Writers Websites Wednesday - helpful tools

Roger J.  Carlson has a site for writers. He says it's mostly for new writers, but believe me, established writers can find helpful stuff here as well. The link take you directly to the page offering helpful utilities for writers such as the passive word highlighter or preposition highlighter.  These are great help by themselves, but do check out the rest of his site.  Not huge, but very helpful.

Are You Looking Toward Publishing?

photo by Chance Agrella

Yes?  I hope so.  If you're writing, unless you're writing only a journal for yourself, then your aim, one way or another should be publishing.

No fair hiding stuff in a drawer, stacking it up and showing it to no one but your mother (and maybe not her). You may be creating great art, great entertainment, the bread and butter of the writing world, but if you don't submit it, who's going to know that?

Many of us writers lack in confidence, and even after we're published it doesn't change a whole heckuva lot. The question always remains, who's going to publish that next piece of mine? Where will it find a home.?

But there's also a simple equation.  Write and rewrite, then submit and resubmit.  Eventually you will publish and publish again. As I've mentioned in other places, every published writer has created his or her share of unsalable work. I have manuscripts and partial scripts right now on my shelves that may one day be reworked and resubmitted, but are 'resting' now as they  haven't found their mark. That's okay, because others have. I've been published by Doubleday, Harlequin, Pinnacle, G.K. Hall, Five Star and others. In hard copy and, now Ebook format.  I've optioned screen scripts, written for an animated TV series and published short pieces elsewhere.  None of which would have happened if I hadn't thrust those works out into the world.

The reality is you must submit, and submit frequently. If you don't have a manuscript out there, there's no chance there's a check in the mail.  Remember, no matter how much you revise and rework, no matter how many times you tear the piece apart and put it back together it will never be perfect. So, get as close to perfect as you can, reach a point where you simply feel it's as good as it can get - for now - and then send it out.

And, as professional, forget fancy fonts and prettily boxed text. Don't use brightly colored paper and don't punch it and put it in a binder. Follow submission guidelines the publisher puts out precisely. With word processors that isn't hard these days. A lot of publishers accept Equiries too.

Make sure the editor you're submitting to is someone who's worked with the type of material you've written. Don't send romance to a Sci/Fi only publisher. Don't send Sci/Fi to a publisher of mysteries. You get it, do your research

Quite simply, aside from being a creative writer, you are also an independent businessperson and your product is your writing. You are responsible for getting your work out there. For the emerging writer it's an inescapable fact. If you decide to get an agent and work toward that end, the work is still yours until you get that agent.  Even then, the burden is merely shared, it doesn't shift entirely to the agent. The new writer will need to have his or her own website, to promote their work, to work with editors. I had to cut a book almost 1/3 in length one time and that was just to get the contract.  There was more work after that.

So set your sites on publishing - but don't think for a moment that it ends there.

Writers Websites Wednesday - SF & Fantasy Writers

If you're a writer who's into Science Fiction & Fantasy Writing then this organization could well be for you.  It's the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.  You can join if you qualify, with an association with publishing or as little as one published short story.  Read their eligibility requirements.  If you don't care to join, they offer helpful things on the website: free fiction by members, Writer Beware, and links to some helpful blogs. Worth checking out if you're writing in the field.

Chasing the Wild Endorsement

Most of us writers cringe at the thought of the need to promote our work, not to mention the need to  ask others to endorse our work - and if we can use their quotes on our book jackets, at our websites and for other promotion.  The whole thing can be a bit intimidating and cause us to lose a bit of our cool and possibly not approach those we need in the right way. 

First of all, keep your best manners on display.  Rudeness, even unintentional, is not the way to get someone's support.

So here are a few tips.

You're heading out to a writer's conference. Your favorite author is going to be there and your book needs a great endorsement.  What an opportunity!

Wait, no, not there.  It's never polite to hit up a professional in public - to put him or her on the spot.  Make the contact, be pleasant, get some contact info, and after the conference send that special author a friendly request.  Be sure to tell a bit about your book, your professional history and why you want that particular author's endorsement.  Be prepared to give a reason - hopefully other than "hey you sell a lot of books!" Maybe mention a book of theirs you've read, or the style with with they write. Make it personal.

Oh, and don't make the author (or authors) you've chosen to approach feel pressured or obligated.  He or she simply may not have the time to read your book or even a part of it. So don't get all huffy and hold some kind of grudge if you get declined. 

Remember this is one big favor you're asking of someone. You're requesting that author (or whoever you're asking for an endorsement) take his or her valuable time to read your book, or at least part of it. Then you hope he or she will take even more time to put together a blurb for you to use.  On top of all that since you're asking to quote that person, you're asking he or she 'lend' you their reputation.  All this for free.

And by the way, it's okay to solicit three or four authors at a time for their quote, but don't go nuts and ask 10 or 20 at a shot. 

First of all, you'll probably only have room to use up to 3 or 4 quotes and really showcase them.  So you don't want to insult anyone by asking for a quote and then not using it. Also, in general, you don't even want to use a long string of blurbs.  Too many and they don't mean a whole lot to the reader who probably won't read them all anyway.  And you don't want that special author or expert feeling lost in the crowd. So, ask a max of three or so at a time, wait for their responses and then, if negative, ask a couple more until you have the short list you need.

Most writers who do this huge favor will expect to have their blurb used on the book jacket, probably hoping for the front cover, and the website, not just a backwater website alone.

And remember, don't ever quote someone before you've gotten his or her permission to do so.  Just because someone tells you how much they've enjoyed your work, perhaps in the context of a conference or a casual meeting, doesn't mean you can quote them willy nilly without their okay. And, it's best to get their approval in writing.

So polish up your best manners, pause and give some thought as to how to best approach each person you'd like to solicit for an endorsement, and allow yourself plenty of time before the book's release to collect those endorsements.  Coordinate with your publisher so you remain aware of the deadline as to when things like endorsements can be added to the jacket cover.

Think of it as a opportunity to make some friends. 

Writers Websites Wednesday - Horror Writers Association

Into Horror Writing?  Enjoy those really scary, horrifying reads?  Then you might want to check out the Horror Writers Association.  They offer (and have offered for more than 20 years) help for writers working in the Horror field. You can join whether a full-fledged, published writer or not. The requirements for basic membership are minimal.  Check it out.

So What Exactly is a Plot?

You write, you read the title of this post and you laugh.  Everybody knows what a plot is!  ...Don't they?

Well, here's the thing.  Many new writers, and even some old pros, fall into traps.  They either never established in their own thoughts exactly what a plot - their plot - is, or they don't quite get it.  Or maybe they just get off track.

For starters I can tell you what a plot isn't.  Mom and Dad pack up the kids, Bobby and Susan, for a trip to Grandma's house.  The drive is pleasant and uneventful. They have a picnic in the back yard.  Grandma's made lemonade and serves it in her antique Victorian pitcher. The kids play.  Neighbors come to chat over the fence.  It's a beautiful day, they love each other and have a great time together.  Then they go home.  Grandma waves goodbye.

That's nice, but there's no plot, not now and nothing to hint there will be a plot. Well, maybe the Victorian pitcher.

Now, to create a plot, the writer needs to create tension, to add conflict. Seeds must be planted and it has to link together.

Add a few elements and you might get:  Dad is in a detached mood and the kids are fighting like siblings will on the drive to Grandma's.  There's the picnic in her great back yard, but the neighbors are snotty about the 'noisy grandkids' who are actually playing together - grudgingly - at last.   Susan disappears around a corner of the house, Mom's glance following her when Grandma, having just sipped the lemonade of her own making, collapses on the lawn.  Mom runs to Grandma, calling for Susan.  Where's Susan?  No answer.  Dad doesn't seem to be interested and the grumpy neighbor is bellowing again.  

What's going on?  

This could well be a horror tale in the making, a thriller, a mystery or even an alien invasion. 

It may well not be the best plot cooked up in 30 seconds flat, but you can readily see the difference between the two scenarios. 

The second at least gets the reader's interest.  The first, well,who cares?

Think about plot and what it takes to make your story come to life. Tension and conflict drive plot. And plot is the heart of your story. Read or reread stories you like; look for the conflict and tension.  Draw the curtain aside and you'll see the bare bones of tension and conflict. 

Write it, or edit down to it and you'll create a memorable tale.

Writers Websites Wednesday - the Story Starter

The Story Starter is a very simple site. Stuck in your writing?  Don't have a clue where to begin?  Here you'll find the 'starter sentence'.  Just click on the bar for any random story starter sentence.  Don't like that one? Then click again and get a new sentence.  There are links here to an additional "story starter for kids" and more.