April Links! You Know You Want Them...

{Note to followers: if you want an email when a new post goes up, go the left column and subscribe for emails. Thanks.}

Source

I couldn't resist sharing a few wonderful links with y'all. I hope they are something that you can use or that inspires you. ;-)

Try Amy Sue Nathan's truth: "This week, while writing, I remembered that I actually do have to WRITE to figure out a story." in "The Writing Life #2"

Or do you want to hone your skills for writing a book blurb? BookBub has your cup of tea in "How to Improve Your Description Copy to Sell more Ebooks"

Need help with deep POV? Edie Melson offers up "Conquering Six Enemies of Deep POV"

David Corbett at Writer Unboxed takes us into a deeper understanding of Conflict in "Birth vs. Battle"

Cathy Lamb deciphers the Dreaded Inner Critic in "After Each Draft, the Writer's Voice Speaks Meanly"

And finally, Susan Defreitas offers up "The Ten Worst Pieces of Writing Advice You Will Ever Hear"

I hope you found a link that made you think or grin. I want your input on the "Link Worthiness" of these. Which one was the best?
Next Week: IWSG and "Jumping Off The Cliff." ;-)

April The Book Pusher's Mini Book Reviews: J. Jackson, K. Paterka, L. Shuler, C. Swanson

{Note to followers: if you want an email when a new post goes up, go the left column and subscribe for emails. Thanks.}

THE OPPOSITE OF EVERYONE Joshilyn Jackson: Women's Fiction

Jackson's latest is an intricate blend of hidden tales and a lost girl's journey home. This is a story that's happening everywhere a child has to piece their life together from fragments. the whole promises hope, but the path is long and winding. Excellent Read

THE OTHER WIFE Kathleen Irene Paterka: Women's Fiction

A good story of two wives who find themselves in the same situation. Combined with a plot twist I didn't see coming and you have a Good Read.

 HIDDEN SHADOWS Linda Lucretia Shuler: Women's Fiction with elements of Magical Realism

This is an amazing tour of a woman's heart and mind. Cassie Brighton's journey of self-discovery will pull you in and capture your heart. Fabulous Read

THE BOOKSELLER Cynthia Swanson: Women's Fiction

 A beautiful story about choice and dreams. Swanson has created a wonderful character is Kitty/Katharyn. A Good Read

The Journey Back to Home

{Note to followers: if you want an email when a new post goes up, go the left column and subscribe for emails. Thanks.}

"Think you’re escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home.” — James Joyce, Ulysses

That's a fabulous quote! I feel like I did this a couple of weekends ago. I'm a pantser. For the last eight years, I've written anything and everything that surfaces from my back brain. (For more on how this works, check out this post--Back Brain Blender.) But (and this is a big BUT!) As I fulfill the submission request that touches on Five (5!) stories, I find myself having to organize the outflow. So I tackled the pile of paper that's accumulated over the years (what's not already in Scrivener) and sorted it into piles by story. This is the result. Now, I have to edit, type, and outline this mess to submit "an extensive outline of the first three books ("Laura Grace trilogy") and summary paragraphs of the next two." Oh, my aching head. My long journey has circled back to start and I'm wading in nose deep.

Pantser vs. Plotter (Outliner):
Alright, I know you non-writers are wondering what I mean by "pantser." It's not too hard of a concept once you know it's a term we writers use for those of us who write by the seat of our pants. We don't outline the entire story from the first. We don't worry that it won't come together in the end. The truth is there's no one way to write a book. I'm of the loosey-goosey persuasion. That doesn't mean that I don't have to stop and outline the story later. I do. But, it does mean that I don't make myself write in an uncomfortable fashion. Been there, done that back in my high school and college days. (Psst! I'll tell you a secret. I usually wrote that pesky required outline after the fact. ;-)

And now, there's a new term floating about: Plantser
A plantser is an author who combines planning and pantsing methods to prepare for their novel. Usually, people who claim to be this type of author enjoy how pantsing allows their creativity to strive more, however they plan some of it out so that it doesn't wander off into plotless ramblings that require intense revisions and rewrites when the draft is done. ~WikiWrimo

For what it's worth, I'm probably more of a plantser than pure pantser. I do have an idea of the entire story early on. Because of that, I find I have a goal line to cross and that allows me the freedom to write whatever and whenever along that path that I'm inspired to. I think worrying about what writing style you use is a bit of procrastination. Just do it! Whatever you method, don't stop. Write the story! Go, Writers, Go!

Great link about the hard truths of writing: Hard Truths Every Writer Should Know--Dana Elmendorf  Speaking of journeys:
"Sure some authors make it look easy, but don’t be fooled.  They walked that same long road just like the rest of us."

Next Week: The Book Pusher's Mini Book Reviews.

IWSG: Golden Quotes

{Note to followers: if you want an email when a new post goes up, go the left column and subscribe for emails. Thanks.}

Insecure Writers Support Group

 Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!







Our co-sponsors this month are:
Megan Morgan
Christopher D. Votey
Viola Fury
Christine Rains
Madeline Mora-Summonte
L.G. Keltner
Patricia Lynne
Rachna Chhabria 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG

<><><><><><>

 
I know we all need support and an uplift when the writing life gets tough. And it will. So settle back and read these quotes that lift my creative spirit. And make me more determined to tell my stories. I hope they help you, too.

Source

For when the writing is hard, try this: Deadline Failure Makes G.R.R. Martin a Hero... 
If you write historical fiction, you might like Seven Rules for Writing Historical Fiction. 

Source

 



Or how about this one?

Source

Source

What inspires your writing?
Next Week: The Journey Home ;-)