Meet Jack Sprat! Issue #1

Attention Comic-Con Fans! 

(and authors!) 

Meet Jack, Issue #1 from Jack Sprat Magazine 

(FREE download until September 15th)

http://jackspratpress.com/jack-sprat-e-zine/

If you're a reader looking for something fun and unusual, check it out! It's free until September 15th! Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway (below) for a One Year Subscription to Jack Sprat Magazine.

If you're an author looking for something outside the normal realm of publishing, hop on over to the submission guidelines and THEME for Issue #2. (submissions are officially open September 15th.)  And do enter the Rafflecopter giveaway (below) for a One Year Subscription to Jack Sprat Magazine.

From the Jack Sprat Press website: 

What we’re looking for:

Genre mash-up, inspired by a classic crayola crayon color, no more than 1000 words. It must be a complete, stand-alone story with a unique twist. Make us go, “hmmm…”

Complete 4-page comics, art included, also inspired by a classic crayola crayon color. We like dark stories with a whimsical twist (e.g. Tim Burton or Neil Gaiman). Any style is accepted. We’re fans of manga, superhero, even stick figures. Wow us with your originality.

The genres we’re interested in:
Science Fiction
Fantasy
Horror
Magical Realism
Superhero
Literary
Comedy
Steampunk
Verse

Good luck!! :-) 

Enter for a chance to win a ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION:

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

DRAGONFIRE, By Toni Kerr

HAPPY RELEASE DAY to Book 3 in the Secrets of the Makai Series--

Tristan is caught in a losing battle between the Slayers’ poison and the call of hibernation, while fighting to co-exist with increasing amounts of power that threatens to destroy everything. Jacques and Molajah remain elusive and Tristan must plan his own course of action while he still can.

An uprising in the realm of dragon spirits suspends any sense of leadership within the council and forces the ghostly ancestors to make a choice. They can join the rebellion in support of Tristan freeing the Faerie races, or support the council in their desire to keep a centuries-old contract from falling apart, assuring them time to oversee the world’s progression through an age of destructive humans, in hopes of releasing the races to a safer, less toxic era.

The stakes are high for either choice and Tristan must decide for himself, which of the races will be sacrificed for the greater good.

DRAGONFIRE, book 3 in this urban fantasy series, is available now on Amazon!

If you haven't read book 1 in the series, Descendant is currently FREE from July 7th to July 11th on Amazon. Spread the word!

Call for Submissions from a NEW PUBLISHER

Check out this new publisher! 

From their website:

Here at Jack Sprat Press, we are inspired by the independent music movement that dared to go against the mainstream and produce something the larger companies refused to touch. Our mission is to emulate that rebellious attitude to give readers  something a little different, and artists a place to explore.

We believe that a work shouldn’t just be enjoyable, it should be art. Push the boundaries of your talent. Dare to break the rules. Write the story everyone told you no one would read. And draw in ways that defy the mainstream.  But don’t take yourself too seriously, either. Have fun with your creations. Experiment.

At Jack Sprat Press, we think anything done well is worth reading.

What are they looking for?

We are now accepting submissions for flash fiction and comics no longer than four pages (think 2000 AD‘s future shocks) for our debut issue, coming September 1, 2015.

Submissions will run through June 1st to August 1st.

Genre mash-up, inspired by a song title (e.g. Diary of Jane about alien zombies, a fairytale apocalypse titled Iridescent, etc.), no more than 1000 words. It must be a complete, stand-alone story with a unique twist. Make us go, “hmmm…”

Complete 4-page comics, art included, also inspired by a song title. We like dark stories with a whimsical twist (e.g. Tim Burton or Neil Gaiman). Any style is accepted. We’re fans of manga, superhero, even stick figures. Wow us with your originality.

Genres?

Science Fiction

Fantasy

Horror

Magical Realism

Superhero

Literary

Comedy

Steampunk

Check out their website for more information and spread the word! 

Jack Sprat Press

Pre-Writing a Novel, Making a Road Map

The next time I start a brand new project with new characters, I plan to follow these steps BEFORE I spend any time writing the actual story. At the beginning of my writerly life, I would have considered this a huge waste of time—when I already know (mostly) how the story will go in my head. But ultimately, for me, writing panster-style (and writing by consensus) created years of rewriting, reorganizing, and countless cleanups to make sure all the details were still true to what was kept (and that details or character comments didn’t pertain to something that got cut).

This recommended process (a writing assignment from my publisher) took me about two weeks and ended up being about 25k. I have referred to it often in the course of writing my series, because some plot threads span more than one book, some characters aren't fully revealed in a single book, and I can't forget who and what they are (lest I end up with loose threads and characters who vanish for no apparent reason.)

1. List every character who has a name and give them a face (a real picture from google images—no one but you will ever see this image, so no worries in regards to fame or legal rights)

2. Give each person a life—age, family status, why, who, where, how, what they want, goals/dreams/fears. What part do they play in the story? Where do they end up by the time the story is finished?

3. What are the plots? What are the sub-plots? Play all the plots out to the every end, including all major turning points, climax, and end (for every plot, like a synopsis!). This will give you a steady pace to follow, and keep you from giving away too much info too soon (if you know exactly how much is there in the first place).

4. Think of questions that could potentially rip your story apart, and figure out the answers before you start writing. (How does an entire community of shifters stay hidden? Why can’t Ariel write Eric a note to declare her love (after she’s lost her voice) when it’s clear she knows how to write? Who has access to the ‘magic’ and why?)

5. Connect all the dots. How does each character interact with the main character/s? Do they help or hinder? If they do neither, maybe they shouldn't be involved at all (if you’re doing this AFTER your story has been written, and you’re looking for ways to cut. If you love the character too much to cut, make him/her earn his way into the story by giving him a purpose that makes sense. Or save him/her for book 2, or another story entirely.) :-)

This is a great way to determine how much value a character or plot adds to your story. You don’t want or need extra wordage the reader could do without, or “talking heads” with no real cause.

Have a solid plan and know your characters’ personalities before you begin the writing, and you’ll save hours and hours (maybe months) of fixing timelines, filling plot-holes, and tweaking details for pace, believability, and dimension. With each character and plot, you should know exactly where they need to go and why. How they get there can still be a surprise in the writing, but the destination (along with the critical gas stations) should be mapped out before the journey begins.

*bonus tip! If your ideas gets tweaked along the way, do you best to keep this master document updated as you go. Because every time you come to roadblock in the writing, you'll have an accurate map to get you back on course.

If a *shiny new road has your wheels spinning faster, you can more accurately predict how much change one little detail might have on the overall story--if you can still get to the same destination on a different route.

*There's no harm in changing the destination before you get there, you just have to make sure all the details agree to change direction. If you've already written stuff that no longer applies...it's not the end of the world (just more work). Sometimes a different destination is well worth the effort. ;-)

A story and a sentence walked into a bar together...

Guest post by Kristen James

They both noticed a woman with long, dark hair and an inviting smile, so they sat at the bar, four stools away from her. She glanced over at their entrance before turning back to her conversation with her friends. Sentence told Story, “Watch this. I’m going to wiggle my perfect construction at her. She won’t be able to resist!”

Story watched as Sentence tried to catch the woman’s eye. The woman and her friends gave Sentence a few polite glances, but they weren’t interested.

When Story had enough, he announced, “My turn!” He walked around Sentence to sit closer to the woman and gave her a nod and a wink. The woman immediately moved down the bar three seats to talk to Story.

“Your characters are amazing! How did you come up with this idea, anyway?” She leaned closer and tilted her head back to tease him with a half smile. “And the twist at the end! I didn’t see that coming, but then it made perfect sense. Please tell me there’s a sequel. Does Jake ever win Kathryne over, and does his father ever forgive him? Is there another mystery to solve?”

Story motioned for another round of drinks and murmured, “I’ll tell you everything if you have a few hours…”

Sentence sulked in his seat. What had he done wrong?

“Sentence” missed the simple fact that readers don’t go into bookstores and online retailers to buy groups of sentences. There aren’t any reviews that read, “This book is full of perfect sentences! Check out the metaphor on page 82. The sentences were so wonderful that I forgot about the story and highlighted the comas and semicolons. This author knows how to vary sentence length! Wonderful!”

Readers often say a novel is well written, and they might mention the imagery or fresh use of language, but that alone won’t win readers. Personally, I don’t want to throw a reader out of the story with a impressive sentence. I want the plot and characters to pull the reader in so she’ll keep reading past her bedtime. Of course, I don’t want poor writing to distract the reader either, but I know the point of the novel is the story.

As an artist, do you want others to see the picture you’re painting or the brushstrokes?

Do you need to write well on a sentence level to write good stories? Yes, of course! But are the sentences more important than the story you’re telling? Not in my opinion. Aren’t authors selling stories, not sentences?

Writing well is very important. I don’t mean to argue that point, but it really bugs me when I hear someone put down a mega bestselling author for their writing. It’s usually on a sentence level: “Look at all the clichés, passive voice, and simple sentences! A fifth grader could write better.” It could be true–the given book might very well be full of sentences that could be written better. Maybe their modifiers don’t line up. Maybe they like using clichés as shortcuts in certain places. Maybe they choose choppy or run on sentences over proper grammar to show the character’s thoughts and emotions. But, if the writing really is that poor, then the author must be doing something else right. And that “something else” really sells copies. Millions of readers are buying those books. Despite what people say, you can’t sell a book month after month on marketing alone. If it’s not a good story, people complain. They won’t tell other people about the book.

Readers want an experience away from their life. They want to get sucked into a great story that makes them forget everything else for a few hours. They want to connect with the character and see the world differently. They want to experience a great story. They want to feel.

So, yes, please learn to write sentences well and play with language. Study English, spelling, and grammar. Create fresh images and strive to be original. Learn how to write well so readers can understand what you’re saying. And if you want to sell that writing, remember your job is to tell a damn good story.

Kristen James has written over twenty books and ranked in the top 100 Bestsellers in Kindle US, UK and Canada, #1 in ten different categories, #1 in Movers & Shakers, and #1 free rankings.

Visit Kristen's WEBSITE

Follow Kristen on FACEBOOK 

Follow Kristen on TWITTER

Artistry for Authors

It's been just over a year since I started making my miniature book charms for authors, and it's been an amazing experience! I've met so many wonderful people in the process.


I think it has something to do with my clients being in the final stages of a book. It's the stage when you are DONE with all the nit-picky editing and the cover is finalized...when it's time for getting fun presents and swag items for contests and celebrations. The stage when you finally have something to show for all that hard work you've put in, and you can finally start showing off a finished product!

No one knows better than an author (or perhaps an involved spouse), how much time and effort goes into the creation of a single book. I'm so proud of all the people who've endured the process to the end, and THANK YOU for letting me be part of the celebrations. :-)

Check out the brand New Blog (especially the gallery of charming clients!) and 'like' my Facebook Fan Page for special announcements and offers.

If you're going to BEA 2015, stay tuned for a special deal on these mini booklets! (Features your front/back cover and approximately the first thousand words of your novel)


Don't you love swag?
I think it ranks right up there with "The End," "Send me a full ms," and, "You have a deal."

BE PROUD of your accomplishments and show it off to the world!

And the Mystery Agent is..... (plus winners!!)

Please give a warm round of applause to our Mystery Agent, LANE HEYMONT, of the Seymour Agency.

Lane has chosen three winners from the batch of 50-Word Blurbs, so without further ado, congratulations go to: 

Michelle Rose: OUTLANDER meets TITANIC when a girl is sent back in time to the ship after holding a séance to summon a boy aboard Titanic. There, she discovers the witchy powers that send her there can no longer get her home. She has a choice: save the ship, or save herself.

Laurence King: Deirdre Walsh (16) finds herself at the center of a faerie quest to conquer humanity using a magical stone that has been in her family for generations. Unawares, she teams up with the son of her family’s archenemy to retrieve the stone, ransom her kidnapped grandfather, and stop the faeries.

Salma T. Wahdy: Set in a world reminiscent of the Balkans during WWI with an energy-field that is manipulated by second-class Loders, HEIRESS OF DANISKAR is a reimagining of Shakespeare blended with elements of STAR WARS and DOWNTON ABBEY. Hamlynne’s thirst for revenge is complicated by her Loder abilities and approaching war.

WINNERS! I'll be in touch to tell you what to send the amazing Mr. Heymont. 

We couldn't let Lane go without an introduction and asking a few questions. :-)

Hi all, Lane Heymont here. I’m an agent at The Seymour Agency. My fellow agents include Mary Sue Seymour, Nicole Resciniti, and Julie Gwinn. We represent a range of genres from Christian/Inspirational to Fantasy/Science Fiction and a great deal of Romance.

(OA) How did you become an agent?

(Lane) I saw a tweet that The Seymour Agency was looking for an intern/reader, so I applied and got the job! After a few months they bumped me up to literary assistant. Then, a year and a half later our senior agent Nicole Resciniti asked me if I wanted to make the switch to an agenting position. That’s where I am today.

(OA) What draws you to Sci-Fi and Fantasy?

(Lane) I grew up on science fiction and fantasy. I was a huge Trekkie as a kid, read fantasy novels intended for adults in middle school, and played Dungeons and Dragons, Shadowrun, and even Marvel Legends. As kids we all have our ways to escape during tough times, and science fiction and fantasy film and literature were mine.

(OA) Best advice for querying authors? (besides "never give up")

(Lane) Do. Your. Research. I cannot express that enough. I have submission guidelines. All agents do. If I ask for five pages pasted in the body of the email you should give me five pages pasted in the body of the email. If I sound curt, it’s because this is something I see constantly and don’t understand why. If having your baby (book) published is your dream, then why wouldn’t you go for that dream as hard as you can. People may say, “I don’t know where to begin” and I feel that’s a cop out. Google “how to find a literary agent” and go from there. You cannot run a marathon if you haven’t trained a day in your life. Just like you cannot succeed as a writer without learning the craft and industry.

(OA) Will you be at any conventions this year?

(Lane) Yes! I will be at several, including RT Booklovers Convention in Dallas, RWA National in NYC, Unicorn Writers’ Conference in New York, The Southern California Writers’ Conference in Los Angeles, and the 2015 Florida Writers’ Association Annual Conference.

I’ll be taking pitches, sitting on several panels, and presenting a workshop on worldbuilding. For dates, registration, and more information you can click here to view my conference schedule.

(OA) Are there trends in plots that you get tired of seeing? 

(Lane) I’m tired of post-apocalyptic and dystopian settings. Demons as antagonists is getting old for me, mainly because I have clients and agency mates who write demons so perfectly that it’s an unfair competition. I’m also not a big fan of space opera. For me it’s become oversaturated with outlandish settings and alien species that just don’t make sense. Flying toilet people don’t sit well with me. I thrive on subtlety and subtext.

QUICKIES:

Sugar or Salt? Truvia in my coffee and salt on my popcorn.

Coffee or Tea? Both! I have a constant IV of coffee and only drink green tea.

Dream Vacation spot? Only one? The Caribbean.

Dream Car? A Bugatti Veyron 16.4, or Ford Mustang (I’m simple).

Proudest moment of your life? Reading letters from Holocaust survivors thanking my grandfather for changing their lives while he oversaw the Landsberg DP Camp.

Most embarrassing? Winter. Ten years ago. Walking outside, I slip on a patch of ice and land on my ass in front of my boss. I’ve never heard a man cackle so loud.

You can connect with Lane Heymont on Twitter, Facebook, and follow his blog. 

April 2015 Mystery Agent Critique Forum - OPEN NOW!

Welcome to the Mystery Agent critique portion of our contest. Those who wished to be included in the open forum are ready for your critiques. The entries are extremely short, so I encourage you to read through them and see what's trending. Pretend you're an agent! What catches your attention? Which ones stand out after you've been through them all, and more importantly... why?

Our rules are simple:
Even though it's April Fool's Day...

Be helpful.

Be relevant.

Be kind.

*For THIS contest-- I decided to list Runner Ups who were NOT chosen by Raffelcopter, but wanted to be in the forum for critique. (Sorry I couldn't rearrange the topics--- or Runner Ups would have been moved to the bottom of the list.)

Congratulations to all our winners, and to these lucky winners who opted to not be included in the forum:

Amber Riley

Tlotlo Tsamaase

Nicki Pau Preto

J.C. Welker

All entries have been forwarded to our marvelous Mystery Agent, and in a couple of weeks, I'll reveal our Mystery Agent and his top picks in a post of amazing awesomesauce.  :-) 

Thanks in advance to everyone who chimes in, and to all of our fantastic entrants. Happy critting! 

One last thing....
For easy access to the entries throughout the month, look in the tab under the OA blog banner: MA Critiques.

Just a little more info about the forum:

-You DO NOT have to register to comment.
-To comment on a pitch, just click Reply on the main post in the thread. It will bring up a comment box where you can enter your name and comment.
-To return to the full list, click April 2015 Mystery Agent in the top left corner of the forum.

Still have questions? Leave them in the comments below this post.

April Mystery Agent Contest!

Welcome to the lottery for our April Mystery Agent contest! Are your manuscripts polished and your pitches ready to go?

What are we looking for?
A 50-word blurb!
What is our Mystery Agent seeking?
Genre: Fantasy and Sci-fi (for YA / Adult) 
When can you enter?
Right now! The lottery will close Tuesday, March 31st, at 11:59pm, CST.


How to enter:
•  Enter your name and email address in the Rafflecopter below.
•  Make sure you complete the last step in the Rafflecopter and email your entry to operationawesome6 (at) gmail (dot) com. Email the following in this format:

Name:
Email address:
Pen Name: (if applicable--this will be the name posted in the forum)
Genre:
Word Count:
50-word Blurb:
Do you want to be included in the forum for feedback? (yes or no)

Important: Once you have completed this last step, type “Done” in step 3 of the Rafflecopter and click "Enter!" to complete your entry. That's it!

Please enter only once and only if your manuscript is finished and query-ready.
The lottery will close Monday, March 30th, at 11:59 pm CST. Lottery winners for our Mystery Agent's consideration will be posted here on the blog on April 1st (no joke!).

TWENTY lucky entrants will be selected and not only will the Mystery Agent take a look at them for a chance to win fabulous prizes, but we'll be posting all 20 entries (who opted to be included) here on the blog on April 1st for cheerleading and constructive feedback. And last but certainly not least, the reveal, along with the winner and to-be-announced prize, will be posted here sometime in the month of April.

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments.

Good luck and...
       HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share With Us!

I'm curious! (as writers tend to be) :-) How is your current writing project coming along? Are you keeping up with goals you might have made at the first of the year?

I'm in the editing stages of book 3, waiting on the first round of beta readers, working on the back cover blurb and cover art...semi-distracted by the spring cleaning bug.  

How 'bout you? Anything exciting going on in your world? Share with us!

Tax Tip Sources for Authors

Tax Time is fast approaching here in the US, and while I think I have a pretty good handle on keeping track of my writing expenses and incomes, I've been doing a bit of research on the subject and thought I'd pass it along.

1.  Is Your Writing a Hobby or Business? Suppose you write in your free time. You submit short stories to magazines and occasionally receive a small check...  by Helen Sedwick, guest posting on The Book Designer website.

2.  Suppose you spend $5,000 hiring editors, designers, and other freelancers to publish your book. At the end of the year, you’ve made $2,000 in sales, which you offset with $2,000 of expenses. Can you deduct the remaining $3,000 from your “day job” income and reduce your income taxes? Yes, if you treat your writing as a business and not a hobby. (What Every Self-published Author Needs to Know about Taxes...) by Helen Sedwick, guest posting on Jane Friedman's Resource for Writers website.)

3.  Sure, your pens, computer printer ink and paper are tax deductible — but you might learn something new in the following details and tips about book author tax deductions. Tax Deduction Tips for Authors.  By Valerie Peterson, Book Publishing Expert posting at About (Money).

4.  Just ask yourself: “Would I buy this if I weren’t writing a story about X?” If not, then it’s a legit research expense. 5 Top Tax Tips for Writers. By NS Smith at Tax Tips for Authors.

5. While the simplest way for a small business, a writer, to report their income and related expenses is on Schedule C of their personal tax return as a sole proprietor, the two most popular entities for authors thinking about expanding beyond a sole proprietor are LLCs and S-Corporations. Tax tips for authors: LLC or S-Corporation? by Robert M. Pesce on TAA.

6. Is your writing activity a business? Tax Deductions for Writers, by Stephen Fishman, J.D.

And finally, if your eyes are getting blurry, give your ears a shot:
7. For novelists who hate taxes but still want to become bestselling authors. (how to stay out of jail … when it comes to your taxes) Wow! This is a new writing site for me, and it looks/sounds great! Novel Tax Tips for Authors (Podcast)

8. Coffee and Chocolate.

52 Tip Pick Up

Let me start by saying these lists of Writing Tips are not mine—they’ve been traveling around the internet for many, many years, entertaining writers with their humorous wisdom. :-)

1. Avoid Alliteration. Always.
2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
3. Avoid clichés like the plague. (They’re old hat.)
4. Employ the vernacular.
5. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
6. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
7. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
8. Contractions aren’t necessary.
9. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
10. One should never generalize.
11. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”
12. Comparisons are as bad as clichés.
13. Don’t be redundant; don’t use more words than necessary; it’s highly superfluous.
14. Profanity sucks.
15. Be more or less specific.
16. Understatement is always best.
17. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
18. One word sentences? Eliminate.
19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
20. The passive voice is to be avoided.
21. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
22. Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
23. Who needs rhetorical questions?
--
24. Parenthetical words however must be enclosed in commas.
25. It behooves you to avoid archaic expressions.
26. Avoid archaeic spellings too.
27. Don't repeat yourself, or say again what you have said before.
28. Don't use commas, that, are not, necessary.
29. Do not use hyperbole; not one in a million can do it effectively.
30. Never use a big word when a diminutive alternative would suffice.
31. Subject and verb always has to agree.
32. Placing a comma between subject and predicate, is not correct.
33. Use youre spell chekker to avoid mispeling and to catch typograhpical errers.
34. Don't repeat yourself, or say again what you have said before.
35. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.
36. Don't never use no double negatives.
37. Poofread carefully to see if you any words out.
38. Hopefully, you will use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
39. Eschew obfuscation.
40. No sentence fragments.
41. Don't indulge in sesquipedalian lexicological constructions.
42. A writer must not shift your point of view.
43. Don't overuse exclamation marks!!
44. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.
45. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
46. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
47. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
48. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
49. Always pick on the correct idiom.
50. The adverb always follows the verb.
51. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
52. If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of repetition can be by rereading and editing.
52. And always be sure to finish what

Tips for Editing

Now that the holidays are over and you might be getting back to writing, what’s your number one tip for those who struggle with editing? I don’t remember where I picked up this little gem, but my all time favorite is changing the page size and font.

You know how raking leaves in someone else’s yard is more rewarding? Or doing someone else’s dishes, or folding someone else’s laundry, or editing someone else’s manuscript? It’s like that! When you change the page size and font, your text looks and feels like someone else’s work, and that make as HUGE difference to your brain when you’re trying to be more objective about what’s really going on in the story.

For example:

            -Paper size goes from 8.5x11 to 6x9  

            -Font goes from Times New Roman to Adobe Caslon or Garamond or Myriad (just make sure the font stays easy on the eyes)

            -Font size goes from 12 to 11

            -Spacing goes from double to 1.5

It’s not a huge technical difference, but it’s enough to force you to read what’s really there, instead of what you remember typing.

By the way, this isn’t a one-time thing and it’s not an exact science. I pick something new EVERY time I want to pretend I have fresh eyes. :-)  (Just don’t forget to shift it all back into the more standard (or requested) format before you send it somewhere.)

We all write and edit differently—what’s your favorite tip to pass along?

Top Ten Operation Awesome Posts of 2014

Tis the season for top ten lists! Look back with me on the top ten Operation Awesome posts of 2014.*

*Does not include critiques or Mystery Agent posts


10. Shifting Publishing Power Structures by Melinda Friesen
Guest blogger Melinda Friesen talks about the steps to getting a book published by a trade publisher and her decision to work with a small press.


9. Behind the Contest - A Few Pointers from a Contest Judge by SC Writer
Guest blogger SC Writer, one of the masterminds behind Nightmare on Query Street, Query Kombat, and other pitch contests talks about what catches his eye.


8. Tomorrow is #MSWL Day! by Amy Trueblood
OA contributor Amy Trueblood reminds us of some guidelines for making use of agents' twitter hashtag, #MSWL (ManuScript Wish List).


7. The Sibyl Reborn by Toni Kerr
OA contributor Toni Kerr interviews author J. Perry Kelly on his urban fantasy novel, The Sibyl Reborn.


6. Platypire World Domination by J. Hooligan
Guest blogger J. Hooligan teaches the world about a fascinating new creature, the playtpire!


5.  Numerical Motivation 2014: Using Spreadsheets to Increase My Word Count by Abby Annis
OA contributor Abby Annis shows how she uses spreadsheets to keep herself organized and accountable for her daily, weekly, monthly, and annual word count goals. Includes links to awesome spreadsheets you can use!


4. Submission Tips from an Editorial Intern by Jennifer Blackwood
Guest blogger Jennifer Blackwood shares the top things she looks for when a submission crosses her desk.


3. The Anchors that Weigh Us Down and How to Break Free by Karen McCoy
OA contributor Karen McCoy talks about the tough task of letting go of a manuscript so that you can move on to better things.


2. Adaptations and Loose Interpretations: Frozen and the Snow Queen by Katrina L. Lantz
OA contributor compares the Disney movie Frozen with the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale on which it's based.

and finally....

1. Settings that Pop by PK Hrezo
Former guest blogger, now official OA contributor PK Hrezo talks about the settings in her debut, Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc, and how she researched these historical places to make them pop!

Scrivener VS Word

There’s always a lot of buzz about Scrivener this time of year, especially when they offer a 50% coupon for anyone who finished NANO!

Do you use Scrivener? Do you like it? Are you tempted to try the 30-day free trial?

I’ve had this program for over a year and I’m still on the fence about whether I love it or not. I like how it coverts files to .mobi and .epub easily enough, but it’s never as simple as the tutorials make it seem (in fact, nothing about the program feels very intuitive).

I usually have to export files into Word if I need to work at a different location on my laptop, then import the updated files back in (or cut and paste). And then I export back into Word to do all my final editing and formatting, then import back into Scrivener and override their settings to use Word settings to save as various formats...which seems like more work than it needs to be.

I really did try in earnest with my current project to do everything from the beginning outline to a readable draft in Scrivener... but ultimately, I gave up and pasted each chapter back into Word for a more thorough edit. (I’m glad Scrivener has a built in thesaurus now, but it still lacks a lot of the editing abilities that Word has—like telling you you've used the wrong word, even though it’s spelled right.)

The program truly has great potential for tracking multiple plot lines and various PoVs, but you have to tag everything accordingly to make the system functional. And during an extremely rough first draft (even with an outline), I find that I don’t always know enough about how the story weaves quite yet. Not to mention that when I import/export or cut/paste new text into the program, the new text overrides previous tagging.

I’d love to be THAT organized with my writing, but I’m just not. I’m an unorganized person. There! I said it. No matter what fancy abilities a program might have—it’s still up to the user to take advantage. Yet they say the program caters to the highly unorganized...so what am I missing?

Do you have any helpful hints on how to USE the program? Is it worth the long learning curve? (Is it worth the extra $ to have access to all the training videos?) Is it better than Word once you get used to it? Tips please!!

Are you SURE you’re ready to publish?

Anyone can publish anything these days—it really has become that simple. And I’m sad to say that lately, I’ve quit more books than I’ve finished.

If you want to compete seriously with the traditional market, you MUST find an editor. Not your mom, your sibling, or your best friend who doesn’t want to hurt your feelings. And not just a proofreader.

We all thrive on cheerleaders, but what most people really need is someone who is impartial about the project and has a serious eye for writing skills. The quality of your work and ongoing reputation depends on it, and publishing your first, second, or third draft of a manuscript without an editor is a huge mistake.

“Just ignore those earlier reviews. An edited version has been uploaded and it’s much better now!”

Too little, too late. You can never remake that first impression with your readers. (Unless you delete the book and give it a new isbn/asin.. which you might consider if you already regret hitting the ‘publish’ button.) :-)

A good editor will point out the candy bar scenes that won’t be missed if you took them out. In some cases, a 4k chapter of showing is NOT better than a single sentence of telling. Yes, I know we’re told to “show don’t tell,” but let’s get real, especially if your book is bordering on being too long already. I (the reader) don’t need to see your character’s daily routine at the beginning of every day to believe he/she has morning issues. Really! A solid example is all it takes, and it wouldn’t take more than a few words now and then to remind me how dreadful the mornings are.

A good editor will tell you if your story/scene/chapter is not moving forward. I know you love hanging out with your characters, but I don’t want to spend my free time reading about people chit-chatting around a basket of unfolded laundry. It just reminds me that I should probably stop neglecting my own. So if your characters are bored and unfocused, it’s highly likely your reader will pick up on that feeling and go find something to do (something more productive than reading). This isn’t to say your characters aren’t lovable when they do their household chores, it’s just that keeping your reader engaged might require more cleverness than you thought.

A good editor will point out the words/phrases/ideas that you tend to overused. There’s nothing more annoying than seeing three unrelated growls in one paragraph, and two in the next. We all have our crutch words, but a good editor will point them out and suggest coming up with something a little more creative.  

A good editor can feel emotion and cadence in your words. Do you wonder why an action scene falls flat, even though there’s blood and guts and explosions everywhere? Emotion (too much/too little) and cadence (fast/slow) (pace). Sometimes your best friend can’t put a finger on WHY something feels off, where as an editor can offer many reasons and suggestions.

A good editor will make you see your writing from someone else’s perspective (fresh eyes). If the editor isn’t picking up on what you were trying to accomplish, then maybe you need to do it differently, or give up on the theory if (after careful consideration) you decide the idea isn’t worth defending.

A good editor will know about tense, point of view, and basic grammar. There are times to break these rules, and an editor will help you break them with purpose, or they will stand their ground and tell you it comes across as sloppy and unprofessional.

A good editor will find major and minor plot holes and perhaps help you fill them in. “If I was in a haunted house, I’d just leave. Why are they staying?” “If I walked into a restroom and found a dead body, I’d be calling the police. Why is this person suddenly on the run?” “If I was kidnapped, I’d be trying to free myself. What’s keeping this kid from yelling and screaming when there are people everywhere who could potentially save him?” These are good questions! Anything that pulls your reader out of the story to question the believability/reality is a serious risk. You can’t expect your readers to stick around for five more chapters to figure out the answer. (Obviously there’s an aspect of mystery to consider, but be certain your reader is asking the correct questions if you’re laying a trail of clues.)

You always have a choice to accept or not accept an editor’s opinion. In doing so, you either learn to defend the choices you’ve made in your novel and writing style, or you grow as a writer, seeing the weaknesses you didn’t notice before (such as a lack of character depth/growth, emotion, or forward momentum).

After the editor has done his/her magic, especially if you incorporate lots of structural changes, find a good proofreader (because the editor no longer has fresh eyes when it comes to technical details). What’s the difference between an editor and a proofreader? An editor analyzes your work as a whole. A proofreader looks at the technicalities. An editor will tell you your character hordes too much. A proofreader will tell you it’s hoards, not hordes. An editor will tell you these examples feel repetitive, a proofreader isn't reading for content.

No matter how epic your story and characters are, leaving errors for your reader to find is an irritating turnoff and a sure way to get poor reviews. The LAST thing I want to do when I’m taking the time to read for my own personal enjoyment... is edit.

As a reader, what kills a story for you?

Back to Writing!

Summer is officially over at my house and the kids will be back in school by the end of the week. I’m facing the moment I’ve been looking forward to all summer... Writing Time!!!

But man! My daily habits have completely changed (maybe for the better) while being off the grid. So... since I have a relatively clean slate to set up new writing habits, I’m working on a list of what my daily priorities should be.

1. Make a schedule! 
-One hour of exercise, three days a week with the hubs. Neither of us seem willing to put out the effort on our own, but we’re hoping to keep each other motivated. :-) You never know! It just might work! No more, “I don’t have time, I’m writing!”

-Dinner plans. No more, “I can’t think about dinner right now, I’m writing!” (which ultimately leads to $5 pizzas or frozen/boxed things with 8 minutes to spare before swim team practice.)

-I will NOT attempt to do any writing before the kids go to school. I generally wake up hours before anyone else does, but it ultimately leads to, “Oh my gosh! The kids are still in bed and we have 4 minutes to make lunches, eat breakfast, get dressed and out the door!”
But I might try jotting down a few scene/chapter notes that I want to tackle for the day... especially if I need to write three chapters a week to meet my intended deadline. (Thank goodness I have a (mostly) detailed outline to keep me focused!)

-Make laundry/cleaning a daily ritual—not a monthly “Ugh! I can’t work in these conditions!”

-Be extra cautious about balancing time between MY projects vs covers and editing for others. As much as I love working on other people's projects, I really do have a deadline.

2. Write the Schedule!
-Change that... PRINT the schedule as a daily check-off chart and live by the list each day until it becomes habit.

3. Stick to the Schedule!
-I seem to go through this I-need-better-habits phase every September and New Year. So...crossing my fingers and toes that I can be dedicated to more than just making time to write. :-)

I’m extremely grateful to have such a huge amount of flexibility in my day-to-day life. I know many writers who would LOVE to have as much time as I do. I just need to use the time more wisely to better balance obsessive writing and a healthier frame of mind. I’m 98% certain everyone in my house would benefit. :-)

Pre-Writing and Family Time

By the time you read this, I’ll have been “off the grid” for almost a week, doing my best to forget about the digital world while we do family things in the great outdoors.

It’s always a tough transition to leave the internet access zone behind (we do it every summer), but I’ve given myself plenty of time to get my projects wrapped up (in writing and real life) and I feel more prepared than ever. (I confess we do have limited access at 2am...which is a tad early even for me)

I have books I need to read and review loaded on my (charged!) kindle, research materials downloaded for book 3, and a list of a plot issues that need to be fleshed out before I can do any serious writing....

My biggest goal? I want all the writing stars to align with perfectly clarity when the kids go back to school in September (which is completely reasonable!)

Whether I can wait that long or not will be the real question. :-)

Do your writing habits change during the summer months? I realize that some deadlines are just too dang tight to STOP writing for a week or two (or three or four)... but stepping away definitely helps reignite that burning desire to write write write if you happen to find yourself pondering whether you truly WANT to write or not. Maybe it's that "grass is always greener on the other side" theory. :-) But also, it's a great reminder that there are amazing things going on in the real world. Enjoy the seasonal opportunities while you can! The writing can wait. In fact, it might even track you down and apologize for being such an unhealthy obsession and re-negotiate better work conditions for a win-win. :-) (crossing my fingers!)

So my question for you is.... Who controls your time-- you or your writing?

See you in a few weeks!
~Toni

Unleashed-- Release Party!

Today is the day! I'm so happy to announce the release of BOOK 2 in the Secrets of the Makai series: UNLEASHED

Tristan can't wait to get to Darnell—a place where people have similar powers to his own and won't know about the horrific events that led to being exiled from his previous home. Unfortunately, they do know, and so does Lazaro, a ruthless man determined to regain possession of the powerful emerald Tristan stole.


And Lazaro isn't the only one on a quest for Tristan's blood.

A secret society of overzealous dragon slayers believes Tristan is a worthy target to hunt. When he is captured and put on trial for being an abomination to mankind, his continued denial of dragon ancestry won't keep him safe for long. The Slayers have been hunting for generations, and in a private museum of artifacts and past conquests, Tristan discovers a handful of gems akin to the emerald and a new mission—if he can survive long enough to escape captivity.

But then...no amount of protection or denial can save him from himself.







To help celebrate, Book 1, Descendant, is on sale for 99 cents.

Also, there's a contest going on at Goodreads (for Book 2: Unleashed) running until June 10th. As a special bonus for our OA Readers, if you enter and WIN, contact me to let me know you saw it here, and I'll throw in a copy of Descendant to go along with it! :-)

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Unleashed

by Toni Kerr

Giveaway ends June 10, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Good Luck everyone and have a FANTASTIC day!

Links:
DESCENDANT (book 1) for $0.99 at Amazon
UNLEASHED (book 2) at Amazon (new release)
GoodReads Contest
My Facebook Fan Page

UNLEASHED, Toni Kerr-- Cover Reveal

I'm thrilled unveil the cover for book 2 in the Makai series, UNLEASHED. This series has been such an amazing experience. I can't wait to see how everything unrolls from here! :-)

Tristan can't wait to get to Darnell—a place where people have similar powers to his own and won't know about the horrific events that led to being exiled from his previous home. Unfortunately, they do know, and so does Lazaro, a ruthless man determined to regain possession of the powerful emerald Tristan stole. 

And Lazaro isn't the only one on a quest for Tristan's blood. 

A secret society of overzealous dragon slayers believes Tristan is a worthy target to hunt. When he is captured and put on trial for being an abomination to mankind, his continued denial of dragon ancestry won't keep him safe for long. The Slayers have been hunting for generations, and in a private museum of artifacts and past conquests, Tristan discovers a handful of gems akin to the emerald and a new mission—if he can survive long enough to escape captivity. 

But then...no amount of protection or denial can save him from himself.


UNLEASHED will be, uh, unleashed June 5th! (*groans! that was bad).

Before you ask.... Yes! That is a potted cactus plant on the back cover. And, yes! It is deliberate. :-)

Find me at Goodreads!
(I'll post a link in the comments when the Goodreads contest goes live--hopefully by Wednesday.)