Category Archives: Writing

Best of the Blogs in #amwriting #writetips #yalit #teaching

Here are some of the posts by remarkable writers I’ve found for you this week from @suzannelilly. Here’s a listing in case you missed any of them on Twitter.

The Craft of Writing

Here’s the thing about independent editors… http://wp.me/ppJnZ-1KK via @behlerpublish #amediting

The 21 Best Tips for Writing Your Opening Scene  http://wp.me/pVquh-jH Another good one to bookmark. #amwriting #amediting

26 Tricks to Keep Readers Reading http://wp.me/pVquh-jQ I bookmarked this one. #amwriting #amediting

SEO and Social Media for Teachers and Writers

Writer’s Cramp: In the E-Reader Era, a Book a Year Is Slacking http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/business/in-e-reader-age-of-writers-cramp-a-book-a-year-is-slacking.html #amwriting

Fun Posts

#MyPastRelationships Taught Me This.http://pic.twitter.com/fb4uTgXE

While cruising Youtube, mostly to watch the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, (love those!) I came across the cutest video I’ve ever seen about a puppy and kitty in love. The dog has the most endearing expressions! It’s only a minute. Check it out here at the Honey Creek Books blog.


Maggi Anderson, Author of Murder in Devon, on her Writing and her Writing Space

On my blog today for the Writers’ Room series, I have Maggi Anderson, the author of the mystery novel Murder in Devon, which I reviewed last week. This week, she’s here to talk to us about her writing space, how she gets things done, and to give away a free copy of her book.

I’m hoping for this to be a fun and friendly way for readers and writers to get to know a little more about you. So let your hair down and have fun answering the questions!

 Please tell us a little about yourself. What types of things do you write?

I am an Australian writer of historical romance, mysteries and young adult novels. My historical romances take place in the Georgian, Regency and Victorian eras. Most of my books are set in England apart from two about the Australian outback.

Do you have a schedule for writing?

I begin after breakfast, dealing with email and promotional commitments. Before lunch I do the necessary housework, catch up on any important reading or research. In the afternoon I visit the gym, and swim in the summer months. I then work on my current manuscript until six o’clock. Late afternoon seems to be the time my muse is present.

Do you have any writing rituals, such as music, food, clothes, or anything else to help you?

Copious cups of tea and coffee and comfortable clothes, like a tracksuit suit me best. Sometimes television can help sort out a plot point or deepen a character’s motivation. It usually comes from out of the blue and is quite a mysterious process.  As if my brain has been sorting it out without my noticing. Music can be energizing and get me in the right mood, but I don’t tend to use it a lot. I find singing distracting.

Who or what is your inspiration?

I’m inspired by good writing; by an intriguing concept; or even just an image.  I saw a neo-Nazi rally on the television news and thought, what if? That’s how Murder in Devon began.

Could you tell us about your writer’s space?

I have a study nook off the kitchen, a step away from tea and coffee making facilities. My cat, Africa, a champagne Persian, graces me with her company, leaning on the keyboard and creating chaos. I don’t have the heart to tell her to leave.

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Maggi_Anderson_chair

Maggi_Anderson_cat

We live in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia. The view from my window is of majestic trees often filled with sulpher-crested cockatoos Maggi_Anderson_ducksand colorful parrots. Wild ducks inhabit the creek at the bottom of the garden. It changes with the seasons, which I love. Autumn is my favorite; the Himalayan dogwood tree turns a glorious rich crimson and the towering elm turns to gold.

Do you have anything else you’d like to tell us?

Murder in Devon is a murder mystery set in Devon, England. It’s a mystery/ romantic suspense which has been garnering some great reviews.  You can read about them on my blog: http://www.maggiandersen.blogspot.com

Murder in Devon is available in print and on Amazon kindle

Maggi_Anderson

Maggi Anderson Author website

 Last of all, what advice would you give to other writers?

Some writers have instant success with their first novel. But for most of us, and me included, it takes years to become published.  Although with self-publishing and e-book companies springing up, it’s easier to get your novel published in some form. My advice would be not to rush it. Give yourself time to learn your craft and discover your voice. Polish your work and make it as perfect as you can.  Take the time to plan your career and set yourself up with a good website or blog, so readers will become familiar with your work.  Be patient, and don’t give up.

Thanks so much, Maggi, for taking the time to talk to us. If you’d like to read Murder in Devon for free, just leave a comment with your email or other contact information in it.

Battle of the Kicka$$tacular Heroines: Bella or Katniss?

There’s a battle going on this morning between Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen and Twilight Saga’s Bella Swan. Hey, Katniss has a bow and poisoned berries, but Bella has super speed and sparkly friends. Hmmm…

Check out my Honey Creek Books battle post and take my short quiz to see who you’re most like. Are you Bella-esque or Katniss Powerful? Then watch the video. Who do you think wins?

Image from Little, Brown

Image from TheHungerGames.wikia.com

Best of the Blogs in #amwriting #writetips #yalit #teaching

I’ve tweeted bunches of great posts for you this week from @suzannelilly. Here’s a listing in case you missed any of them.

Young Adult Lit

That was a fabulous article. The YA Genre is Killing Itself http://www.fuelyourwriting.com/the-ya-genre-is-killing-itself #yalit #amwriting #fiction

The Craft of Writing

Watch this video! You Don’t Publish a Book, You Give Birth To It http://bit.ly/Hbt2RC #amwriting #bookbinding I loved this video of a reminder of how involved book publishing can be.

Have you read less than stellar #indie book? Where selfpub gets quality control, by @dirtywhitecandy http://tinyurl.com/83yrqqb #pubtips

A follow up to my #indie selfpub tweet: Vetting the Independent Editor. http://tinyurl.com/7sjmnob @writerbeware #pubtips

Character development: examples and practice from @StinaLL on the @querytracker blog. http://tinyurl.com/7gjb6nk #amwriting

SEO and Social Media for Teachers and Writers

How to create a coverphoto for your FB timeline. by @authormedia #SEO #techtips http://tinyurl.com/7oenhwh #amwriting

Headlines and Hooklines: Writing the Press Release @querytracker http://tinyurl.com/6q35czx #pubtips #writetips

Writing and Teaching Resources

You don’t have to be super smart to be super successful according to a Forbes article. http://tinyurl.com/797a2md #success

Best article I’ve read about e-book pricing. http://behlerblog.com/2012/05/07/e-book-pricing-what-are-you-worth/ From @behlerpublish #pubtips #ebooks #amwriting

Fun Posts

How do you dress your MC? Great post on designing characters. http://tinyurl.com/74vd4pz #amwriting #writetips

Mother’s Day #craft ideas for the #classroom. http://tinyurl.com/de4c2z #teaching

Murder in Devon, Mystery Novel by Maggi Anderson

  • Do you love novels set in England?
  • Do you love cozy mysteries?
  • Do you love romantic suspense?
  • Do you love plots that have layers and layers to peel like an onion?
  • Did you say yes to the questions above? You may find you’ll love reading Murder in Devon.

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When Casey Rowan, a young American woman living in England, finds two good friends murdered, she is determined to find the killer at any cost.  Rod Carlisle, the investigator on the case just wants Casey to stay out of his business. As the web of intrigue grows more tangled, so does their fragile romance, especially since Casey is the prime suspect.

Casey is one of those heroines we love because she dives into what she believes is right with no thought to her own safety. All she wants is justice. But she finds the evidence leads her deeper into other cover-ups and misdeeds, and soon she finds herself in danger. It’s the perfect set up for a murder mystery one can’t put down.

This latest novel by Maggi Anderson is a well crafted story of romantic suspense. Readers who enjoy books by P.D. James will enjoy this intellectual mystery. I found myself checking back and rereading sections of the book to make sure I didn’t miss a single clue. The fun of a mystery is not being outwitted, but this book had me second guessing myself all the way to the last page.

Would you like a free copy of Murder in Devon?

Next Tuesday, Maggi Anderson will be here on the TeacherWriter blog sharing some pictures of her writing space, and some of her tips for writers. It’s always great to hear from such an experienced author. She’ll be giving away a free copy of Murder in Devon to one lucky reader who leaves a comment.

How about subscribing to my blog to be sure you don’t miss next Tuesday’s interview? I’m looking forward to seeing you here again!

Anderson, Maggi, Murder in Devon, Black Opal Books, February 2012

  • ISBN-10: 1937329348
  • ISBN-13: 978-1937329341
  • ASIN: B007D8ZR50

Available in Print,and ebook: 162 Pages

Virtual Author Book Tour banner

Check here for other blogs to chat with Maggi Anderson and more chances to win a free copy of Murder in Devon.

Best of the Blogs in #amwriting #writetips #yalit #teaching

I’ve tweeted bunches of great posts for you this week from @suzannelilly. Here’s a listing in case you missed any of them.

Teaching Tips

Candid advice on how to keep students engaged. http://tinyurl.com/cvzcmbs #teaching From Chronicle of Higher Ed.

Like Water for Horses: Why Even Good Students Don’t Do Multiple Drafts http://tinyurl.com/6r72keq #teaching #writing

The Craft of Writing

Six kinds of writers: Which one are you? On @querytracker blog.http://tinyurl.com/6nqvq8e #writetips #amwriting

Save your novel! Write yourself a 5 star review. by @dirtywhitecandy http://tinyurl.com/7a6agto #amwriting #amediting

5 stellar tips from a NYT bestselling author http://tinyurl.com/72yj4bq #amwriting #writetips #NYT

SEO and Social Media for Teachers and Writers

Why no one links to your best posts & what to do about it. via @copyblogger http://tinyurl.com/65gekp #blogger #amwriting

How to be agressive and not obnoxious in publishing by @bob_mayer tinyurl.com/789zphz #pubtips #writetips #amwriting

Writing and Teaching Resources

If you’re writing Celtic, here’s a resource article of Clan MacGregor. Great info! http://tinyurl.com/6t92xqu #amwriting #historical

Fun Posts

The Jump Project. Photos of, well, jumps. These photos rock!http://wp.me/p3xeT-DQ #jumpproject #storystarters #teenreads

Some of the best book titles that are the worst ever. Have a giggle when you read this list. http://tinyurl.com/7slvffh #nonfiction

Did you know…A hippo can open its mouth wide enough to fit a 4 foot tall child inside! (Don’t try this at home) From @jessfortunato author of The Sin Collector. #YAlit

The Figurative Language of Simile and Metaphor: Which is Which?

Telling the difference between simile and metaphor isn’t as hard as you think. Why should we care? Simile and metaphor create imagery, a mental picture that makes our message clear to our readers. Figurative language isn’t just for poetry. It’s used in fiction and nonfiction. It can be especially helpful when explaining and writing about difficult concepts in the sciences.

When I teach figurative language to students, I make things as simple as possible. There is one short rule to help you remember how to tell if something is a simile or a metaphor.

  • Similes use” like” or “as” and metaphors do not.

That’s it! Now let’s have a bit of explanation and examples.

Structure of a Simile

Similes compare two things using the words “like” or “as.” Here are some examples:

  • Her smile is like a ray of sunshine.
  • Her acne is like a volcanic eruption.
  • Her sarcasm is as sharp as a porcupine’s quills.

What Makes a Metaphor?

A metaphor also compares two things, but it states that one thing is another. One well known example:

  • She is a thorn in my side.

Obviously, a person can’t be a thorn. The metaphor describes the pain and annoyance she causes.

More examples of common metaphors:

  • The sun is a big, round pizza pie.
  • The steak is shoe leather.
  • That boy is an eating machine.

In all of these examples, one thing is said to be another. That’s a metaphor.

Combination Figurative Language

Some descriptions combine both metaphor and simile. For example:

  • The boy eats like a horse but he is a bean pole.

Do you feel like an expert now? Here’s a short figurative language quiz to test your knowledge.

State if you think these are simile or metaphor. I’ll put the answers at the end of the post, so don’t peek till you’re ready to see if you got them right.

  1. Ugly as a monkey’s armpit. (This expression inspired a book title I wrote about on another blog.)
  2. He peeled out like a banana.
  3. Her face was as red as a baboon’s butt. (Credit for this one goes to one of my former students.)
  4. His car is a trash bin on wheels, spilling its contents whenever he opens a door.
  5. Her father is Silly Putty in her hands.
  6. The kelp is a graceful ballerina in the ocean current.

In review, simile and metaphor are both forms of figurative language that create imagery, or a mental picture, in a reader’s mind. They both compare two or more things. Similes use the words “like” or “as” and metaphors say one thing “is” another thing.

To use one last clichéd simile, I hope this helped make things as clear as a bell. Do you have any original similes or metaphors to share?

Answers to the quiz: 1-3 are similes, 4-6 are metaphors.

Book Titles, the Best of the Worst

If a picture says a thousand words, a title says it all. Good or bad, the title is the first thing we notice when deciding whether or not to read a book.

Laughing_Monkey

Laughing at the 7th book title. Image by lostsignal on Flickr.

I spend hours upon hours trying to find the perfect title for my books, only to sometimes find out another author has already used that title.

Argh! Back to the creative sandbox I trudge, dragging my shovel behind me.

As I research titles, I find some that I call the Good, Bad, and Ugly. (With a nod to the song.) Today I’m over at Honey Creek Books blogging about my most entertaining finds and doing a bit of sarcastic commentary. Believe me, I’m Not Hanging Noodles on Your Ears. (Yes, that’s a published book title.)

Come join me and share some of your best and worst title finds. See you there!

Best Blogs of the Week in #WriteTips, #Writing and #Amwriting

Here are some posts you may have missed this week in my Twitter feed. Bookmark this page so you can read them at your leisure.

Writing Inspiration/Motivation

Fab post on Why I Love Being A Writer by @GeneLempphttp://wp.me/p1bz5t-f1 via @kaitnolan #ROW80 #amwriting

How to write a cookbook by accident. http://tinyurl.com/7k7c8x4 @judyalter #recipes #amwriting

My interview with Jess Fortunato. This author has an amazing website that’s a great model for other #fictionwriters. http://t.co/U59bqTmD#amwriting #writetips

Learn the Craft of Writing

Creating Believable Characters With Personality http://michelle-wright.suite101.com/creating-believable-characters-with-personality-a406410 by Michelle Wright #writetips #amwriting #fiction

Teaching Writing and Reading

Great ideas for Gulliver’s Travels Lesson Plans http://angela-k.suite101.com/gullivers-travels-lesson-plan-ideas-a401013 by Angela Kleinow. #teaching #teachlit

Odds ‘n’ Ends

Money for nothing & your speech for free. How low some sites go. http://tinyurl.com/7j5mfxm #speechwriting #amwriting

A #fanfic author’s kindergarten beginnings. Or, how to raise an author. http://tinyurl.com/6wranvp @JulieALindsey #amwriting #mglit

Write well and read prolifically!

Writing Space of Author Jessica Fortunato

Today, Jessica Fortunato, author of The Sin Collector, is my wonderful guest. I met Jessica on Goodreads, and immediately was drawn to her writing, artistic sense, and the music of her website. Please join me in welcoming Jessica!

Jessica_Fortunato_Sin_Collector

Thank you so much for having me on your blog.  It is a fun site, and I adore the workspace photo aspect!  Although I’ll warn everyone now, mine is not nearly as distinguished and neat as the other authors you have featured.

 I’m sure it’s going to be wonderful to read about! Please tell us a little about yourself. What types of things do you write?

I live in the booming metropolis that is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When I’m not writing, I’m usually cooking.  Currently I am working on the sequel to The Sin Collector titled The Sin Collector: Sacrifice.  I am also writing TSC Novella due to come out in July.  The TSC Novella is exciting because I am giving my readers the option to vote for whose story they want to hear.  Voting doesn’t end until May 1st. There is still time to choose.

What a terrific idea! So now tell us, do you have a schedule for writing?

I don’t have a schedule for writing.  I have tried to force myself to write, say 4,000 words a day.  I have never written anything and kept it using that mindset.  I will go a week and write a chapter if I’m lucky.  Then I will have a day where I spend six hours in my broken down chair hardly moving, typing non-stop.  I wish I had discipline, but I need pure inspiration to get anything productive done. It all manages to balance out in the end.

You’re still getting it done, so it’s working for you. Do you have any writing rituals, such as music, food, clothes, or anything else to help you?

I do most of my writing late at night, so I am usually drinking caffeine of some sort.  Iced tea is my poison.  Music is a huge source of inspiration for my books, but I rarely have music on while I’m writing, it can be too distracting.  I find that I often have the television on, but muted, which makes absolutely no sense, but it’s my method.

Who or what is your inspiration?

As cliché as it is, my life is constant inspiration.  My characters carry traits of people I know and love.  Although my Collectors are immortal, they have very human sides, which I try to highlight even more so than their Supernatural aspects.  The places my characters journey to are often places I have read about and want to visit one day.  In writing, you can bring people back from the dead, unite the lost lovers, and tell the most satisfying story possible.  As for the humor in my book, that purely comes from my family.  Around my house you either get sarcasm or you get out.

Funny! That sounds like my house, too. Could you tell us about your writer’s space?

Jess_Fortunato_desk

My teeny desk

It is tiny and clutter central.  I swear I’m always organizing stuff but somehow everything just piles back up.  I have my laptop, which is really the only necessity.

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The stuff the laptop hides

Then my small desk becomes littered with papers, usually something cute, my favorite Living Dead Doll, Little Red Riding Hood. (They are my horror guilty pleasure.)  I always have my Collector family tree nearby for character references.

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My current stack of papers.

My writing space is also right next door to my hamster aquarium.  She really hates it when I write before midnight.

I guess you can’t say the hamster wheel is keeping you up at night! Off the topic of writing, what is the zaniest, craziest thing you’ve ever done?

Can this answer be held against me in a court of law?  I haven’t done anything too zany In a long while.  I’m zany overdue! Does that mean I’m a grown-up? Since my Mom reads these things, how about the strangest thing? When I was in college, I had a hamster named Tabby who had a stroke.  The vet wanted to put her down.  However, the vet mentioned that Tabby wasn’t in pain, she just couldn’t use one side of her body.  So, I researched stroke rehab for humans online, and rehabbed my hamster.  The best was exercising her limbs in water as if she were swimming.  After a month, she could walk and climb just like her old self AND she lived another year.

Don’t give up on anything, no matter how small.

OMG, that’s an amazing story! Do you have anything else you’d like to tell us? 

Yes.  Get Collected.  Wander around the labyrinth that is The Sin Collector website.

It has links to follow me on Twitter and Facebook. It is full of fun things to do.  If you’ve read the book already you can take the Trivia challenge and find Collector Personality Quizzes.  There is also an awesome Soundtrack page. The music gives you a glimpse into the songs that helped form the characters, plot, and most heart wrenching and surprising scenes. In addition, as I said above, you can vote for the Summer Novella, and these things are just the tip of the iceberg!

Might I just interject here, readers, Jessica’s site is simply amazing. I click on her website just to listen to the music playlists! Here are two of her book trailers. Yes, people, she has more trailers at Youtube.

Official Book Trailer for The Sin Collector

The Sin Collector Book Trailer

Last of all, what advice would you give to other writers?

Stay away from the website Pinterest.  I have lost hours of productivity to that brilliant but evil site!

In all seriousness though, my advice is always to write it down.  If the Universe is handing you a brilliant idea and you just figure you’ll get to it later, the Universe will give it to someone else with a faster rate of return.  I have seen it happen.  Fortune favors the bold.  If you’re a writer then odds are likely you are a reader as well.  Pay attention to your own habits.  What do you dread about certain books?  What aspects of a book make your heart race?  Above all, go with your gut.  Trust your instincts whether it is about how you market yourself, or how you market your characters.  Not everyone will love you and your work, but it’s work worth doing so stick with it.

Fabulous advice, Jessica! Thanks again for doing this interview today.

Well, friends, there you have it. The goods on the digs of this amazing new author. Now what are you still doing here? Get on over to The Sin Collector website and have some fun with all that’s there!