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Good Links: June Edition

Hey, it must be revision and how to write list month. A lot of the links I came across this month that are worth mentioning have to do with editing. Or maybe it is because I have been editing all month and that is all I see now. You know, editing when I’m not automating a library, critiquing, or building a garage. Laundry? Nah, we don’t do laundry here anymore. There’s no time! There are tools in the fruit bowl, for Heaven’s sake!

Nathan Bransford over at Curtis Brown has a nice revision checklist which is a must-read for any newbie and will serve as a nice reminder checklist for those who have been in the game a little longer.

Along the same lines is a helpful list of rules as compiled by Elmore Leonard and sits over on Modem Noise.

Editorial Ass also has a post on editing and whether you should hire an editor or not. It sounds as though fewer and fewer publishing houses are including editing in their acquisitions. That means you and your agent need to have your puppy ready to publish. Career tip: if you are good at editing, there’s a growing market for editing!

Along the same lines, Rachelle Gardner, an agent with Wordserve Literary, discusses hot, great and good projects that come across her desk and how she reacts to them. So, if you are wondering why some folks get picked up and published in no time at all while you are finally getting a reply to your query a year later, this post might clarify things for you. She also has a second part posting to this topic.

And if you are wondering how to open that scene in a character’s viewpoint, Camy Tang has a great little article that gives you some do’s and don’ts.

Finally, because we all wonder this every day we write: How to Write a Bad Novel. A tongue in cheek look at mistakes to avoid while writing. It’s worth a read.

Best news of the month: critique partner Chrissy Taylor signed with an agent! Go Chrissy!

Bad Critiques Vs. Good Critiques

Speaking of what fills a writer’s bathtub, how about critiques? A good critique can add a few litres of water to a writer’s bathub whereas a bad critique can instantly evaporate a few litres and continue to do so for some time.

As I get busier and more comfortable critiquing other people’s work, I find that I am less inclined to cushion what I say with compliments or to take a slow, gentle approach. And I think that is not exactly good. When meeting a writer online, it can be difficult to gauge where they are in the their writing. Are you the first person to see their work? I.e. are you likely to crush their poor little writer’s spirit if you aren’t careful? Or, are they a veteran writer who wants you to go hard and slice and dice their work and going easy will serve as unhelpful? How do you know? I say, you have to ask them.

Here are some possible questions to ask: What kind of critique do you want? Is there something you are working on at the moment that you would like me to read for? For example, dialogue, pacing, or grammar. Have you had a critique before? (It is always best to get a couple varying opinions before changing anything as well as to make sure that any changes feel right and work for your story and your characters. It can also help to have people within your genre critique your work–although some critiquers from other genres can help pick out things people within your genre might not be able to.) Also ask how much feedback they want. For example, do they want you to highlight the one thing that you feel could improve their work in the biggest way?  Hint: NEVER rewrite another writer’s work. That is a BIG no-no. However, giving examples of what you mean can be okay when done right.

Lately, I’ve been chatting with a writer via email and we’ve both been reflecting on where we’ve been as a writer and where we are now. We’ve both had crushing experiences in terms of critiques. I had one a year ago that was difficult to take. Nary a compliment in the whole critique. The other day, I looked back at some of the notes. They really aren’t that bad. In fact, they are much more helpful now, a year later (and me being a year better in terms of my writing and understanding of what makes good writing) than they were at that time. At that time, it was too much, too soon. It was so negative. What I think happened, was the critiquer assumed I was further along in my writing confidence and slammed me (trying to give me the biggest bang for my buck) and critiqued me as I would want to be slammed today. However, I was still at the point where I wanted to hear good things as well as receive a hand to help me improve. Pointing out everything that was wrong left me stumped. Okay, so I suck, but what can I do to make my writing better? It would be wonderful to have that same critique again now. Now, I’m ready. I’ve got by back pushed up against the wall so the blasts won’t knock me over. Give me your best shot.

What Fills Your Writing Bathtub?

Bathtub analogy: You have a tub representing your energy or creative skills. Your goal is to fill it. Good things that help build you up (energy or skills) fills the tub. Things that drain you (criticism, rejections, etc) empty your tub.

While you may have heard of the bathtub analogy before, Brad R. Torgersen has put a distinct writer’s slant on it by arguing that a writer wants to fill their tub to the top where the ‘professional line’ hangs out. To fill your tub to that line, you need to build your skills and work hard.

My mom’s version of the analogy is more of an “energy” tub instead of a “skill” tub. Who or what fills you up so you can do your work? Who or what creates holes in the bottom of your tub so you have to struggle and work extra hard to keep water in your tub?

Both analogies are good. As a creative person, you need both to succeed. You need to build your skills. You also need creative energy. If you have brick walls in your way, it makes it harder to fill that tub. Maybe you don’t have access to the resources to build your skills. Maybe someone is constantly telling you you’re no good. These create holes in your tub, making it difficult to fill the tub.

So, what fills your tub? Skillwise and energywise? For me, writing itself is a tub filler. Writing gives me energy. I also have a family that supports my writing. I have great critique partners. I have a pile of buddies on Agent Query who fill me up. I have places to discuss writing. I have writing books, access to online classes, and great, informative blogs to follow. There is always something to help me build my skills and get me thinking about writing in a new way. In short, I got it good baby. My tub is filling up.

How’s your tub doing? Does it need a repair kit? Is it close to overfilling?

P.S. There is a conversation going on about this over on AQ. Join in or leave a comment here.

Enjoy!

Hot Projects vs. Not So Hot

Rachelle Gardner over at Wordserve Literary talks about ‘hot’ projects/manuscripts and ones that might be good or great and what happens to them when they come across her desk. If nothing else, it may help writers understand a bit about what happens with their projects and why some get scooped up and sold on a dime while others sit around for up to a year before getting a ‘yes’.

If nothing else, Rachelle’s two posts might give you an ‘aaaahhhh’ moment.

Book Review: Plug Your Book: Online Book Marketing for Authors

Book Review: Plug Your Book: Online Book Marketing for Authors
By: Steve Webber

This book is a study guide for Book Promotion 101. Even though I have been studying up here and there on book promotion–should the time come when I have a book to promote–there were many, many goodies and explanations for how and why to do things in this book that taught me more than a few new things.

In the past 5 years, things have changed dramatically in the ways authors successfully promote their books and this book has a bit for every kind of writer. Fiction, nonfiction, self-published or not. Even if you are just writing up a proposal for your planned nonfiction book, Plug Your Book can be very helpful. (Particularly helpful in terms of outlining your book’s marketing plan seeing as more and more writers are expected to do the majority of their own publicity.)

If you are a technophobe, fear not. Webber takes the time to describe and explain different aspects of online marketing as well as provide examples. Generally, he also takes the time to relate it back to the writer publicizing their book.

With the use of online marketing as described by Webber, books in niche markets are no longer subject to languish as ‘unknowns’. With a little well planned online marketing, they can take the book market by storm by using the web to find their diverse, wide-spread market–and at little cost. This book explains how to reach that niche market. (And bigger markets too, of course.)

Plug Your Book walks authors through online social communities/social networking, online book sellers (with a lot of attention spent on Amazon–dispelling myths, gimmicks and describing how to really make Amazon work for you), blogs (yours and others), blog tours, social searches, and basically 101 ways to drum up electronic word of mouth with little cost to you other than time.

Webber frequently provides online examples (one or two URLs are listed in the book for readers to use as further research) to further flesh out a topic. As well, Webber also has a website dedicated to the topic of online promotion and updates as well–essential seeing how fast things change online.

All in all, it is a book you will want to read slowly, pen in hand to mark all the good stuff. And if you are a writer, it is never too late or too early to pick it up.

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The Writer Who Signed an Agent is…Chrissy!

Cdesses, aka Chrissy, my critique buddy over on AgentQuery is in the process of signing with a literary agent. Chrissy decided to move from fantasy to Steampunk a few months ago and the move paid off. She’s written a great story about a feisty lass named Phoebe who creates a powerful drink that brings her to the center of a murder mystery. I feel honoured to have read and provided feedback on VIRDIS as Chrissy has a unique voice and a very simple, crisp, straight-forward style that makes my convoluted, wordy mind envious. When her book comes out, I’ll be sure to let you know so you can enjoy this action adventure/romance/history/mystery story set in London.

What is Steampunk? Basically, it is a genre that is part historical, part futuristic. In Chrissy’s story, the story is set in London in the 1800s. While some things are as they were in the 1800s, such as clothing and social norms, it is a ‘what if’ take on life with a bit more technology. What if steam could be used to power some of the inventions we have now?

Curious? You can read her story, VIRDIS…coming soon!

Critique Partner Gets an Agent!

One of my critique partners got an agent! Woo! I’ll reveal more when she goes “public” with her news.

Isn’t that fantastic?

Book Review: Jungle Jack’s Wackiest, Wildest, Weirdest Animals in the World

Book Review: Jungle Jack’s Wackiest, Weirdest Animals in the World
By: Jack Hanna
Photography by: Rick A. Prebeg

This is a fantastic book for boys ages 8-12 who have gone animal crazy. Due to reading level, this book may be a difficult read for younger audiences and even the children in this age range. However, it does make a good family read aloud with interesting facts that will appeal to not only children, but to adults as well. Jungle Jack’s book features 30 strange (and lesser-known) animals from the Blue-Footed Booby to the Puffer Fish, meaning there is something to catch the interest of every child. Each animal gets its own page with a large, colour photograph as well as 2-3 smaller images. There are facts such as what the animal eats, where they live and how big they get as well as what makes them wacky.Did you know the echidna is one of only two species of mammal that lays eggs?

The book also has a two page glossary at the back for ‘big’ words like keratin, macropod and endangered, making this a good educator resource. The pages are thick, making them less likely to become dog-eared and ripped in a library collection. The cover is bright and appealing, making this a sure pick for youngsters.

The DVD is 20 minutes long and while toted as blunders, bloopers and behind the scenes, it focuses mainly on behind the scenes and blunders. If you are a regular Junge Jack viewer (he has a TV show), I think you will get more out of the DVD than if you have never heard of him before.

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Where Do You Write?

So, where do you write? (Assuming you write.)

I write pretty much anywhere. All I need is my laptop. Lately, I have been editing at the dining room table. But I used to sit on the couch and I have written many a words there. I used to work at a desk. One story I wrote in the public library.

However, these authors have shared pictures taken by Kyle Cassidy of their writing spaces. By looking at these published writers, here’s what you need. Lots of books in your bookshelves and a pet. Cat or dog preferred.

In an older post, I talked about where I write, and here is a repost of the image I used to show my work area. I now work on the table behind here. And naturally, there is more clutter.The laptop is different, the cup the same, cat the same, couch a little rougher and threadbare.

So, again, where do you write?

How Writing a Novel is Like Building a Garage

Some folks say writing a novel is like building a house. I’ve never built a house before, but I am in the process of building a garage, so let’s go with a garage. Plus, with a house, you have to live in it afterwards. You don’t live in a novel (or a garage). Plus, if your novel doesn’t work out, you can shove it under the bed and ignore it. Sort of the same with a garage. Big deal if your garage doesn’t work out perfectly and has flaws–it just hangs out in the backyard anyway. It’s not like your company routinely takes a tour of the ‘car house’. But wait, if you have major structural flaws, then it isn’t like a novel where you can shove it aside because you have this big falling down box in your yard. Then your garage is like a really HUGE headache and will take huge amounts of time and effort to fix. Hey, it IS just like a novel with structural issues.

So, you ask, how are these two things similar? Really, and truly. Well, before you get started on either project, you need supplies and you need a bit of a plan or idea on what you plan to accomplish. Is this a romance? Is it a two car deal? Approximately how long is this novel going to be? How big is the garage going to be? Where is this story going to take place? Where are you going to place this building?

Once you have a few of the main ideas in mind, you can get started. If you are a panster builder, you get moving right away, letting details sort themselves out as you go. You start with the cement pad. Move on to walls… Figuring it out as you go. (Sometimes, you have to go back and change things as you figure out what is going to look or work best.) If you are a plotster writer, you have detailed plans before you even lift your hammer, er, apply fingers to the keyboard. You have your characters sorted out, the main conflict, the ending. Pretty much everything. Everything is ordered up and ready to be used as you need it. More front end work, less on the back end.

When it comes to materials, your cement pad is like your plot outline/story idea. Once that is down, everything builds on it. If you change that–it is a lot of work and basically, you don’t have the same story or garage if you make changes to this. It is your ‘foundation’ of sorts.

Things that make your characters distinct are the touches that make the garage distinct. Eyes/lights, skin colour/siding colour, hair colour/shingle colour. On the inside, what do you have and what do they say? Neat freak/lots of perfect shelves, ome as you are personality/uncovered or unfinished walls. Chipped teeth/chipped concrete.

And of course there are edits. Maybe that chapter is missing driving conflict. Maybe that wall isn’t quite level.

What about pacing and order? Your story needs structure. Things need to happen and flow in a way the reader can follow. Same with building a garage. You can’t turn on the lights before they are hooked up.

And finally, like any form of work, there is always a sign that it is time to take a break. If you don’t, you might nail that sheet of OSB on the wrong way and have to redo it all. DOH!
Happy building!