Halloween for Writers and Readers

Let’s face it, Halloween has gone way beyond horror and scary, though there’s still a lot of that. I mean look around.  How many Star Wars characters do you see? Princesses? Disney characters, not to mention people using their own imaginations to come up with get-ups like the forest floor and egg beater (I leave the last to your imagination).

Seriously. So, I thought for this post I’d thought I’d spread the net wide.

How so?  Well, how about a site with Halloween prompts for the Writers out there? 

or 

 

 (click on the pics for the links)

In West Hollywood CA?  Check out the annual Halloween Carnaval. 

Maybe you just want to kick back and read a bit.  Grab a good book and hunker down with a bowl of popcorn or candy corn at your side. If that’s the case check out a couple of authors that might be right up your alley.

Mary Pax, aka, M Pax in the Sci Fi book universe, has a great steampunk series out, The Rifters. The first one is permanently free on Amazon. She’s an excellent writer and the series sucks you in.  There’s a book two, The Initiate and a book three to release soon.  Watch here for info on that. I'll have an interview and a heads up.  And go ghost town hunting with her.

 

 

Another great writer to consider for this scary/fun season is Robbie Cox and his book Reaping The Harvest. Gargoyles, fun and lots of action. 

There also Michael Eging’s Annwyn’s Blood for a sort of a horror fantasy. 

Or maybe you’re going to spend some time with kids and want to read with them or maybe give them a few pages to color  - then check out reading with kids’ offerings.

 That’s it for this round. Have a fun and safe Halloween.

ANNOUNCING - NEW RELEASE - Planet Of The Eggs- Grimoire: Book Of Spells

Waiting for the second installment on the great egg adventure?!  

Well here it is - announcing the release of Planet Of The Eggs Vol.1, #2, GRIMOIRE: BOOK OF SPELLS. It's on Amazon and yes its on Kindle Unlimited.

As they tumble through yet another portal the intrepid band of eggs and Hooter find themselves in the land of Shadowgate, lair of the Sorceress Sina and her minions. 

The portal also spits out Parker, little brother to Eight Hooter, an untried young warrior.

After the kidnapping of Smudge the Learned and Twilight the Medic by the Sorceress’ minions, the remainder of the bold band of eggs split up and venture into the dark bowels of Shadowgate Castle.

When our heroes go into battle, new powers are revealed which aid in the rescue of Twilight and Smudge. While retrieving the lost Grimoire, Book of Spells, from the dragon’s lair, Skink’s emerging ability surprises both himself and the fierce dragon – guardian of Shadowgate’s treasury.

With Sina and her minions on their trail, her need for the Book of Spells intense, will the gang escape her wrath with the Grimoire? Can they find a Portal before falling victim to the Sorceress? Will they elude her dragon’s fiery breath?

******

We're so excited! Reviews welcome, encouraged, delighted in. 

Tell your friends. Tell the world. 

Get your own copy today. Oh, and watch out for the Dragon!

What? didn't get the first in the Planet Of The Eggs comic series - Cracked Open?  Then head over to www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs and scroll down.  Join our mailing list and get the FIRST ONE FREE in PDF.

Writers and Readers Websites Wednesday - dropbox

I know, I know, this feature has been on hiatus a few weeks and I have to admit it may be a bit sporadic as I continue work with partner Charlene Brash-Sorensen on Planet Of The Eggs Comic Series.  

But, I made it through today with a new website Writers and Readers might appreciate. 

It's called Dropbox. If you don't know what it is, it's a way to share and store large files. It just saved me a couple of days ago when I had to get an uber large file containing lots of illustrations to a writing partner.  The basic service is free - and you can upgrade if you need to.

Don't just read this - go on over and see what I'm talking about. And don't forget to click on the Egg Planet council member above to get your free PDF copy of the first in the comic series, Cracked Open, absolutely FREE!

Flashbacks – 4 Commandments of Writing One

In my years as a writer I’ve read many a flashback, I’ve written a few, and I’ve been asked a whole lot of questions about them.  Mostly things like, ‘how do I do a flashback’, ‘how do I make the flashback clear’, ‘how can I make the reader/audience understand the flashback’? It doesn’t seem like anyone ever asks, ‘should I put a flashback in my story?”

Well, most questions can be answered by, “don’t do it.” Seriously, don’t use a flashback in your story UNLESS –

1.  The flashback reveals something VERY important in the story. Don’t use a flashback to just pave over the cracks so to speak, to fill in story details to explain why someone did something or why the universe is as it is. Flashbacks are not fillers. Don’t try to turn them into that.

2. Any flashback you use must move the story forward significantly.  Whatever backstory the flashback may convey must be crucial to your story. If that’s not the case you’re simply boring your reader (or in the case of a screenplay, your audience after you’ve bored the reader that for some inexplicable reason put your script through).

3.  Think about your timing. Why do you want to put a flashback wherever it is you want to put it?  Is it necessary? If so, create suspense. Build up to it. Make your readers crave that reveal when you inject the flashback that gives your story that jolt.

4.  Finally, keep it tight, even short, get in and get out. Don’t go rambling off on storytelling not directly related to what you’re conveying. No loose ends, no flab. Give it punch, fill it with action (whether physical, mental, emotional) and make sure it gives a huge impact to the scene you’re working on, the emotions of characters in your story, readers reading it, and the story overall. And when it’s done, edit the heck out of it. Maybe even dump it if it doesn’t serve its purpose well.

Okay, those are the basic commandments. Now, my other advice is don’t do a flashback unless you feel it’s absolutely necessary to the story. I mean really necessary.

That said, if you still want/need one in your novel or script these couple of sites could be helpful in helping you learn HOW to do a good flashback.

How to Handle Flashbacks In Writing

How to Format Flashbacks In A Screenplay

You might hop over to Larry Brody’s TV Writer for TV writing advice. He offers lots of great info and I write a fairly regular post for the site.