Tag Archives: kathryn craft

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

It has been three weeks since my last blog post. How the hell did that happen? Well, I’ve been stretched thin as of late with my FT job, a few expensive home renovations, health problems, managing eBay auctions (the time has come to downsize), and yes, writing projects.

I have a short story in progress for a contest, the second draft of my SF novel awaits my attention after that, and I’m waiting to hear back from two small presses on short stories I submitted to them. I’m also scheduling a book signing or two for a speculative fiction anthology I just released with a group of fantastic writers and I’m reviewing a presentation on self-editing that I wll be giving to a local writers group on Monday evening (24 May).

However, the fact that I’ve been neglecting my blog has been gnawing at me, so here we go!

This week, Steve Hooley reviews several sites for serialized fiction, including Kindle Vella, while Jodie Renner discusses close and deep third person POV.

Mary Alice Monroe and KL Burd use fiction to raise awareness of environmental issues and social issues, respectively, while Philip Athans offers advice on blending SF, fantasy, and horror. James Scott Bell provides tips on increasing productivity, Terry Odell delves into crafting character descriptions, and Kathryn Craft wages war against the lame apology.

All that and much more. Enjoy!

Serialized Fiction and Vella – What Do You Think? by Steve Hooley

Tips for Deepening the POV in Your Fiction by Jodie Renner

Weaving Real-Life Environmental Issues into Your Fictional World by Mary Alice Monroe

Fantasy and/or Science Fiction and/or Horror by Philip Athans

The Five Things You Need When Writing a Mystery Novel by Melodie Campbell

6 Practical Business Tips for Authors to Market Their Story of Success by Taylor Payne

7 Tips for Producing More Words by James Scott Bell

Character Descriptions Part I by Terry Odell

Character Descriptions Part II by Terry Odell

Why Bookshop.org is Not the Savior the Book World Needs by Ellen Peirson Hagger

The Magic Number by Todd Sattersten

Legal Protection for Fictional Characters by Matt Knight

Kick Your Story Up a Notch by Knowing Your Character’s Conflict Style by Kelsey Allagood

Unapologetic Characterization by Kathryn Craft

Incorporating Social Issues Into Your Manuscript by KL Burd

 

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Ken Miyamoto discusses five categories of SF and Fantasy worldbuilding while Anne R. Allen lists several reader pet peeves that writers should avoid.

Kris Calvin and Philip Athans provide their points of view on writing multiple points of view, Brian Andrews concludes his lesson on crafting believable action scenes, and Penny Sansevieri offers strategies for book marketing and author branding.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

The Craft and Rules of Worldbuilding in Science Fiction and Fantasy by Ken Miyamoto

Three Things Your Query Letter Needs to Stand Out by Lucinda Halpern via Anne R. Allen

How to Avoid Writing Stuff Readers Hate by Anne R. Allen

30+ Ideas for Bite-Sized Book Marketing by Penny Sansevieri

Writing from Multiple Points of View by Kris Calvin

Whose POV Should it Be? by Philip Athans

How to Write Amazing Action Scenes (Part 2 of 2) by Brian Andrews

5 Great Tips: A Beginner’s Guide to Author Branding by Penny Sansevieri

Make Your Protagonist an Actor by Kathryn Craft

7 Awesome Foreshadowing Tips for Fiction Writers by Mia Botha

 

 

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Dustin Grinnell discusses techniques for writing scientific fiction ala Carl Sagan while Jami Gold explores the process of piecemeal, nonlinear worldbuilding.

Over at Writer Unboxed, Kathryn Craft offers advice for trimming our manuscripts, and Donald Maass challenges us to write timeless fiction.

Boyd Morrison and Debbie Burke put us through our paces with— wait for it—pacing! PJ Parrish provides tips on crafting that perfect first chapter, and if you’re struggling with your plot, Janice Hardy has a few solutions for you.

All that and much more. Enjoy!

How to Write Scientific Fiction: Analyzing Carl Sagan’s Contact by Dustin Grinnell

5 Random Ways to Trim Your Manuscript by Kathryn Craft

Fiction of Its Times or Fiction for All Times? by Donald Maass

Surviving—and Thriving—In The Brave New World of Publishing by Paul Dinas via Anne R. Allen

How to Beat Writer’s Block – 7 Tips from the Trenches by Brian Andrews

The Thrill of the Pace: Creating a Book That Reader Can’t Put Down by Boyd Morrison

Before It’s Too Late—Six Tips to Speed Up the Pace by Debbie Burke

How Can We Worldbuild on an Epic Scale? by Jami Gold

The Do’s and Don’ts of a Great First Chapter by PJ Parrish

3 Powerful Ways to Hook Your Reader with Emotion by Joslyn Chase

Why Your Plot Isn’t Working by Janice Hardy

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Charlie Jane Anders encourages us to write what is in our hearts regardless of current events. At Career Authors, David Bell provides five reasons for outlining your novel, while over at IndieReader, Savannah Cordova shows us five ways to get your novel noticed on Amazon.

Marlene Cullen explains how to use the freewrite method to chronicle traumatic experiences. Jami Gold delves into the risks and benefits of foreshadowing. John Gilstrap warns us against second guessing our writing. Kristen Lamb demonstrates how the Johari Window can be used to provide depth to our characters. Tajja Isen discusses the importance of sensitivity readers for stories involving minority characters.

Congratulations to writer pal, Amanda Headlee, on winning the “When Words Count Pitch Week XVII contest” with her upcoming horror novel, My Brother’s Keeper.

All that and a lot more. Enjoy!

Never Say You Can’t Survive: Everything is Broken! What Should I Write About? by Charlie Jane Anders

5 Tips for Navigating a Successful Novel Outline by David Bell

Freewrite: How to Write About Traumatic Events Without Adding More Trauma by Marlene Cullen

5 Tips for Getting Your Book Noticed on Amazon by Savannah Cordova

What’s the Point of Foreshadowing? by Jami Gold

Eyes Front by John Gilstrap

Pulp Diction. What We Can Learn from the Noir Czars by PJ Parrish

How to Characterize by James Scott Bell

The Johari Window: Understanding and Harnessing the Character Blind Spot by Kristen Lamb

Parody, Satire, and Fan Fiction: What’s the Difference? by Matt Knight

How Not to Write a Book About a Minority Experience by Tajja Isen

6 Ways to Incorporate a Dash of Foreign Language by Kathryn Craft

Blurbing and Being Blurbed by Barbara Linn Probst

How the Rising Action Works in a Story by Joe Bunting

Meet the Pitch Week XVII Finalists from When Worlds Collide!

 

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Kristine Kathryn Rusch summarizes exciting opportunities brewing in the audio book space while Anne R. Allen instructs us on writing the almighty query letter.

We’re often inundated with lessons on time management to help us balance our workloads and achieve our writing goals, but Paula Munier reminds us that it’s equally important to set boundaries and learn to say NO.

On a related note, Jami Gold shares the frustrations of juggling contradictions in the writing and publishing world based on a glorious article from Kali Wallace (included below) about the pressures and stresses placed on writers today.

Matt Knight discusses cover art copyright and Kathryn Craft offers methods for handling leaps of time in our narrative. Meanwhile, trolls and sockpuppets continue to erode the value of Goodreads.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

Business Musings: The Future of Audio by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

How to Write a Professional, Not-Embarrassing Query to an Agent, Reviewer, Editor, or Blogger by Anne R. Allen

The Key to a Writer’s Productivity: Just Say No by Paula Munier

Your Heart is a Moving Target by Kali Wallace

Writing and Publishing are Full of Contradictions by Jami Gold

12 Tips for New Public Speakers by Debbie Burke

Can a Work of Fiction about the Holocaust be Inaccurate? by Patrick Freyne

Looking Deeper into the Goodreads Troll Problem by Camestros Felapton

Book Covers and Copyrights by Matt Knight

The Compelling, Emotional Complex Sentence by Jeanne Cavelos

Bridging Temporal Story Gaps by Kathryn Craft

 

 

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Tim Grahl reveals the ingredients to a successful book launch while Joanna Penn offers quick advice on how to combat imposter syndrome.

Over at the Kill Zone, James Scott Bell provides guidance on character description while Jordan Dane talks layering scenes and plot. We have a twofer from that wise Mythcreant, Chris Winkle, who first expounds several methods for ensuring your protagonists pull their weight, and then points out how to spot misandry in your story.

Writer pal Kathryn Craft reveals why you might be afraid of your WIP while Tiffany Yates Martin whips our editor’s brain into shape.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

The Book Launch Framework: How I Keep Launching Bestselling Books by Tim Grahl

How Writers Can Deal with Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome by Joanna Penn

How to Describe Your Main Character by James Scott Bell

How to Enhance Your Writing by Layering Your Scenes & Plot by Jordan Dane

18 Ways for Protagonists to Contribute and Five Signs Your Story is Sexist—Against Men by Chris Winkle

CockyGate Update: One Writer’s Adjective; Another Writer’s Short-Lived Trademark by Matt Knight

How to Train Your Editor Brain by Tiffany Yates Martin

12 Signs You’re Afraid of Your WIP by Kathryn Craft

6 Ways to Immerse Your Readers in the Setting of a Story by Joslyn Chase