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Struggling Writers Newsletter
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July 2014 Newsletter
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Great newsletter & fab advice on Fantasy world-building and creative writing!! Brilliant :)
Mod
The poet wanted to stay anonymous, for now I think.
Kat wrote: "Who wrote the poem?"It was written by Destiny (Elizabeth Grace), sorry about that. It somehow got missed.
J. wrote: "I would like to submit The Elves of Arthannegh
for the August Q&A. This is book three of a series (first three books published and availa..."
Hi J, please go submit over on the proper thread. Thanks!
Irene wrote: "J. wrote: "I would like to submit The Elves of Arthanneghfor the August Q&A. This is book three of a series (first three books published..."
You will have to tell me how to find the "proper thread" Irene. Sorry but it's soooooooooo confusing.
Mod
J. wrote: "Irene wrote: "J. wrote: "I would like to submit The Elves of Arthanneghfor the August Q&A. This is book three of a series (first three b..."
Hi J, like Ingrid said you can just find the thread in this folder but here is a direct link for you: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
For future reference, we actually have "How To Use" directions for pretty much every folder in the group so it is really straight forward as to what belongs there if you take the time to read them. If you have questions we have a thread specifically meant for you to ask about things you are unsure about too.
Struggling Writers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Elves of Arthannegh (other topics)The Elves of Arthannegh (other topics)
The Elves of Arthannegh (other topics)
New Book Releases
"Latitude Zero" by Diana Renn
“I have to run,” said Juan Carlos. “You will call? Please? It is very important.”
“Yes. I will call. Definitely. At two.”
That’s what Tessa promises. But by two o’clock, young Ecuadorian cycling superstar Juan Carlos is dead, and Tessa, one of the last people ever to speak to him, is left with nothing but questions. The media deems Juan Carlos’s death a tragic accident at a charity bike ride, but Tessa, an aspiring investigative journalist herself, knows that something more is going on. While she grapples with her own grief and guilt, she is being stalked by spies with an insidious connection to the dead cycling champion. Tessa’s pursuit of an explanation for Juan Carlos’s untimely death leads her from the quiet New England backwoods to bustling bike shops and ultimately to Ecuador itself, Juan Carlos’s homeland. As the ride grows bumpy, Tessa no longer knows who’s a suspect and who is an ally. The only thing she knows for sure is that she must uncover the truth of why Juan Carlos has died and race to find the real villain—before the trail goes cold.
Buy it HERE: http://www.amazon.com/Latitude-Zero-D...
New Book Release of a Struggling Writer's Member
Do you enjoy action-adventure stories? Then you might want to check out Victory Blvd, a new novella by Sameer Katkar. Sameer is a Struggling Writer's member and the book is available on Amazon, which you can buy by clicking HERE: http://www.amazon.com/Victory-Blvd-Sa...
Featured Writing
Title: Invincible
Date Written: July 22, 2011
I’m not bulletproof
How many times do I have to tell you?
You think it doesn’t matter
Like somehow I can’t shatter
I’ve been here through everything
The pain,
The tears,
The sting.
I’ve loved you
And cared for you
And made sure you were alright
I still look back at our memories
Before I fall asleep every night
Cuz everything you do
Affects me in a way
You never knew
So if you think I’m invincible,
You’re mistaken
But everything we’ve been through
Has been worth all it’s taken
Q&A With Sameer Katkar
We interviewed author Sameer Katkar about what it's like to be a published author and also about his newest book, Victory Blvd!
What was your inspiration for Victory Blvd?
I've always enjoyed books and movies about superheroes and vigilantes. I actually started developing this story with my agent and manager as a TV pilot, but since the pilot didn't go anywhere, I figured I'd see if it caught on as a novel.
Why do you think people will enjoy Victory Blvd?
Victory Blvd is a fun and light-hearted action story that should appeal to people looking for a quick easy read. It's perfect for in-flight reading. Disposable, entertaining, and fun.
What tips do you have for authors that are new to the publishing process?
Don't forget about marketing. A lot of writers write a story and figure that their job is done at that point. Wrong! Your job is only beginning when you finish the story. Learn as much as you can about marketing. And don't be afraid to listen to criticism -- both criticism of your work, as well as your marketing techniques. Use as many marketing techniques as you can. The more the merrier!
Did you self-publish your story, or was it professionally published?
[I] self-published.
What is some advice that you have for young, aspiring writers?
The biggest tip I have for new authors is: Write. Write a lot. Write as much as humanly possible. The only way to improve your writing is to do as much of it as you can. No matter how good you think you are, you can always get better. Just like an athlete doing physical training, a writer needs to train his [or her] mind. Write on!
Did you ever picture yourself as a published author?
Absolutely. I've been writing since I was 13 and have had many, many delusions of grandeur.
Was writing always your passion, or did you ever have a different career in mind?
I have wanted to be a professional writer since I was 13.
What author/story do you look up to and use for ideas/inspiration?
Star Wars is what made me get interested in both writing and film-making. I always come back to Star Wars. The original 1977 movie is one of the finest examples of story structure ever. If you are confused about story structure, watch that film; it does everything right.
What do you find to be the most difficult part of the writing process?
Developing unique characters is the most difficult part for me. Exciting action and story-lines come easy to me. Crazy visuals come easy to me. But unique characters are the hardest thing for me to do.
Can we expect some new works from you in the future?
Absolutely. I'm always writing. I'm working on a sequel to my 2013 book Bodies: Staged Fright right now, as well as a sequel to Victory Blvd, currently entitled Victory Sunset. Also, I'm working on a historical story about the king Charlemagne.
If you're interested in Victory Blvd and you want to add it to your to-read shelf and find out more, click HERE: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Q&A With L.E. Fitzpatrick
We also interviewed author L.E. Fitzpatrick to get her insight on life as an author and how it feels to have published her novel, The Running Game.
What was your inspiration for The Running Game?
I really wanted to do something fresh and original, something I hadn't written or read before. I am really interested in Russian history and also in dystopian fiction, and with both of these on the brain I had a setting and the characters just fell into place.
Why do you think people will enjoy The Running Game?
I think the book is different--a lot of people tell me they didn't expect to read something like it and readers tend to fall in love with the characters. The book has drama, humour, [plus] it's exciting and engrossing. There should be something for most readers to enjoy and so far people are really enjoying it.
What tips do you have for authors that are new to the publishing process?
Grow a thick skin and never stop trying. It's a tough world but it is also so rewarding. Be positive and realistic--listen to good advice and ignore bad advice.
Did you self-publish your story, or was it professionally published?
I self-published my story. I'm a bit of a control freak and the thought of having a publishing house in charge terrifies me. It may be harder to do it this way, but I feel like I can do what I want (and so far it seems to be working).
What is some advice that you have for young, aspiring writers?
Beta readers are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Horde and treasure anyone who is willing to help you with your writing because these will be your fairy godparents as you embark on your career.
Did you ever picture yourself as a published author?
I still can't picture myself as a published author. Usually I feel a bit of an impostor and one day I am going to get found out. Every sale and review still humbles me and I hope that feeling never goes away.
Was writing always your passion, or did you ever have a different career in mind?
I had lots of careers in mind--mechanic, football commentator, archaeologist... I now run an accountancy office. But the one that I have always done is written. Whatever I do, wherever I am I always write and I don't think I could stop if I tried.
What author/story do you look up to and use for ideas/inspiration?
Particularly for The Running Game I turn to the demi-god of paranormal thrillers, John Connolly. His books are amazing and if I write a story half as good as he does I will be a very happy author.
What do you find to be the most difficult part of the writing process?
[The] second draft is always the hardest. The Running Game is a thriller with twists and mysteries and it all happened in the second draft. [It] usually takes nearly as long as the first draft without the creativity and I know there is still a third, forth, even fifth draft on the way.
Can we expect some new works from you in the future?
Yes you can. I am just tidying up the sequel to The Running Game. It's titled Border Lines and it will be out on July 20th.
If you're interesting in finding out more about The Running Game and adding it to your to-read shelf, click HERE: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Special thanks to authors Sameer Katkar and L.E. Fitzpatrick for allowing us to conduct these interviews! :-)
July Quiz
How much do you know about important events that took place in the month of July? Test your knowledge by taking this quiz: https://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/res...
Writing Tip of the Month
So previously I have talked about working on your writing, but today I would like to talk (very briefly) about creating writing. I recently went to a writer’s conference for fantasy writers and one of the main things that they presented was world building. I have only created a couple worlds completely from scratch, but they brought up points that I had never really thought about.
The big one was basic functions, how does your world actually work? The main questions that fall under this category include:
-What happens to waste (sewage and trash) that is produced by your world’s inhabitants?
-What sort of government do they have?
-Who manufactures the items they use?
-Where do the resources come from that the inhabitants use?
-What happens when your inhabitants die?
-Or do they die? If they don’t how do they prevent over population?
These are only a few, but they bring up important points. When you write a fantasy work and set it in an earth-like setting your reader can fill in the gaps in their mind with what they know; however, when you create something completely new they can’t fill in those gaps correctly. These details don’t have to be dumped on your reader, just slip them in here and there. It will give a more realistic feel to your work that the readers can relate to.
Besides this tip, and lots of information about character building and basic world creation, they also suggested reading works that you enjoyed and pulling out the “nuts and bolts” to these pieces. You obviously need to make your own ideas, but they enforced the “write what you know first and then create your own style” saying. If you look at works you like and figure out why you like them, why they make great fantasy novels, you can implement some of those characteristics into your own work.
Now, before I go, I would like to invite you all to join me at the second Camp NaNoWriMo that kicks off in July. Never heard of Camp? Check it out here: www.campnanowrimo.org and remember that Camp is a place where you can set your own goals, your own projects, and have the writing support to get it done!
Monthly Riddle
Q: What has a neck, a mouth, and sometimes wears a cap but has no head?
A: A bottle!