work of writers who took this advice entirely too literally. They invariably produce personal essays and memoirs laden with self-conscious turns of phrase, excessively lyrical prose, and literary devices that transform what should have been an honest account into a parody. Verisimilitude is the bedrock of fiction. The appearance of reality in fiction is absolutely necessary because without it readers won’t be able to identify with the characters in the story. Even for genres in which readers are required to suspend disbelief, such as fantasy and science fiction, the thoughts and emotions of the characters need to conform to what readers already know about how people operate in the real world. “But … but … but…” (I can hear the objections now) “Write nonfiction like fiction” simply means that there should be an engrossing storyline, well-developed characters and that it should fully engage the reader! That is, in fact, a description of fiction. No, let me amend that. It’s a description of good fiction. There is plenty of bad fiction out there that does none of those things. Conversely, there is plenty of nonfiction that does all of those things. The main difference is that, unlike fiction, readers don’t have to suspend disbelief. From the moment they open the book, they are ready and willing to believe that they are reading something that is actually true not merely like (“simil”) the truth. Some rules are good. It’s all how you twist them.
Fiction Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/05/06/stream-of-consciousness-saturday-prompt-childhood-song/ The coffee machine has finally come to an end. Reminds me of the song we sang in the schoolyard. “Ring around a Rosie. Pocket full of posies. All fall down.” Since that song was inspired by the bubonic plague, it seems fitting in this situation. The machine has given up the ghost and must be replaced. The new one is on its way, but until it arrives, it must be jiggered to override the internal controls. With much jiggering, a cup comes at last. The first sip brings to mind the statue of Roger Rabbit. A deep sigh follows the thought of having to get rid of it. The first task is to see if it is still there. A check of the ring doorbell on my phone shows it is no longer on the drive. To confirm the security shutdown process is begun. The claymore mines disarmed. The tower machine guns are placed on standby. The boiling oil vat is secured. The moat net retracted. The concertina wire rolled back. The trebuchet was secured. The gate lifted. The locks and deadbolts reset. The front door opened. Looking at where the statue used to be confirms it is gone. In its place is an envelope. Tearing it open, there are two messages. The first is from someone who signs their name, The Phantom. It reads No Police. If you want to see your stature again, you’ll follow our directions. We will be in touch. I hope the would-be kidnappers are happy with their statue since there is no reason to respond to any demands. The second message is from Linda Hill. It reads. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “a song from your childhood.” So think of a song from your childhood and just write. Have fun! If you would like to have fun, visit Linda’s blog and read how easy it will be. You can also see other prompt responses. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2023/05/05/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-6-2023/Oh the woes of the coffee machine!
Fantasy Book Cafe https://www.fantasybookcafe.com/2023/05/the-leaning-pile-of-books-419/The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature in which I highlight books I got over the last week that sound like they may be interesting—old or new, bought or received in the mail for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included, along with series information and the publisher’s book description. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. It has been some time since the last one of these posts since last month was the twelfth annual Women in SF&F Month! If you missed it, April was dedicated to highlighting some of the many women doing fantastic work in speculative fiction genres and featured a series of guest posts. This included discussions related to women in science fiction and/or fantasy and more general discussions about the genre(s) and what makes them special, as well as sharing about experiences and influences, writing, and creating stories, characters, and/or worlds. All of the 2023 guest posts can be found here. My birthday is also in April, which means I received some books as gifts. I might cover those next weekend, but due to time constraints, I am just highlighting ARCs and finished copies that came in the mail since last time today. Here are some upcoming releases I’m very excited about!
Writers Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.net/2023/05/character-type-and-trope-thesaurus-entry-creator/ Creator (Archetype) DESCRIPTION: Imaginative and highly driven, these characters are the artists, inventors, and scientists who feel compelled to create something totally new and innovative. Their motivation may come from a desire to write a wrong, solve a problem, meet a need, fill a personal void, or simply provide fulfillment for themselves. FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Victor Frankenstein (Frankenstein), Willy Wonka (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Jo March (Little Women), Mozart (Amadeus), Zeus (Greek mythology) COMMON STRENGTHS: Adventurous, Ambitious, Bold, Creative, Curious, Disciplined, Focused, Idealistic, Imaginative, Independent, Industrious, Inspirational, Intelligent, Meticulous, Passionate, Persistent, Quirky, Resourceful, Talented, Uninhibited COMMON WEAKNESSES: Compulsive, Disorganized, Irresponsible, Manipulative, Oversensitive, Perfectionist, Possessive, Self-Indulgent, Stubborn, Uncooperative, Volatile, Workaholic
Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo https://scvincent.com/2023/05/05/something-feral/… This way comes!’ *** Up high among the hilltops a lone figure braves the weather, Feet braced against a howling gale and shoulders hunched together, The bitter wind and rain have dogged his footsteps every mile, The trademark headgear veils his face… “Not just a hat, it’s style.” You’ll find him where the mysteries lie hidden in the heather, A Little Grub behind him as they traipse the land together… Within the English countryside, there’s something feral lurking, He’s questing for the perfect pint (though says that he is working); “It’s research, Wen!” he will protest if challenged on his mission, As yet another ‘Special’ adds to knowledge by attrition. A thread like Ariadne’s winds through all his perorations, I will miss Sue forever. Her whit, the way she looked at life. God rest her soul.
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/05/05/another-road-trip/ Work is sending me for some training on Monday. I’m going to be squeezed a little for time while I’m on the road. I mention this because I’m expecting blog comments. I have two new promotional posts scheduled for everyone. I went with Tuesdays and Thursdays for these. My hope is that I can sneak off to my hotel during lunch and respond to everyone then. I hope you’ll be a little patient with me, but I will get to everyone. Monday is a travel day, as is Friday. I’m going to Savannah, Georgia for the week. I’ve googled the images and it looks beautiful. Of course, I’ll spend most of my time locked up in a conference room, but the evenings are mine. Two of my travel companions are way excited and already booked us into some restaurants. One has a pirate theme, so there could be rum involved. They also talked us into a ghost tour as a group. You know they didn’t have to twist my arm. I already bought my ticket online. I saw a bit of the coronation. Missed the Derby but heard about the horses dying. Sad. My dad always loved horse races. He’s been gone 26 years now. Almost the age in years I was when he passed.
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/05/free-your-darlings-try-the-bad-idea-exercise/ I have been writing for more than a decade now. As a self-published author, one of the great benefits is the capacity to put out a far greater volume of writing. Indeed, many self-pub business models require rapid release. Now, there are many ways to achieve this level of output. The easiest, and least desirable, is to simply not care much about your output. Write fast, skip revisions, and cross your fingers. I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU DO THIS! It takes a very skilled, and very lucky, author to produce quality work in this way. Another way is to simply keep your butt in the seat and just churn out the words, polish them, rinse, repeat. This is, broadly speaking, the ideal method. But it takes more time, dedication, and discipline to manage this than many people have to offer. I certainly struggle with it. However, I have good news! There is a middle way. If you care about quality but don’t have the capacity to write the amount of raw, polished output you’d like, then you just need to learn to find a use for every scrap of writing you do. If no idea is wasted, you’ll be amazed at how much your creative output increases. There are a number of ways this can be done, but I’ve come to call my method “The Bad Idea Exercise.” And the flowers that have grown out of that particular pot of fertilizer have taken a number of forms. But to get them growing, you must prepare the soil.
Books and Such https://teripolen.com/2023/05/04/in-nightfall-by-suzanne-young-bookreview-ya-paranormal-vampires/n the quaint town of Nightfall, Oregon, it isn’t the dark you should be afraid of—it’s the girls. The Lost Boys meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this propulsive novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Treatment.Theo and her brother, Marco, threw the biggest party of the year. And got caught. Their punishment? Leave Arizona to spend the summer with their grandmother in the rainy beachside town of Nightfall, Oregon—population 846 souls.The small town is cute, when it’s not raining, but their grandmother is superstitious and strangely antisocial. Upon their arrival she lays out the one house rule: always be home before dark. But Theo and Marco are determined to make the most of their summer, and on their first day they meet the enigmatic Minnow and her friends. Beautiful and charismatic, the girls have a magnetic pull that Theo and her brother can’t resist.
Story Empire https://storyempire.com/2023/05/03/formatting-your-book/ Hey, SE Readers. Joan here today. D. L. Finn posted last week about book formatting. If you haven’t read it, you can do so by clicking this link. Today’s post also deals with the same subject but is directed toward the style. Last time, I talked about the importance of a good-quality cover. Today, we’ll discuss the interior design of your book. A poorly formatted book can lead to its downfall. Spacing, alignment, and chapter headings that are inconsistent are a sign of amateurism. We’re writers. If we’ve published and made money on our writing, we’re professionals. Why would you want to spend weeks and months writing and editing only to have improper formatting turn readers away? For the purpose of this post, I’ll use screenshots from Atticus, a writing and formatting software. (Denise mentioned Atticus in her post last week.) These images are stories from my recently-released short story collection.
Everyone Thinks the Beautiful Character is Where it’s At. It’s Actually the One with More Working Against Them.
Traci Kenworth
Beautiful people in stories shovel in by the mile. After a while, none catch the attention of the reader. They’re looking for more than just a flawless face and perfect everything. They want substance. They want spark. They want something that goes beyond appearances. So, what is it? Well, sometimes it’s hard to determine. It can be something simple like a swagger and a drawl. John Wayne made this famous in his movies.
Or look at Debbie Reynold’s naivete in her Tammy movies. She was the poor girl from the swamp who wasn’t supposed to turn heads but she did and ended up winning quite a few beaus. This is why we do development for our characters. We are trying to get at that spark, to ignite the character’s path of success. By the way, I’m using screen characters at first just so you get a visual of what I’m suggesting.
The beautiful can be boring and snobbish. What’s beyond that door is refreshing and timeless. Think of Disney stories. Before they were famous movies, they were books. Bright, beautiful, beloved books. A little mermaid who came ashore to find the prince she rescued at sea. A small deer who lost his mother to a hunter’s bullet. And then at last, came Anna frightened for her sister Elsa, torn between Hans and Kristoff, learning how to grow up with the loss of her parents.
Things change. People change. But at their heart, they want a good story. A story about people who touch their lives. Who bring them joy and honesty. Who wrench their hearts and make them care. That’s the magic we’re searching for. That’s what we want to bring to the forefront again and again to win over our reader’s attention.
Dr. Seuss cleverly captured a generation of children with his dapper characters. The Cat in the Hat. Herbert and his Hoot. The Hoos in Hoo-ville. So many characters came from his pages. Not even just children’s stories fared well in Hollywood for authors. There’s S.E. Hinton’sThe Outsiders. Who doesn’t remember the Socs versus the greasers? Pony Boy’s story inspired many a youth to wear those leather jackets. Are You There God, it’s Me, Margaret made every teenage girl feel like she found an author (Judy Blume) who understood her and the moods our bodies sometimes put us through.
None of these characters are particularly beautiful. In fact, some are the downright opposite. However, they still catch our imagination. They still pull us in. James Bond came from the written page. Today, the screen would be lost without his movies. In fact, it’s funny that a lot of onscreen characters have been transferred to the pages of a book. Star Wars or Star Trek anyone? Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
The stories pass back and forth widening and narrowing as they go. Luke Skywalker might be the focus in one film, Rae another. Same with the Avengers. They rotate who the story belongs to at certain points on the spectrum. That’s why they have such a great range of characters. DC would do better to do the same. Move the focus, tell more than one story. The audience has a big attention span. You can make it work.
Except when you want to narrow in on a certain character in a story. In Sarah Maas’s epic series about The Throne of Glass for instance, there are a LOT of characters throughout the books. Everchanging, growing, falling to the wayside. Sometimes there, sometimes gone. However, the main character is Caelena Sardothien aka Aelin Galathynius. The story revolves around her at all points. Why? Because she is the Queen. Without her, the pieces don’t move.
There are other series out there where that is true too. One character pivots the action. From beginning to end, they mold the story. Their actions, their desires bring things to pass. And without them, the story would be dull indeed. So, you see. Your character doesn’t have to be the most beautiful person who ever walked the earth. Give him a limp or for goodness sakes, a mole. Make him one of us. He’ll fit right in and carry the story with honor.
Happenings: So apparently, because some idiot threw paper towels, grease rags and other such things down the toilet at the manufactured park, they say they have to penalize us all with another fee. This is getting to be routine. Every month or two they come up with a charge to add to our lot rent. Ridiculous.
The kids’ jobs have been busy. Overtime is buzzing. Sometimes there’s a downtime of a day like this weekend and then back to the grind.
Our oldest kitty passed his physical and blood work! I’ve changed their food to the Halo Sensitive Stomach Whitefish variety through Chewy. I tried the medley version through Amazon but they didn’t seem to like it. I also switched to a pate version of Halo wet food, the same flavor. Salmon seems to really make them sick so try to stay away from that.
Some links around the web you might find interesting:
Nail Your Novel https://nailyournovel.wordpress.com/2023/04/16/nothing-new-under-the-sun-why-originality-is-always-possible/ Here’s something to think about. Around 97% of the time you ever spend with your parents will be before you are 18 years old. Maybe you’ve already heard this statistic, and apparently, there’s more than one variation. But I heard it just this week. Dave heard it first and told me. We boggled. Then, after a moment’s marveling, we thought about it properly. Of course. That period 0-18 is so intensive. It’s even obvious. But still, we were flabbergasted, and so we told friends, who marveled also, and so did we, all over again. Then we all talked ourselves through the facts. This is one of the things art can do. We all live on the same planet, and we tread through the same constants of life, and there’s nothing new under the sun, blah blah, but at the same time, there is. There are inventive people, billions of us, with language and A truly brilliant post that makes one think!
Fantasy Book Cafe https://www.fantasybookcafe.com/2023/04/women-in-sff-month-hannah-kaner/ Today’s guest is fantasy author Hannah Kaner! Her debut novel, Godkiller, became a #1 Sunday Times bestseller after its UK release earlier this year and will be published in the US on September 12, 2023. It’s described as being set in “a land where all gods have been banned, and one young woman is paid to kill those who still hide in the shadows,” but she “discovers a god she cannot kill: Skedi, a small god of white lies.” I’m thrilled that the author is here today with “Don’t damsel your fury.”
Fiction Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/04/16/views-of-the-neighborhood-fairy-trail-in-lakeway/ Today we will go to the Activity Center and walk on the Fairy Trail. This is a display by Parks and Recreation to celebrate spring. We are catered by Zaza Mediterranean of Austin, and our entertainment is Little Big Town Menu Z1. Zaza Platter (Mix) Beef, lamb, and chicken. Comes with tomato, lettuce, onion, white and hot sauce. Z2. Gyro Platter (Beef & Lamb) Comes with tomato, lettuce, onion, white and hot sauce. Z3. Beef Shawarma Platter Comes with tomato, lettuce, onion, white and hot sauce. Z4. Chicken Fajita Platter Comes with tomato, lettuce, onion, white and hot sauce. Z5. Chicken Shawarma Platter Comes with tomato, lettuce, onion, white and hot sauce. Z6. Zaza Garden Platter Falafel, grape leaves, and cauliflower. Comes with tomato, lettuce, onion, white and hot sauce. Vegetarian. Z7. Falafel Platter Tahini sauce. Comes with tomato, lettuce, onion, white and hot sauce. Vegetarian. Z8. Chicken Kabob Platter Shish tawook. 2 skewers. Comes with tomato, lettuce, onion, white and hot sauce. Z9. Lamb (Kabob) Platter 2 skewers. Comes with tomato, lettuce, onion, white and hot sauce. Z10. Kofta Kabob Platter 2 skewers. Comes with tomato, lettuce, onion, white and hot sauce. Z11. Mixed Grill Signature Platter Chicken, lamb, and Kofta. Comes with tomato, lettuce, onion, white and hot sauce. Signature platter. Too much hot sauce for me, lol.
Fantasy Cafe https://www.fantasybookcafe.com/2023/04/women-in-sff-month-maya-deane/ Today’s guest is fantasy writer Maya Deane! Her Greek mythology–inspired debut novel, Wrath Goddess Sing, was released last year and is coming out in trade paperback on June 13, 2023. Focused on Achilles, her book is described as “drawing on ancient texts and modern archeology to reveal the trans woman’s story hidden underneath the well-known myths of The Iliad.” I’m excited she’s here today to discuss literary realism and fantasy!
Fantasy Cafe https://www.fantasybookcafe.com/2023/04/women-in-sff-month-leslye-penelope/ Today’s Women in SF&F Month guest is fantasy and paranormal romance writer Leslye Penelope! She is the author of Song of Blood & Stone, which was selected as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, and the rest of the books in the Earthsinger Chronicles, as well as Savage City, described as “a dystopian, enemies-to-lovers, portal, shifter fantasy romance.” Her latest novel, The Monsters We Defy, is a heist story described as “historical fantasy that weaves together African American folk magic, history, and romance,” and it was one of NPR’s Best Books of 2022. In addition to writing, she talks about working as a traditional and self-published author in her weekly podcast, My Imaginary Friends. I’m thrilled she’s here today to discuss fantasy writing and computer science in “When Fantasy and STEM Collides.”
Fiction Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/04/15/stream-of-consciousness-saturday-prompt-starts-with-mono/ he only sound this morning is the dignified monotone of the coffee machine, indicating the cup is ready. Feeling mononucleosis-like exhaustion from the previous week’s mayhem, the cup offers the promise of relief. A few sips bring me to the point of recognizing the silence surrounding my inner sanctum. As my interior monologue about the serenity of the place comes to a close, the intrusive sound of the Klaxon horn connected to the doorbell shatters the momentary peace. Twiggy and Lucy take up their Hounds of Baskerville impersonation while the security shutdown procedure is begun. A quick glance at the security camera screen shows the presence of a monolith on the front porch. The claymore mines are disarmed. The tower machine guns are placed on standby. The boiling oil vat is secured. The moat net retracted. The concertina wire rolled back. The trebuchet secured. The gate lifted. The locks and deadbolts reset. The front door opened. A tall box stands before me. An envelope with the words OPEN ME FIRST is taped to the front. Ripping it off and tearing it open reveals two messages. The first tells me to pull the handle marked OPEN on the box. The second is from Linda Hill and says Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “starts with mono.” Find a word that starts with “mono” and use it in your post. Enjoy! If you want to enjoy go to Linda’s blog and read how simple it is. You will also find other idiots’ author’s versions of the prompt. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2023/04/14/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-15-2023/He sure has more exciting mornings than I do around here. Not that I’m complaining. That circus can remain at his place. Lol.
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/04/16/sometimes-were-the-scared-teen-other-times-the-bold-hero-how-our-writing-perspective-changes-with-each-character-guest-post-by-traci-kenworth/ For me, writing a teenage character was my first attempt at writing. I could relate to teens as I was fast approaching that age. The teens in my world didn’t deal with a world like we see now. Oh, no. It was sort of a mixture of one of those apocalyptic/survival stories. There were dinosaurs as well as things the government had let off (hey, it was the eighties, after all, and the Cold War was fresh on our minds), and of course, instead of adults being in charge of things: the teens were the leads. Crazy world, huh? Well, it was filled with all my favorite things at the time. And I admit, heavily influenced by the shows I watched on TV. I didn’t realize it at the time but on that training ground as I think of it now: I was learning to blend things together. Genres crossed with no problem. Things publishers at the time were saying were a no-go, in these days, have become more consistent. You take what you want to be in your story and run with it. Make it make sense. Or at least, make us believe it’s possible. Graduating to more adult characters didn’t take long. After all, what teen isn’t itching for the freedom they think adulthood brings? I wrote scripts based on the soap opera-type shows popular at the time like Days of Our Lives or General Hospital. I invented my own soap world and populated it with as many characters as I could think of. Couldn’t resist to toot my own horn.
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/04/15/resting-and-making-an-odd-discovery/ I have no intention of cracking one of my manuscripts this weekend. I want to recover from my recent adventures, and learned I have to report for jury duty on Monday morning. What I wanted to do was view some fun movies about the places I visited. I wound up renting Close Encounters of the Third Kind and enjoyed the heck out of it. It’s been decades since I saw it and it was a blast. Wasn’t precisely what I wanted. Last week I visited Little Bighorn, Devil’s Tower, Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood, Salem, Lexington, and Concord. Passed through parts of Boston, too. Aside from those, we drove through a bunch of country that could be considered as the Last of the Mohican territory. Basically, I wanted something historical.
Story Empire https://storyempire.com/2023/04/14/birth-order-and-character-development-the-lastborn/ Hello, Story Empire friends, Gwen with you today. Together we’ll focus on birth order as it relates to character development. We’ve considered the traits of the firstborn, linked here. And we’ve reviewed traits of the middleborn. Here’s a link to that post. Today, our target is the lastborn. Before we dive in, let’s review a few basic points. (1) Every family is unique, and multiple factors affect our development. Divorce, remarriage, adoption, gender, and location are just a few of those factors. (2) Importantly, if there are three or more years between siblings, the child may be a middle child but have traits similar to the firstborn. I’ll share a family story and hopefully offer some clarity about character traits. I’m the eldest of seven, and there are nine years between me and the youngest – a brother. One day, six of us were inside the house when my little brother crawled in from the yard and sobbed that his leg was broken. My other two brothers immediately responded, “No it isn’t. Stop whining.” The youngest tearfully protested, “It is! I heard it pop.” By then, mom came into the room and checked his leg. She turned to me and said to watch the kids. “I’m taking him to the doctor. I think it might be broken.” And, sure enough, it was. The lastborn in a large family can feel that no one listens to them. They might feel inferior, because everyone is bigger and more capable. But on the plus side, parents often have a special attachment to their youngest. Researchers claim that lastborns have some of the following traits when they are adults:
Books and Such https://teripolen.com/2023/04/13/the-jump-by-brittney-morris-bookreview-ya-contemporary-adventure/From the acclaimed author of SLAY and The Cost of Knowing comes an action-driven, high-octane novel about a group of working-class teens in Seattle who join a dangerous scavenger hunt with a prize that can save their families and community.Influence is power. Power creates change. And change is exactly what Team Jericho needs.Jax, Yas, Spider, and Han are the four cornerstones of Team Jericho, the best scavenger hunting team in all of Seattle. Each has their own specialty: Jax, the puzzler; Yas, the parkourist; Spider, the hacker; and Han, the cartographer. But now with an oil refinery being built right in their backyard, each also has their own problems. Their families are at risk of losing their jobs, their communities, and their homes.So when The Order, a mysterious vigilante organization, hijacks the scavenger hunting forum and concocts a puzzle of its own, promising a reward of influence, Team Jericho sees it as the chance of a lifetime. If they win this game, they could change their families’ fates and save the city they love so much. But with an opposing team hot on their heels, it’s going to take more than street smarts to outwit their rivals. I’ve read and enjoyed two previous books by this author, so it was a no-brainer to request her newest release from NetGalley. Team Jericho has been together for several years as a scavenger hunting team. They’re very good at what they do, and each member brings a specific skill to the table. Being a fan of puzzles, I really enjoyed that aspect of the story and watching the characters work together to figure them out. The characters are very distinct and diverse (this is only the second book I’ve read with a nonverbal character), which makes the multiple POV chapters easy to keep up with. Each of these characters’ families are threatened in some way by the new oil refinery, so winning this competition that promises power is important to them. The plot moves along at a brisk pace as the characters race from one clue to another – try to keep up. As with all this author’s books, several important and timely issues are tackled – gentrification and racism to name a couple in this one.
From Amazon: The sweeping romance of Passenger meets the dark fantasy edge of This Savage Song in this stunning contemporary fantasy debut from Vanessa Len, where the line between monster and hero is razor thin.
Don’t forget the rule. No one can know what you are. What we are. You must never tell anyone about monsters.
Joan has just learned the truth: her family are monsters, with terrifying, hidden powers.
And the cute boy at work isn’t just a boy: he’s a legendary monster slayer, who will do anything to destroy her family.
To save herself and her family, Joan will have to do what she fears most: embrace her own monstrousness. Because in this story…she is not the hero.
Dive deep into the world of Only a Monster: hidden worlds dwell in the shadows, beautiful monsters with untold powers walk among humans, and secrets are the most powerful weapon of all.
“Olivers see. Hunts hide. Nowaks live. Patels bind. Portellis open. Hathaways leash. Nightingales take. Mtawalis keep. Argents sway. Alis seal. Griffiths reveal. But only the Lius remember.”
We believe that if people belonged together in the true timeline, then our timeline tries to repair itself by bringing them together. Over and over and over. Until the rift is healed.” “Like soul mates?” Tom said. Jamie smiled at Tom. “Yes. If you believe in fairy tales.”
“He was very good,” Nick said again. “But I was trained from childhood.” “Trained to do what?” “To kill monsters.”
Review
“This book grabbed me by the throat. Vanessa Len’s world of monsters and heroes is like nothing I’ve ever read, utterly fresh and unique. Put down everything you’re doing, and read it!” — CS Pacat, USA Today bestselling author of the Captive Prince trilogy, and the Dark Rise series.
Mind-bending, heart wrenching, and unputdownable! Don’t feel bad if this book tricks you into rooting for the monster instead of the hero. Vanessa Len has written a masterful debut novel—I loved the time-travel, the star crossed romance, and the monsters. — Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series
An absolute page-turner. Only a Monster paints another vivid world inside the one we know, and uses a deft hand to bring it utterly alive. Vanessa Len blurs the age-old lines between good or evil, hero or monster, in the most captivating way. — Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights
What a fantastic, immersive read – I couldn’t stop turning the page! An exciting, original and complex fantasy about monsters, heroes, and all the people in between. — Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of the Temeraire series
“Equal parts fantasy, adventure, and caper… Unique plotlines and characterization will have readers rooting for the monster; this is a must purchase.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“A fast-paced thriller that blurs the division between villain and hero and features a deeply conflicted protagonist caught in the middle… an exciting urban fantasy.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Vanessa Len’s Only a Monster is captivating and unique and – dare I say it – utterly monstrous (in the best possible way). This engrossing debut will have YA readers longing to steal time just so they can devour the pages over and over again!” — Lynette Noni, author of The Prison Healer
“Only A Monster is a wonderfully clever and intriguing take on the classic tale of hero versus monster. Vanessa Len has crafted a rich and immersive world filled with unique magic, thrilling action, and a heart-wrenching star-crossed romance. A marvelous and twisty debut that will pull you in right from the start!” — June CL Tan, author of Jade Fire Gold
“Exquisitely crafted, this riveting read opens up a multitude of dimensions and turns the notion of heroes and monsters on its head. Vanessa Len has woven a spellbinding tale laced with mystery, magic, humor, and heartbreak.” — Cindy Lin, author of The Twelve
“A deeply imaginative debut.” — Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Vanessa Len writes YA fantasy about girl anti-heroes, monsters, and enemies who are maybe in love. She’s read every Diana Wynne Jones book more times than she can count. She’s a graduate of the Clarion Writers’ Workshop, and she lives in Melbourne, Australia. Only a Monster is Vanessa’s first novel, and you can visit her online at http://www.vanessalen.com.
Joan is an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. Or so she thinks. One day at the coffee shop, she accidently touches a man’s neck and steals time from him. She wakes up a day later, having missed her first date with Nick, a boy who works with her at the museum in Britain. Panicked, she tries to tell her family what happened but can’t locate any of them. Gran always said they were “monsters,” but she didn’t believe it. She also used to tell tales about the hero, the enemy to all monsters. When she arrives at the museum, things turn into chaos as the Olivers arrive and threaten to kill her and Nick while Aaron Oliver turns aside from it all. Joan begs him to helps them; but he just leaves. She manages to start to send an emergency signal to her family but Aaron’s father breaks her phone. When Aaron’s father draws a sword and slices her side, Nick erupts in a fury revealing himself to be the hero. He plans to kill all the monsters. Even her family. He tells her to stay in the room or he won’t be able to protect her. And he warns her if she steals time again, he’ll have to kill her. When she flees to help her family, she discovers they received her message after all and all but Ruth lay dead or dying. Gran sends Ruth to open the window while she warns Joan that Joan is the only one who can stop the monster. She thought she’d have so much more time to train her, she says drawing harsh breaths. She also tells her that she has a secret power that doesn’t come from the Hunt line. Tell no one, not even family. Gran dies and window open, Ruth shoves Joan through, staying behind to cover her retreat. Joan rushes through the maze and gets lost inside until she comes to the aid of Aaron Oliver, killing one of Nick’s men who pursues him. Together, the two battle time and enemies to try and rescue their families and each other but will getting what they want, leave everything lost to time?
This was a real page turner for me. I love what she did with having Joan the monster and Nick the hero. You feel sympathy for the majority of players in this book. There’s just so much history and trauma for most. I was torn between wishing Joan would somehow find a way to make things work with Nick or stay with Aaron Oliver. The ending, I won’t lie, has wrestled with me for weeks. I just don’t think I would’ve ended it that way but then again, it’s not my story. I do understand, in one way, why the author did so, it just was a hard ending for me. However, that didn’t keep me from enjoying the book. If you read it, let me know your thoughts although, please don’t post spoilers.
Happenings: The car is fixed for now. However, we picked up some damage to our skirting under the manufactured home with the storms that moved through the past couple of weeks. To both ends and the back. On the one end, it’s twisted up underneath so not sure if any damage was done to any pipes or anything under there. Contacting the insurance adjuster. We were gonna try and get quotes first but can’t find anyone who does skirting so hoping the insurance knows people. At least the health’s doing better! Also, we had the HVAC people out and the A/C is all set to go which is great since it’s 75 degrees out there today. Sigh. Have a great week, everyone!
Writers Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.https://writershelpingwriters.net/2023/04/need-organization-help-try-trello/net/2023/04/need-organization-help-try-trello/ Staying organized as a writer can be a huge challenge. We all have other responsibilities, and the crazier life gets, the easier it is for stuff to fall between the cracks—important stuff we can’t afford to forget. Angela and I are constantly juggling a thousand things, so organization is kind of vital for us. We’ve done a couple of things over the past few years to help with this. First, we hired Mindy, our amazing blog wizard. She’s incredibly capable and enthusiastic, and the work she’s taken off our plates has enabled us to keep on chugging. But we recognize that this isn’t an option for everyone. Heck, it’s why we took so long to do it ourselves. So I’d like to share another idea with you that anyone can use to stay organized. It’s free and has been a game-changer for us. Trello, for the Win!Trello is an online visual tool that allows you to organize projects and track tasks. It’s meant for teams, and Angela and I do use it for our projects, but it has been just as useful for me personally, to keep my own jobs and responsibilities organized.
Life in the Realm of Fantasy https://conniejjasperson.com/2023/04/03/the-business-side-of-the-business-budgeting-for-in-person-sales-events-amwriting/ Spring and summer are conference and convention seasons. Regardless of your publishing path, indie or traditional, you must budget for certain things. You can’t expect your royalties to pay for them early in your career. And just so you know, many award-winning authors must still work their day jobs to pay their bills long after becoming bestsellers. At first, getting your books in front of readers is a challenge. The in-person sales event is one way to get eyes on your books. This could be at a venue as small as a local bookstore allowing you to set up a table on their premises. Or it could be as large as a table at a regional conference or convention. Signings at writers’ conferences are usually a bit pricy for the number of books you might sell, but they are great ways to network. What are the minimum costs for working a table at a signing event?The bare minimum expenses: You must have a stock of books on hand. You can’t sell books that you haven’t ordered. I order well in advance, as it can take three weeks for an order to arrive via the least expensive shipping method. Paying for overnight shipping of fifteen to twenty books is well out of my price range. Coins, Microsoft content creators We must consider the table fee. A bookstore might not charge you anything for the table, but they may take a small cut if they run your sales through their cash registers. However, large conferences and conventions will charge table fees ranging from $70.00 to as high as $300.00 or more. This varies with the size and type of conference, the venue where the convention is being held, and the vendors you will be competing with. Sci-fi and Fantasy fan conventions can be quite pricy. You will be in an immense, crowded room, competing with big-name RPG game franchises and movie franchises, plus all the vendors of memorabilia and collectibles that are available in the vendors’ alley. If you are able to get a table at a major fan convention, you must pay for transportation, food, and lodging. These costs could be gas, parking, airfare, hotel, etc. if you don’t have friends or family in that area. If you are planning to stay in a hotel, take simple foods that can be prepared without a stove. Being vegan, I tend to be an accomplished hotel-room chef, as most coffee bars don’t offer many plant-based options. While that bias is changing, I still go prepared. Bring at least one pen for signing your books. I bring four or five because sometimes the pens don’t work as advertised. Looks like some extremely useful advice!
Fantasy Cafe https://www.fantasybookcafe.com/2023/04/wohttps://www.fantasybookcafe.com/2023/04/women-in-sff-month-elisa-a-bonnin/men-in-sff-month-elisa-a-bonnin/ Today’s guest is YA fantasy author Elisa A. Bonnin! Her first two novels were both released late last year: Dauntless, described as a Filipino-inspired book in which “a teen girl must bring together two broken worlds in order to save her nation,” and Stolen City, in which “twin thieves attempt to pull off a daring heist.” I recently read Dauntless and adored the setting with its dangerous beasts and settlements amongst the branches of large sprawling trees, as well as the main character’s journey as she discovers there’s more to her world than she thought. I’m thrilled the author is here today to discuss writing characters and defaults in “Breaking the Mold, or ‘What even is neurotypical anyway?’” Interesting. I often wonder if my character’s emotions are heightened on the page due to my bipolar. The characters we write are often an exploration of ourselves as well as others we perceive in the world around us.
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/04/what-can-you-do-with-book-awards-and-reviews/ It’s common knowledge in the publishing world that book reviews and awards are essential pieces of the author success puzzle. Authors know it’s important to get reviews and win awards, but may be left to wonder: “What can you do with book awards and reviews?” After your book gets reviews and wins awards, there are several steps you can take to make the most out of your book’s praise. Read on to learn what you can do with book awards and reviews, and how they can work together to increase your book sales, generate opportunities, and streamline book marketing. What can you do with book awards and reviews? From boosting book sales to impressing industry experts, book reviews and awards are powerful ways to establish yourself as a notable author. Here are some innovative ways you can leverage book awards and reviews: You can sell more books One of the more obvious benefits of receiving reviews and winning awards is the positive effect both have on book sales. Book buyers see an award seal on the cover of your book and think, “Wait a minute, this one must be really good. It’s won an award!”. This validation of your book’s quality compels readers to purchase your work. Winning awards and selling more books? Quite literally a win-win!
A Dalectable Life https://adelectablelife.com/2023/04/04/setting-up-the-guard-ccc-229/ I haven’t done a CCC in a good long while. When I saw this one (and surprisingly, I am only a week late!) I knew I could play. I have LOTS of cat photos and figured I would have a matchy-matchy but it appears, not quite (or possibly, but I’d have to go digging further into my archives that are not quite as well organised) So, I kept myself to those uploaded to my Google. Then I had so many I had to force myself to cut back to these. I could have stretched this utter silliness for much longer but didn’t want to fall into anyone’s disgraces 😉 Allora, on to my completely silly “story”. Setting Up the Guard Okay guys, listen up! We have a serious job to do. We have been tasked with guarding the perimeter. So, so cute!
The Write Stuff https://marciamearawrites.com/2023/04/05/tenthingsyoumaynotknowabout-author-suecoletta/ Today, I’m very happy to announce that our guest author is mystery writer Sue Coletta. Sue is well-known to many, many of us in the writing and blogging community, but I’ll bet there are some things in her post today that will make your jaw drop! 😁 With that in mind, let’s get right to it. Take it away, Sue!
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/04/characterization-one-of-the-most-vital-writing-skills/ This is the fifth article of the article series The Yin and Yang Relationship Between Psychology and Storytelling. The first article is about reader investment and reader engagement. In the second article, we covered how to create story experiences that feel real to life. The third article shows how to tap into your readers’ subconsciousness and engage them in your story. The fourth article dives into characters’ goals, motivations, wants, needs, and objects of desires. This article covers psychological engineering, aka characterization. Why Do Writers Need to Know Psychology? Writers need to know psychology for four main reasons: Know how readers think and feel and use that knowledge to engage them. Understand the psychology of experiencing so they can create story experiences that have a real-to-life feel. Design characters with plausible traits, flaws, talents, motivation s, etc. Know themselves — why they write, what they really want to write about, and how to get out of their own way. The Eight Crafts of Writing This article is written with the eight writing crafts in mind. The eight writing crafts are: Big Idea (aka theme) Genre Narrative Story Outline (aka plotting) Characterization World Building Scene Structure Prose (aka line-by-line writing) Note: To avoid confusing readers, the author of these articles avoided the alternation of she and her and he and him. Instead, he uses the nonexclusive she and her to mean writer and reader.A lot of detailed info to pick up as you advance in your career. Some of this might be too much for a beginner at this point but good to keep for when you’re ready and for sure you can learn something.
Books and Such https://teripolen.com/2023/04/06/i-will-find-you-by-harlan-coben-bookreview-thriller-suspense/An innocent father serving life for the murder of his own son receives evidence that his child may still be alive, and must break out of prison to find out the truth in #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben’s latest breathtaking thriller.David and Cheryl Burroughs were living the dream life when tragedy struck. Now, five years after that terrible night, Cheryl is remarried. And David is serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison for the brutal murder of their son.Then Cheryl’s sister, Rachel, arrives unexpectedly during visiting hours and drops a bombshell. She’s come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park with a boy in the background who has a familiar, distinctive birthmark … and even though David and Rachel realize it can’t be, they both just know. It’s David’s son, Matthew, and he’s still alive.
Writers Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.net/2023/04/character-type-trope-thesaurus-entry-jester/ In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He suggested that every person is a blend of these 12 basic personalities. Ever since then, authors have been applying this idea to fictional characters, combining the different archetypes to come up with interesting new versions. The result is a sizable pool of character tropes that we see from one story to another. Archetypes and tropes are popular storytelling elements because of their familiarity. Upon seeing them, readers know immediately who they’re dealing with and what role the nerd, dark lord, femme fatale, or monster hunter will play. As authors, we need to recognize the commonalities for each trope so we can write them in a recognizable way and create a rudimentary sketch for any character we want to create. But when it comes to characters, no one wants just a sketch; we want a vibrant and striking cast full of color, depth, and contrast. Diving deeper into character creation is especially important when starting with tropes because the blessing of their familiarity is also a curse; without differentiation, the characters begin to look the same from story to story. But no more. The Character Type and Trope Thesaurus allows you to outline the foundational elements of each trope while also exploring how to individualize them. In this way, you’ll be able to use historically tried-and-true character types to create a cast for your story that is anything but traditional.
The Write Stuff https://marciamearawrites.com/2023/04/07/meettheauthors-smorgasbord-sallycronin/ This morning, I discovered I had the very good fortune to be included in one of Sally Cronin’s lovely “Meet the Authors” posts, along with Debby Geis /D. G. Kaye, and Sharon Marchisello. What a super post, with Sally’s reviews of books by each of the three of us. Hope you’ll stop by to check it out, and perhaps pass it along, too. (I know Debby and Sharon would appreciate that as much as I would.) Thank to Sally for all she does to promote her fellow authors, and for this wonderful post today, too
Legends of Windemere https://legendsofwindemere.com/2023/04/08/spring-break-has-begun/ I thought I knew how I wanted to start this post, but my mind is shot. This is only the third day of Spring Break and I’m tired. In fact, I think I may be more exhausted than when I started. Can’t say I’m surprised because it’s been a busy week even with the last two days being off. First, those last three days of work/school leading into break was utterly crazy. Not that I was surprised. It was also the end of the third quarter, which means everyone was scrambling to get work done. I faced this on two fronts. One was at work when I was in the Testing Center and handling a large flow of test takers. Really happy that those times were only the last two periods of my day while I spent the rest with our Life Skills kids. A little off there due to the schedule, but it was fine. The second front was as a parent with my son having to get a lot of work done. This . . . Had some issues that I found out about later and will have to consider for the future. Of course, this left me too exhausted to write that final section of Darwin & the Demon Game chapter 11. I haven’t had a chance to even remotely tackle it since and I doubt I’ll get a chance until Tuesday evening. I’m going to have to extend my timetable given that 99% possibility and at least one day where I don’t have my son being taken by hanging out with people. I’m thinking I’ll only get 4 of 7 chapters done if I’m lucky. That means I won’t be finishing this book in April, but by mid/late May. I won’t start writing the next one until mid-July either.
Fiction Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/04/07/friday-johnku-aka-tgif-fri-yay-good-news-39/ Today’s good news is a local story about an American hero who lives here in Lakeway. Alan Babin was excited to become a Lakeway resident for many reasons, not the least of which is that he is able to leave his home independently in his wheelchair. The Gary Sinise Foundation gave Babin and his family a smart home in 2018 adapted to his specific needs, a significant gift for the injured U.S. Army corporal who served as a medic in the 82nd Airborne Division. Due to the wounds, he received 20 years ago, he has had to work hard to be able to do many everyday tasks. On March 31st, the city declared it Alan Babin Day in honor of the 20th anniversary of surviving catastrophic wounds during his service in Iraq. Alan was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart for his actions to save another. The proclamation issued by the city tells more of the story. I love to hear these kind of stories!
Have Our Writing Lives Expanded from the Narrow Genres There Used to Be For the Better?
Traci Kenworth
Have our writing lives expanded from the narrow genres there used to be for the better? By which meaning, has moving away from the strictly action, horror, science-fiction, romance, thriller, and fantasy opened up the possibilities for all? Can we explore stories further? Go in new directions? Open those characters up in ways that weren’t possible before?
I think so. Who doesn’t love a little horror in their fantasy? A little action-packed romance? Some thriller with high stakes on another planet? Well, maybe that’s a stretch there. Or it just hasn’t been written yet to my knowledge then again, it might prove a great idea. You never know.
Maybe that’s when reading got more interesting: when the lines started getting blurred between genres. It brings surprise. It brings possibilities. A way for things to unravel. And that’s fun! Not many people like to stick to the dusty stacks of books (although sometimes you can find treasures there!). They’d rather explore the neat, unexpected path of things.
As we branch out in the smudged genres, we learn what works, what doesn’t. We push further. Other ideas occur to us. Other areas open up to us. It becomes a flirtation of sorts to see what goes together. Like different puzzles. Its just like how we test different characters for stories. One might work here, but not there. And so on.
It seems so restrictive to think of keeping a story fitted to one genre in today’s market. Peeks of other genres thread through the majority of what’s out there. Those threads are what keep readers coming back for more. Long after a book’s been read, the story simmers in the reader’s mind. Tantalizing them with visions of other outcomes, that’s often what becomes the seed for the next writer’s session.
The pick of the string and sew it into another story. Over and over, thousands of ideas become more stories. That’s why you don’t have to worry about someone “stealing your idea.” They’ll never have “the same” idea as yours. How many serial killer versions are out there? Killer clowns? Apocalyptic endings? Zombie scourges? Romantic movies? Fantasies on other worlds involving dragons, swordsmen, endless armies, sorcerers and so on?
Have our writing lives expanded from the narrow genres out there for the better, or for worse? You be the judge on your next read!
Happenings: Still, just the swelling going on here otherwise, things are looking better. The HVAC in my car went out and we had to replace that. Oh, what a nightmare it was to drive in the winter storm a day before that because well, work for one of my adult children. With the windshield frozen, there were three near-collisions on one route. Getting home was a tad better but the trauma of the drive left me so shaky. Needless to say, I was willing to get that fixed the next morning to avoid future incidents. We’d already been getting sick because of no heat.
Blog posts around the web you may like:
Life in the Realm of Fantasy https://conniejjasperson.com/2023/03/24/fineartfriday-under-flowering-trees-by-adolf-kaufmann/Artist: Adolf Kaufmann (1848–1916) Title: Under flowering trees Date: before 1916 Medium: oil on canvas Inscription: signed A. Kaufmann What I love about this painting: Kaufmann gives us a beautiful spring day with apple trees and cherry trees in full bloom. The weather is misty, cool and damp the way spring mornings often are here in the Pacific Northwest. Chickens roam the orchard, and two women are digging, breaking the ground for a spring garden. To the left is a weathered building. Is it a barn? Is it their home? It’s hidden behind the shrubbery so it’s difficult to tell, but it has no window, so I think it may be a barn. Nothing is romanticized—we see it the way the artist did on that spring day over a century ago. I love to see her views on paintings. It just brings the piece to life, much like the artist’s brush.
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/03/26/i-tried-negative-word-count/ This is an odd one for me. Basically, I’ve switched to watching almost exclusively Korean shows on Netflix. I like them because they present new ways of looking at things, but still retain a semblance of plot and character growth. They have a lot of fantasy and supernatural tales, and aren’t afraid to dabble in sophomoric humor, so you can further see the appeal to me. I started watching a new one last night involving a fantastic creature trying to become human. At one point he said, “I don’t think like humans.” This stuck with me. When we write, even our aliens and fantastic creatures have to be presented for human readers. We have to put things in their language. However, this could be a relatively cool plot point in itself. I’ve gotten negative growth when I go back through to fix something or I’m stuck on something all together and have to figure a new way to go. It’s tough but sometimes it breaks open the doors.
A Delectable Life https://adelectablelife.com/2023/03/25/weekend-writing-prompt-304-mail/ A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in the comments. Love me the short ones. Thanks for hosting, Sammi!
Roberta Writes https://roberta-writes.com/2023/03/25/roberta-writes-thursday-doors-and-cffc-things-people-drive-cars-trains-planes/Welcome to Thursday Doors! This is a weekly challenge for people who love doors and architecture to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos, drawings, or other images or stories from around the world. If you’d like to join us, simply create your own Thursday Doors post each (or any) week and then share a link to your post in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time). If you like, you can add our badge to your post. You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2023/03/23/some-fun-leftovers/ Cee’s prompt for this week is Things people drive and seeing as most things people drive have doors, I am combining the two prompts this week. You can join in Cee’s challenge here: https://ceenphotography.com/2023/03/21/cffc-things-people-drive/
Smorgasbord Magazine https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2023/03/26/smorgasbord-blog-magazine-podcast-poetry-flash-fiction-seasons-and-murmuration-by-sally-cronin/Seasonsthe seasons of lifeas in nature are definedfrom cradle to graveeach marks the passage of timeto the place we are today. In the spring of my life I was hopeful and eager. In the summer sun I blossomed and thrived. The autumn still offers bright days, but they are tinged with chill winds created by the evil humans can do. I am wary of what winter will bring. It threatens to dilute the hope I still cherish. I question myself can I still find the desire the words and the will to foster warmth in the hearts of those who ride icy winds Murmuration
The Leaning Pile of Books https://www.fantasybookcafe.com/2023/03/the-leaning-pile-of-books-418/The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature in which I highlight books I got over the last week that sound like they may be interesting—old or new, bought or received in the mail for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included, along with series information and the publisher’s book description. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Some of this is a little late since things have been busier than usual (my husband has been recovering from surgery), but better late than never! This weekend’s highlights include two books in the mail, an ebook purchase, and a digital ARC, but first, here is the latest post since one of these features in case you missed it:
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/03/26/what-is-freewriting-6-steps-to-unlocking-your-creativity-by-the-write-life-team/ If you have been lacking creativity in your writing and your work, freewriting might be a technique that gets you back on track. You might have wondered what is freewriting, how it works, and how you can use it to unlock new levels of creativity in your brain. The main idea behind freewriting is that you have all of this creativity hiding behind your conscious brain. Our conscious brains can be a mental bully, telling you that your ideas are silly or that what you have to say is not interesting, so freewriting is a technique that moves your conscious brain out of the way so you can tap into your inner creativity and flow. We so often want the writing to be perfect, but we never focus on getting started. If you relate to that, freewriting might be perfect for you. We will go through all of the above so you can use this helpful practice to bring some creativity back to your writing. I’ve used freewriting before to breakthrough when stuck with my writing. It works wonders.
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/03/25/cant-whine-about-2200-words/ I got up really late this morning. I think my weeks are getting longer and more difficult. Probably a result of aging, but there it is. The morning was loaded with interruptions. I took a call from my daughter, and we have to make some plans for a serious road trip very soon. On top of that, the dogs needed… everything. Seriously, squirrels, the neighbor dog that always leads to a game of chase up the fence, someone walking by the Ring doorbell. If it could interrupt, it did. They’re out there barking at some other dog right now. Still, I’d reached a point in my story where things could just flow. This was Jenny’s interview with the fallen network anchorman, and you can think of it like a mini-mentor scene. I need to put some thought into how the next step is going to unfold, but now there are some tips from this mentor.
Meeka’s Mind https://acflory.wordpress.com/2023/03/24/little-miss-tukti-caught-in-the-act/ The Tukti are vegans, and a staple of their diet is the seed of the plains grass. Unfortunately, the delicate purple flower of the plains grass contains sweet nectar that the little ones love. The nectar is fine for a special treat, but too much can make you sick. Tell that to the kids though! The Little Miss in the image is being naughty… and knows it. She’s so creative!
Fiction Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/03/24/friday-johnku-aka-tgif-fri-yay-good-news-37/ Europe’s love of train travel is about to transform the continent’s solar energy production as the Swiss are set to begin installing solar panels in between train tracks. The startup called Sun-Ways is waiting for a sign-off from the Federal Office of Transport to start installing their panels between the tracks near Buttes Station in the west of the country. With the Swiss national railway network stretching beyond 2,000 miles of track, estimates place the amount of power generation at potentially beyond 1 terawatt hour or 2% of the entire gross annual consumption. “There are over a million kilometers of railway lines in the world,” co-founder Baptiste Danichert tells SWI Swissinfo. “We believe that 50% of the world’s railways could be equipped with our system.” A great way to incorporate solar panels into an economy is to find a place where the flat ground is used by other industries, like canals, pastures, or warehousing. Some companies use solar panels to generate power over agriculture, a strategy called “agrivoltaics” while India and California use their massive canal networks and hot sun to generate power while saving land.
The Beauty of Accepting Ourselves and Others as We Age Within the Pages of Life
Traci Kenworth
Wherever we begin in life, whatever our journey, the beauty of accepting ourselves and others as we age within the pages of life comes after a lifetime. When we’re a bright star burning along that path in the beginning, we don’t consider the whole of it. That is, we don’t think about what we’ve learned, what we’re still learning. We just keep going. Faster and faster. Always the need to keep moving.
But as we relax along that pathway, as we learn to turn the tide, we begin to slow and think about our movements. Where we’ve been, where we’re going. No longer do we thrash about in any direction. We choose one with purpose. Now, we study our whereabouts and begin to plan. That’s how life works. Learning bit by bit as we go. We stumble at first then we eventually learn to hit our stride.
It may take a while, but it’ll happen. When we’re in school, we begin to draw into cliques, into groups of those more like us. Or perhaps, those who can fake it as well as another. We’re all just trying to get by, just trying to find that rug to pull us up to the next level. We do what we can to get into a good college and hope and pray it was the right choice. That we picked the right major.
Nowadays, well at any time, it’s uncertain. Jobs change as fast as light bulbs. One moment we’re one place then another. We’re always searching for security but somehow that never comes. It’s lost alongside anything these days: relationships, dreams, and mortality. We never see a lot of it coming. We just wing it. Sometimes life’s like that bartender you see in the movies, the one who’s always willing to lend an ear.
Except, you don’t quite find those irl. In real life, you rely on a close friend, a good neighbor, or a family member. In years past, it might’ve been a clergy person. Although some of us might still attend church, we don’t often confide in another there for fear of reproachment. I’ve had a pastor wife condemn me after finding out that I write horror. It turned me off the whole church experience.
Not that I don’t believe in God or Jesus if you’ve read any of my other posts. I just remember that he said that his church is not confined by a building but by the people within. So, maybe that’s what we should do: take a look around at the people around us. Consider who’s trustworthy. Although, hopefully, they wouldn’t be in your life if they weren’t.
Accepting those around us may take a bit of time. Just the same as it does for accepting the flaws about ourselves that linger despite our best efforts. It takes work. I do think it’s easier to accept weakness in others rather than in ourselves however. Maybe because it doesn’t take us as much work. Instead, we either agree or don’t with the other’s changes.
It may be hard to get past the hurts they’ve caused. And I’m not suggesting if they’ve done something reprehensible to stick around. No, I’m talking about smaller things. Arguments. Disagreements on politics, religion, whatever. Things that can be talked through. Or, at the very least, set aside. Sometimes, it’s not possible to discuss these with individuals. You have to decide whether to just move on to dropping that piece from your get-togethers.
You might not like the subject but you’ve got to let go of the block if you want a relationship with that individual. Because, at some point, you need to realize you’re not going to change their mind. They are going to be who they’re going to be. Just like you. It’s here where you decide whether to support each other no matter what.
The beauty of accepting others as we age within the pages of life is up to us, win or fail. No matter what happens, we must agree to that. Each of us is allowed our own mind, our own thoughts, our own rules. Come what may. We take what comes and move on with our lives, knowing we’re at peace with our decisions.
Happenings: It’s been a while. Sorry about that. A lot has happened. For instance, the stress tests showed there was no evidence of congestive heart failure. I did have fluid on the heart and legs though. And although they said my tests were “perfect,” there was still a concern. My heartbeat was really, really fast. They put me on a beta blocker in addition to the water pills and Jardiance. Also, during all these tests, they mentioned that the tests showed I’d had a heart attack previously. I believe that all went back to the end of Jan. when I was in bed for days. I had flu-like symptoms but I knew there was something more going on with my body, it just didn’t feel right, and that is a sign of a silent heart attack. I also think it all came about because of a decongestant someone I knew recommended I take because I was having trouble with my sinuses at the time. Turns out, decongestants can spike your heartbeat, my heart doctor said. He also said there was no sign of damage to my heart which is good news. From the end of Jan. on, my head had been so confused and foggy and I found myself dazing off quite a bit, unable to hold a conversation, this is what caused me to seek medical help in the first place. Turns out this was a side effect of the decongestant as well. It was so bad it had roughened up my lungs and brought on the cough which made them think I had water on my lungs. Once that was out of my system, I felt like myself more and more. It’s been different getting used to the new meds and no-salt routine but I’m getting better and better. So, yeah, another loop in what I thought was going on and had been told was going on, now straightened out.
Some things around the web to check out:
Writers Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.net/2023/03/fear-thesaurus-entry-conditional-love/ Debilitating fears are a problem for everyone, an unfortunate part of the human experience. Whether they’re a result of learned behavior as a child, are related to a mental health condition, or stem from a past wounding event, these fears influence a character’s behaviors, habits, beliefs, and personality traits. The compulsion to avoid what they fear will drive characters away from certain people, events, and situations and hold them back in life. In your story, this primary fear (or group of fears) will constantly challenge the goal the character is pursuing, tempting them to retreat, settle, and give up on what they want most. Because this fear must be addressed for them to achieve success, balance, and fulfillment, it plays a pivotal part in both the character arc and the overall story. This thesaurus explores the various fears that might be plaguing your character. Use it to understand and utilize fears to fully develop your characters and steer them through their story arc. Please note that this isn’t a self-diagnosis tool. Fears are common in the real world, and while we may at times share similar tendencies as characters, the entry below is for fiction writing purposes only. Fear of Being Loved Conditionally Notes Conditional love has to be earned through performance or achievements. A character who has experienced love in this way is likely to develop certain habits that they believe will ensure the acceptance of others. They may also perceive their value as being tied to certain behaviors or successes. These thought patterns and actions may continue to plague the character even after they’ve recognized that this kind of love is unhealthy and they want no part of it.
Smorgasbord Magazine https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2023/03/11/smorgasbord-book-promotions-book-review-ya-dystopian-the-insurgent-the-colony-series-book-2-by-teri-polen/ If a megalomaniac threatened your family, would you give up your freedom for them? Would you give up your soul? Asher Solomon is faced with that choice. And makes the ultimate sacrifice. Exactly as Director Silas Reeves expected him to. Unable to live as the Colony’s premier assassin, Ash retreats to a corner of his mind, ceding control of his body to the alter-ego he was engineered to be—Subject A36. As he’s unleashed to battle the Insurgents, the only family he ever knew, the tide of war shifts in Silas’s favor. Combined with his expansion into new territories, the director is poised to take over the world. But the Insurgents don’t give up easily. Not on their cause, and not on their people. With the help of a few double agents deep in the Colony, they stand a fighting chance at ending Silas’s reign. In order to shut down the program, they face almost insurmountable odds. And their most dangerous foe—their former champion turned killing machine, A36. Still have to get around to reading these! Sounds terrifying!
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/03/11/still-fumbling/ I decided to work on Percy the Space Chimp today. Getting both of these stories flowing has taken me more time than I anticipated. Honestly, since Percy involves a sequel, I thought it would be up and running a little faster. I feel the need to at least do some minor reintroductions of the characters because there could be someone out there who reads them months apart. Prejudice is one thing that kind of sets Percy off, so that’s where I went. It allowed me to revisit his relationship with Buffer Dole, and the clones got some page time, too. They managed to obtain their course from the spy network and avoided throttling the crap out of some people. All I have to do is get them to their ship and send them into the unclaimed part of the galaxy.
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/03/11/how-to-slay-others-with-your-writing-guest-post-by-traci-kenworth/ How to slay others with your writing comes with practice and confidence in yourself and in your writing. When you’re younger, you stumble down the road not sure where to go, or what to see in life. That’s why experienced writers have always recommended to those coming after them, for the others to take their time, and watch the swans in the pond. Dream. Dreaming helps whet that appetite. What appetite you ask? Why the one for making writing more than just a pit stop. The more you do something, the more you learn. That’s a truth universal. We don’t want to believe it’s that easy. We insist there must be some secret that the big writers are keeping from us. Some magic they found along the way. And there is: it’s called butt-in-the-chair. You keep at it. Even when it’s tough. No matter how much you feel like giving up. You don’t. You go on. You keep on. Even when it’s hard. Despite wanting to throw away the manuscript, you fight the urge. And gently tuck it away. Wait. Pull it forth. Begin again after you’ve given it some distance. The distance helps. It helps you take stock of things you couldn’t when you were too close to things. That’s how you get through. Make progress. One step at a time. Sort of like life. You learn new techniques as you go about the process. Marketing. Interviews. Small time at this point, of course, but hey, they lead to notice and notice is what you want and someday those small times will come in handy. Blogging is a good thing to have a go at. Couldn’t resist!
Myths of the Mirror https://mythsofthemirror.com/2023/03/11/the-zone-2/ I don’t know about you, but for me, the creative process requires a lengthy visit to “The Zone.” If you’re an artist of any kind, you probably know what I’m talking about, surely sense the obsessive urge, the quiver of excitement at the prospect of exploring undiscovered shores. My creative muse resides there, tantalizing and intoxicating, and she demands my undivided attention. I love each foray into the Zone—despite its consumption of my life. It’s creative gluttony, stuffing my face with words, gobbling down characters, disgorging pathos. When I dive into the Zone, I’m not myself. I’m immersed in my craft, drowning in a taste of pure manna like an addict. The rest of the world fades into the hazy horizon as the Zone awakens that right brain craving. As a writer, this is especially true during my first draft when a story takes shape. Within the Zone, unfamiliar scenes tap from my fingertips and uncooperative characters demand a voice. A fickle wind pushes my plot, requiring vigilance to stay on course. As an adventurer, I’m on my own, trying to make sense of an untold tale before I return to my ordinary life, take a long overdue shower…wash loads of stinky laundry…vacuum blankets of dog hair…make dinner for a gaunt spouse surviving on snack food. Oh, I SO LOVE the zone! It is candy for writers! A place where literally anything can happen and does in creation and the writer is frantic to get said down.
Stream of Consciousness https://johnwhowell.com/2023/03/11/stream-of-consciousness-saturday-prompt-mat-met-mitt-mot-mutt/ My cup runneth over mainly because an accidental hit of the brew button brought three instead of two 5 oz servings. Luckily the machine has a drain, or the tsunami of caffeine would be on the floor. So the absorbent mat that is in reserve will not be necessary. Sipping the life fluid reminds me of last week’s arrival of too many Warner Brothers look-alikes for comfort. The grey rabbit said there was going to be a circus. An inquiry to the city assured me that no permit was necessary if it was held on my property, and no entrance fees were charged. We met in person so that the possibility of talking them into a restraining order could have happened. The mutt of a compliance officer refused to prevent what will no doubt become mayhem. In deep thought, the thirty-story falling piano crash of the doorbell jerked me back to reality. It also set off a round of barking, cracking every mirror in the house. A toss of my old baseball mitt causes Lucy and Twiggy to think a sheep is loose in the place and brings the silence of chasing the lambs. “Who is there,” is the inquiry through the Ring doorbell.” “C’est Moi. Phiil Harris.” As I told John, I really enjoy these Looney Tunes scenarios.
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/03/12/writing-female-characters-in-fantasy-guest-post-by-jaq-d-hawkins/ It has become cliché that male writers are notoriously bad at writing female characters, especially in the Fantasy genre, but are female writers any better? This question came to mind because I often find female characters in novels written by women writers this century as either totally airheads or unrealistically badass. Two of my own free-spirited female characters (in different books) have taken some review criticism for behaving, quite honestly, more realistically. One was a goblin character, Talla, who comes from a culture where there is a shortage of females and a need to breed more younglings. It seemed only natural to me that in such a circumstance, the female goblins would be given sexual choice and would be free of the restrictions that human religions impose on women and girls. These are people who live close to nature. Observe any species in the wild and the goblin society reflects similar characteristics, including a certain freeform breeding culture. As suggested, culture as well as weather matter. Someone in a snowfilled environment would wear layers. Unless, of course, they had some type of jewelry or armor that melted the snow.
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/03/5-reasons-your-amazon-ads-arent-drawing-in-readers/ With new books of every genre being added to Amazon daily, it’s crucial that you understand what makes for good book promotion on the platform and what you can be doing better. A lot of authors begin an Amazon ad campaign without learning trends, updates, and all that goes into a well-performing campaign. Through the thousands of ad campaigns I’ve managed, I’ve learned quite a bit about this specific marketing art form. And I’ve pulled the top reasons that authors’ ads fail to draw in more readers or end up costing more than they’re worth. You Don’t Have Enough Keywords In order to gain traction, you need to start with a high number of keywords. Just five keywords aren’t going to cut it. My recommendation is 300 – 400 keywords, and if that number made you gasp, then consider this: I don’t need you to find 400 unique keywords. I need you to find 100 – 150 and save them as different match types. So, you’ll be saving them as broad, exact, and phrase matches, which will allow you to watch and see how the same keyword does under these different match types. You’re Using the Wrong Keywords or Keyword Blends Whenever I pull together keywords for an author’s ad campaign, I do so with keywords I find right on the Amazon site. I don’t use software or shortcuts. Finding keywords that are already trending on Amazon is a great way to dip into consumer trends, too, which is something that software often doesn’t capture. The other issue is the blend of keywords versus book titles and author names. If I’m working with a fiction book, I’m doing 80% book titles and author names and 20% of keywords. If I’m working on an ad set for non-fiction books, the numbers are reversed. So, I do 80% keywords and 20% book titles and authors. My reasoning is that a consumer searching for a non-fiction book is searching for a specific topic or benefits of a topic. A reader looking for their next great fiction read is looking at genre (and this is where your product placement ads can really do well), but they’re also looking for authors similar to ones they’ve already read work from.
Story Empire blog https://storyempire.com/2023/03/10/celebrate-the-day-of-awesomeness/ Hi SEers. John with you on this TGIF Fri-Yay. This is the second time in a row I had planned to do more on humor but found something a little better. Do you know what day this is? This is the Day of Awesomeness. That’s right, March 10 is a day to recognize and celebrate awesomeness wherever you find it. For those of us who still work at home, awesomeness might be found on that beautiful couch that calls our name at about two o’clock. Or maybe it’s that special cup of coffee that can only come from the most awesome beans and machine. It could even be super quiet that descends upon your workplace after all those annoying co-habitues depart for the day. For those of us who work at an employer’s location, awesomeness may be found in catching the elevator and finding it empty. Or maybe the last person actually made a new pot of coffee, and it is fresh and hot and waiting for you. How about the boss approving your request for one work-at-home day a week and will leave the choice of the day up to you? Those of us who don’t work awesomeness might be found enjoying an extra cup of coffee while finishing a blueberry scone. Maybe it’s going to the store and being the first person in the checkout line. Could also be going to the library and finding that number one best seller is available to check out. For we writer’s awesomeness can be found in a finely turned sentence. Or maybe in that plot twist just created. Or how about seeing your latest book for sale on Amazon.
Meeka’s Mind https://acflory.wordpress.com/2023/03/09/backup-backup-backup/ I confess, I’ve been very, very lucky. I haven’t been doing my backups as often as I should, but last night I backed up ALL my most important works-in-progress. Lady Luck must have been looking out for me because when I booted up my pc this morning, the hard drive on which I usually save all my data was…’ inaccessible’. When I looked at the map of my hard drives [I have two], my data drive didn’t even have the NTFS operating system structure. I had to format the drive in order to be able to use it again. Needless to say, I won’t be using it for anything critical from here on in. Once I can afford to have another one installed, it’ll be gone. I have lost some data, including the most recent pics used in my blog, and a heap of raw footage from videos I’ve worked on, but at least all of that stuff was completed. The pics were uploaded to WordPress and the finished videos were uploaded to Youtube so I haven’t lost anything critical. That’s why I say I’ve been so lucky; if this had happened a few days earlier, I would have lost a week’s worth of video-in-progress. And if I hadn’t backed up last night… -shudder- In case you’re wondering, I backup periodically to an external harddrive that can take masses of data. In between times, I backup work-in-progress data to a thumb drive that sits on my desk all the time and is quick and easy to use. Unfortunately, I don’t back up data often enough.
Diving into the depths of genres brings more treasure than we could hope. How can we know what our characters will do till we bring them to that breaking point? That path that they can’t return from. They can start off as the mildest person but by the end of the story be full of a fiery passion to complete their purpose for the story. And they do have a purpose for the story. Every character does or they shouldn’t be there.
Now, of course, there are background “noise” characters as I call them that are just there to take up the sounds around them and bring the scene to life. They aren’t developed beyond that. Other characters, however, even side ones, need a purpose, a goal within a story. Even if it’s just to steal the gardener’s keys while his back is turned.
Going deep into anything in stories involves the characters. They are the heart and soul of the piece. Without them, there wouldn’t be a story. Think of some of your favorites. Alec from The Black Stallion series. Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Laura Ingalls Wilder. The Walking Dude. Ticktock. Joanna and Windhawk. The Dark Horseman. The list can go on and on. I know some of my likes might not be yours. And I know there are controversies with some of the authors of these characters.
But rather than throw away that individual, I’d educate their readers as well as them if they were still living. I don’t like to waste. During the time periods we live, certain viewpoints are often held. That’s not to say that those viewpoints are right but we should work on correcting them rather than brushing them aside to history. People rant about history being lost. Well, it will be. If we don’t learn to meet each other in the middle and find compromises.
We can’t pretend America’s history didn’t happen anymore than any other country in the world can pretend theirs doesn’t exist. What we can do is pick up the pieces, teach each other how to respect and care for each other. Building a bridge doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. A lot of listening. Working together to get it right. But we can do it.
Diving into the depths of genres is easy, if you know what’s gone before. That’s why we need to both pay attention to history and bring a sprinkling of what we’ve learned in these ages into them. We can’t suddenly have a person from the 1800s spouting modern views but we can have them unsettled by slavery, the treatment of American Indians of the time, and more. Women didn’t gain their rights at the snap of their fingers and we won’t change someone’s opinion if their bound and determined against it but we can sneak a little education in there that might light a spark.
I know there are those out there who use the brainwashing word but it’s not. Brainwashing is something much different. Talking about circumstances openly should be invited by all not shuttered behind religion or politics. I think it’s just wrong for our children to only be educated to one side of history’s view. We’re all going to walk the same streets in Heaven. Jesus didn’t discriminate. Neither should we.
Happenings: Well, turns out I was allergic to that first water pill they gave me. So my heart doctor prescribed another that is working well as a double dose. He also prescribed a med for my heart failure that is working wonderfully as well. I have to go in for an Echo II next Mon. and then follow with a stress test the following Mon. I had to work around our schedules for the tests. I don’t have to prep for the Echo II but the Stress Test restricts me from any caffeine 24 hours before as well as I have to fast from midnight the night before. I am feeling much better except for my lungs. That is still causing me to sleep and cough and congest badly right now. Inhalers are outs, and asthma meds are ready.
Some links around the web that you may like:
Legends of Windemere https://legendsofwindemere.com/2023/02/11/goal-post-not-bad-but-still-came-up-short-a-bit/?blogsub=confirming#subscribe-blog I need to reevaluate my writing ability and speed. My goal was to write chapters 6 and 7 of Darwin & the Demon Game. I missed the mark by one section, which is rather frustrating. To be fair, I lost most of Saturday to a plumbing emergency in the morning and then a doctor’s appointment that went into the early afternoon. By the time I finished lunch, it was nearly 3 PM. So, I could only get one section of chapter 6 done. Managed to get 3 done on Sunday and was home sick on Tuesday to get another under my belt. Pushed me too far and that was it for me. Maybe I’ll finish chapter 7 on Monday night and then I’ll be ready for next weekend . . . Won’t hold my breath. The problem I keep running into is that I wear down mentally and physically fairly quickly. I thought it was because of the sleeping issues, but I’m starting to wonder if something else is going on. I mean, doing a full day of writing never used to phase me, but now it leaves me dragging the next day. The weather might be a factor too. Yet, none of this was going on prior to me catching Covid in the summer. It’s possible that my brain is still foggy, which is combined with anxiety-induced insomnia. I mean, I can’t recall ideas as well as I used to. Really need my notes these days. It scares me that I simply can’t be an author anymore. Not like I’ve felt like one in years since nothing sells and nobody seems genuinely interested in my books. Charles has built a series of books, I believe, based on Dungeon and Dragons characters he and his friends played years ago that he has continued to develop. Give them a try!
Life in the Realm of Fantasy https://conniejjasperson.com/2023/02/15/characterization-part-4-doling-out-the-backstory-amwriting/ Every story has a past, a present, and hopefully, a future. The past shapes what we know as the here and now. The past also gives history to our characters, so when they first step onto the page, they are formed in the author’s mind and ready to begin their journey. Every writer knows the backstory is what tells us who the characters are as people and why they’re the way they are. At the beginning of our career, it seems logical to inform the reader of that history upfront. “Before you can understand that, you need to know this.” As we progress, we learn not to drop the history of the intended conflict in the first five pages of a novel or to waste the first three paragraphs of a short story on it. We understand that those are the pages and paragraphs editors look at first. From those pages, acquisitions editors will decide whether or not to continue reading the submission. For those of us planning to go the indie route, those first five pages are what the prospective buyer sees in the “look inside” option when buying an eBook. For us, the prospective reader is the acquisition editor. They will buy the book if they like what they see on those pages. Walls of fictional history muck up the transitions and negate our hooks. We know that infodumps block the doors from one scene to the next. It is hard to learn at first how much backstory to put in and how much to leave out and when and where throughout the story. Her guidelines here help.
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/five-ways-helping-other-writers-helps-you/ One thing I’ve always liked about writers is that most of us tend to see other authors as our comrades, rather than our competition. We like to share ideas and lessons we’ve learned along our journeys through the literary landscape. Instead of putting others down, writers lift each other up. We’re a community. That’s what Writers in the Storm Blog and other resources like it are all about. They’re about writers helping other writers to elevate their skills and achieve their goals. But what’s in it for us? How does helping others help us reach our own goals? Let’s look at some of the benefits we reap by helping others. How We Can Help Each OtherRead and Review One of the best ways to help writers, especially independent authors, is to read their books and then take the time to post an honest review. The more reviews a book gets, the more likely it is it will be pushed and promoted by the algorithms. Identify yourself as a fellow writer in the review. Give the author some encouragement and then give some real feedback. Be honest but tactful. Most writers would rather have honest reviews than a bunch of empty ratings, even if they are five stars. The benefit to you comes in a couple of ways. A well-written review will often catch the eye of the author and in some cases, they will feel compelled to reciprocate. They may even reach out to you and ask for permission to use your words in their promotions. This can lead to wider exposure for you. Readers also look at reviews when deciding whether to buy a book or not. A well-written review may lead them to put your name in a search engine and check your offerings out as well. This is one of the things I believe is most important about writing: helping other writers out. All writers who’ve come before we have.
Books and Such https://teripolen.com/2023/02/16/the-things-we-do-to-our-friends-by-heather-darwent-bookreview-psychologicalthriller-suspense/She’s an outsider desperate to belong, but the cost of entry might be her darkest secret in this intoxicating debut of literary suspense following a clique of dangerously ambitious students at the University of Edinburgh.Edinburgh, Scotland: a moody city of labyrinthine alleyways, oppressive fog, and buried history; the ultimate destination for someone with something to hide. Perfect for Clare, then, who arrives utterly alone and yearning to reinvent herself. And what better place to conceal the dark secrets in her past than at the university in the heart of the fabled, cobblestoned Old Town?When Clare meets Tabitha, a charismatic, beautiful, and intimidatingly rich girl from her art history class, she knows she’s destined to be friends with her and her exclusive circle: raffish Samuel; shrewd Ava; and pragmatic Imogen. Clare is immediately drawn into their libertine world of sophisticated dinner parties and summers in France. The new life she always envisioned for herself has seemingly begun.And then Tabitha reveals a little project she’s been working on, one that she needs Clare’s help with. Even though it goes against everything Clare has tried to repent for. Even though their intimacy begins to darken into codependence. But as Clare starts to realize just what her friends are capable of, it’s already too late. Because they’ve taken the plunge. They’re so close to attaining the things they want. And there’s no going back.What is the cost of an extraordinary life if others have to pay? Reimagining the classic themes of obsession and striving with an original and sinister edge, The Things We Do to Our Friends is a seductive thriller about the toxic battle between those who have, and those who covet–between the desire to truly belong, and the danger of being truly known.
Rosie Amber https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2023/02/17/%f0%9f%93%9athe-perfect-husband-georgiarosebook-reviews-thriller-bethulia-by-thornemoore-for-rosies-bookreview-team-rbrt-booktwitter/ Bethulia has at its heart the story of three women, Alison, Jude and Danny, and one man, Simon. The women are lifelong friends and until Simon came along and married Alison, inseparable. Alison dies, apparently by taking her own life, and Jude arrives at the airport to be greeted by a distraught Danny who confirms the news. This bond between the women quickly breaks down when it is revealed that Danny had a brief fling with Simon while he was married to Alison. Jude is then quick to console the widower, getting close to him before Danny has any chance to rekindle their relationship. Among all of these characters, and others is DC Rosanna Quillan who, from experience and her own trauma, doesn’t believe that Alison killed herself. But how can she prove it? This story is deceptive because it appears to be straightforward. Until it isn’t. I don’t want to go into all the whys and wherefores as to what happens as that will spoil it for any future reader and you really do want to come into this book with fresh eyes. Suffice to say the writing is excellent, the characters totally believable, and the planning and plotting terrific. The pages keep turning because you want to find out the truth and it will keep you guessing as to what the characters are up to. Highly recommended for everyone who enjoys exciting, pacey storytelling.
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/02/17/confusion-in-writing-and-how-you-can-solve-the-problems-by-derek-haines/ All writers know that confusion in writing can cause a lot of annoyance or frustration for readers. When parts of a text are unclear or difficult to understand, it weakens your message or story. However, most of the leading causes of confusion are usually relatively easy to fix. The key to solving most problems, and keeping your readers engaged, is knowing where to look. In This Article Causes of confusion in writing Some things I’ve had to learn the hard way.
Charles French Words Reading and Writing https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/2023/02/18/harried-heron/ Please enjoy these wonderful photographs from Cindy Knoke! Doesn’t appreciate the prickly bird guard. But herons, are not deterred, by thorns. They dance on them! Other critters, will shy away, but herons are here to stay! Cheers to you from the thorn-dancing egrets~ Note: Snowy Egrets are members of the Heron family.
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/02/17/blech/ I’ve spent the last two days sick. Seems like some kind of head cold. At this point, whatever I might have accomplished over the weekend could be on hold. I feel bad because I have plenty of tasks at the office but just couldn’t get there. I have a new book to read and might have to limit my activities to that. Hopefully, I’ll be fine when it’s time to return to work on Tuesday. No telling how I’ll feel tomorrow, so I have no plan at all. In other news, I’ve always liked cars. I typically use them to define characters for those who populate my books. Long-term readers will remember Clovis’s GTO, or Ray’s bagger Harley, among others. It’s always nice to have a source to pull from. This is my car’s Pinterest Board https://pin.it/4TpJxxR Maybe it will inspire something you’re writing. Something’s going around for sure!
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/writing-how-to-create-characters-your-readers-love-and-hate/ You can create charming good guys and vicious villains, the hookiest of hooks, brilliant worlds, and twisty plots with the most intense cliffhangers, but if readers don’t care about your characters, they won’t recommend your book to their friends. Or worse, they’ll put the book down and never buy your books ever again. Why would they do that? Because they didn’t connect with your protagonist, antagonist, or viewpoint characters. Your reader wants to connect with at least one of those characters. They open the book wanting to love or hate your characters. But creating characters your readers connect with takes work. What makes readers not care? It could be one of several problems. We just had this discussion kind of on Books and Such above with Teri’s review of a book she read. Dig in and learn these powerful lessons!
From the Pen of Mae Clair https://maeclair.net/2023/02/13/book-reviews-by-mae-clair-if-cats-disappeared-from-the-world-by-genki-kawamura-the-villa-by-rachel-hawkins/ Happy Monday! I’m kicking off the week with two book reviews. Both of these stories are exquisite reads. I was drawn to the first by the title and the second by the blurb, which promised a story “inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein.” I found them both engrossing, but will let you be the judge . . . Ergh, I can’t even imagine a world without cats. Hopefully, we’ll never have to find out. Check these book reviews out!
Why We’re Content with Love to Change as a Book Ages
Traci Kenworth
I’ve been reading and downright enjoying the Sarah J. Maas series “The Throne of Glass.” It is a vast and comprehensive world of both light and darkness. It is the story of Celaena Sardothien or as her real name comes to be revealed: Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius. She is a Fae princess stuck in a human body when the story begins. I don’t really want to get into revealing too much of the story for some who haven’t read this excellent series. What I wanted to discuss is why we’re content with love to change as a book ages.
By which, I mean, there are different choices/different triangles as the story moves along. You wouldn’t think this would be a good move but surprisingly, it works really well for the characters involved because as you would expect: life changes and so should relationships. When we first meet Celaena, she is enamored of the prince who rescued her from a prison of darkness and pain. He is the son of the King who murdered her family and wiped out her bloodline. His name is Prince Dorian. He is charming and smart, a bit of a ladies’ man as can be expected of that type of character.
There is nothing serious between the two. At least, on Celaena’s part as she recognizes she could never belong in his world. She finds the gruff bodyguard of the prince, Chaol, more intriguing. He will not make a move on her, however, as long as Dorian is in the picture because Dorian is also his best friend, and future sworn King.
When Dorian comes to the slow, painful realization that Celaena won’t ever love him back as more than a friend, he steps aside so that she and Chaol can be together. Full of guilt, they begin a love affair too late as Celaena has won the title of King’s Champion (or Assassin) to free herself of the prison forever and now must go about doing the King’s business. But true to her character, there is a façade to her actual deeds that Chaol doesn’t see. He only sees her as a threat to his prince.
To protect her and his prince, he petitions the king to send her to another land for an assignment. The King is only too willing as he believes it will wipe out two of his enemies. While there, she learns about her Fae heritage and how to bring it to the forefront with the help of Prince Rowan. As much as she hates him for the physical and emotional challenges he throws at her, she begins to fall for him as well.
Each of the relationships she goes through is different, unique. I think that’s what makes them believable, sustainable in each case. She’s not just throwing men aside to be with them. She truly cares about each of them. And they in return, care about her. I’m not saying there’s no jealousy between the men. There most certainly is but they work through it and get to a different spectrum of the their relationship with her.
And we, the reader, can see why she falls for each of them and in return, why she passes on the ones before Rowan. I’ve never read a series like this. Where you actually go through the fall and breakup with the character and then the new bud of another relationship instead of the Twilightish triangle/till death to us part ideal.
This just works better. Like I said, it shows more real life. You don’t always stay with one person forever from your teens on up. Things change. We change. Partners change. We’re human. We grow. Interests go in different directions. Sometimes we realize how unsuited we are to that person. When the right one comes along, he doesn’t try and change her. He accepts her, both her human and Fae sides unlike the others did. We can see why he is “the one.”
Have you seen this in other series? I’m quite a fan of it, I think. I haven’t considered it in my own work, but I might in the future. Sarah J. Maas has definitely won me over as a fan for life with these books. Her style is very elegant and yet old world casual, if that makes sense. Her world and the characters in it are so deep and satisfying. I haven’t finished the final book in the series yet but I’m looking forward to seeing how she ties it all together.
Happenings: I’m just beginning to get over a viral infection that kept me out of the mix for a couple weeks straight including through my birthday. I was able to get my new plates and my license. So often in the past, I used to shudder at my photo and I admit though I’m not actually thrilled with this one, it is more me. At least, more of the “me” than the glossed-up, trying to be someone I’m not image. Appearances shouldn’t have to be fussed over and be faked to matter. This one was more recognizable to me because I see her when I look in the mirror more and more. Aging has been hard. Women don’t like to look all wrinkled and chewed up by life’s wear but that’s what happens to us all. Eventually, we turn into our aunts or grandmothers or uncles, or fathers. It’s just the way it is. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Youth is meant for the pretty, the more graceful. I’ll take my dents.
Some links around the web you might enjoy:
The Bee Writes.com https://the-bee-writes.com/2023/01/28/not-wanting-to-see-nicht-sehen-wollen/ Yesterday’s Holocaust Memorial Day quote brought back the realization of how easily we humans fall for propaganda. Many Germans after the war said “We didn’t know” but I assume what they meant was “We didn’t want to know,” because knowing is uncomfortable. Knowing asks us to act. Knowing asks for sacrifices of us. Knowing asks “Who am I really”. This is a topic that makes me worry for all of us. Who are we when no one is looking? Do we hide our real selves and join the crowd? Do we shrink and try to hide from the violence of what’s shown in the daylight? Only we can answer that question. We pray we would do the right thing but how many would turn aside when one of their loved ones was threatened? It’s a scary thought for all to answer. And why we might bellow of course how we’d react, we wouldn’t actually know until those circumstances impacted us.
Robbie’s Inspiration https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/2023/01/28/robbies-inspiration-a-poem-on-vocal-and-a-poem-for-tanka-tuesday-poetry-poetrychallenge/ Vocal is running a poetry challenge with the theme of Uncommon – write a poem about something rare. I wasn’t going to participate as I couldn’t think of anything I fancied writing about until yesterday when I discovered Eleanor, the hadeda, had come into my office for a visit. I thought that was quite rare, I’ve never had a hadeda come inside before and I’ve lived in my current home near a bird sanctuary for nearly 20 years. These are the pictures that inspired my poem, The Visitor. You can read the poem on Vocal and if you have a few extra minutes you can register on the site and leave a like and/or comment for me. Or you can just leave a comment here.
Fiction Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/01/30/the-last-drive-tour-with-annette-rochelle-aben/ Annette can be described as a Communicator, WordSmith, Artist, Guide, Mentor, and Muse. She is all of these things. As a communicator, she is a trained radio broadcaster and has a blog talk radio show. Her wordsmith moniker is proven by the fact she has a daily blog and has written 20 titles which are available on Amazon. Her artistic talent can be seen in her Zazzle store. Here is the link http://www.zazzle.com/annetteaben. As a mentor and guide, Annette has developed the concept of Attitude with Gratitude. She shows folks how to approach life in a way that produces happiness. You can visit several examples of her teachings HERE. As a muse, Annette invites everyone to her blog with these works. “In addition to writing, I am completely in love with Angels, cooking, making jewelry, photography, cats, listening to music, and laughing! Perhaps we have something in common, if so, leave me a comment, and let’s connect.” Annette os a wonderful host! I’m sure John would agree as he visits with her today to discuss his latest book. I find the idea of being able to choose which state perhaps you’d like to visit in the after life fascinating.
Story Empire https://storyempire.com/2023/01/30/when-the-words-stop/ Hi SEers! Denise here to talk about when a story hits some unexpected roadwork and comes grinding to a halt. The ideas and words flow until that one day, and they don’t. It’s like riding in a convertible, watching the sunset on a warm summer evening. A cool breeze is blowing the story onto your computer screen or paper. Everything is right in your world until that one moment when you see a stop sign ahead, and everything suddenly stops. A lot of times, like Diane said, the best thing to do is set it aside and come back to it. You’re going to beat it to death if you just keep fooling with it until it’s ready. I’ve done this before with the research to, thinking something was true when it wasn’t.
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/01/28/a-different-angle-on-editing/ I’m down to the final reading of each manuscript. This is something I always do, but since I have three, there might be an option. Today, I started out reading one chapter, then switching stories to do the same thing. Right now, I’m up to about seven on each story. I did this, because when I get into the tale, I start enjoying it, then I miss things. I have no illusions about missing something. There’s always some stupid thing that gets published. t honestly feels like it’s working better to do it this way. Doubt I’ll ever have three finished stories at the same time again, but this one time it feels right. I’ve read recently from an editor’s opinion and I think it’s true that no matter how many times you write a book or go through the editing process, each will be different. Because they have to be. You learn stuff. You apply stuff. And then you pull together all that you’ve learned.
Writer’s Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.net/2023/01/how-does-internal-conflict-fit-into-the-characters-arc/ If you’re writing a story in which your character will need to evolve internally to achieve his goal, a cohesive and well-planned character arc will be vital to its success. This type of arc (a change arc) requires internal conflict, which will provide opportunities for your character to adapt and grow. But first, let’s quickly summarize what the change arc is and what it looks like. At their heart, most stories boil down to a simple formula: It’s a story about A (the character) who wants B (goal/outer motivation) because Y (inner motivation). That Y explains why the character so desperately wants to achieve the goal. If you look at the movie Groundhog Day, Phil Connors (A) wants to win Rita’s love (B) so he can find meaning in an utterly meaningless life (Y). This example shows how the character’s outer and inner motivations work together in the story. The outer conflict is the main external thing keeping the character from his goal. Phil’s conflict comes in the form of the supernatural forces that have him reliving the same day over and over, making it virtually impossible to get Rita to fall in love with him. But what internal conflictor struggle does Phil experience throughout the story? Or, as Michael Hauge puts it in Writing Screenplays that Sell: What is standing in the way of the character achieving real self-worth as he pursues his inner motivation?In Phil’s case, he simply loves himself too much to love anyone else. This is why his initial attempts to win Rita’s heart fail—not because of time limitations but because his motives are selfish. She sees him for the pretentious, condescending, self-absorbed prat he’s always been, so he has to resort to deception and trickery to achieve his goal. And it never works.
Life in the Realm of Fantasy https://conniejjasperson.com/2023/01/30/heroes-and-villains-part-2-who-are-they-and-why-should-we-care-amwriting/ When we begin planning a novel, we might have the plot for an award-winning narrative in our head and an amazing cast of characters eager to leap onto the page. But until we know who the hero and the antagonist are when they are off duty, we don’t really know them. And until we know what they want, we have no story. No matter what genre we write in, when we design the story, we build it around a need that must be fulfilled, a quest of some sort. For the protagonist, the quest is the primary goal. But they must also have secrets, underlying motives not explicitly stated at the outset. The supporting characters also have agendas, and their involvement in that storyline is affected by their personal ambitions and desires. Our task is to ensure that each of our characters’ stories intersect seamlessly. Motivations must be clearly defined. We must know how the person thinks and reacts as an individual. To that end, we assign verbs, action words that reflect their gut reactions. What drives them? This is where we give them a void, a lack or loss that colors their personality. We assign nouns that describe their personalities. Finally, we ask ourselves, “What are their moral boundaries, and what is out of character for them?” Good questions! I love that she says, “Until we know who our character is off duty, we can’t know them.”
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/ 2023/02/7-tips-for-a-dose-of-relatable-dimension-to-your-character/ by Miffie Seideman As authors, we know our characters need to be multi-dimensional, with emotions, characteristic traits, backstories, and flaws that speak to our readers. So, we spend countless hours designing characters. A number of great tips can be found in these previous posts for creating characters that are genuine, strong, or stand out. One additional way to create a relatable character with dimension is to give them a simple trait, quirk, or habit—one that resonates with readers. Just a little something to bring the character off the page and make them memorable. For example, what quirks, traits, or habits come to mind when you think of these characters? The Joker (in the Joker) Jem (To Kill a Mocking Bird) Haymich Abernathy (The Hunger Games) Hercule Poirot (Agatha Christie Novels) Captain Hook (Peter Pan) An often-overlooked approach is to give a character a habit involving socially popular drugs. Not all drugs require big, bold, and deadly scenes Think writing about drug habits is all about hard core drugs, overdoses, and addiction? Think again! I’ve just written a short story where the character had an addiction in a world devestated by loss of the people in it. The more I rewrote it, I came to see that the addiction needed to be focused more into the story than just a slight mention.
Roberta Writes https://roberta-writes.com/2023/01/31/cffc-legs-and-feet/Regarding the Queen Push-Push photo–I have one of those. Her name is Callie or Calico. I swear she thinks my desk is hers! She claims everything on it including the right to knock anything of it. Believe me, she broke my computer a few months back and I had to replace it. Sigh.
My first book reviews for the new year! I hope everyone is up for a great year of reading.
January’s reviews include my 4 and 5-star reads of a memoir, literary fiction, a paranormal adventure, a poetry collection, a collection of short stories, a collection of poetry and flash fiction, and three short reads on Irish Mythology.
The design of genres is meant to showcase what each has to offer the reader as well as the writer. Each genre has its own set of expectations. Rules, if you like. You can follow them or break them to a degree but you’d better know the why behind each. It’s like when you begin that new book. You don’t expect to find a herring (mystery clue) in a romance, for example. And, if you do, you need to explain how that came to be.
Just like, if you set off in a train under a golden sunset and ended up awakening to a traveling wagon train in the 1800s, you might want to check what you know. Things like that don’t happen in the normal world. Ah, but in fiction, they do. It’s merely how you bring things about. You can take the straight path, or you can simply drive off the cliff.
That’s what excites readers: the unexpected. No, boring holes for them. They have to be occupied by a hobbit. Or a village. That skyline on the horizon? It must be dotted with witches and their wyverns. Or even to bring it down to a normal world: something we haven’t seen before or at least, not on a usual basis, has to occur. It can be a St. Bernard on a hot day when we stop by to service our car with our son. Or the crest of a fin in the water.
Every genre relays its foundations on what’s gone before. And then stays on the same page or defers. No two stories are the same though. Even on a calm day, the same sidewalk can be shared by different people on their own adventure. One might be going to buy an orange kitten who loves the taste of lasagna. Another might be off to Scotland on a writer’s retreat and discover there’s more to the people and the land than its history.
Some writers groan about genres stifling them with boundaries. I say there are no boundaries, if you think about it. Dragons can be brought into any era. Aliens into any environment. Humans can walk among the stars or tread the depths of the oceans. Black holes puncture the atmosphere for a reason. You just have to figure out what that reason is. And make use of it.
Even if you’re in a “normal” world, there can still be frills. Not all bank robberies go according to plan. Construction sites get botched. Subways become a hazard. Maybe it’s the weather. Or just a villain that enters the fray. Anything can happen in any genre. You just have to use your imagination. Think about what would’ve happened if those children hadn’t explored that closet at their uncle’s house. No Terabithia.
If Harry hadn’t gone to Hogwarts, what would’ve ended up happening to the Wizard World? There’d be no Twilight if Bella hadn’t gone to Forks. But you say, it had to be that way. For that story, sure. But there are other stories. Other solutions. The boy doesn’t always get the girl. Unicorns exist somewhere. And fairies can be devious individuals. It’s all about perspective. The design of genres can take you anywhere from Walton’s Mountain to the moons of Alderaan.
Happenings: This week I suffered through something I wonder if a lot of other disabled individuals do as well. That is, the feeling of being “useless.” Now, my daughter and son were quick to assure me it wasn’t true but I just felt like I couldn’t do the number of things I did say ten, or twenty years ago or even to the quality of such. My mobility has become a real issue for me and tbh, I have a secret fear of losing the loss of my legs or hands altogether. They sometimes feel so numb and unable to respond to what I want them to do. Anyway, I wondered if others shared these helpless emotions and worried about them? I mean, I don’t know where my life’s headed. I could end up in a nursing home in the future, unable to care for myself. I always thought that getting dementia or Alzheimer’s would be my greatest fear but now I wonder if it might not be, loss of mobility or even God forbid, amputation of limbs. Depending on someone would be very hard for me. I’ve had to depend on myself for so long, the idea seems preposterous. It’s odd the things we consider. I know I could still write. V.C. Andrews was very successful even though she was paralyzed. I’m sure there have been others. Even when I fall now, it’s hard for me to let someone help me up. I don’t know why accepting help stresses me. Unless it’s part of the PTSD I suffered for years.
Some links around the web I found interesting and you might as well:
Writers Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.net/2023/01/writing-insecure-characters/All successful novels, no matter what genre, have one thing in common: emotion. It lies at the core of every character’s decision, action, and word, all of which drive the story. Without emotion, a character’s personal journey is pointless. Stakes cease to exist. The plot line becomes a dry riverbed of meaningless events that no reader will take time to read. Why? Because above all else, readers pick up a book to have an emotional experience. But they don’t want to be told how a character feels; they want to experience the emotion for themselves. To make this happen, we must ensure that our characters express their feelings in ways that are both recognizable and compelling to read. How we convey a character’s emotional state is vital to the reader’s experience. They don’t want to be bashed over the head with this information, nor do they appreciate clunky methods that jerk them out of the story. This is where show-don’t-tell comes into play. Show the character’s emotion through their natural responses to it, and readers will figure it out on their own. Use universal responses, and you’ll have the added benefit of readers connecting to the character through a sense of shared experience. I often think of the Writer’s Digest Book, “Open Your Veins.” It says a lot. Let that emotion bleed down on the page. Become the character until you’re done for the day and then pick up that yoke again the next and the next until you’ve got a book and edits begin.
Life in the Realm of Fantasy https://conniejjasperson.com/2023/01/11/the-business-side-of-the-business-managing-inventory-writerlife/ Authors make readers when they do in-person book signings. We have the chance to connect with potential readers on a personal level, and they might buy a paper book. If we are personable and friendly, they might tell their friends how much they liked meeting us. Those friends will buy eBooks. (We hope!) Most shows and events will require you to have a business license if you intend to sell books in person. This means you will have a small amount of paperwork after each in-person signing, so I am revisiting a post from 2022 detailing how authors can manage an inventory of books and have the right numbers for tax purposes. For eBook sales, you have no obligation to report sales taxes, only your royalties as listed on the 1099 issued by Amazon or Draft2Digital, or other eBook sellers. Whether you are traditionally published or indie, if you intend to make personal appearances at local bookstores, fairs, or conventions, you will have an inventory of books on hand to manage and account for at the end of the year. But more importantly, even if you are traditionally published, you pay for the books you sell at shows. The good businessperson has a spreadsheet of some sort to account for this side of the business, as it will be part of your annual business tax report. An excellent method for assembling the information you will generate for your tax report is discussed the previous post, The Business Sequence for Writers. Ellen King Rice has given us a great framework for keeping our business records straight. This is an important part of the writing business. She simplifies what you might keep on file for your tax purposes, Indie or traditional.
Robbie’s Inspiration https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/2023/01/11/growing-bookworms-teaching-children-about-nature-and-conservation/ Teaching our children about the natural environment and conservation is one of the greatest gifts we can give them. There are a few good ways of making sharing about nature and conservation with children, as follows: Reading books about nature with your child; Exploring nature with your child; Art and play; and Watching documentaries Teaching young readers to read is close to my heart as my son struggled with reading at a young age and his school admitted that they failed to help him in this regard.
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/01/the-importance-of-great-mentors-for-you-and-your-books/ All of us here at Writers In the Storm know that veteran-WITS contributor, Julie Glover, is both funny and wise. She and I were talking about the importance of mentors and she made this observation: “Being storytellers, we’re likely all fans of a good mentor. Where would Harry Potter be without Dumbledore? Wilbur without Charlotte? Peter Parker without Uncle Ben? Cinderella without her fairy godmother?” She’s got a great point. Even though it seems like the mentors always die or disappear in every genre except romance (where they get their own book in the series), we never forget a great mentor. I mean, come on…what would Star Wars be without Obi Wan, or Yoda? A lot of the ladies at YAFF taught me things I didn’t want to learn at first. As did my first few cps, Steve and Pat. They both taught me to love the story for the story and the YAFF ladies helped me to whip things into shape. I had some bad ones in between but that happens to everyone. I also had a lovely cp, Lisa, who helped me with my romances. I continue to work with Rebecca, Barb, and Pen on occasion.
Tel Aviv Feral Cats https://telavivsferalcats.home.blog/2023/01/12/cute-feral-cat-with-huge-eyes/ It’s not easy to shoot a video of feral cats, but I was walking back from my brother’s apartment, which is maybe five minutes walk from my building, and there was this cat with extremely expressive eyes, and two cute kittens up on the windowsills, and I had to try. A lot of people don’t consider how those feral cats ended on the street: some careless person didn’t fix their pets and they multiplied and the results were carelessly tossed out. Ferals can be rehabilitated. I have a tiger cat that was on the streets till he was six months old.
Story Empire Blog https://storyempire.com/2023/01/13/birth-order-and-character-development/ When we craft our characters, many of us include comments about their placement in the family. We attach traits we’ve experienced with siblings or others close to us. I will explore some of those traits in my posts over the next several months. Full disclosure, birth order theory is somewhat controversial because, in and of itself, it is not a determinant of someone’s personality. Many other factors include genetics, physical environment, gender, culture, family trauma, and much more. Still, birth order offers writers a tool for developing their characters. For that reason, in the next posts, I will focus on the traits of the (1) first-born, (2) the middle-born, (3) the last-born, and (4) the only child. I leave you with a curious detail. Per the research, if there’s an age difference of three or more years between siblings, the birth order restarts. Given this tidbit, each of my four children is an “only” child. Between my eldest and my next child, there are seven years. Then there are five years between the next, and three and a half years between the final two. No wonder I had my hands full, right? Just for fun consider these three sets of accomplished men and women: I definitely think birth order plays a part in who we are in life. I’m a second to the last child. I missed the middle by one. My oldest sister got most of the responsibility put on her shoulders all these years. I didn’t get away with a lot like some might think of a younger child. In fact, I was the first to go to college in my family then my older sister tried her hand. I respect her for trying to make her life better and not giving up on things. I’m a lot like that. I push for the things I want and don’t give up easily. I’m also more open to change than some in my family as I educated myself to think for myself in a lot of instances. Reading and writing, I think, allows you to accept unpopular opinions and come to respect other’s opinions on things.
Books and Such https://teripolen.com/2023/01/13/blogtour-a-tale-of-two-princes-by-eric-geron-bookreview-romcom-lgbtq/Will these long-lost twin princes be able to take on high school, coming out, and coronations together—or will this royal reunion quickly become a royal mess?Edward Dinnissen, Crown Prince of Canada, loves getting the royal treatment at his exclusive Manhattan private school and living in a fancy mansion on Park Avenue. But despite living a royal life of luxury, Edward is unsure how to tell his parents, his expectant country, and his adoring fans that he’s gay.Billy Boone couldn’t be happier: he loves small-town life and his family’s Montana ranch, and his boyfriend is the cutest guy at Little Timber High. But this out-and-proud cowboy is finally admitting to himself that he feels destined for more . . .
When Edward and Billy meet by chance in New York City and discover that they are long-lost twins, their lives are forever changed. Will the twin princes—“twinces”— be able to take on high school, coming out, and coronations together? Or will this royal reunion quickly become a royal disaster? This description sounded like a blend of Red, White, and Royal Blue (a pure delight) and The Parent Trap. Royal twins separated at birth? A Canadian monarchy? I was intrigued.
Smorgasbord Magazine https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2023/01/14/smorgasbord-public-relations-for-authors-recycled-part-two-author-biographies-tips-and-translations-by-sally-cronin/ With approximately 150 authors on the Smorgasbord bookshelf, I am in Amazon and Goodreads oftn checking for updated information new releases and reviews to share in the author features. In the upcoming series of Meet the Authors I will also be updating biographies to include and I am afraid that I have had to update quite a few myself with new books, or the numbers of books that have been written. My suggestions today are not carved in stone, and how you write your biography is entirely your decision. The one area that is key and seems to be echoed around the writing sites is the fact that a biography that is overlong will be overlooked. The biography is your advertisement that combined with your photograph is going to grab the attention of the potential reader who has landed on your author page. Last week I shared the fact that there are 20,000 new ebooks uploaded each week on Amazon that are in direct competition with your books. Provided you have listed your books with the genre or sub-genre, when searching for books a reader will be offered a selection to choose from. Hopefully that will land them on your book page or your Amazon Author Page.
Marcia Meara Writes https://marciamearawrites.com/2023/01/14/enterprisemuseum-centralfloridawildlife-hugefun/ Off to visit with the good folks at Enterprise Museum today, to chat about two of the more unusual critters which live here in Central Florida: opossums and armadillos. It’s been months since I was feeling well enough to give one of these presentations, and I’m looking forward to this one more than I can say! Especially since I’ll be talking about two animals which are so very interesting, yet so misunderstood. If you happen to be in the area, come on by and see exactly what I mean for yourself! The little restored 1930s schoolhouse is worth the trip all by itself!
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/01/14/am-i-done-maybe/ My only goal today was to do some writing. I’ve previously mentioned that Once Upon a Time in the Swamp required a long denouement. My intent here was to wrap things up, but also provide a potential future for Mari. I have no intention of a sequel, but I want readers to know life goes on after her traumatic events. Today, I reached that point. Mari’s tale came in over 70,000 words, but that’s not real lengthy. I’m of the mind a story will be as long as it needs to be. I like the story, but there are always things to second guess about one. Time for that later. At some point, I’m going to have to spend some real money on cover art for all these stories. I think they’re worth the cost of good art, and that industry also needs a few patrons. In fact that gives me an idea for a possible Story Empire post in the future. It’s time for me to embrace the thing I hate most about these projects… editing. I have three finished books at this time. They are tentatively called: I’m in the same mess with three manuscripts in need of edits in my hands at the moment.
In the world of beauty, we’re always concerned about what we are or aren’t putting on our faces. The goal is to improve on them, of course. Just like, if you think about it, our characters in our stories. So, how much character do you put on when it comes to your stories? By which, I mean, how true or authentic to themselves do you work to make each character?
Take an old lady. Easy character, right? Pruned skin. Cane to bend to her will. Ah, but how many other disabled these days carry canes? I do. And I’m fifty-five going on fifty-six. Mine is for my progressive neuropathy but also my fall risk. Sometimes my legs just want to buckle under me.
Not exactly the old lady you had in mind, huh? What would make her so for you? Gray hair? Blue-rinsed, white hair? Knobby knees? A pack of cats? A granny sweater? Eyeglasses on a chain? Add up the little details that make the whole. And each character is different. No two of us see the same old lady.
That’s how characters and people are. The truth comes in who we make them. What we pull into their makeup. We can make them rigid, aggravated, or complete bores. Think of a bully in high school. Most would think of guys. I knew some of those but mostly, my high school world was made up of female bullies.
I think that’s why I have a bit of hesitancy relating to my peers. Because so many of them were just ghastly to me. I had overweight girls try and keep me locked out of the school doors in the morning. And skinny ones spitting wads of paper at me in class. I’ve had senior girls tell me that I couldn’t use a certain door, or else. I’ve had girls younger than me harass me with ex guys that used to like me. Like I said, the role of bully is in the eye of the beholder.
Just like a mother. Some of us grew up with mothers who didn’t work outside the home. Some of us didn’t. I’d bet that on both sides of those coins, neither mom looked nor acted alike. Take their manner of clothing. They could’ve wore mostly skirts and dresses. Or pants. And there’s loads of combos in either of those sets. Some liked cotton. Some silk. Different patterns. Thickness. Accessories. The list goes on.
And fathers are more than just the standard ties that are advertised on TV sets. My dad never wore a tie. Even to funerals. He drove trucks. Worked in factories. Plastered ceilings of houses and buildings such as churches like the Mormon Church down in Kirtland, OH. He went fishing and hunting. Other dads did that too but not all. I’m sure there are more differences between our dads.
The point is: all characters come in different shapes and sizes. No two are alike. Pick any two books. No protagonist is like another. No matter the genre, no matter the similarity in the story. There is always something, some detail, that makes each unique to themselves. Katniss and Aelin. Two strong fighters in their different worlds. Each has their strengths and weaknesses. Their heart and their truths. Their sins and their mistakes.
The cost of each character’s life is their own. But on the battlefield, they’re formidable. They know their opponents well and use every advantage they have against them. It’s never just a game to them. That’s how you create a story. You put a character on the field an audience can cheer for despite the odds. They make be just another serial killer but it’s the mold of that killer that makes him/her spring to life.
Know your character. The details that go into them. Their background. Their struggles. Triumphs. Everything blends together into the mix. They are the whole of that being. Do your homework. So, how much character do you put on?
Happenings: Happy 2023! The last year ended with a fizzle for us but hopefully, it jump-boarded us into a new opportunity for my family. Prayers and fingers crossed. Our electricity ended up going out the night before Christmas Eve with the big blizzard rolling in. We didn’t get a lot of snow, thank God. Because I still had to get my kids back and forth to work those days. We were out of electricity until the afternoon of the next day. We lost our water as well. That was out until a few days before the new year. Yes, I kid you not. And the place where I live, the landlords blamed the tenants for it being off. They said we didn’t replace the heat tape like we were told. We bought our new home and the heat tape they put in was good for three years. So them blaming us was just, there are no words. They claimed the tenants pulled the park employees away from their families and holidays and ruined them for them. You couldn’t find an employee in this park even this week. You know how they fixed the water situation? They let the water pipes thaw. Yeah. Real effort on their part. So, we heard about a nice piece of land and we’re hoping to buy and get out of here in 2024 when our contract to keep this house here expires in Sept. I have never liked landlords. They are devious in my opinion. At least, the ones I’ve run across. That being said, I know people who are landlords and I believe they treat their tenants better. Life is hard. Why make it harder by being an a**hole to people?
Here are some links around the web you might like:
Writers Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.net/2023/01/force-your-character-to-make-hard-choices/ One of the best things about conflict is that it pushes your characters to act. In every scene, your characters are making choices—big ones and small ones, and thereby steering their fate. Some decisions will be obvious and require little to no thought, but others will be muddier, with no clear “better” option, generating inner conflict. These choices, provided the characters feel personally invested in the decision, act as a test, revealing who they are. Finding ways to naturally characterize our characters is gold in storytelling, so making the most of a character’s decisions is a wise move. But when we make choices a bit more complex, they go beyond black-and-white options, which creates tension and potentially painful consequences. Hm. Working with two fears or two needs. Sounds delightful.
Writers Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.net/2023/01/5-reasons-why-its-still-a-good-idea-for-writers-to-have-a-blog/ It’s 2023. Should writers have a blog? It’s been the subject of debate for several years now. There was a time when, if you intended to publish and sell books, you were expected to write a blog too. But it’s not so clear-cut today. There are a lot of ways to communicate with your potential readers, and blogging is only one of them. Here are five reasons why I think it’s still one of the best. I think a blog is an important outreach to your readers. It helps you to get to know them and they, to know you. I’m finding more confidence in my writing nowadays and I believe part of that comes from this blog. I know I can express myself and get my point across to others. I feel at home here, like I’m talking to old friends.
Life in the Realm of Fantasy https://conniejjasperson.com/2023/01/04/the-business-side-of-the-business-finding-places-to-submit-your-work-amwriting/ Today, we’re going to explore the various forms of short fiction publishers are looking for and how the market drives what they will buy. Each publication only buys work they think will appeal to their readers, and each serves a different segment of the reading public. We are looking for markets that will payyou for your work. They are difficult to get into, but once you are in, you will be offered more opportunities. If you are writing science fiction, you most likely dream of having your work published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact. They are seeking work that is strictly science-based, because that is what their readers expect. You might also want to submit to Uncanny, as they publish both sci-fi and fantasy. Their readers are more eclectic. Apex Magazine publishes work that pushes the limits, and that is what their readers expect. I’ve been working to break into these markets for a year and a half now. Frustrating but definitely builds your confidence and teaches you to revise, revise, revise with every resubmission.
The Smorgasbord Magazine https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2023/01/05/smorgasbord-health-column-2023-the-body-our-greatest-asset-the-brain-introduction-and-anatomy-by-sally-cronin/ I have featured this series over the last ten years on a regular basis for new readers who might have joined the blog. Our bodies are are greatest asset. It has a long road ahead of if from birth, through the teen years, work life, parenthood, middle age and then into our 70s and beyond. At every stage of our life healthy nutrition is essential to help the body develop and remain as disease free as possible. I appreciate that many of you may have read this series before three years ago, but I hope it will be a reminder of how amazing our bodies are, and simply eating the right foods, exercising moderately and not doing anything too reckless…will go a long way to enjoying later life to the full. Losing who I’ve become is one of my biggest fears. Up there with losing certain loved ones. I don’t know how I would cope with either situation and I’m not eager to find out.
Staci Trilio https://stacitroilo.wordpress.com/2023/01/05/review-colettas-unnatural-mayhem/With the fate of the Natural World at stake, can Shawnee and Mayhem stop trophy hunters before it’s too late? Explosive news of a crow hunt rings out in the White Mountain Region of New Hampshire, and one hundred crows gather to put an end to it. With so many lives at stake—including Poe’s—Shawnee and Mayhem must work together to stop the trophy hunters before they obliterate the local murder. Taking on twenty-five experienced hunters armed with shotguns is no small feat. If they fail, Poe may lead his brethren to their death. No matter what it takes, this group must be stopped. But what if Shawnee and Mayhem aren’t seeing the full picture? What if these men have secrets worth killing over? Sounds exciting to me!
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/01/get-booked-on-a-podcast-by-answering-one-question/ A critical way to build awareness of your work and credibility as a writer is by sharing your ideas, writing, and opinions with people in your niche. Podcasts are an excellent marketplace for ideas — according to PodcastHosting.org, there are two million podcasts out there, so surely there are a few shows that can help you grow your brand by booking you as a guest. The secret to getting booked comes down to answering one question. While likely not a traditional media organization, a podcast still deserves the same level of professionalism. If the show does regular guest interviews, assume the producers or host gets numerous pitches for guests every week (I know my shows do!). This means you are in competition to get placed, and you need to put your best foot forward by answering this question:
Books and Such https://teripolen.com/2023/01/05/lumara-by-melissa-landers-bookreview-ya-magic-fantasy/Boarding school student Talia Morris has no idea her boyfriend, Nathaniel, is a Mystic, let alone second in line to the throne of a secretive, aspirational magical community―one no mortal has ever been allowed to step inside. Until now. Nathanial’s cousin is about to be married in the biggest wedding the magical world has ever seen, and Nathaniel is allowed to bring a date. Talia is the lucky recipient of the golden ticket every Mystic wannabe in the world would kill for―only she doesn’t want it. Talia thinks Mystic worship unnecessarily aggrandizes people for being born a certain way. When she finds out Nathaniel is “one of them,” she almost jumps ship. But Nathaniel loves her, and she loves him. So when he begs her to give his family and their community a shot, she reluctantly agrees.Enter the most fantastical world any mortal has ever seen, and a magical wedding straight out of a dream. After a few days of bonding with Nathaniel’s family on the island, of seeing how beautiful their magic is and how peaceful their community, Talia’s about to be won over―until the entire wedding party suddenly falls into an unexplainable coma and the community goes on lockdown. Talia, the outsider, is pegged as the culprit and has to do everything in her meager non-power to prove her innocence. As she embarks on a journey to find the truth, Talia soon discovers reality is not all it seems, and her past may put her in more danger than she ever imagined.Love to find reviews like this!
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/01/06/what-i-learned-from-90-queries-by-eva-langston/ Don’t be fooled by the title. I’ve actually sent hundreds of queries for four different novels over the past decade. Without going into detail, I queried a novel and eventually got an agent, parted ways with that agent, queried some more, collected rejections, wrote three more novels, queried more, revised a lot, had some babies, and then got back to querying. My summary: traditional publishing is a long game, so get yourself some gumption. Now, when I say 90 queries, I’m talking about the queries I sent for my most recent novel. The novel that, after a year and a half in the query trenches, got me an agent. I’m now happily represented by the brilliant Ali Lake of Janklow & Nesbit. In the fall of 2020, I started querying with what I thought was my best novel yet: a YA paranormal suspense. At first I was getting nothing but form rejections. So I sought advice from my writing group and revised the query letter and opening pages. But still, crickets. Finally I paid for a one-on-one Manuscript Academy meeting with agent Fiona Kenshole. And she laid a finger on why I wasn’t getting any requests. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out the right details to put into a query. She gives good advice and insight.
Fiction Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/01/04/the-last-drive-blog-tour-with-chris-graham-the-story-reading-ape/ I doubt there is anyone in the blogging world who does not know about Chris Graham. Chris has spent the last ten years providing an avenue for authors to meet each other and to have a reliable source of all things writing. I am honored to be a guest of Chris’. So here is the link to the stop with Chris today. https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/01/04/reserved-for-john-howell-2/ The purpose of his blog, according to Chris, is fourfold. (In Chris’ words) 1. To introduce YOU to new (to me) authors I’ve come across in my wanderings through books and the cyberforest. 2. To provide a platform (battered old homemade soapbox) for authors to introduce themselves to you. (See my Contact Me Section for Guest Author article Guidelines) 3. As an informal information service to authors, poets, or anyone else who is thinking of becoming a published person of that ilk. 4. To promote FUN and an OASIS OF CALM and Font of useful Knowledge andTips for Indies (please do NOT feed my naughty chimps, or they may follow you home) from the woes and stresses of the real world. If you are not part of The Story Reading Ape’s team, you are missing an opportunity to learn, see, be seen, and be entertained. Thank you so much for helping spread the word on my latest, Chris. Follow John Howell as he guest over at Chris the Story Reading Ape’s blog for his new story, “The Long Drive.”
Do you have a struggle to figure out what you’re writing? Let genre sort that out. What I mean is, instead of tearing at a piece to get the feel of it, mind what genre/s you have chosen to write in. Mystery? How about a cozy? Or a more traditional who-dun-it? Either one will shorten the time it takes to come up with a great idea to run with for the story.
Now, I hear you. That didn’t exactly tell you what to write. Well, I can’t give you a bare-bones-fits-all outline, but I can shave time off finding a story to run with in the days ahead. What do you like to read? That usually brings up a few promises. Narrow them down. Are you more sci-fi or fantasy? Get that outline ready to go with again, either more traditional or something new hatched up for the occasion.
Once you know what genre/s you prefer, you can outfit your story. I write in the YA category so there are endless possibilities to choose from there. You can have romance in your story. Mystery. A shade of horror. Or more if you want. Blending genres is also fun. I often write fantasy-horror or even sci-fi-horror. You can do this somewhat with the adult audience as well.
Want a romance? Historical or contemporary might intrigue you. You can weave in time travel if you like. Or bring on the pomp of the gilded ages. You see, coming up with the genre usually falls into something you like to read. Because if you don’t read that genre, you won’t know the structure and details of such a world.
Knowing what to expect in a genre doesn’t make the formula hard and fast. You won’t get bored from the staleness. Instead, you’ll find new boundaries to stretch and bring in something new and exciting with each. It’s not just a group of campers on Crystal Lake that intrigues us. It’s the story of each and how they survive or fall.
It’s the characters that do the hard work in a story. They have to make an impression, good or bad. If we’re willing to follow them down that hall, evade the killer, and win the day, that’s what makes a character grow on a reader. It instills fear of what might happen to that mother and child all the way out in an abandoned part of town when a dog goes mad.
Now, I’m not saying if you ever hit on a story outside your regular writing, you shouldn’t stretch your writing muscles. I’m just saying that when you’re starting out, getting to hit those marks, you want to consider what type of genre you like. Sticking close to home will teach you the basics. It will improve your skills before you move on. After all, Agatha Christie wasn’t famous for her characters sunny dispositions.
Happenings:
The Topiary meds they prescribed me have been doing a good job to take away a majority of the pain most of the time, thankfully. I feel better than in a long time and I’ve been able to do more. I’ve started walking a bit again. I’m almost ready for Christmas. I have a few more presents to buy. I’ll pick a day or two to do the wrapping of all that I have. How are you all doing on your plans? Enjoy your holidays!
Some links around the web you might like:
Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2022/12/16/fairies-myths-magic-ii/ Let’s welcome a special guest to Entertaining Stories today. Coleen is a long-time friend and she has something to share with us today. This is her newest book baby, so feel free to use those sharing buttons. She also shares one heck of a great story hook. She also has a prize to be drawn from those who leave comments along her tour. *** Thank you, Craig for the opportunity to share the news of my new book, just in time for the winter solstice and Yule. Every Halloween, Craig joins me to celebrate the holiday. I think we’ve done this for eight years now, so I couldn’t think of anyone better to share my spooky Halloween tale with from Fairies, Myths, & Magic II, called The Changeling. In this second book in the series, I start with late autumn and work forward into winter and Yule. What do you know about the scary fairies? Celtic traditions share with us the fey, or Good Neighbors, are nothing to mess around with. During the darkness of autumn and into winter, the Unseelie Court of fairies makes its appearance. The darkness and lack of sunlight during this time of year spawned many a myth and tale. Here’s a short excerpt from The Changeling, in Fairies, Myths, & Magic II: “Alyssa, it’s time to come inside. Daddy’s home.” I read a book like this by Mary Downing Hahn. I don’t think they were called dark fairies though. Changelings, yes and it had to do with a witch. The book was twisty and turny just like I like.
Marcia Meara Writes https://marciamearawrites.com/2022/12/16/booksforchristmas-boldblatantselfpromo-theemissary-review/ Looking for something different to read over the holidays? Check out my Emissary series of novellas. Available for download for just $1.99 each, or free with Kindle Unlimited. BLURB for TE1: An angel’s work is never done—that’s part of the gig. But angels hadn’t been created to deal with such a vastly over-populated planet, rife with misery, suffering, and general chaos. Helping souls in peril has become a nearly impossible job, and even angelic tempers are frayed.
Writers Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/12/fear-thesaurus-entry-being-physically-touched/ While many people are sensitive to physical contact, an actual fear of being touched can lead to a host of difficulties. It can come about from a past trauma, learned experiences (through growing up in a family where touch was discouraged or punished), a physical sensitivity, or a mental health condition, to name just a few possible causes. What It Looks Like Backing away from handshakes, kisses, or other cultural greetings Sticking to the fringes of crowds Avoiding romantic relationships Not eating certain foods due to their texture Not participating in contact sports, dancing, and other activities that require touch Difficulty making new friends Only being able to wear certain kinds of clothing that don’t chafe or irritate the skin The character keeping their hands in their pockets I can’t imagine this fear. It must be so overwhelming to live with throughout your day.
John Howell.com https://johnwhowell.com/2022/12/16/friday-johnku-aka-tgif-fri-yay-good-news-29/ End-of-year bonuses are always a welcomed sight, but these smiles bear witness to an extraordinary act of corporate generosity. Ruppert Landscaping gave bonuses of between $7,000 to $200,000 to all employees with a tenure of over one year “as a thanks for the role they’ve played in the company’s growth and development.” A total of 1,200 workers, excluding those in top leadership positions, received the enormous thank you presents which added up to be $28 million. The company says normal end-of-year bonuses were not deducted or altered by the gifts, which were announced at staff meetings, nor were any of the other benefits, which include 401(K) matching, health insurance, paid time off, and holidays. “Everyone receiving this bonus was instrumental in helping create the value that we’ve been able to realize,” said CEO Craig Ruppert. “This bonus is money that is well-deserved and a way for us to acknowledge the value of our teams’ contributions and the essential role that they will play in our company’s future.”
This is Horror https://www.thisishorror.co.uk/news-round-up-week-ending-16-december-2022/ Monsters and monster-killers come in all shapes and sizes in this collection of three horror novellas by Glenn Rolfe, Tom Deady, and Nick Kolakowski. In ‘It Came From The Lake’ by Glenn Rolfe, Owens Lake is protected by a reclusive war vet by the name of Francis Owens, but this man is not the only threat around. In ‘In The Glastenbury Woods’ by Tom Deady, It was supposed to be the road trip to end all road trips. The summer of 1986, a few weeks before Dave and his two friends went their separate ways to college and the military. One last hurrah to Toronto to see Hulk Hogan and the rest of the WWF in The Big Event. It all goes wrong when they take a detour through Vermont’s notorious Glastenbury Woods. In ‘Groundhog Slay’ by Nick Kolakowski, It’s the summer of 1987. Around Lake Legionnaire, locals whisper tales of an unstoppable monster rampaging through the night, killing everyone in its way. But what if the monster’s just trying to stop something far worse—a threat that could destroy all existence? Available now in paperback and eBook editions, you can grab your copy here.
Smorgasbord Magzine https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/12/18/smorgasbord-christmas-book-fair-new-book-on-the-shelves-memoir-fifteen-first-times-beginnings-a-collection-of-indelible-firsts-by-d-g-kaye/ This book is a collection of stories about some of Kaye’s first-time experiences with life’s most natural events. Told through the intimate conversational writing we’ve come to know from this author, poignant personal steppingstones to learning moments are revealed. She encompasses the heart of each matter with sincerity and sprinkled inflections of humor. From first kiss to first car to walking in the desert with four-inch heels, Kaye’s short coming-of-age stories take us through her awakenings and important moments of growth, often without warning. Some good and some not, life lessons are learned through trial and error, winging it and navigating by the seat of her pants. Editorial Review:D.G. Kaye writes with heartfelt regard and unabashed honesty. The life experiences she shares in Fifteen First Times evoke tears as well as laughter. Kaye’s candor and compassion will no doubt appeal to and help many seeking to grow and come into their own. I highly recommend this book and all others by this forthright author. The reader will be left with an ardent desire for more. ~ Author, Tina Frisco
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2022/12/18/3-action-reaction-misfires-that-flatten-your-writing-by-lisa-poisso/ Cause and effect. Stimulus and response. Action and reaction. Everything in a story depends on what the characters do about whatever the story pushes them up against. Stiff, disconnected, or missing character reactions snap the chain of cause and effect that constitutes your story. When readers can no longer see how and why the characters are doing what they’re doing, they lose the thread. She’s got good points here.
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/12/welcome-to-the-future-part-3/ Story is core to the human experience and is a fundamental part of how we communicate. People who are unhappy in their day-to-day existence like to escape into a world of story, and that trend has not gone away. While sales trends show a decline in print, the digital reading trends show readers want to be even more immersed in a story than ever before. Readers love it when their favorite authors allow the story to grow and bring them into it. How we Interact with Story is Changing Have you noticed “dark mode” on your devices? I read a fascinating article about holographic technology. In some ways, dark mode is a gateway to preparing our technology for holographic displays. Important Geek note: WordPress and other websites are using “blocks” in their design so they can control the way different types of words — think headings, paragraphs, pull quotes — display, preparing for this transition. You want to be using the latest technology in your website designs and in your writing. You want your writing to be stored in such a way that readers can use it in this future technology. TBH, not sure how I feel about this. Yes, I know. The future is advancing. I like to play around with ideas on my own. But then, new tech is harder for me to learn these days. I suppose it always will be and one day I just won’t be able to anymore. I’ll rant against the AI wall when I’m ready, I suppose.
Smorgasbord Magazine https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/12/19/smorgasbord-christmas-book-fair-new-book-on-the-shelves-supernatural-adventure-the-last-drive-by-john-w-howell/ In the sequel to Eternal Road – The final stop, Sam and James are reunited to look for two souls, Ryan and Eddie. Ryan was killed in Afghanistan, trying to avoid a schoolyard with his crippled plane. Eddie Rickenbacker, Ryan’s hero, is to guide Ryan to his Eternal Home, and now both are missing. The higher-ups believe that there has been some interference in Ryan and Eddie’s journey by Lucifer, so Sam and James have the task of finding Ryan and Eddie to get them back on the road despite the evil interference. Unfortunately, the machinations designed to prevent Ryan and Eddy from completing their journey takes the pair to horrifying testing grounds. The places visited represent the best work of the Devil. They are the trenches of World War I in France, gladiators at the Roman Coliseum, the sinking Titanic in 1912, Hiroshima 45 minutes before the bomb, and the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1943. This book is for you if you like plenty of action, strong characters, time travel, and a touch of spiritual and historical fiction. So, join Sam and James as they try to find the missing souls while staying one step ahead of the Prince of Darkness, who is determined to destroy all that is good. I’m trying not to read this as I haven’t been able to read the first one yet and don’t want spoiled.
Story Empire https://storyempire.com/2022/12/19/mktg-22-wrap-up/ Greetings, SE’ers. It’s Jan again. Since July 2021, I have explored a variety of different avenues of book marketing opportunities, and I’ve come to the end of that journey. This is my last Story Empire post for 2022 and my last book marketing post. That’s not to say I won’t pop back in with something new if it comes to my attention, but for now, I’m leaving the subject of marketing behind.
What makes the eyes so central to the makeup? I would suggest, that’s it’s all in the lashes. Such tiny, exquisite hairs that frame the eye. They can be muted with no makeup at all, or they can shine like the lenses they are to the eye. It’s like your main character. They can be less than stellar in their existence, or they can pack a punch. You want the later when it comes to fiction.
You want someone who will be noticed. Who can hold the world’s attention. Someone who draws us in. That makes us read on page after page. No shrinking violets, no overblown dragons. The trick is to get the reader to like the character or at least, be interested in what they have to say and do. Once they care, they’ll read on and judge the story through the protagonist’s gaze.
How do we do that? Time and effort. I used to think writing was easy. That it just came to you. And it does. But you have to work to make that little puff of magic into a story. You have to dig deeper and deeper to bring those characters to life. At first, they may look just fine. Fine doesn’t win readers though, they want superstar.
How do you manage when you don’t know the first thing about being the center of attention? You draw on the moments you were and make them bigger for the character. You make them the homecoming queen, the star quarterback. Or you bring the ordinary into the spotlight. What makes a character shine? Their connection to the reader.
Without a reader, there’d be no life brought to the story. The reader brings the actor to life on the page much like an actor brings the character to life on the stage or movie set. We need both to interact with the story, to find a foothold into that reality. It’s like an invisible projector springs to life inside us and plays what’s happening on that page before us.
Connecting with one another is hard a lot of times. We each have our own share of burdens. Our own, different loved ones. We may wish it were otherwise. That we all had more in common. The truth is, we’re never going to all be alike. But what we can do is to each find something within those characters to like, to find decent, or curious and so discover a way to tag along on their journey.
Yes, beauty is all in the lash. Like the focal point of the story is the character. He or she sees everything, hears everything, and embraces everything in their own way. No two of us are alike. It shouldn’t be that way for characters either if we want authenticity. We are who we are until we become something more. But that’s a character arc, something down the road maybe. Have a great week all and God bless!
Happenings:
Monday, I go see the neurolgist. It seems like it’s taken forever to get here. In other news, I’m continuing to submit short stories to markets. Mostly, set in my book’s world. I’m getting good feedback but so far, no acceptance. I’ve been drawing in the new details of my world and finalizing some bits. It’s been helpful to see some confusing things that didn’t add up in the other versions.
Some links around the webs you might find interesting:
Charles French https://jenniefitzkee.com/2022/11/27/my-teacher-lightbulb-moment-part-2/ Once I had my Lightbulb Moment, my teaching world turned upside down. Children came first. What they were interested in, who they were as children/people mattered most. I needed to get to know them better.I started to use a tape recorder to “interview” children, as this not only helped me to get to know them, but also was a good tool for language development (and it was fun). Our curriculum at that time was France and learning about the old masters in art. Young children love to paint, and they were practicing being artists with real palettes. I was learning so much about them, why not have the children do an autobiography to accompany their work of art? And, why not have the children name their work of art, and call it a ‘masterpiece’? The result was so profound that we had an art show at school, and then moved the art show to our local post office for the community to enjoy. What a success, and what a wonderful experience for the children. Our art show has since become a yearly event in the community. I think this goes a long way to show what special teachers mean to our children.
Smorgasboard Magazine https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/12/03/smorgasbord-christmas-book-fair-2022-new-book-on-the-shelves-childrens-the-christmas-bird-by-robbie-cheadle/About the story. The Deanne family is having a difficult time financially. Mr. Deanne’s business has failed and there is no money for Christmas presents and other luxuries. The family’s undernourished dogs discover a bird’s nest on Christmas Day and attack and kill the chicks. All except one tiny ball of fluff with luminous bright eyes like drops of oil. The baby bird is in shock, but the four Deanne girls try to save it. Will the Christmas Bird survive? One of the early reviews for the book D.L. Finn 4.0 out of 5 stars I love how the family took in this tiny chick. Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2022 The Deanne family was short on funds at Christmas time. They made the best of it until their hungry dogs found a bird’s nest and ate all but one baby chick. The family rescued the baby chick and set out to save it. I love the family’s selflessness as they put the bird’s needs above theirs. It was a good lesson that giving of yourself is much more important than material possessions. This heartwarming story is perfect for sharing with a child or for beginning readers
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/12/creating-bonus-content-to-double-your-reader-engagement/ Book marketing and promotion can feel like a full-time job, and not one that’s always easy to excel at. That’s because effective promotion takes consistency and creativity, and it’s challenging to not only stay on schedule, but to continually come up with new ideas. So that’s why I’m a huge proponent of tapping into what you already know, which is your work, by creating bonus content and using it to bolster your book marketing efforts. Especially when you’re trying to be mindful of your budget if you’re taking the DIY route. Or when you’re looking for ways to support the work you hired a marketing team to do. Creating and using bonus content is a fabulous way to contribute to the success of a professional marketing campaign! And the reason I recommend bonus content so enthusiastically is because in many cases, authors already have everything they need to make this strategy work. So let’s dig into some ideas for promoting a book and enhancing reader engagement using bonus content!
Roberta Writes https://roberta-writes.com/2022/12/06/roberta-writes-book-review-letting-go-the-defiant-sisters-duet-book-1-by-jacquie-biggar-bookreview-readingcommunity/A coming-of-age novel about the pain of misconceptions and learning from them. When life gives you lemons… Izzy Mom is barely in the grave and the prodigal child is here to pick the bones clean. I don’t want her here. My sister’s defection is a wound that won’t heal, and her return simply rubs at the scabs covering my heart. I’ve managed just fine without her. She can go back to her fancy college and forget about us- that’s what she does best anyway. If only I didn’t need her help. Or miss her so much. Renee The day my dad committed suicide I ran. I’ve been running ever since. Going home is supposed to be the answer. Instead, it makes me question every thoughtless decision I’ve made.
Myths of the Mirror https://mythsofthemirror.com/2022/12/06/november-book-reviews-part-two/ Wishing you all a wonderful winter as we head toward the solstice and the return of the light. I’m finishing off autumn with more books and reviews from November! I hope you find a few to enjoy over the holidays. To all my blogger friends in the southern hemisphere… have a wonderful start to your summer, and I hope you find some beach reads! November’s reviews (part two) include my 4 and 5-star reads of a romance/thriller mash-up, paranormal short stories, fantasy, and a children’s book.
ACFlory https://acflory.wordpress.com/2022/12/07/i-hate-december/ I was going to say “I hate Christmas!” but that’s not completely true. It’s not so much that I hate Christmas, it’s that I hate the lead up to Christmas, especially this year. December in Australia is the first month of summer, and summer means bushfires and snakes [we’ve seen two already]. In normal years I would have spent most of spring mowing a little bit every day. We’re on 1.6 hectares, and that equates to a lot of grass. The alpacas do their best, but in spring they can’t eat the new grass fast enough, and once the grass sets seed they won’t touch it. So that’s in a normal year – a little bit of mowing spread out over a couple of months. This year has been different though. Australia is experiencing its third La Nina event in a row which has meant rain, rain and more rain. All that rain has triggered unprecedented floods all along the eastern seaboard with lives lost, crops lost and whole towns inundated. We don’t have to worry about floods here in Warrandyte as we’re on a ridge, but all that rain means the grass grows an inch over night. And it’s too wet to mow during the day, especially with a small, cordless lawnmower. In desperation, I paid for a guy to come in and whipper snipper1 the worst of it, but that’s left sheaths of grass drying on the ground. Exhibit A:
Connie J Jasperson https://conniejjasperson.com/2022/12/07/pinning-down-the-themes-when-your-characters-have-agency-amwriting/ My writing mind has temporarily lost momentum in my current work. At this point, I’m unsure how to proceed with a pivotal chapter. This has me momentarily stalled on that book. Fortunately, Irene is editing the final draft of a book I finished during lockdown. She sends me one or two chapters with notes for final revisions each evening. That makes me happy—it’s been a while since I published a book. When I am stalled on a first draft, it helps to stop and consider the central themes. Theme is one of the elements that drive a plot. This novel’s central theme is redemption, which hasn’t changed. But this novel is in the first draft stage, and things have already shifted from what was initially plotted. And now I find that some of my characters aren’t as well-planned as I thought they were. This happens at some point in every first draft. I don’t know the themes of three important characters. I was under the impression that I was the only writer who took longer than a year to get my story together and then go back in for edits.
Smorgasboard Blog Magazine https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/12/08/smorgasbord-christmas-book-fair-2022-childrensbooks-fantasy-jemima-pett-ya-travel-darlene-foster-bathtime-sue-wickstead/About the book In north-west Mull, three guinea pig friends live in a remote castle. Tale no.1: Dylan’s life is in danger when he discovers something brewing in the hillside. Tale 2: Deirdre uses her initiative to find Dylan when he is washed into the sea. Tale 3: Dougall gets into trouble when he makes friends with a reindeer. Tale 4: Dylan is tempted by some mysterious lights. Fantasy adventures for age 8+ A review for the book Chris Graham5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful easy to read short stories. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 May 2021 Having read the Princelings of the East Series, it was a delight to read about the earlier adventures of Dylan, Dougall and Deirdre on their Scottish Island. I wish there were more such tales to be had.
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/12/writing-spies-honeypots-and-the-honey-trap/ Honeypots are spies trained to use sex for the purpose of wheedling information out of targets, luring targets to specific locations, and/or enticing targets into behavior that can be used to blackmail them. These professionals are highly skilled in the arts of seduction and pleasure, and they will perform literally any act the target desires. While many of them work directly for governments, like Holmes’s dates did during the Cold War, they are sometimes prostitutes working with a pimp who uses them to gather information in order to sell it to the highest bidder, or several bidders. Whether they are official government agents or freelancers, honeypots are one of the most effective tools of the espionage profession. Honeypot Myths One of the most common myths about honeypots in fiction is that of the Honeypot Assassin—the seductress who murders her mark in the name of espionage. It’s not that it never happens in real life, but it pretty much doesn’t happen on purpose. This goes back to the fact that most people aren’t black widow spiders. As a general rule, we humans like to keep our killing and our sex compartmentalized far away from each other. The seductive love-kitten personality and the assassin personality are fundamentally different from each other—a rather universal fact that even the Soviets recognized. For example, the assassin will likely balk at the simple act of surrendering their hair to a barber for a trim. Honeypots, on the other hand, must freely surrender their entire bodies to total strangers.
Rosie Amber https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2022/12/09/%f0%9f%93%9afeaturing-a-very-talented-witch-rosies-bookreview-of-paranormalromance-entwined-within-the-darkness-by-charley-black/ Patience is a talented witch who knows very little about her past. She shares a flat with her best friend Michael, a half-demon, and she works in a wonderful magical bookshop. On a night out, Patience and Michael go to a Vampire club. Passion and death threats result; Michael bonds with his vampire lover but locks the duo in a dangerous coma. Meanwhile, Patience and Lucius, an infamous witch-hunter, must join forces to save Michael and his mate. What I liked: I liked Patience’s witch skills and particularly the bookshop where she worked. I enjoyed the worlds created and the general plot. There were several secondary characters who were also well written and likeable. The first third of the story was very enjoyable. What I didn’t like so much: After the first third the story felt a little rushed, a lot more characters were introduced, but they weren’t as rounded as the initial ones. As the story progressed, I felt that Patience lost some of her original finesse as a talented witch while the sexual tug-of-war between her and Lucius became predictable. The ending was odd; I felt that the plot twist did not quite gel with the rest of the storyline.
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2022/12/09/a-quick-tip-for-getting-to-know-your-characters-and-your-plot-by-janice-hardy/ Several years ago I sat in on an RWA workshop on character building, led by romance author Susan Elizabeth Philips. I’ve attended her workshops before and she’s always been entertaining and informative. She gave a tip (and did an exercise) that I’ve tried before: This has never worked for me since my fantasy characters don’t usually have purses, but she added the phrase “or their backpack or pockets” to it. That broadened it some, and I realized that ultimately, what she was saying was:
The thing about genre is that you’re not limited to one, but it helps to remain focused on one for at least three books before you switch to another. I hope to be able to concentrate on two in the future: my Traci Kenworth as a young adult author and my Loleta Abi as a romance author. Concentrating on three at a time at first, helps an agent to place your work better and gets your brand known for that genre.
If you’re bouncing all over the place, it doesn’t give readers the feel that you’re committed to that area until they come to know your work better. It’s like anything: practice makes perfect or in this case, better seen. Now, I have seen Indie authors make this work opposite, where they write what they want but if you want to go traditional, think branding.
I know a lot of authors are slanted either way: Indie or traditional. My preference is traditional, but I may go hybrid later on, who knows? I hear romance does really strong in that category Indie-wise. I had thought to go more Indie for a while, but my thinking has swung around to traditional. Mostly for the brand recognition. I think they have a better way of getting you into the places you want to be than Indie does.
Now, I’ve heard that some big Author Indies can open doors others can’t but remember that Colleen Hoover and several other Indie authors swung around to traditional after going Indie because it helped strengthen their brand and let’s face it, it’s where the money is. Unless you’re someone like James Scott Bell, a traditionally grounded author, who successfully transferred to Indie but again, his branding was already established I think where he can count on his fans buying his work in higher numbers.
Whichever way you go, have fun with it. Get in there, dig, and explore your genre. Learn what works and what doesn’t. Don’t be afraid to take risks. To try twists not invented yet. But I strongly caution, to learn the genre first. Training ground has a reason. It’s for us to be like Bambi on that ice. Fall but get back up. Make mistakes. That’s how we learn.
So, there you have it. The thing about genre is to love the one that you choose and run with it. Until you’re ready to go beyond and try another. Or stay put and expand the genre the way you want to go. None of the greats would be the greats if they hadn’t taken chances. Be confident. Be creative. Love what you do. If the genre doesn’t work for you, move on. It’s never too late to take that next step. Good luck and have a great week! God bless!
Happenings:
Covid is at last, behind me, but I’m having extreme pain in my legs and they are ice-cold in the mornings. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment to see about them next week. I have arthritis already but this just feels so, so painful. I know in my family, legs have been a weak area. My brother had to have operations on his. And my father, toward the end of his life, couldn’t let his legs be touched even in passing by a toddler without writhing in absolute pain. I’ve had to go back to my cane to support me while about right now. I’m very tempted to use those carts you drive at the bigger stores. I know I need to get some exercise in though, regardless, so I’m trying to keep going. How’s your week going?
Some posts about the web you might like:
Smorgasboard Magazine https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2022/10/21/smorgasbord-bookshelf-new-book-on-the-shelves-fantasy-the-midnight-rambler-the-hat-book-6-c-s-boyack/ Something evil is after the hat. The ageless enemies have battled many times, but this time Lizzie is wearing the hat. She’s also up against a ticking clock, in that if she can’t find the maker of her new friend’s medicine he will die. The Rambler has kidnapped the only witch capable of making Ray’s medicine in an attempt to make the hat sloppy in his efforts. He’s also flooded the streets with deadly minions to impede any progress our heroes might make. As if that weren’t enough, Lizzie is facing more of life’s struggles, both financially and mechanically. This all goes down in the middle of a huge flood event that she’s ill equipped to handle. Join Lizzie… This is one I’m looking forward to snagging asap.
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/10/7-ways-to-increase-your-creativity-through-workspace-design/ The life of a writer can be unpredictable. Family, medical issues, housing issues, and many more personal-life interruptions can disrupt the flow of words. Many of you may not have options and write when and where you can write. For example, right now I’m writing in the waiting room of a car maintenance shop. The environment here is nice but definitely full of distractions. When we can choose our writing environment, it makes sense to choose a space that optimizes how we write. Keep in mind that not all of us will respond in the same way to the same physical space. In the list of elements I offer below, choose the ones that speak to you, and that feel more creative to you. Brain Science The theory that people are right-brained (creative, intuitive) or left-brained (logical or linear) or both is a popular myth unsupported by neuroscience. The brain’s right and left hemispheres are not separate organs. While the right hemisphere performs more complex functions, and the left hemisphere controls most (if not all) physiological functions, the two hemispheres work together. While the right- versus left-brain theory is a myth, it’s an easy way to understand how people think. At the extremes, a few of us are nearly 100% logical thinkers and a few are almost 100% creative thinkers. A few of us fall into the moves fluidly between the two. In a reality, we are all a mix of the two. Many of us continue to perceive one or the other thinking style as our primary way of perceiving the world. We’re not wrong, but it’s more complex than which hemisphere controls what. Still, we can use brain science and psychology to help us set up a work environment that supports our creativity.
Writers Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/10/fear-thesaurus-entry-being-pitied/ Debilitating fears are a problem for everyone, an unfortunate part of the human experience. Whether they’re a result of learned behavior as a child, are related to a mental health condition, or stem from a past wounding event, these fears influence a character’s behaviors, habits, beliefs, and personality traits. The compulsion to avoid what they fear will drive characters away from certain people, events, and situations and hold them back in life. In your story, this primary fear (or group of fears) will constantly challenge the goal the character is pursuing, tempting them to retreat, settle, and give up on what they want most. Because this fear must be addressed for them to achieve success, balance, and fulfillment, it plays a pivotal part in both the character arc and the overall story. This thesaurus explores the various fears that might be plaguing your character. Use it to understand and utilize fears to fully develop your characters and steer them through their story arc. Please note that this isn’t a self-diagnosis tool. Fears are common in the real world, and while we may at times share similar tendencies as characters, the entry below is for fiction writing purposes only.
Charles French https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/2022/10/21/favorite-horror-films-5-frankenstein/ The movie that I will discuss in this installment is Frankenstein. This 1931 film was directed by James Whale and produced by Carl Laemelle, Jr. Universal Studios was following up its huge success with Dracula earlier in the year, so this film seemed like a natural choice to make. While the title and characters come from the 1818 Mary Shelley novel, it is a loose adaptation of the text. Interestingly, the sequel, The Bride of Frankenstein, is a much more faithful treatment of the novel than this first film. This movie, one of the most important in horror film history, introduces Boris Karloff as the Creature. Karloff gives an impressive performance as the lost and lonely being who is unsure of who he is and his place in the world. This sounds like so many teenagers and young people, and while frightening, Karloff also gathered empathy from viewers in his nuanced performance. Bela Lugosi had been offered the part of the creature but apparently turned it down because of its lack of speaking lines. Lugosi made a terrible career choice because Karloff would supplant him after this film’s success as the top box office star and would continue to dominate Lugosi’s subsequent film career. I recall seeing this when I was very young. The movie of course, scared the daylights out of me but I was fascinated with it as well. I didn’t know the background behind the movie until now and that in itself is also fascinating.
This is Horror https://www.thisishorror.co.uk/news-round-up-week-ending-21-october-2022/ Out now from Dark Matter Inc, edited by Sadie Hartmann and Ashley Saywers, Human Monsters: A Horror Anthology Not all monsters are fantasy. Some are very real, and they walk among us. They’re our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. They’re the people we’re supposed to trust…and they know it. Contained within this anthology are 35 never-before-published works by supremely talented authors and best-selling novelists. Brace yourself for the unexpected and unimaginable horror of … Human Monsters. Featuring stories by Linda D. Addison, Gemma Amor, Andrew Cull, Andy Davidson, Chad Lutzke, Catherine McCarthy, Josh Malerman, and many more you can pick up your copy in paperback and eBook formats now.
Teagan’s Books https://teagansbooks.com/2022/10/22/spook-tober-shorts-surar-fiends-featuring-robbie-cheadle/ Hello everyone, and welcome back to Spook-tober Shorts. A couple of weeks ago I introduced some new character-friends, the Pumpkin Hat Girls. They’re back for some more Twilight Zone-ish fun. BASED ON COMMENTS, I REVISED THE STORY TO INCLUDE AN EPILOGUE.Haunted Halloween Holiday is a delightful story by Robbie and Michael Cheadle. I mentioned it back on August 20. When I found out about Robbie’s story, it reminded me that every year, I kept forgetting to do a Halloween story until it was too late. So, I got busy writing A Peril in Ectoplasm. My latest novella has nothing to do with Robbie’s new book. Neither does the short story below, but it was inspired by her fun promo image and many of her fondant characters. I’ve used her photos of some of them as illustrations for my story.
Books and Such https://teripolen.com/2022/10/22/badmoonrising-house-of-sorrow-by-joan-hall-thriller-shortstory-suspense/ I share this author’s disappointment in ghost tours – we’ve yet to see a ghost. Seems like it’s something that should be guaranteed on that kind of tour, right? The Legends and Lore posts on her blog feature jaw-dropping and uncanny mysteries/legends – I highly recommend you check them out. Furry friends have been stealing the spotlight this month, and she brings a couple of cuties with her today. Welcome, Joan Hall! Which unsolved murder fascinates you the most? Can I cheat a bit by mentioning another type of unsolved mystery? The story of D. B. Cooper has always intrigued me. He hijacked a commercial airliner in 1971, demanded 200K in ransom money, then parachuted out of the plane somewhere over the Pacific Northwest. A portion of the ransom money was found years later, but there’s been no sign of the man (living or dead). Specific to a murder, it would have to be the story of Lizzie Borden. Did she really give her mother forty whacks, then gave her father forty-one?
Stream of Consciousness https://johnwhowell.com/2022/10/22/stream-of-consciousness-saturday-prompt-bowl/ The coffee machine has a mind of its own today. While waiting for the life-saving potion, a bowl of store-brand raisin bran crunch is making a poor substitute. Before long, the machine decides a strike might not produce the best result and coughs up the brew. Abandoning the bowl in favor of the mug, a sip reminds me that today is a safe blow-up day. The security system is already down, and Wile E Coyote is busy in the backyard placing packages around the perimeter of the safe. Joining him and seeing he is using ACME C4 charges. All wired to a plunger, and Wile slowly walks away from the safe with it in his hand. He is allowing the wire to slip from the coil around his arm. “Everything okay?” My question catches Wile by surprise. “Of course,” he says. “Where’s Yosemite Sam?” Wile pulls on his chin for a mini-second and responds. “I locked him inside the safe.” The statement causes my eyebrows to join my hairline. “Is he safe in the safe?” My hand immediately goes to my mouth but too late cause that awful question is already out there.” Wile rolls his eyes. “He’s a lot safer in there than we are out here.” Another statement that threatens to send my eyebrows over the top of my head. It is clear that Wile is about to push the plunger as he gets down on one knee and yells, “Fire in the hole.” “Just a minute.” The words hit Wile like a baseball headed for an infield double. He rises and walks to meet me. “Let me explain,” he drawls. For the first time, his Texas accent comes to prominence. Must happen when he is angry, my brain tells me.” Look, friend.” He pauses, then continues. “You and I have a contract, and how this goes down is entirely up to me to execute. Why did you stop me?” Lol.
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2022/10/23/meet-guest-editor-and-author-alison-williams/ Thanks so much to Chris for this opportunity to tell you about myself and my editing services. I have been providing services for authors since 2016 and have worked on more than five hundred projects in a wide variety of genres. I have a first degree in English Language and Literature and trained as a journalist. I have worked as a freelance writer and have been published in print and online. I completed a master’s degree in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow and my journey into editing began when I was asked by fellow students to edit their work. I found that it was something I greatly enjoyed and that I have a knack for spotting issues that often writers are too close to their work to see. I have been very lucky in working with some wonderful writers, many of whom ask me to edit subsequent books. It is lovely to see how the advice I give them shapes their later writing and to see their writing craft go from strength to strength. It is always the biggest compliment when authors get in touch because I have been recommended by other authors. The publishing world is changing all the time. It is becoming harder and harder to break into the world of traditional publishing. A polished manuscript is essential when approaching agents. And if, as many authors have done, you decide to pursue your own writing journey through self-publishing, then it is even more essential to make sure that the work you put out there is the best it can possibly be.
Charles French https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/2022/10/22/my-favorite-horror-films-6-the-bride-of-frankenstein/ The next installment in this series is what I consider to be one of the very best horror films ever made: The Bride of Frankenstein. I also want to mention that I have taught this novel, Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus several times at both Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, and the Department of Graduate and Continuing Education at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. It is also interesting that the sequel The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) to Universal Studio’s Frankenstein (1931) is a far better film and a more faithful adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic Gothic novel than the original movie. James Whale directed and Carl Laemmle Jr. produced this film. This is one of my favorites as well. I can remember sitting and watching Scream Theater with my friends back on a Saturday when this was on. The bride’s rejection of the groom was brutal and instantaneous and the repercussions to follow horrific.
Friends spending time together studying at library
Washing Your Life of the Bad
Traci Kenworth
Don’t we all wish we could do so? Wash the bad from our lives? Get rid of all the old regrets, all the baggage we carry in our days? There is a way. It comes with acceptance. It comes with forgiveness. For ourselves. For others. We’re human and we all make mistakes. Of course, though forgiveness helps with some more serious topics such as abuse of any kind, murder, or so on, I don’t recommend returning to a relationship with that person/s at any time.
Usually, by the time something like that’s happened, it’s too late. And dangerous still. I’m just suggesting getting rid of the horribleness associated with those crimes. It takes time. God knows, I’ve had my share of nightmares about such things. Slowly, over time, you do start to heal. The wound doesn’t always close all the way, but it helps to get to a point where you can wash that bad from your life and learn to live again, free of the past or at least, at terms with the past.
In my life, I’ve always considered a personal relationship with Jesus rather than religion in itself. That might sound odd. It might not be your spice. What I mean by personal relationship is one of looking at him as more of a friend/guide through life rather than someone who condemns. He’s their to instruct you in what happens from here, how to let go, how to improve your life. A lot of people don’t get that idea, I know.
To each, their own. I’m not going to argue one way or another. Simply explain how I deal with things. Without Jesus, my life would be dimmer and less healing. He lifts my spirit in days when I feel I couldn’t take another step and helps me to carry on. If Buddha or the teachings of Gandhi do that for you, that’s fine. We all rely on what we can in these times.
Anyway, it’s hard at first, letting go. You wanta scream. Shout. Punish those who wronged you. But the truth is, very often we don’t get that release from the person or persons at hand. Instead, we have to make a conscious effort to let go ourselves. Releasing that negative/that black spot so to speak takes effort. Some days you’ll do fine and then the pain will hit you again. You’ll go through the emotions time and again.
There’s nothing to stop the repeat. Or lessen the strength at first. But eventually, it does get smaller. One day, you’ll notice that it’s hardly a scratch anymore. Be careful though. Because scratches can open again. It doesn’t take much effort for that. Forgiving is a continuous thing. It’s work. To be honest, sometimes, it feels like too much but if you can reach that drop off, you’ll be so much better.
I won’t lie: the pain almost did eat me alive at times. Clawing my way back from nightmares do that. But I’m stronger. The kids are stronger. Every day, they thank me for getting them out of that situation, that space where time seemed to forget that we mattered. That we had a future to carve out. A past to extinguish. You don’t come back from something like that unchanged. Our lives are so different and fulfilling now.
Yes, washing the bad out of life is difficult but so much worth it. It’d be nice to skip the darkness, the period of “mourning” so to speak and just get to the healing. But unfortunately, life doesn’t work like that. Instead, we pluck at the bleakness day after day until it is simply gone. We become new people, just learning about ourselves and our new roles in life. Everything does have a season. Let this be yours. Good luck to you and God bless! Have a great week.
Happenings:
I’m a bit late with this blog this month due to testing positive for covid. My head’s been splitting with headaches and the aches and pains of the fluish symptoms are horrendous. I even have had shortness of breath and a burning in my chest feeling that my inhaler and Symbicort have held at bay. I tested on Fri. and called my dr.’s office but they didn’t get back to me until Mon. which made it a day too late for the meds so I just have to go through it alternating Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Thankfully, I had the three shots due to the risks. Hope you’re all staying healthy out there.
Here are some links around the internet you might like:
Writers Helping Writers: https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/10/writers-fight-club-story-contest-winners/ Thank you for celebrating the release of the SILVER Edition of The Conflict Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles. Angela and Becca create amazing books—and find fun, generous ways to celebrate. The Writer’s Fight Club Story Contest has been incredible. We enjoyed your entries and hope they’ll be published one day! Thank you for sharing your creativity, talent…and amazing conflicts. Two of our Resident Writing Coaches donated edit prizes and judged the second-round entries. I can’t wait for the talented winners to see their prizes below! If you didn’t win and are looking for an editor—check these coaches out to see if they’re a good match for you (you can see full bios for all our amazing Resident Writing Coaches here.)
Robbie’s Inspiration: https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/2022/10/07/robbies-inspiration-a-visit-to-the-circus-via-cake-and-a-guacamole-salad-cakeart-fondantart/ On 25 September we had a family gathering to celebrate my parents’ 48th wedding anniversary. It was a lunch event and everybody contributed to the fare. I made a circus cake display and a guacamole salad. I worked on the fondant figures for the cake for about three months as they are quite time-consuming and detailed to make. I made a clown, two acrobats, two empowered circus bears, a strong man, and a ringmaster. The cake comprised three layers of my giant round cakes baked in my biggest wedding cake tin. I made a double-mix orange sponge, a triple-mix chocolate milk sponge, and a triple-mix vanilla milk sponge. All the cakes were very delicious and I took some of the leftovers to the office for my colleagues and our building management team. Always lovely displays of cakes.
Smorgasboard Magazine https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/10/08/smorgasbord-short-stories-milestones-along-the-way-ireland-waterford-the-american-connection-by-geoff-cronin-2/ Following on from The Colour of Life, my father-in-law Geoff Cronin wrote two more books with stories of life in Waterford and Dublin from the 1930s. He collected the stories on his travels, swapping them with others in return for his own and then treating us to the results of the exchange. Geoff also added some jokes overheard just for the Craic…Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing selected stories from Milestones Along the Way. The American Connection My great uncle Richard Condon who was my grandfather’s brother-in-law lived in Chicago for most of his life and was reported to be worth at least three million dollars. In 1930, my father was his sole heir and was to inherit the fortune. However, my father received a telegram about that time to say that his uncle, Richard Condon, had just got married. The man was near eighty years old at that time and my father said “he’s got married now with one leg in the grave and the other on a bar of soap!” Apparently, he had been involved in a car accident and was seriously injured. A long period of recovery ensued and he was nursed back to reasonably good health by a lady nurse called Jessie Barr? And this was his new bride. She was a Scots Presbyterian, twenty-nine years old, and weighed about twenty stone. Quite a handful!
Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo https://scvincent.com/2022/10/07/through-new-eyes/ A weekend exploring the landscape in my local area draws to a close in a few minutes. My friend is in bed, I sit here glowing pink because I caught the sun today. It was glorious weather and we have spent the day on the Chiltern hills. I miss this lovely lady’s outlook on life!
Ohio Dog in Shelter Over 2,555 Days Finally Finds His Forever Home: ‘Flip Is a Very Loving Dog’
Flip’s new pet parent told PEOPLE the rescue dog is adjusting well to home life and recently enjoyed his first nap in a big bed. Who doesn’t love it when an animal finds their forever home! Awesome!
RosieAmber https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2022/10/08/%f0%9f%8d%82whats-flowering-in-my-garden-for-this-weeks-sixonsaturday-post-gardeninglife-gardeningtwitter/ I had great plans to bring you photos of a trip to Longstock Park Water Gardens in Hampshire, however, Covid has circled back to my household and the friend I was going with agreed it was best to postpone our trip. So I have had to scramble around my garden in search of six items for this week’s post instead. The first photo is of a lone Linum (Bright Eyes) flower. This is from a packet of seeds that I bought very late in the season. I sprinkled a few seeds out in the flower bed to see if they would still germinate. The rest I will sow next Spring.
Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2022/10/08/5-ways-to-use-community-marketing-for-your-book-by-amanda-miller/ Locally and globally, in your community and around the world, it’s possible to create connections and memorable experiences with readers by using fun and interesting ways for them to interact with your book. This only requires a few copies of your book to give away. If the cat scratches the cover, don’t throw it away—use it for one of these nifty, inexpensive opportunities to get others involved in the marketing. I think any of these ways would be valuable and on the personal level for any author out there. They sound like such fun!
Word Craft Poetry https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2022/10/07/working-up-a-sweat-with-poetic-forms/ How long does it take you to write a poem that you’re truly proud of? For me, it usually takes a fair amount of time; and this has led me to a recent realization that I’d like to share. My friends and readers know that I am constantly experimenting with sundry forms of poetry and rarely write free verse. This is not to say that I never employ free verse. I do- but not nearly as often as most poets I follow on WordPress on Twitter. Free verse really does seem to be king.
Cold Hand Boyack https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2022/10/06/guest-author-c-s-boyack-new-release/ Joan Hall Hey, Readers. Everyone knows how much I enjoy good music – especially classic rock. Today’s guest author, C. S. Boyack does as well. He’s no stranger to this site, having been a guest several times. It’s always a pleasure to host him. Craig is not only a friend but also a contributor at Story Empire. These books remind me of the Scooby Doo gang! Fun!
Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/10/storytelling-and-psychology-the-yin-and-yang-of-storytelling/ Writers need to know psychology for four main reasons: They need to know how readers think and feel and use that knowledge to engage them. They need to understand the psychology of experiencing so they can create story experiences that have a real-to-life feel. They need to design characters with plausible traits, flaws, talents, motivations, etc. They need to know themselves — why they write, what they really want to write about, and how to get out of their own way. This article explains how to create story experiences that feel real to life.
Marcia Meara Writes https://marciamearawrites.com/2022/10/07/thankyou/ Just a quick note to say thanks to this week’s guests, Jackie Lambert and Kassandra Lamb. I’m sorry I was unable to respond to all the lovely comments, but we have been busy every day cleaning up debris from Hurricane Ian. It’s been a long, hard week, but we’ve made substantial progress, and really appreciate your understanding and support. I’m hoping I’ll have more time to be here next week, even though I have no more guests scheduled through year’s end. But I do still have a few little surprises tucked in here and there through Christmas, along with my regular #GrannySays and #ThorsDaySmile posts. I’m hoping by slowing down a bit over the next couple of months I can finally kick Long COVID and return to both blogging and writing at my usual pace. We’ll see how that goes. Meanwhile, I’m so grateful for each and every one of you who has sent me well wishes, and who’ve been so wonderful about commenting on our guest posts. You guys ROCK!!!
The taunts and cruelty growing up can cause you to lose faith in yourself. To not want to be who you are. Anything special, anything unique, you work to do away with. Because that would make you different. And different is bad. Or at least, that seems to be what we’re taught. Keep the formation. Don’t step out of line. Dream these dreams, not those.
It can be a daunting reality for a lot of kids. If there’s one thing, I think school’s get wrong: it’s that. We’re not all meant to be put in a binder together. We’re not all meant to follow the same path despite how much easier it would be for the higher-ups. Being different is good. It brings other perspectives to the table. It can show us a path forward in life that we should’ve taken all along.
So, what do you do years down the road when you look back with regret at some of the things you wish you’d done but didn’t? Dreams have a way of passing us by if we don’t grip them hard and run with them. Things change though. Sometimes due to finances, sometimes to personal problems. Or through no fault of our own. We wake up one day and look back and wonder if we’d chosen a different way, where we’d be.
We can wonder and wish all we want. The fact is life happens. That career we wanted since we were old enough to decide, didn’t pan out. The marriage we hoped for fell apart. A lot of times I think it has to do with letting other people’s perspectives influence our own. We don’t think we’re good at something, so we turn aside. If we’d stuck it out longer maybe the pegs would’ve lined up.
Still, there’s always a new start. One day you might decide to go back to one of those dreams, make a living at it. You could ignore all the naysayers and just do what’s best for you. After all, no one has to live your life but you. No one has to decide what you will be, what you will find. Uncovering that inner beauty of something we’ve always wanted to do takes time.
It doesn’t shortchange us. We weren’t supposed to pursue the path before that moment for whatever reason. It doesn’t make it wrong or silly to try and recover the dream. It makes us fulfill a promise to ourselves maybe. We let our children grow and now it’s time to rediscover something for our benefit. Maybe you always wanted that mechanic shop. Or a trip to Europe. You can do so at a later date. Nothing wrong with that.
In your pursuit of dreams, things get overturned. When you’re young, it seems you have all the time in the world. All the energy. All the faith. As the day ages, you lose some of that enthusiasm. There are those sent to talk you out of an idea for whatever reason. Holding true to what you want and believe takes a lot of determination. It takes a lot of perseverance, but you can do what you set your mind to.
Only you can hold you back when it comes down to it. You promise yourself one day. Well, one day has arrived. Dig down deep and find that core, that strength that was always there. Waiting. Find the foundation, discover the new road. Life can be anything you want it to be. Sure, you might be starting down the end road in life. Your finances might not be where you want them to be. A few kids, a few grandkids later might seem like time to retire.
Don’t give up on yourself. Take that moment. Pursue that dream. And find the inner beauty within, that truth that was always meant to be. Have a great week, take care, God bless.
Some products you may be interested in. I may receive a small compensation for the advertising from the seller.
Welcome to a repeat of the series from Carol Taylor, the wonderful Culinary A – Z and a reminder, not only of the amazing variety of food we have available to us today from around the world, but delicious recipes to showcase them. Carol also introduces to cooking methods and kitchen equipment that assist in creating meals for all occasions.
Welcome today it’s the letter D …I have some exotic fruits for you and some lovely recipes I hope you enjoy!
John Howell.com: https://johnwhowell.com/2022/08/02/30535/ In Keith’s words. “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph (If you are curious about what we were photographing, it was the sun beginning to set over one of the domes of the mosque adjacent to the Taj Mahal. Click here tosee my effort). Either put your offering (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before Sunday evening UK time. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.
Story Empire: https://storyempirecom.wordpress.com/2022/08/03/characters-and-diversity-part-3-physical-ability/ Hello SE friends, Gwen with you today, and together we will venture further into the theme of diversity. In June, I wrote about including racial diversity in your stories. Here’s alink to that post. In July, I focused on financial diversity and offered suggestions which you can read here. Today’s topic is PHYSICAL ABILITY. Just as in the prior two posts, I will write from personal experience and invite you to share your experiences as well.
1. https://killzoneblog.com/2019/07/22029.html
“And so it ends, after 67 years. One of the great American institutions, Mad
Magazine, is closing up shop.
Gone but not forgotten will be the famous Mad mascot, Alfred
E. Neuman, whose mysterious background is discussed here. So popular was he that
he occasionally ran for president, with the slogan: “You could do worse… and
always have!”
Along with my parents and my
teachers, Madplayed a major part in the formation of my young life.
Its influence is with me still—and I hope it always will be.” I remember Mad. Funny!
4. https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/07/the-5-essential-cs-for-writing/
“Show of hands – who’s looked at social media posts from favorite authors and
coveted (no, that’s not one of the c words … keep reading) that author’s
success? And since we all know how real those social media posts are, I’m going
to share with you my C-tips.
Creativity.
We’ve all heard that there are no unique
stories to be told, that it’s only our personal spin that makes a version of
the story stand out. Our super-power as writers is to see the magic in the
ordinary. A headline or inanimate object or a person in the grocery store line
can trigger an avalanche of story ideas.
A couple of years ago, my son and I took
an ice cream making class/tour at a local boutique ice cream maker’s factory.
At one point while listening to the owner explain the process, I realized I was
watching a character in the book I was working on. The character in the book is
male and looks nothing like her, but I’d been struggling to who he was and what
he did. I can’t tell you what it was about her that triggered the connection,
but standing in front of me, waxing poetic about cream was the missing piece of
my book.” This happened
to me the other day while talking to my daughter. She explained the
relationship between my two protagonists without knowing about either.
5. http://booksbywomen.org/write-here-write-now-by-abigail-drake/
“Turning something into a daily practice, be it writing or exercising or even
flossing, can be a daunting process. In the case of writing, having a schedule
is important. It’s also a good way to keep the writer sane.
What do I mean by that? Well, a writer who
is not working is a dangerous creature. Although some writers can take days or
weeks off from their work and not feel the effect at all, many cannot. To those
writers, a day without writing feels off and unsettled and incomplete.”
Fear is a driver. It drives plot, pace,
tension, and emotion—which, when you combine those elements, creates the climax
of your story. Status quo would suggest that desire is the predominant
motivation pushing a hero towards the climax of a story, and sure, it might be.
But fear is a secondary motive.
Why?” I personally think it’s because he has something to
lose!
7. https://stevelaube.com/how-to-write-poorly/
“To paraphrase a pretty good writer of several centuries ago, “Some are born
writers, some learn to be writers, and others have writing thrust upon them.”
Whichever category you fit into, it takes
practice and perseverance to write well. But it takes only a little effort to
write poorly. Here are seven tips to help you write poorly:
Write for everyone.
Don’t write for a specific demographic or
a target audience. Don’t write with a specific reader in mind. Just write for
anyone and everyone. Keep it general, broad, and one-size-fits-all.”
It’s worth repeating that none of the
Expansion Pack material is required for your stories. These are just as
advertised. If you want to get a bit deeper into the optional stuff, you might
find them helpful.
There is an old writing rule, that I’m
going to paraphrase. Every scene must do two of three things or it doesn’t
belong in your story. These things are:” Hmm, I’ve written scenes like this. Bring the characters
together, at first resistant, and then they open up to one another.
So why have I chosen to go against the
gold standard of good advice and cross genres? I admit, it’s probably because I
have no business sense, but it’s also because I love to learn new things and to
challenge myself creatively.”
6. https://conniejjasperson.com/2019/07/08/the-inferential-layer-of-the-word-pond-mood-and-emotion-amwriting/
“Today we go a little deeper into the Word-Pond that we call Story. In talking
about literature, the word mood is sometimes used
interchangeably with atmosphere. Like conjoined twins, mood and
atmosphere march along together; separate, but intertwined so closely that they
seem as one. Mood is long term in the background and makes the emotions evoked
within the story specific. Atmosphere is also long term but is part of
world-building. Atmosphere is the aspect of mood that setting
conveys.
Emotion is
immediate, short term. It exists in the foreground but works best when in
conjunction with the overall atmosphere/mood.”
2. https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/07/the-boy-who-came-back-from-heaven-christian-book-scandal.html
“evin and Alex Malarkey were alone together when the accident happened. It was
November 2004, and the Malarkeys had moved to rural Huntsville, Ohio, from
suburban Columbus just weeks earlier. The family was struggling financially,
and Kevin and his wife, Beth, wanted to pursue a quieter life. Beth had given
birth to their fourth child a few days before. Six-year-old Alex was the oldest
of the bunch. He and his father went to church that Sunday morning, just the
two of them.
On the drive home, Kevin answered a call
on his cellphone just as he approached an intersection with a blind spot that
locals knew to fear. He didn’t see the other car coming. Kevin was thrown from
his vehicle but was unhurt. Alex was taken in a helicopter to Columbus
Children’s Hospital. (The occupants of the other car were not seriously
injured.) Alex had suffered an “internal decapitation”—his skull essentially
separated from his spine. His injuries were so serious that the coroner was
called to the scene of the crash.”
I also want to consider the benefits of
reading. I think the first, and perhaps most obvious, value is that of
education. Regardless of where the reading is done, or if it is for class or
for self, all reading informs the reader in some way. While there are a myriad
of ways to learn in life, reading still stands out as the primary, and most
efficient, way of gaining information. (I am not in any way discounting the
importance of learning through experience.) Readers can learn about areas of
study that exist far outside of their particular areas of understanding or
expertise. For example, I am a student of English literature, but I love
reading books about quantum mechanics and the extraordinarily esoteric world of
String Theory. I do not understand these ideas the way a physicist would, but I
can still appreciate the ideas from books aimed at intelligent, non-specialist
readers. Such reading allows the book lover to explore an almost unlimited
range of ideas.”
4. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jul/10/millennials-censorship-putney-sofka-zinovieff-lolita
“wouldn’t normally air my dirty literary linen in public, but here goes. When I
finished writing my novel Putney, about a 13-year-old girl who has a “love
affair” in the 1970s with an older man and realises decades later that it was
actually abuse, my previous editor at Jonathan Cape chose not to publish it.
The reasons emerged this year when he
was interviewed in the Spectator. “If Lolita was offered
to me today,” Dan Franklin said, “I’d never be able to get it past the
acquisition team – a committee of 30-year-olds, who’d say: ‘If you publish this
book we will all resign.’” He pointed to #MeToo and social media as fundamental
factors: “You can organise outrage at the drop of a hat.”
Fortunately, Bloomsbury’s acquisition team
– overwhelmingly female and mixed aged – were brave enough to take on Putney,
which was described
in the Observer as “a Lolita for the era of #MeToo”.
Whether there was any truth in his words or not, Franklin’s position reveals
how much fear now exists in publishing.”
5. https://www.vulture.com/2019/07/laura-lippman-on-baltimore-lady-in-the-lake.html
“Baltimore is a city where they give directions according to what’s not
there anymore,” Laura Lippman says, quoting an old newspaper colleague of hers
named Linell Smith. Lippman ought to know because she, apart from several years
away in her 20s, has spent her entire adulthood in town. She was a reporter for
more than a decade at the Baltimore Sun, and in the past 22
years has set 23 crime novels and thrillers in and around the city. Her latest book, Lady
in the Lake, takes
place mostly downtown in the mid-’60s, and today she and I are headed out to
find some places that used to be here.
Baltimore is layered with loss. It was a
factory town with aspirations, one that was built to house nearly twice its
current population with great civic imagery to match — the Beaux-Arts monuments
and crab houses, Pimlico races and rowhouses with white marble steps. If you’re
searching for Lost”
You don’t own e-books the same way you own
paper volumes, a point made more apparent by Microsoft Store’s recent decision
to close its books section and remove previously bought e-books from readers’
devices.
While my book recommending skills are
truly legendary, to the point of approaching the mystical — this is why I call
myself the Biblioracle, after all — this is not my only predictive talent.
In fact, for every single reader,
regardless of age, gender, location, height or hair color, I can tell how many
Kindle, Nook and Apple iBooks they own.
The answer is zero. You, me, them,
everybody, own exactly zero of these books.
The reality of this was recently
highlighted by the impending demise of the Microsoft Store books section, which
stopped new sales in early April and will soon start removing the books from
devices, never to be seen again.
7. https://lithub.com/how-america-came-heartbreakingly-close-to-universal-healthcare/
“ As was recently, and perhaps shockingly, reported, life expectancy gains in
the US, which plateaued in 2012, have declined for the past two years. The
CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics reported that the new average life
expectancy for Americans is 78.7 years, 1.6 years behind the average in
developed nations (including Canada, Germany, Mexico, France, Japan, and the
UK), which is 80.3. As Dartmouth economists Ellen Meara and Jonathan Skinner
remarked about the downward reversal of US life expectancy, “It is difficult to
find modern settings with survival losses of this magnitude.”
Why this is happening is the direct result
of the wasteful, inefficient, and woefully illogical profit-based healthcare
system that has been built here in the 75 years since the end of World War II,
fueled in part by an addiction not just to opioids but to many other drugs such
as Adderall, created and reinforced by corrosive marketing, and collusion in
rigged science, rank profiteering, and sloppy prescribing. But the decline in
life expectancy has also been caused by our longstanding lack of attention to
the many social factors that affect health. This is in stark contrast to the
vision we showed at the end of WWII.”
Teaser Fiction & Poetry:
1. https://annieneugebauer.com/2014/04/14/unpack-the-poem-inland-by-edna-st-vincent-millay/
“There’s an idea I’ve been wanting to try for a while now, and National Poetry
Month seems like the perfect time. I think it would be cool to take a poem,
here on the blog, and go through the process of reading it, interpreting it,
studying it, etc. It’s a concept I’ve been calling “Unpack the Poem” in my
head–thanks to all of my professors over the years saying, “Can you unpack
that?” when they want deeper analysis–but I’ve been hesitant to try it for
several reasons. First of all, if it were to become an occasional series I add
to my blog topic repertoire (as I hope it will, if there’s enough interest),
I’m somewhat limited in my choice of poems. For legal reasons (copyright) I can
only “unpack” poems that are in the public domain.”
Inspiration can be found in anything around us. Take a walk for instance. Fallen leaves, isolation, a campground might inspire you to write a scary tale. A trip to the city might bring up corruption, brutality, and homelessness. Driving down the road might tip the setting of your book from Rome to someplace more familiar. Big towns, small towns, they both have their advantages. So, do fields, spaceships, and laboratories.
Some writers find a story in a song. I haven’t been able to do this yet. I find most of mine come when thoughts twist together and take root. It could be a story I’ve read that sparks something. It could be a TV show or a movie. A picture does the trick too. I always want to know more about what’s in the frame. What are the people like? Where do they live? Are they happy? Has a tragedy touched their lives? A story shapes as I go deeper.
How Do You Take It Deeper?
You start by asking questions. Who are they? What are their positive and negative traits? What do they do for a living? Do they like it? What would they do if a million dollars fell into their hands? It’s questions like this that begin to frame that story. The more that you ask the more solid the story becomes. What type of story are you writing comes into the picture here. Fantasy? Horror? Science-fiction? Etc. Then you consider your audience. MG? YA? Adult?
Some other things to consider are setting. Does it take place in a historical setting? Do your research. You’d be surprised the info that’s out there. Even with a futuristic tale, you need to do some research. What kind of technology might they have? Has transportation changed? There are a million things to consider.
It all begins with a single seed. So, water it well. Have a great day, take care, and God bless!
Hello all! I am moving over to a new site at websites for authors. If you’d like to follow me, it’s traciashbebooks.com. I won’t be blogging any longer as I want to focus on my books. I write Myths and Legends Fantasy and Dark Academia if you’re interested. I’m not published yet but I plan to be by next year. Loleta Abi will also be moving as I combine both pennames under one heading. Thank you all for the time and memories we spent together. I learned a lot blogging. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your year. Until we meet again–
I was so certain that what I’d started out writing this last time was indeed Gothic Fantasy. The surprise was on me. So, how do I know I’m right this time? Well the definition of dark fantasy aligns with what I read and write. Therefore, it stands to reason: it’s a dark fantasy.
Now, I’m not being smug. The truth is, I fought against the dark fantasy definition. Somehow, I thought it was darker than gothic. I’d been told by others that horror was so wrong to write that I actually wanted to move away from the genre.
But the truth is, my stories are darker but they’re also akin to fantasy like J.R.R. Tolkien’s dive into things with Orcs and spiders and such. Like the sweet in my alter ego’s romances, mine are not graphic or gross-outs. They’re more psychological. Moods and shadows fuel me because that’s what my life holds most of the time.
I’m influenced by Edgar Allen Poe just as I’m influenced by Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, and so many more in the horror field. I’m also influenced by Anne McAffree, Marrion Zimmer Bradley, Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, Victoria Aveyard and more in the Fantasy/dark fantasy field.
I like being able to blend genres. Deepen or lighten the story, whatever’s called for. To borrow Stephen King’s words, “It’s the tale, not he who tells it.” I’ve faced a lot of pain in life, a lot of mistakes that pulled me up from the bottom and helped me to find the person I am today.
I’m not perfect. I don’t pretend to be. As I’ve said, I made mistakes. Some were those I couldn’t help because of my illness. But now, I strive to do better, to be better than I was in days past. Yes, I carried guilt for my younger days. It took a lot for me to get past that and forgive myself. And let me tell you, nobody’s harder on yourself than you.
Bipolar is something I live with daily. I won’t say it’s an excuse but it brings an understanding to what I’m like, where I’ve been.
And I suppose, dark fantasy drew off that when it came to my writing. I think all creatives draw off of this or that when it comes to their work. They might find more humor or more seriousness, more love or more edgy work that’s the way things go.
I’ve made peace with myself with dark fantasy now. I might not have gotten all the ribbons and curls I wanted in a genre but that depends on how you look at things. There is a lot of depth to dark fantasy, putting things under the microscope just to see, what if?
I think that’s what draws me to it. The search, the clues. The story can go so many ways but, if I want it to be true to its genre has to examine the details, the fine print. It’s got a lot of mystery to it. And as someone who’s struggled through life, I’m okay with that.
What do you like/despise about dark fantasy? Who are some of your favorite genre authors?
Not sure what to think of a YA/Adult crossover book. I’d have to take a look at it. But usually the age groups are kept for a reason i.e. too adult situations.
Many reviews here. I love the covers for D. Wallace Peache’s books and several others–Sally Cronins and one about children who turn out to be killers of their classmates stood out. I’m not sure I would read the latter with the upsetting emotions sure to be within. There’s something for everyone here from poetry to NF to crime, literary, etc.
Story Empire: https://storyempire.com/2025/07/08/low-fantasy/Hi, gang. Craig here again. We’re continuing my series dive into the speculative genres. Today we’re going to look at High Fantasy.
High Fantasy remains a popular genre, and it has some requirements.
World Changing Stakes
Geographical Alienation for world building
An Alternate World. (Just trust me here.)
I was originally taught this genre required nobles and royalty, and political drama. This happens a lot, but is not specifically required. There were world changing stakes in The Lord of the Rings, but Hobbits aren’t exactly royalty, and the Shire isn’t exactly a palace. Sure, Aragorn, Boromir, Wormtongue, Galadriel, but those were sideshows.
I’ve read some high fantasy, though not a lot. The authors I read beside Tolkien were Marrion Zimmer Bradley (who once had a newsletter that I subscribed to and offered me advice.), Mercedes Lackey, Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey. I do think a lot are about nobles but like Craig said, nowadays, they don’t have to be. Follow your story.
But it’s also obvious the publishing world still needs us!
How do I know? This week, I’ve been buried in emails from book marketing people. It’s so overwhelming I sometimes feel I’m the only blogger left standing. Some emails are obvious scams, but others look pretty legit. But there are so many, I feel like I’m under attack.
There apparently aren’t enough bloggers to go around anymore, so those of us who are left are being hit by everything the scammers and marketers have got. Every minute of every hour. Over and over again.
I’m still here. I didn’t know WP wasn’t sending out the emails to the subscribers anymore. I still get some blogs from you guys. Not a lot but some. It’s how I know you’ve put out a blog post. I have thought of substack but can’t bring myself to commit to it. I’d rather do my own thing. How do you all feel?
Writers in the Storm: https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/07/writing-in-the-storm-part-2/?utm_source=newsletter-115&utm_medium=emailIn writing this blog, I was struck by the title of this group, which is “Writers in the Storm”. In the “about” section of this blog, it states, “Along the way, we’ve discovered that there’s more to life than writing, and sometimes life can be the richest story of all… Every writer must weather the storm within: self doubt, rejection, deadlines and balancing our writing passion with everyday life. Not to mention the storm raging outside — the paradigm shift in the publishing industry.”
Speed bumps on the writing journey.
It is exciting to consider when we are in the ups and downs of the storms of life, our creativity can be an expression of the journey.
How can we bring “The richest story of all” into our writing?
What happens when those ups and downs don’t feel very manageable or we’re in crisis mode and all of a sudden our best intentions go sideways?
What do we do when our carefully, meticulously plotted schedule takes a left turn and we find ourselves at the end of a very busy day and yet we haven’t accomplished any of the things we wanted to accomplish?
Instead of being tossed around in the storm, what would happen if we could ride the waves and be empowered instead of drowning?
I try and follow the best map for myself at that moment. And continue this until soon, I’m able to do more and then step back into my old stuff.
What I’m learning: About self-editing. We have entered are Editing stage at Novel90, however, I’m still writing. Might have to take it to Fall Novel90 or just finish and edit on my own and then start next book in series. I have finally figured out the middle and I’m loving the changes.
What I’m discovering in life: give yourself Grace. It’s okay to slow down and let things trickle through your fingers.
I’ve been doing a bit of thinking. About how I want to live life right now. I was so stressed out about the country and where it’s headed. I realized I need to put that in God’s hands right now. With my health, I can’t keep myself upset because it doesn’t do anything but makes things worse for me.
I’m trying to post more positive things on my social media because of this. I don’t want to be angry all the time. I can’t afford it. I’ve gotten into cats, Snoopy, and Calvin and Hobbes. And I love the purple obsession images. It just soothes me right now.
I’m still having low blood pressure issues as well as low blood sugars. At times down to 40. I am so close to slipping into a coma if I don’t keep my attention focused on my daily care. It’s not that I don’t care about others or this country. It’s just right now, I have to put my health first.
I know there are other people out there realizing it as well. Not my health but their own in jeopardy over the often poisonous battles that we get into with strangers, family, and friends. I don’t want to do it anymore.
I just want to take each day as it comes. I want to love my family and friends and neighbors. And my kitties and be as happy as I can. Now, I know the word’s on fire right now but personally, there’s not much I can do about it except continue to pray.
Letting go of the frustration and anxiety of this past half of a year has been beneficial to me. I am facing things as best as I can. I’m putting my focus (when I can) into my stories. I really like the worlds I’m creating, the people, the culture, the creatures, and more.
It’s tough being a “writer-god.” But I’m pushing ahead and laying down framework for success. I don’t know how long I’ll be here with my health though it’s better than it was last year. Then, I was on the opposite end with high blood pressure and high blood sugars. They say the low of each is worse.
My mind is fuzzy a lot with my bipolar so I have to rely on my son and daughter to help me. My daughter’s at home right now but will have to return to a new job outside the home because of our finances. That will leave me praying to keep everything on track.
I hope your own health is doing good or is at least manageable. Have a great week, take care, and God bless!
I am allergic to the vaccine for shingles, so there wasn’t much I could do. A whopping case of misery was my fate. Much of my head was affected including an eye, causing intense itching and pain. Reading was a not an option.
All the cohosts of Writers In The Storm blog were super supportive, and together they covered my responsibilities while keeping up with their own work. Jenny Hansen was the first one in the group to mention audiobooks and suggested one book in particular that had several elements in common with my work in progress. Olivia Hawker’s October in the Earthwas just that and gave me several things to ponder that will make The Hobo Code a better book.
I’ve recently tried audio books myself and like them.
5. Entertaining Stories: https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2025/07/05/i-post-because-i-must/ I’ve been writing and blogging for a long time now. At the outset I would post three to five times per week. I had so much fun interacting with Lisa Burton the robot girl, or with Lorelei my Muse. I think many of you did too.
There came a time when I could no longer afford Lisa’s posters and had to make a decision to stop using her as my spokesmodel. This actually hurt, because I made a lot of mileage with this promo system.
Today, I’m facing a crisis of confidence, faith, and whatever else you can call it. It’s built up from tiny chips being knocked off of my psyche. There is no one thing responsible here.
I have anxiety and fears about this same thing and I’m just starting out. I scrape by on the little bit of money I can manage from my SS. I don’t know what the future holds but I know that writing is a part of me that will always be with me. Whether I can put that story out there or not.
6. Charles French: https://lizgauffreau.com/2025/07/02/the-big-reveal/t long last, here are the cover reveal, description, and ebook preorder link for The Weight of Snow and Regret. The book will be available October 1, 2025 to mark the day the state of Vermont closed the last poor farm in the state.
There was one by the local college (before it was the local college campus) and it’s rumored that the haunted lake there is what happened when they flooded the place when it shut down. That’s part of a story I’m telling now.
7. Anne R. Allen’s blog…with Ruth Harris: https://annerallen.com/2025/07/write-your-first-draft-for-yourself/Recently I’ve been looking at comment threads on old posts. Five years ago, people were leaving a lot more comments. But commenting on blogs has faded along with the popularity of blogging, which a lot of people see as soooo last decade. These days, a lot of authors prefer Substack, which is new and shiny.
For now, I’m hanging onto this blog, although it does have a lot of problems, including a weird number of “brute force attacks”— where hackers use bots to try 1000s of passwords a minute to try to break in. Generally the server has to take the blog offline to protect it.
Why these hackers want to break into a non-monetized author blog is beyond me, but then I don’t know why I still get dozens of requests every week from people who want to regale our audience of writers with articles about buying real estate in Dubai, making cat food in an air fryer, or what to wear to a Taylor Swift concert.
As I mentioned on Anne’s blog, I think people like that need to take some online writing classes from actual writers. It’ll help them past the obsessed stage. Believe me, I went through that stuff too.
Dark fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that combines elements of traditional fantasy with darker, more unsettling themes often associated with horror. It explores the darker aspects of human nature and the supernatural, often featuring morally ambiguous characters, grim settings, and a sense of dread or unease.
So, as you see above, once again, I’ve discovered I was wrong about my genre. I thought the castle/isolation aspect was gothic BUT this definition of dark fantasy is exactly what I’m writing and the definition of gothic I saw was far from what I am. They’ll be a bit of correction on the blog and in the posts ahead. I don’t mean to confuse anyone. We were looking thanks to our instructors for the definitions of our genre and the tropes for each. When I glanced over the tropes for gothic, I was like no way. When I saw dark fantasy, everything cliqued. And then, of course, I discovered that most of the titles I read are “dark fantasy.” Lol.
I want to talk a bit about a tool I use that I’ve come to like quite a bit. It’s called AutoCrit. It is a platform that helps writers create their work. But it goes beyond that in helpfulness. It has the tools of WordPress, Scriveners, etc. It allows you to bring your work together.
There is a note feature that I love. It lets you gather all your notes together for easier use. You can also keep this tab open while you are writing or pull it open at any time to check your notes. I wish I’d had this feature years ago!
There is a Story Analyzer feature that once you have your file finished, does what it says. It can analyze fiction and non-fiction. It lets you know where your story works and where it doesn’t. Now, you might be thinking it’s some AI stuff and, in a way, it is but not the AI that learns from your writing. It’s only there to help you. It also doesn’t try and rewrite your work. It does give some suggestions but leaves your style up to you.
There is a new feature called Market Fuel that helps you with exactly what it says. Trends in the market. Where your story might fit. Suggestions on how to tighten things up. Comparisons of other published author’s work, as in comps to use to market your work for trad or Indie. You don’t see the other author’s works, just the suggestion that your book might be like so-and-so’s.
What I like about it is that you can prepare your stories for an e-pub, etc. It helps you size the book for market, offering different templates that go with Amazon, Instagram, etc. Something they’re working on is bringing in templates for covers. That is going to help even more!
What does this all cost? For the monthly, it’s $29.95. Sometimes there are specials where you can get a trial for $1 or even $15. It also has a lifetime membership and teaches Academy classes where you can get a pass for that or pay individually for classes. If you are a PRO-member (monthly or lifetime), there are some free offerings and clubs such as The Horror Club, The Mystery Club, etc.
I hope you check it out! It can help! It also has dictation features! And so many more, too many to name. Have a great week, take care, and God bless!
The Seven:
Fiction Favorites: https://johnwhowell.com/2025/06/13/friday-johnku-aka-tgif-fri-yay-good-news-122/ Some plastics are made to be small. These are known as primary microplastics, like the microbeads intentionally added to face washes and other personal care products. But most microplastics come from the slow disintegration of larger plastic products, including plastic wrap, takeaway containers, polyester clothes, tires, paint, and artificial turf. These are known as secondary microplastics.
Exposure to microplastics can also occur through inhaled air. Data from animal studies have shown that once absorbed, plastic micro- and nanoparticles can distribute to the liver, spleen, heart, lungs, thymus, reproductive organs, kidneys, and even the brain (crosses the blood–brain barrier).
I hope this research doesn’t get cut like so many helpful programs by the government. These types of research could help us all. The question is, will they let them?
“If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise, don’t put it there.”…Anton Chekhov
Chekhov, the Russian playwright, also wrote short stories, essays, and instructions for young writers. The above admonition is probably his most famous writerly advice. It’s aimed at playwrights, but it’s true of all fiction writing.
His rule is telling us to remove everything that has no relevance to the story.
A worthy note of advice to check back over our drafts and make sure we’ve used everything.
BookCon Will Return in 2026 – Jim Milliot, Publishers Weekly – After shuttering during the pandemic, the exposition formerly known as BookExpo will make an unexpected return in 2026.
The Vicious Cycle of Book Publishing – Kathleen Schmidt, Publishing Confidential – Publicist Kathleen Schmidt looks at the decisions publishers make around “crashing” books and how marketing budgets are allocated, which can result in some books getting a boost and some all but dropped in the ocean.
Maybe some more things will come back. Missed some local events.
Life in the Realm of Fantasy: https://conniejjasperson.com/2025/06/20/fineartfriday-summer-field-of-poppies-by-claude-monet-1875/ Claude Monet’s gift for bringing in the beauty of nature shines in this painting. He shows us a warm day in high summer, with fluffy white clouds sailing across blue skies. The wild poppies have taken root in a fallow field, and are mingled in with the tall field-grass. A woman and two children have come to pick wildflowers in the meadow. One can almost hear the buzzing of bees as they go about their business mingling with the occasional birdsong.
What I love about these posts are the in-depth look Connie takes at the painting, bringing the scene to life for the reader. She also relates the painter’s life and how they liked to practice their art (style).
Please understand, that there is nothing evil or Satanic in this holiday or its celebration. It is simply an expression of seasonal joy.
Happy Solstice!
Love to see summer come but the heat advisory get to me being an asthmatic individual. Spring and fall are my favorite times of year although I can do without the pollen and hayfever, lol.
Tales from the garden is a collection I wrote in tribute to our home in the mountains to the north of Madrid where we lived from 1999 to 2016. We inherited a number of statues from the previous owners that were too big to take with them, and I also found some discarded around the garden. Perfect characters for stories, some of whom moved on with us to Ireland and appeared in Tales from the Irish Garden.
These are great fairytales!
The Kill Zone Blog: https://killzoneblog.com/2025/06/the-long-and-short-story-of-it.html If I may indulge in a little horn toot today. My latest release has dropped—just don’t drop it on your foot. Because the print version comes in at a honkin’ 612 pages (173k words). It looks nice on a shelf but will also work as an emergency doorstop. It sells for $28.95.
I agree that the short story is the hardest form to write. I haven’t gotten a story of mine published as of yet. Although I did get good feed back from a contest for one.
What I’m doing: Assembling a bookshelf with my daughter. One more to go and then need to get some more down the road.
What I’m learning: How deep to go with setting (balance between overwriting and under-writing.). Story worldbuilding (again not too much, not too little). Character development (all the right things).
The ebook is considerably lighter, and is a “steal” at the special launch price of just $3.49. You might want to hop on that, as the price goes up to $6.99 in a few days.
Down These Streets is a complete collection of my short stories. From the introduction:
If you’re on the bridge because you think it’s Ai Assist, I’ve learned it’s actually a proofreading software by writers. Read another review at this link: Kindlepreneur: https://kindlepreneur.com/autocrit-review/. Hope that helps.
Book Reviews: The Writer’s of the Future 40th Anniversary Edition by various authors
Review by: Traci Dowe/Kenworth
I was unsure what I’d find in this edition. I’ve never read one of these before and I’d been told it mostly leaned on the science fiction side. I prefer fantasy. However, I’m not adverse to science fiction and I found a few memorable ones to me: The Edge of Where the Light is Cast by Christopher Moran, Halo by Nancy Cress, and The Imagilisk by Michael Kortes. I loved the cat who was just a memory who became more real to its creator than anything. It really showed me what is possible in science fiction. The computer who becomes more humane than the aliens that keep a human as a pet. Tales of a fantasy note were: Life and Death and Love in the Bayou. That one was mysterious and heartbreaking and the sweetest revenge.
As I said previously, I’ve never read the Writers of the Future editions before except perhaps when I was starting out as a reader, I read much more back then. I wasn’t sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a collection, ask those collecting dust on my shelves. The honest truth is that I’m trying. To read more, to dig into stories and learn from them.
I think that helps us to grow as an artist. We kind of take in the flavor of the books we’ve read and it influences our own creations in various ways. I enjoyed reading the behind the scenes notes by various judges, famous writers, and Ron L. Hubbard himself. This is a contest I was hoping to win and have submitted to a couple times, but I feel that it is more science fiction leaning than the stories I tell. The Bayou story being the exception for that. But that was such a good story they had to find a place.
Maybe that will happen to me someday. I can only hope. Good luck to all the winners!
Saturdays are for writing these days. I really should be thinning those Asian pears and might brave the 100 degree temperatures for a bit this afternoon to at least get started. The tree sets thousands of them and there isn’t much of a natural fruit fall on this tree. Scissors work well this early in the season.
I’ll share something that makes my imagination work. You guys might get a kick out of this. This is on my commute home and I’ve looked at it for years. Everything was gridlocked last night so I snapped a quick photo.
Funny, the things we see, when we’re out and about!
Smorgasbord Magazine: Smorgasbord book reviews – #Family, #Australia #Immigration Quarter Acre Block by Janet Gogerty | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine In the nineteen sixties many ‘ten pound pommies’ had never left England before and most expected never to return or see loved ones again. George Palmer saw Australia as a land of opportunities for his four children, his wife longed for warmth and space and their daughter’s ambition was to swim in the sea and own a dog. For migrant children it was a big adventure, for fathers the daunting challenge of finding work and providing for their family, but for the wives the loneliness of settling in a strange place.
My review for the book May 31st 2025
This is a book which captures a unique time in British history when residents were invited to immigrate to Australia for the sum of £10 and welcomed with open arms. These days of closed borders and anti-immigration policies, it was certainly a different world.
Reviews are the best news for writers!
Fiction Favorites: Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Walk” | Fiction Favorites It is a long walk from the bedroom to the kitchen. Well, let’s say it seems like a long walk when the caffeine-deprived brain is screaming behind the eyeballs for immediate relief. To quiet the banshee inside my head, I choose two cups of that second export from Colombia. A finger touch is all it takes, and the steaming frothy cup is delivered post haste.
The first sip quelled the roaring neurons, and the room color went from pink to white. The realization that my burning eyes were giving the room the pink hue dawned on me just as the doorbell tripped the Westminster chimes. The quiet air was shattered with what sounded like a 747 in dire trouble, only to realize that a knuckle bone would be needed to restore the peace. Said bone was tossed into the soundproof room, followed by the Baskerville hounds and a door slam. Once the chimes finished their routine, the quiet almost made the ears hurt.
“Flashdance . . . What a Feeling” is from the 1983 film “Flashdance,” directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Jennifer Beals as the young dancer, Alex Owens, whose goal is to become a professional ballerina, and Michael Nouri, who plays her boyfriend and the owner of the steel mill where she works by day in Pittsburgh.
“Flashdance” opened to negative reviews by professional critics but was a surprise box-office success nonetheless, becoming the third-highest-grossing film of 1983 in the US.
I LOVE Flashdance! I so wanted to be a dancer when I was younger between this movie and The Fame TV show!
This post divides your questions into seven distinct areas. You’re invited to do them all at once, or (even better) to divide them up and do one every week. This would mean you’d have a much stronger author brand by the end of the summer. How awesome would that be?!!
This is something I’m going to digging into as I move forward to my quest of publication, hopefully, by the end of this year.
That’s understandable. Writers want an agency that will actively go about making the sale of their manuscript. But what about aftercare? There’s so much more— choosing covers and titles, for instance. Troubling issues arise at times, and an agent needs to decorously step in to help resolve things. If your agent is all about the sale, they may be AOL during problem phases. What if the writer feels his book has been over-edited? That takes a discerning agent who can address the problem without straining any relationships. Books & Such places an equal emphasis on selling and aftercare.
I have no experience at this, of course, but I think if I was trad, I’d want an agent that stuck with me through all stages of the process and beyond.
7 Writers in the Storm: https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/06/when-the-second-draft-feels-like-a-step-back/ The first time I finished a first draft, I celebrated with an entire box of chocolate. I’d completed a novel! All that stood between me and a polished manuscript I could start submitting to agents was one quick pass to clean things up. How hard could a second draft be, right?
I poured my heart and soul into that next draft, and followed all the advice I’d read about. I revised my manuscript into what I was sure was a solid book ready to go.
I was reading The Fantasy Café’s series on Women Writers in SF & F recently when comments by Lyndsey Byrd struck me with what I’ve come to know myself with writing in these fields. That is, that the fandom does not like girly-girls. They prefer the bad-ass assassin instead. That’s a shame. Because I think there’s room for all types in SF & F.
Just because a girl wears a dress and reads books doesn’t mean that she isn’t strong. There’s physical strong and there’s heart-strong and there’s even mentally and emotionally strong. Women are not only one thing. We don’t have to be the tough to be interesting.
For instance, Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean. I much preferred her character before she became the pirate queen later on in the movies. When first introduced, her terror, her wit, made her relatable. She was a normal person in extraordinary circumstances and it showed.
It’s why I loved Evie in The first Mummy movies. She was nervous, shy, but determined to figure out things. Rick’s character perfectly balanced hers as did Will Turner in the Pirate movies, Elizabeth. Both men partnered with the women. They didn’t want them to change or become part of the scenery. They cared about them as a person.
By contrast, The Tomb Raider protagonist just doesn’t interest me. Nor does Rae in the new Star Wars movies. Both are too masculine for my taste. Charlie’s Angels had both action and femineity, and I think that’s why it did so well with audiences. At least, the first one.
I know they’re trying to drag the men into the movies with these types but just as there’s more to men than the mechanical Terminator, there’s more to women than an emotionless canvas. Fandom may not like it or be ready for it but I bet there are those out there who’d like to identify more with the female protagonist.
We’re not all G.I. Jane. Not that that type shouldn’t exist but make room for other traits as well. Show the emotion. Show the heartache. The rage. The meltdowns. There are whole spectrums to women we haven’t explored yet. And you want to talk about tough? What about the women who crossed the seas from foreign countries into a land that hadn’t been built yet? A slave that escaped on a train north?
There’s much more to us. Let’s tell those stories. Not so long ago our own mothers fought for the right to vote, to own a house, to have her own money. We need to relate that to the next generations. Especially now, with our rights shrinking every day. We’re not weak because we like pretty things or wear makeup.
We need to speak out as the women who came before us did. We need to show other women they are strong, courageous, and worthy of being who they are. No need for swords and magic. Our words spoken softly or with purpose mean something. To us. To others. There’s room for everyone at the table. God bless and have a great week!
The Seven:
Entertaining Stories: Some weekends are like that. | Entertaining Stories My writing weekend basically failed right out of the gate. We needed a sprinkler repairman to come this weekend. I’m sure you know the drill. They project a time, so you keep your schedule open, they don’t meet the time, so you keep your schedule even more open.
Eventually, the guy showed up and he did a good job from what I can see. In a way getting that done is an accomplishment.
As far as writing goes, it came to hundreds of words this weekend, not the thousands I hoped for. I blame this on the scheduling fiasco, but real life things have to be addressed too.
Had gremlins myself these past weeks.
Nail Your Novel: How to manage your editorial crew – interview at The Indy Author – Nail Your Novel Although writing a book is largely done in solitude, there are numerous occasions when we seek the input and wisdom of others. In the early rough draft stages, in the later stages when the work is being presented to a publisher or polished for self-publishing, we call on a range of people who help the book reach its full potential and satisfy its audience. Beta readers, subject experts, editors, copy editors, sensitivity readers, proof readers… together they are our editorial crew.
Writers in the Storm: Choose a Powerful Foundation for Your Story, Part Two The point of view influences every scene in your story. Ideally, your choice of a particular point of view (POV) seamlessly draws your reader into the story for a transformation (through education, entertainment, connection with characters, etc.) This is part two of a two post series on POV. In the first post, Choosing a Powerful Foundation for Your Story, the definition of point of view boiled down to the position which experiences or evaluates all events, places, things, and people in a story. That first post identified five different POVs, how to express each POV, and what each POV represents in the balance of power within a story. Today, in part two, we’ll discuss the strengths and limitations of each of those five POVs and tips on how to decide what to use or avoid for your story.
One writer who I think does Omni well is Nora Roberts. She always offers a couple’s POVs and then sometimes, an additional character to boot.
My home in London’s Upper Norwood is opposite to All Saints church and it’s graveyard. Hardly a day passes during which I fail to pass through that graveyard, which has inspired many of my poems.
Earlier this month, I was found unconscious for over two hours with low blood pressure and low blood sugars. Scariest thing I’ve ever been through. I’m still getting crashes but I know what to look for now. They also gave me a shot if it happens again, to bring me back to stable sooner.
This book celebrates Southern African flora and fauna, while acknowledging the threats it faces.
Poetry is one of my favorites but I don’t do it enough. It has been a while. Love to read it though.
DGKayeWriter: WordPress Prompt – When Do You Feel Most Productive? – DGKayewriter.com I’m late posting this week. I’ve had quite a busy schedule this past week between dental appointment minor surgery and girl get-togethers, and of course, book-writing. So, I chose to grab a prompt off WordPress.
As writers, we all have our own time allotments for writing. And times differ for each of us. But I know my writing habits have certainly changed over the thirteen years I’ve been writing books.
I used to have a regimented standard schedule for writing when in midst of writing a book. I was disciplined. I ate breakfast, made a second cup of coffee and got to writing work every weekday morning for a few hours a day, sometimes maybe all day. But those times have changed drastically for me.
My writing life has changed for me since I was near-death earlier this month. I am focusing more on things, trying to pull threads together, and have become serious about publishing. I have a short story in the weeks from which I will also write a novella. I’m considering a self-publishing course. In the fall, I’ll write the first book in a series based in the same world as the other two stories. I also have realized to take one day at a time but with a different twist: I want to realize my dreams of being published.
Appeals Court Reverses Ruling in Texas Book Ban Case – Nathalie op de Beeck, Publishers Weekly – An extremely disappointing ruling that could open the door to more governmental censorship, written in an infuriatingly glib tone.
What I’ve been reading: Fannie Flagg Something to Look For, Summer of Fear by Lois Duncan. I finished Writers of the Future 40th Anniversary edition and will have a review soon then choose my next Kindle book. For some reason, I can only read one book at a time instead of like several previously. Also Story by Robert McKee.
What I’ve been watching: Rising of the Shield Warrior. Some Markiplier and Jon Tron.
The title of this post makes me pause. In today’s crisis, it seems harder and harder to find something good, at least in politics and our economy. However, good is still with us. It’s there in a baby’s smile; in an elderly couple’s handholding, two against the world; and in our faith in the Lord above that can’t be shaken.
We stand together, even though it seems as though we are alone. More and more voices are speaking out. We need to do that. In warning to our friends and loved ones even if they don’t want to hear right now. Someday, they will. I heard yesterday of a man who runs a gratitude podcast. Imagine that!
He’s doing something uplifting. Annette Rochelle Aben does the same with her Angel Messages each week. There are tons of others who bring hope and encourage our faith each and every day. We are not lost. We have not failed. Our voices are finding a foothold. We’re challenging things we know to be wrong.
People say not to worry about the immigrant. That they’re not one of us. That’s not true. They’re our neighbors, our friends, people in need of others to help them, to speak for them. Because one day, it could be us. Think about what the Nazis did to those in Germany.
Each day they pushed more to root out those different, those who didn’t shine the same image as their own. The Bible says to love one another as he loved us. Not hate. Not say, “This one doesn’t deserve compassion and mercy.” That’s what they’re asking for. Compassion and mercy. A chance to make a new life in a country that our own ancestors came to once upon a time. Does that make us more American than them? Yes, we were born in this country.
Yes, we have rights. But, so do they. Maybe not as many as us until they become citizens but one day they will hopefully be able to do that. A lot of farmers depend on immigrants for help with their crops. And in Florida, they’re considering allowing thirteen-year-olds to work night shifts. Night shifts! What about school? What about education?
Oh, yeah. The parents will educate them. Parents know all about math, reading, writing, history, science etc. Sure, if they’re a teacher. But how many parents are? And how many parents have the time to fully educate their child while working jobs that require overtime hours like those today?
And Elon Musk wants us to work 80 hour weeks. Can you imagine? Just because he sends his children off to their mothers and is single himself doesn’t mean the rest of us can do the same. We care about our families. We care about our friends, our neighbors. We don’t want to live a live where we barely can go anywhere other than the office coffee pot.
I’m older now and so my children are grown but that doesn’t mean I don’t remember the struggle as a single mom. And even married parents struggle. Life is a struggle. It always has been. We need to rely on each other, take care of each other. That’s how we’ll get through these days.
Compassion and mercy. For all. Not just a few.
The Seven:
Writers in the Storm: Writers In The Storm | How to Write: Conflict is NOT Tension What’s the difference between conflict and tension? And why is knowing so important in writing? Because they are so very different. Although they are intimately connected – you really can’t have one without the other – they come from different places. Understanding – and utilizing both in the correct ways – can shoot a boring book into the stratosphere. We just have to figure out how they both work.
So, first a quick explanation:
This is a really great way to describe what both are and why you need both.
This is an interesting concept. I hadn’t considered colors before to represent your characters.
Anne Allen and Ruth Harris: 6 Book Marketing Tips for New Authors A couple of weeks ago, a European blogger asked if she could reblog a post I wrote 10 years ago. She said it was the best piece on marketing she’d ever read. (Aw shucks. Here’s me blushing.)
The truth is I’d forgotten all about the post, and I pointed out a lot of the info was out of date, but she wanted to post it anyway.
So I thought I’d re-post it here, deleting some of the most dated stuff.
The best you can do is hold on and follow Wil Wheaton’s law.
Writers in the Storm: How (and Why) To Define a Strong Author Brand My day job involves helping businesses clearly define their brand, so they can turn their stories into money and clients. And do you want to know the most common request people approach me with? “Can you help with my marketing?” *shakes head* This is a common thread among businesspeople AND authors.
Branding and marketing are two very different things, and yet I see people mix them up all the time. Even worse, they try to put the least important of the two at the front of the line.
Before we dive into the “what, how, and why” of a strong author brand, here’s a quick overview of the difference between branding and marketing.
This is some great insight that I plan to use myself.
Hi SE’ers its Robbie with you today and I have a lovely treat for you in the form of an interview with influencer, Sally Cronin. Sally is sharing information about her approach and writing process for writing her non-fiction book, Size Always Matters, about health and weight loss.
Over to Sally.
Truly remarkable. My own weight loss is happening with the help of a diabetic drug that is bringing my sugar into a normal range. It literally saved my life.
Entertaining Stories: Happy Easter | Entertaining Stories It’s a funky time of life for us. I dove into my writing and hit it hard on Saturday. I made some good progress and put some interesting things into one of the stories.
I engaged in a text thread with my daughter this morning, then called my mother when that wrapped up. There is probably a statement about generations in there somewhere.
It’s weird for us right now. We don’t really have family around us anymore. No egg hunts or anything like that.
I got some good progress on my writing this weekend but my water pump exploded this morning so chaos until it’s fixed.
What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?
A competition to the death, psychics, and a staircase in the middle of the woods. Are you intrigued?
With all the praise Sunrise on the Reaping is receiving and my eagerness to learn more about Haymitch Abernathy, I couldn’t wait any longer to jump into this Hunger Games prequel. It’s everything I’d hoped, and the reviews are well-deserved.
Sounds good.
What I’m reading: The Writers of the Future 40th Anniversary and Summer of Fear by Lois Duncan, one of my favorites from when I was a teen. Also, reading Story by Robert McKee.
What I’m watching: Jon Tron, Kitchen Nightmares and Hunter Hunter.
Here’s my Newsletter Link at traci-kenworth731.kit.com. My landing page is at https.//traci-kenworth731.kit.com/ee579450.co/ Thanks for signing up and visiting!
So yet again, they’ll be some changes to marketing my stories as well as my website, lol. After a MG & YA Club meeting, I discovered when we were looking at book covers, that my books fit into both YA as well as NA (new adult) & College. I had upped my characters age for one but also, the material lends to a more mature audience too.
I’m not talking sex scenes here, although from the looks of things this new age group is more towards the Fifty Shades of Grey than I am, lol. But, there is violence, there is coercion, there is some dark situations involved. Like some other genres, I’m just learning this group exists.
Now, of course, I knew young adults and college students exist. I’ve been there before myself. It’s just as a targeted age group for certain books, I had no idea. I had heard of NA years ago but heard that it fizzled out. Apparently not. It is some of the top titles out there, Onyx Storm and A Cold and Heavy Crown and more.
Those books are listed in both YA and the NA & College age groups. I know there are adults that read them as well. So it’s a wider audience than I imagined. Sarah J. Maas’s books fit nicely into this as do Leigh Bardugo’s. Everyone’s hoping for that bigger bite of the pie, so to speak.
Egh. I have to once again, fix my websites and landing pages, newsletters, etc. Of course, when I go to put the book up, it’s going to matter more what genre I put it in but then there’s a place for age groups I’ve been told to fill in. Meanwhile, I’m deep into three books, a weekly prompt, two contests, and my own stuff. Overload! I’m really enjoying deadlines as you see. What have you been doing in your writing aisle?
Reading, yeah, the same: Summer of Fear by Lois Duncan (a favorite reread), Nora Roberts’ Stars of Fortune (almost done), and Writers of the Future 40th Anniversary. I’ve been so busy my reading time slipped. Trying to correct that. I did listen to the three audios and hope to hear more.
TV, I need to get another. Ours went out.
Music, kind of taking a break from right now.
The Seven:
John Howell: Detour on the Eternal Road – A Review by Thomas Wikman | Fiction Favorites ” I am a retired software / robotics engineer with a background in physics—but this blog is primarily about Leonbergers, an unusual and fascinating dog breed that is known for its size, affectionate nature, and intelligence.
I know a lot about Leonbergers because my family was lucky enough to live with one for thirteen years. His name was Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle—but we called him “Bronco” for short.
Dogs can be special to their families and others. We had a golden retriever/labrador mix that was a gentle giant. He loved his people and we loved him. He’s been gone about seven years now. RIP Bear!
Books and Such: #BlogTour Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson #fantasy #gothic – Books and SuchA teen girl travels to an exclusive boarding school located deep within the Scottish moorlands after a deadly incident at her old school, but the wood-paneled halls of Agathion are built over centuries of secrets—including an ancient society which may have ties to demonic magic—in this dark academia fantasy perfect for fans of Curious Tides.
Life in the Realm of Fantasy: Idea to story part 8 – world-building and society #writing | Life in the Realm of Fantasy We have been plotting a novel for the last seven weeks in our series, Idea to Story. The previous installments are listed below, but at this point, we have our two main characters, Val (Valentine), a lady knight, and the enemy, Kai Voss, a court sorcerer. Both are regents for the sickly, underage king.
We also have our ultimate enemy, Donovan Dove, Kai’s half-brother and most trusted advisor. We have plotted our basic story arc (an enemies-to-lovers romance) and have a working title that speaks to the genre of romantasy (fantasy romance), Valentine’s Gambit.
We have allowed the characters to tell us the story, and we have begun building their world, placing the set dressing in each scene.
But we have more world-building to do. This is background info that will be hinted at in the narrative, shown in small ways rather than dumped. But this is crucial information for us, the author, as it tells us why our characters see things in a certain way and what their gut reactions will be.
This gives me new info to think about!
Entertaining Stories: Done and Dusted | Entertaining Stories I just dropped our daughter off at the Boise Airport. (5:00 am) I’m back home and trying to catch up a bit.
I missed a bunch of blogs and will try to catch up with everyone. I may be moving fast and mostly reading. I’ll try to hit the like button everywhere.
We really didn’t do a whole lot other than hang out. It was completely wonderful. Mom took her south during the early part of her trip and she got to visit both grandmas. I think this is wonderful. Daddy-daughter time came via me burning leave.
We’re writers, not brand strategists. We know how to build rich, emotional worlds—but a newsletter subject line that converts? Ugh. That sounds like a corporate memo, not a love letter to our readers.
But here’s the thing: connecting with your readers isn’t about marketing. It’s about play. It’s about building that same sense of delight, curiosity, and “what’s next?” that keeps someone turning pages at 2 a.m.
I’m just getting into writing emails to my subscribers. I try every two weeks through a mail template service I found. Although, I only have fifteen subscribers, I’m working on it.
Life in the Realm of Fantasy: Idea to story part 9 – technology and world-building #writing | Life in the Realm of Fantasy Today, we’re going to look at how the available technology affects the believability of our narrative. Eight weeks ago, we began our series, Idea to Story. The previous installments are listed below, but over the course of the series, we have built our two main characters, Val (Valentine), a lady knight, and the initial enemy, Kai Voss, a court sorcerer. Both are regents for the sickly, underage king.
We also have our ultimate enemy, Donovan Dove, Kai’s half-brother, and most trusted advisor. The basic story arc has been plotted (an enemies-to-lovers romance), and we have a working title that speaks to the genre of romantasy (fantasy romance), Valentine’s Gambit. We may keep the title, or we might not.
When we began this journey, we allowed the characters to tell us the story as they saw it. They showed us snippets of their world, and we started placing the set dressing in each scene. Our characters’ place in society has been determined, so we have an idea of their preconceived notions and cherished prejudices.
I can spend forever world building. I love to tinker with things. And then when I think I’m done, I’m still tinkering. Through the writing process, I’m always evolving, changing things.
What I’m Reading: Clarkesworld Magazine, Nora Roberts Stars of Fortune and The Writers of the Future Vol. 40.
What I’m listening to: podcasts I’ve missed.
What I’m Watching: Kitchen Nightmares with Gordon Ramsey. Markiplier. Mr. Beast.
The first bunny hopped on the square. It was countered by the stork. The second bunny hopped two squares forward and bowed to the goat. Sideways and L-shaped, a black horse entered the combat field. The cow pushed forward five squares and nodded to the goose.
“Hey,” the first bunny said to the others. “This is confusing.”
The black horse brushed back the cow. “I think it’s fine.”
Nods or shakes of the head went around the combat field.
“What does this mean?” the goose said to the second bunny.
“I think it’s a push toward Easter.”
“Really?”
“But why put us here?” the second bunny asked.
The cow chewed its cud. “All children love to see interaction. Just not the strong stuff. Strong as in violent.”
“You’re right,” the first bunny said. “We should cherish their presence. And show our kindness toward each other. Children love that.”
Traci Ashbe Dark Fantasy Author 