About This Writing Stuff…

This month, book consultant and developmental editor Mary Kole encourages writers to diversify their skills in the age of AI. Now that self-publishing is no longer a “new thing,” Anne R. Allen advises indie writers on how to keep expectations grounded.

Kristen Lamb reviews the Johari Window and how it can be used as a tool for character and story development. Over at the Write Practice, Joe Bunting gives us a detailed lesson on first and third person points of view.

Fantasy writer Philip Athans defends the adverb—with some caveats—and, along with PJ Parrish, provides guidance on the skillful use of description in narrative.

All that and much more. Enjoy!

The Irrelevance of the Modern Writer by Mary Kole & Good Story Company

The Über Skill for Writers by Tiffany Yates Martin

How to Write the Beginning of a Novel by Rhiannon Richardson

How to Tighten Your Midpoint Twist by Ley Taylor Johnson

Is an Unpublishable Book Worth Writing? by Lory Widmer Hess

Is Self-Publishing a Good Choice for Authors in 2024? by Anne R. Allen

Adverbs Are Fine! by Philip Athans

Describe Characters as You Go Along by Philip Athans

How Much Description Does Your Book Need? by PJ Parrish

The Johari Window & Character Blind Spots by Kristen Lamb

How to Get Your Plot Arcs Working Together by Chris Winkle

Ninety-Nine Words to Seek and Destroy by Chris Winkle

Fresh Perspective Sells by Kathryn Craft

Types of Point of View: The Ultimate Guide to First Person & Third Person POV by Joe Bunting

 

Screencraft Cinematic Short Story Competition 2024

In September, I submitted two stories to the Screencraft Cinematic Short Story Competition for 2024. One was a Finnish fantasy tale called “The Forest for the Trees” and the other a Jewish-Christian story called “All That Matters is What You Believe.”
I’m pleased to see that “The Forest for the Trees” advanced to the Quarterfinals. While “All That Matters…” did not place in the competition, it achieved single-digit rankings in the Faith category as shown in the screen shot below. Not a shabby way to start the year! Semi-final results will be announced next month.
 Forest for the Trees Screencraft 2024
All That Matters is What You Believe Screencraft 2024

The Healing Power of the Written Word

Testing the Prisoner Front CoverRegardless of genre, several of my stories present a protagonist forced to confront repressed pain in order to overcome it and move on. As its heart, Testing the Prisoner is about the trauma suffered by victims of child abuse and the emotional damage they carry into adulthood.

I’ve been told by more than one reader that the book has aided in their healing process and for that, I cannot be more grateful. Most recently, fellow horror writer Carson Buckingham opened up about her experiences in her review of Testing the Prisoner on Hellnotes, a horror review site.

“I think the reason this book is so easy to get into and easier to continue with is the fact that the plot highlights the trauma, psychological chaos, and human feet of clay that makes it so relatable, even though it is about child abuse and letting go of hatred toward the abusers. Being a victim myself, though initially bothered by similarities to my childhood through some strongly-written abuse scenes, I stayed with it and am happy to report that this book turned out to be one of the most uplifting novels I have read in a very long time. If you have been a victim, it might do you good to read it. I found that, after I did, I was able to let go of a large negative burden that I’d been carrying for years… so thank you, Mr. Giunta. For your writing to be able to do that—to cause readers to step back and take inventory of their own lives and to improve them by acting on what they see is nothing short of miraculous.”

You’re welcome, my friend.