Pet Phrases/Pet Words/Pet Actions

Pet Phrases/Pet Words/Pet Actions

Authors have a tendency to develop pet phrases and/or pet words.  With pet words the author is usually able to space the word out so it’s not as noticeable.  Other authors seem incapable of this, so the readers will pick up on it.  If I start to notice a pet word, readers will probably notice it as well.  One author had a love affair with the word crystalline.  A person’s eyes were crystalline, the air had a crystalline quality, another person’s voice was crystalline.  Another author was fond of “just then”, which is really bad because both just and then are on the list of unnecessary words you want to cut whenever possible.  I’ve also seen authors who were infatuated with “in the nick of time”, “quick as a cat”, and “lightning quick” or “lightning fast”.  In a few manuscripts a ball of ice was always forming in the pit of some character’s stomach.  It’s easy to fall into this trap because sometimes that’s the perfect word or phrase for what you’re trying to convey, but you have to make yourself aware of it.  And yes, quite a few of the pet phrases have also been clichés.  If the pet word or phrase is used for effect, it can work.  (Like Gollum saying, “My precious” or “precious” in LOTR.  Oh, haven’t I told you?  Yes, I can be a geek.  Star Trek, Star Wars, Firefly…Oh, my!)  You just have to be careful.  You don’t want to turn it into the word or phrase that gets made fun of because you overused it for effect.

Then you have what I call pet actions.  These are more along the lines of repetition.  You have characters who are constantly shrugging, pursing their lips, sighing, crossing their legs and/or arms.  Other characters are constantly glowering, smirking, glaring, huffing out a breath, or sucking in a breath.  It’s different than an affectation the character has as a habit.  I have a habit of playing with my hair, and when I sit, I often have to cross my legs or curl them under me because I’m short.  But I’m not always rolling my eyes…yeah, not always.  Frequently isn’t always.  *grin*  Your characters can play with their hair, bite their nails, pick at their cuticles, etc., if you establish it as a habit.  But when a lot of your characters are always doing these things that aren’t habits, there’s a problem.  Yep, been guilty of it and been called out on it.  My beta pointed out that both characters in a particular scene sure were shrugging a lot.  *headdesk*  While you don’t want whole chunks of dialogue with no movements at all, you also don’t want to overdo it.  And you do not want a lot of:

She shrugged.  “Yada yada yada.”

He smirked.  “Blah blah blah.

She rolled her eyes.  “Neener neener neener.”

Sentence. Variety.  You want it and you need it.

Mistakes in Submissions Continued -- Time Line

This week I'm going to continue discussing the most common mistakes I've seen in submissions.

Time Line

I’ve had to work with authors to fix time line issues numerous times.  If you describe a character doing something that takes place at midnight, and then you have them doing something that might take three hours at the most, you can’t have dawn breaking when they finish.  Especially if it’s in an unbroken scene where there’s no indication of a time lapse.  I once spent hours trying to untangle an author’s time line, because it started out with one, and then split into two sets of characters on different time lines.  At first you didn’t realize they were on different ones because when specific times were mentioned in one line, it wasn’t mentioned in the other one.  There were a few things that seemed a little off in each one, but they were easily corrected and weren’t that noticeable until you started breaking down the time line.  The problem really surfaced when two characters, one from each line, came together and were pretty much together for the rest of the book.  Even though it wasn’t the only big issue, one of the major problems was that dawn had broken for one character, but when she came together with the other character, they were running around in the dark and dawn broke a second time.  Either I had somehow missed an entire day during the reading, or the author didn’t keep track of their time line.  We discovered the issue was the latter.

I usually see this in books with more than one POV.  This is especially true if the author likes to mention specific times.  And yes, a book can follow this character or certain events on one line for a few chapters, and then the book starts following another character through the same time line or sequence of events.  That’s not a problem, and it’s done frequently.  The problem comes when you follow one character through a long stretch of time or sequence of events and then start following another character through that same stretch of time without indicating you’ve gone back to the beginning.  If you do go through a long period of time and then switch to another character, it’s helpful to indicate this at the beginning of the chapter.  Perhaps something like:

Monday

April 1^st

8:45 a.m.

There are other formats an author might choose, but the above is one of the most common examples.  And by “long stretch of time”, I mean if you start with your first character, pretty much begin with the start of their day, and then follow them until suppertime or even bedtime.  If you don’t use some kind of time indicator at the beginning of the chapter, and you just start with your second character having breakfast, people are going to assume it’s the next day.  So when you get to the part that evening where your two characters are on the phone discussing the events of the day, and your readers realize they’re talking about the same day, there’s bound to be a moment of confusion.

However, I’ve also seen this happen in the same time line, which appeared to be pretty linear.  I’ve seen characters arrive at work at 9:00 a.m., do some things that might only keep them occupied until around 1:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. at the latest, including accounting for travel and the time spent at each location, and suddenly it’s 7:00 p.m.  Normally, this isn’t a problem when there’s an indicator that there’s been a time lapse and the characters did some stuff “off-screen”.  But this was presented in a linear fashion where we were with the characters every step of the way.  Nope.  That doesn’t work.

Unraveling a convoluted time line takes a lot of time and work.  In some cases, the author can fix it easily with a scene break to indicate the time lapse, giving a chapter a time indicator, eliminating specific time references, etc.  Other times it can cause entire scenes to be rewritten, moved, or eliminated.  So for the sanity of your editor and yourself (Yes, fixing a time line can cause Fried Brain Syndrome.  Consider yourself warned.), please try to keep track of your time line.  You can use a style sheet or create a file to help keep you straight on which events occur when, and where each character is during those events, during specific times, or on specific days.  Just use a format that makes the most sense to you, whether it's a spreadsheet, writing it out on notebook paper, using note cards, using a calendar...the available options and formats are endless.  The only thing that matters is that it works for you.  In some stories, it’s pretty easy to keep track of.  In others…well, it’s easy to create a mess if you aren’t careful.

The Fourth Contender

I have been lucky to read a lot of great indie books this year.

The fourth contender's position is going to a young adult steampunk novel. I will provide you with the review for the first book, though it's a series and I will be reviewing books 2.5, 3, and 4 later this year. I have already reviewed book 2. I'm looking forward to continuing this grand adventure with Mr. Adam Dreece.

I bring you the first of the Yellow Hoods series: Along Came a Wolf by Adam Dreece.

Tee is a happy and exuberant 12 year old. She is surrounded by those who love her, and foremost is her Grandpapa, Nikolas Klaus. He is a renowned inventor who belonged to a secret society, and someone comes after him believing he has invented a steam engine. Along with her friends, Elly and Richy, Tee mush shed her childhood naivete to help save her Grandpapa while staying out of the reaches of those trying to harm them. Dressed in matching yellow hooded cloaks, they become known as the Yellow Hoods.

My Opinion:
 

My opinion is easy enough. This book definitely falls into the category of “must read” in the YA genre. With a steampunk vibe, mixed with a real-life fairy tale, this book packed a punch. Though it was short at 128 pages, it was perfectly paced. There was just enough world building that you could picture what the area looked like without the author spoon-feeding it to you. The action keeps you happily turning pages until you reach the end with a satisfied sigh. The final conflict was resolved perfectly, with just the right amount of intrigue inserted at the end to set up for its sequel. All of the characters were wonderful and you got handed just enough back story to make it interesting without once dragging the book down.

Adam Dreece did an incredible job on this book and I will happily be reading the second book in this series. I have already started recommending the book to others and will continue to do so. It’s definitely for the young and the young at heart. I love YA fiction and this series is destined to land in my favorites list, along the Ranger’s Apprentice series and the Harry Potter books. It definitely earns that spot and I’m happy to place it there. Adam Dreece is definitely an author to keep an eye on as I believe he will go far.

While this is the end of my time this week on Unicorn Bell, it's definitely not the end of those who are on the list to win the 2015 A Drop of Ink Reviews Book of the Year Award. I'm positive there are more books ahead who deserve to be added to the contender's list. Until next time!

The Third Contender

This book is a fascinating blend of the past with the present. It's a unique look at death and it fascinated me. Here is a good look at what independent authors are capable of doing.

I bring you Failed Moments by A. Robert Allen.

Patrick Walsh kept making all of the wrong choices. However, he gets the chance at redemption in an odd way. He’s given the opportunity to go back in time and fix two other men’s lives in the attempt to correct his own.

French Caribbean in 1790 ~ Patrice Beaumont is considered the “kindest” of slave owners. While talking about the need to abolish slavery, he never does anything about it. Is being “the best of the worst” his only legacy?

New York City in 1863 ~ Patrick Allen is a large Irish immigrant who learns to make a living in the boxing ring. When out of the ring, he doesn’t pick fights or pick sides. However, during the Draft Riots, he sees a lynch mob about to beat up two black men. Is Patrick willing to choose sides this time and stand up for what’s right? Or will he walk away like he always does?

My Opinion:

This book was different and unique. I honestly couldn’t put it down until I’d reached the last page. Patrick Walsh is a man many of us could relate to. It’s always easier to walk away and stay uninvolved than it is to step in and do what is right. Watching as he goes through each of these lives is amazing. The amount of research that had to have gone into this book is mind-blowing. You get an accurate picture of these major points in history and feel like you’re right there with the character. I felt each life could have been its own book because each part was so rich and well-developed. When each time period ended, it was sad in a way. I wanted the story to continue because I got so involved with the way the tale was spun.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. It was absolutely terrific.

Book Awards and a Review

When I started A Drop of Ink Reviews, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. So when it took off on me, I was surprised. When more and more requests for my reviews came in, I finally had to shut down the submissions because I’m currently sitting at 57 books awaiting review. I’m not even sure I can review that many in what’s remaining of this year, but I’m sure going to try!

However, with all of that happening, I decided to have an award made. I actually have several, but two of them are reserved specifically for people who pay to be moved to the head of the list. To date, I’ve handed out ONE of them. Turns out I’m getting stricter as I go along and I’m exposed to more and more books. The BIG award is what I want to talk about today.

I do not have this listed anywhere on my site, so the readers of Unicornbell are the first to know. There is an award I will hand out in January 2016 for the book I liked the best out of the entire 2015 year. So, for the rest of my time this week, sorry it’s so short, I’ll be sharing the reviews of the books that are currently in contention for that award.

The main criteria I decided on was it had to receive a 5-star rating, of course. That only makes sense. But I’ve handed out several of those. So which one will win? Well, I have recently decided that the books that stick out the most in my mind and are either indie published or small house published, will win the award. I already shared a review of one of the books with you previously. It’s Grave Beginnings by R.R. Virdi. If you’d like a refresher, you can view it here.

For the next book, I present you with The Vanishing of Katherine Sullivan by Christina Weaver.

Matt Sullivan received a shock when his Uncle Lucas was placed in a hospital with heart problems. At the same time, Matt was handed a letter stating his uncle’s property had to be cleaned up in two weeks or else. As a by-product of the Great Depression, Uncle Lucas horded everything. Matt faced down his uncle and got clearance to begin cleaning up the home under one condition. He was not to touch the dining room or den. Matt agreed and with the help of his brother Samuel and nephew Stephen, they began to tackle the disaster.

Curious, Matt went into the dining room to find out what was so important to his Uncle Lucas. In there, he found old newspapers with names underlined and circled. He also came across a box of old letters from his grandmother and grandfather. After making a point to his nephew and sister about their hoarding tendencies, Matt decided to venture into the attic of his home, which used to belong to his parents, now deceased. Up there, he found all of his father’s treasures. In looking around, he found a notebook with the same names his uncle had been so interested in. He also came across an old family Bible that smelled of smoke. Inside, he found the names of his grandparents and their children. His grandfather, Samuel, had the year of his death recorded, but nothing for his grandmother. Realizing he knew nothing about his family, Matt decided to dig into his family’s past and find out what happened to his grandmother Katherine. With absolutely no help or encouragement from his Uncle Lucas or Uncle Henry, who was running for President of the United States, he set out to find the truth.

Following clues, he ended up in a small town in West Virginia, where he found nothing but hostility and closed mouths. His only help was the feisty librarian and school teacher, Selma Greeley. Only a death bed confession gave him any insight into the plight of his grandmother. Determined to follow it through to the end, Matt faces terrible trials and dead ends to bring closure for his uncles and himself.

Christina wrote a truly touching story about a young woman who lived in the hills of West Virginia and married a city man to escape her family. Matt’s search for her is long and intense and shows great devotion to family and a history he had no idea even existed. This story is heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. I’m not even sure I can begin to convey how much this book touched me. She shared a beautiful picture of the life of this amazing woman and a small town who did nothing but belittle her and her family. She did an amazing job weaving the search Matt was doing in present times with glimpses of the past.

While there were a few errors in the editing, that shouldn’t be a hindrance. Her story is a powerful one and definitely worth a read.

Review of West of Paradise

This one is Marcy's book. This is a good example of a review that doesn't say a whole lot, but hopefully it said enough. Originally written 3/21/14.

From Goodreads:
Katherine Kennedy has it all—she’s beautiful, wealthy, and engaged to a man who, at one time, seemed perfect for her. Only she can’t marry him, and she can’t say why. All she knows is there is suddenly nothing she wants. Not her fiancé Antonio. Not any of the hundred thousand things her money can buy.

Jack McCabe comes home from the war with a pretty medal and a lot of ugly pictures in his head. He has nowhere to go, nor anyone to go with. All he has is a vague sense of discontent, a restlessness that will not abate.

Separately, Katherine and Jack are drawn to Paradise Tours on the privately owned Cristobel Island, a resort promising life-altering adventure. Just choose the time and place. Suddenly they find themselves over 125 years in the past, 1881 to be exact. Neither of them knows the other is a fellow time-traveler.

For Jack McCabe it’s the life he craves, and he’s at the top of his game—until his run-in with Alanna McCleod, the beautiful but deadly train robber. Katherine no sooner lands back in time than she is mistaken for Alanna McCleod and can’t understand why—until she sees the wanted poster.

Set in the Old West, this high-spirited tale of mistaken identity, romance, and murder is part historical fiction, part time travel fantasy, and completely captivating.

My Take:
Marcy is also with the same publisher I am--WiDo Publishing. This is her debut novel and holy cow does she come out swinging. I read her book in one day. It's been almost a week and I've put off this review for one reason.

I'm not sure what to say.  I've been trying to think of real "review-type" things, but I can only think of a few and I'm afraid you'll think I'm just being nice to a friend. But that's not it at all. The fact is I got lost in the story and didn't pay any attention to the writing. I felt fear for Katie, angry at Jack for being such a jerk in the beginning, but grew to like him as much as Katie did.

Marcy floored me by making me feel like I really was back in 1881. The style is different, but the details were as good as the Louis L'Amour books I read as a teen. Didn't see that one coming did you? Yes, it was awesome. And when our characters were in the "near future" of their actual time, Marcy had nice little details that made it feel real and totally possible. Nothing way out there crazy, but just little things that still gave it the flavor of "not now".

The best way I can sum it up is--Back to the Future III meets Somewhere In Time.
















I give West of Paradise by Marcy Hatch a solid 5 because I couldn't put it down, and I've already asked her if there is going to be a sequel. She said she'll think about it.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

The Importance of Reviews

After yesterday's post, I button downed the hatches and started searching for appropriate book reviewers to email. The truth is reviews on Amazon go a long way toward boosting your books viewability and sales. I sent a few requests and realized I needed to sit and review several books that I've read recently.

I'll work on that this week. In the meantime, I want to brag on some of our UB moderators whose books I've read. Today I'll share my review of Carol's first novel, and tomorrow one for Marcy's novel.

After reading, go write a review on Amazon for a book you've read and loved in the last few weeks.
This review was originally written 9/20/13.

From Goodreads:

Justus Aubre is a wilder. A mage unbound to the Imperium, and therefore a dangerous wild card in their eyes. The Imperium wants him, wants his power, but Justus has hidden for many years and now has some semblance of a normal life. All that’s about to change when Sable Rounds walks through the door of his antique shop, looking for work. Justus instantly knows what Sable is, he just doesn't know the danger he’s in.

Alone, also on the run from the Imperium, Sable longs for a normal life. For somewhere to belong. She finds this when Justus hires her, but she knows it’s temporary and fragile, an illusion. Though she hates to think about it, she knows that one day she will have to move on.

The Imperium is always behind her, waiting. When they finally find Sable, they find Justus. And all hell’s about to break loose.

My Take:

First, you probably know CD Coffelt as Huntress and our fearless leader here at Unicorn Bell. She is also my first real critique partner and I love her dearly. With our swapping of stories, I had the privilege of reading this book before it was contracted. The second read through was just as enjoyable and rewarding as the first time. Huntress crafts a wonderful story of courage and love set in a chilling reality where one crazed woman controls all those who can work magic. Well, almost all.

Justus is the one who got away. He's a strong hero, even in his sullen moods you can't help but like him. He lives by his convictions and is doing quite well for himself until the unexpected happens. He falls in love. And with the most dangerous woman possible. No not the crazy one, but someone that can actually be used against him.

Sable is running from the Imperium, but she's never free of their watchful eye. She is the prize worth waiting for, and once crazy Tiarra gets her she'll be the weapon to bring down all who resist the Imperium's control. Even Justus.

I love all the characters in this story. Bert the impertinent teen who has to learn the hard way, the sweet couple who take care of everyone, even the two hunters struggling to break free of Tiarra's grasp. There are also some great magic slinging duels as well as lots of tamping down hot emotions. Of many kinds. ;)

Without giving any spoilers, I have to say that I loved the subtle difference between the original ending and the published ending. The clues have all been dropped and I'm just waiting for Huntress to write the next book. I love how Justus' inner struggle is more of the focal point at the end as well. I can't wait for the next in the series!

I give Wilder Mage by CD Coffelt a 5! And not just because I love Carol. The book really is that good.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Marketing Ups and Downs

While I'm waiting to hear what you'd like to see on UB, I thought I'd post a few questions.

Marketing is a big deal for writers no matter how you publish. Some people seem to just GET this. Most of us struggle. Here's what slows down my marketing:

• No money or very little to allocate to marketing
• No time--I need to be writing, not marketing
• The things I know how to do don't provide an increase of sales anymore (tweeting, blog tours, facebook messaging)
• I don't know where to start
• I don't know where to find my audience--or I can't afford to travel to them at comicons
• I haven't the slightest idea how to get on the radio, or in the paper (at least not legally and without spending some time in jail)
• Thinking about marketing sucks all the life out of me
• There are too many other demands on my time
• Craft fairs and farmer's markets aren't the best place to sell books--at least its a hit and miss kind of thing
• It's time consuming searching for blog reviewers to beg them to read and review honestly
• I gave away 1000 e-copies and didn't get a single review so what's the freakin' point anyway??

What slows or prevents you from marketing?

Okay, now that my heart rate is up and I'm feeling super anxious. Let's calm down and talk about things that have worked in regards to marketing.

• In the past, I had success with guest posting on blogs and twitter blasts. However, I think the internet is so saturated with book tours that they are no longer noticeable. Perhaps that's why it's better to go the interview/character interview or simply blogging on a topic or theme from your story. It allows the reader to get a deeper insight into the author and book than a simple BUY MY BOOK because it's OUT kind of thing.
• I love setting up a booth at some fair and interacting with people. There aren't a lot of bookstores here so it's my only option. Talking with people about your book lets them see your excitement. Passion about anything is contagious. 

See, my marketing experience is woefully small. I've created a mailing list, but I'm not sure how to build the list. 

What has worked for you in the marketing department?

Do you have a newsletter? How do you find/convince people to sign up for it?

Uh-oh! The balls are dropping.

D'oh! I guess this was my week to post some amazing stuff for you hear on UB. My apologies for being late remembering that important fact.

So, let's start this week talking about overloading ourselves. Then you can tell me what you'd like to know this week and I'll get back on track tomorrow.

Have you ever taken on more than you can successfully accomplish? Up to this point I've always managed to squeak by, keeping all the balls in the air, pulling off each task to the best of my ability. This week, everything got the best of me.

In fact, I spent most of today snuggled up in my bed with my three dogs. My excuse was a headache and upset stomach. The truth is I was plain worn out.

All of us have many things going at once. We have jobs, we want to write, we have families that need us all the time, friends that get antsy if we ignore them too long. Those of us with books out know we have to put in the time marketing. Some of us blog and have other projects where we try and reach out socially to give back or simply stay in touch with the writing community. We have houses to clean, cars that break down, dinners to prepare, let's NOT talk about laundry.

How do you deal with it?

Do you take a day where you just check things off your list?

Do you quit and binge watch Netflix?

Do you learn to say no to some things?

What do YOU do? 

I'd like to know. I need to re-prioritize because the balls are falling to the ground and nothing is getting even a 50% effort. This really bothers me. (I even missed a lunch invitation out on the lake because I FORGOT about it and took a substitute teaching job instead. What?!)

So, please share what you do to prioritize what you take on in the comments.

Also let me know what you need to see more of on UB. More reviews, more interviews, more writing and editing posts? Would you like to get to know all of us better? What? What? What?

How to Take Critique

A while ago now, I stumbled upon the blog post of a writer who was concerned about having his/her work critiqued. This writer was worried. Would an honest critique of his/her work devastate him/her? Would he/she take it personally?

I thought it was an interesting question. It is kind of true. It does feel a little odd to ask someone to tear into that piece of writing you've been slaving over for a long time. And the first few times you put yourself out there it can sting. But in the end the whole idea is to make your writing better, and the only way you're going to get better is to hear the things that are wrong with your work.

The question itself is a good indicator of the willingness of the author to send his/her work out there and have it honestly reviewed. It is the authors who think their work is perfect as is who don't belong in critique groups. They'll be the ones to argue and defend their work when all that's being offered is a way to help make it better.

Then there are the people out there who feel like this writing thing is a competition, and they'll seek to "win" by denigrating the writing of others. These are not good people to work with. They're not going to be very helpful.

But so long as those who are critiquing your work are doing it for the right reasons, there are some ways to get through the critiquing process:

1. Take a deep breath. This is going to be fine.
2. Listen to what the person is saying. You don't have to react. You don't have to defend. Just listen.
3. Keep in mind that this is not about who you are as a person. It's only about what was on the page. And sometimes, what you thought was on the page was not.
4. Thank the person for taking the time to help you make your writing better.
5. Don't do anything with the comments for at least a day. Let them sit in your subconscious before you tackle any revisions.
6. You are the writer. While other suggestions might be offered, you are the final determiner of what goes on that page. 

This is something that does get easier the more you do it. Keep in mind that it's all about making the work better, and a polished piece of writing is worth the trouble.

How do you take critique of your work? What tips do you have to offer to someone who's never gone through the process?

To Critique

© photosteve101

Joining a writing group is great. You get to submit your work to others who will read and give you the feedback you've been craving. The only catch: you must read and give feedback in return.

How does one critique someone else's work?

What if I have nothing to say? What if my opinion is wrong? What do I know about writing anyway? I can't help anybody. I should just sit quietly and let the real writers do the talking. After all, I have no idea what I'm talking about.

At least, that's what I was feeling.

When you ask others to read your work, you want honest feedback. We get to caught up in our little worlds that we have a hard time seeing what might be missing. Which is why we ask for others to critique our work.

And that's all you have to do. Read. Offer honest opinions.

When you read someone else's work, you can only read it from your perspective. Your opinion is just that. The great thing about being part of a group is that yours is not the only opinion offered. There are others there to agree or disagree with your opinion.

A few things to remember when reading for others:

1. You are offering an opinion about the writer's work. Not about the writer personally. If you dislike the person you're reading for, keep that out of your critique.
2. Be constructive. If something isn't working for you, say so, but if you have some idea on how to make that scene/section/chapter work, offer it. 
3. Let the writer know what does work for you. Point out favorite lines. If something shocked you or made you laugh, make sure to include it in your critique.
4. You may disagree with the group's assessment of something. If something doesn't work for you, but it worked for everyone else, say so. Conversely, if something does work for you that everyone else has an issue with, speak up. 
5. You are not the author. You are only offering opinions on how the story as presented reads to you. If you disagree with the plot or viewpoint of the story, you are free to write something that works better for you. It's not your job to rewrite the whole story.

You are there to help the writer with his/her revision process. Presumably, before publication this writer will work with others, like a professional editor. It is not your job to catch every little mistake. So, enjoy what you're reading, and have fun with the process.

What do you look for when you critique someone else's work? What other tips can you offer?

Beware Of

You want to join a writing group, but you're kind of hesitant. What if they are awful?

Yes, this is a possibility. When you get a group of people together, they can either uplift you or they can be toxic. (Well, there is a lot of in between, too.) Just keep in mind that you're not signing some sort of contract that obligates you to be there (and if they're requiring one of you--run far, far away). If you find they don't work for you, leave and don't go back.

You're going to want a group that is open to the kind of writing you do. If you write sci-fi/fantasy and everyone else writes mysteries, they might not be the group for you. But if everyone writes something a little different, that can work, too. (In my group, we have two writing contemporary fiction, one writing a mystery/thriller, two writing fantasies, and one writing a memoir. And for some reason we work together just fine.)

Someone who knows a whole lot more about writing groups than me wrote a long post about some things to look out for when looking into writing groups: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.

What do you look for in a writing group? What are some things that make you leave a group and never return?

Finding a Writing Group

"Stipula fountain pen" by Power_of_Words_by_Antonio_Litterio.jpg: Antonio Litterioderivative work: InverseHypercube - Power_of_Words_by_Antonio_Litterio.jpg. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons.

So, you want to join a writers' group, but you have no idea where to start. That's what the Internet is for.

I had kind of wanted to join a writers' group for some time, but I didn't know where to find one. For me, it was as simple as joining Meetup.com. I did this on a lark. One of the interests I put down was writing, and a bunch of writing groups popped up.

Of course, this might not be the route you wish to take, but a simple Google search of "writing groups" might turn up some interesting local surprises. I found this post on finding writing groups just with that simple search.

Check out Yahoo Groups as well. Or Yelp. Check out your local paper, library, or bookstore. Once you start looking, you might be amazed at how many groups are out there.

You won't know if a writing group is right for you until you try it out. A couple members of my current group talk of previous groups they attended and how bad they could be. But, if you find a group that doesn't work for you, all you have to do is stop going.

What if you can't find a group that works for you? You could always start your own. If you know some writers, you could all start getting together. Or you could advertise (on Meetup or elsewhere) to find like-minded writers.

How did you find your writers' group? Did you have to try out many groups before you found one that worked for you?

Writing Groups

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Writing is a solitary activity, done largely in a vacuum. We create scenes, dialog, and whole worlds in our heads. We craft them into stories that we put down on (virtual) paper. And one day we hope that someone will read our stories and hopefully enjoy them.

But writing is hard. It takes a long time (for most of us). And after a while we get so close to our work that we don't know if our story comes across the way we hope it does. We can't be sure if what we did say makes any sense. That is why writers seek feedback.

One way of getting feedback on our writing is to join a writing group.

There are as many types of writing groups as there are writers. But generally, it's a place where we can submit our work to the critique of the other members while offering our critiques of their work in return.

It's supposed to be a safe place to put our work out there so that we can improve it. The trick is to find that right fit. We all want that place where we can be our crazy writer selves and have others understand our particular neuroses.

This week I'm discussing writing groups. I'm no expert as I joined my first one not quite a year ago. I hear that I'm pretty lucky to have found a good group of writers, but I think that we can all be that lucky if we know what to look out for and are willing to get as much as we can out of the experience.

What's your experience? Do you belong to a writing group? Do you want to join one?

Tiamat's Nest by Ian S. Bott

Okay, I admit it. I like quirky people and blogs. And whether he likes it or not, Ian S. Bott caught my attention.

His blog is LOL-worthy. And Strange. And Informative. Doggone it, if you haven't checked it out, you need to. Now.

Tiamat's Nest

Weather forecasting is a life-or-death profession, and hard sciences and technology are all that keep people alive and fed. Anthropologists, soft and useless, rank slightly below politicians and telemarketers on the social scale.

This sucks for Charles Hawthorne, Professor of Anthropology. Worse yet, his research into human behavior has discovered how human history ended up on its current miserable course, and the perpetrator is hell-bent on keeping it hidden. Worst of all, with everything mechanical under computer control, the most innocuous device is a potential murder weapon to a well-connected villain. 

After a series of deadly near-misses Charles flees to the wilds of Greenland where the global network has yet to reach. But to deal with the threat, to save himself and his family, Charles has to confront technology full on and enter the even more hostile world online. Freeing humanity from a lifetime of slavery comes as an added bonus. 


Excerpt: 
Moonshadow’s shoulders sagged. “I know it sounds weird, but there’s a construct out there that gamers sometimes run into. It’s bad news.” 

“He saw it,” Tin Man said. “That?” 

The Samurai gestured, and a golden dragon filled the air between them. Pink shrieked and back-flipped to her feet, looking ready to run. Moonshadow grunted, but held his ground. The dragon, frozen mid-lunge, rotated slowly so they could all get a good look. A sinuous body rippled with power beneath iridescent scales. Individually, their color defied analysis, like a film of oil on amber, but overall the beast shone a lustrous reddish-gold. Translucent wings cupped virtual air, and razor-tipped talons stretched to snag invisible prey. So far, so dragonlike. 

But the eyes! As they swung into view, they appeared little more than flat black discs, vacant and lifeless. But as Tiamat faced Tin Man full on, for a moment, they seemed like portals to a limitless void, empty yet all-seeing. He felt them strip away the veneer of his avatar and pierce him in the darkness of his apartment. 

I know you! 

The sensation was overwhelming.

Release date August 29. 
Available for pre-order on Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo.

Find out more about the author on his website: www.iansbott.com

Epic Fail Authors. A Beloved Book

So far, I’ve given four examples of books that I read and enjoyed despite the controversy swirling around the authors.

Today, two books that killed the ride. And the best book of the year.

Both books that IMHO failed are by established authors. I worshipped them. I couldn’t wait for their next book, counted the days until I had it in my hot little hands.

All that came to a screeching halt.

One author—unnamed—wrote a fantastic series that made it to the movies. It didn’t do too well there but who cares, her next series was out and flying. It was better than so-so but not by much. I still loved her books. But she ended a book so egregiously stupid that I nearly threw my Kindle across the room. Glad I didn’t of course.

I’ve tippy-toed around her stuff since but stopped following her every move like the lurker I was. Mostly don’t care.

The other author wrote good stuff, excellent stories. But, he plastered a controversial viewpoint in one of his books. And it wasn’t just an opinion expressed. He slopped it on many pages with a heavy brush, made it a theme. I mudded through it until I couldn't stand it any longer and yelled, “Just shut up and sing” at my Kindle. At least I didn't throw it.

I quit him too.

In both books, the writing turned me from Yay to shrug, not the author’s personal life.

Now...drum roll please...the best book of the year!!!

_____

Book Review. Awesome Book, Great Read, Highly Recommend, Couldn’t Put it Down, are different ways to hail a good book.

None of those superlatives comes close to the next book.

Fool’s Quest is about the continuing adventures of FitzChivalry, bastard prince who stays in the shadows, and Fool, his elusive and highly secretive friend. Fitz saves Fool after he kills him. Loses his daughter after he believes she is safe.

FitzChivalry Farseer can’t do anything right it seems.

Fool’s Quest is the latest in the series, Fitz and Fool by Robin Hobb. Her magnificent Farseer trilogy started with Assassin’s Apprentice in 1995 and continued with The Tawny Man in 2001. In between the two series, she wrote The Liveship Traders trilogy and The Rainwild Chronicles. 

Quest surpasses them all.

Talk about my Spock moment after the Romulans destroyed Vulcan. Emotionally compromised that is. This is the kind of book that should be required reading, the rich scenes, the marvelous writing...truly amazing. 

And the emotions.

I highly, highly recommend this series and especially this book.

Have you read Fool's Quest? Are there authors that turned you to the Dark Side? 

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Huntress aka CD Coffelt, author of The Magic Withheld series 

Hated Authors, Beloved Books - Harper Lee

This week it’s about controversial authors and their books. Today, the controversy is about the release of a book. Warning, mild spoilers ahead.

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee is sprinkled with similes like confetti after a parade. Sentences like:

“His wit was hatpin sharp.”

Jean Louise—Scout—has returned home. A tomboy who eschewed her femininity to climb trees, wonders at the differences between her home town and the life she has in New York City. Her visit brings back memories...and a revelation.

Go Set a Watchman was a hard book to review. Humorous, well written, it breathes with life. The storyline left me soaring and dropped me just as fast with the strangeness of it. It easily was a five-star review until the story ended so abruptly without much of a resolution. Passions grew, boiled over, and I wondered at the outcome. Then, it simply stopped and was over, as if a hole had opened and the story fell into its depths. It really made no sense that Scout was so totally oblivious of her home town.

Four stars for making me LOL, excellent writing, and a great story...until the last ten pages. Truly Cee Are A Pee after that.

Controversies erupted when news of Harper Lee’s new book was reported. What new book? She always told people she never wanted to publish again after To Kill a Mockingbird. So why now?

According to the news, her sister was lawyer and the

manager of Lee’s accounts. After she died, the author’s new lawyer suddenly found an unpublished manuscript. Cries erupted. Speculations that the author wasn’t in her right mind to authorize publishing Watchman. Some people agreed and said they’d never buy the book.

Others said, wait a second. Harper Lee IS aware and very happy with the results of her new book. A friend of hers is adamant that Lee knows about the publication of Watchman.

Should I read a book that may not be properly released? Since I don’t know the truth, I erred on the side of Want To Read It.

Would you?

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Huntress aka CD Coffelt, author of The Magic Withheld series