Tamela Hancock Murray

Setting Your Setting

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon September 4, 2014

Avid readers know that some stories seem to rely more on setting than others. Sometimes, the setting is so prominent it feels like a character. In other books, the setting is a bare-bones backdrop to the story.

But no matter how subtle, the setting has more impact on your story than you may realize because it’s where your characters live. They must act within it and react to it regardless. These factors range from everything from geography, to the current events of their time to available technology.

Can you imagine Scarlett O’Hara reacting to World War I rather than The War Between the States? Or the Crusades? Of if she lived in Ohio instead of Georgia?

What if Batman lived in Mayberry, North Carolina, instead of Gotham? (Today’s photo is proof that it could happen!)

While a great romance, mystery or other timeless story will touch hearts regardless of the setting, I would still caution writers not to be too cavalier when choosing settings. Not only do your characters have to live in your setting, but you also have to live with it. Be sure you love the place and time period you choose.

Your turn:

What is your favorite setting to write?

What is your favorite setting to read?

What setting would you find most difficult to write?

[Today’s photo found at http://forums.officer.com/t118008/]

3 Reasons Why Rejection is Good

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 28, 2014

I’ll be the first to admit that rejection doesn’t feel good, so how can it be good? Well, a rejection: …allows you to close the door and move on to the next opportunity. …shows that the other person doesn’t share your enthusiasm enough to be your partner. Learning this allows you the freedom to find the right partner. …may be a sign of God’s will. His …

Category: Career, Get Published, RejectionTag: Rejection

Who is Your Audience?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 21, 2014

Recently I went shopping for a new watch. Thankfully, I later discovered I could have the old one repaired and am taking that route. However, since I’m a literary agent, I can relate everything to books, so here goes. At high end stores a salesperson was immediately available. While I was trying on watches, I was given statistics such as, “This watch is Swiss made. The band is solid 18 …

Category: Book Business, Branding, Craft, MarketingTag: Audience, Branding, Marketing

Discoverability

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 14, 2014

One of the buzzwords you hear in publishing today is discoverability. Authors must be discovered by potential readers. To that end, even though obviously selling a car is much different from selling a book, I still think we might be able to learn some lessons from Maserati. I hadn’t thought about this automobile company except with the vague idea that they are an iconic Italian race car …

Category: Book Business, Branding, MarketingTag: Branding, Marketing

Creativity I Enjoy

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 7, 2014

Last week, I promised to share with you how I am creative other than writing. Well, I don’t write much now except for this blog. If you see a “new” book with my name on it, at this point in time, it’s a repackage. I am grateful for repacks! I appreciate the creativity of my writers. I can’t think of a better career than being a literary agent! But as for my …

Category: Creativity, Writing CraftTag: Creativity, Writing Craft

Creativity

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 31, 2014

We are so thrilled to have our family from overseas visiting with us this week. Our son-in-law brought us a gorgeous vase made by hand from a solid piece of Korean oak. His sister, Jung Im, took three months to fashion it, and modeled it on a vase from the Choson Dynasty. Although Jung Im is not a writer, her care and craft made me think of how writers are creative in many ways. Not only do …

Category: Creativity, Writing CraftTag: Creativity, Writing Craft

Naming Names

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 24, 2014

We recently received several excellent questions that I would like to answer: 1.) Should (you) repeat a book name and how old should it be? I believe you are asking if it is okay to use the same title for your book even if it has already been used before. And if so, how many years should pass before using that previously used book title. What you are trying to avoid is having your book mixed up …

Category: Book Proposals, Writing CraftTag: Characters, Craft, Titles, Writing Craft

When Your Agent Appointment Flops

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 17, 2014

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In keeping with my conference posts, I want to talk a little today about agent appointments. I’ll use agents as the example for brevity but this post can also apply to editor appointments. That is, what if the agent or editor doesn’t like your work? Don’t despair. Seriously. Here’s why: 1.) If you feel you stuttered or stammered, or otherwise weren’t at your best, …

Category: ConferencesTag: Agents, Appointments, writers conferences

Making Friends at a Writers Conference

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 10, 2014

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Conference time is exciting for everyone, especially those who are looking forward to meeting people they’ve only met over the Internet and reconnecting with old friends. For certain, strengthening relationships is one of the best benefits of any conference. But what about the person who’s new, who hasn’t had a chance to make lots of friends yet? What about the shy person who …

Category: ConferencesTag: Friends, writers conferences

Yes I Said That, But…

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 3, 2014

In light of the fact that many of us are getting ready to go to conferences, or have just been to conferences, I thought I’d spend the next couple of blog posts on conferences. Today I’d like to talk about what you hear, what you think you hear, and applying what you hear. I love talking to writers and I love it even more when all of my appointment slots are filled at a conference. …

Category: Conferences