Writing Craft

A Time to Share

By Karen Ballon May 30, 2012

I’ve been thinking for awhile that I’d like to do some mini workshops on this blog. Now, I have a boatload of topics I could teach on. After all, I’ve taught or keynoted at writers’ conferences all over the country for the last 30 years. But here’s the thing, I don’t want to teach just another workshop. I want to help you with the issues you’re facing in your writing. So here’s your chance to open up and share.

What struggles or questions are bugging you the most? Is there some element of the craft that you’re arm-wrestling lately? Or is finding and maintaining creativity your bugaboo? Are you losing sleep wondering about proper etiquette at writers’ conferences or trade shows? Whatever you most need as a writer, share that here. I’ll gather the responses and put together workshops to help you figure it out.

Sound good? Okay then.

Share!

News You Can Use – May 29, 2012

By Steve Laubeon May 29, 2012

Self-Publishing: Under 10% Earn a Living - An article out of Australia makes a bold claim. I would claim, however, that only 10% of traditionally published writers earn a living too. Of course that depends on your definition of "a living."

100 Best First Lines from Novels - In honor of the last two weeks where we talked about "first lines" I found this article from the American Book Review that …

Category: Craft, Grammar, Marketing, News You Can Use, SteveTag: commas, copyediting, Editing, Grammar, podcasting, Self-Publishing

Keys to a Great Synopsis

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 24, 2012

When I posted my ideas on some Keys to a Great Book Proposal, a few writers said they were challenged to write a synopsis. I agree that writing an interesting synopsis is difficult. However, it’s not an element you want to omit from your proposal because a synopsis orients the editor to the book’s contents. Here are my answers to often-asked questions: 1.) Do I need a …

Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: book proposals, synopsis

What’s MY Line? (First Lines – Part Two)

By Karen Ballon May 23, 2012

I loved reading your favorite first lines last week. Isn’t it amazing how the right first line sets the stage, how it can pull readers out of reality deep into the story that’s being woven around them? I’m always awed at the power of the written word.

As I said last week, a group of writer friends likes to share the first lines of their works in progress. JUST the first line. Not the first …

Category: Craft, Karen, Writing CraftTag: first lines

Fun Fridays – May 8, 2012 -The Chaos of English Pronunciation

By Steve Laubeon May 18, 2012

Fun Friday - May 18, 2012

Quoted in its entirety from The Better Spelling Society (read their article the history of this piece). My favorite is the last stanza that reads "which rhymes with enough? Though, through, bough, cough, hough, sough, tough??"
The Chaos - by Gerard Nolst Trenité
This version is essentially the author's own final text, as also published by New River Project in 1993. A …

Category: Fun Fridays, GrammarTag: Grammar, spelling

In the Beginning…First Lines of a Book

By Karen Ballon May 16, 2012

I don’t know about you, but I love great first lines. First lines that intrigue or challenge, that captivate and spark strong emotion or curiosity. Some writers spend hours, even days crafting that perfect first line to draw readers into the book. For others, the line is just…there.

A group of author friends loves to play the first-line game, where we share the first line from our WIPs. I like …

Category: Craft, Creativity, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Craft, first lines

Goodbye to Traditional Publishing?

By Steve Laubeon May 14, 2012

by Steve Laube

Recently Ann Voss Peterson wrote of her decision to never sign another contract with Harlequin. One major statistic from the article is that she sold 170,000 copies of a book but earned only $20,000.

Multiple clients sent me Peterson’s “Harlequin Fail” article and wanted my opinion. My first thought is that this was typical “the publisher is ripping me off” fodder. But …

Category: Book Business, Contracts, Defense of Traditional Publishing, E-Books, Steve, TrendsTag: Contracts, royalties, Traditional Publishing

Writing to Market: Bad Advice?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 10, 2012

Throughout my career I've seen various responses to the advice that declares "Write to market!" In other words "write what sells" because that is what is most important for a writer. Is this good advice or bad advice?

It is both.

Here is when it's bad advice: When you're made to feel you have to write a certain type of book just to break into the market, any market.

If you think, for …

Category: Book Business, Get Published, Marketing, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Marketing, passion, Rejection

The Value of SHOWmanship in Fiction

By Karen Ballon May 9, 2012

Recently, I’ve heard a few editors comment that they don’t worry about showing things in fiction, that they think editors and writers get too caught up showing when it’s really not all that important. Telling is okay. It’s just as strong and effective as showing.

I beg to differ.

Consider this from Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, a stellar book by Renni Browne and Dave …

Category: Craft, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Craft, show don't tell

What Is the Agent Doing While I Wait?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 3, 2012

You submit a great manuscript to an agent. Then you wait. And wait. And wait.

What could she possibly be doing?

Let's say your baby jumped most of the hurdles and is near the top of the slush pile. (See the previous post on the Mystery of the Slush Pile) Why can't the agent make up her mind? Might I offer a few ideas:
1.) Market changes can mean a shift in priorities. An agent may receive …

Category: Agents, Book Business, Get Published, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Agent, Proposals, waiting