IWSG October, Conference Report, and Links!

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IWSG Poster Child

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! Co-Hosts: Olga Godim, Chemist Ken, Jennifer Hawes, and Tamara Narayan!

October Question: 
Have you ever slipped any of your personal information into your characters, either by accident or on purpose?

Short Answer: 

Of course! Why recreate the wheel? ;-)

Long Answer:

My main character is a retired history teacher who is recently widowed and childless not by choice. I'm a retired teacher, childless not by choice whose husband is very much alive and a wicked plot-twist generator. My hubby is the body model, as am I for the two characters. In fact, all that my MC says about her hubby--elementary teacher, tall, blonde, gorgeous, etc. is all about my man. Like I said, why recreate a person who isn't like the one who still makes my heart beat after forty years? 

Many of my characters are drawn from real people. Why not? After the hours I've invested in people watching, it's only to be expected. Right? 

Conference Report:

I've just returned from the 2017 ACFW conference. I came home with four agents looking for my proposal. One's already said no. Three to go. Cross your fingers for me. 

Links!

• "The Perfect Query Letter" explains that there is no such thing perfectly. 
• "Writing Tips: 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Wounding Your Fictional Characters" is marvelous!
• Be sure to read Kathryn Craft's "Say a Little Less, Mean a Little More."
• And check out "Book Awards: How Much Should You Be Spending on Book Awards"
• This is useful!: "How to Structure a Premise for Stronger Stories"
• And another good one: "The 3 Types of Character Arcs"
• And this is the best one of the list! "The 6 Emotional Arcs of Storytelling" (Sharing Kurt Vonnegut's info)
• This is from one of my all-time favorite authors and good friend, Kimberly Brock: "Writer's Perspective on Point-of-View"
• And I can't neglect Nathan Brandford's "How Writers Can Defeat Imposter Syndrome"

Next post: The Book Pusher for September to fill all your reading needs...uh...for awhile. ;-)