Gimme Drugs!

"Doctor, please! There's gotta be a cure!"

"I'm so sorry, Linda, but no prescription or surgical procedure exists for writer's block. Just take two aspirin and call me . . . sometime."

AAAARGHHHHH!

There is nothing more diabolical than this malicious curse that strikes the writer without even a rattlesnake's warning. Everything's going great: the characters are deep into the abysses we create for them; their fledgling love for each other can self-destruct with one more angry look, one more smart-mouthed response; the plot is thick, the climax is looming, and . . .

Nada.

When I got stuck with a bull riding scene in Give the Lady a Ride, I popped in a PBR tape and played it in slow motion, hitting the pause and rewind until I almost wore the buttons out. I seared the images into my brain, translated them into words, and got them down on paper. When I couldn't get into my characters, I played my Chris LeDoux CD until my cats could sing along. When my humor left me and romance was lost in a pile of laundry or dirty dishes, I'd watch movies: The Wedding Planner, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, It Could Happen to You. Worked every time. And, finally, when my poet muse balked at having to conceive cowboy poetry (the snob), I turned to Dave Watkins' CD, Easy on the Ears, and wrote Talon's perfect poem.

I combated writer's block with an impressive arsenal--and won!

Now it's time for revenge.

The ugly scourge has returned. It lurks in the back of my mind by day, shattering the precious moments of joy when I'm blissfully oblivious to it. It stalks and pounces. It distracts me from conversations; it intrudes my thoughts when I read; it invades my head when I watch TV, causing me to miss entire scenes, leaving me only with commercials. It laughs at me when I sleep--a deep, rumbling, mocking laughter that awakens me at two in the morning. Silly girl! You're not allowed to sleep! You still don't know how to write that scene!

Muahahaha!

C'mon, Bristol Meyers! Get moving, Johnson Pharmaceuticals! Give me a cure I can apply directly to the forehead!


(Flickr photo by Karl M. Foxley)

Don't Forget!

Just a reminder, folks: The deadline for AC's Spin the Wheel Writing Contest is Feb. 12th. If you haven't been to Andrew Bosley's site The Brainstormer and picked your prompt yet, better get moving! You can find all the details in the Kick In 2010 post.

Good luck!



Flickr photo by tomsaint11

Resource Roundup for January

1. SAMM: Submissions tracking program that makes it easy to keep on top of what agents you’ve sent your writings to and how they’ve responded.

2. LyX: Organize and format your writing documents as screenplays, novels, and more.

3. TreePad Lite: Keep track of your notes, emails, texts, and reference materials with this all-in-one organizer.

4. Tellico: Keep track of anything that requires a list.

Inspiration

1. Prompts: Software program that provides helpful prompts.

2. Inkscape: Create original drawings or maps for your stories.

3. Freemind: Open-source mind-mapping tool.

On-the-Go Tools

1. ASuite: Store all your important documents on your USB drive or iPod, then launch them anywhere and anytime you need them.

2. EyeOS: Bring your desktop with you with this great mobile desktop. Use your word processing programs from anywhere.

Time Savers

1. Launchy: Open all your writing programs (or however many you want) at once.

2. txt2tags: Adds html tags to your text documents.

Handy Tools

1. PDF Creator: Free PDF converter.

2. ZManda: Use ZManda to back up your work on a daily or weekly basis.

3. Word Count Plus: Word count add-on for Mozilla Firefox.

4. Docvert: Convert old files saved in a Windows format to work with open-source programs.

Fabulously Fun Friday: Only a Writer...

Okay, so call me crazy - you'd probably be right. Call me blondy - more than one person has. Call me off my rocker. Just don't call me late to my writer's conference! And if you need my notes on any of these, um, life events, just drop me a line. I'll email you back first thing in 2050. Oh, and thanks to my ChristianWriters chat friends for helping me compile this list. Most of us have done one or more of these, at one time or another. (That will tell you a lot about the kind of crazy people I hang with!)

Only a Writer...

...Takes notes after the experience of, um, upchucking. After all, you don't want to forget any of those... sensations. One of your characters might need them one day!

...Goes to the mall, not to shop, but to observe people. Many a great literary character has been stolen from the depths of America's malls, I'm sure.

...Wakes up at 3am to go to work because they WANT to.

...Has book shelves that sag and overflow onto the ground, yet is still able to convince their spouse they need that one more book.

Spouse: Glaring at book in writer's hand. "Where are you going to put that?"

Writer: "I'll find a spot."

Spouse: "When are you going to have time to read it? You've already got 100 books in your TBR stack!" (It is also important to note here, that only the spouse of a writer would know what TBR means.)

Writer: "I'll find the time. Honest!"

Spouse: "Okay, fine. But if I stub my toe on one more of your books in the dark...." Much indistinct mumbling as the spouse stomps away. Mothers with toddlers snag the hands of their offspring and hurry off in the opposite direction.

...looks at the driver of the car in the next lane and wonders if he has an AK-47 on the seat beside him, and what he's going to do with it, if he does.

www.modelguns.co.uk/images/ak47sling2.jpg

...looks at everyone around them wondering if they are actually serial killers, or bank robbers.

...goes to a gun store, not to buy a gun, but to get a good description of the makes and models. Then spends half an hour trying to decide which gun would be the villain's weapon of choice.

...asks a doctor how to kill, maim, or otherwise incapacitate someone in a way that would leave them looking dead, but able to come "back to life."

...stares at a perfectly ordinary group of people sitting at a nearby table in a restaurant because one of them looks exactly as they'd pictured the hero/heroine in their current WIP.

...has their spouse tie them up and gag them so they will know how to describe what their character is going through. (Important to note that you need to trust your spouse implicitly if you plan to implement this one. And you might be SUPER kind to them for several days ahead of time just to be sure they will untie you, in the end.)

...wakes up after having a horrible nightmare, and builds on it for at least five minutes, furiously taking notes.

...owns a baby name book before they are even married.


What kinds of crazy writer things have you done? Come on, confession is good for the soul!

Review of Nail Your Novel by Roz Morris

Novelist, ghost writer, and professional critiquer Roz Morris’s free e-book Nail Your Novel is a wonderful guide to the bones of writing a novel. A “writing buddy in a book,” this 122-page pdf pares down the basics of crafting a lengthy piece of fiction and presents a helpful methodology that dispenses with the often hazy, daunting journey from story conception to finished product.

In a no-nonsense, cut-to-the-chase set of “tasks,” Morris offers her own regimented technique for building a novel from the ground up. Although her intensive, detail-oriented process won’t be a good fit for everyone, it’s an excellent place for young writers to start. She walks writers through the basics, beginning with nurturing ideas into usable premises and following the process all the way to the light at the end of the tunnel: selling a completed manuscript to a publisher.

In many respects, Morris’s process is very similar to my own, so I found myself nodding my head vigorously over many of her points. Her discussion of outlining, in particular, overflowed with excellent advice, including tips for organizing scenes and filling in the blanks. Her “thumb notes,” which pause to describe integral pieces of the story-telling puzzle—including character and plot, genre, and scene structure—are excellent primers for often misunderstood areas of fiction.

As a guide for young novelists who are still trying to figure out just how to get a book written, Nail Your Novel is an excellent resource. For those who already know what they’re doing, this fascinating glimpse into the successful process of another author is sure to offer some excellent gems for fine-tuning already established techniques

Nail Your Novel can be saved as a free pdf by clicking here or purchased as a paperback for $9.55 plus shipping.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Dennis Brooke - 3rd Place Winner, Marcher Lord Select Contest

Today on AuthorCulture we are privileged to welcome Dennis Brooke. Dennis' novel, The Last Apostle, recently placed 3rd in the Marcher Lord Select Contest put on by Marcher Lord Press. Quite an accomplishment, as you will see when he explains how the contest worked below.

Dennis is a very warm person. He was one of the first people I got to know when I joined my local Christian writers group a couple years ago. And I am pleased to introduce him to you today.

So, without further rambling from me.... Deeennnisss Brooooookke!

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a former Air Force officer who was blessed to be stationed in Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall. I returned to my Christian faith after a rebellious youth. Like most authors I have a day job. In my case I manage the software development group for a small division of GE located just south of Seattle. I’ve been married to my wife Laurie, all of it happily, for 27 years.

2. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

In first grade I was one of the last kids picked for athletics (for good reason—I was a klutz) but in reading I ran circles around my classmates. I loved writing stories even from that age and got my first publishing credit in third grade: a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. Since then I’ve been involved in publishing newspapers for my neighborhood, schools, or other groups. I’ve also written several dozen articles for trade publications, newspapers, or organizational newsletters. My real breakthrough as a writer for the cause of Christianity was a November 2008 article in Focus on the Family Magazine called, No More Boring Anniversaries.

3. Give us a short synopsis of your book.

The Last Apostle is a “what if” book: What if the Apostle John had never died, and was now living in Seattle. The book was inspired by my fascination with Chapter 21 in the Gospel of John where Peter and Jesus are walking on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is telling Peter of the horrible death he’ll experience when Peter turns to the Beloved Disciple [John] and asks, “What about him?”

Jesus replies, “If I want [John] to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"

I’ve wondered if Jesus did want John to remain, what would he be doing, how would he live, what would be the purpose of having him live until the return of Christ. The Last Apostle explores this concept while respecting biblical and historical traditions.

4. How did you hear about the Marcher Lord Select contest and what made you decide to enter?

I subscribe to Jeff Gerke’s monthly newsletter, available at http://www.wherethemapends.com/. He announced the contest there, first prize being a publishing contract with Marcher Lord Press. Jim Rubart, a fellow member of the Northwest Christian Writers Association who’s given me some help on my novel encouraged me to go for it, as did my wife. Good thing I listened to them and not the voices of doubt.

5. Tell us quickly how the contest worked, for those who don’t already know. (With specific focus on your book.)

Marcher Lord Press ran an on-line contest where the first prize was a publishing contract for the April 2010 release. They also ran a premise contest where the top three finishers would receive priority reading for a future release. Because the entries would be selected for subsequent rounds by on-line voting it was promoted as “American Idol meets book acquisitions.”

In round one of the main contest the title, premise, blurb, and synopsis for 36 books were posted on a message board. It was like looking at the back cover of several shelves of novels, and then deciding which ones to open. Voters on the message boards had several weeks to read and discuss the entries. Then they voted and 18 were promoted to the next round, including The Last Apostle.

In the second round, the first 500 words of the remaining novels were posted. Now the voters were reading the first few pages of those novels, and debating them on the message boards. When it came time to vote, The Last Apostle was one of eight to advance.

In round three voters downloaded the first thirty pages (double-spaced) of the eight novels and engaged in even more message board review, praise, and criticism. Three were promoted to the final round, including mine.

The final round was more of the same, with the first sixty pages of the finalists subject to review. After several weeks of review 350+ voters cast their ballots, and selected the The Sending by Matt Koceich to be the next Marcher Lord Press novel.

6. So your book made it all the way to the end and came in third. I know there were forums where people could openly talk about your work, but you were not allowed to identify yourself as the author. Did you learn anything of value from those conversations?

That was a great experience, like being a fly on the wall of an editorial board considering a selection of novels. From the beginning there were some real advocates of my entry and I got some great suggestions and encouragement from the reviews. On the boards dedicated to The Last Apostle, I refrained from defending or promoting the book. In a few cases I did ask questions to clarify postings, as if I was just another reader, and got some good feedback. Several times I wanted to jump to the defense of the work but held back. Fortunately, other voters jumped in with their own spirited defenses and promotions of the novel.

7. Have you made changes to your manuscript since the contest ended?

I’ve already used several good ideas and questions from the boards to make improvements. Writing is rewriting, and it’s good to have advice from the truly talented writers and critics reviewing the contest entries.

8. Tell us what’s ahead for The Last Apostle – where do you plan to go from here?

Marcher Lord Press will consider it and some of the other entrants for a future release. I’m also approaching agents and other publishers to see if there’s another suitable home for the work.

9. I always like to ask writers this: What do you do to improve your writing?

Of course, there’s practice, practice, practice. I read a fascinating book called Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Although we each have God given talents, Gladwell’s book talked about the value of practice. It applies to violinists, computer programmers, rock bands, and writers. But to be effective, practice has to be well coached and directed. Jeff Gerke has just published a book, The Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction which has been endorsed by the Queen of Christian Publishing, Sally Stuart. I did some work with Jeff and found his tips and examples to be extremely helpful. Another author, Shaunti Feldhahn, recommended Sol Stein’s, Stein on Writing.

My experience as a member of Northwest Christian Writers has also been first rate. When I joined, I got a needed reality check from people who’ve been down the path I’m trying to walk. The instruction and advice I’ve picked up through meetings, critique groups, special events, and conferences has been fantastic.

10. Any other books on the horizon? What other projects are you working on?

I have plans for a follow up novel to The Last Apostle that takes place in India and Seattle. I also have other article ideas like my No More Boring Anniversaries article for Focus on the Family Magazine.

11. Any final words of advice to other writers?

First and foremost: Prayer, persistence, and patience. Second, hook up with others on the same journey. Join a local writers association that shares your interests and values. Attend at least one writers’ conference a year. If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, be sure to check out our group and conference at http://www.nwchristianwriters.org/. Third, practice the craft in many ways. It might be an article for a church bulletin, a short story for children, a blog entry, or a novel. Dennis “Doc” Hensley said, “…you can’t merely hope to be a writer, you’ve got to start being a writer.”

For me, the key thing is to remember why I write. I don’t write for my purposes, I write for His purposes. I write to bring people closer to God. I can do that through fiction, non-fiction, or even speaking. It’s not about me, it’s all about THE Word.

Thanks for sharing with us today, Dennis. We are honored to have you here. Dennis can be reached at dennis@dennisbrooke.com. His website is http://www.dennisbrooke.com/.

Do you have any questions or comments for Dennis?

Fabulously Fun Friday: The Right Pen Name

Cartoons by Andertoons

Going into Space--Cyber Space, That Is

AC is honored to present a guest post from author Gail Pallotta. Gail, who once worked as an editor and a copywriter, has published one hundred freelance articles and two books. While some of her articles are included in anthologies, two of her historical pieces ended up in museums. In 2004, the year she published her first book, Now Is the Time, the American Christian Writers Association named her a regional writer of the year. Her most recent book, Love Turns the Tide, an inspirational romance with a bit of mystery, was released this past August, by Awe-Struck E-books. Gail’s Web site is http://www.gailpallotta.com and her blog site is http://gailpallotta.blogspot.com.

Today, Gail is giving us a peek into the wave of the future: the world of electronic books and publishing.


A computer klutz, I’m the last person who should be let loose on the internet. But one day two years ago I was surfing the web and found an E-publisher, Awe-Struck E-Books. They were sponsoring a contest for an inspirational short novel. Since I had worked very hard on a Christian romance and had neither a publisher nor an agent, I asked myself, Why not enter? The odds that I’d win the prize, publication, were slim. If I did I could easily figure out the technicalities of e-books, couldn’t I? A few months after I sent the manuscript I received a contract. After I gasped in surprise and wondered how I’d find my way around cyber space I started my adventure. For those who would like to cross the threshold into the world of e-publishing here are a few tips.

Before submitting your work read about the publisher online. Check the categories they feature to see if your book falls into one of them. Once you’ve decided it’s a good place for your manuscript read the publisher’s guidelines carefully.

Even those who have a stellar memory shouldn’t simply read over the directions
for submitting and try to remember how to do every task. Instead, print out the instructions and complete them one step at a time.

After acceptance read the contract carefully. If you have questions ask. A good publisher will not mind answering them. Once all the paperwork is completed you’re ready to enter the big E.

Get better acquainted with the computer. Create a manuscript about something, such as a trip to the grocery, that won’t be a big loss if it floats into cyber space and never returns. Using it, experiment with the icons on the toolbar at the top of the screen. I once believed that touching them would cause them to self-destruct. That’s not true.

After successfully learning the functions of the icons on your throw-away story pull up the real book, story or article and begin working. Just for good measure save an extra copy.

Don’t get discouraged after you have switched, changed and altered the pages only to find you need to do one more thing, and you don’t understand how to do it. That happened for me after I finished my manuscript, following all the instructions for indentations, paragraphs and spacing. I was ready to wrap up my book and send it, when I read the name of the person who should receive my Word document. What was Word? My book was in Works. I got a sinking feeling. After all that work I needed a different computer that saved files in Word! But I told myself, Don’t panic. I mentioned my predicament to a friend, who explained that I could find Word under the “Save As” tab. I changed the book in a flash. Ask for advice, when you need it. If there’s anything people need to share nowadays it’s their knowledge of computers. I doubt any one person corners the market on all of it.

When the publisher requests that you use something you can’t find on your computer, look for it in a different way. It’s probably just hidden. For instance, my program has a tab for copy and paste. When I converted my manuscript to Word, I couldn’t find it. But once again I called on a friend who said, “Highlight the passage. Then, click in the middle of the page. When you can’t find something on Word, always click in the middle of the page.” Thankful for this direction, which I never found in my computer’s “Help” category, I tried it, and it worked.

Not everyone speaks the same computer language. Here again, if you don’t understand a term, ask. Not long after my book had been accepted I read a memo to all the authors from the editor. It said those of us who had Web sites could have buttons on our Web pages, so visitors to the sites could click on them and order books. When I asked about the button, I learned it’s another word for a link.

About E-Books. Since E-books use no paper the cost of producing them is less than it is for print books, so an E-book publisher can afford to pay a higher royalty. However, E-books sell for less than print books. My publisher, Awe-Struck Publishing, pays forty-five percent royalty on E-books, which sell for $4.99. Awe-Struck E-books are copyrighted and have their own ISBN number, so they can be tracked in cyberland. Not only can E-books be downloaded to a number of reading devices, including the Sony Reader and Kindle, they also can be downloaded as PDF files to a computer or laptop. They can be transferred to a disk and stored easily for traveling. The disks are ideal for military personnel who are often in areas where they can’t get a download, and they don’t have enough room to pack thick printed books. The future of E-books is as big as the internet.

I’ve been asked if I think E-books mean the end of print books. I doubt it. There are a number of people who prefer to hold a book in their hands. Some say they like to feel the paper while others enjoy the smell of a book. But, I do believe the first time someone downloads an E-book to his or her laptop or puts a disk in either of them, kicks back, props up and clicks the pages, he or she will be hooked.

The fringe benefit -- probably most importantly, be happy with the new-found way of communicating. I’ve met so many people. My internet friends include a great publishing staff and other authors at Awe-Struck. But that’s not all, there are even more writers with interests similar to mine on many Web sites and blogs in cyber space!

And the Beat Goes On: Action Beats in Dialogue

Dialogue. It’s one of the most important tools used in story telling, yet for many it is a thorn in the side. The problem doesn’t come from within the quotes, but in the little areas outside them that tell us who is talking. There are several ways to tag dialogue, but I want to concentrate on the action beat.

Action beats can be multi-functional. For instance, they not only tell us who the dialogue line belongs to, they also provide movement for the characters and keep the reader in the scene. However, when they are over-used–when action is tagged onto every single line of dialogue–the conversation between characters becomes cumbersome and encourages your readers to just skim through things you’ve painstakingly written. Action is usually best sprinkled gently, like a strong spice to a delicate dish.

In the following scene, Claire and her sister, Nina, are preparing their products for a county fair while discussing the disappearance of an elderly friend:

“I bet Mason has something to do with Bessie’s disappearance.” Claire tested the seals on her homemade jams and jellies. “There’s just something about the way he acted that just makes my skin crawl.”

At the kitchen table, Nina stopped attaching price tags to her beaded jewelry to stare at her sister. “You don’t really think he would do something to his aunt do you?"

“I don’t know what to think, but I wouldn’t put anything past him.”

“Oh, come on. I just can’t see it.” Nina rested her forearms on the table, her jewelry forgotten for the moment. “Why do you hate him so much anyway?”

“You mean his getting our brother arrested isn't enough?”

“I was too young to know what all that was about.”

“It burns my biscuits every time I think about it.” Claire leaned a hip against the counter. “It was back when Bobby worked for the Stanfields’ timbering business. A lot of money went missing from the company, and Mason pinned the blame on Bobby. Marcus had Bobby arrested and wouldn't let him out for Daddy’s funeral.”

“It always bugged me that he wasn’t there. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Bobby didn’t want you to know.” Claire turned back to her jars.

The scene is fine as is. The action beats tell the reader who's speaking and provide a sense of movement. But they aren't playing a third role of illustrating the characters’ emotions. If, instead of leaning a hip against the counter, Claire had squeezed her lips into a thin line, the reader could feel her emotions better.

When used to enhance or contradict what the characters are saying, action beats can pump up the tension. In this conference scene, Debra has just presented--as her own work--a brilliant marketing strategy that she had nothing to do with, and her dishonesty has been discovered:

When the meeting broke up, [Debra] slid her pages of notes into the portfolio. Below the dais, Barbara Bastille lumbered toward her, her bracelets jingling as she waved for Debra’s attention. In velvety tones unexpected from such a matronly figure, Barbara said, “Great presentation. Do you have a minute for another question or two?”

“Sure, Barb.” Debra stepped down from the platform and stood eye to eye with the woman who’d waited thirty years for the promotion Debra had gained in five. “What can I do for you?”

“I couldn’t help but notice some of my thoughts being presented this morning.” Barbara picked a stray hair from Debra’s linen suit coat and dropped it as though it were a rat she held by the tail. “I didn’t realize Pete had discussed my idea with you.”

“Your idea? No, actually, he never mentioned you at all.” Debra flicked her fingers across the shoulder Barbara had touched. “What exactly was your contribution to the plan? I’ll be sure to have Mr. Whitfield give you credit for it in the next sales meeting. Maybe this time you could get the Sales Rep of the Year Award.”

Barbara’s eyes narrowed. “Perhaps it would be easier to tell him what your contribution was. No, wait–” she sneered–“we already know what it was.”

With that, the woman turned and rumbled out of the conference hall like a satisfied hippo.

Written this way, Debra's activities enhanced what she felt. The same scene can show a contradiction between what Debra says and how she feels about it:

"Sure, Barb." Debra stepped down from the platform. Her eyes flickered towards Barbara’s, but Debra couldn’t hold her gaze. She’d gained in five years the promotion Barbara had wanted for thirty, and Barbara had never forgiven her. If not for the situation Debra was ensnared in, she couldn’t have forgiven herself. “What can I do for you?”

“I couldn’t help but notice some of my thoughts being presented this morning.” Barbara picked a stray hair from Debra’s linen suit coat and dropped it as though it were a rat she held by the tail. “I didn’t realize Pete had discussed my idea with you.”

“Your idea? No, actually, he never mentioned you at all.” Debra rubbed her shoulder, soothing away the burn of Barbara's touch. “What exactly was your contribution to the plan? I’ll be sure to have Mr. Whitfield give you credit for it in the next sales meeting. Maybe this time you could get the Sales Rep of the Year Award."

As a quick final note, remember that action beats can also set/keep the pace of a scene. The fewer the beats, the faster the dialogue reads. When high stress levels are necessary, the speakers should occasionally be tagged simply, using the word “said,” so the beats can be kept short and at a minimum.

Dialogue action beats can multi-task with the best of them. Put ’em to work!

You're Kiddin', Right?

Agent Chip MacGregor used this book as an example of self-publication quality, though he admitted not all SP books are this . . . curious--

Product Description (from Amazon.com)

I think constricting anus 100 times and denting navel 100 times in succession everyday is effective to good-bye depression and take back youth. You can do so at a boring meeting or in a subway. I have known 70-year-old man who has practiced it for 20 years. As a result, he has good complexion and has grown 20 years younger. His eyes sparkle. He is full of vigor, happiness and joy. He has neither complained nor born a grudge under any circumstance. Furthermore, he can make love three times in succession without drawing out.

In addition, he also can have burned a strong beautiful fire within his abdomen. It can burn out the dirty stickiness of his body, release his immaterial fiber or third attention which has been confined to his stickiness. Then, he can shoot out his immaterial fiber or third attention to an object, concentrate on it and attain happy lucky feeling through the success of concentration.

If you don't know concentration which gives you peculiar pleasure, your life looks like a hell.

Kick in 2010 with a Writers' Contest!

I'm always on the look-out for fun word-prompt sites, and I found one that is guaranteed to provide some interesting short stories! It's Andrew Bosley's Brainstormer. Brainstormer is a set of three wheels with tons of options/topics on each. Spin the "Random" button and the wheels turn like a Roullette game, giving you prompts like a Transylvanian who uses Caution while lighting Fireworks or a Flooded Fire Station Disaster. Each wheel can be manipulated individually too, so you can pick and choose the combination that stirs your muse.

So here's your challenge: Spin the Wheel and start writing!

Your entry should:

• begin with the prompt you selected, the title you've given your piece, and your name and contact information.


• be between 750-1000 words.


• be clean--no foul language or blatant sexual content.


• be your absolute best writing--spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure count as much as story content and development. The winning piece will stand out in everything that has to do with writing, from characterization to the final punctuation.


• be sent to authorculture@yahoo.com by February 12, 2010.

Anyone can enter, but if you're a published or self-published author, please mention this at the top of your project.

The contest winner will have his/her piece featured as the Fabulously Fun Friday post February 19, 2010 and in Andrew Bosley's Sketch Hunter: The Art of Andrew Bosley, and will win an AuthorCulture coffee mug and a choice of one of Katie's or Lynnette's books.

Special note about the Brainstormer: Andrew told me recently he's developing a Brainstormer iphone app! Keep an eye on his site to learn the details!

Where Should You Draw the Line in Marketing?

Perhaps one of your resolutions for 2010 is to expand your marketing presence? If so, good for you! In this aggressively changing literary landscape, writers can’t afford not to be well versed in the business side of their careers. We need to develop strong web presences, dive into the sea of social networking, gather a loyal fan base, concoct attention-grabbing advertising campaigns, and maybe join a writing association or two.

If all that sounds like a full-time job, that’s because it easily could be. When I tackled marketing head-on early last year, in preparation for the release of my medieval novel Behold the Dawn, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. A gazillion tweets, three intensive advertising campaigns, and one hectic year later, I’ve learned two important things:

# 1: Marketing is vital. Don’t take shortcuts. Be prepared to invest time, money, and effort, if you want to reap the rewards. If you’re willing and able to commit yourself as wholeheartedly to marketing as you are to your writing, your hard work will pay off. Opportunities are everywhere. More opportunities than you’ll ever be able to take advantage of, in fact.

And that brings us to point #2: Marketing is very much like the Blob. The more you feed it, the bigger it gets. Marketing is a never-ending job, and, as a result, it’s all too easy to let it take over your life.

So how do you decide where to draw the line?

Chart your available time. Figure out how much time you can afford to commit to marketing, without shortchanging your writing or other important responsibilities.

Start small. Add one social site or advertising idea at a time.

Cull less effective methods. Don’t waste time on ideas that aren’t working. If you feel your Facebook page isn’t garnering enough attention, cut it.

Set goals. Goal setting is important not only because it gives you a high mark to aim for, but also because it allows you to relax, guilt free, once you’ve achieved that goal.

Break your marketing into bites and schedule them. Assign a fixed amount of time to your marketing as a whole and also to each individual component. Stick to the schedule unflinchingly.

In the October 2009 issues of Writer’s Digest, bestselling romance author Jennifer Crusie’s comments on writing communities ring just as true for all areas of marketing and networking:

…I think being active in the writing community is one of those blessing/curse things. Once you’ve found your support group—your individual network of friends and allies—you’ve made the connections you need and should view with caution any major investment of time or energy in any organization as a whole. Just be sure your level of involvement is advancing, rather than hindering your writing goals.

Fabulously Fun Friday: Top Ten New Years Resolutions for Writers

Top Ten New Year's Resolutions for Writers

10. I hereby resolve that this year I will use the Writer's Market Guide I buy every year.

9.  I hereby resolve that this year I will dust off the manuscript I've been using as a door stop in my office and edit it one more time and then, with the thought of keeping resolution #10, I will submit it to applicable agents and editors.

8. I hereby resolve that I will not check my email more than 10 times a day while waiting for replies from the aforementioned agents and editors in resolution #9.

7. Whereas, I might be tempted to spend hours at a time surfing great writing blogs (to pass the time before checking email again) with the intent of "learning the craft," and whereas it is recorded fact that the actual act of writing solidifies all the learned techniques in my brain, I hereby resolve that I will WRITE for at least the same amount of time I spend surfing the Net each day.

6. I hereby resolve to back up my writing each day, well maybe once a week, okay at least once a month....

5. I hereby resolve that this year when I get that first rejection letter, I will refrain from sending a scathing reply.  Those editors and agents, however, who are slow to respond are hereby warned!

4. I hereby resolve that after receiving the aforementioned rejection letter(s), when I read a published work that in no way comes close to the greatness of my own writing, I will refrain from going on Amazon and leaving a one star review of said published work.

3.  I hereby resolve that this year when my critique group doesn't appreciate a certain portion of my blinding work of genius I will not blurt the first defense that comes to mind. I will not blurt the first defense that comes to mind. I will not blurt the first defense that comes to mind. I will not....

2.  I hereby resolve that I will read every email that comes through my writing loop this year. {Cough!}

1. I hereby resolve that when I get that first acceptance this year, be it from agent or publisher, I will NOT fall over in a dead faint; I will NOT email back to check and make sure it was really me they meant to contact; I will NOT panic and start to worry about what the public will think once it is in print; I WILL NOT FREAK OUT!

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