A Look at Masterful Voice

by

It is human nature to compare ourselves to others, especially those we deem successful in their field. But what do you do when there is no one who writes like you do? Sometimes being the only person like you can be lonely, just ask Kermit. But it can also mean that you are unique in ways that are great, like Tigger or Aretha Franklin.  I friggin love C.S. Lakin in general, but this post is really good, about not losing what makes your writing yours. Don’t lose your voice.

A Look at Masterful Voice

by C.S. Lakin

I love talking about voice in fiction. I veer off from other “experts” in definition about voice. I believe that some people are referring to the writer’s style when they talk about voice.

Take a listen to what literary Donald Maass says about voice in Writing the Breakout Novel:

“I am looking for authors with a distinctive voice.” I hear that from editors over lunch almost as often as I hear, “I am looking for big, well-written thrillers.”

What the heck is “voice”? By this, do editors mean “style”? I do not think so. By voice, I think they mean not only a unique way of putting words together, but a unique sensibility, a distinctive way of looking at the world, an outlook that enriches an author’s oeuvre. They want to read an author who is like no other. An original. A standout. A voice.

Read the full post on Live Write Thrive!

 

 

How well do you know typography?

by

Typography, fonts, serifs oh my! How well do you know different pop culture fonts? There is a cheat video linked below to see how you did.

Here is the link to the one with the answers –  https://youtu.be/SGdnN8W30ho

Top 10 Words That Will Kill Your Writing DEAD

by

Oh-oh I am guilty of a few of these. However, In my defense I only use “however” in business writing. Now I am going to be extra careful none of these are used in my literary writing. It is a great post because by getting rid of these words you actually make your writing more active.

Top 10 Words That Will Kill Your Writing DEAD

By

So I read screenplays for a living, plus I spend a huuuuuuge part of my life reading FOR FUN (wtaf!), so I’ve discovered there are certain words that crop up again and again and again which threaten to TORPEDO writers’ narrative efforts.

I call these ‘crutch words’ (quiet at the back). Crutch words are those we may rely on in EARLY DRAFTS, which we need to seek out with a torpedo of our own and DESTROY in the edit process. Whether you’re a screenwriter or novelist (trad or self published), look out for these suckers …

1) ‘Suddenly’

The actual word ‘sudden’ means ‘quick and without warning’, so it’s especially ironic that including the word LITERALLY SLOWS THE ACTION DOWN. WTAF is the point?? Compare:

Read the full post on Bang 2 Write!

A talking head channels his inner hero

by

I love David Byrne. He just seems like someone who is so comfortable in his skin and embraces himself in his own unique brand. He always appears to enthusiastically enjoy whatever he is doing.  I love David Bowie and am still sad about loosing him. Heroes is one of my favorite songs. It is about a couple trapped on either side of the Berlin Wall. Lastly, I love singing. If you can’t sing good, sing loud! Choir! Choir! Choir! is hard to describe. But they put on shows where they teach people to sing and then video tape them. Check the link out and see if you can figure them out better.

But this is a tape of Choir!Choir!Choir! working with David Byrne to sing Heroes by David Bowie.  I thought it would be a nice way to start off your week.

How To Write Diverse Characters With Alex Anders

by

This is the year for diversity, of which I am so glad. I have always been cautious in my writing about cultural appropriation and wanting to have my characters be, well real. We have all read a story where someone tries to write an accent and have it just be horrible. Not just in the writing world either. As someone from the great state of Massachusetts, I can’t tell you how many times I wince when watching tv an people try to do a Boston accent. And yes, my Patriots just lost but it was a good game. ; )

How To Write Diverse Characters With Alex Anders

by

The Guardian UK recently reported that diversity is a trend in publishing for 2018, so today, I have an interview with Alex Anders on how to write diverse characters without cultural appropriation or stereotyping, as well as boundaries around language and an interesting discussion on gender fluidity.

In the introduction, I mention the launch of Publica, which uses the blockchain for publishing – definitely an early entry into what may eventually be a bigger part of the industry. But I’ll be waiting for the Alliance of Independent Authors Blockchain for Books white paper, launching at London Book Fair, before giving my take on it.

I also give a personal update around my screenplay adaptation, the audiobook for The Healthy Writer, and note two new podcasts: Mark Lefebvre’s Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing, plus Ingram Spark’s Go Publish Yourself.

Read the full post on The Creative Penn!

When Writers Struggle with Social Media Commitment Issues

by

New social media platforms are coming out all the time.  It helps if you understand which platform is best for you to reach your audience, but how do you make social media outreach less of a chore?

When Writers Struggle with Social Media Commitment Issues

by Edie Melson

We all know it’s important for writers to have a solid presence online.

But many of us struggle with Social Media commitment issues. We have good intentions, but our follow-through may be less than stellar.

So today I’d like to share some tips to help you stay on track.

Stay Committed to Social Media

  1. Set Reasonable Expectations.I think this is the most important piece of advice I can give you. When I first started blogging, I wanted to excel at it. So my inclination was to set the bar high, posting at least five times a week. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I might not be able to keep up. So instead I started slow, posting once a week, and only adding more days to my schedule when I knew I could handle it. It has been the smartest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve managed all my social media this way, and I believe it’s the one thing that has contributed the most to my success.

Read the full post at The Write Conversation

One persons trash is another persons library

by

In another post, I wrote about the concept of Jugaad – the art of making something out of nothing or making do with what you have. This amazing CNN story about garbage collectors Ankara, Turkey exemplifies the concept.

While on their routes, the garbage collectors started rescuing books from the trash. As word spread about what they were doing, residents just started donating books to them. Enough for them to open a library and even share titles with schools and even prisons. An old brick factory that the sanitation department owned was used as the library and now acts also as a community center where people gather. This is really a great story about what people can accomplish by working together.

Garbage collectors open library with abandoned books

By Spencer Feingold and Hande Atay Alam, CNN

(CNN)A library in Ankara gives new meaning to the notion that books are timeless.

Garbage collectors in the Turkish capital have opened a public library comprised entirely of books once destined for the landfills.
The library, located in the Çankaya district of Ankara, was founded after sanitation workers started collecting discarded books.
For months, the garbage men gathered forsaken books. As word of the collection spread, residents also began donating books directly.
Read the full post at CNN

6 Lessons Learned from a Year of 101 Rejections

by

I admire author Natalie D-Napoleon. She read the same article I did about “Why You Should Aim For 100 Rejections A Year” but Natalie actually put it into practice even though she is a self admitted sensitive type.  Maybe there is hope for me after all! It is a really solid article with great tips and lessons learned, so I hope you will go read it.

6 Lessons Learned from a Year of 101 Rejections

By Natalie D-Napoleon

Earlier this year I came across an article by Kim Liao in which she explained “Why You Should Aim For 100 Rejections A Year.” As soon as I finished reading the piece I went to the folder in my email marked “Writing Submissions 2017” and for the first time in my life, I began to count my rejections rather than counting my acceptances. I had effortlessly amassed 53 rejections. I punched my fist in the air and whooped out loud. It was June and I was already halfway to 100 rejections for the year.

I am the sensitive type (of course, I’m a writer): I weep openly when listening to sad love songs or during Claire and Jamie’s various reunifications on Outlander, and I have cried in the past on my friend’s and husband’s shoulder when my writing has been rejected. However, before Kim Liao’s article, another woman had sent me on the journey of beginning to accept that rejection was less about failure and more about getting closer to your goals. In 2015, I attended the first BinderCon conference in L.A. BinderCon began as a “secret” Facebook group of women writers sharing contacts and information and grew into a movement and conference which supports women and gender variant writers.

At BinderCon 2015, Katie Orenstein, founder of The OpEd Project, spoke about the lack of representation of women in the media and the reasons why. As a former journalist and foreign correspondent, she had a perspective on being rejected that I could not fathom at the time. Orenstein opened my eyes to one impressive fact—that women submit their work less than men. She had the statistics to prove it and the acceptances and consequent higher representation of men in the media. In one generalized conclusion: When women and people of color get rejected, we take it personally. When white men’s work is rejected, they don’t take it as a measure of the worth of their work—they decide it simply needs to find the right home elsewhere.

Read the full post on Writer’s Digest!

Going Dutch! Or Something.

by

I love finding concepts from different cultures that I can relate to.  Because I married into a German family, I was introduced to the word Schadenfreude some time ago. You know, the ability to enjoy someone else’s misfortune or humiliation.  Apparently enjoying different culture concepts is a thing now.  So here are a few that I know of.

One of my pictures of forest-bathing with the family. Nothing like the Sequoia Nation Park to keep you humble.

Niksen – Dutch. The ability to enjoy doing nothing. Which is actually very good for you to do as it gives your brain a much-needed break. So walk slowly and smell the flowers!

Shinrin-yoku – Japanese. Literally translated as “forest-bathing” it is the very healthy concept of spending time in nature to nurture yourself.

Hygge – Danish. A state of coziness. Often associated with wintertime, you really can appreciate and achieve a state of coziness at any time.

Jugaad –  Hindi. The art of converting misfortune into success or being able to make do with what you have or frugal innovation.

Lagom – Swedish. Having just the right amount or a balanced life.

Wabi-sabi – Japanese. Embracing imperfection, simplicity, and the transient nature of life.

I know I left out “Swedish death cleaning” but I learned about it from my German mother-in-law first.

What about you? Do you have any cool wisdom or concept share?

 

Authors with Websites: Who Owns Your Domain Name?

by

I was really sad when I read this post from Yvonne Hertzberger about her losing control of her domain name. I really hate it when people are taken advantage of and that she had problems with the eNom company as they used to be quite legit. Since my paying job title is Software Engineer if you have any technical questions that you would like help with, let me know in the comments below. Who knows, perhaps you will even give me some good ideas for posts. Otherwise, caveat emporium!  Also if you are looking to buy a domain name I recommend namecheap.com. I don’t get anything for mentioning them, I have just used them for many years and haven’t had any problems.

Authors with Websites: Who Owns Your Domain Name?

by Yvonne Hertzberger

 

Identity

The initial response to the question of who owns your domain name would likely be, “I do”. In most cases, you would be correct. That’s what I thought, too, when I received a renewal notice last August. As it turns out, I was wrong – sort of.

 

If that sounds confusing, you have it right. There is nothing straightforward about what I am about to share with you. The situation has only now been resolved, though I am still awaiting confirmation that it has successfully been transferred to a more reputable company. I am still in some confusion as to everything that happened. Here’s the short version.

I’ve had the domain name yvonnehertzberger.com since 2009, when my first website was initially set up and my first book published.

That website was set up by a friend of my daughter’s . I had no idea about websites and domain names and had been told that he was a genius with computers, etc. in spite of being seriously eccentric. For lack of personal experience, I had to trust that all was correctly done. To this day I believe he thought so, too. And, for the next years, until this past summer, all seemed to be fine.

Read the full post at Indies Unlimited!

Well, Shit!

by

This isn’t the first report that shows the benefits of swearing, it is just the one that has monkeys. I love monkeys. But swearing can help ease pain and even make you seem more honest. So that is why I have such a potty mouth! I am just trying to honestly deal with my pain! Fuck raising eyebrows.

~ * ~

Swearing Is Good For You—And Chimps Do It, Too

Cursing masks pain and builds relationships at work. But if you’re a woman, letting a profanity fly can still raise eyebrows.

By Simon Worrall

I shocked the monkey.

Swearing is usually regarded as simply lazy language or an abusive lapse in civility. But as Emma Byrne shows in her book, Swearing Is Good for You: The Amazing Science of Bad Language, new research reveals that profanity has many positive virtues, from promoting trust and teamwork in the office to increasing our tolerance to pain.

When National Geographic caught up with Byrne at her home in London, she explained why humans aren’t the only primates that can curse and why, though women are swearing more today than before, it is still regarded by many as “unfeminine.”

Read the full post on National Geographic

~ * ~

P.S. What is your favorite cuss word?

3 Ways to Change Your Thinking Today

by

Writing can totally mess with your mind. If you don’t show anyone what you write, are you really a writer? And who doesn’t want people to appreciate our prose? But then that means putting yourself out there, which is quite unnerving for some people. Raising my hand on that one!  Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner wrote a great post on how to deal with your psyche.

~ * ~

3 Ways to Change Your Thinking Today

Rachelle Gardner

The writing and publishing life can be hard on the equilibrium. It’s full of ups and downs, hopes deferred, dreams dashed, dreams realized, ego strokes and debilitating criticism.

We wonder if we’ll ever reach our goals. We swing between high-on-life optimism and crushing pessimism. We decry that this path shouldn’t be so difficult. We rail against systems. We wonder how to write a good book. We despair of ever reaching our readers.

But there is another way to think about it. Many of you have probably read Good to Great by Jim Collins, a classic book for business and leadership. In it, he explains what he calls the Stockdale Paradox, a way of thinking that can get anyone through the most harrowing of circumstances.

You can click here for a short audio clip of Jim Collins discussing the Stockdale Paradox, or Google the phrase to learn more about Admiral Jim Stockdale, a United States military officer held captive and tortured for eight years during the Vietnam War, for whom Collins named this Paradox. Admiral Stockdale had a unique way of looking at his brutal situation that allowed him to survive, and go on to thrive later in life.

As a writer, here’s how you can apply the Stockdale Paradox to immediately change your thinking:

Read the full post at Rachelle Gardner!

Need to find the write word for an emotion? Pun intended.

by

Often used as a tool for therapists, emotion wheels can help find just the right word to describe a feeling. You start in the middle and work your way outward. Originally introduced by Robert Plutchik, emotion wheels have evolved depending on need. Great tool for writers! Below is one example but you can google “emotion wheel” to find other examples.

Emotion Wheel by Onesimusix https://imgur.com/a/CkxQC

 

Self-Publishing Success Story: Roz Morris, British Indie Author

by

It is always nice to hear from people who have made it and maybe find out how they managed to become successful. With that in mind, here is today’s offering from the Alliance of Independent Authors.

~ * ~

Self-Publishing Success Story: Roz Morris, British Indie Author

By

In this post we turn our Success Story spotlight on British phenomenon Roz Morris, who has come out of the shadows as a ghostwriter to emerge as an acclaimed self-published novelist in her own right, as well as diversifying into other genres. She’s also an authoritative writing coach via her series of how-to books about novel-writing. Here she shares her top tips drawing on her own multi-faceted experiences, including:

  • drawing inspiration from other art forms
  • having the courage to diversify will draw readers to your work in other genres
  • following the processes practiced by traditional publishing houses to make your self-published books the best they can be

 

View the full post at Alliance of Independent Authors!

 

I would love it and hug it and squeeze it and I would name it George…..

by

How cool is this! Except I don’t think they reallize we aren’t stupid enough to think that it is alive. But how wonderful would it be to never have to go under the knife but instead swallow a little robot.

Permalink to full article. https://nyti.ms/2F8Wb4r