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. ;-)

June IWSG:

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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!
Co-Hosts:
JH Moncrieff
Madeline Mora-Summonte
Jen Chandler
Megan Morgan
Heather Gardner

June Question: Did you ever say “I quit”? If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?

Ha! Many times, I've tried to quit when the words stopped coming. When I ran into rejections. When I wearied of the entire run-around that can be seeking representation. 

But, I can't. Try as hard as I have tried to quit at times, I can't shake the feeling that I'm meant to write. And meant to write the stories I've been inspired to write. Here's the thing, I write Inspirational stories. For years, I tried to fool myself that I wrote enough to the ABA side of the market to pick up an agent of that style books, it wasn't meant to be. The last agent I pitched and queried, praised my writing, but called a spade a spade--"your writing leans to the Christian market, and I don't have the contacts to sell it." 

Did that make me want to quit? Not this time. I retooled my thinking, started my hunt for conferences that showcase agents for the Christian market, and I'm in it for the long haul. I'll never doubt this journey isn't path I'm destined to walk. 

Links!

Great Ideas! "13 Ways to Support an Author Without Ever Spending a Dime"

In an general, life affirming way, I offer--"How to Complain Less"--We all need this one.

And another oh, so important one for the care and feeding of writers--"Your Body is as Important as Your Mind"

Next Post: Why the Book Pusher post for June, of course! ;-)

My Gifts to My Fellow Writers

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Source

It's the giving season and I've be remiss if I didn't share a few "gifts" with my fellow wordsmiths. So, check these out and enjoy the season, hug your family, friends, and significant others, and be filled with  Joy! I'll be back the first Wednesday of January.

• A Brief Letter to a Worried Writer--Take heart, you aren't over the hill if you're still hunting that agent and/or contract and there's no one place you should live.
• Finding Confidence--It's there for the taking if you look for it.
• The Two Minutes It Takes...--Just read it, already. ;-)
• Imposter Syndrome--You know you feel like this.
• How to Write Every Day--And be Zen about it. ;-)
• Controlling the Crazies--This isn't just for women, you know.
• And of course, you need books! Check out Hometown Reads.

Have a fabulous holiday season whatever your way of celebrating

Merry Christmas from my family to yours.

August Links

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Jane Friedman offers "5 Steps to a Killer Book Talk." Now, we know what we have to do once we have a book to talk about.

And here's good link for about copyright myths: "'Busting' Some Popular Copyright Myths" by Susan Spann.

I don't know about the rest of you, but setting is one of my weakest points, so I really enjoyed Becca Puglisi's "4 Ways to Choose the Right Story Setting."

Chuck Sambuchino offers up "10 Tips on Landing an Agent at a Writers' Conference."

And just when you want to be proud of your accomplishments, Emily Ross warns about "The Seven Deadly Sins of Debuts."

You won't look at genre the same after reading "Ursula K. Le Guin talks to Michael Cunningham about genres, gender, and broadening ficiton."

Ruthanne Reid gives us "All About Commas."

Of course, you knew this already--"Can Reading Make You Smarter" by Ceridwen Dovey.

I dare you not to laugh: "What I've Learned About Heterosexual Female Desire From Decades of Reading" by Mallory Ortberg is the perfect place to end this link list. ;-)

July Links!

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Note to readers: My second cataract surgery is planned for tomorrow. I'll be back around as soon as my eye settles.

Source

I've got a bumper crop of links for you this month. Enjoy!

Inspiration:
Elissa Altman shares "Writing and the Permission to Succeed." We all need this one!

Craft:
Jacqueline Mitchard shares "8 Practical Tips to Avoid too Much Plot in Your Novel."

Donald Maass explains "What Makes Fiction Literary: Scenes versus Postcards."

Abby Geni has some tips on "Description" for us.

Marta Sprout has advice "On Writing Crime Scenes."

Katie Rose Guest Pryal shares how to "Write Around Your Dialogue."

Advice:
"So, How Do You Know If You're a Good Writer?" comes from Janet Reid of Query Shark fame.

Answers to Vexing Questions:
Ronovan shares some info graphics on "Why Readers Stop Reading" that are eye-opening.

Next Week: On Thursday, July 21, I'm presenting to a book club my take on "What Is Women's Fiction?".  I'll report on how it goes.

June Links

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Some of my many books...

And now, on the center stage--the Links for June! There's enough for everyone. Pick and chose of read it all. I aim to please. tease, and share the wisdom of writers, editors, and agents. And, Readers! Without them, there would be no reason for the rest of us. ;-)

Agents:

Chip MacGregor takes on the weighty topic of How Do You Define Success.

• Brenda Warneka shares tips for Negotiation Your Book Contract.

Writers:

• Elizabeth Percer shares her Nine Non-Rules for Writing.
• Chuck Sambuchino has information of the Five Comparisons NOT To Make. (Just when you thought finding comps was complicated, here's more to keep in mind. ;-)
• Michael Neff shares some lessons on Third Person Point of Vew. (This is for all of you who write this POV. I'm a confirmed First POV writer. ;-)
• The meat of any story for me, is character. Now Novel shares Seven Tips for Writing Better Portraits.
• Ella Joy Olsen shares tip for fighting insecurity in "Talking Yourself Down and Talking Yourself Up."
• Laura Drake shares "Why You Should Write Flash Fiction." (Speaking of...if you know of a contest of micro flash fiction 100 to 200 words, let me know.)
• Ben Yagoda makes Commas easy...well easier. ;-)

Readers (without you, we writers would be lost. XOXOX)

• I saved the best for last--Teddy Roosevelt's "Ten Rules for Readers. " This is absolute perfection! 

Let me know which is more "link worthy" to you. I value the input!
Next Week: The Book Pusher's June Mini Book Reviews, Part 2!

May Links--I promise they're good!

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I have a bumper crop of links for you this month. Enjoy!

If you've ever wondered why there are so many romance and women's fiction titles released, "Why Do Women Read More Novels than Men?" 

Do you procrastinate? No, really. There's a reason. "Why Procrastinators Procrastinate" has the answer. Don't put this on of--Read it now! ;-)

If you think that there's a lot to learn in order to write a novel, don't think you're done once you write "the end." Orly Konig-Lopez has the truth about how steep the learning curve can be after you sell your books in "3 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Selling".

Speaking of things you need to learn as you write: Chuck Palahniuk has a great post of "Thought Verbs" and how to eradicate them.

Are you confused about the difference in Upmarket and Commercial fiction? You're not alone. Thank goodness for Amy Sue Nathan's post--"The Difference Between Literary, Upmarket, and Commercial Fiction."

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: New Friends and Old

I've Got Links and the Self Lovin' Bloghop

As you know, I'm chin-deep in revision/re-imagining/rewriting/re-everything with FRIENDLY FIRE, so here's some inspirational links to keep us going.

There's a lovely checklist on this one and suggestions for polishing it off. Check out the links at the end, too.
How Do You Know When Your Manuscript Is Ready?

I love this one! There's so many words to weed on this list, it should keep us busy for a while.
Plague Words and Phrases

I particularly like Ame Dyckman's "Door Test" and Lisha Cauthen's list of when to let it go.
How Do Authors Know When Their Manuscripts Are Ready?

And for you OUTLANDER fans:

Outlander Starz Instagram 

STARZ Outlander 

DianaGabaldon
 
And if you aren't a fan...What are you waiting for?  

And now the Self Lovin' Blog Hop from Tara Watson. She wants us to do something radical. She wants us to tell something positive about ourselves. I didn't have to go far to find something. Look at the rest of this blogpost. I'm want to encourage others with helpful links. That's right, I'm a natural-born encourager. If you know me from the Goals posts at Book and Writers Forum or from the WFWA Write-A-Thin, you've gotten a taste of my love of making others feel good about themselves. That's the goal of Tara's Bloghop! So, go on board and make some positive noise!!!

Links You Can Use

Here's a few links I've found lately you might like. They're full of good info. ;-)

What NOT to Do When Beginning Your Novel

How to Start Your Novel

9 Ways To Undermine Your Characters' Best Laid Plans

7 Ways to Cut a Novel Without Losing Anything Important

And for those who thought I was only reading Writer Unboxed, try this one from Barbara Rogan.

Rejection: Good for the Writer's Soul?

And if this one doesn't make you tear up, I'll be shocked.

Sometimes the 'Tough Teen' Is Quietly Writing Stories

What It Takes to be Published and Some Links You Might Like

 

Congratulations, Patty! You won a copy of BURNING SKY. Lori will be in touch with how to get it. ;-)

 



Nearly every time I say I'm a writer and that I'm nearing the end of a complete rough draft of my first novel, someone says, "Oh, that means we'll get to read it next year, won't we?"

Er...no. But I also know that when we read books like eating popcorn, we don't have an appreciation of what it takes behind the scenes to get the story into our hands. I know I didn't, but I do now. Here's the best explanation of what it takes that I've ever read. The author is Joanna Bourne, a RITA-winning historical romance writer who knows how to write well and has the ability to teach and explain the craft behind the words. Check out her recent post at her blog post, What to do when you've done what you do. [BTW, if you like historical romance, be sure to check out Jo's Spymaster Series. I promise you'll like them.]

So in answer to my friends' questions on when they can read FRIENDLY FIRE, it will be a while. ;-)

Here's another great post for writers who are having trouble taking the oft-said advice to "Write everyday."  This is from SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) at Red Room--There Are Only Two Things to do Every Day. Susan's excellent advice is for all writers, but especially for those who have gotten themselves tied into knots with unrealistic expectations. [Thanks, Cody, for that lovely link.]

And now for the last bit of wisdom I have to share today...In the last couple of years there has been a concerted effort by bloggers to steer away from the copyrighted images that flood the internet. This is from Lara Lancombe [whose debut book, DEADLY CONTACT comes out on November 1] who suggests:

After you run a search on Google images, click the wheel icon on the right of the page.  Then click 'Advanced Search.'  Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and you will find 'usage rights' as the last option under 'Narrow your results by.'

Click on 'usage rights' and you can tell Google to only show you images that are 'free to use, share or modify, even commercially.'

And that's what I did to get the great image for today's blogpost. ;-) [Thanks, Lara!]

And two for the road... The Writing Tools of 20 Famous Authors and Handy Advice. Enjoy! ;-)

Random Hits

This is post 98! Only two to go till the magic number of 100.

~~I'm working on the Celebration Blogfest coming soon to the Shade of the Cherry Tree. There will be four prizes up for grabs for the three winners. I only had three planned, but my sweet hubby insisted that Number Three needed a choice also. I'll keep what the prizes are under wraps until the big day. ; )

~~Now the question is--how do I go about choosing the winners? It will be a random draw and my dear Momma and Hubby will be glad to pick random numbers from among the comments or I could draw the comments out of a hat, but...I know there is a better way somewhere out there. If you know about programs to select random winner, let me know.

~~And while I have total control over the number of posts, I can't control when I reach 200 followers. If you haven't followed me yet and want to, please click away. If you feel like posting a link to me, I'd be thrilled. Especially on the big day. I'm crossing my fingers for Friday. That gives me three other days to post Number 99. ; ) Like I said, I have control over that one.