tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73961374152136527762024-03-15T18:09:19.113-07:00Relentless WritersLiv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-54014471862091607422016-03-24T19:37:00.001-07:002016-05-09T17:06:03.930-07:00THE OUTLINERS-MAKING ME A BELIEVER by Janice M. Wilson<h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was a panster – I admit it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still do if the new idea just keeps flowing
out of me and I don’t wish to hinder what the new character ‘friends’ have to
say. But it does take me a longer time to get that whole story out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too long. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have so many things to finish and so many new ideas to
express.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who shall I be today?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just like serendipity, along came these constant ads for an
online writing class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Master Class
series with James Patterson as the teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are other extremely professional and famous teachers in other
crafts, but this one on writing pertained to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This course fee was not in my budget but the relentless
calling persisted. Still, I threw it out there to my social media friends to
see how they would approach this and all were in favor – “Janice – take it!” Okay, the universe screamed – TAKE IT! So I skipped joining a fancy gym that has
indoor pools for a slimmer figure and better swim skills, and signed up. Let’s go, James – WHAT are you trying to tell
me?</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Taking on the literary world - one story at a time.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I get conflicting stories about James Patterson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seems to have a -like him or hate him’
type of popularity. Given that he’s the #1 top selling NY Times best-selling
author (76 best-selling novels) in the WORLD (Guinness book listed and sales),
he surely knows his business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect
that some of that dislike comes from jealousy from other authors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, he writes with co-authors, with wide-spread
rumors that the co-author does all the work and James just polishes it up and
puts his name on it and sells it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yet, his books sell like gourmet cupcakes! I too enjoy his
stories for a quick exciting read when that mood strikes me. They are fast moving and I always like how a
reader knows who the criminals are early on. I couldn’t wait for the loser to
get caught. Even if the reader prefers
other genres, James still had a fast paced style that played out like movies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What did James had to say about all this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shared plenty through video interviews and
workbook online at-your-own-pace practice lessons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For a quarter of the cost of most community college classes
(and I’ve taken a couple in the past), I have life-time access to the class,
his input, his lessons, homework, surprising secrets, online questions and
answers (skype type videoing conferencing), workbooks, online homework, never-shared-before
outline of a successful novel he co-wrote, interviews with two of his
co-authors (who defied all the nasty rumors!), and over all constant motivation
and encouragement from the master writer himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus - new friends on his media clubs, online
sharing class notes with each lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was the best class on writing - EVER! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not just one light bulb came on!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">James totes heavily on the importance of outlining the whole
novel, even devoted two whole lessons (out of 22) to this topic alone early in
the series. This is no new thing to me, something I previously felt strongly
against because outlining stifled my creativity and I stubbornly refused to do
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although, my pantser ways take me
too long to finish things!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I listened up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James
explained it in a very different way than I ever heard it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, outline, but make it a list of ‘scenes’,
and you can always change them if it’s not working in the novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said ‘just get the story on the paper
first, don’t worry about sentence structure now’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That was a revelation to me! I write by scenes anyway so
this blew all apprehensions I had about outlining out of that little stubborn
corner of my brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gone was the image
of the old school outline with roman numerals that were as exciting as soggy
oatmeal on a hot day in July.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz.........borrrinnggggg</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dialogue, plot, complex characterizing, researching, and writing
good short hook were all heavily emphasized as well, a nice marriage to the
outline.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ALWAYS KEEP MOVING, he kept pointing out through the lessons.
I actively obeyed and went to work this last month.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THAT's why we drink obscene amounts of caffeine...... to keep writing!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I won’t give away any more big spoilers ( there were quite a
few other secrets that he divulged with his class and for which I am eternally
grateful)!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I will tell you that if
you struggle with some big issues in getting that novel finished, THIS is the
class and motivation that you need! (sign-up is still available through July).
I enjoyed his down to earth <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>humor and no
bulls*** advice about success; the real deal on the writing life, publishing and
marketing; why he agreed to teach this class; some very personal details about
his life; and how he started writing. In closing, James wrapped up the class very
nicely with one of the sweetest encouraging stories I ever heard given to new
writers from someone so successful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Master Class also comes with a contest opportunity (with
the deadline just before this blog was posted, sorry!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cash prizes are being rewarded to 10
talented but less known semi-finalists and 3 finalist writers for their unpublished
entries: a 2 sentence hook, a summary of the novel, and a sample chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of those finalists, James will chose one
student to become his next co-author!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That’s a lot of exposure for a new writer and this is quite
the opportunity of a lifetime!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who
wouldn’t want to give it a shot?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now the wait begins because yes – I did put in my entry for
this contest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will not have to wait
long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if I don’t win this contest,
the time and money for this class were well worth it from early in the series,
his enriching advice continued on better and more eye-opening as it went along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only improve my own writing through what
I learned.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That is a win-win already! He did make me a believer in
making novel writing easier, quicker, and to have more confidence in my own
story telling! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7LNn3VzKXxQnuU2MdMiWUbuN4G6hrWRI8Yy_qjcDOVLN6VXPteCv4dI0DapU9GMAkGq4m-m3mVLw51NHXb4LNIOvuZhMqtSBcCdBSjXVxAc4CAsIS5qm-cDI1blxCJQi5Co6Tz8tAmfR/s1600/new+blog+heavenly+library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7LNn3VzKXxQnuU2MdMiWUbuN4G6hrWRI8Yy_qjcDOVLN6VXPteCv4dI0DapU9GMAkGq4m-m3mVLw51NHXb4LNIOvuZhMqtSBcCdBSjXVxAc4CAsIS5qm-cDI1blxCJQi5Co6Tz8tAmfR/s320/new+blog+heavenly+library.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The sky is not even the limit here in the heart.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09828775153034325126noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-30131899130549937592016-03-21T02:00:00.000-07:002016-03-21T02:00:02.603-07:00Trouble in ParadiseIt's been a while since I've posted on the blog.<br />
<br />
Most probably assume that I've been busy. I have been. I'm not going to lie. I'm a stay at home mom with three kids, a dog that doubles as a pony and I deliver early morning paper routes. I'm also the go-to babysitter for all of my friends. I've started a book club in my area, I'm trying to plan a girls night dinner for my friends and I volunteer regularly at my kids school.<br />
<br />
It's not why I haven't posted.<br />
<br />
The last time my turn came up, I didn't know what to write.<br />
<br />
No. Let's be honest. I was afraid to write. Afraid to the point it slipped away.<br />
<br />
I want to be honest with you on where I'm at. The last two years have been hard. I signed with an agent. I started editing. I did more editing. I found a second manuscript with a small press that I'd forgotten about and informed my agent. We started editing the second ms, pushing the first aside. I continued to edit. I've been editing for the last two years. It's been a never-ending circle of re-reading the same two manuscripts over and over. To the point of frustration. To the point I don't want to write anymore.<br />
<br />
The feedback is always the same. This isn't right, it isn't getting better. Read this. It will help.<br />
<br />
Your relationship with your agent should be a working partnership. A give and take where you both discuss and understand your goals, and where you want to be. It should be somewhat of a friendship. You should feel like you're able to talk to your agent. Shoot them an email with concerns, let them know when you disagree with a decision that both of you are making about your work. If your agent isn't allowing you to talk to them, or listening to you when you do talk, it's time to re-evaluate the relationship.<br />
<br />
Deciding whether or not an agent is right for you is hard. It feels like that agent may be your only chance. So you don't speak up. You don't voice your opinion. You don't want to offend your agent. While you're watching your career spiral into nowhere, you're losing your voice because you're afraid to use it in the first place.<br />
<br />
Don't be.<br />
<br />
Stand up for yourself. It's easy to get in a circle that goes nowhere. Because this is your only chance. Only, it's not. There are plenty of agents out there. There is one that will treat you with respect and listen to your opinions, wants and needs. They won't hold onto you out of pity. They'll guide you through every decision and push you to be the best. They'll become a friend as much as they are your agent, because guess what? Their career rides just as much on you as yours does on them.<br />
<br />
Don't get sucked into the void. Don't be sucked in by the right words. It's hard. Some agents are smooth talkers. They know what needs to be said to get the deal. Sometimes those words don't amount to anything but empty words. Sometimes an agent seems right from the get-go, but you just don't mesh. You have nothing in common. It happens. Don't be afraid to voice how you feel.<br />
<br />
It's difficult. I know. If you're anything like me, you feel guilty. Guilty for the work put in, guilty because you feel the way you do, worried you'll offend, but it's your career. It's your work. And if the person promising to help you to the best of their ability isn't, you need to step back. Take a hard, long look at where you are and what you want. They'll understand. Talk to them. Resolve the issue before it gets so out of hand you don't want to follow your dreams anymore.<br />
<br />
Becasuse there is someone out there who wants you just the way you are.Niki Cluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13043756539662188797noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-37097946572169452732016-03-17T02:14:00.000-07:002016-03-17T02:14:03.081-07:00Pick One Thing and Jump In<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life has taken another twist, propelling me forward and on.
That’s what happens when you have a dream (or goal) and work toward it. Even if
only a little at a time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thinking my manuscript was “ready”, I attended the <a href="http://atlantawritingworkshop.com/2015/06/03/4/" target="_blank">AtlantaWriting Workshop</a> on February 20 to <a href="http://relentlesswriters.blogspot.com/2016/02/preparing-to-pitch-at-writing-workshop.html" target="_blank">pitch to three</a> (different) literary agents.
Nothing came of that, but during the day’s sessions, my vague suspicion that the
story could be better was confirmed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the eye-opening “First Page” panel, I cut the first
five pages of <i>Peace Makers</i>, giving it
a crisper, less background-intensive beginning and leaving more for the reader
to discover. But like any remodel, the initial action creates a ton of related
work. C’est la vie. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the last session of the day, <a href="https://twitter.com/ChuckSambuchino" target="_blank">Chuck Sambuchino</a> shared a
list of things writers can do to feel in control (though we mostly are not),
and told us to pick one thing and jump in with both feet. Then when that one is
mastered, pick another.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I would like to widen and broaden my author-platform (my
reach, my network of readers and supporters), I chose Twitter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KH8gHPNLwMwGKrKwISngDZby1wa7QBK4Av7yM0V4BBIFKbieuip7gJ8o0l4N-wOQRKGAWMow2yPMW8eizaiPG23gig51slYzduI_wcmbxFaPdsSDzZR2RsWyvpckFvDoKSrSIQ35wbA/s1600/l62697-new-twitter-logo-49466.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KH8gHPNLwMwGKrKwISngDZby1wa7QBK4Av7yM0V4BBIFKbieuip7gJ8o0l4N-wOQRKGAWMow2yPMW8eizaiPG23gig51slYzduI_wcmbxFaPdsSDzZR2RsWyvpckFvDoKSrSIQ35wbA/s320/l62697-new-twitter-logo-49466.png" width="320" /></a>When asked, half the room admitted to NOT having a Twitter
presence, me included.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chuck reminded us that <a href="https://twitter.com/ChuckSambuchino" target="_blank">TWITTER</a> is where literary agents and
editors hang out. Meaning a MECCA for unrepresented writers like me. It’s also
a way to get the word out about my books, once published.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, bored with Facebook, and itching to put Chuck’s advice
to work, I decided to try Twitter again as my one thing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am shocked and amazed, but I like
it!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pace is fast and brings a stream of fascinating people
and topics, mostly of the artistic/literary ilk, any and all of whom are
available for interaction, should I have the cajones. Three weeks in, I have 180ish
followers with light participation. The more dedicated I am, the more people I
meet, the more books, contests, music, you-name-it, I discover.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I like it. I love it. I want some more of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Incidentally, I find myself applying Chuck’s advice to life.
I had been noodling a couple of business ventures, one for months, and after
some agony (steeping), realized both pull me away from my passion, from
writing. So the answer is no to both. I have a day-job, writing gets the rest
of my attention. Pick one thing and jump in.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is there something you have been dancing around, wishing and hoping
for, dreaming of having or doing, but not getting any closer?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pick one thing and jump in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With both feet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then tell us about your
adventures in the comments.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
~ OJ Barré, <a href="https://twitter.com/ojbarreauthor" target="_blank">Connect with me on Twitter!</a></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-17258615781359305002016-03-03T00:00:00.000-08:002016-03-03T00:00:16.422-08:00Growing a Giant Set of Viking Balls<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
What’s the next big thing? As authors, we are always trying
to figure that out. What do we need to do to get noticed? It’s a big ocean out
there, and there are a lot of books swimming in the proverbial published sea.
How do we stand out? What can we possibly do that hasn’t been done before, or
at least, how do we create a new take on an old trick. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleiQC-IQgYMNYIol7Vv5BQmrqIW4dPKNdxGLqvs8mrcqskAkyP0bPxUPee12ZwZh2uDyftbMMjlD4JXm1QF7SQbxWw6pWgCIJMS0ELM6vySnPBNN1IK67ofwe6eJeNeHYi04ujtsnugF6/s1600/IMG_9266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleiQC-IQgYMNYIol7Vv5BQmrqIW4dPKNdxGLqvs8mrcqskAkyP0bPxUPee12ZwZh2uDyftbMMjlD4JXm1QF7SQbxWw6pWgCIJMS0ELM6vySnPBNN1IK67ofwe6eJeNeHYi04ujtsnugF6/s320/IMG_9266.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking Tricks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Marketing is a funky kettle of fish. We authors know how to
write (hopefully, lol). Learning how to target and market our work is a whole
other story. One that doesn’t always end in a happy ending. There’s a lot of
trial, error, and blood, sweat, and tears in that tale. Where to even start? We
can advertise traditionally—take out a newspaper ad for an event or a launch—or
we can try our luck in the online world of advertising by embarking on campaigns
through Twitter, Goodreads, or Facebook, for example.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s look at one cornerstone of the author marketing
experience: The Facebook Party.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeiqvWiQUYwfd_tiPBMGFjOw_CvVeVxoJsz4tOePAbGYjRMFMn8-p0_p8g3mEhiknNYzIZRWNHvL9F218Aoix7f-ipRXPw2PKn27U8bdXO336gni4O3HUfxQkpXecyUdTNBwa0ffbH_Yf/s1600/untitled+%252824%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeiqvWiQUYwfd_tiPBMGFjOw_CvVeVxoJsz4tOePAbGYjRMFMn8-p0_p8g3mEhiknNYzIZRWNHvL9F218Aoix7f-ipRXPw2PKn27U8bdXO336gni4O3HUfxQkpXecyUdTNBwa0ffbH_Yf/s1600/untitled+%252824%2529.png" /></a></div>
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The Facebook party allows fans from anywhere to comfortably
pull up a computer and join the fun. We ask author friends to host time slots,
or we go it alone. Each event involves tons of giveaways and prizes doled out at
frequent intervals. We share funny memes, silly gifs, and great photos. We post
teasers, excerpts, and trailers. But do we generate sales? Are our efforts
tangible? Is there conversion? Do we break even—sales versus giveaways? How do
we measure success—is it sales, or exposure? This is a tricky business. I’ve
been to my fair share of launch parties, and I’ve hosted a couple of events
myself. In truth, I haven’t seen any other entrepreneurial group giveaway so
much, so often. It pays to be someone who follows authors. They giveaway the
shirts off their backs in an effort to try and stand out from the crowd, and
smart contest hunters know this. I read an interesting article about contest ‘groupies.’
Are they friend or foe? Contest groupies scroll the internet looking for new
authors to follow and like. When events happen, they are the first ones there,
interacting, playing along with the games, and kudos to them, winning prizes.
The thing to keep in mind, is that these people love books too and they talk
books up to others on the internet. I don’t question the people who follow the
contests, I question whether this is a viable, efficient use of an author’s
resources and time. Look around the internet. Try and find another industry
where so much is given away for so little measurable feedback. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwqci-iqb_cMIrC4gAWJyyDcB86s99apNsMzwKcXqxi6pWDtkX_TNOUnC0y1SL0NE-P0XNwtiO1A24WKOjMYBQK85JjrLF7BUO3FSxq8bFrLiASW1nKzu0GbYoycEmDSMx2uKgvcfsuiT/s1600/Depositphotos_20308569_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwqci-iqb_cMIrC4gAWJyyDcB86s99apNsMzwKcXqxi6pWDtkX_TNOUnC0y1SL0NE-P0XNwtiO1A24WKOjMYBQK85JjrLF7BUO3FSxq8bFrLiASW1nKzu0GbYoycEmDSMx2uKgvcfsuiT/s320/Depositphotos_20308569_original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now, I appreciate, not everything is about profit. Sometimes,
we do things for the sheer entertainment value, in and of itself. Recently, I
embarked on a marketing campaign that blew everything else I’d done before out
of the water. It was ballsy, it was risky, and it was downright fun as hell. I
have an event coming up at <a href="http://blueheronbooks.com/" target="_blank">Blue Heron Books</a> on Saturday, March 5<sup>th</sup>
from 2:00 – 4:00pm. I wanted to draw attention to it. I wanted it to stand out.
I’ve done a lot of book signings in big corporate stores, but Blue Heron is a
small, intimate Indy bookstore. I wanted this signing to be special. I needed a
plan—an outside the box kind of vibe. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOpD75NPxlmuwauaR-R3R-6DxVc5yacfClXHVDtAb5Gwq0gEnkxoX-Q0XrEvXFLAoyWlJJDmwnAgWFRIMribLdXdvYOnDF7XPRpZwh99dZr1YsMb3TOc8Ge2RFUi-9dJP739gBMXWmtb3/s1600/12790186_10156620594430646_1833956017_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOpD75NPxlmuwauaR-R3R-6DxVc5yacfClXHVDtAb5Gwq0gEnkxoX-Q0XrEvXFLAoyWlJJDmwnAgWFRIMribLdXdvYOnDF7XPRpZwh99dZr1YsMb3TOc8Ge2RFUi-9dJP739gBMXWmtb3/s320/12790186_10156620594430646_1833956017_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Big Event</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Many moons ago, I read a book about a writer who showed up
to her book launch, carried on a pallet, supported by several hulking sentries.
At the time, I thought to myself, how cool would that be? A seed was planted.
Recently, I found a way to incorporate that wild and crazy vision. My debut historical
romance, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Avelynn-Novel-Marissa-Campbell-ebook/dp/B00TOBYTM6/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1456982836&sr=8-1&keywords=avelynn" target="_blank">Avelynn</a>, is set in 869 Anglo-Saxon England. My heroine is the daughter
of a Saxon earl, but the hero of the tale is a Viking. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCm7x76nHvJhCQO78ICRQsD9kLAIC5t2oWWcos41YywrqUdl4AhlR2mxRhS5QBHjle086lmf06L1Q7Oyx6c6xyf9E_QLfBBBd7Rq_knV9w-iiEnIYrbqDxI1poMz7FdPfklNBsIu_dqXX/s1600/Depositphotos_67955063_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCm7x76nHvJhCQO78ICRQsD9kLAIC5t2oWWcos41YywrqUdl4AhlR2mxRhS5QBHjle086lmf06L1Q7Oyx6c6xyf9E_QLfBBBd7Rq_knV9w-iiEnIYrbqDxI1poMz7FdPfklNBsIu_dqXX/s320/Depositphotos_67955063_m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ergo, I needed Vikings! I sent a call out on a few local
Facebook groups, seeking stalwart young men, willing to pose shirtless as
Vikings for a day. Their job was to hang out with fans and hand out chocolates to
anyone who bought a copy of the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
a matter of hours, I’d found my three Vikings (body building photos confirmed
these were just the type of men I was searching for). As part of the deal, I
needed one evening for promotional photo ops prior to the book signing. I
wanted a photo shoot where my handsome, tough Vikings posed with swords and
cloaks, while, I, the respectable author, stood aloof and professional in my
blazer, jeans, and boots. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5G8hHItFvvVyPjgE9QKQ9ZOjOF9Lk55gvg5y4I9wC1QOnprh1eIaiDk1IiMmllsh3MxnckpM3H9bxvyV7QpNks0NhX2DEtS8CyzPlUhjpeZ-22ltcIFNm042chnNMzvTFymBhvASQNGX/s1600/IMG_9262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5G8hHItFvvVyPjgE9QKQ9ZOjOF9Lk55gvg5y4I9wC1QOnprh1eIaiDk1IiMmllsh3MxnckpM3H9bxvyV7QpNks0NhX2DEtS8CyzPlUhjpeZ-22ltcIFNm042chnNMzvTFymBhvASQNGX/s320/IMG_9262.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Respectable Author and Friends</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Flash forward a few glasses of wine into the <a href="http://www.durhamphoto.ca/" target="_blank">Durham Photo</a>
led photo shoot, and while I held onto my jeans and boots, I had donned a sword
and shield of my own, and wore last year’s Halloween costume of a warrior princess.
The results were magical. Those promotional photos could be used to hype up the
event itself, but also to promote the book in general. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZy0Gg8GMvrr13r3VYo_5k61oo_kkJACu0GkX46J6CsVnyEAqL9-g8-i-oHGcpS7xsB0BQHgLfHhbEE7v3hFBE6qOlYLi3afdEhpVt97frYVR1fubJEpkQwDxP9A0cvmZpKh7KgcQITi5/s1600/IMG_9277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZy0Gg8GMvrr13r3VYo_5k61oo_kkJACu0GkX46J6CsVnyEAqL9-g8-i-oHGcpS7xsB0BQHgLfHhbEE7v3hFBE6qOlYLi3afdEhpVt97frYVR1fubJEpkQwDxP9A0cvmZpKh7KgcQITi5/s320/IMG_9277.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found another Viking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
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I then hired, <a href="http://inkpenstudios.com/Inkpen_Studios/Portfolio.html" target="_blank">Inkpen Studios</a>, pros at social media
promotional posters, and when I thought things couldn’t possibly get any
better, they did! The designs to match the photos were out of this world. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfOZXNgOyBEWfviqt5xHaNHPO1H3haHqDeMcYolzaxO-2fUGuxPxP6DhdGOjujuYrLgqxB6AKh19vuuIueAO1wSfy98xUiIeijTLauCpb_Hj7qS_107RK5XKhq22OieCNSR9rncw82hn9/s1600/12787118_10156608971710646_1056834240_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfOZXNgOyBEWfviqt5xHaNHPO1H3haHqDeMcYolzaxO-2fUGuxPxP6DhdGOjujuYrLgqxB6AKh19vuuIueAO1wSfy98xUiIeijTLauCpb_Hj7qS_107RK5XKhq22OieCNSR9rncw82hn9/s320/12787118_10156608971710646_1056834240_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my Viking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I invited friends to the photo shoot, who blasted their own
camera phone selfies and live photos of the behind-the-scenes shenanigans on
their own Facebook and Twitter status. I then shared those raw photos as well! </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yarCO_jXUTbzBh8jBbweZklqH6un2Ui9BvIGLtrPyparbMRKZ8vV4nUQzBhANdpDDH5sP9bdV87GlMxWVutUN3AZLFF5JZ2a37Q3CU4GTSF4VTj9DFmrR4olbiPMDnoH2hDohLI0Xtha/s1600/Avelynn+Photo+Shoot+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yarCO_jXUTbzBh8jBbweZklqH6un2Ui9BvIGLtrPyparbMRKZ8vV4nUQzBhANdpDDH5sP9bdV87GlMxWVutUN3AZLFF5JZ2a37Q3CU4GTSF4VTj9DFmrR4olbiPMDnoH2hDohLI0Xtha/s320/Avelynn+Photo+Shoot+3.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behind the Scenes Shenanigans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Will any of this result in more sales? Only time will tell. My event at Blue
Heron Books on Saturday happens in two more sleeps. I’ll know if my innovative efforts
were received if we have a rollicking good day of book sales and Viking hi-jinks. If the sales don’t come, at least I tried something new. I found a new
angle. I played with a never-before-attempted idea. I had to grow a giant set
of Viking balls to pull that off, but I’m already trying to figure out an
excuse to do it all over again!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXau75i6oCNEEca9QwCv6q8mGcgZnMR0AZ78zSnYEpaj_lDTl2K2Bld34AB1wUPLYSiCVm_L1vT5PUtqc1Ns9mvnWROc1NJHU4M2EK898B7kZ2-SWVtNSUadncmqm56ksa6jZvOZ2DFvyO/s1600/IMG_9282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXau75i6oCNEEca9QwCv6q8mGcgZnMR0AZ78zSnYEpaj_lDTl2K2Bld34AB1wUPLYSiCVm_L1vT5PUtqc1Ns9mvnWROc1NJHU4M2EK898B7kZ2-SWVtNSUadncmqm56ksa6jZvOZ2DFvyO/s320/IMG_9282.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for Battle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
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Happy marketing. Reach for the absolute limits of your
imagination and don’t let fear slow you down. Grab hold and put yourself out
there. Go boldly where you haven’t gone before. </div>
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<br /></div>
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In gratitude,</div>
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Marissa xo</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14699089189198369542noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-1196784940159915752016-02-29T09:47:00.000-08:002016-02-29T13:12:13.849-08:00Critique Partners and the Art of Revising<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: large;">This month I’ve been revising my NaNo project. For those of you that don’t know, #NaNoWriMo is <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">National Novel Writing Month</a>. It's in the month of November and carries the lofty goal of 50,000 words. I didn’t “win” but I did get close. </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I know they say close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. But what do “they” know, anyway? Let's see *them* write forty-eight thousand words in a month. <scoffs></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Slapping 50K words in a month means every single word will have to be revised. Revision is key. If I tried to fire off my NaNo Draft (which is probably even lower caliber than a First Draft) to agents or editors I could expect silence. If I sent it to my Critique Partner, I might expect a scathing reply along the lines of; </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">“Did you send me a (swear word)<i> First Draft?!”</i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">I always try to </span><span style="color: #414244; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">remember that a first draft is just that</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12px; text-indent: 36px;">—</span><span style="color: #414244; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">a first attempt. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #414244; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwAnfbDQHAXAiUu1zjvU7sDBOnv3j8AVgwsvJnIQ7uRqMWaTjQ7TW3wv6aPOR_2yXWvB4NXEirCGuBuB_2O46Ofrm9GA_AoOSCqLPEY18I4XiJAVPzfw4UlsLegPNhGKKj10IvMDQf2kX/s1600/c1e395122a327c461454a12ab901cad4-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwAnfbDQHAXAiUu1zjvU7sDBOnv3j8AVgwsvJnIQ7uRqMWaTjQ7TW3wv6aPOR_2yXWvB4NXEirCGuBuB_2O46Ofrm9GA_AoOSCqLPEY18I4XiJAVPzfw4UlsLegPNhGKKj10IvMDQf2kX/s1600/c1e395122a327c461454a12ab901cad4-300x300.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #414244; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">While writing is rewriting, it can't be done alone. A good critique partner is worth their weight in gold. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I interviewed <a href="http://lanebuckman.com/home/about/" target="_blank">Lane Buckman</a>, the Lane of <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(51, 204, 204); color: #33cccc;"><a href="http://robynlanebooks.com/about/" target="_blank">Robyn Lane Books</a>,</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(51, 204, 204);"> to</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> talk about writing and critiquing.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. How long have you been writing with a purpose?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have been writing with a purpose since elementary school. I got an early start with a specialized program to develop young writers through Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, Virginia. I took my first write-for-pay job doing campaign scripting when I was fourteen, and have been working freelance since then. I do a lot of technical writing for hire, a lot of op-ed, and dabble in marketing materials. Now, as far as writing novels goes, I got serious about that in the early 2000s. I sold my first novel in 2010, then followed up in different genres in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Now, I focus on my work as a publisher, so I spend most of my time offering editorial notes to the fantastic writers we have found.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. What’s the best thing a critique partner can tell you?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The best thing a critique partner can tell me is, "This doesn't work." If they can back that up with why it doesn't work, that's a lot more helpful, but if something isn't reading well, I need to know--no matter how painful. The most painful feedback I've ever gotten was, "Oh, Lane. Just...no. No."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. What’s the worst thing a critique partner can tell you?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The worst thing a critique partner can tell me is, "This is perfect!" Because it never is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. What’s one piece of advice you’d like to offer new writers/new critiquers?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't ask your friends to read you to critique is my advice to new writers. Your friends love you, and they won't tell you the problems with your work. Find a reader you respect, and ask them to read as though they were going to review it to recommend to their most esteemed colleague.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My advice to those new to critique is pretty simple. My critique motto is: Imagine it's your work. I offer the feedback in a way I would want to receive it. That is, honestly and respectfully. I don't pull punches, but I am kind. Writing is hard work, and whether I'm reading James Joyce, or E.L. James, I keep that in mind, and I offer my feedback with respect to the effort, and the human being who did the writing. We're all in the same boat, hoping for the same success, and we can all afford to be kind in how we deliver our messages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. How many critique groups have you been in? What will keep you engaged? And what will have you running for the door?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am active in three groups. Each group was carefully cultivated (either by me, or another group member) to include published authors, copy editors, and people who love to read within the particular genre. My favorites are the people who love the genre because they will tell you right off the bat if you are missing the mark. Feedback keeps me engaged. I run for the door when someone asks me to add in some erotica because I can't write that without laughing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>6. What can a critique group/partner offer that a writer can’t accomplish on her/his own?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Critique groups and partners offer honest, objective opinions in a safe environment. I can't speak for anyone else, but my greatest fear in publishing is that my manuscript is the one the editorial team cracks up over because it is so bad. I would rather run my work through thirty flesh-stripping critiques, than have one publisher laugh at me. A friend recently posted that she'd just joined a critique group, and was thoroughly embarrassed by the feedback she'd received, but she was so glad she hadn't sent the book out to a publisher, or agent that way. Critique groups help you hone your work, and help make you better. I really can't say enough about how important it is to have someone else read your work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">KM Weiland has a great<a href="http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/questions-for-critique-partners/" target="_blank"> list of questions</a> for Critique Partners </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: x-small; text-decoration: underline;">Used with permission from Debbie Ridpath Ohi at Inkygirl.com</span></td></tr>
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<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: large;">What do you like to ask for in CPs?</span></b></div>
Charlotte Levine Gruberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08629132233515129950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-15763961729161957222016-02-19T18:03:00.000-08:002016-02-19T18:03:31.329-08:00Writer's Crutch: Is Your Character Dreaming? Wake Them Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At the last conference that I took pitches, near the end a flustered but determined writer sat at my table. Her first words were, “I was just told my project is unmarketable, but I’m going to pitch it anyway.” My interest was piqued, not in the project, but in what she had been told and why. I’m always curious to hear the advice given to writers by other industry professionals. Usually it tends to be something I and many others agree with. But there are cases where we disagree. This business does have a subjective element to it after all. And sometimes it’s advice that I perhaps hadn’t thought of, but would agree with. On occasion it’s something I didn’t know and would want to follow up on. And sometimes, yes, it is painfully obvious bad advice which needs to be corrected immediately. (Anyone who advises a debut author to throw up their book on Amazon to “garner feedback” before taking it to agents or publishers, I’m looking at you.)</div>
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I smiled to reassure her, said go ahead, and she launched into her pitch. Then the words “my character is dreaming and living in the dreamworld,” came out, and I sat back. Ah. AH.</div>
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I stopped her there. Having a character live in a dreamworld, or dreaming a scene, is a big show stopper in a pitch. But but, what about SANDMAN or ALICE IN WONDERLAND you may cry. Here I revert to my standard, <a href="http://marycmoore.com/index.php/2015/06/08/reasons-for-rules-an-agents-perspective/" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: inherit; color: #fa998c; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">“Know the rules before you break them.”</a></div>
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You see, a lot of newbie writers tend to use dreams, dream realms, or dream worlds as an lazy tool, mostly unconsciously. Writer’s crutches we call these strategies that attempt to skirt the hard work of story development.</div>
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The most common of these is opening your story with a dream. It’s an easy way to create exciting action before you have your character gasp and sit up in bed. Unfortunately it’s also painful for the reader. Your goal in those opening pages is to draw the reader in with active prose and tension that will carry them deeper into the story. And when you expend all that energy into a dream sequence, only to bottom out with the character waking up, you risk dropping the reader’s trust and interest. Especially if your character then gets out of bed and sits down to breakfast with his mother. Sure you might say it worked for Dan Brown in ANGELS & DEMONS, but note, his opening dream sequence was 6-7 sentences long, and very obviously a dream. And he’s Dan Brown. Now if you’re determined to stick to your guns and are convinced your opening dream sequence is both necessary to your story as well as better than all the other opening scenes out there, I offer you one last argument. Agents get reading fatigue. Although we want to be perky and hopeful with every submission we open, the reality is when we see the same thing over and over again, we can’t help but shuffle it into THAT pile. And a dream as the opening scene to a submission? One of the most common things we see in the slushpile. Seriously.</div>
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The second, less common, is usually found in submissions of the fantasy genre (and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111282/" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: inherit; color: #fa998c; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">science fiction</a> on occasion). This is the dream realm or dream world. A fantasy author wants to have their ordinary modern day character thrown into a parallel fantasy world full of magic and wondrous creatures, and the easy way to do that? Have them enter the land through dreams. Which sets up the question, why bother having them dream? It’s fantasy. The worlds can just be. These are called portal fantasies. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA is a classic example. Neil Gaiman’s NEVERWORLD is another. And in these, the characters find their way into the fantasy world without the need for dreaming. The entrances are a bit more complex and require more world-building, but hey they are also more interesting. My absolute favorite is the HIS DARK MATERIALS series by Philip Pullman. A fantasy writer who understands this, is an experienced fantasy reader, which is what agents are looking for. The writer knows their genre in and out and knows how to write a portal fantasy. But a newbie author, who writes a portal fantasy under the guise of a dreamworld, will be perhaps, “unmarketable.”</div>
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After I explained this to the writer, she left with a smile on her face and a list of books to read, ready to fight to change her project’s status to marketable.</div>
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I will mention that portal fantasies are not hugely popular on the market right now, and can be a hard sell, but they are not unmarketable. They dropped off around 2009, see <a href="http://kinja.com/annaleenewitz" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: inherit; color: #fa998c; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;">Annalee Newitz</a>‘s 2010 post, <a href="http://Search for Literary Agents | QueryTracker" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: inherit; color: #fa998c; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Walk Through This Portal With Me Into Another World</a> in io9. However, the market is cyclical, and a really good portal fantasy might just break out, so don’t throw yours in the trash yet!</div>
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Mary C. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611451327805420623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-40434638416335080252016-02-11T00:00:00.000-08:002016-02-11T00:00:25.239-08:00THIS IS WHY WE DO IT! by Janice M. Wilson<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am often asked how I do it or how I get my inspiration
(easy – nature!), but once in a while someone will ask WHY do I do it? Usually followed by a question of have I been
published (yes) and how much money I make (not much – yet!) but it seems
unfathomable to many that I can sit for hours and just………..well, write. Usually for no monetary reward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, the
idea!<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I guess many consider it a chore, or they don’t think they
have it in them. Do they mean to finish something or write an epic
bestseller? Probably both, because both
require commitment, talent and luck. Or
maybe they simply don’t like to nor have the time to write.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0h6wusal7pC9qfz1c1kU-JU3CYGK3FerRmVSEWbpFpgss5mt_xraCP_EwpFGGN1ZDlUzOUOm2qvI7j2glty0pMCGrbSAliQExdD926qs53U_oEK2i3QtfFIacXNdjueWcMTc_jkvygUD/s1600/the+whys+of+writing+blog+first+drafts+are+bad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0h6wusal7pC9qfz1c1kU-JU3CYGK3FerRmVSEWbpFpgss5mt_xraCP_EwpFGGN1ZDlUzOUOm2qvI7j2glty0pMCGrbSAliQExdD926qs53U_oEK2i3QtfFIacXNdjueWcMTc_jkvygUD/s1600/the+whys+of+writing+blog+first+drafts+are+bad.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3"
o:spid="_x0000_i1038" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:168.6pt;height:168.6pt;
visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I ask them who wrote all those books in libraries and
bookstores? They read them, or at least
see the latest movie made from the latest bestseller novel. Yes, those books. Someone else can make the
time to sit and write them. I can too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHN4IrI569vSEW6v5N-PRcz8hkiZBmnHoZDXz5ZK6gnF_eCXEm3imdeLaXD52iNM1u1iMFPco2ztRXMywLCoVu009kfVzDV20KiRhdN3PDkVjs2b2kjbhlnKSDtSt26CpEtDmP8GoFZCv/s1600/the+whys+of+writing+rnsack+libraries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHN4IrI569vSEW6v5N-PRcz8hkiZBmnHoZDXz5ZK6gnF_eCXEm3imdeLaXD52iNM1u1iMFPco2ztRXMywLCoVu009kfVzDV20KiRhdN3PDkVjs2b2kjbhlnKSDtSt26CpEtDmP8GoFZCv/s320/the+whys+of+writing+rnsack+libraries.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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o:spid="_x0000_i1037" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:153pt;height:153pt;
visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who
writes?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ordinary people like you and me, and out of those – the
diligent who didn’t give up get published!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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o:title=""/>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">About
WHAT?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">There really are only 7 main topics of life to write about:
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">man against man<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">man against nature<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">man against himself<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">man against God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">man against society<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">man caught in the middle<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7a7a7a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">man and woman<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hsSmO5_bAbtbZREjXV_7sDPGQmxAA4h1ET_qqOcoAkMui0XELVyIerT8G-BVtRPuOs7OSorpScm_l4-hOIY-uD_P1oEtyUQehjy1-Mw4kqW0pMn0_XmwYc1oTBvw57LFHGw5n4f1CMsm/s1600/the+whys+of+writing+act+of+optimism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hsSmO5_bAbtbZREjXV_7sDPGQmxAA4h1ET_qqOcoAkMui0XELVyIerT8G-BVtRPuOs7OSorpScm_l4-hOIY-uD_P1oEtyUQehjy1-Mw4kqW0pMn0_XmwYc1oTBvw57LFHGw5n4f1CMsm/s1600/the+whys+of+writing+act+of+optimism.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s all been said before.
So why bother?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3T8UGVzBCM1qouAmi9jLEJAtnmmlRwu2trwZH8z-CU_qYZ-o5ulOxg_T9_msKqsf7DQtA0VR-hCN1rPbqz7p62oD3XANByww8HIdHZXGwdsfRZawMUAxMiNoH3qXo83tjw5d2CVroSwUp/s1600/the+whys+of+writing+blog+do+something+worth+writing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3T8UGVzBCM1qouAmi9jLEJAtnmmlRwu2trwZH8z-CU_qYZ-o5ulOxg_T9_msKqsf7DQtA0VR-hCN1rPbqz7p62oD3XANByww8HIdHZXGwdsfRZawMUAxMiNoH3qXo83tjw5d2CVroSwUp/s1600/the+whys+of+writing+blog+do+something+worth+writing.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_i1035"
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because we continue to live it all. Over and over again – all of them. And as
long as man continues to live them, the questions of overcoming them are
pondered, experienced, and reflected. With success or failure, the cycle never
stops.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hence – we write.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEAtI4mnJL9Nxx35p7eYKD6e9VO7dCF1XOMgXW245wON08FAF9oGYqLV4N2RsUpbW53cPA4AZyKfXM2B3L_3QYWEt6Rhfeumwbw9Fypd-YUoRGjiIOCDs4bEuF6Cb-oD1ylt8pjRkZ1OG/s1600/the+whys+of+writing+blog+expressed+clearly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEAtI4mnJL9Nxx35p7eYKD6e9VO7dCF1XOMgXW245wON08FAF9oGYqLV4N2RsUpbW53cPA4AZyKfXM2B3L_3QYWEt6Rhfeumwbw9Fypd-YUoRGjiIOCDs4bEuF6Cb-oD1ylt8pjRkZ1OG/s320/the+whys+of+writing+blog+expressed+clearly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We write to vent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We write to share.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We write to understand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We write to create.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We write to educate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We write to escape.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We write to capture time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We write to feel/be felt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">As long as we live and breath in love, fear, joy, sorrow, faith,
pain and hope – we all speak through our souls about life somehow. Some of us do it in affection, gifts, touch,
words.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">And some bare their souls through ink.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09828775153034325126noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-62128293368099012082016-02-06T06:50:00.002-08:002016-02-08T15:50:06.427-08:00Preparing to Pitch at a Writing Workshop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Six long years it has taken to write this book. This
novel. This Fantasy. This Southern Literary Speculative Fantasy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m going with Southern Fantasy for now.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On February 20<sup>th</sup>, I (finally, finally,
FINALLY!) get to pitch <i>Blessed Are the
Peace Makers</i> at the Atlanta Writing Workshop, where I am confirmed with two agents
and wait-listed for another.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxUnWPiYjoLpqhEmnDBgfdBEqXnggfTBSA_vf6q8_NgyUdAEbd9eK28yBEIMPpDuESAs4_2H2IQqLd_9Wb_-hlL1nMr3d1zUXYQAXAPVgUnXGzSECm6x8rCql0zo5wbOsqwFx3JOGDBc/s1600/dandelionsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxUnWPiYjoLpqhEmnDBgfdBEqXnggfTBSA_vf6q8_NgyUdAEbd9eK28yBEIMPpDuESAs4_2H2IQqLd_9Wb_-hlL1nMr3d1zUXYQAXAPVgUnXGzSECm6x8rCql0zo5wbOsqwFx3JOGDBc/s320/dandelionsm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Scattering Seeds aka </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pitching Literary Agents</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">All three agents represent the Fantasy genre and all
three sound awesome. Is one of them looking for me and for Peace Makers? Will
one of them love William and Awen’s story as much as I?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In order to find out, it’s important I be
prepared when the pitch-date rolls around. To this end, I searched our
Relentless Writers Blog for helpful tips, then googled to find
more on pitching at a conference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">These are the articles that helped the most:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://relentlesswriters.blogspot.com/2015/06/reasons-for-rules-agents-perspective.html?showComment=1454762400873#c969591590659701766" target="_blank">The rules to follow before/when querying a manuscript, by Literary Agent, Mary C. Moore,</a> including:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: #FAF4E7; line-height: 16.15pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">"Rule #6</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">: Have your manuscript finished, edited, and
polished before querying.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Reason</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">: Although a lot of agents will do edits
before shopping your manuscript, their time is limited. They are not going to
be willing to do extensive edits on a project, so if you send out a manuscript
before it is finished, you are essentially setting yourself up for
rejection."<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://thewritelife.com/tips-for-pitching-a-literary-agent-at-a-writers-conference/" target="_blank">From Author, Chuck Sambuchino’s Tips for Pitching a Literary Agent at a Writers’ Conference</a>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I learned not to bring manuscript
pages, to keep my pitch under 90 seconds (fiction) and that it’s okay to bring
notes, but not to read from them (oh, and to be brilliant when sitting next to
an agent at lunch, but not to pitch them there.)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/35-How2-PitchAgent.html" target="_blank">From How to Pitch to an Agent at a Writers’ Conference, by Author, Kerrie Flanagan:</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Writers
need to understand that agents attend conferences with the same high hopes that
writers do. Writers want to find an agent who will represent them, and agents
want to find clients who have a book they can get excited about. The
agent/author relationship is that of a partnership where each party has the
same goal in mind; to sell the book to a publishing house.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Jon
Sternfeld, with the <a href="http://www.irenegoodman.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #723b18;">Irene Goodman Agency</span></a> said, ‘I wish
writers would see the agents more as an equal—when there's too much desperation
in the writer's eyes, agents tend to de-value them. If a writer is confident, I
know that they don't need me so much as we need each other.’”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Am I there yet? Am I ready to pitch? Not quite. There are things I have left to do in the next two weeks:</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">1)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Complete
the last pass (3<sup>rd</sup> Draft) of Blessed Are the Peace Makers;</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hone
my query letter and memorize it for my pitch;</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Write
(and memorize) a few more one-line blurbs for chance-meetings of other agents (and interested writers) during the day-long workshop;</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Practice,
practice, practice my pitch and one-liners;</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">5)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do
deeper research on the three agents I will be pitching – so far I’ve only found
the standard bio on each of them (maybe because they are newer agents);</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">6)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Plan
my outfit so that I look professional and feel great;</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">7)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://relentlesswriters.blogspot.com/2015/07/top-five-reasons-attending-national.html?showComment=1454762723275#c6057456094803534813" target="_blank">Resolve to reap the other benefits of attending the workshop</a>, whether I receive an
agent request or not, courtesy of Author, Merissa McCain.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
There you have it. Good luck on YOUR next pitch.</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">~ Olivia J. Herrell aka O.J. Barré<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">P.S. Or just skip the pitch altogether and go Agent, Janet Reid's route: <a href="http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2014/01/rant-pitch-sessions-are-spawn-of-satan.html" target="_blank">Pitch Sessions Are the Spawn of Satan</a>. Wish I'd read this before spending so much time and money. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-27568315644961211932016-02-01T09:22:00.004-08:002016-02-01T09:22:49.793-08:00Structural Racism in Romance: Call it out<h4>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a post about change.</span></h4>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LinqPGZPqUw" style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" width="420"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other day I came across an <a href="http://www.courtneymilan.com/ramblings/2016/01/29/speaking-up-against-systemic-racism-in-the-publishing-industry/" target="_blank">essay by Courtney Milan</a>, where she laid out her views on a controversial post from the Kirkus Reviews blog. The original Kirkus post (<a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/new-year-new-reading-resolutions/" target="_blank">here</a>) celebrated diversity across romance subgenres, with statements from Kwana Jackson and Damon Suede, but it also included the following quote:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>As a reviewer, I have very little time to actually read books that I don’t get assigned... </i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I rarely get romances to review that are written by or include characters of color. So even when I actually buy a book, or a publisher sends me an author I really want to read, I usually don’t have time—reading that book takes me away from titles I get paid to read. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You don't even have to read between the lines to see that Kirkus, an organization with substantial clout in the world of publishing, doesn't send diverse books to it's reviewers. As Courtney Milan states, "This is an example of structural racism. Everyone may mean well, but if a publisher knows that a debut author isn't going to get a Kirkus review, that publisher is less likely to buy that author - even if they care about diverse books, they also have to care about the bottom line."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Kirkus reviewer, Bobbi Dumas, responded to Courtney Milan with <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a</span> thoughtful <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">post</span>, inviting further conversation, a discussion I hope continues. In contrast, I found <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/more-diversity-response-courtney-milan/" target="_blank">the formal statement</a> from Kirkus to be somewhat disingenuous. They said, in part, "The editors of Kirkus are always thinking about diversity - all kinds of diversity - when we make our assignments." </span><br />
<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Nice of them to take that position, but it's contradicted by their editor's statements in the original post. They do say they will be working to improve diversity in their reviews, and I look forward to seeing what they come up with. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Now, why would I use </span></span><span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">a video from the 1976 Olympics to begin</span><span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"> a discussion of an ongoing controversy in the romance world? Because I hope to make a (potentially clunky) comparison. </span><br />
<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">The video is a twelve minute history lesson, primarily because of the conversation between the two broadcasters, Donna de Varona and Curt Gowdy. Here's some background, for those of you who weren't around to watch the '76 Olympics in real time. The East German team, particularly their women, won an astonishing number of medals.</span></span><span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> Prior to the 4 x 100 relay, <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t</span></span></span><span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">heir women's swim team had won <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the gold medal in every event<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and t<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hey were heavil<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y favored to win the relay.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><i>Here's a snippet of the pre-race conversation between Mr. Gowdy and Ms. de Varona...</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">CG: "I want to ask you about these amazing East German women. What's been your impression watching them, as a former Olympic swimmer?"</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">DdV: "Well, I think our main problem, which I've stated before, is that our women are developed in the club system. The men that developed that system are only coaching men on the collegiate level. Young boys have good high school programs and good collegiate programs. Women are just starting to get involved with that. We don't have the coaches available to us, and there's a big gap and we have a long way to go, contrary to East Germany, where the women are brought in equally with the men..."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">I absolutely applaud the deftness with which she changes the focus of his question from the East Germans, widely suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs, suspicions which were later confirmed, to the issues being faced by the US women's swim team. Ms. de Varona goes on to say that the only reason US swimmer Shirley Babashoff was able to compete in the '76 Olympics was because Title IX provided her the means to train with her college men's team.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Here's some more backstory for you. The first time she competed in the Olympics, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_de_Varona" target="_blank">Donna de Varona was 13 years old</a>. The year was 1960, and she was the world record holder in the 400 IM. Four years later, she won two gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">And after that? She retired from swimming, because there was no place for her to train. There were no college programs for women swimmers. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Instead of swimming, she studied broadcasting, another area with few opportunities for women. She was seventeen the first time she appeared on ABCs <i>Wide World of Sports</i>, the youngest broadcaster and one of the only women on the network. She carved out a career in television, and served on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #383838; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">I'm going into these details because I didn't <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">know much <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">about Ms. <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">de Varona, and she has had an a<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">mazing life. While <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">she was still in her twenties, s</span></span></span></span></span>he worked with the Senate on a number of measures, and was a consultant on the legislation that included "Title IX of the Equal Education Amendments Act which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational institution receiving Federal funding." </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_de_Varona" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Title IX. The 1972 law that said if you were going to spend money on men's sports, you had to spend the same amount on women's sports. Forty years after the law's passage, women's athletics looks a lot different, and not just because of digital photography.</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/rVUlyV7FYP8" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Here's a lin</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://youtu.be/rVUlyV7FYP8" target="_blank">k</a></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"> to the 4x100m relay final from the 2012 Olympics in London <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">so you can</span> see what I mean.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">So what does an ongoing debate among authors and publishers of romance have to do with the problems faced by women athletes in 1976? <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A big part of my message, I think is that </span>the '76 video gives me hope, because it shows that change is possible. The downstream effects of a single piece of legislation have made a difference in the life of every woman in this country. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The discouraging part comes from the difficulty in legislating the marketplace. I mean, we've got laws against discrimination, but we still create sub-subgenres for romance novels written by and about all types of people. </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">Labels like m/m romance, African-American romance, interracial romance, and transgender romance <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">create<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> barriers<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, making books sound like something your average romance reader wou<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ldn't <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">be interested in.<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But t</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>hese stories are all built around the same basic template and they pull from the same t<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rop<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">es</span></span>. They're all romances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">They're more alike than they are different, though a hard-wired, systemic bias makes those similarities difficult to see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">The only way to cure that kind of bias is to call it out when you see it. The discussion engendered by a few blog posts has prompted Kirkus to promise "immediate steps", and maybe they actually will create policies that enable diverse authors to have their work reviewed<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. If they do, it'd be</span> a smaller-scale Title IX, and their action would have significant potential impact. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">The alternative is to carry on the status quo, though I have to believe that pioneers like Donna de Varona hold us to a higher standard than that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span>Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-45199247747540730302016-01-28T15:54:00.000-08:002016-01-28T15:54:39.261-08:00I'm the Queen of Procrastinators, and nobody can steal my crownThere, I've said it. And you know what? I'm going to share my top ten strategies to avoid getting things done, right here, right now. Yay!<br />
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<b>1. Be creative</b><br />
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Ha! I bet you thought being creative was a prerequisite for all writerly types out there, am I right? Well, that may be true when you start off. You can't write without being creative (and I truly do believe this holds true even in academic writing...). So what's the problem with being creative, you ask me? Here it is: How is one supposed to get things done when you cannot turn around without stumbling over (or, oh horror of horrors, stepping on) super-cute, impossible to ignore plot bunnies? You thought dust bunnies were a problem? Not. Even. Close. </div>
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<b>2.</b> <b>Be nice</b></div>
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I've never had a neighbour who asks for cups of sugar or flower or whether or not I have a spare cake tin, but there's always something one can do in order to play nice with people. Not that there's anything wrong with being nice - I mean, surely everyone can do with some karma or brownie points or however your good side keeps score. There's just one problem: it takes time. Sometimes I envy those crochety old authors you occasionally hear about, the ones who go vanish in a mountain cabin somewhere and come back only to hand their hand-written magnus opus to their long-suffering agent... ah well. I'll just be the nice one, instead. </div>
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<b> 3. Earn a living</b></div>
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That mountain cabin with the glorious views and the handy distraction-free location? Well, it won't pay for itself. I don't know about you, but I really, really don't earn my living writing things. Not the sort of things I WANT to write, that is. Most jobs these days involve a minimum of nine-to-five dedication. If you don't have a job, you're probably spending an inordinate amount of time either looking for one or worrying about it. And when you're done working and/or thinking about a job, what do you do with the rest of your time?</div>
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<b>4. Be healthy</b></div>
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You spend time trying to be the best you possible! Good for you! It's what we should all do, isn't it? Sports and dieting (or healthy eating, however you want to call it), that's the way to go. Whether you do team sports or you're more the solitary warrior type (I, myself, am partial to running and yoga), it's all good for you. Sports can even help when you're stuck with your story. Even walking can help (as my bloggy friend <a href="http://miahayson.com/">Mia</a> recently posted about). Of course, it's rather difficult to write whilst walking, running or playing tennis...</div>
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<b> 5. Have hobbies</b></div>
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Once you're done with all the healthy and the money and the nice, why not try your hand at, say, sketching your favourite characters? There's a worthy thing to be spending your time with, surely! We all have pictures of our characters in our heads, don't we? (please don't tell me that's just me...) A couple of pictures of him or her up on the storyboard is a great help, I'm sure. In fact, why don't we just draw ALL our characters? Once they're all suitably represented, we'll get back to writing about them. I swear. </div>
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<b> 6. Aquire more hobbies</b></div>
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It's winter right now, and your friends are cold. Go knit them a scarf, a hat, some gloves. A sweater, maybe...</div>
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<b> 7. Get a pet</b></div>
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I have two dachshunds to call my own (well, that's how I put it, anyway - they might explain it differently). They are wonderful, such characters, wriggly little things that make me smile just thinking about them. They also want attention, and I love giving it to them. That scene I was writing? Nowhere near as important as cuddling my babies. </div>
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<b> 8. Go on holiday</b></div>
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The Beach! The Mountains! Nature! Sports! Relaxation! What are you waiting for? Take your notebook. I'm sure there will be time to write. </div>
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<b> 9. Love your family / have a life</b></div>
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Need I say more?</div>
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<b> 10. Sleep</b></div>
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When all else fails, there's always the siren-song of your bed. Certain hours of sleep are necessary to keep functioning, so sleep is good, right? Right. </div>
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Make sense, my top 10, don't they? Perfectly reasonable things to do (ok, some more so than others), all things that can be used to procrastinate. My theory? It's all a question of timing. What do you think? And what's your favourite perfectly reasonable method of procrastinating? </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046724975658216337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-22266190503297940712016-01-25T20:58:00.001-08:002016-01-25T23:13:34.895-08:00A Manuscript Checkup: Are You Really Ready to Query? <div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMYMdWzRbM-P2XPi5PK3NIdo-0kccJWkpEGuIuv9eRTwc_ey7nBLeqvQHJSN460Ojr_dNXTuTw2TBQPhPoin5YMyTr4PmzalxYB-GHR0SLJmE-gva1AM2SK4Z4SUd-9JS9BtYivksYfA/s1600/Edith-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMYMdWzRbM-P2XPi5PK3NIdo-0kccJWkpEGuIuv9eRTwc_ey7nBLeqvQHJSN460Ojr_dNXTuTw2TBQPhPoin5YMyTr4PmzalxYB-GHR0SLJmE-gva1AM2SK4Z4SUd-9JS9BtYivksYfA/s320/Edith-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I sometimes hear of querying authors lamenting the decline of
“editorial” agents. In truth, all agents are editors of their projects. It just
depends on where along a manuscript’s evolution do they want to jump in. What these
authors aren’t realizing is that they might be looking for representation too
early in their writing process. Most agents look for a project in its later
stages or last stage of development. And the reason is simple and practical.
The sooner an agent can get a project in front of editors, the sooner
(hopefully) he can see a paycheck. If he’s very lucky, he might find a project
that only needs one round of editing, but most likely, that one round of
editing will uncover the need to do more.<br />
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I’ve been working on a client’s book project for over the last
month. This is my third time going through the manuscript for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> editing round. I’m fairly sure this is either my fifth or
sixth time reading the novel. One thing is certain, though. I loved this story
the first time I read it, and I love it more now. It’s true that with each edit
and revision, the manuscript improves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> But i</span>t’s more than that. While I could see issues when I first read the story, I could also clearly see solutions. And now that the changes are on the page, the story is better than I first imagined it could be. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Often I'll get submissions that are so early in their
development that I cannot even begin to unravel their issues, much less envision solutions. Those novels, while "completed," are not "market-ready.” Occasionally, time
permitting, I’m able to send feedback. When I do, I am struck by how often the same
recommendations come up.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Even after countless rejections, some authors may still find it easier
to keep querying and keep submitting rather than go back into their novels to fix
what is not working. Often it’s because they’re too close to the work and can
no longer see problems in it. Some do see or sense there are issues but are unable to
pinpoint them or don’t know how to solve them, or where to start.<o:p></o:p><br />
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I have put together some questions that you can use as a
checklist to see if you should start or keep querying, or use them to jumpstart your next revision:</div>
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<ol>
<li>Are the stakes clearly defined within the first few
paragraphs, or at least within the first chapter?</li>
<li>Are the scenes grounded with specific and unique details that make them
tangible and immersive?</li>
<li>Do the main characters have inner lives with complex
thoughts, reflections, memories, etc.? Even if they do not reveal their fears,
faults and vulnerabilities to the outside world, do they let us in to see them?</li>
<li>Do we have context to the main character(s) emotional
journey? Is there a personal journey at all?</li>
<li>Can we clearly envision distinct physical features of the
characters that also reveal their unique personalities (or do we only see their
hair and eyes)?</li>
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If you have answered “<b>no</b>” to any of the above questions, then this could be why you are receiving rejections or no responses at all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xoXXTjDzrNXVpx6E737cXsf7fB4TOcB-0KdkDmpaX-Fg96EcWELMV9pgz9F0sr4sHqqHn8SYty8l9-JuSlV9-HBEEAoDuPp7G0Hvw3l4CF2lOQBELo86kzQodnwWNcLzghgl_rQ7NGo/s1600/Edith+crying.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xoXXTjDzrNXVpx6E737cXsf7fB4TOcB-0KdkDmpaX-Fg96EcWELMV9pgz9F0sr4sHqqHn8SYty8l9-JuSlV9-HBEEAoDuPp7G0Hvw3l4CF2lOQBELo86kzQodnwWNcLzghgl_rQ7NGo/s320/Edith+crying.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Keep going through your manuscript, asking the next
questions:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li>Is there an over-reliance or repetition of facial movement
or expressions to portray emotions, such as “sighing,” “grimacing,” “groaning,”
and “cringing”?</li>
<li>Are there large blocks of dialogue where nothing else is
happening in the scene, or it is unclear what the characters are physically doing
during the conversation?</li>
<li>Is there a lot of expository information (explanation of
background, characters, ground
situation, etc.) revealed through dialogue?</li>
<li>Are there words, phrases, gestures, physical sensations that
are used commonly or repetitively (such as “heart pounding” or “pulse racing”)?</li>
<li>Is there filtering language? (for example, a character sees
something happening rather it just happens on the page, or rather than saying
the thought, the character’s “sees it through his mind’s eye”)</li>
</ol>
If you have answered "<b>yes</b>" to any of these last questions, it appears, you have some work ahead of you.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hopefully by going through these questions, you'll have a
better perspective on your manuscript, and be in a better place to decide
whether or not you should keep querying or look at revising. These
questions also aim to provoke ideas on ways to tell your story better, so that
the next time you query, there’ll be an agent or editor who not only falls in
love with it, she’ll love it more each time she reads it. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Lisa Abellerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03988494385165447322noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-2686926522498068902016-01-21T19:16:00.001-08:002016-01-21T19:16:29.533-08:00Birthday Sex<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWtd_IjtaAsiT5xw9CubDR37H0gHX69BDDwVNs_tV72eLOtFUVLsc4D_P1mmt6_7UwdL-M653gybigzqVQ2t_Le92W_9Z34UH8DgIY4sBU6KsInRA8HZi-uFdSthQ21aDP0q9lfpOVPUa/s1600/Depositphotos_39337807_l-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWtd_IjtaAsiT5xw9CubDR37H0gHX69BDDwVNs_tV72eLOtFUVLsc4D_P1mmt6_7UwdL-M653gybigzqVQ2t_Le92W_9Z34UH8DgIY4sBU6KsInRA8HZi-uFdSthQ21aDP0q9lfpOVPUa/s400/Depositphotos_39337807_l-2015.jpg" width="383" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know we just had the big New Year’s countdowns and
reflections, but my birthday was two days ago; so for me, this is bigger. It
presents a candid opportunity to look at my accomplishments to date and my
future goals as a writer. A birthday is a serious crossroads. One minute you’re
younger, the next you’re as old as F*&k. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I appreciate that in reality it’s
a slow, gradual build up, but something about that number flipping from one day
to the next, like a sadistic, surreal countdown to mortality, is humbling.<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="400" src="//giphy.com/embed/126q1154s6WhG0" width="400"></iframe></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I thought since I’m twenty-nine (again) I should come up
with a kick-ass twenty-nine list—something really mind-altering and profound—detailing
all the things I’ve learned as a writer this year. Problem is, I could only
come up with three. So, here instead, is my concise, yet enlightening birthday
list. In no particular order:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><u><b>1.</b></u>
</span>I really like sex. But more, I really like
writing about sex and plan on weaving more of that pleasurable tapestry into my
novels. I went to a workshop recently that challenged the audience to find ways
of incorporating sex into literary fiction. What I mean to say is, in this
workshop, we were exploring deep and penetrating (sorry, couldn’t help myself ;)
uses of any sexual act or erotic tension to bring a story to a whole other psychological
level. I decided that concept sucked balls (really, this is too easy ;) and
will continue to write sex to titillate and entertain.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31pP_hJ9JWbjQh6H2w34ZwYmH2P2B1hOEaEGADobb4Zy2-9eIDV90xZgozXDrvgmBM3jw6OtL_lc7dJkjjwW1paQWqCYOOc8hHxUdSV1o7ETJ5TNDqFQwp99_g5nHBCeIq97XW1w7GdQo/s1600/You%25E2%2580%2599re+ticklish.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31pP_hJ9JWbjQh6H2w34ZwYmH2P2B1hOEaEGADobb4Zy2-9eIDV90xZgozXDrvgmBM3jw6OtL_lc7dJkjjwW1paQWqCYOOc8hHxUdSV1o7ETJ5TNDqFQwp99_g5nHBCeIq97XW1w7GdQo/s320/You%25E2%2580%2599re+ticklish.png" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sex scenes in any story shouldn’t be
gratuitous. It has to mean something to the characters and progress the plot, but
it doesn’t need to turn my characters’ worlds upside down and rock them to their
core… unless it’s a mind-blowing orgasm—then it should totally do that. There
is a time and place for deep questions about sex and sexuality in writing, but there’s
also a forum to play with the erotic in a fun and sensuous way. I don’t want to
change the world, I just want my characters to be very, very happy. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxywGt4gBMm17VJ9wY6LU1Ee_IOyFPwiCGJq27-NTfmAb0QJIT-OkiF84OM1BEVcNE-8L-I9jmXVS0L3hClfNnlPEvOJfUNam2x7qIPrqi_NXS99e68FBVmFpxdxSZepwJY4KSFwD8WUU/s1600/Depositphotos_13877514_l-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxywGt4gBMm17VJ9wY6LU1Ee_IOyFPwiCGJq27-NTfmAb0QJIT-OkiF84OM1BEVcNE-8L-I9jmXVS0L3hClfNnlPEvOJfUNam2x7qIPrqi_NXS99e68FBVmFpxdxSZepwJY4KSFwD8WUU/s320/Depositphotos_13877514_l-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><u><b>2.</b></u>
</span>I need to write more. I’ve been to a lot of
workshops lately that tout the need to write prolifically and super fast. These
facilitators were throwing around insane numbers like completing six to seven novels
a year. Each of these mystical creatures needed to be between 50,000 – 75,000
words long.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When I first started writing, it took me
five years to complete my self-help guide, Life: Living in Fulfillment Every
Day. At the time, I was working with my beautiful co-author Annemarie, so I
blame the logistics of coordination. My second book, which happened to be my
debut historical romance Avelynn, took a year and a half to write, and a year
and a half to edit. Three years. Not bad. I was clearly making progress. The
second book in the Avelynn series took two years in total. Currently, I’m
working on a contemporary romance and have lofty aspirations to finish it well
before a year is up. But, seven novels in one year? I know incredible writers
who can actually do this. And kudos to you. Seriously. I’m jealous.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68a8My9emuVsUgqixbIo-1P6odmAz05awGhpYf3pkB0FShaKP2EnvBRik6fw-IGh7FgQiJZNdakhmGvjW5_bksUR-CLTgnbL2On3zWajM7X851g1C1eH2gBTCvNk9fsk8OjFoQiPukjvJ/s1600/Depositphotos_1963147_l-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68a8My9emuVsUgqixbIo-1P6odmAz05awGhpYf3pkB0FShaKP2EnvBRik6fw-IGh7FgQiJZNdakhmGvjW5_bksUR-CLTgnbL2On3zWajM7X851g1C1eH2gBTCvNk9fsk8OjFoQiPukjvJ/s320/Depositphotos_1963147_l-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">For those of you interested in writing more,
faster… here’s my take away from those educational workshops: outline, outline,
outline. I’m a pantser, so this was a tough pill for me to swallow, but I have
to admit, I tried outlining a three act structure using <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Save-Cat-Blake-Snyder-ebook/dp/B00340ESIS/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1453431598&sr=8-1&keywords=blake+snyder" target="_blank">Blake Snyder’s <i>Save the Cat</i></a> for my newest novel: Hot in
Aruba, and it helped. A lot. I have a greater understanding of story structure
and where the big moments are and why they are there. Once you get the main
bits and pieces down in your outline and are ready to write your novel, take a
few moments each and every day to get a feel for what you are going to write before
you sit down to write it. Make jot notes; use conscious flow. Do whatever you have
to do to understand what needs to happen in the scene you’re about to write and
why it needs to happen. Figure out your most prolific time of day. Do you write
more in the mornings? Evenings? Commit to writing during that time. Use the
rest of the day to catch up on social media, for example. Determine your best
place to work, where you are least likely to be distracted. Know your strengths
and use them.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M9ZsJ6N4g9joElaK18pgIAl9zKT-7JwzAwyS7sJbxJPgdRCExn7C1D5FvtuPRwL3YPFkT1Cthrtx3-qZqwEe5po2gUhq7m2WlRH3GPiBAc6IzYhAxINfDSXpu0DPhrfcwrAQkRjbv0J3/s1600/Depositphotos_9138345_l-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M9ZsJ6N4g9joElaK18pgIAl9zKT-7JwzAwyS7sJbxJPgdRCExn7C1D5FvtuPRwL3YPFkT1Cthrtx3-qZqwEe5po2gUhq7m2WlRH3GPiBAc6IzYhAxINfDSXpu0DPhrfcwrAQkRjbv0J3/s320/Depositphotos_9138345_l-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><u><b>3.</b></u>
</span>Debut novels are not always the great big shiny
stars you wished they would be. Once you discover this painful, festering gash
of wisdom, you have to learn to cope with it. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Avelynn-Novel-Marissa-Campbell-ebook/dp/B00TOBYTM6/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1453431565&sr=8-1&keywords=avelynn" target="_blank">Avelynn</a>, my beautiful book baby,
didn’t get off to a great start. It did very well in Canada, but just couldn’t
break into the American market. No matter what I did to promote it, not enough people
knew it existed. Despite fantastic reviews, including glowing accolades in
<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/review-new-and-notable-fiction-from-marissa-campbell-lindsay-cameron-amy-stewart-jonathan-evison-and-selma-lonning-aaro/article27391234/" target="_blank">Canada’s National Newspaper The Globe and Mail</a>, I just couldn’t garner enough
attention. There are millions of books on Amazon alone, trying to make yours
stand out is like finding a needle in a haystack. Once you come to this
startling conclusion, there might be confusion, grief, despair, incredulity,
anger, and frustration, but ultimately there will be relief and acceptance. If
you’ve made it this far, a good rule of thumb is to understand that a debut
novel is merely a gateway, a stepping stone to bigger and better things. The
key is to keep writing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m sure I’ve discovered a great deal more writing wisdom in
the 365 days since I last encountered such a stark reminder of my distant birth
year, but age blurs the memory. I’ll start working on the other twenty-six
points as I go along for next year’s 29<sup>th</sup> birthday post. :D</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In gratitude,</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Marissa xo</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14699089189198369542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-71874584841064159892016-01-14T07:28:00.002-08:002016-01-14T07:28:39.331-08:00Slaying Daemons: The Dark Side of the Keyboard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Once more unto the breach, dear friends.</em> The raging war
outside our wall persists, and circumstances seemingly beyond our control loom
large. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNUPYRRJ2h461XLC31-Pm6T-0lJ36hpV8VH4iR2gzGnZ1NUxlRFgGkAC2LYzK8dwXAHFUDtkkw5Th9AVU0j4vqA7A8ZXo_Y3Y9f_RhHikyd-W_4I-VaVlHD8TuEQM6lFSDk55VvKNppI/s1600/Anna+Cyborg+OpenSource.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNUPYRRJ2h461XLC31-Pm6T-0lJ36hpV8VH4iR2gzGnZ1NUxlRFgGkAC2LYzK8dwXAHFUDtkkw5Th9AVU0j4vqA7A8ZXo_Y3Y9f_RhHikyd-W_4I-VaVlHD8TuEQM6lFSDk55VvKNppI/s320/Anna+Cyborg+OpenSource.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A sense of agnostic despair tells us to ignore the carnage, to pretend
evil doesn’t exist, and to that end we silently recite the Serenity Prayer,
especially that one liberating line—serenity to accept the things we cannot
change. But those other lines haunt us. We don’t want to remember them, and yet
we do: <em>The courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the
difference.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There sits the keyboard. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">An unassuming object, it is neither good nor bad. Once
touched by human hands, it becomes something else entirely. A rabbit hole of
endless sordid distraction and entertainment, or a powerful weapon against dark
forces, against the Goliath many see but cannot acknowledge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7s3cEKPTJwOwO7FuWCyR7YbIOGXZXV6QrfA4SBkTbrR70zcWD5G1x0PVFXDRRhR1GImDrFQ3SSmtV8c0ATpXgTqiL4ZxIxTRDdOD-BawgQp8tiM7DkbW2IS3l7LtcsfbScZM_5eOaks/s1600/Anna+Liberty+OpenSource.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7s3cEKPTJwOwO7FuWCyR7YbIOGXZXV6QrfA4SBkTbrR70zcWD5G1x0PVFXDRRhR1GImDrFQ3SSmtV8c0ATpXgTqiL4ZxIxTRDdOD-BawgQp8tiM7DkbW2IS3l7LtcsfbScZM_5eOaks/s320/Anna+Liberty+OpenSource.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>But when the blast of war blows in our ears…</em>We hear the
screams, we see the invisible daemons in our midst, cloaked and deadly. It’s
time to fight. We sense it, deep inside our souls. It’s overwhelming and we
want to hide, we want to close our eyes and cover our ears. The rabbit hole
beckons, offering hours of superficial escape with which to pass the time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Or close up the wall with our English dead.</em> Will we have the
courage to change the things we can?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There sits the keyboard. <em>Once more.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZkJz0oe8QdREM8YldEwJl3L6gzQm-89NtqlqufLPYApDV0j8mB8Hk6jeJeeB1A50PLo1sGQLDdvIsdamXfTNyrs8Im-9Rkvz3KQWsEnLprvO0vVPcqNoO2l7M3i-W0J-zb-xTcc7JZI/s1600/Anna+DesolatePlace+OpenSource.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZkJz0oe8QdREM8YldEwJl3L6gzQm-89NtqlqufLPYApDV0j8mB8Hk6jeJeeB1A50PLo1sGQLDdvIsdamXfTNyrs8Im-9Rkvz3KQWsEnLprvO0vVPcqNoO2l7M3i-W0J-zb-xTcc7JZI/s320/Anna+DesolatePlace+OpenSource.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Are you up for this? Are you? Look, I just need to know...because the city is flying. We're fighting an army of robots. And I have a bow and arrow. None of this makes sense. But I'm going back out there because it's my job, okay?" ~ Avengers: Age of Ultron <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nD-SAigXitc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nD-SAigXitc?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Note: All background images purchased from <a href="http://www.fotolia.com/">www.Fotolia.com</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884267076174932989noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-81245847783345377282016-01-11T05:00:00.000-08:002016-01-11T05:45:48.942-08:00Writing Hacks for the Creatively StuntedOver the years we pick up tidbits of information, useful tips and tricks we think (or pray) will help us through everyday life. Some people call these life hacks. I call these "nuggets of wisdom from people with more time on their hands than me to think this stuff up because I'm too busy worrying how I'm going to do all this stuff to be able to sit down and think of these awesome ideas."<br />
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Too long?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1S8SShQxAde9H0YIwaTUHtGdd6KIMAEejmMhnegDn8XziiogBeuhxdFJuVaEaaemvVIXJ-pqiedSh1q_z4w39XOmwXKX6RSJcYV8hkmQ9xz8FdVd55qBlX47ONtQUdpdxetqvgYKIg0f/s1600/60a275bb1895f0d9c9688566dc11333a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1S8SShQxAde9H0YIwaTUHtGdd6KIMAEejmMhnegDn8XziiogBeuhxdFJuVaEaaemvVIXJ-pqiedSh1q_z4w39XOmwXKX6RSJcYV8hkmQ9xz8FdVd55qBlX47ONtQUdpdxetqvgYKIg0f/s320/60a275bb1895f0d9c9688566dc11333a.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
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So, years ago I started a file on my computer with hacks, hoping I'd be able to use them more and organize my life.<br />
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Until I forgot I had a file full of these freaking awesometastic ideas that were supposed to make me wonder-wife and super-mom!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VN9TfywRaQbpLfbtOmCnbE8Bn4I9n0F4xO3nhI6eUJKq30GN5ukxUdiXIKX8-uM45N8wxm5CAZ_Ey83DFN-4Vn-k4cCIf1RCvrds9HLHjWbk5wr2UhyeaHjY6UBwBVrdhyphenhyphenLor2kQg1OI/s1600/meme-center-epic-fail-department_o_287044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VN9TfywRaQbpLfbtOmCnbE8Bn4I9n0F4xO3nhI6eUJKq30GN5ukxUdiXIKX8-uM45N8wxm5CAZ_Ey83DFN-4Vn-k4cCIf1RCvrds9HLHjWbk5wr2UhyeaHjY6UBwBVrdhyphenhyphenLor2kQg1OI/s1600/meme-center-epic-fail-department_o_287044.jpg" /></a></div>
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Well the same thing happened to me with my writing life. I'd come across these really nifty hacks or compilations of writing tools and I tucked them away in a file on my computer. And every time I sit down to write words, I never ever think of them. EVER. I forget the folder even exists until I come across one online somewhere and go to save it in that file.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYvgCq4WQJtQXHPyjCfCYKNlt6RlAzzDDbz30NeyPawZH8RWx7aRqWXlvVFNHZ9hUpRon25rjznniM0BesFuOpnyXa0-EYHVBO7x2TRCSklIjV8gDMxvBs2uXB2ecr6oPxoDvsemK9AbV/s1600/a6db511c1f08728b1b16a1226ca47ae220074bddb0e8b7065db0166fc31ed76d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYvgCq4WQJtQXHPyjCfCYKNlt6RlAzzDDbz30NeyPawZH8RWx7aRqWXlvVFNHZ9hUpRon25rjznniM0BesFuOpnyXa0-EYHVBO7x2TRCSklIjV8gDMxvBs2uXB2ecr6oPxoDvsemK9AbV/s320/a6db511c1f08728b1b16a1226ca47ae220074bddb0e8b7065db0166fc31ed76d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, as 2016 lays down its carpet of brand new possibilities....I'm digging in to this file folder and sharing with you what I've saved over the years and calling it......<br />
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<b>WRITING HACKS FOR THE CREATIVELY STUNTED</b></div>
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1. I found this gem recently. Here's some ideas on how to give your characters a quirk. You want your characters to be relatable and real, and if you give them a humanized quirk it'll help your reader attach to them. Try and think outside the realm of lip biting and nail chewing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0iPnszaxhh9gZ6oYGQitPTCD7B-N6jk2EhYqnHZiisGwYWUfUB4Kbd2U8Az8F44T0R78cGaQ1fIY1ztiNlr4bHBa_qt2mFiKOAvoHNwjdHAFhfa9xbo9ALvutjtrGIe5_aZ3I_w_u3AU/s1600/10734107_10153595410641291_4333835465636085427_n.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0iPnszaxhh9gZ6oYGQitPTCD7B-N6jk2EhYqnHZiisGwYWUfUB4Kbd2U8Az8F44T0R78cGaQ1fIY1ztiNlr4bHBa_qt2mFiKOAvoHNwjdHAFhfa9xbo9ALvutjtrGIe5_aZ3I_w_u3AU/s640/10734107_10153595410641291_4333835465636085427_n.png" width="619" /></a></div>
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2. Body Language! Showing body language is a biggy. It is important in scene blocking and can also be as communicative as dialogue between the characters. It helps the reader solidify how you're presenting a scene. If your character's lying, we may not know as the reader by her dialogue, but if she's shifting her feet or if he's not making eye contact these help give the reader clues and deepen the point of view.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6o1kJP9Ca5cPYJtqSMgcEDGBJznml4J5HSg6EVzIvSE_iQb93T9W7K8bJq1ua4OyjL5gMFaU7LJ0pMoWxqRWwMIvXEwErwYl-90iHyEHGPd5BJYk1_O5bqmj7AtL1W6hyOl7WbwuFvxa/s1600/12189779_10153615990206291_6345009065986623901_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6o1kJP9Ca5cPYJtqSMgcEDGBJznml4J5HSg6EVzIvSE_iQb93T9W7K8bJq1ua4OyjL5gMFaU7LJ0pMoWxqRWwMIvXEwErwYl-90iHyEHGPd5BJYk1_O5bqmj7AtL1W6hyOl7WbwuFvxa/s640/12189779_10153615990206291_6345009065986623901_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another way to use body language is also if your character has an illness or disease or if you've given the some kind of quirk. Let's use anxiety as an example. If you consistently remind the reader she has anxiety, for one, that's telling. But also, it'll stick out like a sore thumb and be hit home so hard it'll annoy the reader. Instead, try showing the results of her anxiety with body language instead.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK93XZLCGf7cTF57r-BhUp6eUUI29dtDIcdUbMRUHmfcgyV77zzrn5px84lFNQMCDrXj66D3OrPCDuT20mjpCDjLimYKpw-DgPDr2OISmvCkZUpy1aKrtmS9RRzWA5dN9HF-330bjLMnR/s1600/1005628_664823420197908_487694061_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK93XZLCGf7cTF57r-BhUp6eUUI29dtDIcdUbMRUHmfcgyV77zzrn5px84lFNQMCDrXj66D3OrPCDuT20mjpCDjLimYKpw-DgPDr2OISmvCkZUpy1aKrtmS9RRzWA5dN9HF-330bjLMnR/s400/1005628_664823420197908_487694061_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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3. Showing vs. Telling. It's a hard skill to nail for a lot of writers. But I found these cool little hacks of descriptors that helps fill in those blanks when you're trying to bring narrative to life and let the reader experience the scene with the character versus being told.</div>
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For instance....Telling - She had long hair. Showing - Layered mousy brown hair framed the edges of her heart-shaped face, setting off her jade eyes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL90tkG6gPvQAv1n5VYY2tbqTRXXa7Nukbfo26OlXQo-RiwStfo5AROGljQLEOhBfgBJxYB4TuO5OVILpGrKpGTgZxAQKbGvuTXIeLE_EJdU18cLeL4FaN_P4IPM4Ey2L72kqC-VWSSwTE/s1600/12189800_10153627565296291_8497129202420317831_n.png" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVY8q_0ytl224DBZI7eO7BbclsDdR8MYz78LYZVHvDKYT9NAoeslSU3H1-sI8kN4AvZBCum58Q6yACg4GFiYg6O8ncS_ni2PwVyyYv_gBL574A5doH7uARRY25CV4lKhnBeGb_-Sa6JcQ/s1600/12193343_10153629426946291_936952842369142686_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVY8q_0ytl224DBZI7eO7BbclsDdR8MYz78LYZVHvDKYT9NAoeslSU3H1-sI8kN4AvZBCum58Q6yACg4GFiYg6O8ncS_ni2PwVyyYv_gBL574A5doH7uARRY25CV4lKhnBeGb_-Sa6JcQ/s400/12193343_10153629426946291_936952842369142686_n.jpg" width="316" /></a> <img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL90tkG6gPvQAv1n5VYY2tbqTRXXa7Nukbfo26OlXQo-RiwStfo5AROGljQLEOhBfgBJxYB4TuO5OVILpGrKpGTgZxAQKbGvuTXIeLE_EJdU18cLeL4FaN_P4IPM4Ey2L72kqC-VWSSwTE/s400/12189800_10153627565296291_8497129202420317831_n.png" width="271" /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_8ElDcogtlhRfsBW8aG49Kb97NBsXZ6qBdrzOWT1LYnodClZLVM7Eia9VJP5AT16a9v8ebvJLaELmfs0HP5SSUsNeCcOzH6XsPPVsyBqmC2Q0Yut1YzzuT0CaUD5grGsI6Eb9fx0fmnw/s1600/10406586_10153621623946291_1502022637195662142_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_8ElDcogtlhRfsBW8aG49Kb97NBsXZ6qBdrzOWT1LYnodClZLVM7Eia9VJP5AT16a9v8ebvJLaELmfs0HP5SSUsNeCcOzH6XsPPVsyBqmC2Q0Yut1YzzuT0CaUD5grGsI6Eb9fx0fmnw/s400/10406586_10153621623946291_1502022637195662142_n.jpg" width="265" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-az8P4xLZ0nvrE9B_HTqIdrPipEr2_UV4y6dV_hfCVHTuU9daw2tgNjwCk72xxPLIWB3rYAa0zRsU7mjI9QPY7clYka4jPl4M0JevPw9oek9DsXbzhjuAuPXL8rtdwaX-vG-IGENlm4f/s1600/12196332_10153635102821291_5351168831568003747_n.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-az8P4xLZ0nvrE9B_HTqIdrPipEr2_UV4y6dV_hfCVHTuU9daw2tgNjwCk72xxPLIWB3rYAa0zRsU7mjI9QPY7clYka4jPl4M0JevPw9oek9DsXbzhjuAuPXL8rtdwaX-vG-IGENlm4f/s400/12196332_10153635102821291_5351168831568003747_n.png" width="235" /></a></div>
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4. And last, but not least, emotions. They play a huge roll in our characters development. And at some point in your book your character will probably hit all six of the major emotions. But in order to take your character deeper and really strengthen their arc, try narrowing in on the different levels each of the major emotions has. As you can see by this nifty chart below, there's far more levels and facets of each emotion. If you zero in on one, it can help you take your character to a deeper point of view and explore.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPx8C6Kfkh1bsToi9r5yzFfQwIpOpPcPCKYplp9Uv8odnrYIQ8cd_nnHDkJ892P_TRORSXO9aA0A-ixBo0oGjSuarr7G_oNZgfKnwlWTN_Ws2Xn_qEMqgLntk-Ul1fGFAJxZvhxBuudVW/s1600/11033876_10153337441826291_3447654465949162173_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPx8C6Kfkh1bsToi9r5yzFfQwIpOpPcPCKYplp9Uv8odnrYIQ8cd_nnHDkJ892P_TRORSXO9aA0A-ixBo0oGjSuarr7G_oNZgfKnwlWTN_Ws2Xn_qEMqgLntk-Ul1fGFAJxZvhxBuudVW/s640/11033876_10153337441826291_3447654465949162173_n.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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Happy Hacking....er....I mean writing!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15012928750146940740noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-34299151994848347232016-01-07T10:41:00.000-08:002016-01-07T12:42:39.497-08:00Writing A Series: An Inside LookWhen I realized today was my day to write for the blog, I looked up in a daze from my latest WIP and thought...but what should I write about? I asked the other Relentless Writers for suggestions and bemoaned the fact that I suck at blogging.<br />
<br />
The conversation went something like this:<br />
<br />
Me: I suck at blogging.<br />
<br />
RW: You don't suck at blogging. Your posts are generally good. What you suck at is planning what to write. (<i>*this is true</i>)<br />
<br />
Me: No, I really do suck at blogging. And planning.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="irc_mi" height="197" src="https://yadadarcyyada.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/1funny558.gif?w=272&h=219" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 113px;" width="245" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(even Sherlock agrees)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
RW: <span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Wait, I know. Have you done a post about writing a series yet? (<i>*because I write a lot of series</i>)</span></span><br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Me: </span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">And what would I say about writing a series?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">RW: </span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">How
did you maintain the continuity between the historical western books?
Was it different from how you approached the sequel to Hunter's book? Is
contemporary easier than historical? How do you keep track of things?
Pinterest boards? Google docs? Have you
ever had a reader (beta or otherwise) catch a continuity error? What'll
you do to keep that from happening? Are there any sources for "how to
write a series" that you've found particularly helpful? From an agent's
perspective/your knowledge of the industry, what are the pros and cons
of writing books in series? What's your best piece of advice for a newby
starting out with a series?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Me: </span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Oh
wow. Okay, so my answer to all that is...I didn't plan that far ahead
(big shock, right?). I did it all as I went. Oh, and Google.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">RW: ...</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Me: </span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">My post can consist of this: How to Write a Series, by M. Madigan. Come up
with a fabulous idea (or you hope it is. It sounds fabulous in
your head at least). Make a page of general notes (It's
contemporary/western/post-apocalyptic and there are
maybe five core characters you'll focus on for the series). Make more
specific notes for book one. Start writing. Worship Google. Start the
next book by making specific notes. Shoe-horn it into the series to fit
with book one. Lots more Google worshipping. Do the same for the rest of
the books. The End.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"> RW: Um. Don't forget gifs.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="irc_mi" src="http://replygif.net/i/288.gif" height="254" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 84px;" width="314" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">That's how the conversation went, but I'm being (mostly) facetious about the process (okay, only partly). Everyone who writes a series will have a different process, so mine is just mine and could probably stand to be improved upon.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">However, how do you write a series is a legitimate question because in many genres (romance, mystery, scifi, fantasy), series are hot. Readers want them, agents and editors look for them, so writers need to think about writing them. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">I seem to be a series addict. I've got no fewer than eight in progress at the moment: the Nevada Bounty series (historical romance), the Caine Brothers series (erotic contemporary novellas), the Forever Faerie series (paranormal romance), the Tap Zone series (contemporary MMA romance), the Dragon Club (shifter romances), Never Too Late (second chance at romance/women's fiction), the Timed Out series (space opera), and the Tales from Beyond the End (post-apocalyptic fairy tale retellings).</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="irc_mi" src="http://gifsec.com/wp-content/uploads/GIF/2014/08/Jaw-drop-Amazed-Amazing-Shocked-WTF-GIF.gif?gs=a" height="222" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 100px;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(that's a lot of series)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Why do I write series? Because I like to set up a world, fill it with people, get to know them and then put them through the wringer. I think that's why readers like them, too. I know that's what I like when I'm reading them, so that's what I aim for as a writer.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">But how do you write a series? I can give you some idea of how I do it, but again, all writers are different. I write romance and science fiction so I can get away with some loosey-gooseyness where authors of mystery and fantasy probably can't. Those genres require some pretty tight plotting and planning.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><br /></span></span>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">So although I was being snarky when I said this is what my post would look like, in the end, it kind of does:</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><b>How to Write a Series, by M. Madigan</b></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Andy-Dwyer-Saying-Great-Idea.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="irc_mi" src="http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Andy-Dwyer-Saying-Great-Idea.gif" height="263" style="margin-top: 80px;" width="468" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><b>1. I'm struck by a fabulous idea for a series. </b>Often when this happens, I'll brainstorm with another writer friend just to be sure the story idea sounds as good out loud as it does in my head. I also look at some of the stuff that's selling in the industry to see if the idea has merit. If it has potential to sell (for instance, if I came up with an idea for a vampire/angel/demon romance, even if it was amazing, I wouldn't write it because that stuff is dead right now. It'll come back around again eventually, but I don't want to spend time now on something I can't sell), I'll move on to step two.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><b>2. Make a page of notes for the series</b>. What's the genre? Who are the characters? When I came up with the idea for the Caine Brothers series, I immediately sat down and made some general notes for each brother - his name, what he does (billionaire, biker, SEAL, rock star, fighter, shifter), who his heroine is, and a short paragraph blurb for the plot. All these things are subject to change, but the notes give me a vague shape for the series.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><b>3. Make more specific notes for book one. </b>I'm not a detailed plotter, but I do want notes to work from. I don't like writing myself into corners (I did this with the space opera and it took me a long time and some rewriting to get out). I do a character profile for the main characters, a setting worksheet, and write a couple of pages of linear plot summary. Often I will expand these as I'm writing and need more detail. I also make note of important details like dates, quirks, props, secondary characters, relatives, etc...anything that can be used throughout the series to tie them together. I love Pinterest as a visual way to keep track of characters, setting, props, clothes, etc. I have Pinterest boards for each book and/or series. Google is also my friend. I never know what kind of research I'll need until I'm deep into the story, so sometimes there's a lot of stopping-digging-starting going on. Writing a historical western required some pretty interesting research (for instance, 19th century western curse words). One of the great things about being a writer (I think) is that I get to teach myself about a whole bunch of new stuff that I probably never would have learned had I not needed to research it for a book!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Once the first book is done (after I've had my awesome betas read it--and yes, they've caught stuff I didn't see like continuity things, improbabilities, practical problems) and off to an editor, or self-published, it's time to move on to the next one. </span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><br /></span></span>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><b>4. Start the next book by making specific notes.</b> Repeat the process with the next book. I go back and look at my series notes, figure out who's next, what the general plot is about, then open a document to begin expanding that into a fleshed-out plot. I'll review my notes from book one to see what I need to carry over (themes, tropes, etc), and get to work on the next one following the same general writing process. I kid when I say I have to "shoe-horn it into the series to fit with book one" because although I don't have obsessively detailed series notes, I hope they're good enough I don't have to force anything. And if I come across a problem, I just see that as an opportunity for creative solutions.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><b>5. Repeat the process for as many books as are in the series.</b> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><br /></span></span>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">For me, that's it. That's the process. It's part organic, part planning, part linear, part disorder, often frustrating, but always a wonderful, juicy, creative, wild ride!</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><br /></span></span>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">The point is, if you write series you need to find what process works best for you depending on what genre you write, but also what kind of writer you are. There's no right or wrong as long as you figure out some form of organization and creative process that works to maintain your continuity and inspiration.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="irc_mi" height="309" src="https://nypdecider.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/imagination.gif?w=500" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 57px;" width="500" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(use yours)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Now, go write.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">~Margaret</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><br /></span></span>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17751751531355795845noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-74521289317963386542016-01-04T09:00:00.000-08:002016-01-04T09:00:09.589-08:00In Defense of the Form RejectionI recently wrote a short story, my first in over a year. Inspiration struck and I listened.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ffIBWInYLXU5OwsgfEjD9eL3_GZhXpa03DS5BAkf905_58BxVZLaNqSYnuRS1_1f6upRRJXQkz27fQRAAseG7Ep3b-6EkcaDwybQF8T7MUGUSmN5N5EsHezU0epwmJ09IHksiy1f8lPq/s1600/banksy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ffIBWInYLXU5OwsgfEjD9eL3_GZhXpa03DS5BAkf905_58BxVZLaNqSYnuRS1_1f6upRRJXQkz27fQRAAseG7Ep3b-6EkcaDwybQF8T7MUGUSmN5N5EsHezU0epwmJ09IHksiy1f8lPq/s320/banksy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Unlike novel writing, short stories are short-term rewarding because you reach "the end," while you are still loving that muse whispering in your ear. I was particularly excited about this story, as I knew exactly which magazine I was going to submit it to. A few years ago, said magazine had rejected another story of mine, but with glowing praise and a request to see more of my work. I kept that in mind, because this magazine is a professionally paying market and one that would be quite a feather in my writing resume. Thus after some furious late nights, anxious waiting for the beta reads to come back, and a lot of editing, I sent off my beautiful 3k-word gem to this magazine.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5sR1n6hQjRyZGuZwuYq7wKk6QFQwyqbG87TbD3g05kcLKMQZbroD_Rj2StLuSmIaUEltjKDdqPwUfWvgi8EHM6TFQh701SOiHxNJw6wkhqWF7C72ZcKiJsdeGgJFdFXjE7C8Y9LXQCGZ/s1600/Girl-with-a-Balloon-by-Banksy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5sR1n6hQjRyZGuZwuYq7wKk6QFQwyqbG87TbD3g05kcLKMQZbroD_Rj2StLuSmIaUEltjKDdqPwUfWvgi8EHM6TFQh701SOiHxNJw6wkhqWF7C72ZcKiJsdeGgJFdFXjE7C8Y9LXQCGZ/s320/Girl-with-a-Balloon-by-Banksy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Another rather sweet aspect of short stories is these days most magazines use submission software. This means you can stalk, I mean track, your submissions. And, at least in the SciFi/Fantasy professional market, many of them have fairly quick turn around times. This is in part because they don't allow simultaneous subs in part because the stories are shorter. Altogether it's a much quicker and less frustrating process than novel submissions.<br />
<br />
So a week full of checking the website later, there it was, that email. I took a deep breath and opened it to find... a form rejection letter.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuWlTZuiql0pm7hSNZfEHKUxm4jBMUp9jyFkEExaVP09IipjcxnCUTzoXTZKFvV3NIDV8Ih58By6benYIBJ-2bSuFDcDOyJbox23uSjjXxnec6oYqTXKPM0lG9JI9-9ixgwe12LvHpRKo/s1600/banksygirl.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuWlTZuiql0pm7hSNZfEHKUxm4jBMUp9jyFkEExaVP09IipjcxnCUTzoXTZKFvV3NIDV8Ih58By6benYIBJ-2bSuFDcDOyJbox23uSjjXxnec6oYqTXKPM0lG9JI9-9ixgwe12LvHpRKo/s320/banksygirl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The range of emotions that followed is one every writer is familiar with. But there was one more. Understanding. Working for a literary agency, I've sent out hundreds of form rejection letters over the years. And recently I opened up my own inbox to queries. In the beginning I tried to make each response a bit personal, a note here, a comment there. I knew what it was like to be on the other side, and that experience pushed me to communicate personally as much as I could, especially if the writing had potential. However, I discovered, to my dismay, that the majority of personal rejections were not appreciated, in fact they were often responded to with a "could you clarify this?" or "can you take this further?" or "what can I edit to change your mind?"<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBMlX69oj_SLWrcG-0M5nsfgmOBGHp_Lcr6sBQIiWfgS9ud1F3S6FhItTjwEPOSc-O9UJgdl4d6ndPcBhN8ZAoOZdeD7hqU88QHfB0DEJ8RHNqHrt1lwIBzl3yZdLirQG0w-KO4pX4-bA/s1600/banksy-dreams_00349040.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBMlX69oj_SLWrcG-0M5nsfgmOBGHp_Lcr6sBQIiWfgS9ud1F3S6FhItTjwEPOSc-O9UJgdl4d6ndPcBhN8ZAoOZdeD7hqU88QHfB0DEJ8RHNqHrt1lwIBzl3yZdLirQG0w-KO4pX4-bA/s320/banksy-dreams_00349040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My personal notes were not received as the compliments they were meant to be, but rather as an opening for an editorial conversation. One that I had to ignore. It made me feel guilty, not continuing the conversations, but there is not enough time in an agent's schedule to answer every author question that floats through our inbox. I was also spending more time coming up with ways to make the reason I was passing on the project sound nice and encouraging and editorially useful, rather than focusing my energy on considering each submission carefully. Which made me reluctant to open my inbox. I had burned out. Thus more and more I found myself responding with a form rejection, both in the interest of time and clear communication. My defense of the form rejection:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>It's a clear answer.</li>
<li>You receive said answer faster. </li>
<li>It's less emotional. </li>
<li>It helps prevent slushpile burnout, so the agent/reader can focus on what's important, considering the submission itself, rather than coming up with something to say in response to it. </li>
<li>The form rejection helps to keep expectations in check. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oxCr7UuXlpx1Xw7IH_YW1lgs-SdpdvlTQQpU0mMD2Hhijk_Q4IQKrhQgb7TK_6g9EgjmhORCS9E5H06CVmlwxfvcuQt5IJccMH_ZHKRZGnyik6oLqrQdfdE98rTlILpFE2RTYSBrtuIF/s1600/bansky+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oxCr7UuXlpx1Xw7IH_YW1lgs-SdpdvlTQQpU0mMD2Hhijk_Q4IQKrhQgb7TK_6g9EgjmhORCS9E5H06CVmlwxfvcuQt5IJccMH_ZHKRZGnyik6oLqrQdfdE98rTlILpFE2RTYSBrtuIF/s320/bansky+boy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I know most authors who don't do their research don't understand this, because they don't see the other side. I can't count the number of times I've heard writers say, "it couldn't be that hard to respond to a query!" Let me tell you, yes, yes it can.<br />
<br />
Every once in a while, if the writing jumps out at me, or if I've met the author in person, I will still respond personally, but for the most part I've become a fan of the form rejection. Sure you could argue that if I hadn't gotten that personal response back in the day, I wouldn't have been as eager to submit to the magazine, but I also wouldn't have had as high of hopes. At least you can take comfort in the knowledge that I'm getting them as good as I'm giving them. We all just have to keep on keeping on. My so-called gem of a short story is already sunk into another slushpile.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhET_jclmfBw5MZyKV5NqIqj-W2XYAfspVftCSL0AZDOma_GwzWoxufMBHaYliWti_B4KBFSNGTECvdz8Fhh4novkonVu46MEF4dY7M46Mm2I5xctKoNkVFWlZR-ihp9mT-qPxKGO3Ms_Wf/s1600/banksyfollow.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhET_jclmfBw5MZyKV5NqIqj-W2XYAfspVftCSL0AZDOma_GwzWoxufMBHaYliWti_B4KBFSNGTECvdz8Fhh4novkonVu46MEF4dY7M46Mm2I5xctKoNkVFWlZR-ihp9mT-qPxKGO3Ms_Wf/s320/banksyfollow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
*All artwork by street graffiti artist Banksy.<br />
<br />
Follow Mary on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Mary_C_Moore" target="_blank">@Mary_C_Moore</a> for more tips and updates on her query slushpile. To submit to her visit her website: <a href="http://marycmoore.com/">marycmoore.com</a>. Mary C. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611451327805420623noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-63601512837420074732015-12-31T00:00:00.000-08:002015-12-31T00:00:14.783-08:00THE CRUSADE OF THE LOST MANUSCRIPTS - by Janice M. Wilson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MY NOVEL! JUST KILL ME ALREADY!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few years ago, back in the day when laptops were rarely
seen and only a lucky few had them, much less a home computer – I watched a
movie about a writer who had put his entire newly written novel onto his
laptop. In a few seconds he managed to
trip and the laptop went flying out of his hands onto the street. Before he
could stand up a truck ran over the computer, flattening it and the novel was
gone forever. The anguish the man
suffered was properly conveyed on the screen, and I’m sure every writer in the
world could feel his pain.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikl3dDX0pssCi3n3lPd10-jO-KWXpLsE5NBUpgHM9zATjZ7ErzkR8GykNX0h36_m-2nTfi60O1Sy8Vg8QMwZl-_JS-3sPZCCW5X1wEeM7BBhQJiuN7KdhvMO9MvN7lzFxLqwYHY8Tr8Hah/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+anquished+indy+with+monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikl3dDX0pssCi3n3lPd10-jO-KWXpLsE5NBUpgHM9zATjZ7ErzkR8GykNX0h36_m-2nTfi60O1Sy8Vg8QMwZl-_JS-3sPZCCW5X1wEeM7BBhQJiuN7KdhvMO9MvN7lzFxLqwYHY8Tr8Hah/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+anquished+indy+with+monkey.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What am I going to do now?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sat there wondering – didn’t he at least print that novel
or save it on a floppy? (I just aged myself even more, didn’t I?)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLm8K-O42ve1zzwqV6Bjo5Lu51kKVXe8LKNlIjtG-u_y2Ex1XY4Od66nJdgoJGm5cK_08-nHfdBctOdBJhZP4zTWx8fEhigZj1p7wI8cLknDAh_OXCuTX9itfWvWPCsJoIq12wnO4Rd_t/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+mourning+the+loss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLm8K-O42ve1zzwqV6Bjo5Lu51kKVXe8LKNlIjtG-u_y2Ex1XY4Od66nJdgoJGm5cK_08-nHfdBctOdBJhZP4zTWx8fEhigZj1p7wI8cLknDAh_OXCuTX9itfWvWPCsJoIq12wnO4Rd_t/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+mourning+the+loss.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All that hard work - 95,000 words - and I never even had it printed!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I took it to heart. I made a regular habit to back up
my writings religiously to a computer, flash drive (these days), and at least 1
email to myself to save it electronically.
The latter I did mostly for access purposes to write on something from wherever
I am. Now we have ‘clouds’, but by
either email or uploading into cyberspace, it still saved my work regardless of
the reason.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THEN I WAS ROBBED!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfC4RUB3R2fluSm0OtiFSU5Q0a74wx1JzVTs-Nj1M0hOE7-TNDcoz5iKEh3TbmcGR9IS5XBBf5eQpza8Q7-PT5qO0cUtvyST_gp9fNRlkqFBFzDsKbSoDliPAXRl-hFTsXLpNR_APOZ24/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+1+hands+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfC4RUB3R2fluSm0OtiFSU5Q0a74wx1JzVTs-Nj1M0hOE7-TNDcoz5iKEh3TbmcGR9IS5XBBf5eQpza8Q7-PT5qO0cUtvyST_gp9fNRlkqFBFzDsKbSoDliPAXRl-hFTsXLpNR_APOZ24/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+1+hands+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Where's the diary, Dr. Jones? <br />"WHAT DIARY?"<br />"You have it - in your pocket."</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bandits supposedly broke into my house and stole all the electronics
in the house (mine and a roommates), including my laptop.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSS-aHMK6n6llYk9uK_C6bKMqbFC-zQV7-bv_ey81L7ht8tmMNIi8fslF9tuzNkrgBq3hHFwb_10gVx9TU4CT5vQRYN7XXcRPhULugbrJJnMHngAry899t2tYDQcJTlnvENorG33dMRU6/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+marion+drinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSS-aHMK6n6llYk9uK_C6bKMqbFC-zQV7-bv_ey81L7ht8tmMNIi8fslF9tuzNkrgBq3hHFwb_10gVx9TU4CT5vQRYN7XXcRPhULugbrJJnMHngAry899t2tYDQcJTlnvENorG33dMRU6/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+marion+drinking.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel so............nothing. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had backed up everything up until about 4 weeks before the break in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My flashdrive was (thankfully!) in another location of the
house, and inconspicuously hidden, so the backed up work was not all lost. Not
all, but that’s another whole story.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EJiHtpnFmAQ3RV7reTD0FMD2bUzmEQV7AOhJe7jPVNgSzEsOcnCe0wV-IjpCh78s3AQ6u2UvglYKGCwfALKXGMha2oXasyRE-EEQ7BQk6jqBzmt5O0YVxV7LhRmI5Er9FCzdZAniDKhn/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+3+cant+take+with+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EJiHtpnFmAQ3RV7reTD0FMD2bUzmEQV7AOhJe7jPVNgSzEsOcnCe0wV-IjpCh78s3AQ6u2UvglYKGCwfALKXGMha2oXasyRE-EEQ7BQk6jqBzmt5O0YVxV7LhRmI5Er9FCzdZAniDKhn/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+3+cant+take+with+you.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank God I remembered where he kept the extra copy!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And they couldn’t take my back-ups on email. I changed my passwords immediately anyway
but still – it was tucked away in e-pockets they never would know about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSjrwXI__FRIkyKVeIIRi2CsvzOwFhD1UvRtdL5cPP5BtH9zm0fJ1oBGgv670GR71N3iNmcNDTknqSOSuMDeqsK9Yjac6GSJZ6sJUHqAbRbgjbhdRvXC_PRALDrF8DPIJF1hytGgxsr50/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+x+marks+the+spot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSjrwXI__FRIkyKVeIIRi2CsvzOwFhD1UvRtdL5cPP5BtH9zm0fJ1oBGgv670GR71N3iNmcNDTknqSOSuMDeqsK9Yjac6GSJZ6sJUHqAbRbgjbhdRvXC_PRALDrF8DPIJF1hytGgxsr50/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+x+marks+the+spot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They will never find it - right HERE!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only thing I lost were updated drafts of a few things I
had written that last few weeks up to the day of the break-in. That I would have to rewrite again.
(sigghhhh)</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2c0-kDKOEAbiJ_GgqKpSgVym7YHq_QdxEMPC1167UMZcY-4SdzvGaIOX-d_Ukl8OwBS7AkmM_qmHEpf36suShliZjCKzLWCY5AC-lRuV72BCMYwPKwSD13W35W73DO7JvpkpHOx2R7y7/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+13+i+need+whats+in+here+on+paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2c0-kDKOEAbiJ_GgqKpSgVym7YHq_QdxEMPC1167UMZcY-4SdzvGaIOX-d_Ukl8OwBS7AkmM_qmHEpf36suShliZjCKzLWCY5AC-lRuV72BCMYwPKwSD13W35W73DO7JvpkpHOx2R7y7/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+13+i+need+whats+in+here+on+paper.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need what's in here - on the paper, Dr. Jones!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PLUS – the laptop had a password login protection. If they still got in, then stolen my
copyrights – I’d have proof of about 98% of it that it was mine. Snagged.
Done deal. Pay up at the court
window.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_bCCtZ8ki3-cZxWp2BZulnRsH03b95S01peLhy5yR0b35wavxJHla_E6H7wY-LARYpFnqoXKQK3qgn0feoV0Z-CwUTYCxaRT4gSgCmJIN_zQo2T_nRfbArQbNcXWrYGRvIuNo2K_5CL0/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+9+prehistoric+backup+journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_bCCtZ8ki3-cZxWp2BZulnRsH03b95S01peLhy5yR0b35wavxJHla_E6H7wY-LARYpFnqoXKQK3qgn0feoV0Z-CwUTYCxaRT4gSgCmJIN_zQo2T_nRfbArQbNcXWrYGRvIuNo2K_5CL0/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+9+prehistoric+backup+journal.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snagged! Turn over the rights, son!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I miss some of those things I just about finished, and now
have to re-start from old drafts. This
crime was not just of techy value, but a jab to the soul, a crime of the heart.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKma8gwxpLsit1AtbNADJBxIUKErEB-v22IECpw_HWIE5lf0sQU9igVozpZVw1G8sPxEp791W0Jd3Qm7VjHK_xCDqSsOSOg2jUPn3amBfk_uAW79FoB492QUuTe7Aw6TYcF3HyHZDEMwuw/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+6+my+face+when+robbed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKma8gwxpLsit1AtbNADJBxIUKErEB-v22IECpw_HWIE5lf0sQU9igVozpZVw1G8sPxEp791W0Jd3Qm7VjHK_xCDqSsOSOg2jUPn3amBfk_uAW79FoB492QUuTe7Aw6TYcF3HyHZDEMwuw/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+6+my+face+when+robbed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My new work is gone.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But take heart - this evolved me too, so good things came out of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Importance of our Creative Work<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each piece is a new baby, needing attention, some love for
it from the heart, sunlight and growth (editing), and to be seen. I took a lot of time brain storming and
crafting each piece, which entitles any artist to be very upset when work is
plagiarized or entirely disappears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLuPl2WGISzwGwPGNB1JXFcNgpFzChzN8pxOJkY-f007IugNMJORElHlK1eUz7O8dTzh2ApdcIK24e-RLZVdewj_4UFiRAaVofynkpGBnfFrvbbGlWDQmspOmHQImouXzX-x3dH_wolwD/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+3+protect+like+a+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLuPl2WGISzwGwPGNB1JXFcNgpFzChzN8pxOJkY-f007IugNMJORElHlK1eUz7O8dTzh2ApdcIK24e-RLZVdewj_4UFiRAaVofynkpGBnfFrvbbGlWDQmspOmHQImouXzX-x3dH_wolwD/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+3+protect+like+a+baby.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Willie was right! This diamond is so perfect, it glows!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not just written pieces but all kinds of art work should be
photographed, logged and saved in several different places.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How dependent I had become to digital.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This robbery also showed me just how much I had become
dependent on digital. Too
dependent. I was forced to revert to my
old legal pad and good pens days, the good old days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me tell you – I still wrote a lot by hand. I even appreciated being able to write on a
tablet of paper when I would have previously been worried about knocking over
drinks onto my laptop, but it wasn’t a problem for a few weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTM671cfiQz3l57er3tbx5ouxIO0zZME3oaA-_UF3a0tJhXX5Z-Gy2LJbEU49axZEHKaeHghOfIAWvbeeO85QZOr6wEYztDCgCaPkjuYNB8lK1eqoXoMPNhXJ9YI-9VWeD9hyphenhyphenNdWM5vgj/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+3+mezmerized+by+skull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTM671cfiQz3l57er3tbx5ouxIO0zZME3oaA-_UF3a0tJhXX5Z-Gy2LJbEU49axZEHKaeHghOfIAWvbeeO85QZOr6wEYztDCgCaPkjuYNB8lK1eqoXoMPNhXJ9YI-9VWeD9hyphenhyphenNdWM5vgj/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+3+mezmerized+by+skull.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh be serious!....I'm perfectly able to...........write.......um...without my compu......ummmm.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plus I had the written proof of a few new ideas that are
MINE!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started 4 stories on paper. (Of course when I finally got a laptop I
typed them into documents.) By sheer
determination to keep going despite my lack of digital freedom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mtq-9_s4HQgzXSBgHsHXHZfEKOLkkFS2Fp6YkQ0Mlu6Y_gVBfUgE21o96ShMiZxjX_VFoAarvDffMgIwq0GVutnCCDcBokA70_QNAVJY5xtolk2MzoZ4MZtdfLKOVjRMcE17rz7VOHsr/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+downloading+copies+is+hard+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mtq-9_s4HQgzXSBgHsHXHZfEKOLkkFS2Fp6YkQ0Mlu6Y_gVBfUgE21o96ShMiZxjX_VFoAarvDffMgIwq0GVutnCCDcBokA70_QNAVJY5xtolk2MzoZ4MZtdfLKOVjRMcE17rz7VOHsr/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+downloading+copies+is+hard+work.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm going back in - by hand!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took some getting used to again, and my mind was faster
than my hand so it was a little frustrating and I had to keep making little
notes of bigger points/plots so I didn’t forget anything, but I still managed
to write at least 1 legal pad full of stories.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTjElBqwmDJjtR4Vvi_Ll_SX0-Tk9OfQVJuGIeylq_swfie2264q3LgLG1ir6EPHksIQtCfWq7jugV7TQwAnPgIayEqA_t8kclUqAJCxorSA72Sw8_AokGBX5EYqzxsSD9M7dXU10gKpZ/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+8+prehistoric+backup+journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTjElBqwmDJjtR4Vvi_Ll_SX0-Tk9OfQVJuGIeylq_swfie2264q3LgLG1ir6EPHksIQtCfWq7jugV7TQwAnPgIayEqA_t8kclUqAJCxorSA72Sw8_AokGBX5EYqzxsSD9M7dXU10gKpZ/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+8+prehistoric+backup+journal.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drawing....(ehem) DRAFTING ideas for a story. Yep!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to – or I would have burst.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3aYlRoFkNLSadjqRhO5aAeuC6r_8GM_mnRzwVSe3QTBesqYloFuiTbS-Zd1Lw4oZthcdLMGDOUTfDSbVn_Z5FhuEvWVq9yhfSuVNZaKkCRS9XZBEKTFgqP3anA_A3BWfEhNTKr2K2zsB/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+expode+when+i+cant+write.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3aYlRoFkNLSadjqRhO5aAeuC6r_8GM_mnRzwVSe3QTBesqYloFuiTbS-Zd1Lw4oZthcdLMGDOUTfDSbVn_Z5FhuEvWVq9yhfSuVNZaKkCRS9XZBEKTFgqP3anA_A3BWfEhNTKr2K2zsB/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+expode+when+i+cant+write.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crap - She waited too long!</span></td></tr>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inventory it!<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep some kind of manuscript log. This is another way of not only keeping dibs
on what you send out into the cold dark cyber world, but a simple spreadsheet
can help you keep track of when it was sent, to whom, how long of a response
time to expect, simultaneous submissions allowed, money earned or spent,
contests, etc. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NsnGZtx0-sv-mkr6dhZbScps459VQ09TMGMzypPMqQagvlImHXE-eVrbJPO4oVP_6H85ttGrxTHkW1fwshYmLjA6gNS_kdxerhg8QW7oK1KQNU_uE-Ydhk_6HDOFTaczoECPJpVosbw6/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+inventory+it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NsnGZtx0-sv-mkr6dhZbScps459VQ09TMGMzypPMqQagvlImHXE-eVrbJPO4oVP_6H85ttGrxTHkW1fwshYmLjA6gNS_kdxerhg8QW7oK1KQNU_uE-Ydhk_6HDOFTaczoECPJpVosbw6/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+inventory+it.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know I sent that story to an anthology sometime in.......</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make it work for you! And
back that up into a hidden corner as well.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BL9FEg0NdZAK46cuoRE7BE7WKef1nkt4cMjgLMPxB6CYSJMAdRqjtN4hpGIqWubNQ5YsopH4IIhmW2pq7iHEUB2yzp2Fl3QmmofyW_zhvlQcg3tHh97QVOQEe7560Lnup8yZI33AZolb/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+inventory+it+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BL9FEg0NdZAK46cuoRE7BE7WKef1nkt4cMjgLMPxB6CYSJMAdRqjtN4hpGIqWubNQ5YsopH4IIhmW2pq7iHEUB2yzp2Fl3QmmofyW_zhvlQcg3tHh97QVOQEe7560Lnup8yZI33AZolb/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+inventory+it+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">........and now I just have to find that manuscript in a shoe box in my garage....<br />.....it's in here somewhere....</span></td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tag it!<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the first things the Detective asked me was the
description of the laptop and did I have any kind of ID numbers saved so they
can maybe track it and capture the criminal and my property. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn’t have those numbers, although I did lock the screen
and changed all my passwords. Still, that was a dumb move on my part. Learn from my mistake here. Take pictures of all S/N numbers, Windows
Product ID, service ID and the kind of computer you have and all the tags on
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxhJWZGKNmEUIrVcyC9WRw9IH3yw2f8eE4wJmcL01XyuPmTPrVvb4t_owLAWu03BAQEWb3WHrmyJHgROsmCMv3pZDT8XSxSkJaQJgY0lbdE8EgYxhwVoRplKDceFanXo5wNYWPCBBSS1-/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+TAG+IT+MAP+ROOM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxhJWZGKNmEUIrVcyC9WRw9IH3yw2f8eE4wJmcL01XyuPmTPrVvb4t_owLAWu03BAQEWb3WHrmyJHgROsmCMv3pZDT8XSxSkJaQJgY0lbdE8EgYxhwVoRplKDceFanXo5wNYWPCBBSS1-/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+TAG+IT+MAP+ROOM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll laser my name onto my laptop!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Same for your smaller toys.
Send yourself an email to several places with those pics and typed
information, load it in the clouds, hire a personal security team to guard it
or hide it in your shoes. Whatever way
you fancy, keep some kind of documentation records of your pertinent toys, and
keep them relatively accessible in case of a robber or plagiarist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If this (God-forbid) ever happens to me again – they will be
BUSTED quickly!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklsy-thlsXtv4kdWhhaH6lw1ZHxjKZGnMxaJiIYfbmPUJ_sVqXk5WYAlayed5iTaAJ5XBTOz2Wh1bj1GiJP_b6vhfvgkvUubS4I3DlNeZq3ePSe8w5OuBXdeQKtSU4dX77HfeUHVGb-cs/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+caught+and+tied.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklsy-thlsXtv4kdWhhaH6lw1ZHxjKZGnMxaJiIYfbmPUJ_sVqXk5WYAlayed5iTaAJ5XBTOz2Wh1bj1GiJP_b6vhfvgkvUubS4I3DlNeZq3ePSe8w5OuBXdeQKtSU4dX77HfeUHVGb-cs/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+caught+and+tied.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want my laptop back! YOU would have done the same!</span></td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Have To Create<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SIMPLY PUT- I HAVE TO
WRITE or I will implode or something equally horrific! No robbers, doctors,
surgeons, faith healers, or plagiarizers could possibly stop this disease I
have. I really don’t want them to try
either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW9742TdxxqRBBz0JYQqsIZfOdhIzwbcqYZHq58RM5Tyddiu0SBwGwXaoZnScQVGHwO5E1KR6rpFO1w_aZdW0aIaCwRFgeDsghD0zVSuIn-t8k5eNUr0S1kRcEqx5HnIHBd_kwKfnXVeE/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+melting+faces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW9742TdxxqRBBz0JYQqsIZfOdhIzwbcqYZHq58RM5Tyddiu0SBwGwXaoZnScQVGHwO5E1KR6rpFO1w_aZdW0aIaCwRFgeDsghD0zVSuIn-t8k5eNUr0S1kRcEqx5HnIHBd_kwKfnXVeE/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+melting+faces.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://relentlesswriters.blogspot.com/2015/08/never-interrupt-writer-secrets-of.html">(See my story in September about NEVER KEEPING A WRITER FROM WRITING!)</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Triple-quadruple backup everything!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>The Good News!</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did finally get a new computer – and it took 2 months but
well worth the wait because it was exactly what I needed for so many things!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRMQisVRByrip4Nd511xDXNqvxFjfQGb_XVjvu5U-NfDdgAbRS2H7CoDMeaKzV36vUxTt9LhCuBkWW5ERdHN9QNxCjbahXW1CeQNnwvBwgOfWfeQPBxtKFI6RFHnemDfkzvmkrk_U6ft5/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+marion+and+medalion+money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRMQisVRByrip4Nd511xDXNqvxFjfQGb_XVjvu5U-NfDdgAbRS2H7CoDMeaKzV36vUxTt9LhCuBkWW5ERdHN9QNxCjbahXW1CeQNnwvBwgOfWfeQPBxtKFI6RFHnemDfkzvmkrk_U6ft5/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+marion+and+medalion+money.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know it's my medallion but it's for my new laptop!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to save for it and do some research, dodging several slick
salespeople, and serious flash saving but I did it, sacrificing some needs and
comforts to buy it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29kgwaLjCX-0qAh3q4I9lHmUYem-BALe6eLjC8zgQ641EBQR-B6EX3aG8_azzyGIrbozLYvtUhnyZ4URrcs6CB7ghYGFoY6b6koA7x3lX0TBDHL1IcxU2-FHPpDSB_QvWIt_7_eauwPQu/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+12+me+with+new+computer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29kgwaLjCX-0qAh3q4I9lHmUYem-BALe6eLjC8zgQ641EBQR-B6EX3aG8_azzyGIrbozLYvtUhnyZ4URrcs6CB7ghYGFoY6b6koA7x3lX0TBDHL1IcxU2-FHPpDSB_QvWIt_7_eauwPQu/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+12+me+with+new+computer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At last - back on the Wifi and writing again!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The prize to the one who finds my old computer!</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCvUH4qI_wtDpJfaO9pdfKRN6pw5NCe8IRtE-sku-q54Nna0BlYzwa007Ltzhq3tbWkrJf8wSalZEn7HDKdUFtsfWnZIyzYgqN0wQQllY8FxHLlU1IDBGRZBNb5_KTHW2iR9FhhC-0O5X/s1600/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+7+finder+of+laptop+gets+this.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCvUH4qI_wtDpJfaO9pdfKRN6pw5NCe8IRtE-sku-q54Nna0BlYzwa007Ltzhq3tbWkrJf8wSalZEn7HDKdUFtsfWnZIyzYgqN0wQQllY8FxHLlU1IDBGRZBNb5_KTHW2iR9FhhC-0O5X/s320/writing+about+backup+blog+pic+7+finder+of+laptop+gets+this.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, I would kiss him for a lot less of a reason!</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09828775153034325126noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-59813637867807509332015-12-28T03:00:00.000-08:002015-12-28T05:22:32.976-08:00Re-using Plot Devices: New Hope AwakensHey everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and have a happy start to your New Year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif16sQugW94Z-0N1Q9b4gB1ZonhQCgB-NTeGhyphenhyphenLVoOgHEjQDyZhoobLMC1I5KOnAseU8KfIh4dYGsO2zH_VHzawny41tUMAMypM4hHqzLD0ejO5Fmu-IaMP2IGboHMG84-uuuhbsMghXk/s1600/Glowing-Christmas-Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif16sQugW94Z-0N1Q9b4gB1ZonhQCgB-NTeGhyphenhyphenLVoOgHEjQDyZhoobLMC1I5KOnAseU8KfIh4dYGsO2zH_VHzawny41tUMAMypM4hHqzLD0ejO5Fmu-IaMP2IGboHMG84-uuuhbsMghXk/s320/Glowing-Christmas-Tree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
For a while I wondered what to blog about today. With the holidays I've had little to no time to concentrate on writing, let alone a blog post on writing when I received a series of books from a self pubbed friend of mine. She asked me to read some of her books to help with a manuscript she's stuck on.<br />
<br />
Easy, right? Minus getting caught up in a full Harry Potter marathon, I make time to read and am always on the lookout for a new series.<br />
<br />
I started the first book. It was good. Heroine is a loner, but has a big personality. She knows who she is and doesn't take crap from anyone. Nice. I love me a strong heroine. She meets the popular jock who probably wouldn't give her the time of day ever, but she's interesting and he can't help himself. Okay. Not my favorite plot ever, but it's been done before and works. Then he falls madly in love to the point he'd die for her. Umm, okay. I get books are short. It can be hard to tell time frames, but yeesh. Instant teenage love.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8ydh2iEZ2Y8CvM05NsbhAGN60Ol5ANjM_AM200mhmuHLfHucHlfBxyPtU3UF002BLm53X3tc7IcBPmY2OnyRSHIJoIuHDVhQRwQeagI1srmliJY9FMZooTE5Vc0VpXrAITMZCiR7-0U/s1600/Plot-Device-Red-Giant-Viral-Video_1727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8ydh2iEZ2Y8CvM05NsbhAGN60Ol5ANjM_AM200mhmuHLfHucHlfBxyPtU3UF002BLm53X3tc7IcBPmY2OnyRSHIJoIuHDVhQRwQeagI1srmliJY9FMZooTE5Vc0VpXrAITMZCiR7-0U/s320/Plot-Device-Red-Giant-Viral-Video_1727.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I finished the first book. Was it my favorite? No. Would I read it again? No. But it was a good read and I enjoyed it. She's sold quite a few copies, so it's working. I start the second book. Loner girl, book nerd, big personality. Sound familiar? The book, while having a slightly different premise from the first, is basically the same plot. Loner girl gets jock to fall madly in love, blah, blah, blah. Okay. Now I'm bored. I start the third. Supernatural loner girl with big personality gets popular jock to fall in love. Really?<br />
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All of these books had slightly different plot lines and characters, but all of them followed the same story arc. I wondered, how many times is it okay to use the same story arc? Nicholas Sparks does and manages to sell a butt load of books every year, but does that make it okay? When is it time to say enough is enough and try something new, branch out?<br />
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Then I saw Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. And I have to admit I was slightly disappointed by what I found. **Slight Spoilers Ahead**<br />
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There are a lot of similarities between the Force Awakens and Episode IV A New Hope. Like, look at the titles. Both hint at a new beginning. A fresh start. The main characters are both from desert planets, tinker with mechanical objects and can fly whatever craft they get their hands on. There are droids with the only piece of information that can achieve the rebellions goal. There is a Leia character for both movies that is already the voice of the rebellion. Both movies have a Han Solo type character who struggles with his role and tries to run away. Even the evil brought back is similar enough to the original. There's even a cantina like place, and their objectives as a whole in the movie are very similar.<br />
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Does it work? Yes. The movie broke records it's opening weekend. And while I believe nostalgia played a huge roll, for me personally, I wanted to see loose ends tied up. The problem? I didn't really feel like they were. It was simply the same story retold 30 years in the future.<br />
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Reusing Plot devices happens a lot in fiction. There truly are only so many plot lines to write about. How you write about them makes all the difference. If your mc is pregnant in the first book, your second should face different problems. Step out of the comfort zone and flex your writing muscles. It's easy to go with what we know works and to fall into the trap of "it's selling, so I should keep going with this formula". It may sell, but eventually people will catch on and it could backfire.<br />
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Raise the bar with each story you write. Step outside your comfort zone and find that interesting character that you fear putting into words. Don't let a paycheck drive you to formulas. (Or if you do, at least take enough pride in your work to change the plotline up a little.) Who knows, you may find the one plot that's never been told.Niki Cluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13043756539662188797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-36304628954860760422015-12-24T16:58:00.000-08:002015-12-24T16:58:47.021-08:00Hope for the Holidays<br />
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Merry Christmas for all that celebrate. Thinking about what to write for this Christmas Eve post, I remembered an article that ran in my neighborhood newsletter six years ago. I updated the story for this post. </div>
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December 2009, I was sitting at the hospital with my mother as she was about to have a knee replacement. I was concerned about her, and, at the same time, thankful it wasn't me who was about to have surgery. As I tried to find something to write about, and at the same time distract my mother, I asked her if she had any ideas; she thought for a minute or two and asked me if I knew the story about the first Christmas tree. I didn't, so she told me the story.</div>
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"There was once a little Scandinavian Princess, who had everything she ever wanted. At Christmas her father, wanting to please her, took her for a sleigh ride to admire the trees and pick one out to take home. All of the beautiful trees were puffed up, proud to offer themselves to the princess, but she looked past them to a small scraggly tree. The spaces in the branches were occupied by birds and squirrels, but the little princess saw past the imperfections and took the tree home. She was so happy with it, she filled the spaces with decorations and thought the tree was beautiful.”</div>
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At this point, I interrupted my mom and said, "That's terrible, what happened to all of the little animals that lived in the tree?"</div>
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My mom said patiently, or not so patiently if anyone knows my mom, "Oh, they all found new homes, but you are MISSING the point of the story. The point is that the little tree was small and scrawny, but to the little girl, the it was perfect and beautiful.”</div>
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Okay, whatever. I was happy to sit with my mom--she was having a big operation and needed company. I was hopeful that the surgery would go well, and she would be doing better the next day.</div>
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Later, I realized that I didn't quite get the message of her story, even after she explained it to me.</div>
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Hours after surgery, my mom was up and even walked (albeit only a few feet). I mentioned to her that I used her story for this feature. She smiled and said, "Oh, did I tell you that at the end of the story all the animals followed the little princess home and lived with her?”</div>
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Back in 2009, the day after the story, I decided that I finally understood. Like the little princess, many of us have lots of beautiful things. And I was hopeful that we could be like the little princess and see past the imperfections of the world to find beauty and happiness. </div>
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Re-reading old articles can often be painful. But this one, even with the comma splices and dangling modifiers, still brought a smile. That was a happy time in my life. My mom rocked the knee replacement. And the little princess story still applies; for me, first drafts often look like a scraggly tree. And if I can find the beauty of a solid frame within my story, I can finish it out, add a little glitz, and have a polished piece. </div>
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Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!</div>
Charlotte Levine Gruberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08629132233515129950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-12642591590002992742015-12-21T13:27:00.002-08:002015-12-21T13:44:54.473-08:00The Gifts We Lay<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>This article originally appeared five years ago on <a href="http://thatrebelwithablog.blogspot.com/2010/12/gifts-we-lay.html" target="_blank">my personal blog</a>. I hope you enjoy.</i><br />
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"Last year I picked up a $5 Christmas CD while shopping at Kohl's. The proceeds went to charity and I needed some new tunes. Last week I finally listened to it.<br />
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First time through, I was a mite annoyed. The songs were different.<br />
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Second time through, I recognized voices.<br />
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The third time, I listened with a different ear. Turns out, it's a fabulous rock/bluesy Christmas CD, the perfect addition to my library.<br />
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Track one is my favorite: Rob Thomas singing "A New York City Christmas'. Every word is poignant. Each note, pleading.<br />
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His words stopped me. They made me wonder.<br />
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<i>"...Yeah I'm sending you a Merry New York Christmas<br />And a prayer for peace on earth<br />Within our time<br />Oh, the sidewalk angels echo hallelujah<br />And we understand them<br />Now more than ever..."</i><br />
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And we understand them? Really? I never stopped to do that. I never tried to understand them. Not the sidewalk angels. Nor the others, either.<br />
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I remember feeling unsafe in the days following 9/11. More than once, I imagined myself cowering in a closet, bombs exploding in my back yard, the 'enemy' advancing on my neighborhood. I felt what that must feel like. What too many feel every day.<br />
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Awful, awful, awful.<br />
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Now, digging deep, I find a memory and dust it off. It's 1970. I'm in 7th grade. The teacher closes the blinds and hushes a darkened room full of expectant pre and barely-teens. Then the whirring begins as the 8mm film threads itself. Suddenly Stalin's armies burst on scene. Bombing Poland.<br />
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In black and white the shells whistled. Buildings exploded. Unceasing. Relentless. Panzers rolling in to cities reduced to rubble, residents surely shaking in their shoes. If they had any left after the long, cruel 2nd world war.<br />
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It was supposed to be over. Their side, our side, had won. So why didn't the allied forces stop Stalin?<br />
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No one came. Not the English. Not the Americans. In spite of Poland's repeated and frenzied cries for help, the great nations looked away. Broken and battered, the Poles caved and Stalin installed a communist government in Warsaw. Wasn't that what our forebears had been fighting against all along?<br />
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I cried angry tears. Tears of anguish. Tears of shame. I was thirteen. Like the Poles I couldn't fathom why my country didn't help them. Then time marched on and I forgot what I didn't understand.<br />
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Fast forward forty years to 2010. To me, listening to Rob Thomas's Christmas song.<br />
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<i>"...Call on your angels<br />Come down to the city<br />Crowd around the big tree<br />All you strangers who know me<br />Bring your compassion<br />Your understanding<br />Lord how we need it<br />On this New York City Christmas..."</i><br />
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Call me slow. But happy Christmas. I finally understand.<br />
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<i>"...So call on your angels<br />Your beaten and broken<br />It's time that we mend them<br />So they don't fade with the season<br />Let our mercy be the gifts we lay<br />From Brooklyn to Broadway<br />And celebrate each and every day<br />This New York City Christmas."</i><br />
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My wish this holiday season<br />
Is that we all find understanding.<br />
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That compassion guide us.<br />
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And that mercy be the gifts we lay.<br />
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Hallelujah.<br />
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~ Olivia J. Herrell<br />
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<em>**Disclaimer: I am no expert on foreign affairs, or world wars, or he said/she said. I'm just reporting my own experience. No more. </em><i>Unfortunately, the war continues and Syria is our new Poland.**</i><br />
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<em>Rob Thomas video courtesy of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5pCDKX1b4g">youtube.com</a>. Lyrics courtesy of <a href="http://www.lyrics007.com/Matchbox%2020%20Lyrics/A%20New%20York%20Christmas%20Lyrics.html">lyrics007.com</a>. Polish memory jogger courtesy of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Betrayal">Wikipedia</a>."</em><br />
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<i>Entire article courtesy of <a href="http://thatrebelwithablog.blogspot.com/2010/12/gifts-we-lay.html" target="_blank">Olivia J. Herrell, That Rebel with a Blog</a>.</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-42308595197056523872015-12-17T08:00:00.001-08:002015-12-17T08:00:44.656-08:00One Writer's Holiday Gift List<br />
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So last week Lisa did a fabulous post on appropriate holiday gifts for writers - jump <a href="http://relentlesswriters.blogspot.com/2015/12/10-gifts-for-writers-theyll-actually-use.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> to check it out, because it's full of really practical ideas. For today's post, I want to riff on that one a little. Like, what does a real writer's Christmas wish list look like? A real writer who's also a nurse practitioner and a mother and a wife? And who just remodeled her kitchen and celebrated <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Obedience-Romance-Go-ebook/dp/B0184EPAB2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450363740&sr=8-1&keywords=the+secret+of+obedience" target="_blank">a book release</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Home-Holidays-SJ-Himes-ebook/dp/B01709VXPE/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">two</a>. You know. Like, say, me...<br />
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1. I want someone to do the adulting required to fix my burned-out headlight.<br />
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2. I would love a massage and a pedicure. On the same day. Followed up by a gorgeous little cocktail made with a fancy herbal syrup or a liqueur I can't pronounce.<br />
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3. No Christmas shopping has been done. Yet. So, if someone could do it for me, that would be awesome.<br />
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4. Actually, I think I can handle the shopping, but if someone would wrap the damned presents, I'd be SO happy!<br />
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5. More adulting required: My son needs to take his driver's test, so, like, figure out how to schedule it for me, okay? Thanks!<br />
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6. Also, if someone could broker a truce between our cat and our dogs, I'd be your friend for life.<br />
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7. Amazon Gift Cards. (Because every writer is a reader at heart.)<br />
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8. Dish towels that match my new kitchen. (White with primary color accents, in case you need specifics.)<br />
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9. Two words: Author Promo. Anything you could do to help would be SO appreciated. Actually, this one should be a lot higher on the list...<br />
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10. Peace and happiness, however that works for you.<br />
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A couple years ago I went to one of those forced employee training things that administration loves so well, and I took something surprisingly meaningful from it. The organization had decided that instead of treating everyone the way we'd like to be treated, we should treat others the way THEY'D like to be treated. To me, this means paying attention to people and respecting their differences. I'm not perfect at this - far from it, in fact - but that's my goal for this and every other year. It's the least I can do to bring more peace to the world.<br />
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Thank you all very much for reading along. Whether you stumbled over my blog posts, picked up one of my books, or did me the great favor of critiquing one of my projects before publication, I'm grateful for your time and attention. And I absolutely wouldn't get far without the friendship and support of other writers, especially the group here at RelentlessWriters. Thanks so much, you guys!<br />
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I hope your holidays are joyful, I hope the stressful bits pass quickly, and I hope you get everything on YOUR list. See ya' in 2016!<br />
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<br />Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-31723386323021967692015-12-07T23:58:00.003-08:002015-12-11T10:40:19.625-08:0010 Gifts for Writers They'll Actually Use<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
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Now that you’ve survived pre-Black Friday, Black Friday, pre-Cyber Monday, Cyber Monday and the entire Cyber week, you may find there is still one person on your list that no gadget, game, or gift card seems to fit. I’m talking about the writer in your life. And no doubt, you’ve exhausted the number of different notebooks, journals, coffee mugs, pens, t-shirts, pillows, bookmarks and tote bags, and are wondering, what you could give that would be <i>useful </i>to that dear writer you know. So in no particular order of importance or preference, I’ve listed ten gifts that will not only impress the writer in your life, they'll demonstrate how much you understand and support his or her writing:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">1. </span><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php" target="_blank">Scrivener Writing Software</a></b><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">–</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">If your novelist or memoirist isn’t already using this software, this might be their next best friend. The software helps a writer outline and structure their manuscript, organize notes and research, and easily manage their book project from start to finish. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0079KJ64A/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0079KJ64A&linkCode=as2&tag=lisaabel-20&linkId=QUN6INGG5ZK2GUEH" target="_blank">Downloads of the software run $40-$45</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">2. </span><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Single-serving coffee maker</b><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">–</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://starbucks.com/" target="_blank">Starbucks</a> or other coffee shop gift cards are always a welcome treat, but writing in those places can sometimes be less than ideal. Not only that, the entire endeavor can end up being more of a distraction and time waster for your writer. So rather than having him go to the café, have the café there at home (pastries and cookies are optional) with a single serving coffee maker. Machines can be pricey, but you can pick up a good one for $100 or less.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdlWQQBaj-fHWnXB01jzOhiE9yDs_uXWnVIPTalgRK-nZR_O7EbBV4JJirFLcvKuarOq-8LIAAmFo_W3GYpXMUz9xOZL4WSg7RtDsJKSMJQlMhFtxval_9ScFjirS4d_dCCqDjsjwx84/s1600/kindle-498025_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdlWQQBaj-fHWnXB01jzOhiE9yDs_uXWnVIPTalgRK-nZR_O7EbBV4JJirFLcvKuarOq-8LIAAmFo_W3GYpXMUz9xOZL4WSg7RtDsJKSMJQlMhFtxval_9ScFjirS4d_dCCqDjsjwx84/s320/kindle-498025_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">3. </span><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&fst=as%3Aoff&keywords=kindle%20ereader&linkCode=ur2&qid=1449579071&rh=n%3A6669702011%2Ck%3Akindle%20ereader&rnid=2941120011&tag=lisaabel-20&linkId=EL2VLE4YKUMPKS3J" target="_blank">Kindle</a> or <a href="http://nook.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook/379003208" target="_blank">Nook</a></b><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">–</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">Most writers are avid readers. While they'll always appreciate print books, they can't carry or house all the books they'd love to read. With an e-reader, they can carry an entire library wherever they go. Right now, holiday sales are going on, and you can pick one up for less than $100.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">4. <b><a href="https://www.spotify.com/us/" target="_blank">Spotify</a> subscription</b></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">–</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">Music can not only help a writer get in the mood to write, it can inspire the creation of worlds and characters. Music can illicit emotions that turn into lush settings and atmospheric scenes. An individual premium subscription is $10 a month, but why not treat everyone in your family with a subscription? Until the end of the month, you can get the family plan for the same price.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">5. </span><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Headphones</b><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">–A good set of headphones can help free a writer from external distractions and immerse him or her in the world of their characters or focus on the right words for an emotional scene. They are available everywhere, so holiday sales are sure to have them, but do your research first. You can spend very little or a whole lot, depending on your budget, but a decent pair headphones will run around $100.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">6. </span><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.audible.com/" target="_blank">Audible</a> membership</b><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">–Good readers make good writers but if they’re busy writing and juggling other aspects of their life like jobs, spouses and children, they may not have time to open a book or turn on an e-reader. With Audible, while commuting, working out, or working around the house, they can be reading with their ears. After the trial membership, the monthly fee is $15. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">7. </span><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.nuance.com/dragon/givedragon/index.htm" target="_blank">Dragon Speech Recognition</a> software</b><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">–You can help boost your writer’s productivity with dictation software. It enables a writer to ramble away and create his first draft without letting his inner editor get in the way. This software is especially helpful for writers who are slow typists or who have physical issues that make using a keyboard difficult. Normally, the software costs $150 to $250. Right now the company has download versions on sale for up to 50% off, and you can get it for even <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&hvadid=89315219129&hvdev=c&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvpone=&hvpos=1s2&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvrand=9664874648996090346&index=aps&keywords=dragon%20talking%20software&linkCode=ur2&ref=pd_sl_43yukzatb6_b&tag=lisaabel-20&linkId=BQU2CFKPY2DXMDX4" target="_blank">less on Amazon</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ACp1pzeEWES47QUSxIbkqP5dXYzhbvatxA3lbGIxW6IvbdeokqL0I-NoyfXvYP-dNllF5z80AJGkcLeV1M0f50cn2hyphenhyphen-Gd7UnhRPLaWGjHDdqPl6oLSxR9XsjS-LPYdvCETd6kSFBhs/s1600/office-336368_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ACp1pzeEWES47QUSxIbkqP5dXYzhbvatxA3lbGIxW6IvbdeokqL0I-NoyfXvYP-dNllF5z80AJGkcLeV1M0f50cn2hyphenhyphen-Gd7UnhRPLaWGjHDdqPl6oLSxR9XsjS-LPYdvCETd6kSFBhs/s320/office-336368_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">8. </span><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Editorial services</b><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">–Before the author in your life sends off her novel out into the world, whether to an agent or indie publisher or straight to self-publishing, she should have an editor go over it. The cost of these services can vary widely, but bear in mind, the adage “you get what you paid for” absolutely applies here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">9. </span><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Photography services</b><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">–Part of the writing life involves promotion and marketing, and it starts with a professional headshot. The cost varies for these services, depending on your area and how much you’re willing to spend. Either way, your beloved writer will be so appreciative when she can finally replace the selfie that's on Twitter or on her website. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">10. <b>Writing workshop or webinar</b>– A writing workshop or class provides a great environment for your writer to
connect with other writers, receive constructive feedback and get inspired to stay
on their writing path.There may be organizations in your area that offer
writing workshops and classes. Start with your neighborhood library and local bookstores. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">Costs can range anywhere from $50 to $350 and depend on a variety of factors, including subject matter, teacher, class length, availability, etc. If
there are none happening locally, Writer’s Digest offers <a href="https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/" target="_blank">online workshops</a>
and <a href="http://www.writersdigestshop.com/browse-by-product/seminars/live-webinars" target="_blank">live webinars</a> throughout the year. Speakers and teachers are usually publishing industry experts. Fees are reasonable,
and classes are accessible anywhere your writer lives. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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Most of the people who have an idea for a book won’t end up writing it. That’s because they quickly find writing a book is a long road of hard work. So for the writer in your life, the best gifts are the gifts that help them write every day. They convey your support and belief in them, and more importantly, help them achieve their writing goals. </div>
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Lisa Abellerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03988494385165447322noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-85968859049539746952015-12-04T12:23:00.000-08:002015-12-04T12:31:09.439-08:00THE END: A Commentary on Editing<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuKXChyuCgZT1VlW0OPxs10Km9noKiTeyJUIXnChDSTU8RoFPyfhcYIDkBhu8Ca-OuF6uG4giUjPy4CFQumxhi4g4mnXSyAh4Oc_YdlYN9peo93FH9GGzAD1c_12wnxaB80c30lIePVKi/s1600/Depositphotos_9138345_l-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuKXChyuCgZT1VlW0OPxs10Km9noKiTeyJUIXnChDSTU8RoFPyfhcYIDkBhu8Ca-OuF6uG4giUjPy4CFQumxhi4g4mnXSyAh4Oc_YdlYN9peo93FH9GGzAD1c_12wnxaB80c30lIePVKi/s400/Depositphotos_9138345_l-2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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THE END</div>
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Two of my favourite words. To a writer, they are the
culmination of days, months, or years of blood, sweat, and tears. But they are
misleading. We write them, sit back, and revel in our cleverness, in our
determination, our grit, our savvy, our persistence, and our sheer magnificent brilliance.
It could grace the page of a blog post, social media blast, short story, novella,
screenplay, or novel. Writing THE END feels incredible, but it’s just another
beginning. THE END is the start of EDITING.</div>
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I recently attended Bookapalooza, which is a really cool
venue in my hometown where local authors get together and sell their wares.
There were speakers and panels and celebrity guest authors. I was honoured to
sit on a panel with fellow romance authors <a href="http://www.molly-okeefe.com/" target="_blank">Molly O’Keefe </a>and <a href="http://marysullivanbooks.com/" target="_blank">Mary Sullivan</a>.
These ladies are veterans. They’ve written a lot of books. They’ve been doing this
a long time. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Avelynn-Novel-Marissa-Campbell/dp/1250084989/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449261000&sr=8-1&keywords=avelynn" target="_blank">Avelynn</a> is my debut historical romance. I was the newb in the
room, but they welcomed me with open arms. I was humbled and thrilled to sit at
the table beside them. *girlie fan crush moment over* Back to my point: one of
the audience members asked the panel a question, “What do you like better,
writing or editing?”</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oA8wYsSzf-UyM2A3v5xsjLp0xEJd3e2RVypuDxL3n34B2cp1oU1NRElDOgllm59hw1MQggXW2Gz5W6MWLy-_mTiyrAiChyphenhyphenSFs4v-7bYmJ6IzN2dRNklPTvWrg88jJEnpEeqtomtdiCsM/s1600/Depositphotos_35738117_l-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oA8wYsSzf-UyM2A3v5xsjLp0xEJd3e2RVypuDxL3n34B2cp1oU1NRElDOgllm59hw1MQggXW2Gz5W6MWLy-_mTiyrAiChyphenhyphenSFs4v-7bYmJ6IzN2dRNklPTvWrg88jJEnpEeqtomtdiCsM/s320/Depositphotos_35738117_l-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Interestingly enough, both Molly and Mary liked the editing
phase of writing better. I stared at them gaped mouthed as they waxed poetic
about the brilliance of polishing a first draft and turning something misshapen
and clunky into a work of art. I concurred with their sentiment, but ‘like_editing?’
That sounded like something out of a fairy tale. Seriously. Editing_is_hard! </div>
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Gone is the euphoria of creation, the buzz of new witty
lines of dialogue, the high of brilliant lines of prose. In its place comes the
breakdown and rebuild, the dissection and amputation. Our writing is better for
it, sure, but the_pain, the_torture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnIheNtCyzvstInTY1jH0FBCalEM1dmdNCHBKDIw3yKoR8dHd3gYDqSOb2mPeu-2sbHylmVZshWfY89q9Fg4yC1CtY1SFSFaUcY1K1FVW9MSMrGmhnFugKf45bogJo6h6hcnUN_PVn2r6/s1600/Avelynn+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnIheNtCyzvstInTY1jH0FBCalEM1dmdNCHBKDIw3yKoR8dHd3gYDqSOb2mPeu-2sbHylmVZshWfY89q9Fg4yC1CtY1SFSFaUcY1K1FVW9MSMrGmhnFugKf45bogJo6h6hcnUN_PVn2r6/s320/Avelynn+%25281%2529.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
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I recently (like yesterday) finished editing the second book
in the Avelynn series. It took me just as long to edit the manuscript as it did
to write it. Now, I blame NaNoWriMo for part of the first draft’s shortcomings
(writing 50,000 words only to cut 40,000 of them, sucked) but I’m also a
pantser. The first draft is a misnomer, it should be called Hundreds of Pages
of Verbal Diarrhea. It’s the thrill and rush of creating new worlds, populating
them with interesting people, and then making them do all sorts of crazy shit.
Shit that just pops into your head, like out_of_no_where. </div>
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Inherent in that wild, organic process is wee bit of surplus
and ludicrous, irrelevant tangents. We write THE END and then grab our red
pens, or click up our track changes and get to work. And we keep working.
For_a_very_long_time. We tweak and hone, over and over again. First drafts
become tenths drafts and then morph into eighteenth drafts. We get to a point
when we can’t figure the damn thing out anymore and call in for back up. We
send it out to beta readers and beg for perspective and direction. The verdict
comes in, and we crack our knuckles and sit down and get to work. Again.
For_a_very_long_time. By the fortieth something draft, we pray we’ve reached
the finish line. We send the manuscript to our agent or editor, or we query and
submit. We get feedback. It’s still not quite cooked all the way through. So we
sit_down_again. </div>
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For this final round of baking, I used the Heminway App. The
whole writing process this is a never ending learning curve. I now know, I
should have tried this handy little resource a few drafts prior. But,
nonetheless, I plugged in my pages and reduced my passive voice, cut my
adverbs, and cleaned up my run-on sentences. In a final pass through, I
obliterated my comma splices and polished my prose until it shone. In short, I
made Avelynn #2 as close to phenomenal as I could possible get it. </div>
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The good news is, I’m getter faster. My process is more efficient.
I’m learning.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Avelynn-Novel-Marissa-Campbell/dp/1250084989/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449261000&sr=8-1&keywords=avelynn" target="_blank"> Avelynn</a> took me six months to research, a year and a half to write,
and a year and a half to edit. The second book in the series took me a month to
research (same time period just a slightly different setting) a year to write,
and a year to edit. I’ve shaved my process in half! </div>
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Editing is essential. It’s a tough market out there. As
authors, we have to put our best work forward. That being said, do I like
editing? I love the results, but I’d rather each broccoli. Trust me. That’s
saying_a_lot.</div>
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What do you think? Editing: love it or tolerate it. :D </div>
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In gratitude,</div>
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Marissa xo</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14699089189198369542noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-81200116071583042352015-11-30T10:31:00.001-08:002015-11-30T10:31:40.777-08:00The Value of Critique Groups <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
Today is November 30. The last day of #NaNoWriMo. My post today is going to be a little different as I’m close to winning. I know they say close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. But what the hell do "they" know anyway? Let see *them* write forty-eight thousand words in a month!</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
Slapping 50K words in thirty days means all words will NEED to be revised. Revision is key. If I tried to fire off my NaNo Draft (which is probably even lower caliber than a First Draft) to agents or editors I could expect silence. If I sent it to my Critique Partner, I might expect a scathing reply along the lines of; “Did you send me a <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">First Draft?!”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82FuXsLzd7Ze24KEA_y61S61CR3WhWoM6cQQzP0TkWwIx0IHLiA549oG_rXipxyyOFZKxdAUYlF2y_BycVvmoKU8Z34HnLBk03n8CeqwL3sv9ptmOf3vTh4mmAnxOx7strvC452rKuZ5k/s1600/CritBetrayal+by+Debbie+Ohi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82FuXsLzd7Ze24KEA_y61S61CR3WhWoM6cQQzP0TkWwIx0IHLiA549oG_rXipxyyOFZKxdAUYlF2y_BycVvmoKU8Z34HnLBk03n8CeqwL3sv9ptmOf3vTh4mmAnxOx7strvC452rKuZ5k/s320/CritBetrayal+by+Debbie+Ohi.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Used with permission from Debbie Ridpath Ohi at Inkygirl.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
In my opinion, a first draft should be read by no one besides the author. Once revised (more than once) the manuscript must be vetted by a Critique Partner. I interviewed Lane Buckman, the <i>Lane</i> of <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(51, 204, 204);"><a href="http://robynlanebooks.com/about/lane-buckman/" target="_blank">Robyn Lane Books</a>,</span> to discuss the value of CPs.<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(51, 204, 204); color: #33cccc;"> </span> </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(65, 66, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #414244; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
<b>1. How long have you been writing with a purpose?</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
I have been writing with a purpose since elementary school. I got an early start with a specialized program to develop young writers through Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, Virginia. I took my first write-for-pay job doing campaign scripting when I was fourteen, and have been working freelance since then. I do a lot of technical writing for hire, a lot of op-ed, and dabble in marketing materials. Now, as far as writing novels goes, I got serious about that in the early 2000s. I sold my first novel in 2010, then followed up in different genres in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Now, I focus on my work as a publisher, so I spend most of my time offering editorial notes to the fantastic writers we have found.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
<b>2. What’s the best thing a critique partner can tell you?</b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
The best thing a critique partner can tell me is, "This doesn't work." If they can back that up with why it doesn't work, that's a lot more helpful, but if something isn't reading well, I need to know--no matter how painful. The most painful feedback I've ever gotten was, "Oh, Lane. Just...no. No."</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>3. What’s the worst thing a critique partner can tell you?</b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
The worst thing a critique partner can tell me is, "This is perfect!" Because it never is. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>4. What’s one piece of advice you’d like to offer new writers/new critiquers?</b></div>
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Don't ask your friends to read you to critique is my advice to new writers. Your friends love you, and they won't tell you the problems with your work. Find a reader you respect, and ask them to read as though they were going to review it to recommend to their most esteemed colleague.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
My advice to those new to critique is pretty simple. My critique motto is: Imagine it's your work. I offer the feedback in a way I would want to receive it. That is, honestly and respectfully. I don't pull punches, but I am kind. Writing is hard work, and whether I'm reading James Joyce, or E.L. James, I keep that in mind, and I offer my feedback with respect to the effort, and the human being who did the writing. We're all in the same boat, hoping for the same success, and we can all afford to be kind in how we deliver our messages.</div>
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<b>5. How many critique groups have you been in? What will keep you engaged? And what will have you running for the door?</b></div>
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I am active in three groups. Each group was carefully cultivated (either by me, or another group member) to include published authors, copy editors, and people who love to read within the particular genre. My favorites are the people who love the genre because they will tell you right off the bat if you are missing the mark. Feedback keeps me engaged. I run for the door when someone asks me to add in some erotica because I can't write that without laughing.</div>
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<b>6. What can a critique group/partner offer that a writer can’t accomplish on her/his own?</b></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Critique groups and partners offer honest, objective opinions in a safe environment. I can't speak for anyone else, but my greatest fear in publishing is that my manuscript is the one the editorial team cracks up over because it is so bad. I would rather run my work through thirty flesh-stripping critiques, than have one publisher laugh at me. A friend recently posted that she'd just joined a critique group, and was thoroughly embarrassed by the feedback she'd received, but she was so glad she hadn't sent the book out to a publisher, or agent that way. Critique groups help you hone your work, and help make you better. I really can't say enough about how important it is to have someone else read your work.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/questions-for-critique-partners/" target="_blank">KM Weiland </a>has a great list of questions for Critique Partners.</div>
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What do you like to ask for in CPs?</div>
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Charlotte Levine Gruberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08629132233515129950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396137415213652776.post-50249628883417142822015-11-25T07:49:00.000-08:002015-11-25T07:49:53.760-08:00The Writer’s Guide to Black FridayShop for those must-have gifts. Get the best deals. Save money. Wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated and for goodness sake, don’t get trampled. For better or worse, Black Friday is now a staple of the American culture. And sure, I suppose you could spend a perfectly good holiday braving the crowds and trying to find empty parking spaces…your mind focused on getting that list knocked out by noon while you mentally berate yourself for eating leftovers before bed. But if you haven’t discovered the secret world of Black Friday for writers, you’re missing out. <br />
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There is nothing better than writing on Black Friday. It’s indulgent. Blissful. Revolutionary, even. There are two main ways for writers to win Black Friday.<br />
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<strong>Black Friday Secret #1. Stay at home.</strong> All that hustle and bustle. All those people standing in lines, wallets ready…while you brew a pot of strong black coffee and curl up on the couch with your laptop. No shoes, no trampling. Less debt. More words. It’s better than extra whipped cream on your favorite kind of pie. <br />
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<br /><strong>Black Friday Secret #2. Go to a café.</strong> Take your laptop or whatever device you use these days for mobile writing, and find a cozy corner in a coffeeshop or café. There will be chaos all around—shoppers losing their minds, babies crying, families chattering about where to go next—but it won’t matter. You won’t care because you’ll be writing, lost in your own little world, the words going down fast on the page.<br />
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As these things go, sometimes it’s not that simple. Maybe you can’t stay home or be alone at a café during Black Friday. You’d love to write all day, but for whatever reason, it’s just not possible this year. Never fear.<br />
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If you must go to a store on Black Friday—there’s a gaming system on sale that your teenager wants for Christmas, or perhaps it’s a family tradition to hit the stores at five in the morning and you’ll be written out of the will if you don’t participate—all is not lost. Here’s what to do.<br />
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<strong>Plan B Tip #1. Listen carefully and take notes.</strong> Black Friday is prime time for overhearing juicy conversations and studying human behavior. Why? Because of the turkey coma. Thanksgiving’s over but people everywhere still feel the effects of that turkey. Plus, they’re in a tense pressure-cooker of a situation, trying to get the best deal before other customers snatch it out from under them. It’s gold, I tell you. Writing gold.<br />
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<strong>Plan B Tip #2. Bring a book.</strong> Keep it with you at all times and read whenever you want, wherever you want. Offer to keep the car safe from vandals while everyone else shops, then go park directly under one of those elevated police boxes, kick up your feet and read. <br />
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<strong>Plan B Tip #3. Dress in character.</strong> What better way to understand your characters? Of course, this option is not for the faint of heart. In full disclosure, I’ve never done it. It’s one of those things I think about, but don’t have the guts to actually follow through. So if you decide to dress up as one of your characters for Black Friday, please let me know what happens so I can live vicariously through you. And don’t forget to send pics. <br />
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Happy Writing, everyone! <br />
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