I think of a lot of things in terms of flavor. Numbers, for example: I think 3 would taste like a cracker, 9 would be sweet and 5 seems kind of metallic. I’m not going to claim synesthesia, but I have natural associations that drive me in that direction.
I think these associations are a powerful tool to evaluate and improve your writing.
An interstellar con artist forced to crew with the ship she screwed over (ARCLIGHT REDLINE). On office worker whose cynical humor hides suicidal tendencies (THE POWERS THAT BE). An autistic woman who just wants to be left alone, forced into a revenge drama (EVERY MOUNTAIN MADE LOW).
Where can we get colorful characters?
In the first part of this series, I shared my formula for planning a novel. Now, let’s talk character development.
To date, I’ve written 8 books:
I have a way that I plan them. Care to hear it?
Hey, everybody! I got a new cover, courtesy of Solaris Books and Jeffery Alan Love–one of the finest cover artists working today.
Read the press release here: http://www.solarisbooks.com/post/1127
Attending Rocket City Lit Fest this weekend? So am I! Here’s where to find me.
Learn how to bring your best game to directing with a series of acting games and audience participation!
Saturday, October 10, 12:00PM, VBC Meeting Room 2
Apply the principles of great software, hardware and service design to novel writing! Be the quirky nerd you were meant to be.
Saturday, October 10, 1:00PM, VBC Meeting Room 1
What’s it like to be a menial secretary to the gods themselves? Find out at my reading!
Sunday, October 11, 2:30 PM, Reading Corner
There are worlds. We will build them.
Sunday, October 11, 3:00 PM, VBC Meeting Room 2
That means I’m actively looking for some special author that needs an agent. If you’re not familiar with Pitch Wars, I suggest you go take a look at Brenda Drake’s website and get briefed. Basically, it’s a contest where agented/published authors like me choose a manuscript to critique and read, then try to get an agent for our mentees.
So you want to know about me? Check out my bio. My book, EVERY MOUNTAIN MADE LOW, commanded a handsome advance from a really good publisher, and you’ll be able to buy it in every bookstore in America and Britain in 2016.
I want to see your queries in a concise format, similar to the one suggested here. Continue reading Pitch me on #PitchWars 2015! (Adult Fiction)
Let’s start out by watching this video.
Go on. I’ll wait. Continue reading Be an artisan.
You know what phrase really sticks in my craw?
“Failed writer.”
Who invented that shit? Probably another writer, but that’s beside the point. Every time a writer hears those words, we cringe, and wonder if it could be applied to us.
Write as many different types of work as you can, as quickly as you can.
“Not me,” some will say. “I’m my own boss and CreateSpace doesn’t reject anyone! I don’t need your Big 5 (4… 3… 2…) Hegemony!”
Okay, cool. But what are you going to write for your book’s backmatter? What do you want to put on your cover? What do you say when you meet Adam Savage in an elevator and he asks you what your book is about?
The query letter is the mission statement of a book. You have to take it seriously, whether you’re sending it to agents or self-marketing. It’ll inform you about your differentiators, help set the visual tone and create a strong sense of your identity as an author.
You’ll need every part of a query to market your self-pub. Paragraph 1 contains your log line, paragraph 2 contains your synopsis and paragraph 3 contains your bio. You already have to write it, so why not start out right?
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