Hello again, dear readers,
While the dog days of summer settle in, and we are once again at the mercy of Mother Nature's extremes, it seems a good time to slow down a bit, find a shady spot and a glass of lemonade, and let our imaginations fly. I have a favorite spot out back under an old oak tree with a nice view of my garden. I love watching my vegetables grow; it inspires me to make my novel, Dreams of the Salad Bar, a best-seller.
But how can I make sure I fulfill those dreams? There's no sure-fire method, but I try to make a point of being well informed about writing and publishing. (Fortunately, my wireless internet connection extends to my back yard, so I can browse the web as I write.) This month I've found some very interesting sites that I just had to share.
Understanding your characters is so important. That's why I was pleased when I found Carly Sandifer's post:Want to Write a Bestseller? Reveal Your Protagonist's Psyche. Then my dastardly cauliflower, Carl, had me wondering about his psychological profile. When I found Lisa Featherstone's post on forensic psychology I got some good ideas about how to fill in his character. While I was there, I found a link to D.P. Lyle, MD's website. Did you know you can go there and get answers to your questions about your Work-In-Progress? If you're lucky, you might see them published in one of his Forensics and Fiction books. What a wonderful resource for writers of mysteries or crime novels.
Of course, even with your villain, you don't want to be cliched. That's why I was glad to find QueryTracker's post on Conquering the Cliche. We must be ever vigilant to keep them under control.
As important as that is, it's not even mentioned on Writers Digest's list of 7 Things that will Doom Your Novel, and the 5 Story Mistakes Even Good Writers Make. Writers beware!
Perhaps we can all benefit from the wisdom of C. S. Lewis's advice to a young writer. (It seemed to work for him.)
Mechanics are so important, and I'm so bad at them. That's why I always bookmark pages with good advice, such as 10 Common Hyphenation Errors, or The Most Comma Mistakes. And then there's a useful Checklist for Fiction Writers. Thank goodness for such resources.
When it comes time to advertise your work, social media can be such a help. So I'm glad I found Social Media for Writers, Part I and Part II, from Fiona Druce. I'm not much of a Tweeter, and I use Facebook even less, but maybe now I'll figure it all out. And Writers Market helps us with How to Start and Make a Blog that Rocks.
Once you're published, chances are you'll need to come up with a brief biography. Warren Bull tells us how it's done in his post: Writing a 50-Word Biography. (I'm not sure I've ever said anything in only 50 words!)
I hope your summer days are pleasant and your writing flows well.
Happy writing, everyone!
Betty Wryte-Goode
Betty Wryte-Goode is a writer, mother, and wife who lives in the Lehigh Valley of eastern Pennsylvania. Her passions include writing, reading, shopping, gardening, and exploring the internet. Betty is always looking for writing tips, so if you have any you would like to share, please send them to her through our Submissions/Contacts page.
Mixed Up Words of the Month:
Currently vs. Presently
Many Americans think that "presently" means right now, but as you will see presently, they are incorrect.
Currently means right now, in the present, at the present time, as in: Currently the year is 2012. We are currently in the month of July.
Presently is an adverb that in the US and Canada means soon, in the near future, directly, or before long, as in: Presently it will be the month of August.
"I will make dinner presently," means I will get to it soon. (If you're starving, you'd better grab a carrot.) If you go to the doctor's office, though, and hear that she will see you presently, take a seat. It might be a while.
But, if you're on the other side of the pond in the UK, "presently" is used to mean "right now," or "for now," as in: David Cameron is presently the Prime Minister. (At least they spell it the same way!)
Currently is unambiguous. On both sides of the Atlantic, this is understood to mean now, or at present. But remember that in the US and Canada, it does not mean presently.