Showing Not Telling - Tips for Writers

We’ve all heard, “Show; don’t tell” as a writing tip. It is so easy to slip into the telling part. I’ve been working on some edits for critique group and others, and here are some things you can look for in your next round of revisions.

• Did you do a huge data dump to describe a new character? Did you include too much backstory in your introduction or description? Some of this information is important, but you need to sprinkle it in. A character introduction shouldn’t look like a police report.

• Look at your paragraphs. Are they chock full of “be” verbs (is, was, were)? This is often an indicator that you have a lot of sentences that are telling the reader facts.

• Do you have a lot of references in your paragraphs to she/he or the character’s name. This is another indicator that there is telling going on.

• Don’t be Captain Obvious. Your reader can pick up on feelings by actions and reactions that your characters have. You don’t have to tell the reader that your character is happy, mad, sad, or angry. Demonstrate feelings through action or dialogue.

• Avoid being a sports commentator by giving your reader a play-by-play description of events.

• Leave out the mundane stuff. You do not need to tell the reader about every bite or every step that it takes to do something. And please leave out the weather reports. Readers get bogged down and bored with the routine stuff.

What else would you add to my list?

Things New Writers Need to Know

I had coffee this weekend with a twenty-something who wanted to talk about writing. Here are some of the things we talked about and some of the lessons I’ve learned along my writing journey (that I wish I had known at the beginning).

1. You may be very fortunate, and your book is the next international best seller that takes the world by storm. But for every one that tops the charts, there are thousands or millions of other books that don’t. Dream big, but be realistic in your planning.

2. If you are going to go the traditional route of publishing (querying an agent, submitting to publishers,…), you will find that it is a slow process with a lot of waiting. Use your time wisely and write your next book in the down time.

3. Writing is a business. It’s work. If you want to be an author, you need to put in the time to learn/hone your craft and market your book. But don’t get too bogged down in reading “learn to write” books that you never actually start writing. I have found two books that have been really helpful, Stephen King’s ON WRITING and Janet Evanovich’s HOW I WRITE. (I donated all the other ones that I bought to the Friends of the Library.)

4. Rejection, bad reviews, and negative comments are part of the process. They stink. Nobody likes them, but you need to be able to learn from mistakes and keep trying if you believe in your work.

5. Your book needs to be the best that it can be before you start querying agents/publishers. It is rare that you get more than one shot at an idea.

6. Read everything you can get your hands on. Read books in the genre that you want to write. Make sure you know the conventions (rules/traditions) and word/page counts for your genre. Follow readers that you like on social media and watch what they do.

7. Self-publishing and book marketing (even if you are traditionally published) can be expensive. You need to set your budget and plan your strategy and spending.

8. Publishing is a business. Make sure you have a statement of work or a contract if you hire someone to do work for you (e.g. editing, formatting a book, designing a cover, planning a marketing promotion).

9. Agents/Editors/Publishers receive a lot of queries. They are looking for fresh ideas that will sell. Your manuscript needs to stand out in a pile of others. You need a unique hook that draws readers in. They are also looking or quality work. If you don’t follow submission guidelines, have something that’s riddled with typos, or doesn’t follow the conventions of the genre, you make it easy for them to move it to the reject file.

10. Make sure you read all of your contracts and royalty statements and understand them.

11. There is no other feeling like typing, “the end” on your manuscript. Celebrate. But this is really just the beginning. You need to make this work the best it can be. Editors, proofreaders, critique partners, and beta readers are invaluable. It is a rarity that anyone’s first draft is in a state ready to be published.

12. Watch out for scams on social media. You will be bombarded with offers. If they seem too good to be true, they probably are.

13. Find a writers’ group, preferably in your genre. You need a network who can help with ideas and advice and celebrate your victories. My membership in Sisters in Crime, Guppies, and James River Writers has been invaluable.

I Have News!

My agent received three offers on my new series, the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries. And over the Independence Day weekend, I signed a three-book deal. The first one launches October 2021.

Guard Your Writing Time!

24 Hours - 1,440 Minutes - 86,400 Seconds - That’s what we have each day. Life is busy and hectic, and there are lots of obligations and distractions. Writers, you need to guard your writing time. It is so easy to fill up time with other things. If you’re going to be a productive writer, you need to write. Here are some ideas that help me.

1. Schedule your writing time. If it’s on my calendar, I am more likely to do it. This also keeps me from filling the space with other tasks.

2. Being a published author requires writing, editing, revising, book marketing, book promotions, blogs, websites, and events. The list goes on and on. It is easy to get lost in all the tasks. Your job is to write your next book. Make sure you balance all your writing work with life.

3. When I’m working on my first draft, I track my daily word count (on a Post-it). This helps me hit my daily goals. For me, the daily number is enough to keep me motivated.

4. I now schedule time in the mornings to do other writing tasks likes blogs, emails, website updates, and social media posts. I was blending this with my writing time, and I was doing more “other stuff” than writing.

5. When you get off track, don’t beat yourself up. Life happens, and it’s often messy. Just figure out how to get back on track.

6. Set goals for each day. They don’t have to be lofty. I attended a workshop recently by Dana Kaye and Sisters in Crime. She recommended that you have daily goals to keep you organized and focused.

7. When you don’t feel like writing, try to write something. When I hit a brick wall, sometimes, it’s easier to schedule social media posts or write a blog. If not, I do something else. Usually physical activity helps me clear my head and my roadblock.

Are You Growing as a Writer?

The pandemic has turned everything upside down, and nothing is quite as we expected it to be. I’m trying to keep a regular routine for my writing life. Lately, I’ve also attended a lot of classes and conferences online. As a writer, you need to keep growing and learning. You need to stay relevant. Here are some things you can do to improve your craft, build your platform, and boost your name recognition.

1. Make sure that you are writing. If you can’t or don’t feel like writing every day, write when you can. Set small goals to help you stay on track. Celebrate your successes.

2. Take a class or a workshop. There are lots of free or low cost events out there on every topic. You need to hone your writing skills, but don’t limit yourself. There are online tours of interesting places and things to see. You never know what might become research for a future story.

3. Find a podcast that you like. There are some really good ones out there on writing and marketing. My favorites are the true crime and weird history ones.

4. Get a writing partner or critique group. This gives me a deadline each month for new pages. Plus, interacting and chatting with others is a good break from the craziness of the world we live in right now.

5. Make sure that you take the time to revise and rewrite. This is often the hardest and most time consuming part. You need to fix plot holes and character inconsistencies. You also need to look for repetitive words, fluffy content or dialogue that doesn’t move your story forward, and too many dialogue tags.

6. Make time to work on your social media platforms. Share, like, and comment on others’ posts. Build your following.

7. Decide where you want to go as a writer. Find others in that genre and look at their websites, blogs, and interviews. See what they did or didn’t do in their writing careers.

8. If you’re stuck on your current WIP, put it down for a little while and do something else. Sometimes, all you need is some space.

9. Start a new writing project.

10. Stay current with the publishing trends in your genre. Know what’s popular (at the moment) and see what’s selling.

If you want to improve and grow as a writer, you need to be resilient and adaptable. It’s hard work. There are a lot of disappointments and celebrations. The publishing industry is in a constant state of flux, and you need to be aware of what’s going on in the industry and the book world. Try something new today. You may be surprised.

Overcoming Fear and Doubt - Tips for Writers

All writers doubt themselves and their writing ability from time to time. I think it’s good if it motivates you to revise and rework your writing and to hone your craft. But doubt and fear shouldn’t debilitate you. If you want to be a published author, you need to be able to accept criticism and suggestions for improvement.

Joining a critique group was the hardest thing I’ve ever done as a prepublished writer. I had worked really hard on my manuscript and was ready to share it with the world, who would be equally as thrilled as I was. After several of the sessions, I wanted to give up and find something else to do. While the feedback wasn’t all bad, it was overwhelming. It felt like everything I did was wrong or could be better. To make it less overwhelming, I took notes as they offered suggestions. Then I waited a couple of days to go back through their comments and make edits. The extra time helped. I was able to get over the “you called my baby ugly” first reaction and really look at their comments.

If you are serious about your writing, you need a critique group or a writing partner. These folks will help you work through plot holes and problems. It also builds confidence, and you’re able to see growth and improvements in your writing. Friends and family love you, but they don’t tell you about the parts that really stink. And you need to hear that part.

It takes a lot of courage to let someone else read your work. Make sure that you’re in the right mindset before you start. Your goal is to get published. Your book has to be the best it can be for that to happen. Learn from the feedback and strive to improve. You’re going to get criticism that you don’t like or don’t think is fair. You can’t take it personally if you want to grow as a writer. (Once you’re published, you’ll face reviews and comments that aren’t always nice or fair.)

Publishing is a business. Agents, editors, and publishers want to sign the best books that will sell. The industry has its ups and downs and fads come and go. Typically, what you write now won’t be published for 1-2 years. And rejection is a big part of the process. You will write many query letters and proposals, and for many of them, you may never hear anything back.

When you get negative comments or rejections, give yourself time to react to it. Work through it. Learn from it, and keep writing. Always be professional. You don’t need to snap back. Don’t do or say something rash that will come back to haunt you later.

Author Jenny Milchman gave a wonderful presentation to my group about her publication journey. Check out her website for her story. It is a good lesson about the ups and downs of the writerly life.

I love my writer friends. I can share losses, disappointment, and celebrations with them. They understand.

Turn the negative energy of doubt and fear to the willingness to improve and to try new things. It will make you a stronger writer. Celebrate the successes and learn from the criticism.

Knocking Down Writer's Block(s)

My sister gave me a set of writer’s blocks from Literature Lodge on Etsy. She chose Poe, Fitzgerald, and Baum. They sit next to my window/writing space. These are the only kind of writer’s blocks I like.

The impasse or deadends with writing are a problem. Mine happen when I write myself in a corner and don’t build enough tension in the story. Sometimes, I didn’t have a strong enough motive for some of the characters.

It gets frustrating when the words don’t come, or they aren’t what you want them to be. Here are some things I do to take my mind off the impediment (that I created).

1. Step away from the laptop. Go on a walk. Do something different.

2. Change the scenery. Go outside. Go somewhere.

3. Do another creative project (e.g. sewing, cooking, baking, painting, crafting,…)

4. Do a word or jigsaw puzzle.

5. Read. Reading is research.

6. I do my best plotting when I’m driving.

7. Exercise.

8. Meditate.

9. Listen to music.

I am usually able to get myself out of the corner and fix the problem when I’m not stressing about it. An idea often comes to me when I’m doing something else.

Lights, Camera, Action - Video Conferencing Tips for Authors

Welcome to the new normal that includes working and connecting in different ways. A lot of us aren’t YouTubers or TikTok experts, so it’s tough to get the right lighting and look. And you don’t have to invest in fancy cameras, microphones, or ring lights. Here are some tips to help you look and sound your best.

Location, Location

Find the best spot in your house. If you’re using a phone or tablet, you can be mobile. Experts suggest that you turn your phone on with the camera facing you. Then walk around your house and find a good spot with a lot of natural light. If you need your laptop for the meeting, you’ll need a spot where you can still type and use the mouse. Being in front of a window is good (unless the sun is shining directly in your face). You don’t want lamps/lights that are above or on the sides because they cast shadows.

You want your camera to be just above your eyes/forehead. You don’t want to be looking down (too much saggy chin), and you don’t want the camera pointing up your nose. You also don’t want to be looking off camera. Use books or other items to adjust the height of your camera. If you’re using a phone with a pop socket, you can hang it on a mug for an easy tripod.

Make sure your video spot is not in a major thoroughfare of your house. You don’t want interruptions or photobombs.

Check your background and make sure there’s no junk or clutter. Remember that sometimes, the camera picks up more than you think. I have a whiteboard in my office where I plot the next mystery. My team is always trying to see what’s on the board behind me.

Your Look

Ladies, you do want to wear some makeup, so you don’t look washed out on camera. Wear solid colors (but not white or black). Wear jewelry. My friend wears hats when she doesn’t want to do her hair. One team recently had crazy hat day, so everyone had an excuse to cover up a bad hair day. A lot of YouTube stylists suggest dry shampoo or wetting and styling your bangs on days you don’t want to do a full wash and style.

They Can See You and Hear You

They can see you, and sometimes, we forget that. Over the last few weeks, I’ve seen kids and pets photobomb calls. We’ve been interrupted by phone calls and delivery drivers. I try to remember to close the door, so they don’t see distractions behind me. Use mute when you’re not speaking to cut down on background noise. Also, if you’re multitasking, they can see that, too.

Practice Makes Perfect

Do a practice session and check your video and sound. If you’re working with a group of people, you may want to have a mini session to make sure everyone can logon, work the equipment, and host the meeting.

Make sure you know how to adjust your sound and camera. If your internet is slow, you will have issues with your video quality. The sound and the video may not match, and it will look like a 1950s dubbed movie. If you need to stream video, make sure no one else at your house is streaming or gaming at the same time.

Practice with the video conference tool. Most have similar features, but buttons, views, and functionality will vary. If you’re going to share your screen, make sure you have the files open and ready.

Some days, I get video conference fatigue. I never imagined that I’d be popping in to one video chat after another at the day gig. But it is a good way to stay connected and to see others when we’re quarantining.

Y’all be safe, and hopefully, we’ll be back together in person soon.

Clean up on Aisle 9 - Revision Tips for Writers

As I’m writing a new project, I keep a daily track of my word count to show progress. I’m a list maker, so that gives me a visual that I’m getting closer to the end game. And there is nothing more exciting than typing, “The End.” When the euphoria wears off, that’s when the realization that revisions are coming. I think editing is the hardest part of the writing process. Here are some things that I include in (many) revision cycles.

1. Run spell check after each editing session. No matter how careful you are, mistakes are made during revisions.

2. After each round of major edits, I print a copy and read it on paper. I find more errors this way than I do on the computer screen.

3. Make a list of your overused words. Mine are “just,” “that,” and “in a few minutes.” Use your find and replace feature to located and eradicate them.

4. My editor and agent have style guides. I always go through these checklists before sending a manuscript over for review.

5. Look for excessive use of dialogue tags (he said/she said) and mop ‘em up.

6. If you write a series, make sure the characters don’t pop up in the wrong book. I’ve done this before. My PI showed up by accident in another WIP.

7. Look for the “be” words (are, is, was, were). They’re indications that you’re “telling” the reader and not showing. Rewrite these sentences. They’re also weak verbs. You can make your story stronger by using active verbs.

8. Look at all the opening paragraphs of your chapters. Make sure they are unique and interesting. You want to draw the reader in.

9. Look at the closing paragraphs of each chapter. You don’t want to wrap things up too nicely and give the reader a chance to stop for the night. Make sure there is tension. Make your reader read past her bedtime.

10. Don’t short change your opportunities to build tension. Sometimes, we’re so excited to move on to the next thing in our story that we don’t take time to build tension around important scenes. Go back and look for these opportunities.

11. Look for long sections of dialogue and long paragraphs of description. Can you tighten these up to move the story along?

What would you add to my list?