Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!
“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”
Featuring:
Resources and Tools for Writers
Jean Wise and Johnnie Alexander host our first episode of 2023. Johnnie confesses to her Luddite tendencies while Jean keeps us firmly planted in the 21st century by talking about AI possibilities. Johnnie opens up Evernote and an Excel worksheet to show how to keep track of a to-do list and other essentials of the writing business. Jeanie gives examples of AI generated answers to specific questions and shared how AI can spark story/article ideas, plots, characters, etc. Patricia Tiffany Morris gave a spontaneous demonstration of BoredHuman.com.
Watch the January 3rd Replay
Writers Chat Wish List for 2023
Our wish list contains 5Cs ~ Caring, Challenge, Community, Creativity, Curiosity. How can you, as a writer, be inspired to grow in these areas during the upcoming year? What practical steps can you take to care for yourself and others, engage in various challenges (such as writing a haiku a day), participate in community (and make new friends!), enhance your creativity, and follow your curiosity? The Writers Chat team shares ideas and resources that will enhance your writing journey. Start off the New Year with plans and goals for living a 5C lifestyle.
Watch the January 10th replay.
Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. The permanent Zoom room link is: http://zoom.us/j/4074198133
Living in the high-tech age means storing all your best moments on devices. Although technological progress promotes photos to look better and better on screens as time passes, this still makes paper photo books only more valuable. Even the most high-quality digital picture can’t replace the feeling of paging through the book and the emotions evoked by that process.
To publish your own photo book can be pretty challenging since it requires clear understanding, profound research, and a well-thought-out strategy. But, no matter whether you target presenting an essential personal project or your top-notch shots for engaging leads, there are plenty of ways to create an impeccable photo book. That way, our core task is to cover how to craft a selling self-published photo book. So let’s consider the most efficient tips to make it a roaring success.
1. Exploring Self-Publishing Resources
Before immersing yourself in independent publishing, it is worth undergoing some workshops. It will give you priceless insights into the process from A to Z and warn you about potential pitfalls. In addition, there are numerous platforms where you may educate yourself and find out the best ways to select, store and sequence your shots for the book. For example, such hottest courses hosted by New York’s ICP, Maine Media and Anderson Ranch will doubtless point you in the right direction.
2. Overall Concept
Another crucial point that may influence the final outcome is defining the subject, which will be cross-cutting the whole photo book and the audience who might have an interest in it. Decide on the key idea and make a specific photo editing plan based on it. The best practice would be to review related blogs. That way, you will kill two birds with one stone: get needed inspiration and reveal sites for your book’s further promotion. See for yourself lifestyle blogs that accept guest posts.
3. Editing and Sequencing Shots
As practice shows, it stands as the most daunting part of photo book publishing as a photographer. This is because you should thoroughly think about what to include and miss out on. Besides, make sure the photos correlate with the book’s written description. No less significant is to realize that pictures’ consistency aims at telling some story or conveying specific messages.
If you know the approximate number of pages, it may incredibly aid in narrowing down shots selection. It also needs to consider if images match each other by palette, subject, general idea and size. The last point is often decisive since sometimes it is better to mix up different sizes, giving viewers a visual break and making a photography book unique. Repetitive pictures aren’t always a win-win option, so try to cut down on them even if they are high-quality equally. You can also use outsource photo editing company to save your time and to avoid some photo retouching work.
4. Textual Filling
The golden rule to remember if you strive to publish your own photo book is to describe the project at the very beginning. Create an appealing statement from your artistic perspective and outline your work’s essence and what you wish people to pay attention to while looking at your pictures. Some photographers resort to the services of experts for crafting text. However, no one knows your workpieces better than you and sometimes, even grammatically flawless text can’t arouse any feelings as there is no artist’s touch.
In addition, don’t neglect font style. You may wonder how it impacts, but in some cases, the right fonts can extremely engage the audience and sky-rocket photo book sales. Visit fontsarena.com to learn more about this.
5. Printing
You can’t surely do without such a component as printing to craft the best self-published photobook. The printer choice is vital, so you must research and monitor recommendations to find your cup of tea. Especially, look over the book’s specifications and what printer kind may suit the most. There are commonly two variants – offset printing and digital printing. You should make up your mind, relying on your ultimate goals. If you are already a well-known photographer and intend to volume quantities, then offset printing is just the thing. And opposite, in case you only have started building successful career in photography, opting for digital printing will perfectly fit.
Frank Hamilton is a blogger and translator from Manchester. He is a professional writing expert in such topics as blogging, digital marketing and self-education. He also loves traveling and speaks Spanish, French, German and English. Meet him on Facebook and Twitter.
Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!
“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”
The All-in-one Proposal Marketing Machine with Bethany Jett
In this episode, Bethany uses her proposal the 52-week devotional, They Call Me Mom, as an example, which includes social media marketing campaign graphics and resources. We also talk about comparative/competitive titles, the ease of creating graphics with Canva, and discuss revitalizing a back list with social media marketing.
Watch the May 17th Replay
Bethany Jett, a multi-award-winning traditionally-published author, ghostwriter, and marketing strategist who earned top honors in her master’s program, where she earned her MFA in Communications focusing on Marketing and PR. Her motto is “Teach as you go,” which she lives out as the co-owner of Serious Writer. Bethany is married to her college sweetheart, and together they’re raising boys, 2 teen and 1-pre-teen! She loves to post on Instagram about #MarketingAndMomLife, and her two fluffy Pomeranians. Connect with her at BethanyJett.com.
Come Write with Us
In this episode of Writers Chat, co-host Brandy Brow leads an open mic discussion on feeling stiff about writing. She also shares why it is good to stretch ourselves as writers, and then leads two fun writing exercises. For more information, be sure to check out this week’s replay.
Watch the May 24th replay.
Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. The permanent Zoom room link is: http://zoom.us/j/4074198133
Before you send off your precious manuscript to your editor, you probably want to make sure that it’s as polished as you can possibly get it. Why? While your editor will certainly help you with your proofreading errors, the real focus is supposed to be on the storyline itself. By presenting a well-proofread document, you ensure that your editor can concentrate on helping you to perfect the storyline instead of your grammar.
If you’re going to do the work of proofreading by yourself, it’s essential to have some good tools on hand to help you. Here are a few things I use when I’m proofreading.
1. A Spell Checker
The absolute simplest way to get started proofreading. Just make sure to actually run the check, and don’t just assume it’s being done automatically. Use the tool that comes with your word processor or download something like Grammarly to help you catch your mistakes.
2. A Dictionary
When I proofread, I always have a dictionary tab open on my computer. I most often use it when I think that a word is being misused and I need to check the definition. Most dictionaries also have a thesaurus feature which is useful for finding replacements for overused words.
For the most part, the actual dictionary that you choose is up to you since you’re the author. Merriam-Webster is a classic, and it’s my go-to. However, you may find that a different dictionary is more beneficial for you depending on the style of your writing, where your story is located, or how technical your writing is.
3. Chicago Manual of Style
If you like rules, consider getting a subscription to Chicago Manual of Style Online. CMOS is the ultimate grammar nerd’s guide to every question you can possibly think to ask about nouns, verbs, adjective placement, quotation marks, capitalization—you name it, there’s a rule. The learning curve is a little steep. You sort of have to know what you’re looking for in order to search the database, but if you’re willing to take the time, it’s an incredibly detailed resource. You can do a 30-day free trial, and the annual subscription fee is very affordable.
4. Quick and Dirty Tips from Grammar Girl
If CMOS sounds too intense (it can definitely be confusing), look up Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips. Now these are some accessible grammar tips. I struggle with the difference between the appropriate use of “that” versus “which”. Grammar Girl has the clearest explanation that I’ve found for how to decide which one to use. The articles are short, concise, and have practical examples to get you on the right track.
5. The Best Punctuation Book, Period.
I’ve mentioned this book before and bears repeating. The Best Punctuation Book, Period by June Casagrande is truly the best. The sheer number of comma rules that exist can be totally overwhelming, so forget trying to actually use them! Casagrande breaks down each one in her book with simple explanations and tons of examples. This book is the middle ground between CMOS and Grammar Girl. Get a copy, you won’t be sorry you did.
6. Google
Obvious, perhaps, but worth mentioning. When I’m stuck, a simple Google search can do wonders. One thing that I really rely on Google for are standards for things that aren’t hard and fast rules. Over the course of the last year or so, there has been a lot of discussion about how to capitalize (or not) a person’s race. Is it capital B for Black or lowercase b? Does the same rule apply for White or not? I needed to answer this question (and how to properly write about covid-19) a number of times, so I turned to Google. I was able to look at reputable news sites to see what professional journalists were doing. For the question on race, there’s actually a blog on the Associated Press’s site that outlined the consensus they had reached on what was appropriate: APnews-race-and-ethnicity
Now, the thing is that you may find a consensus, and you may not. When discussing race, CMOS didn’t want to commit to a formal change to the rules between editions, but in this article they did recommend using capital B and otherwise deferring to an author or editor’s preferences:
Ultimately, you and your editor will make decisions on things like this that don’t have a hard and fast rule, but Google can be a great resource to find out what other professional writers are doing.
Now you’re ready to proofread! If you still have questions on the process, look back at my very first post about tips for self-proofing for a polished product. Happy proofreading!
Dayna Betz is a full-time freelancer providing proofreading and editing services to help writers put their best foot forward. She also enjoys reading and writing book reviews. Head over to her site to learn more: betzliterary.com.
As we look ahead to a new year and a new opportunity to write and learn, I wanted to pull together a list of resources for writers. Wherever you might be in your writing journey, it is always worth reading about the industry and craft, and these sites are some of the best I have found.
The largest society for children’s writers and illustrators in the US, SCBWI has chapters in nearly every state and hosts conferences on a national and regional scale. For an annual membership fee, members get access to tons of events, critique opportunities, and online book sales. SCBWI is a hub of activity for children’s writers and artists – be sure to visit their blog for interviews with editors, agents, artists and authors and to keep tabs on what’s moving in the industry. The SCBWI message boards are a fantastic place to post questions and learn from established writers.
A growing community for writers focused on the clean or Christian market, Serious Writer hosts conferences and contests, offers a wide range of classes, and provides an active social media forum for writers to connect. Serious Writer Club has both a free option as well as a membership-based option.
This site connects agents and publishers to writers by doing exactly what it says – collecting wish lists of what agents and publishers are looking for and posting it online. The list is updated regularly, and it is a fabulous way to find industry insiders who might be interested in your project.
This site appeals to my spreadsheet-making sensibilities. It’s essentially an online method of organizing and tracking your queries and manuscript submissions. You can also post questions and interact with other writers.
For a $25/month fee, you can access agent and publisher research – lists of who is acquiring what and for how much. If you are researching places to query, it’s well worth a one-month subscription (be sure to cancel!) to find out whether the agent you’ve had your eye on is truly selling middle grade work.
Finally – it’s not a book about writing but if you want to write and sell middle grade (or other children’s books), pick up a copy of the Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market.
Keep in mind that this is a highly abbreviated list, not a definitive list of resources, and that a site that one writer might consider a good resource may not fit another writer’s sensibilities.
If you’ve found a favorite go-to resource that you’d like to share, please post it in the comments below. Happy New Year, and Happy Writing!
Kell McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas. She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK or kellmckinney.com.
Technology today offers a wide selection of resources for writers in the form of YouTube instructional videos, simulcasts, zoom meetings, etc., as well as stacks upon stacks of how-to
books by professional and successful authors. Regardless of the genre, writing basics remain the same.
Bookstores stock genre-specific educational books. Utilizing these valuable resources will aid in effective writing. Below are some Mystery/Suspense/Thriller instructional books in my
writing library.
BOOKS:
Conflict & Suspense, by expert thriller author and writing instructor, James Scott Bell. This book offers proven techniques that help craft fiction, tap into suspenseful power, build conflict, and maximize tension.
Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plotby Jane K. Cleland. According to the front cover, this book offers instructions on how to write gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel by Hallie Ephron provides a complete guide to writing mystery, suspense, and crime. It explains twisting the plot, creating a compelling sleuth, and much more.
Deadly Doses: a writer’s guide to poisons by Serita Deborah Stevens offers correct information about poisons, methods of administration, symptoms, and reactions.
YouTube:
YouTube videos are available, too, with a plethora of topic selections. Decide on a topic and search for the desired video. If you’re
looking for a specific person’s teaching, then add the name to your video selection. Sample videos are listed below.
ACFW.com offers member resources, writing tips, writing help, writing software, books on writing, on-line courses, and more. Join the ACFW Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Group on Facebook.
Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference:
blueridgeconference.com offers daily informative and instructional blog posts for every genre, along with Facebook Live videos targeting writing specifics. Like or join the conference Facebook page for more information.
Killer Nashville International:
killernashville.com This conference is for the criminal-minded writer and happens in Franklin, TN. Be sure to check out their Facebook page.
Serious Writer Inc.:
seriouswriter.com offers simulcasts and teaching in their Academy. The Serious Writer Club is where you’ll receive over one hundred hours of training and more.
Writer’s Police Academy/Murdercon:
writerspoliceacademy.com focuses on the mystery/ suspense/thriller writers dealing with almost every area of crime imaginable. This conference is highly sought after and sells out fast when registration opens. They have a Facebook page as well and offer Facebook Live videos.
The list of helpful resources is ongoing, but it takes training, determination, and persistence to develop mysterious, suspenseful, and thriller scenes. Attend writer’s conferences,
connect with a critique group, and join your local monthly writer meetings.
Feel free to add other helpful resources to the list.
Loretta Eidson writes romantic suspense. She has won and been a finalist in several writing contests, including first
place in romantic suspense in the Foundations Awards at the 2018 Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, a finalist in ACFW’s 2018 Genesis, was a finalist in the 2018 Fabulous Five, and a double finalist in
the 2017 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence.
Loretta lives in North Mississippi with her husband Kenneth, a retired Memphis Police Captain. She loves salted caramel lava cake, dark chocolate, and caramel Frappuccinos.
We all know how important Amazon when it comes to selling our books. Perhaps we don’t know just how important it is though.
This graph is from authorearnings.com, and is a bit outdated. Even a few years ago Amazon maintained roughly ¾ of US eBook sales, and its done nothing but grow since.
Kobo is still around. Apple is pushing to get back in the eBook market after their massive lawsuit for price-fixing a few years back. Nook is on its last leg, but might have a few tricks left up its sleeve.
All that said, Amazon is a behemoth. Books are sold on Amazon. And if we aren’t utilizing every resource at our disposal, our book sales will pay for it.
So how do we make our books succeed on Amazon then? Most authors measure the success or failure of their books by their Amazon sales, but yet we utilize ulterior sources for gaining sales. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Google… the list goes on. But Amazon has tools too. And they can’t be ignored any longer. And I’m about to make the case for why.
The Competitors
Google has been alone at the top of the advertising world since they beat out Yahoo a lifetime ago. Facebook was a fast riser and has stayed at the top for awhile now. Twitter is a newer player in the industry, but things can go viral on there. And fast. They say that video is the most powerful and relevant form of internet marketing, and many authors have employed YouTube to that end.
But there is a difference between using these otherwise effective marketing platforms than marketing on Amazon. Why? People on Twitter and Facebook are scrolling, not shopping. People on Youtube are consuming content, not making a purchase. Those on Google are looking for information, a website or an article. Their wallets might not be nearby.
On Amazon though, every person is shopping. They don’t have to be redirected from laughing at cat videos and catching up with their high-school friend Jim. They’re already hunting for the next great novel or the how-to book that will change their life. Amazon is a search engine just like Google or Bing, but users aren’t scrolling, they’re shopping. They don’t have to be interrupted. They want what you have, they just have to find it.
While all of these various platforms are excellent platform builders and need to be part of every author’s marketing portfolio, Amazon is where books are actually sold. And therefore advertising on there will produce the greatest return on investment nearly every time (if your goal is to sell books rather the gain fans).
Amazon’s Mission
Recent history tells us a little bit about Amazon’s mission. They started out as a bookseller, and now they’ve branched out into just about every major industry you can imagine. Clothes, groceries, online video… you name it. Amazon likes being the best at everything they do. And for a very long time, they’ve lagged behind Facebook and Google.
For that reason it should be no surprise that in the summer of 2018 Amazon announced that they would be revamping their advertising structure so that it would become a major part of what they do. What was once known as “Amazon Marketing Services” is now “Amazon Advertisements” and even over the last several months we’ve seen update after update that reveals Amazon is making big changes. What was once a great tool for selling books on Amazon has now become a complete necessity. And here’s why:
Also Bought’s
Most published authors are familiar with the “customers who bought this item also bought:” section on their Amazon book page. Here’s an example:
This is a major discovery tool for us. Once we achieve some sales, our book will start appearing on other book pages in this “also bought” section.
So what does this have to do with Amazon Advertisements? Because Amazon has played around with removing them altogether. What would they put in their place? More advertisements (you can already see the “sponsored products related to this item” below, but Amazon might just include two rows of these ads).
Just because Amazon has tested removing the also-boughts section on certain servers doesn’t mean they actually will. They’ve also tested moving the also-boughts to the bottom of the book page, just above the reviews (where there is currently another row of ads). That might not happen either. To be honest, we don’t really know what Amazon will do as they roll out more updates in 2019. What we can infer from these tests is that Amazon is determined to push their ads until their advertising platform is competing directly with Google and Facebook. And since Amazon is where books are sold, that is something to take note of.
I hope I’ve thoroughly convinced you of the importance of Amazon Advertisements. They’ve been a major part of what allowed me to go from first-time author with no platform and a small marketing budget to an International Best Seller. And Amazon doesn’t play favorites. That can happen for you too.
If you’re interest in my online course on Amazon ads, follow the link here. Be sure to use the code A3AMS for 50% off!
Be sure to come back next month, when we’re going to jump right in to the different types of ads, where they’ll appear, and which ones are right for you.
Vincent B. Davis II is an author, entrepreneur, speaker, and soldier. His first novel “The Man with Two Names” was published in July 2017, and has since become an Amazon International Best Seller. He is passionate about helping authors improve their brand and platform. He works with publishing companies and individual clients to help them sell more books in the modern publishing environment. Vincent created Warrior Book Marketing Group in 2018 and he and his team would love to help improve your digital sales. Email him at vincent@warriorbookmarketing.com with any questions.
Normally, when you search for a definition, you are looking for a way to narrow a term or concept. But the more I read about copywriting, the broader my understanding of copywriting becomes.
Copywriting is a boundless genre with limitless applications. Every time I bump into another copywriter and we swap writing stories, I am amazed at the uniqueness of his or her experience. I think to myself, “What a great idea! I’ll have to try that!”
The same happens when I “meet” another copywriter through reading their book.
Here are four books that fueled my copywriting imagination:
Writers for Hire: 101 Secrets for Freelance Success by Kelly James Enger. This book takes you step-by-step into the journey of freelancing. Most of the freelancing examples from the book are related to magazine article writing, but the concepts were useful for copywriting as well. Kelly emphasizes a personal touch by giving thank you notes to those she interviews, and she stresses the importance of keeping up on the business end of your writing life with invoices and paperwork.
Building a Storybrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller. People don’t really read emails or websites. They skim them. It’s not facts and figures that capture a skimmers attention. Storytelling captures attention. Donald Miller teaches you the simple elements of storytelling and applies them to business copywriting so you can catch the attention of customers and consumers and inspire them to participate in the call to action. Brilliant.
102 Ways to Earn Money Writing 1,500 Words or Less: The Ultimate Freelancer’s Guide by I.J. Schecter. This book opened my eyes to unique writing possibilities that I never would have noticed otherwise. Wherever there are words, someone was paid to write them. My kids get tired of me saying it, but whenever they read a billboard or the bag that contains their fast food meal, I say, “Someone was paid to write that, you know.”
Sigh.
“Yes. We KNOW, Mom!”
Also, don’t be shy at initiating to ask if a business needs a copywriter. Even a big company. Send out an email describing your experience and your interest in writing about their service or product. The worse that can happen is… nothing. They never write back. The best case scenario? You land an awesome copywriting gig.
You don’t have to write fiction to be a creative writer. Open your eyes and take a look around you. What words are needed? Could you be the one to write them? Search #copywriter on Twitter and ask what kind of copywriting others do. Meet new people. Share your stories. Inspire each other to use your imagination.
Rachel Schmoyer is a pastor’s wife, mom of four, and a copywriter. She also helps Christians find the simple truths in the complex parts of the Bible at readthehardparts.com. Her other writings and publishing credits can be found on rachelschmoyerwrites.com.
Many writers are introverts and don’t prefer to talk a lot. Some writers are extroverts and love to talk. For those, speaking isn’t hard at all and is as natural as brushing our teeth or tying our shoes. Even then, writing natural dialogue is a challenge sometimes. (However, writing dialogue is a topic is for a writing blogger on Almost an Author. This is an Editing blog post!)
If writing dialogue is hard, then perhaps editing dialogue is even harder. Where do you put the comma again? Before or after the dialogue tag? How do you format the quotations? Wait . . . what? I have to make my characters sound realistic without making them sound like they’re dumping information? How on earth do I accomplish that?
So . . . let me help clear the air, the pockets of confusion, the panic that’s probably constricting your chest right now. Below are three general rules for editing your dialogue so that your manuscript is clean, efficient, and your readers will fall in love with your characters. (Bold text has been added for emphasis. This does not mean publishers want you to bold these items. It’s merely there for your ease of reference. Please don’t bold anything in your manuscripts.)
Three Rules for Editing Dialogue
1. Insert double quote marks around the beginning and ending of the spoken portions within your story.
Double quote marks, or curly quotes, look like this:
“Freddy, if we don’t get moving, it’s gonna rain on us.”
There are double quote marks at the beginning of this dialogue and at the end of this dialogue. If your font has straight quote marks, be sure to keep them consistent. Nothing like inconsistency on something so small as quotation marks that sadly ruin a great reading experience!
2. Place the comma on the inside of the quote mark, before the dialogue tag.
As a contest judge and an editor, I constantly mark this common error in manuscripts (and published books!) I’m reading. Proper comma placement within dialogue looks like this:
“She’s a keeper, all right,” Hercules said, looking across the street.
Did you see the comma between the last word and the ending quote mark? Comma goes between those two elements, especially with a dialogue “tag,” such as said, stated, inferred, etc. Not after. Please.
3. Watch for inconsistent structure in dialogue.
Many times, I see beautiful dialogue, but the structure is wonky. When you have action beats and dialogue beats around a segment of dialogue, it can be tricky to know how to organize it. Try this method:
“I’m about as horse crazy as you are.” Susan winked. “When I was ten, my parents bought me a pony for Christmas.”
Notice the period at the end of the first sentence and then the quote mark. The action beat comes after. Then the dialogue starts up again.
But what if you want to include a dialogue tag instead of an action beat? Try this method instead:
Laurie wasn’t sure how sick she was, but Dad’s tone did make her feel sick. “Why do I have to go to the hospital?”she called, her voice cracking.
Notice the question mark goes inside the quote mark, followed by a lowercased pronoun and a comma after the dialogue tag and the exposition of how the character’s voice sounded. Please do not capitalize the pronoun after the character speaks. You want to keep good form.
Here are a few excellent resources for you in editing your manuscript:
Come to Breathe Christian Writer’s Conference, October 12-13, 2018, where I’ll be teaching two workshops on beginning editing and advanced editing. I’d love to see you there! You can register at Breathe Writer’s Conference. It’s in Michigan, and it’s very affordable!
Buy Kathy Ide’s book, Proofreading Secrets of Best-selling Authors, link to purchase from Amazon here. Or win a free copy at one of my Breathe sessions!
Buy Joyce K. Ellis’s book, Write With Excellence 201: A lighthearted guide to the serious matter of writing well—for Christian authors, editors, and students, link to purchase from Amazon here. Or win a free copy at one of my Breathe sessions!
I hope this helps you in knowing how to edit your dialogue, or at least some of it. I’m creating a session for beginning editors and advanced writers on editing, and they should be available by the end of the year. I’ll include practical advice that’s helpful and encouraging. Always looking for ways to help authors be able to write easier and not be super worried (maybe you’re not) about editing dialogue. Agents, editors, publishers, and readers just prefer a clean manuscript. And you can confidently give them one by learning these quick tricks!
Join in the discussion! I’d love to hear from you!
Take a few minutes and ruminate. What does your dialogue tell about your characters?
About Tisha Martin
Tisha Martin is a writer and editor, and she lives to encourage authors and editors to bridge their relationships and work together for the publishing industry cause, where readers will treasure books for always. With a bachelor’s in Professional Writing, a master’s in English Education, and an editing certificate from the PEN Institute, she has equal passions for writing and editing. Active in American Christian Fiction Writers and The PEN, she appreciates both communities and has a heart for bridging the relationships between authors and editors. She is the former Assistant Director of PENCON, a conference for editors, where she was instrumental in seeing attendee growth in 2018, up 150% from 2017. Connect with Tisha on her website www.tishamartin.com and on her social media. She looks forward to the conversation!
As I mentioned in my last post, Understanding Early Readers, there are several markets for books for emerging readers. Whether they are published in the trade book market (for bookstores), in the educational market (for schools and libraries), for magazines or other markets most publishers use their own reading levels to distinguish their books and guide parents and teachers.
However, if these books will be used in any way by students and teachers they must follow the guidelines of National and state-wide Standards, and Common Core State Standards.
Nancy I. Sanders’ book Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Beginning Readers and Chapter Books contains a lot of information on these standards. You can also research them at www.corestandards.org. Also, Google “National Standards for Education” and state standards by individual states. It will take quite a bit of time to become familiar with these sites. But, if you wish to write for these markets it’s time well spent.
Another book that is indispensable for writing on specific reading levels is Children’s Writer’s Word Book by Alijandra Mogilner and Tayopa Mogliner. The Introduction explains how to use the lists in the book to keep your writing on a specific reading level.
There are several nationally accepted methods of measuring readability. They are used for different purposes. They include:
Flesch Reading Ease
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Levels
Lexile Measure
Lexile Framework for Reading
Gunning Fog Index
Coleman-Liau Index
SMOG Index
Automated Readability Index
Spache Readability Formula
Dale-Chall Readability Formula
Whew! That’s enough to scare you off, isn’t it?
It is NOT necessary that you understand these measuring tools in order to use them. Having a tool that will give you the grade levels and reading levels is all you really need.
You can find a very basic and simple tool in Microsoft Word. Under the “Spelling & Grammar” tool. When the spelling check finishes it will show you the Flesch Reading Ease score and the Flesh-Kincaid Grade Level of your text.
However, if you want more information I highly recommend Readable.io.com. The free version gives you limited use of the tools on the website. For only $5/month you have access to all of their tools, however.
You can check the readability of any document or file on your computer, or on any website or blog. It’s easy to use, too. (No, I’m not a paid spokesperson, but I love this tool!)
All of the above mentioned reading scores and explains them
Rates the quality of the text by counting adverbs, adjectives, nouns, passive verbs, etc.
Gives you word count, syllable count, words per sentence, words per paragraph, etc.
Analyzes for Buzz words, Key words and other details especially useful for online text.
Analyzes other details useful for writing for international markets.
I can see all kinds of uses for it if you especially if you write for school-aged, or for school and library markets.
Try the free version and LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK, PLEASE!
Or, dive into Microsoft Word and measure the readability of your current manuscript. It’s easy! Then tell us what it is, please.
Thanks!
Jean Hall lives in Louisville, Kentucky. She is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary. Her premier picture book series Four Seasons was recently signed by Little Lamb Books. Jean is a member of the SCBWI, Word Weavers International, and the Kentucky Christian Writers. Visit Jean at www.jeanmatthewhall.com, on Facebook at Jean Matthew Hall, and on Twitter as @Jean_Hall.
Today we are going to look at another short form of Japanese poetry known as tanka. The short form of this poetry, much like haiku, is great for any level poet, but especially beginners.
Tanka and haiku are technically different forms of poetry, but they are related. Some poets see tanka as an extended haiku because the first three lines take the same form. But others would disagree and maintain that they are two very distinct forms.
One difference concerning tanka is that the last two lines are 7 syllables each, making it a 5-line poem. Therefore it contains the syllabic pattern of 5, 7, 5, 7, 7.
Moreover tanka poems generally focus on a specific object or event to convey a mood or emotion through imagery and figurative language. In other words, the poems cover a broader field of subjects (not only nature) and can include some reflection as well.
The Shadow Poetry website offers a great explanation and examples of tanka.
As I noted before concerning haiku, be aware that tanka originated from Japanese culture so the form may be perceived and written a little differently in English. Obviously, I am explaining the English guidelines for writing these types of poems.
However, if you’re interested, Shadow Poetry covers some of the cultural and language differences. They also offer a host of resources for writing many kinds of poetry.
Now I’ll share my own tanka poem that started out as a haiku.
Purple irises
with proudly tall and green stalks
stand near the water.
Grass carpets the water’s edge.
And I, a lowly clover.
Honestly, I wrote this during a break at a writing conference while sitting by a pond surrounded by beautiful flowers. I was reflecting on how we can be easily discouraged and intimidated when surrounded by superstar writers or poets. So through imagery, personification and metaphor I attempted to convey that sense of inferiority.
Here are some tips to help you craft your own tanka:
*Try writing a haiku first and then adding the last two lines as reflection on your subject
*Use concrete images (relating to the five senses) that allow the reader to experience what you’ve experienced
*Choose vivid verbs and nouns but don’t forget to count syllables!
This article also has a great description, tips and examples for writing tanka.
[bctt tweet=”Short and sweet. Learn to write tanka poems. #poetry #poets”]
Now it’s your turn.
Next time when you are outside enjoying the beautiful weather or if you experience a meaningful event, jot down notes about it. Then see if you can transform that experience and emotion into a beautiful tanka to share with others.
Feel free to post your poems or questions in the comments below!
A haiku poem consists of 3 lines with a pattern of syllables arranged in 5, 7, 5. Usually the lines don’t rhyme, but in this type of poetry, sounds are not as important as the imagery anyway. Typically the subjects of these poems are about nature but not always.
When I write haiku, I personally focus on a natural scene that touches me in a unique way. Nature has a way of speaking to a poet’s soul without using words.
So how do we take those impressions and translate them into poetry?
[bctt tweet=”Nature has a way of speaking to a poet’s soul without using words. #poets #poetry”]
First, when writing haiku, it’s always important to use vivid figurative language (such as a simile or metaphor) to paint a picture of whatever scene or object you are observing. And you should always use concrete imagery to describe your subject, meaning you need to use language that appeals to the five senses.
I suggest you jot down words and phrases about your subject using the above techniques. Then begin to arrange the words and phrases into lines.
Because the form limits you on lines and syllables, you have to choose your words very carefully. It might appear an easy poem to write, but don’t be fooled. You may find that it takes some extra thinking to arrange the right words in an order that will speak poetically.
The point is that you want to show the reader what impacted you in order to let them experience that same feeling or emotion. You don’t want to tell them. Hence the golden rule of writing in general.
You should probably take note that because haiku came from Japanese culture and language, it may be perceived and written a little differently in English. I am only conveying the accepted English guidelines for writing this type of poetry.
However, if you’re interested, Shadow Poetry also covers some of the cultural and language differences. As a bonus, they offer a host of resources for writing many other kinds of poetry as well.
[bctt tweet=”Simple is just my style. Learn to write haiku poems. #poetry #poets”]
Now it’s your turn.
Take a walk or find a quiet place to sit and observe an area outside. What inspires you? Do you notice anything that creates a unique impression? See you if can jot a few observations and create a haiku.
Feel free to post your poems or questions in the comments below!
Are you interested in trying to write poetry for the first time? Or maybe you’ve been writing poetry but haven’t totally committed yourself to it.
To help you sharpen your poetic skills, I’ve compiled a list of 10 tips (including links to helpful resources) that every beginning and expert poet needs to consider. Because writing is a continuous learning process, you can always build on your skill level whatever it may be.
Read poetry. A golden rule of any kind of writing is that you should become an avid reader, especially of the genre that you write. You will learn more about conventions, style and structure simply by reading the published works of others.
Learn techniques. Poetry is a unique genre that utilizes special techniques. If you pay attention to my blog, I occasionally do mini-lessons on poetic techniques and devices. You also can find a plethora of information on the web.
Practice poetry. You’ll never learn to write poetry (or any art) if you don’t practice. Don’t let fear hold you back from releasing your creativity.
Connect with other poets. Surrounding yourself with people who enjoy poetry, and particularly those who write it, will encourage you. You’ll learn things about the craft simply from mingling with them. Even in the writing community, a poet can feel isolated at times because poetry is that exceptional. Just like artists and musicians, poets need to connect with other poets.
[bctt tweet=”Just like any artists, poets need to connect with other poets. #poetry #poets”]
Get feedback. As scary as it can be, feedback is the foundation of a growing writer. Don’t be afraid to share your poetry with others. Join a critique group. Then buckle up and ask for honest feedback. You’ll find that every bit of advice will help strengthen your skill.
Take a class. Check with the local library for poetry events and classes. Most of these are free for members. Also, writing conferences and workshops happen throughout the year, and some offer sessions on poetry. Occasionally you can find free online classes for creative writing as well.
Attend a poetry event. Poetry readings happen in various places locally: schools, libraries, coffee shops, churches and more. Be on the lookout for these types of happenings. Again, immersing yourself in a community of poets will stimulate creativity and inspire you.
Use a model. Poetry takes on many forms, such as haiku and sonnet. Find a form you feel comfortable trying and do a little search to find examples or steps to follow. Free verse is the most flexible, but trying a new form will broaden your expertise.
Listen to music. Song lyrics are poetry in musical form. By studying some of your favorite songs, you will learn more about poetic techniques.
Read poetry. No it’s not a typo. In order to be a poet, you have to read poetry. You’ll learn a lot just by reading others’ works. The nice thing about poetry is that it’s readable over a lunch break or during extended waits at the doctor’s office.
[bctt tweet=”If you want to write poetry, you have to read it! #poets #poetry”]
Regrettably, I can only offer a limited lifetime guarantee on my tips. Simply know that each of these things has made a difference in my own poetic journey. My hope is that they will help you on yours too.
If you have any additional tips, I’d love to hear them! Please share them in the comment section below.
“I write only because there is a voice within me that will not be still.” –Sylvia Plath
Are there writers that capture your fierce loyalty? Do you wait with anticipation for their newest book to release?
If you answered yes to the above questions, it is my guess you were first attracted to the author because of their writer’s voice. Author voices that shine through characters and plots keep you searching their author’s pages and websites for notification of their latest offering.
Perhaps you are a novice in the art of writing but dream of someday writing novels, blogs, or short stories that showcase your unique voice? There are numerous blog articles on this illusive matter of voice.
Three excellent examples are:
10 Steps to Finding Your Voice – Jeff Goins. Jeff gives an exercise on his website he developed to help you find your writing voice. I found this exercise to be extremely helpful for myself and I recommend it to students in workshops I teach.
What is Writer’s Voice? – Rachelle Gardner. In literary agent Rachelle Gardner’s post she gives a helpful definition of what voice is and isn’t. I always find helpful information on Rachelle’s site.
Ten Steps to Finding Your Writing Voice- Holly Lisle. Holly says, “Voice is bleeding onto the page and it can be a painful, frightening, naked experience.” Her post offers excellent suggestions and helps.
A book that I would recommend is: Finding Your Writer’s Voice: A Guide to Creative Fiction, by Thaisa Frank and Dorothy Wall. The authors state, “Every writer has a natural voice, and every natural voice has its own way of telling a story.” Frank and Wall give exercises to help you on the quest of finding your voice.
The resources mentioned above are a wonderful starting place for your journey in finding your voice. Remember, the more you write, the easier it will be to recognize your voice.
Is there a Web site or book that you’ve found helpful in the area of finding your writer’s voice? If so, please share!
