A New Way to Find Critique Partners

I get a good bit of email via this blog asking me questions. And I have to say one of the most popular questions I get asked is--can you critique my work? This is closely followed by--where do I find beta readers/crit partners?


These are tough questions to answer because, well, on the first one the answer is usually no. For me to thoroughly crit one chapter for someone, I usually need 1-2 hours. Seriously. I'm detailed. You'll feel like you've had a proctology exam. And between blogging, writing on a deadline, being a mom and wife,  I just honestly don't have the time these days. I even had to leave my own crit group last year because I couldn't dedicate enough time to be an active participant. So now I just exchange with a few trusted betas when I can.

However, just as a sidenote and a shameless self-promotion, Kat Brauer will be auctioning off a crit from me over at Crits for Water in May. All proceeds will go to an awesome charity that provides clean water to countries where that is hard to find. Deets coming soon. But I hope some of you will bid on little ol' me.

*back from our commercial break* Okay, so I need to address the follow up question of--where the heck do I find crit partners? (Because you need them, you here? NEED them. Do not go submit your work without having beta readers WHO ARE NOT RELATED TO YOU, ARE NOT YOUR BEST FRIEND, AND ARE NOT SLEEPING WITH YOU give you feedback. Don't do it.)

In the past, I've referred people to message boards, I've done matchmaking here on the blog and on Twitter (rather successfully in fact. *waves at all the crit lovebirds*), but really my advice usually came down to "you have to network". Get to know people through writing groups, your blog, twitter, whatever.

But now there is a new option that I'm so excited about. Penguin has launched Book Country. This website is a new place for writers (and readers) to go to post parts of your work (only members can view it) and get feedback from other writers. It's social networking and critiquing all wrapped into one.

For any of you following Colleen Lindsey on Twitter, this is the Sekrit Projekt she was always talking about. I had the opportunity to see her speak about it a few months ago when she presented at the DFW Writer's Workshop, so I've been waiting with bated breath for the public launch so I could share the info with you guys.

I'm not going to go into how the site works (more info on that here), but the cool thing about it is this awesome genre map that lets you code your work on genre, heat level, and humor level. So people who are looking for what you write can easily find it. Also, it's a setup that forces give and take because you can't get crits until you give some. Love that.

And....it's free! Yay for that.

So go check it out. Maybe you'll find a crit partner match made in heaven. :) If nothing else, playing with the genre map alone is super entertaining.

So have you had trouble finding crit partners? If you have some where do you find yours? Anyone try Book Country yet? And if you're looking for a crit partner, feel free to put your genre and email address in a comment below--maybe this can act as some more matchmaking! 

I'm Not an Expert, But I Play One On the Internet

I write about writing. That's what this blog is about. That's not what the plan was for this site, but this is what it has evolved into. And you lovely people that take the time to read my posts and comment seem to approve of the direction I've gone. (Thanks for that, btw.)

However, there is also this opinion out there that I hear on blogs over and over again that the person doesn't want to blog about writing because it would feel hypocritical or fake--"I'm no expert. So what right do I have to tell you about writing?"

Okay, that's cool. If writing about writing isn't your thing, then definitely don't do it. However, sometimes the statement makes me feel a bit defensive because I'm like--dude, I'm not an expert either and I spend three days a week telling people about writing. And I've been doing that since way before I ever had an agent or a book deal or any stamp of this-chick-has-some-semblance-of-writing-ability legitimacy.

So do people think I'm some newbie who believes she knows-it all?

Well, lord I hope not.

Here's my approach to this blog. I'm naturally an advice-giver (my former career was as a social worker/therapist) and I'm a research-oriented person. When I decide I'm going to do something I want to know AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY CAN about said topic. In this case, writing.

I'm addicted to learning, always have been. So I'm constantly reading books on craft, looking at other websites, going to conferences, attending writer's meetings, etc. I know I don't know it all, but that doesn't stop me from trying to learn it all. And then when I get this information, I pass it along via this blog. Not as---Hi, I'm the all-powerful writing craft goddess and want to bestow my epic-ness upon you--but as...Hey, look what I found out. Isn't this so cool and helpful?


So no, I'm not an expert. All I do is find out what the real experts are saying, distill it, and pass it along in (hopefully) tasty little sips for everyone.

So if you want to write about writing on your blog but don't feel "legitimate", I say screw that. As long as you're passing along solid information that you found helpful, then I don't see anything wrong with it. And if you have no desire to write about writing, then don't feel obligated to do so.

If you write about what moves/excites you, it'll work. I intended for this blog to be a book review site originally--hence the title Fiction Groupie--and it evolved instead into this because it was what kept filling my head.

Apparently being a bossy, know-it-all comes naturally to me. ;)

Hmm, I am an only child...

So what's your opinion? Does it bother you when people who aren't published or don't have an MFA or some other stamp of legitimacy spout writing advice on their blog? Do you feel weird writing craft posts because you don't feel you're "expert" enough to do so?

Six Secrets to Writing a Killer Author Bio

I'm guest blogging over at The Savvy Book Marketer today. Come stop by and say hi!

Six Secrets to a Killer Author Bio

And I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!

Guest Blogging Etiquette: Let's Make a Deal

So if you've been blogging for any amount of time, you've probably had some experience with guest blogging--either inviting people onto your own site or doing a post on someone else's site. It's a great thing to do to cross promote and once you've got a book coming out, it's often a big piece of your marketing. Blog tours are all the rage because the internet is a great place to find readers and build word of mouth.

I get requests on a pretty regular basis both to be a guest on other sites and from people wanting to do a post here. It seems once you get past 500 or so followers, a good number of people want to hang out on your site. :) That's awesome. I love doing guests posts and I certainly love having people stop by here.

However, there is some etiquette that goes along with this process. Some people follow it and others fail miserably. So I figured I would give some quick tips I've gathered from my experience that may help you navigate the guest blogging waters.

If you are going to ask someone to be on your site...

1. Be polite when asking and give them a clear out so you don't put them on the spot. (i.e. if you're too busy, I completely understand.)

2. Give them an ample amount of time to get back to you, but it is best to give them a deadline
Don't say, "Hey, I'd love you to be a guest, can you get me a post by next week?" Give them a few weeks minimum. And you can give them an open-ended--whenever you can--kind of deadline. BUT, be warned--this may result in less success of getting that post. I am an epic failure at saying "yes" to open-ended, can you guest post for me sometime and then I never get to it. (To those of you waiting for a post from me, I'm sorry. I plan to go on a guest blogging marathon after I get done with this draft.)

3. Provide options.
A guest post takes a lot of time. I can whip out a daily post over here in under an hour, but when I know I'm going to be on someone else's site, I feel more pressure to get it perfect, for it to be epic. So, it takes more effort and time. Therefore, if you really want someone on your site, maybe offer to interview them instead of a guest post. This makes it easier for the person to just answer questions and not have to come up with a topic, etc.

4. If you are going to ask for a post (not an interview), provide suggestions for topics you might like to see from them (while also leaving it open for them to choose whatever topic they want.)
It is SO helpful when someone approaches me for a guest post when they say--hey, maybe you could do something on yadda yadda yadda. I may not know what topics they've already covered on their own blog, so this saves me from having to research what's already been covered on that site.

5. Once you get their post and schedule it, email the person on the day (or day before) the post is going to go live.
This a) reminds the person and b) gives them a the chance to do some promotion for you and send people there.

If you want to approach someone to be on their blog...

1. Do your research and know that blog/blogger (at least a little bit).
I have a pet peeve about people emailing me wanting to post here (to promote their book) and I've NEVER had any interaction with them. They don't follow the blog, have never left a comment, have never talked to me on Twitter, etc. They're a complete and total stranger. I feel like they stumbled across my blog, saw I have 1200 followers and said--ooh, ooh, let me hawk my wares here! I love promoting other authors, but my blog isn't here as an advertisement board for anyone who wants to stick a flyer up.

2. Offer the blogger a number of options--an interview, guest blog, contest/giveaway.
Show them that you can provide whatever type of post they need. And just like the reverse of the above, an interview is more work for the host blogger, so don't just offer that. It's also a lot of work to ask someone to review your book. That means they have to have time to read it, like your genre, etc. When people email me asking if I can interview them or review their book, I usually respond with--can you do a guest post instead? I just don't have time lately to come up with interview questions specific to you and your book.

3. If you get the go ahead to do the guest blog, make sure you send something with quality content, no typos, and include your bio and pic.
Don't make the blogger have to correct your work.

4. Get the post to the person on time. And do not ask them to send you a reminder. 
If they give you a deadline, keep it. And it's your job to remember when it's due--they are doing you a favor.

5. Promote that post on your own blog when it goes live. This helps you and the host blogger.

6. Always offer to reciprocate. If they let you on their blog, let them know they are welcome to stop by yours.

Overall: The key to remember with all of this is to know who is holding the power in the exchange (can you tell I write BDSM romance?) The person who benefits more from what the other person has to offer has to go out of their way to make it as convenient as possible for the other.

For instance, if I want my book reviewed on some big book blogger site--the power is in their hands. I'm the one who has to go out of my way. But if a brand new author who just self-published wants me to do a feature on their book here where I have a big following of potential readers, then I'm the one holding more cards. Sounds kind of snotty, but it is what it is. You'll be on both sides of the equation at some point.

So what do you think? Have you had any negative guest blogging experiences? How do you like to be approached for a guest blog?

Five Epic Attempts At Website Building & A Facebook Fail

So last week I did a post on Ten Components of a Rocking Author Website and I talked about how I wasn't really thrilled with my current author website (not this site, but my static site). Well, that little thought ending up bugging the hell out of me for the rest of the day. And then I opened up the can of worms that is attempting to build a new website. It put me into the dangerous zone which my husband kindly calls "mission mode" and I refer to as obsession.

So began the journey.

Website Attempt #1 (Homestead)


First, I went to my current provider (Homestead) and tried to mess around with the site I already had built. Well, it didn't really go so well. They have this thing where if you switch your template, you lose all of the personalization you've already done on your site. There's no feature to let you see what the other template would look like without getting rid of what you already have. (Or, if that's not the case, that's how the website read. Click this and all will be lost! Okay, not in those words, but basically that.) So I didn't want to lose all the work I've done, just to "test" out a new template. So I decided to go see what I could do somewhere else while keeping my homestead site in tact as a back-up prom date.

Website Attempt #2 (Wordpress)


So off I went to Wordpress because a) I've had a blog on there before and b) everybody and their mama seems to have their website "powered by Wordpress." Well, I ended up struggling a lot trying to find a template I could tweak enough to get it to how I wanted it. I don't know CSS and I was on cold medicine, so double whammy set me up for techfail. I got a site up, but it wasn't really what I wanted. The columns wouldn't go where I wanted them, the padding in the content window was too thick. It was a decent site, but it wasn't how I wanted it to look and unless I could learn to tweak the template at a html level, I was going to have to live it with it. So off I went again...

Website Attempt #3 (Squarespace)


You get a 14-day free trial on Squarespace, so I decided to give it a shot. I found a template that worked, but I was having trouble figuring out their system. It's seems like a lot at first. I built a basic site. Got frustrated, moved onto #4.

Website Attempt #4 (Blogger)


So after I was completely bald from pulling my hair out and my forehead was dented from banging it on my keyboard, I went back to my fuzzy safety blanket. Oh, Blogger. Me and you are like cream cheese and crackers--a perfect combination. I've been on Blogger for two years and the system is like second nature to me. So I built a nice little website over here. Well, it wasn't perfect. Blogger is a BLOG platform, not really meant to be a website platform. You can only have a certain number of pages, your landing page is your blog (not a welcome screen) and your sidebar is on all your pages whether you want it or not. BUT I was willing to do a work around. So I was happy with the site I built.

But alas...the lovely author Carolyn Jewel messaged me on Twitter and told me I really shouldn't build my site on blogger because it's not on my own host. I have no control over my content. If Blogger decides to shut me down for any reason (say someone reports the site for over 18 content and I didn't mark it as over 18 or something), they can literally shut you down and you lose everything. She then sent an email with her "pitch" on why I shouldn't do it that way. She made a lot of sense and she's had a website for many years so has a lot of experience under her belt. So then I got to thinking again. And I went back to....

Website Attempt #5 (Squarespace....again)


So I still had the site up on Squarespace. I opened up the program again and started looking through the help files. And OMG, their help section is SO fabulous and user friendly. I've never found a help section that was so easily navigated and that answered the exact questions I was looking for. After arming myself with some knowledge, I went about tinkering with my site I had put together. And I finally got the hang of it! I'm really happy with the functionality, the ability to tweak templates liberally, and the way the site turned out. The only complaint I have is I wish they had more font choices--but that's nitpicky.

Oh and did I mention I did all of the above in the last five days? Yeah, mission mode indeed.

So, have I got you curious yet?  Here is my brand new site: www.roniloren.com
(Warning: the pic in the header is sexy--not graphic--but make sure your boss isn't hanging out at your desk or something.)

*Alright and FACEBOOK ALERT:
I also found out through this whole process that it is against Facebook policy to have more than one account. So I have a personal account and one for my pen name and apparently that is a no-no. So no big deal until you're caught right? Well, yeah, it is. If they catch you or someone reports it, they will SHUT DOWN your accounts, BLOCK your email address, and you will LOSE all of your contacts and files on your account. So say my books comes out and I build this nice following of readers on FB. Well, then the account is shut down and I lose all that work. Not to mention losing all my personal account stuff. Gah! Now worth the risk IMO.

So if you are friends with me on Facebook or have liked my former fan page, please please "Like" my new page. There is a link in the right sidebar to click Like or you can go to the page here.

And believe me, I know the fan page thing is kind of lame and it limits me because I can't "friend" people with it, but I don't have any other option. I don't want to get rid of my personal/family account because (sadly) this is how I keep in touch with most of my family and friends who are spread all over the country. And I don't want to open up that page to everyone because it's not a place for my writing/book stuff, it's just family pictures and such. Plus it's under my non pen name. So there you go. I'd love it if you "liked" my page. If not, I understand. (And if you want me to "like" you back, email me your page link."

Okay, so what do you think of my new website? Do you have an author website and what platform did you build it on? Did you know about this facebook policy?

How To Amp Up Sexual Tension In Your Story

Kidlet's dolls having a special moment

Today's topic...sexual tension. From YA all the way to the steamiest of romances, this is a vital ingredient if you have any kind of romance thread whatsoever. Even if a kiss never happens, you can have you're reader sweating through the will they/won't they tension so bad that even if the characters grab each others hands you're holding your breath.

Romance writers are known for this talent, but YA is also a fabulous genre that does this well. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare is a good example. The tension between Jace and Clary is palpable. Sexual tension is also a huge part of the appeal of Twilight. Each are so aware of each other, but a mere touch or kiss could cause Edward to lose control. And of course, in tv shows, this is the workhorse. Dawson's Creek (pic above) held me for all seven (?) seasons with their use of sexual tension. Oh how I love Joey and Pacey, but I digress.

So how do we create this tension so that when you finally give your reader the big payoff--the kiss, the I love you, the bom-chicka-wah-wah, whatever is right for your story, you have your reader cheering.

To build tension:

Make the attraction that each feels for the other obvious to the reader.

--The characters are hyper aware of all the little details of the person when he/she is around. Use all the senses not just sight.

No conflict=no tension

--Make sure there are good reasons why these two can't be together--internal and external. Bella and Edward can't get together because, well, he may kill her.

Use internal dialogue

--The hero may be clenching his hands at his sides, but tell us why. The urge to reach out and touch the heroine's hair is overwhelming him.

Always on each other's mind

--If your hero and heroine aren't together in a scene, then have their thoughts go to the other so that we know he/she can't get the other off his/her mind.

Patience, grasshopper

--Don't relieve the tension too quickly. Frustration must build and build. There's a reason why the first love scene doesn't usually happen until 2/3 the way through a book.

Here we go, wait, not so fast

--Give you characters a taste of what they could have, then make them stop. This is the famous device on sitcoms where they start to kiss, but then someone burst in to interrupt. It doesn't have to be that obvious. One of the characters could be the one to stop (usually for some internal reason related to the conflict between them.)

It's addictive

--Once you do let the two get together the first time (be that a kiss or full out lovin'), leave them wanting more. Instead of satisfying their need/curiosity/etc., they want each other even more. Now they know what they could have if not for all that pesky conflict. Damn those mean authors who put so much in their way.

When all looks like it's going to work out, pull them apart again.

--Romantic comedy movies do this all the time. The characters seem to resolve some conflict and get together. Oh but wait, there's more! Some conflict wedges between them again.

--Don't resolve the relationship until very near the end. Otherwise, the reader will lose interest.

Source: Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies

So how about you? Does your novel have a romance or undercurrent of one? What author do you read that is a master at creating sexual tension? (I love Charlaine Harris for this. I wait with bated breath for my Eric and Sookie scenes.)

*updated post from 2009

Ten Components of a Rocking Author Website

Photo by Benjamin Cook

I've been mulling over the whole website thing for a while now. I have a separate, static author website (www.roniloren.com). I did it myself. It's fine. Meh. (UPDATE: I've now redone my website, so that link should take you to the new one! It's still one I did myself, but I think it's a whole lot better.) But I really want something swankier for when my book releases. Unfortunately, a professionally done site is not cheap. So for now, I'm going to have to wait.

However, that doesn't mean I can't research, right? So, spurred by a question from the lovely Ashley March, I started looking into what the best author websites do right. This time I will focus on published author sites because Sierra Godfrey did a post on here a while back with website tips for the pre-published author--see that here.)

FOR AN UPDATED AND EXPANDED VERSION OF THE POST see: 13 Steps to Creating an Author Website Readers Will Love

Makings of  a Great Author Website

1. Make sure a drunk monkey could navigate it.

Please, please, please make it easy for me to find whatever I'm looking for. I don't want to have to dig. I will move on. Make the design eye-catching but clean (ignore my busy blog design, this is a do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do thing. I'm a mom, I get to do that now.) Oh, and DO NOT HAVE MUSIC that auto-plays. 

2. Make it easy to read about and buy your books.

I'm amazed at how many author websites bury the info about their books like they're some sort of prize at the bottom of the cereal box. I want to be able to see the following:
a) The books you have out now with blurbs AND covers
b) The books that are upcoming and their blurbs and covers once available
c) Buttons where I can choose if I want to buy it on Amazon or whatever.
d) If you write series, LABEL them and put the books in order so that I know which comes first. It's sometimes hard to tell on Amazon what the order of a series is. Please help your readers with this.

3. A photo of you. Not your avatar or cat. You!

Get over your I-hate-all-pictures-of-myself thing. EVERYONE except maybe those kids on Jersey Shore hates pictures of themselves. It's normal. But I as a nosy reader want to put a face with the author name. And I don't care if you don't look like a supermodel. But believe me, if you have no pic, I will imagine you as a wart-covered troll. Just sayin' Also, a bio that rocks is a necessity. (Tips on that here.)

4. Provide links to all the ways I can stalk you.

Have links on your contact page with your twitter, facebook, goodreads, email, etc. links.

5. If you blog, don't phone it in.

If you hate blogging, we'll be able to tell. So if you are going to do it. Really do it. And for the love of all things good and holy, please attempt to make it interesting. And it's not about YOU, it's about the reader. I'm going to quote from a fabulous post over at Author Tech Tips: "Yes, yes, you’re a big famous author. But people still don’t care about you. They care about themselves. Think that is selfish? Take the plank out of your own eye before you can point the finger. If you offer something of value, your readers will want to come back. Photos of your kids will not bring them back." 

6. Be addictive.

Give your readers a reason to want to come back. Do you offer something they can only get on your site? Contests? Super secret snippets from your current project? Pictures of your characters? Playlists for your books? Think of takeaways that would excite a reader.

7. A website is not like a cactus--you can't water it every six months and assume it's going to thrive.

Going to an author site who has an update from months ago is like getting served stale chips at a Mexican restaurant. It makes your image feel stale. Like, wow, nothing exciting is happening with his books right now. Even if you don't blog, make sure that your release dates and such are up to date. Don't say coming soon and the book release date has already passed.

8. Be newsworthy

Are you going to speaking somewhere or did you win an award? Have a news section that you keep updated. It's a good addition or even alternative to having an active blog. Just make sure you keep it fresh.

9. Pimp Out Others

On Author Tech Tips, they quoted a survey that said a third of readers like to see what books your recommend when they visit your website. I think one way to do it is having other authors stop by your blog and do interviews and contests. You can also put a Goodreads widget somewhere on your site (like mine over there on the right) that shows what you're reading right now. That's a form of recommendation.

10. Be likable

Please do not use your site for rants or whining. It should be a positive, happy place for people to be--even if you write about serial killers. You want people to leave your site thinking that they could enjoy being friends with you.

Alright, so those are my tips. What are some of the things that you like to see on an author website? What are some author sites you visit regularly--why? Oh, and anyone know any amazing web designers that would love to offer me a discount on services, lol?

Top Five Mistakes Writers Make at Conferences

So, I've mentioned before that I'm a conference whore. I think part of it is that I've always loved learning. I have nerd DNA that can't be escaped. But the other part is that I have so much fun being around other writers. It's like finding your home planet after feeling like you were the only weird one all these years. So for the past two years, I've attended about three conferences each year. And over those two years, I've started to notice some patterns and mistakes that some writers make--especially when they are conference virgins.

So I thought I'd put together a list of the pitfalls to avoid...

Five Mistakes Writers Make at Conferences

1. Attending only "industry/career" workshops vs. craft workshops.

This is probably the number one mistake I've seen newbie conference-goers make (because I, of course, have never made this mistake. *cough*) We go to a conference and there are all these agents and editors that we stalk/follow on the internet. And OMG, they are going to be on a panel and tell us all the things they want to see in a query and all the super secret insider stuff to get published. Must. Go. Right?

Well, yes, these are often helpful. And believe me, those workshops run out of seats immediately.  Meanwhile, there's an awesome NYT author in Room B giving a course on deepening characterization or something and it's half-empty.

Hear this: If you aren't actively honing your craft, the "how to query", "what are the current trends", "are you still accepting vampire novels" panels are only going to get you so far. The writing needs to come first. So balance your schedule. Pick a few industry type classes, but make sure at least half of the rest of the workshops you attend can make you a better writer. This should be your goal. Look around in those classes, who's sitting in them? Published authors. And obviously this goal changes once you're multi-published. You always want to focus on craft. We can always learn. But there's only so many workshops you can go to on the same topics. Now you can swing your schedule more heavily to the career/business panels.

2. Focusing too much on the big pitch session with the agent or editor.

Getting a chance to pitch is often the initial draw for a person to attend a conference. Screw the slushpile, you get to sit and babble like a drunken monkey in front of a real live agent/editor! I never pitched in person, as I've accepted I'm better on paper than in person.

But here's the thing--yes, pitching can be a great opportunity, but really, it's only glorified querying. Most agents will ask for a partial (unless the genre is totally off or something) so you may get a chance to get more pages in front of them. BUT it's still about the writing. SO, don't waste your whole conference stressing and focusing on the pitch and go to your workshops in a haze. You're there to learn and network first. Pitching second.

*This also goes for agent-stalking in the elevators and bars. Don't spend all your time trying to corner your favorite agent to elevator pitch them and become BFFs. I'm sure by the end of the conference agents and editors feel like gazelle in the middle of a lion pride. Their eyes are shifting left and right looking for the next writer to pounce. Don't be one of those lions. (Same goes for stalking reviewers/bloggers if you're already published.)

3. Getting caught up in the "FREE STUFF!"

This is more an issue at the national conferences. For instance, at RWA Nationals, each publisher does a book signing where you literally go pick up books for free. Now, offering writers free books is like putting out a donut buffet after you've been on a juice diet. We're drawn to it, our eyes glazed over, mumbling "boooooks, booooookkksss."

I am all about the signings. Reading widely is part of the job. But you don't want to ONLY do that. You have to skip workshops to go to those signings. Balance it out. Make sure you're not missing something really amazing in the process. Believe me, you'll end up with a lot of books no matter what.

4. Keeping to yourself or only socializing with your little group of friends.

The vast majority of writers are introverts. And when we go to a conference (especially our first conference) we have the urge to keep our heads down and stay focused on the task at hand. This can be even more the case when you're pre-published and still wrestling with your own feelings about calling yourself a writer out loud. But a big part of the benefit of a conference is the networking aspect. People are SUPER friendly. And you're all writers, so you automatically have something in common. For you shy people (like me), force yourself to turn to the person next to you in a workshop or at lunch and ask "So what do you write?" You'll be amazed how easy the conversation is and how you can meet some really great new friends. (And sidenote if you see ME at a conference, I have resting bitch face, y'all. Don't be scared. I'm friendly and happy to chat. You just might have to make the first move, lol.) 

5. Not going to conferences at all.

This is the biggest mistake of all. Yes, sometimes it's a location or finance issue. That's understandable. But if you have the means to get to a conference--there are fabulous local ones all over the place--then go! Online conferences are great, but there's something about being present in a room with others who are doing the same as you. It's awesome. I've learned so much at conferences, have met great people, and I never fail to leave them feeling re-energized about my writing. So put yourself out there.

Alright, for those of you who have been to a conference, have you made any of these mistakes? What other tips would you give conference-goers? And if you haven't been to a conference, how come? 

DO Get Fresh With Me: Amping Up Your Writing

Photo by Miheco

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Dallas Area Romance Authors Dreamin' in Dallas conference. The speakers (Richelle Mead and Allison Brennan) were phenomenal and the workshops were SO helpful. Sometimes you go to a conference (after you've been to a few like me) and it feels like same old stuff, nothing new. But I had many an a-ha moment at this one, so yay for that. :)

And one of the big light bulbs for me was while I was taking three classes in a row from Margie Lawson. I'd never seen her speak before, but I had heard fabulous things about her writing and editing workshops. And, believe me, I wasn't disappointed.

She has way more information than I could ever share on here (more on how you can get all that fab stuff at the bottom), but one of the big things that stuck out for me was her focus on FRESH WRITING.

It seems like such a simple concept--a well-duh kind of thing. Write things in a way that is fresh, non-cliched, and doesn't sound like just any old book. Easy-peasy, right? Um, yeah.

How many she smiled, grinned, lifted the corner of her mouth, smirked, lips curved, one side of her lips tilted up, smile that didn't reach her eyes, and on and on do you have in your manuscript?

Using a synonym for smiled or one of the tired cliches is not fresh writing. It's just writing the overused stuff in another overused way.

What Margie suggested you do is look at those boring ways of saying things and amplifying them, making them sing and speak to the reader (instead of inspiring them to skim.)

Here's one example she used from Harlen Coben's HOLD TIGHT (2008)

His eyes were black, lightless glass, like someone had randomly jammed them in, like they held no life in them.

Whoa, right? How much more impactful is that than "He had dead, black eyes" or "He stared at me with lifeless eyes."

Or this one from Brad Meltzer's BOOK OF LIES (2008)

In mid-air his mother was turned toward him, her alligator eyes still burning through him.

Can't you picture that? It's so clear what the eyes of an alligator would look like. And once again a way to say something different than cold or lifeless eyes.

And last one, from Stephen White's DEAD TIME (2008)

"Listen," he said in a voice that cut off the small talk the way a sharp knife takes the top off a banana.

How much better is that than saying "he said, his voice sharp"?

This whole concept is such a basic idea, but it was totally a kick in the butt for me to work harder and do better. To really look at things I may just put on the page--a smile, a laugh, the way a person's eyes look--and really push myself to find a fresh way to say it.

Margie says she reads books and puts sticky notes on the pages where an author really wrote something that impressed her. If someone does that with my books, I want that thing to look like tabs in a packed filing cabinet when they're done.

Now, one little warning. You can't write every single sentence like this because then it will be overwritten and the prose will get mucked up. Sometimes simple is better. But I guarantee you there are many places in your WIP where you can do better, where you chose the easy, cliched way to say something, where you missed an opportunity to be amazing.

So, I only talked about like 1/100 of 1% of what Margie covers. BUT she has these totally kickass lecture packets that you can download and do a self-study course with. Each packet is $22, but OMG, the first one I bought is like 250 pages. So "packet" really means "book". The one I'm referencing today is the Empowering Characters' Emotions. You can get it here along with many others. I can't give it a high enough recommendation. So, so, so helpful. (And no, Margie hasn't paid me to say any of this, lol.) I just have to pass along an amazing resource when I stumble across them.

So, I encourage to check those out and I also encourage you to read through some of your favorite books and mark those passages or phrases or whatever that stand out and impress you. What did those writers do that was fresh?

What do you think? Are you overloaded with boring or tired ways of saying things when you're writing? Are you characters smiling and raising eyebrows and winking all over the place? What writers can you think of off the top of your head that really excel at writing fresh?

How Can Authors Reach (Non-Writer) Readers Online?

On Monday, Sierra Godfrey posted a blog on What Will You Do With Your Blog When You're Published? This is a question that has weighed on my mind often these last few months. I've been blogging for almost two years now and have stuck almost exclusively to writing topics. However, though I know writers are--first and foremost--readers, I also know that the bulk of the audience I'm trying to reach with my books are not writers so would have no interest in posts on adverbs. :) So does that mean I should shift my focus to more reader related topics and broaden the blog's appeal?

Photo by Stuart Pilbrow

Hmm....

Well, I don't think so. And here's why. I'm not convinced that your average, non-writing reader is signing up to read their favorite authors blogs daily or weekly no matter what the blog is about. I know there are exceptions and for YA authors, this is probably different because teens may actually want to connect with authors in that way. However, in general, my guess is that most people hanging around authors' blogs are, well, other writers. Even I don't visit my favorite authors blogs regularly unless they are writing-related or perhaps having a contest--and that's saying something because I love blogging like I love puppies. I just don't have the time or the inclination.

So I don't have any intention of changing my blog focus at this point. I like talking about writing. It's what's on my mind and I learn by doing research for posts. However, what's a girl to do if I want to reach readers online or if I eventually have readers out there who want to connect with me online in some way?

Here's my take: Twitter! (and Facebook *grumble*)

Okay, so you all know of my love for Twitter. I haven't exactly made it a secret. But here's the beauty of it. You can be random. In fact, I encourage some randomness. It gives people following you a way to connect very easily.

The Importance of Being Random...

You can have a theme on Twitter. Some people only tweet writing links and that's great. (In fact, I love those people because it's super helpful to me.) However, they are appealing to a certain niche--like my blog is. But if you broaden what you tweet, you can connect with lots of people from all kinds of backgrounds.

For instance, I tweet about writing, I get writers responding and retweeting. I tweet about my toddler throwing a monster tantrum, I get parents responding and starting conversation. I tweet about 30 Seconds to Mars, I get loads of fellow women chatting with me about how yummy they are. I tweet about a book I'm reading, fellow readers join in. It's random, sometimes silly, but I'm amazed at how I'll tweet something totally offhand and that will inspire someone who's never messaged me before to chime in and chat. It's great. I've met so many new people this way.

If someone wants to get to know me online, Twitter gives them a pretty well-rounded picture of my personality. And I think this is what will appeal to a reader. I know that I love following my favorite authors on Twitter and they rarely tweet about writing. But it's fun to hear about whatever is going on in their lives. We get to see that they are real people and even reach out and message them. It's easy, relaxed, and fun.

So that is my plan for now. Keep the writing blog and continue being as random as I want to be on Twitter (and try to keep active on Facebook which I kind of hate but I know many prefer it to Twitter). I think this will allow me to continue networking and enjoying my online time with other writers, but will also provide an avenue for me to connect with potential readers as well.

So what do yo think? If you're published, how do you handle your online presence and blog? If you're pre-published, do you see your blog changing once you have a book deal? As a READER, how do you (if you do at all) connect with your favorite authors? 


And if you're not following me on Twitter, you must rectify that situation immediately. Hit this button in the next ten seconds or this blog post will self-destruct: www.twitter.com/RoniLoren

Traditional or Self-Publishing: Defining Your Dream

Photo by H.T. Yu

So I planned on blogging on something else this morning and then agent Rachelle Gardner tweeted this post by Phil Cooke on How Much Did It Take To Buy You Away From Your Dream? Go read it. It's not publishing specific, but really can be applied to anything.

He sites the line in the movie Up In the Air where George Clooney's character asks someone he's firing that question: How much did it take to buy you away from your dream? (Because the guy at one time wanted to be a chef and went into whatever he business he was getting fired from instead.)

We all at some point probably give up on or modify our dreams. I know I wanted to be a writer when I was in high school--even started college with a double major in English and Psychology. But then as time went on, I decided I needed to be more "practical" and focus on the psychology so I could have a stable, decent-paying job. I absolutely DON'T regret that decision. I loved what I learned and enjoyed my masters program in social work. The jobs and experiences I had were invaluable. I wouldn't have been able to write CRASH INTO YOU without it. So I got to my dream, albeit via a convoluted path.

But once you've decided you're going to pursue that dream of being a writer, you now have a couple of different versions of "the dream" to choose from. Once, not too long ago, you had one option--get an agent, pursue traditional publishing. But now you have traditional publishing, small press, digital-first publishers, vanity publishing, and of course, the hot topic of the last few months--self-publishing.

So what's the right path for you? Obviously there are success stories in each venue. And one method isn't mutually exclusive of the other. You may pursue digital publishing first with the intent to eventually move to a more traditional publisher. Lots of people have used digital (especially in my genre) as a stepping stone to a NY contract.

How do you figure out which to pursue? And here's what I think--you need to define your dream.

What is it you are seeking from being a writer? When you let your mind wander, which parts get you all giddy inside? Big readership? Big paychecks? NYT Bestseller lists? Getting fan mail? Holding your book in your hands? Seeing it on a shelf?

And then consider which method of publishing feeds the core of your dream.

Here's what my dream consists of:

• The chance to share my stories with others and (hopefully) entertain them.
• The ability to at least make a similar salary writing books as I was making as a  management recruiter (The job I had before I had my son.)
• Validation from professionals that my writing is good and marketable.
• To hold my book in my hands and see it on the shelves of bookstores.
• Okay, and having some fans and a big readership wouldn't suck.

So when you analyze the main components of my dream, you can probably see why self-publishing an ebook wouldn't have been the total fulfillment of my dream. I could have accomplished some of these, but not all of them. And some people may scoff at the validation piece, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could land an agent and a big publisher. Maybe it's bad to look to others to measure if I'm "good enough" but that's how I'm built when it comes to my writing.

Now if you don't need that validation and your main goal is to get your stories out there in whatever format you can so that you can get in front of readers, then putting your book up on Amazon may be a great option. It may fill your personal dream well to the brim. Or maybe you want that validation, but holding the book in your hands isn't that big a deal--then maybe an digital publisher is the best option.

The key is figuring out what is going to fulfill you. If traditional publishing is where you've hung your hope, then fight for it. Don't query a few agents, get a few rejections, then throw your hands up and say "Oh I'm going to self-publish this as an ebook.  Some people are making all kinds of money doing that. Screw New York!" Because then what will you be able to say if someone were to ask you that question in a few years: How much did it take to buy you away from your dream?

Did you sell your dream for instant gratification or lack of patience? Did you sell it so you wouldn't have to tuck away a book and start something new and keep working to get better? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe you've gone on to be an ebook millionaire. I don't know. But it is something to think about.

I don't think there is anything wrong with alternatives to traditional publishing. Obviously, it's going to be a huge part of the future of publishing. But I think it's important to know what's going to feed your writer's soul and work as hard as you can to accomplish whatever your personal dream is.

So what do you think? What are the essential components of your dream? Which method of publishing do you think is the best fit for you?


WINNER: Thanks to all of you who asked me questions and entered the contest last Friday. The winner of the 5-page critique is Strickland! Congrats!

The Ten Commandments of the Successful Author

So as I go through this whole writing journey, I spend a lot of time observing other authors--be it in person or, more likely, on the internet. I want to know what makes one so successful and the other not as much. What makes one likable and another unapproachable. In other words, what separates the good from the great. And so, based on my very unscientific observations, I've come up with my own Ten Commandments. These are the things I've seen successful authors do and the things I strive to emulate.  So here we go...

The Ten Commandments of a Successful Author

1. I will always strive to make the next book better than the last.

This is one that keeps me awake at night sometimes. The desire to make this next book better than the first one, to improve on every new project. We put so much effort into THAT book, you know the one to get the agent and the book deal. It's the best we have to give on a page. Then the dream happens and you're faced with book two and oh, you have a time limit this time, and oh if this one tanks, there may not be another book deal. *breathes into paper bag* The best authors out there manage to do this, even on tight deadlines, even when the check is already in the bank. They keep topping their own work.

2. I will not fear risk.

It's tempting to be safe, to stick to what you know and what you know works. But the best authors don't just put out book after book that follow the same formula. They take risks, they push boundaries, hell, some of them even test out different genre waters. With no risk, there's no challenge. Write the stories you want to write. If some don't work out, that's okay.

3. I will never believe "I'm the sh*t." Well, at least not for an extended period of time.

We've all seen it. The author that hits whatever level and now seems to wear the "I'm the sh*t" tiara. Don't do it. No matter if you top every bestseller list. It's okay when you get a good review or hit a list or write a passage that rocks to think to yourself--yep, I'm the shizz nizz, baby. But keep it to yourself--please--and don't let it go to your head. No one's that awesome. 

4. I shall not wallow in a pool of self-pity and doubt when someone doesn't like me or my writing.

Someone, probably many someones, will absolutely hate your writing. It's inevitable. You can't please everyone. If you let negative feedback get in your head, it will eat away at your confidence like cancer. This goes for rejections too. Feel the sting, eat a piece of chocolate or take a shot of whiskey--whatever you're preference--and move on. 

5. I will never respond to a bad review. 

I said never. You hear? Never. Unless to say, "Thank you sir, can I have another?" I'm sure most of you saw the brouhaha on Twitter/Facebook/message boards the other day over a writer who lashed out at a reviewer online. At some point in your career, you will want to do this. It's human. You will want to yell, scream, insult, bestow your wrath upon someone who said something bad about your book. 

Don't do it. This is what friends and spouses are for--call them, let it out, cuss the jerk who gave you the negative review. But never lash out publicly or at the reviewer. This will only serve to make you look petty and childish, which will make people not want to deal with you or buy your books. (And remember, lovelies, the internet is viral. One untoward comment can make the rounds faster than a case of croup at a daycare.)

6. Covet your neighbor's success. A dose of envy does a writer good.

There are all these posts out there about writer envy and jealousy telling you how you shouldn't waste time being envious of other writers and what they have, their level of success, etc.  Yes, that's true. If you spend all your time burning green, you won't get anything else done. BUT, a little bit of this can be helpful. So and so got an agent and you haven't yet? Your crit partner hit the bestseller list but you can't seem to? Feel that envy and USE it. Use it as kindling under your butt and light a fire to keep going, to get what you want, to grab that success too. Envy with motivation can be very productive. Envy with whining and no action is what you need to avoid.

7. "Good enough" will never be good enough.

The best authors don't settle for good enough. If you've sold a bazillion books and you already have a deal for the next and everyone is lining up just for the privilege of sharing your air, it could be tempting to just write something that's "good enough". But the best authors don't. They put as much heart and guts into every book they put out every time.

8. I will not apologize for what I write.

Do not apologize for your passion. There are stigmas against all kinds of genres, not just romance like I talked about last week. But this is your writing, your story, and your blood on the page. Playing down what you write is playing down who you are. I know this one will be tough for me because once my book comes out, people in my life will know exactly what I write. I know some will judge me for it. I do not want to apologize for it. I'm proud of it.

9. I shall pay it forward.

The best writers give back. If any of you stopped by the blog Monday and saw the Operation Auction information, you know this is true. No we can't help others all the time. If Stephen King answered every email from a newbie on how to be a writer, he'd never get anything done. But he did write On Writing, which is a way of giving back what he's learned (even though, granted, he did make money writing that book.) So no matter how busy you get, try to find time to help others out. Maybe it's to offer a query crit to someone who hasn't queried before, maybe it's having a blog that gives information that everyone can benefit from, maybe it's volunteering your time at conferences or judging a contest. Whatever it is, find something. Think of those who've helped you in your journey. Don't you want to be one of those people another writer can think of?

10. Don't forget to have fun--you love this, dumbass. (Even when it's hard.)

It's easy to get caught up in the day to day--this chapter is so hard, I  have a saggy middle, why won't these agents answer my queries--rut. But never forget, this is your dream. Enjoy the act of writing. And good Lord, if you do get the elusive book deal and become published, don't spend your time whining about the minutiae. It's okay for authors to tweet if they're struggling with an edit or whatever, but too much of that sounds like a whole bunch of whine. So many people want this. If you get it, be thankful and for heaven's sake, enjoy it! You get to make stuff up for a living.

So those are the ten writing commandments I'm working toward, what are some of yours? Which would you add? And which authors do you think emulate these things?

Battling the Romance Novel Stigma

Photo by Amber Madden

I don't do it often, but last year I hopped up on my soapbox in the comments section of the blog.  I had mentioned in my post on pen names that part of the reason I wanted to go with one was because I write erotic romance and I have a husband and kiddo who may not want everyone knowing what I write. Well, one of my commenters mentioned that she didn't use a pen name but that if she was writing pornography, then she probably would.

Now, I know she didn't mean anything negative in the comment but was just repeating a belief shared by many.  I did respond to her in the comments and I did the post below as a follow-up. 

Then last week I read Agent Sara's oh-so-on-the-money post over at Kat Latham's blog on Being a Feminist Romance Reader, and I got all rah-rah-go-team again. :) So rather than repeating myself I decided to update and rerun last year's post. Hope you enjoy. And definitely go check out Sara's post as well. It's awesome.

Battling the Stigma...

The genre of romance, not just erotic, has to constantly fight the stigma that it is just "chick porn."  From the days of the bodice ripper covers, women who read romance have been teased and put down for reading it.  The image of the lonely old maid or miserable housewife stealing away with her paperbacks is a familiar stereotype.

And when asked in general company what you're reading (even though over 50% of paperbacks and ebooks sold are romance, so a lot of us are reading them), women often are embarrassed to admit it's a romance or apologize in some way when they admit it.  "Oh, you know just reading one of those silly/trashy novels for fun."

And frankly, I'm over it.

Why are we made to feel that if we're reading romance we're something less than - less classy, less educated, less evolved?  Or even worse, that something must be wrong with us because we can't find a real man and instead look for them in books. No one questions people when they line up to go see the newest Romantic Comedy at the theater--and hello--what is that but a romance on screen? In fact, if you cut out all movies that had a romantic thread in them, not a lot of movies would be left. Romance is a universal theme from the beginning of freaking time.

And what about the resurgence of young adult books? Women often don't have trouble admitting they read those because, hell, everybody's reading them right now. The YA genre is fabulous. I know I can't get enough of it. But guess what? The vast majority of YA is uh, romance, with teens. If not for the age of the protagonists, many of those books would be shelved in the romance section. So are the people reading YA and romance lonely women who aren't smart enough to read "real" books--you know, the super serious tomes Oprah recommends?

Of course not.

I'm thirty-one and married to a wonderful guy.  I was salutatorian in high school.  I graduated with a 4.0 from my Masters program.  I do not read romance because I can't understand high brow lit fic or classic literature, I read it because that's what I enjoy. Reading is my escape, my entertainment. I like my happy endings. The world has enough depressing things going on in it. I don't mind a book tugging at my emotions or making me cry, but I want to see the light at the end of a book. That's my personal preference. 

If yours is different, cool. But why do we need to judge each other for what brings us enjoyment?

And as for the porn assertion so many people make, I beg to differ.  Here are the definitions from Passionate Ink's site that I used in the comments yesterday.

 

Porn: stories written for the express purpose of causing sexual titillation. Plot, character development, and romance are NOT primary to these stories. They are designed to sexually arouse the reader and nothing else.

Erotica: stories written about the sexual journey of the characters and how this impacts them as individuals. Emotion and character growth are important facets of a true erotic story. However, erotica is NOT designed to show the development of a romantic relationship, although it’s not prohibited if the author chooses to explore romance. Happily Ever Afters are NOT an intrinsic part of erotica, though they can be included.

Erotic Romance: stories written about the development of a romantic relationship through sexual interaction. The sex is an inherent part of the story, character growth, and relationship development, and couldn’t be removed without damaging the storyline. Happily Ever After is a REQUIREMENT to be an erotic romance.

Sexy Romance: stories written about the development of a romantic relationship that just happen to have more explicit sex. The sex is not an inherent part of the story, character growth, or relationship development, and it could easily be removed or “toned down” without damaging the storyline. Happily Ever After is a REQUIREMENT as this is basically a standard romance with hotter sex.

What I write are those bottom two (and I read all levels except porn) - sexy (think Charlaine Harris, JR Ward, Harlequin Blaze) and erotic romance (think Shayla Black, Maya Banks, Berkley Heat). And yes, those kinds of stories have hot or explicit sex in them.  BUT if done correctly, they also have character development, plot, tension building, GMCs, etc.  They are at the heart - romances.  And believe me, just as difficult to write as any other novel.

Porn, on the other hand, is the half-dressed pool boy showing up on a woman's doorstep then jumping on top of her before we even know anyone's name.  It's sex for the sake of sex.  This is why most women roll their eyes at porn because we're like--who cares?  I don't know these people.

Now, I'm not saying that reading romance can't put you in a sexy state of mind.  Even YA romance can do that with nary a sex scene present (hello, Mortal Instruments Seelie Court scene.)  But what's wrong with that?  Good books evoke emotions within us.  If a book makes me glance at my husband  and instead of me thinking about how he forgot to take the trash out, I'm thinking how hot he looks, why is that so bad?  (For the record, the hubs is a big fan of my reading habits.)

And I'm not saying that sexy or erotic romance is for everyone--it's not.  If frank language and open bedroom doors make you uncomfortable (or you're under 18)--that's cool.  There are tons of levels of romance from inspirational/Christian to smoking hot/swinging from the chandelier to choose from. 

But please, if you're not a romance reader/writer, stop judging those of us who are.  :)

So what are your thoughts?  Are you a romance reader/writer?  If so, why do you read it?  What's your stance on the idea of romance just being female porn?  And if you're not pro-romance (which is fine), how come? 

Writer Warning: Don't Get Lost in the Minutiae

So last Friday I listed nine of my favorite craft books and the problems that they could cure. As you can tell from that post, I'm a strong believer in learning as much as you possibly can about craft. It's the foundation of everything. Yes, writing is about creativity and writers write to get better, but having a solid handle on mechanics and structure and technique is often the difference between good and great. (See Jody Hedlund's post today if you need that point hammered home further.)

Photo by Adam Wyles

However, with all the learning of craft, I do want to put out a warning. This weekend I went to my local RWA meeting and fabulous Heather Long did a workshop on self-editing. It was awesome and went over all the little things you need to look for when going through your manuscript--repetitive words and phrasing, flying body parts, throwaway words like that, it, and just (my personal favorite.) The things that will tighten your prose and make your story shine. But here's where my warning comes in.

Do not get obsessed with the minutiae. 

When you read a whole bunch of writing books or go to a conference and attend a billion workshops, your head is going to be swimming with all this information (some of it conflicting). Don't use adverbs, never use a dialogue tag, don't say stand up because "up" is unnecessary, and on and on and on. And all that advice can literally override your whole system and shut your sh*t DOWN, people. All the buzzers in your head are going to go off and end with one conclusion--"I'm never going to be able to do this! Give up writing now! It's hopeless!"

Step back, take a deep breath, and calm down. Then start here...

The story is number one.

You could have the tightest piece of prose ever by following every rule you've ever heard. But you know what? Your story could still tank. Why? Because it's not about adverbs and dialogue tags. It's about breathing life into a story. Making it jump off the page. Showing your voice and your characters. Pulling a reader into that world. Those are the things of great fiction.

This is why you pick up books by published authors and hold them up saying, "Holy crap! So and so broke all these rules. Look how many times she used just or said 'sit down' instead of just sit or OMG, the adverbs! How is she getting published?"

Well, yes, some will say that if an author's very established, they can break more rules. However, I think that's not entirely the issue. God knows there are lots of things I did in my book that weren't perfectly tight. I do love an adverb. Even with all those things in these books you may see, ask the question--what about the story? Was it a great story? THAT is why it got published.

Yes, you want to write tight. But all the minutiae can be handled later, much later. Write your story first. Write it how you want it. Then worry about the nitpicky things. And even then I caution you not to take every piece of advice as cardinal law. Sometimes an adverb is part of your character's voice. There are times when "just" really is necessary. And if you're in deep POV, I'd argue that most people think of sitting as sitting down, so if that's how your character thinks of it--so what?

Because, shhh, big secret: These are NOT the things that will prevent you from getting published. 

If you're a mess as a writer and do all these things everywhere for no reason and it's obvious you are a novice, then yes, maybe that will get you rejected. BUT, no agent is going to turn down a fabulous story that they think they can sell only because there were one too many adverbs in it.

It's like a girl looking at the profile of a guy she wants to date and thinking, "Okay, if I learn to like sports and dye my hair blonde and start reading Stephen King novels, I'll be his perfect girl and he'll want to marry me." It doesn't work that way. You need to find your story's magic--that's what will make it rise to the top.

Know your craft, write tight, but don't get obsessed about it. Focus on writing the most amazing story you can.

So what do you think? Do you sometimes get lost in the minutiae? Have you ever read something that was technically perfect but had no life to it? Do you find yourself looking for other author's mistakes in published works?

Nine Writer Woes and the Books to Cure Them

headdesk colbert pics on Sodahead

I'm a writing book whore. I can't deny it. I know every how-to-write book says this ones is "the only writing book you'll ever need". But yeah, whatever. Not true. Every book on craft I pick up, I learn SOMETHING new. A new technique, a new way to look at things, an a-ha moment on something I was having trouble with. These books feed your writer brain like Reese's chocolate easter eggs feed your soul--wait, the egg thing may just be me, but you see what I'm getting at. So I figured I would compile a list from my personal stash of writing books to recommend.

Nine Writer Woes and the Books to Cure Them

Problem #1: You're a pantser and are dying to figure out a way to SIMPLY plot. 

Though I have a little nerdgasm looking at pictures of people's plotting white boards with all their notes and post-its and color-coding and index carding, the idea of actually doing that to one of my stories makes my throat close up in anaphylactic shock. But, at the same time, I crave some organization, some rough map of where I'm going. Enter my newest favorite book, *pets its cover* Seriously, life-changing. I'm planning a guest post going into more detail on this one. But for now, just go buy it. : ) Don't worry that it says screenwriting, it totally applies to novels as well.

Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need

Problem #2: You keep getting partial requests but not follow-up full requests. So, you may, um, suck at openings. 

Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go

Problem #3:  You're writing your first book and are absolutely overwhelmed by the process.

Your First Novel: An Author Agent Team Share the Keys to Achieving Your Dream

Problem #4:  Your stories seem to lose focus or meander during the process.
Or maybe you're getting feedback from critters saying--I'm not really sure why your character is doing this or this scene doesn't seem to have a focus/point. This means you need to get down to the bones that hold a character and story together. This one is a classic you'll hear recommended over and over.

http://www.debradixon.com/gmc.html (If you buy this one, get it from this link. It's cheaper directly from her site.)

Problem #5:  You know you can write, but your books still aren't getting that agent or publisher. 
You get feedback like, "You clearly have talent, but the story or characters just didn't resonate with me or reach out and grab me."

The Fire in Fiction: Passion, Purpose and Techniques to Make Your Novel Great

Problem #6: When you go back to edit your book, you have to cut a ton of scenes because they just aren't moving the story forward or adding anything.

Make a Scene: Crafting a Powerful Story One Scene at a Time

Problem #7 You need to write some hawt scenes, but whoa, shock of all shocks, sex isn't that easy to write! Who knew?

Passionate Ink: A Guide to Writing Erotic Romance

Problem #8: You've been told you need to "tighten" your writing.

A nuts and bolts guide that will get your waistband cinched up quicker than Jenny Craig...

The Book on Writing: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Well

Problem #9: You just want a kickass book on writing and want to hear Stephen King talk about what adverbs have to do with hell. 

On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft

Yeah, so I don't  have a tenth, I know. Round numbers and all, but whatevs. On a different note though, I do have a bit of news. I found out yesterday that my official release month for my book is January 2012! So you all need to make sure your New Year's Resolution next year is to treat yourself to some hawt romance and read CRASH INTO YOU. That is all. :)

So do you suffer from any of these above afflictions? Which one? Do you have any of these books? What's your favorite craft book and why?

Author Voice vs. Character Voice - Finding Both

Photo by Stefan Powell

Voice is one of the most sited components of writing a great story. Publishers/agents are looking for a strong voice, a fresh voice, a clear voice, etc. Unfortunately, it's also one of the things that we as writers struggle with and stress about the most.

I think the first thing that confused me early on was the difference between author voice and character voice. At first, I thought they were the same thing. They're not.

Author voice "encompasses word choice, rhythm, pacing, style, tone and structure." (source)

Character voice also affects word choice, rhythm, and pacing. But in character voice those things are influenced by the character's background, gender, history, age, education, regional location, time period, etc.

Crystal clear, right? *snort*

Finding Author Voice

Okay, maybe this will help, because it definitely helped me. I attended a workshop once where the author explained author voice by saying that you could pick up any one of her books no matter what the subject/character/plot and know that she wrote it.  

For instance, I've read Richelle Mead's Succubus Blues. I'm a huge fan of her YA Vampire Academy books, but this was the first time I read any of her adult books.  The story and characters are completely different, but the quirky sense of humor and style are still there.  I could tell they were both written by the same author, so I'm "hearing" her author voice.

Think of an Aerosmith song or a U2 or a Nirvana. Even without the lead singer's voice to give it away, the songs all have a certain style, a particular way the instruments are played. Do all the songs sound the same? No. But they all have that band's "voice".

And you have one, too!  We all do.  Your voice is who you are. You just have to make sure it gets onto the page.

My author voice is wry and casual. My style matches that--I use deep POV, like using some incomplete sentences for impact, and have a lot of dialogue.  And though I tackle very heavy and dark topics at times in my stories, humor will always be present.   

Why? Because that's who I am. Humor is my go-to defense mechanism even when things aren't going so well. Sarcasm is my favorite pastime and self-depracation is a way of life for me. I can't escape my voice.

So there's good news in that! Voice just is. (Read your own blog, you'll probably see your voice shining through. Or if you want a great example of a unique blogging voice, go visit Chuck Wendig's blog.) We can hone it and analyze it and strengthen it but our author voice is already there. It's who we are. 

The only thing that gets in the way is when we try to imitate some other author's voice. "I want to write books just like..." It's good to study other people's writings and pick out what you enjoy about it, but be careful not to let what you "think" your voice should be overtake what it actually is.  You can never be such and such author, you can only be you.

Finding Character Voice

So, if author voice is just waiting there to be discovered, what we probably need to worry about more is making sure we have an accurate character voice for each of our players. 

To do this, we need to analyze our characters, get into their head, know their history. As one of my handy dandy critiquers pointed out a while back about one of my characters: she's from the south, she wouldn't say "you guys", she would say "y'all". Of course, I know this (being southern and a over-user of y'all) but I lost her voice for a minute trying to sound more proper. These are the small nuances we have to watch out for. If our characters don't sound believable, we'll lose the reader. The character's education, gender, situation all play a factor. 

Well, that's my take on the whole thing, but I'd like to hear your opinions.

How would your describe your author voice?  Do you struggle to nail it down or is it one of those things that comes naturally?  Which authors voices do you totally envy?

*This is a revamped version of a post from Sept. 2009.  Thanks to Sierra Godfrey's post today for sparking the idea to pull this one out of the vault.*

Building Character Arc: Why a Motto Is Vital

 

Photo by Donna Marijne

When developing characters, many of us use the method of "interviewing" them before we start the story. We need to know who they are and how they approach the world. What colors the view through their personal glasses? One of my favorite questions to tease out that issues is "What is his or her motto?" 

Yes, you can write notes and notes on their backstory, what they look like, what clothes they like to wear, whatever. But usually the essence of who the person is and how they're going to react in your book is the answer to that simple question--what is their motto? 

Susan Gable defines a motto as: A deeply held personal belief, stemming from the characters backstory, that impacts the way s/he views and world and behaves.

 

This motto is  a quick way to boil down to the bones and find your character's internal motivation and conflict. What world view do they have to change in order to resolve their internal conflict? What is ground zero for their character arc?

Here are some examples:

 

People always leave.

(Old school One Tree Hill fans will recognize this as Peyton's motto.) 

This is actually the motto of my current heroine as well. So from that simple three word motto, I can tease out so much more about her. If people always leave, then that means she's slow to trust, has feelings of inadequacy because if people always leave her that must mean something is wrong with her, and believes that love must be conditional. This also gives me my arc endpoint. At the end, she's going to have to trust someone and make herself vulnerable, will have to believe in her own self-worth, and have to accept that there is real love out there. All that from one motto.

 

Get them, before they get me.

(Puck on Glee)

 

It's better to burn out than fade away.

(Def Lepard lyric and a line in Kurt Cobain's suicide note)

 

When you know better, you do better

(Oprah's mantra from Maya Angelou)

 

Second place is first loser.

(The Karate Kid)

 

People who think they know it all, annoy those of us who do.

(Dwight, The Office)

 

Commitment=death

(Barney, How I Met Your Mother)

 

Revenge is the only answer.

(Damon, The Vampire Diaries)

So what is your character's motto? Or what is your favorite book/tv/movie character's motto? I'd love to hear your own examples. Do you this this is a helpful exercise in developing internal motivation?

*This is an updated post from 2009

Query Writing: How Brief is Brief?

More Briefs by Alberto Alonso G

I've never been known for brevity. If you read this blog regularly, you know that I almost always break that "keep you blog posts under 500 words" rule. Pfft! Five-hundred words? I laugh in the face of that rule.

However, where the lack of brevity can really kill you is in that query letter. I recently posted about the Reasons Agents Gonged Queries at the writer's conference I attended, and by far, the biggest reason people got gonged is because they went on TOO LONG and tried to include TOO MUCH. The query is not a synopsis. It is a hook and a catchy paragraph to make the agent or publisher want to flip to the manuscript.

In essence, it is a back cover copy or a blurb for your manuscript. Pick up any book you have, that stuff on the back has one purpose--to make you want to buy and read the book. It is a marketing tool. And that's what you need to keep in mind when you query. You are SELLING your book, not explaining every person, plot line, subplot, theme, etc. Pick the things that are most important and hooky in your story and focus on that.

I thought I was pretty decent at this whole query writing thing. Every novel I've queried (even the REALLY bad one) got a good number of full requests. However, when I got my draft of my back cover copy this week, it was glaringly obvious that I could've made my query a lot shorter with a lot more punch. So I'm going to use mine as the example.

The summary section of my original query:
Since her mother’s murder, social worker Brynn LeBreck has dedicated her career to helping women in crisis. But when Brynn’s sister goes missing and is rumored to be at The Ranch, a secretive BDSM retreat for Dallas’ elite, Brynn must tackle her own traumatic past and go undercover as a sexual submissive to find her.  Unfortunately, she can’t get an invitation to the exclusive resort without the help of the one guy she never wanted to share air with again—Reid Jamison, the lawyer who recently defended her mother’s killer and the man who, ten years earlier, opened her heart and shredded her defenses, only to crush her trust when she was most vulnerable.

After a failed marriage and a crippling defeat in the LeBreck case, Reid needs a fresh start.  The first steps—move out of his family’s high-profile practice and construct his client’s appeal. But when he discovers he’ll be sharing an office with the woman he’s never been able to shake from his bones, the one who taught him how to embrace his dominant nature in the first place, the fresh start gains new meaning.  Being near Brynn stirs up the primal desires he hasn’t indulged in years, and he’s not going to let her “I-loathe-you” attitude stand in the way when he finds out she’s in search of a master. Only one man will get the privilege of calling her his, and that man is going to be him. 

The two can't find a future without facing the demons of the past, however, and some of those demons want to make sure Brynn and Reid are never together—even if it means one of them may not make it through their erotic weekend alive. 

See how long that is? It worked for me, but look at the difference between that and what we've come up with for the back cover copy...

CRASH INTO YOU back cover copy:

 

Sometimes the past can bring you to your knees...

Brynn LeBreck has dedicated herself to helping women in crisis, but she never imagined how personal her work would get, or where it would take her. Her younger sister is missing, suspected to be hiding from cops and criminals alike at a highly secretive BDSM retreat—a place where the elite escape to play out their most extreme sexual fantasies. There’s only one way to find her: go undercover as a sexual submissive. Unfortunately, The Ranch is invitation only. And the only Master who can get her in is from the darkest corner of Brynn’s past.

 

Only Brynn knows what attorney Reid Jamison is like once stripped of his conservative suit and tie. Years ago she left herself vulnerable only to have him crush her heart. Now she needs him again. Back on top. And he’s all too willing to engage. But as their primal desires and old wounds are exposed, the sexual games escalate—and so does the danger.  Their hearts aren’t the only things at risk. Someone else is watching, playing by his own rules. And his game could be murder.

Here's what I see as the differences:

1. Significantly shorter

2. Focuses on the two major plot threads
There is a romance between old lovers and there's a murderer out there. (romance and suspense, done.)

3. Backstory, just like in the book, doesn't have to be fleshed out in the query.
No mention of my MC's traumatic past, which is vital to the story, but not necessarily to the summary. No mention of my hero's backstory--his failed marriage, his job troubles, etc. We don't need to know that to want to read the book.

4. The hook is clear
Woman is in danger and has to find her sister, but the only way to do it is to give up control to the only guy who ever broke her heart.

5. Makes you want to read more (hopefully!) 
Neither my query or the cover copy tells you what happens, or who the villain is, or why someone wants someone dead. That's synopsis stuff. The query should leave you with the urge to find out what happens next. It's the appetizer.

QUERY HOMEWORK: So when you start to craft your query, go to the store or your bookshelves and pick out ten or so books in your genre and read the back cover copy. It should be books you've already read so that you can see what was included and WHAT WAS LEFT OUT. Train yourself to recognize what are the most important points in your story and what is vital to include in your query. And focus on hooking, not just explaining.

So what do you think? Do you struggle with brevity like I do? Does my back cover copy do a better job at hooking you than the query? Why or why not? Pick up a few of you favorite books, what are surprised was left out in the back cover copy?


AND A QUICK PSA for an AMAZING opportunity...


Author Ashely March is offering a FULL critique to an aspiring romance author! But you must enter by noon MST today. Go! Hurry! Full crit by a pubbed author people!

Does a Blog Sell Books? Survey Results!

Photo by Jesslee Cuizon

If you missed it, Monday I put up a survey evaluating the question: Does a Blog Sell Books? So many of you answered and I am so excited to share the interesting results. Lots to be learned from what you guys had to say. :)

So here are the results...

1. Do you read erotic romance?


Yes 29%

No, it will never be my thing 39%

No, but willing to give it a try 32%

So here's the part you can't change as a blogger (for the most part). Those 39% who are absolutely not interested in reading my genre are not going to buy my book no matter how much they like my blog or me personally or how much they may get out of my posts. It's not their thing.

However, there's that open-minded 32% of you that could possible be swayed. And I know this is where I actually fall for a lot of genres. For instance, I'm not one to read literary fiction. However, I'm not categorically against it, so if I knew someone who I wanted to support who had written it, I might be tempted to pick it up. And my guess is that for other genres, there would be less of "it will never be my thing" percentage because erotic romance can be a bit more polarizing than other genres. :)

Lesson: You don't HAVE to gear your blog to cater only to those who read your specific genre. In fact, you may be missing out on friends and potential readers who read/write something completely different but who may be open to trying something new.

2. Do you plan to buy my book?

No way 6%

Probably not 32%

Yes definitely 26%

Probably so 37%

I found this interesting. Above, 39% of you said you'd never read erotic romance, but then only 6% said absolutely no way they'd buy my book. Hmm... So perhaps this is because "no way" seems like a harsh answer and you kind people don't want to send me crying in my beer. Or maybe it means that a) you could be convinced or b) you may be willing to buy it for someone else? or c) you may make an exception for some other reason. I'm not sure. Interesting nonetheless.

To you yes definitely's and probably so's, I send you a big cyber hug. Thank you.

Lesson: Even people who like your blog AND read your genre may still need something else to get them to purchase. 37% of you are probably so's, which means there are other factors that will determine if you buy or not. Perhaps you need to make sure you like the blurb, if you have money to spend on it at the time, if reviewers give the book high ratings, etc.

3. If you DON'T plan to buy it, why not?

I don't read the genre. 74%

The story doesn't sound like my thing. 9%

Other 17%

Most of the comments people left on this question talked about how they just don't read the genre or love scenes make them uncomfortable. A few others noted no money to spend on books, too many books to read already, etc. However, there were also some very nice comments saying that though they don't read the genre, they will be more than happy to tweet and share info about my release. :)

Lesson: Even if someone does not plan to buy your book for whatever reason, if they like you or your blog, they still may be willing to support you by helping spread the word to those who may be interested in it. How awesome is that? Bloggy friends are the best.

4. If you DO plan to buy it, why?

I like you or your blog and want to help support your career  71%

Other 16%

I like the story blurb 7%

I'm already an erotic romance reader 6%

Aww, you guys got me all warm and toasty on this one. I feel like Sally Field--they like me! *group hug* This is a whopping statistic, peeps, and makes a huge case for blogging/social networking. This thing is about connecting with other people and this is why those authors who tweet every other freaking tweet "Check out my book!" "Buy my book!" "Ten percent off today!" don't get it. Most of you are saying you're not going out to buy my book because you've been exposed to the story and it's awesome (though, I hope it is), it's because you've connected with me on some level and want to be supportive. That's an amazing, beautiful thing.

Lesson: It's not about the book. That's only part of it. It's about who you are. (I go into detail about this in my post on Author Brand over at Sierra's joint if you want to hear me rant on this some more.) :)

Here are some of the anonymous comments left on the question above:

• Can I explain even if I answered I plan to buy your book? I've only been following your blog for about a year, but during that time I've been entertained, I've been informed, and I've learned. I figure if your blog is this good, you book should be great. I don't read a lot of erotica, but like good writing wherever I can find it. I plan to buy Nathan Bransford's book this summer when it's released for the same reason and Authoress' dystopian when she finally reveals her true name and title. Like your blog, those are two that have made me a better writer and I think the least I can do is help support their careers. Maybe someday, someone will think the same thing about me.
• I totally love ya and you gave me a five page critique.
• You are nice and crazy cool! You engage in discussion and don't just hawk your wares. Of course I'm buying your book!
• You serve me with your blog. The least I can do is part with a few dollars to repay you for what I have gained for free
• I like authors who "give back" to the community in some way. I am willing to try out the book.
• I want to see what kind of filthy mind I'm hanging around with. ;)
• I've wanted to know more of what's happening from the excerpts you've posted.
• As a writer I like to show support for other writers. It's a two way street-- I have found. I usually make a good review and if I don't like it I will tell the author in private what I found about it that I didn't like.
• I also help in the hopes that I might find support is reciprocal. I know my work is good and of course I know that some people won't vare for it just because of the genre. I read all types of books. Even more so now that I am connecting with other writers.
• Because I love your blog/writing advice - and - you came right out and asked - so yes. I will.
• Actually there were a few answers that applied to me. I read erotic romance, but you're partly responsible for that. I like your story blurb. And because I want to support your career. Would I have bought it if it weren't for the blur? Probably not. I never buy books I'm not interested in
• I tend to buy the books of people who I interact with on a regular basis online, or even those whose blogs I read, because I ALWAYS buy the books of people who I am friends with in person and the online world just feels like an extension of that. I believe in supporting good people.
• I do like you and your blog and your helpful personality goes a long way in gaining my readership.
• To support your career although I don't read erotic romance. I would just skip over the sex.

4. Have you ever bought a book solely because you liked the author, their blog, or whatever they had to say on Twitter?

Yes 74%

No 26%

Final  lesson... 


Yes, write a fantastic book. That's your best marketing tool. But when it comes to your online presence and social networking--it's all about being genuine and helpful and connecting with others. And that, my friends, is 100% free.


Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey! I heart you guys. :)


So do any of these results surprise you? What do you take away from these results? 

Does a Blog Make You Buy An Author's Book?

I blog. A lot. I tweet even more. I spend a lot of time pounding these keys writing things that aren't my manuscript. Why?

Well, because I enjoy it. I like connecting with other writers and readers. I learn a lot myself by researching blog posts and sharing information with you guys and of course reading your posts as well. (I even found myself attending a few things at the writer's conference that weren't relevant to me right now--like the querying workshop--because I knew a lot of you would like to know what was said. So I do it for those reasons.

However, most of the time the reason we're told to start blogs is because when the time comes. we want it to help us sell books, right? The friendships and connections are just bonuses on top of that goal. But here's my question:

Does liking a blog or blogger really translate into you buying their book?

For instance, I know that probably the vast majority of you do not read my genre. Maybe you're patently against it, maybe you just haven't tried it but are willing, or maybe the whole idea of you makes you a bit blush-y and you're unsure. I don't know. So when my book comes out, even if you've commented on every post I've ever written  (if you have, I will send you a book for free, lol), are you going to go out and buy my book based simply on the fact that you like my blog?

As a blog reader, this has worked on me. I bought Jody Hedlund's book because I like her and her blog. I don't read inspirational romance, but I bought it as a gift for a family member who does. I bought Ashley March's book and Tiffany Reisz's novella not because they were agency-mates, but because I've gotten to know them on Twitter and want to support them. So even with them not "marketing" to me, I did become a buyer. But I'm not sure if that's common or the exception.

So I'm curious to see your opinions. This survey below is completely anonymous. I want to see what you guys have to say. Regardless of the outcome, I don't plan on stopping the blog because like I said, I'm not doing this as marketing tool so much as a connecting tool. But I'm interested in knowing...

****SURVEY CLOSED**** See results HERE!

Also, feel free to leave comments below about the question in general. Do you think author blogs and internet presence sells books? Thanks ahead of time for those of you who complete the survey. I'll report results in a future post!