Thursday, June 25, 2009
Under the Influence
Is there someone who has influenced your writing? For me, I’d have to say it’s Stephen King. The strange thing is I’m not a huge fan of his writing. I love his stories, but some of his novels are too detailed and have big description dumps all over the place. Skim through that and there’s a fantastic story with intriguing characters. My favorite novel of his is The Stand. It’s a huge book, but worth the read.
I haven’t read any of his recent novels, but I’ve heard since his accident, his style has changed somewhat. This could be a coincidence. He may have been advised by his publisher to cut back on the descriptive passages in order to fit in with the times. We all know beginning writers would never be able to get away with info dumps. Which makes me wonder if Stephen King would’ve had the potential to become as big as he is today if he’d just started submitting this year? Would agents and editors have given his work a second glance?
So, why then, do I consider Stephen King to be the writer who most influenced me? I’ve always been drawn to his career, but when “On Writing” came out, I was able to see some commonalities in what he’d gone through in his life and me in mine. And despite his wall covered in rejection slips, he persevered. He knew in his heart he was meant to be an author and he wasn’t going to give up on that dream.
That’s the way I feel. When I walk into a bookstore, I know someday my books will be on their shelves. It’s not something I’m wishing will happen. I KNOW it will. When? Well, that’s a whole other story.
Who’s influenced your writing and how?
I haven’t read any of his recent novels, but I’ve heard since his accident, his style has changed somewhat. This could be a coincidence. He may have been advised by his publisher to cut back on the descriptive passages in order to fit in with the times. We all know beginning writers would never be able to get away with info dumps. Which makes me wonder if Stephen King would’ve had the potential to become as big as he is today if he’d just started submitting this year? Would agents and editors have given his work a second glance?
So, why then, do I consider Stephen King to be the writer who most influenced me? I’ve always been drawn to his career, but when “On Writing” came out, I was able to see some commonalities in what he’d gone through in his life and me in mine. And despite his wall covered in rejection slips, he persevered. He knew in his heart he was meant to be an author and he wasn’t going to give up on that dream.
That’s the way I feel. When I walk into a bookstore, I know someday my books will be on their shelves. It’s not something I’m wishing will happen. I KNOW it will. When? Well, that’s a whole other story.
Who’s influenced your writing and how?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Ending Do's
Yesterday, we talked about what not to do when writing an ending for your novel. What about ending do’s? Here’s a list:
Conflict Resolution: Make sure your character’s conflict is something that can be resolved in a believable way.
Demonstrate the Character’s Growth: The main characters should’ve grown in some way by the end of the story.
Reward the Reader: This goes along with #2. The reader wants to see that because of this character growth, the hero and/or heroine is better able to deal with whatever else may come into their path (even after the story has ended).
Keep the Focus: While there may be other subplots that should be worked out, the main plot is the one that NEEDS resolving. SOME subplots can be left open to the reader’s imagination, but be careful with this. If the wrong subplot is unfinished, the reader will feel cheated.
Don’t Forget Theme: Ensure your theme is consistent from the beginning to the end of the novel.
Give your readers what was promised early in the story and they’ll eagerly await your next release.
Are there any ending do’s you’d recommend?
Conflict Resolution: Make sure your character’s conflict is something that can be resolved in a believable way.
Demonstrate the Character’s Growth: The main characters should’ve grown in some way by the end of the story.
Reward the Reader: This goes along with #2. The reader wants to see that because of this character growth, the hero and/or heroine is better able to deal with whatever else may come into their path (even after the story has ended).
Keep the Focus: While there may be other subplots that should be worked out, the main plot is the one that NEEDS resolving. SOME subplots can be left open to the reader’s imagination, but be careful with this. If the wrong subplot is unfinished, the reader will feel cheated.
Don’t Forget Theme: Ensure your theme is consistent from the beginning to the end of the novel.
Give your readers what was promised early in the story and they’ll eagerly await your next release.
Are there any ending do’s you’d recommend?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Endings
Our job as writers is to reach readers mentally and emotionally. That doesn’t mean simply hooking them at the beginning and hoping they’ll continue to read the rest of the book. We have to follow through and give them not only a riveting beginning and a tantalizing middle, but also an unforgettable ending. We don’t want our readers to feel cheated or that they invested so much time reading the story only to be disappointed by the conclusion.
Good endings sell books. Readers feel emotionally gratified and want others to share that sensation, so they recommend the book to their friends. Not to mention, a satisfied reader will watch for our next novel.
Let’s look at common ending mistakes made by writers.
The Summary: This gives the appearance that the writer is anxious to finish the story and instead of taking the time to show readers how the story concludes, he sums it up in a few pages, paragraphs, or in an epilogue.
The Unbelievable: Conveniently, the villain is swept away by a hurricane and the lovers can now be together. This ending isn’t satisfying because readers want to see the hero/heroine overcome obstacles own their own not by some higher power or coincidence.
Complications: If the author hasn’t set the scene, complications in the last part of the book can throw readers out of the story. Readers want to feel as though they could’ve predicted the ending because the hints were there, even if they didn’t necessarily pick up on them until after they finished reading the book.
Loose Ends: While it’s all right to leave some loose ends, all important plot elements must be resolved by the end of the book (unless a loose end is left as a hook for the next book in a series).
Tomorrow, we’ll look at ending do’s.
Can you think of any other ending mistakes? How do bad endings make you feel?
Good endings sell books. Readers feel emotionally gratified and want others to share that sensation, so they recommend the book to their friends. Not to mention, a satisfied reader will watch for our next novel.
Let’s look at common ending mistakes made by writers.
The Summary: This gives the appearance that the writer is anxious to finish the story and instead of taking the time to show readers how the story concludes, he sums it up in a few pages, paragraphs, or in an epilogue.
The Unbelievable: Conveniently, the villain is swept away by a hurricane and the lovers can now be together. This ending isn’t satisfying because readers want to see the hero/heroine overcome obstacles own their own not by some higher power or coincidence.
Complications: If the author hasn’t set the scene, complications in the last part of the book can throw readers out of the story. Readers want to feel as though they could’ve predicted the ending because the hints were there, even if they didn’t necessarily pick up on them until after they finished reading the book.
Loose Ends: While it’s all right to leave some loose ends, all important plot elements must be resolved by the end of the book (unless a loose end is left as a hook for the next book in a series).
Tomorrow, we’ll look at ending do’s.
Can you think of any other ending mistakes? How do bad endings make you feel?
Monday, June 22, 2009
Are You Watching?
Two new TV shows have caught my eye. I know, I know. What am I doing watching the boob tube when I should be writing? Sometimes, I’m just too brain dead after playing with the kids all day that not only can I not function well enough to write, I can’t focus enough to read. I end up scanning the page over and over without getting anything out of it. During those times, it’s nice to have a show or two recorded on the DVR. AND if I can convince my hubby to snuggle up on the couch with me while I allow the TV to take over my mind, then I’m also getting some “us” time in there, too.
The first show I discovered is The Listener. Tres cool and very well written. I love the dialogue. The writer is not only clever, but witty, too. I’d say this show is kind of a combination of Ghost Whisperer and Medium without the ghosts or dreams. The main character, Tory, is a telepath and because of this natural gift, he’s able to help the police solve crimes. The fun part is only his EMT partner knows about his secret ability. During the last episode, the main detective and her boss started to wonder how he’s able to solve the crimes before they do. This should get interesting…
The other show premiered last night. It’s called Merlin. I love everything medieval, so this was a natural fit for me, but I wasn’t sure about the whole fantasy part of it. As it turns out, I should look into reading some fantasy novels. I actually like the magical world of witches, dragons, and enchantments. Who knew?
Have you checked out these shows? Any other new shows you’d recommend?
The first show I discovered is The Listener. Tres cool and very well written. I love the dialogue. The writer is not only clever, but witty, too. I’d say this show is kind of a combination of Ghost Whisperer and Medium without the ghosts or dreams. The main character, Tory, is a telepath and because of this natural gift, he’s able to help the police solve crimes. The fun part is only his EMT partner knows about his secret ability. During the last episode, the main detective and her boss started to wonder how he’s able to solve the crimes before they do. This should get interesting…
The other show premiered last night. It’s called Merlin. I love everything medieval, so this was a natural fit for me, but I wasn’t sure about the whole fantasy part of it. As it turns out, I should look into reading some fantasy novels. I actually like the magical world of witches, dragons, and enchantments. Who knew?
Have you checked out these shows? Any other new shows you’d recommend?
Friday, June 19, 2009
I Did It!
I did it. No, not the big IT. I didn’t get an agent or anything. I have to finish my WIP first. I’m not talking about sex either, so get your mind out of the gutter. Although, what I did had something to do with a bed… getting out of it. That’s right, folks. I was up at five this morning so I could write. I can’t believe I was able to get anything out of my brain at that hour. Caffeine helps with little problems like mind fuzz. So, after my cup of French vanilla blend, I wrote a little over two pages. Nothing to brag about, but more than I’ve written the rest of the day so far. Taking care of twins tends to rob a person of any “me” time.
My schedule has changed and instead of improving my writing time, I now have less time than ever. This situation hasn’t gone unnoticed. My psyche picked up on my lack of writing and reacted with a very nice mood swing. I haven’t been a cheery deary the past few days and last night, I basically lost it. My tears were drowning me. I needed a solution. The only way out of the mess was to promise myself I’d sacrifice sleep to get some writing done.
What a difference. I’m back to my normal self again, with the exception of a few bags under the eyes and the need for extra caffeine in my diet. Luckily, tomorrow’s the weekend, so I can catch up on my rest. I’m considering getting up early Monday morning, but we’ll see. I’ll just take one day at a time.
What about you? Have you stayed up late, gotten up in the middle of the night or early in the morning to write?
My schedule has changed and instead of improving my writing time, I now have less time than ever. This situation hasn’t gone unnoticed. My psyche picked up on my lack of writing and reacted with a very nice mood swing. I haven’t been a cheery deary the past few days and last night, I basically lost it. My tears were drowning me. I needed a solution. The only way out of the mess was to promise myself I’d sacrifice sleep to get some writing done.
What a difference. I’m back to my normal self again, with the exception of a few bags under the eyes and the need for extra caffeine in my diet. Luckily, tomorrow’s the weekend, so I can catch up on my rest. I’m considering getting up early Monday morning, but we’ll see. I’ll just take one day at a time.
What about you? Have you stayed up late, gotten up in the middle of the night or early in the morning to write?
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tying Up Loose Ends
Congratulations go to Cynthia, Gwen, and Sarah! They are the winners of the critique group contest. There were a lot of wonderful entries and the decision was difficult. I felt like Jillian from the Bachelorette. It’s tough letting someone down, especially when you enjoyed what they wrote, but I couldn’t “keep” everyone.
For those of you who don’t know, I have a writers’ support group that might interest you. We have 31 members so far, which is great for networking. If you want to know more, check out this post: http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-writers-support-group.html If you’d like to join, e-mail me at: lynnette_labelle@hotmail.com with “WOW” (Writers_on_Writing) in the subject, so I know the message isn’t spam.
As for the critique group name contest, so far, nobody’s won because none of the names fit us. If you’d like to keep entering, e-mail me your suggestions. The contest will be open until we chose a name. I never realized how hard this would be. Sheeesh! Thanks to everyone who has entered. Do you have any more ideas?
Tomorrow, we’ll get back to normal. That’s enough contests for me, at least for a while.
For those of you who don’t know, I have a writers’ support group that might interest you. We have 31 members so far, which is great for networking. If you want to know more, check out this post: http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-writers-support-group.html If you’d like to join, e-mail me at: lynnette_labelle@hotmail.com with “WOW” (Writers_on_Writing) in the subject, so I know the message isn’t spam.
As for the critique group name contest, so far, nobody’s won because none of the names fit us. If you’d like to keep entering, e-mail me your suggestions. The contest will be open until we chose a name. I never realized how hard this would be. Sheeesh! Thanks to everyone who has entered. Do you have any more ideas?
Tomorrow, we’ll get back to normal. That’s enough contests for me, at least for a while.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Deep POV
I planned on writing a post about Deep POV, but found Camy Tang has already done a series on this subject. Rather than re-word what she's written, I'll send you over there. Here's the link for the series.
Do you know of anyone else who's written about Deep POV? If you do, please direct us. Do you have anything to add about Deep POV?
Do you know of anyone else who's written about Deep POV? If you do, please direct us. Do you have anything to add about Deep POV?
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
A Contest Everyone Can Enter
Before I get into details of the new contest, I’ll update you on the last one. Five of the six finalists have sent in their questionnaires. I realize the last gal is traveling, which is probably affecting her response time. I’ll let you know once all three winners have been selected.
Now for the new contest…
I have this problem. I’m a collector of books. If I like an author, I tend to buy their novels without spending too much time reading the back cover summaries. Sometimes, I purchase new books and other times, I’ll grab one from a garage sale or thrift store. Whatever fills up my at-home library, right?
As you can imagine, I haven’t read a good portion of the books I own, which gets me into trouble when I’m at the book store. I’ll see a book from an author I follow, but I’m not sure if I already own this book or not. The summary seems familiar. Is that because I already bought this book or simply looked at it before? Knowing many books don’t stay on the shelf longer than six months, I often will buy the book anyway. Most of the time, that works out for me, but not always. As a result, I have a few doubles in my collection. Wouldn’t you know they were all books purchased from a thrift store?
Where am I going with this? Well, one of those books will be the prize for this contest. Any Iris Johansen fans? Her novel “No One to Trust” is what you’ll win. Yes, it’s a used book, but it’s in good condition. The spine is creased, but that’s about it.
What do you have to do to win this fantastic book? As you know, I’m in the process of starting a romance critique group. However, the group needs a name. Come up with it and you’ll win.
Details:
-Anyone may enter this contest (even the finalists because they won’t be judging).
-You may enter as many times as you like.
-Write your titles in the comment section.
-The deadline is Wednesday midnight.
Good luck!
Now for the new contest…
I have this problem. I’m a collector of books. If I like an author, I tend to buy their novels without spending too much time reading the back cover summaries. Sometimes, I purchase new books and other times, I’ll grab one from a garage sale or thrift store. Whatever fills up my at-home library, right?
As you can imagine, I haven’t read a good portion of the books I own, which gets me into trouble when I’m at the book store. I’ll see a book from an author I follow, but I’m not sure if I already own this book or not. The summary seems familiar. Is that because I already bought this book or simply looked at it before? Knowing many books don’t stay on the shelf longer than six months, I often will buy the book anyway. Most of the time, that works out for me, but not always. As a result, I have a few doubles in my collection. Wouldn’t you know they were all books purchased from a thrift store?
Where am I going with this? Well, one of those books will be the prize for this contest. Any Iris Johansen fans? Her novel “No One to Trust” is what you’ll win. Yes, it’s a used book, but it’s in good condition. The spine is creased, but that’s about it.
What do you have to do to win this fantastic book? As you know, I’m in the process of starting a romance critique group. However, the group needs a name. Come up with it and you’ll win.
Details:
-Anyone may enter this contest (even the finalists because they won’t be judging).
-You may enter as many times as you like.
-Write your titles in the comment section.
-The deadline is Wednesday midnight.
Good luck!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Watch for These Weaknesses
The finalists for the critique group contest have been selected. However, this wasn’t an easy task and choosing three from the six will be even harder. All entrants had some strengths and some weaknesses. As much as I’d like to, I don’t have time to critique everyone’s work. Instead, I’ll list the basic weak points in the entries. Maybe if people know what to look for, they can learn those aspects of the craft and grow greater writing skills. I hope this will help.
Show don’t tell
Overuse of words (especially “it” and “that”)
Repeaters (nouns and verbs)
Action/reaction (the action must come before the reaction, not the other way around)
Hidden dialogue
Overuse of dialogue tags or lack of tags
Unrealistic dialogue
Clichés
POV slips
Huh? moments (where I didn’t understand something because the writing wasn’t clear enough)
Run-on sentences
Weak verbs (ending in “ing” instead of “ed” for example)
Bad grammar
Story doesn’t move forward
Description dump
Choreography doesn’t make sense
Not in Deep POV
Even if you didn’t enter the contest, you might want to watch for these weaknesses in your own writing. What’s your weakness?
Show don’t tell
Overuse of words (especially “it” and “that”)
Repeaters (nouns and verbs)
Action/reaction (the action must come before the reaction, not the other way around)
Hidden dialogue
Overuse of dialogue tags or lack of tags
Unrealistic dialogue
Clichés
POV slips
Huh? moments (where I didn’t understand something because the writing wasn’t clear enough)
Run-on sentences
Weak verbs (ending in “ing” instead of “ed” for example)
Bad grammar
Story doesn’t move forward
Description dump
Choreography doesn’t make sense
Not in Deep POV
Even if you didn’t enter the contest, you might want to watch for these weaknesses in your own writing. What’s your weakness?
Friday, June 12, 2009
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers
Not too long ago, I bought a new writer’s book. Like I didn’t have enough of them already. What can I say? I simply couldn’t resist.
This book, “Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself into Print” by Renni Browne and Dave King seems to be a great addition to my collection. Here’s the table of contents to give you an idea of what’s inside:
Show and Tell
Characterization and Exposition
Point of View
Proportion
Dialogue Mechanics
See How it Sounds
Interior Monologue
Easy Beats
Breaking Up Is Easy to Do
Once Is Usually Enough
Sophistication
Voice
I’ve just started reading this and so far, so good. Have you acquired any good writing books you’d like to brag about?
Show and Tell
Characterization and Exposition
Point of View
Proportion
Dialogue Mechanics
See How it Sounds
Interior Monologue
Easy Beats
Breaking Up Is Easy to Do
Once Is Usually Enough
Sophistication
Voice
I’ve just started reading this and so far, so good. Have you acquired any good writing books you’d like to brag about?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
A Recipe for Getting Published
The critique contest is officially over. Finalists will be announced next week. Thanks for your patience during this time. I know some of you weren’t able to get much out of my last few posts because you didn’t enter the contest, but next week, I’ll have a contest for you. That’s right. A CONTEST FOR EVERYONE. I just have to come up with a prize…
Moving on.
If there were a recipe for getting published, it would look something like this:
Good storytelling
Great understanding of the craft
Decent comprehension of grammar
Someone in the industry (like a fellow writer) to critique your work
A load of perseverance
Tons of patience
A network of supportive writer friends
Beaucoup time
One or more computers
A fire pit or shredder for rejections
A dash of good luck
A sprinkle of the right place at the right time
Mix all ingredients together and cross your fingers. Results may vary.
Did I miss anything? I’m not the best cook, so it’s possible. What would you add?
Moving on.
If there were a recipe for getting published, it would look something like this:
Good storytelling
Great understanding of the craft
Decent comprehension of grammar
Someone in the industry (like a fellow writer) to critique your work
A load of perseverance
Tons of patience
A network of supportive writer friends
Beaucoup time
One or more computers
A fire pit or shredder for rejections
A dash of good luck
A sprinkle of the right place at the right time
Mix all ingredients together and cross your fingers. Results may vary.
Did I miss anything? I’m not the best cook, so it’s possible. What would you add?
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
New Contest Rules: Fair Is Fair
Because I’m new at this whole contest business, I’ve been figuring it out as I went along. As a result, I’ve posted hints along the way. Since those who were quick to send in their entries weren’t able to benefit from these hints, I’m changing things up a bit.
New Rules:
To be fair, anyone who has already submitted their entry up until this is posted may re-submit.
Since a large portion of the entries went over one page, I re-evaluated the situation and decided one page may not have been a reasonable request. Sure, agents and editors may judge a story by its first paragraph, but I’d rather make everyone more comfortable. You now have the choice. The entry may be BETWEEN ONE AND TWO PAGES DOUBLE SPACED, BUT NO MORE. Anything over two pages will not be read.
Here’s how I’m going to read the entries. I’ll copy and paste from the e-mail into Microsoft Word. If the font isn’t Times New Roman, 12 pt, I’ll change it to that. If it’s not double spaced, I’ll modify it. Once the entry is formatted correctly, anything beyond two pages will NOT be read.
Please read all the contest information including the hints in the other posts. I’ll update the rules there so they match what I have in this post, but the hints will only be in Monday and Tuesday’s posts.
If you are re-submitting, please make that clear in the subject line.
Remember the deadline is midnight tonight, but as long as it’s in my inbox before I get up, it’ll count.
Good luck!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Contest Hint #2
In case you haven’t heard, I’m hosting a contest for romance writers. Check out Friday’s post for the details.
Yesterday, I posted a hint for the contest. Here’s another. When you submit your entry, it doesn’t have to be a complete scene. Don’t stress yourself out trying to find a one page scene in your manuscript or cutting important parts of a scene to make it fit on a single page.* In fact, if you cut the end of the scene, I might be intrigued enough to want to read more. Hook me and you’ll have a great chance of winning.
*Note: Please include one to two double spaced pages.
Don’t forget. Tomorrow’s the last date to submit your entry.
Good luck!
Yesterday, I posted a hint for the contest. Here’s another. When you submit your entry, it doesn’t have to be a complete scene. Don’t stress yourself out trying to find a one page scene in your manuscript or cutting important parts of a scene to make it fit on a single page.* In fact, if you cut the end of the scene, I might be intrigued enough to want to read more. Hook me and you’ll have a great chance of winning.
*Note: Please include one to two double spaced pages.
Don’t forget. Tomorrow’s the last date to submit your entry.
Good luck!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Contest Hint
In case you missed the announcement. I’m hosting a writing contest for romance writers. Check out Friday’s post for more information.
You want to win? Here’s a hint. You must write romance or a genre with romantic elements, BUT we don’t actually want to read the sex scenes or romance scenes in your story (at least not for the contest). You’ll have better results if you show us a piece that represents how different your work is from everyone else’s. Get it?
If you’ve already entered and haven’t received a response from me, I may not have gotten your entry. Try e-mailing it again, but make sure you spell my name correctly in the e-mail address. Two n’s in Lynnette. Blame my dad for that one.
Good luck!
You want to win? Here’s a hint. You must write romance or a genre with romantic elements, BUT we don’t actually want to read the sex scenes or romance scenes in your story (at least not for the contest). You’ll have better results if you show us a piece that represents how different your work is from everyone else’s. Get it?
If you’ve already entered and haven’t received a response from me, I may not have gotten your entry. Try e-mailing it again, but make sure you spell my name correctly in the e-mail address. Two n’s in Lynnette. Blame my dad for that one.
Good luck!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Writing Contest Now Open
Calling all romance writers in search of a critique group. I’m hosting a contest so you can show your stuff. Tell your friends!
Contest Details:
• This contest is only for romance writers (all sub-genres including genres with romantic elements) who are seeking a critique group. Sorry. That’s the point of the contest.
• All entrants must be 18 years or older.
• Entries should be one-two pages from an unpublished manuscript, double spaced, 12 pt. font., Times New Roman.
• This is a two part contest. The first part is the sample writing page open to all contestants and the second part is only for the finalists. That’ll be a bio/questionnaire to fill out because our group wants to know we’re compatible both in our writing styles and personalities. Specific questions will be posted or sent to the finalists.
• Entries will be judged on the quality of the writing, but we aren’t expecting perfection. Please send us your best work without external help. We want to see how well YOU write, not your critique partner.
• All entries are due by midnight Wednesday, June 10, 2009
• One entry per person, unpublished work only.
• Send entry in the body of an e-mail (I will NOT open anything with an attachment): lynnette_labelle@hotmail.com
• You should expect an e-mail from me confirming I received your entry. If you haven't gotten one within 24 hours, double check the e-mail address. Note: my name is spelled with two n's. LyNNette. If you don't spell it correctly in my e-mail address, I won't get the message.
• Finalists will be announced and notified by e-mail some time during the week of June 14-20.
The PRIZE:
• Membership for 3 lucky writers to a small (online) critique group for romance writers *
• Note: This new critique group is looking for members who are willing to critique at least ONE chapter a week. (That's one chapter total, not per person.) We want to expand from 3 to 6 people (and possibly 8 at some point).
If you have any questions about the contest or the critique group, ask away.
*We reserve the right to not choose anyone if we don't feel a good fit for our critique group.
Contest Details:
• This contest is only for romance writers (all sub-genres including genres with romantic elements) who are seeking a critique group. Sorry. That’s the point of the contest.
• All entrants must be 18 years or older.
• Entries should be one-two pages from an unpublished manuscript, double spaced, 12 pt. font., Times New Roman.
• This is a two part contest. The first part is the sample writing page open to all contestants and the second part is only for the finalists. That’ll be a bio/questionnaire to fill out because our group wants to know we’re compatible both in our writing styles and personalities. Specific questions will be posted or sent to the finalists.
• Entries will be judged on the quality of the writing, but we aren’t expecting perfection. Please send us your best work without external help. We want to see how well YOU write, not your critique partner.
• All entries are due by midnight Wednesday, June 10, 2009
• One entry per person, unpublished work only.
• Send entry in the body of an e-mail (I will NOT open anything with an attachment): lynnette_labelle@hotmail.com
• You should expect an e-mail from me confirming I received your entry. If you haven't gotten one within 24 hours, double check the e-mail address. Note: my name is spelled with two n's. LyNNette. If you don't spell it correctly in my e-mail address, I won't get the message.
• Finalists will be announced and notified by e-mail some time during the week of June 14-20.
The PRIZE:
• Membership for 3 lucky writers to a small (online) critique group for romance writers *
• Note: This new critique group is looking for members who are willing to critique at least ONE chapter a week. (That's one chapter total, not per person.) We want to expand from 3 to 6 people (and possibly 8 at some point).
If you have any questions about the contest or the critique group, ask away.
*We reserve the right to not choose anyone if we don't feel a good fit for our critique group.
Writing Contest Coming Today
I'm working out the details, but will post a writing contest today. Stay tuned...
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Totally Bummed
Last week was the end of the twins’ two half days a week of preschool, aka my writing time. I enjoyed having two days to write, but by the time I dropped them off, sat in front of the computer, got into the mood, figured out where I’d left off, it was almost time to pick them up again. I’m exaggerating a little here, but not much. I averaged three double spaced pages during one of these sessions. At that rate, the twins would be in school before I finished this manuscript.
However, this week was supposed to be the start of something new. The twins would go to summer preschool for one full day a week. That day was supposed to be today. I was really looking forward to hours and hours of uninterrupted writing time. Well, that all came crashing down this morning with one little phone call. The teacher’s daughter may have strep throat. Understandably, she’s not taking any chances and had to cancel classes since she runs the preschool from her home. There goes my one writing day.
I know a lot of you write at night or early in the morning. That just doesn’t work for me. The twins zap every ounce of energy from me. Once they’re in bed, I basically relax on the couch. Sometimes, I’ll have enough brain energy to read, but even that’s rare.
If you’re like me, not getting the writing time you need just eats at you. My mood changes. My whole being is affected and not in a good way. So, yeah. You could say I’m totally bummed.
However, this week was supposed to be the start of something new. The twins would go to summer preschool for one full day a week. That day was supposed to be today. I was really looking forward to hours and hours of uninterrupted writing time. Well, that all came crashing down this morning with one little phone call. The teacher’s daughter may have strep throat. Understandably, she’s not taking any chances and had to cancel classes since she runs the preschool from her home. There goes my one writing day.
I know a lot of you write at night or early in the morning. That just doesn’t work for me. The twins zap every ounce of energy from me. Once they’re in bed, I basically relax on the couch. Sometimes, I’ll have enough brain energy to read, but even that’s rare.
If you’re like me, not getting the writing time you need just eats at you. My mood changes. My whole being is affected and not in a good way. So, yeah. You could say I’m totally bummed.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
What's the Big Hype Over Writing Contests?
Contest, contest, contest. I’ve been hearing that word used a lot lately, but I’m unsure as to the value of writing contests. Many people seem to receive mixed responses to their entries. How would this be helpful? Not to mention the cost involved. There’s the entrance fee, but you also have to pay for paper, ink (or copies), and postage, which can add up in a hurry.
How do you choose between the different kinds of writing contests? Some evaluate your whole manuscript, while others look at the first fifty pages, the first chapter, or even the first sentence. Some contests are well-known and worth a lot of weight in the publishing industry like the Rita (for published authors) and the Golden Heart (for unpublished authors). While others are simple contests put out by bloggers. Do those count for anything? A win is a win, isn’t it?
At what point in a writer’s career should she enter a contest? I’m only about 1/3 of the way through the rough draft of the revised version of my latest novel. Obviously, I couldn’t enter any contest that requires the complete manuscript, but what about others that don’t? What if I was lucky enough to win? Would they then request the full? That’s what I’m assuming, which is why I haven’t gone the contest route. Wouldn’t that be my luck to have an editor or agent request more and I’d have to say: “You don’t mind waiting a year, do you?” Ugh. Although, if that did happen, maybe I could convince my husband I need more writing time… Hummm…
My guess is some contests are worth while, but how does a writer go about finding such contests? What have your experiences been? How many contests do you enter a year? Is there a contest you’d recommend? Are there some to stay away from and why? Is the feedback you get really any better than the comments from your critique group?
How do you choose between the different kinds of writing contests? Some evaluate your whole manuscript, while others look at the first fifty pages, the first chapter, or even the first sentence. Some contests are well-known and worth a lot of weight in the publishing industry like the Rita (for published authors) and the Golden Heart (for unpublished authors). While others are simple contests put out by bloggers. Do those count for anything? A win is a win, isn’t it?
At what point in a writer’s career should she enter a contest? I’m only about 1/3 of the way through the rough draft of the revised version of my latest novel. Obviously, I couldn’t enter any contest that requires the complete manuscript, but what about others that don’t? What if I was lucky enough to win? Would they then request the full? That’s what I’m assuming, which is why I haven’t gone the contest route. Wouldn’t that be my luck to have an editor or agent request more and I’d have to say: “You don’t mind waiting a year, do you?” Ugh. Although, if that did happen, maybe I could convince my husband I need more writing time… Hummm…
My guess is some contests are worth while, but how does a writer go about finding such contests? What have your experiences been? How many contests do you enter a year? Is there a contest you’d recommend? Are there some to stay away from and why? Is the feedback you get really any better than the comments from your critique group?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Hackers Hit Brennan Where it Counts
This CAN happen to you.
Author Sarah Rees Brennan recently underwent quite an ordeal (and right before the release of her first novel “The Demon’s Lexicon”). Someone hacked into her e-mail account and from there her live journal. They deleted all her e-mail, contact list, and every post on her blog (seven years worth). The worst part was the timing of the attack. Six days before the release of her novel. Gone were the posts about her book deal and everything she’d gone through until now. The first e-mail from her publisher was lost forever. And all the pertinent information on people she needed to contact before her release date was deleted. Devastating for any writer. I feel for her.
We’ve all heard we should save our stories (and some of us have learned the hard way that we should do this in multiple places… oops!), but somehow, e-mail and blogs seemed safe. What an eye-opener! Check out Kristin Nelson’s blog where Sarah Rees Brennan tells the whole story as well as offers tips on how to protect ourselves.
Have you been backing up your blog posts, e-mails, and contact lists? Better start now.
Author Sarah Rees Brennan recently underwent quite an ordeal (and right before the release of her first novel “The Demon’s Lexicon”). Someone hacked into her e-mail account and from there her live journal. They deleted all her e-mail, contact list, and every post on her blog (seven years worth). The worst part was the timing of the attack. Six days before the release of her novel. Gone were the posts about her book deal and everything she’d gone through until now. The first e-mail from her publisher was lost forever. And all the pertinent information on people she needed to contact before her release date was deleted. Devastating for any writer. I feel for her.
We’ve all heard we should save our stories (and some of us have learned the hard way that we should do this in multiple places… oops!), but somehow, e-mail and blogs seemed safe. What an eye-opener! Check out Kristin Nelson’s blog where Sarah Rees Brennan tells the whole story as well as offers tips on how to protect ourselves.
Have you been backing up your blog posts, e-mails, and contact lists? Better start now.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Critique Group Evaluation
A critique group can be a wonderful spot to learn the craft and develop lasting relationships with fellow writers. However, it’s also a place that can become overwhelming if rules aren’t implemented. At least, that’s my experience, but I’m a rule follower.
Imagine having to critique every chapter that was put out to the group. What if those chapters were 20-30 pages long and there were 24 members posting? Do you realize how long it takes to go through just one of those chapters? I’ll tell you, it takes a good chunk of time.
If you’re a member of a critique group, I have some questions for you.
-How many members belong to your group?
-How often are you required to critique?
-How many chapters can you put up for critique each month? (if there’s a limit)
-How long are the submissions? (double spaced)
-Is everyone at the same writing level?
-Are all members writing the same genre?
-Is everyone unpublished?
-Once someone is published, do they continue with the group?
-How did you hear about the group?
-Did you have to pass a critique or writing test before becoming a member?
-Do you feel you’re getting what you want out of your membership?
-What could improve your critique group?
You may have already guessed, but I’m THINKING about starting a small critique group, so your comments will be very valuable to me. Thanks for taking the time to dish out any advice on the subject.
Imagine having to critique every chapter that was put out to the group. What if those chapters were 20-30 pages long and there were 24 members posting? Do you realize how long it takes to go through just one of those chapters? I’ll tell you, it takes a good chunk of time.
If you’re a member of a critique group, I have some questions for you.
-How many members belong to your group?
-How often are you required to critique?
-How many chapters can you put up for critique each month? (if there’s a limit)
-How long are the submissions? (double spaced)
-Is everyone at the same writing level?
-Are all members writing the same genre?
-Is everyone unpublished?
-Once someone is published, do they continue with the group?
-How did you hear about the group?
-Did you have to pass a critique or writing test before becoming a member?
-Do you feel you’re getting what you want out of your membership?
-What could improve your critique group?
You may have already guessed, but I’m THINKING about starting a small critique group, so your comments will be very valuable to me. Thanks for taking the time to dish out any advice on the subject.
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