Seven Links…5/10/19 Traci Kenworth

May 11th, 2019

ocean

Seven Links…5/11/19

Traci Kenworth

Writing:

1. https://killzoneblog.com/2019/05/escapism-rocks.html “There’s always been a certain amount of stress associated with being alive. In pre-historic times, this was largely based on concerns over being eaten by large animals. Or by having pointy things stuck into your body by the tribe down the road. At the same time, you had crops to attend to and weather events to deal with. All with no TV, internet, or Candy Crush.

Later on, the Greeks sat around inventing philosophy and giving people more reasons for stress, as in, trying to figure out the point of this bewildering existence. Religion was asking the same questions in places like India, China, and Jerusalem.

As the great historians say, stuff happens. Like war. More stress. In America we had a war oddly called “Civil.” And later joined the right side in a couple of wars big enough to be called “World.”

2. https://megdowell.com/2019/05/04/12-reasons-rejection-hurts-so-much/ “It’s not just you!”

3. https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/critique-8-quick-tips-for-show-dont-tell/# “The key to immersive story experiences is convincing readers they’re right there with characters. They’re smelling the ash in the air, tasting the rain, feeling the churning gut, seeing all the same colors, hearing all the same notes. When narrative writing accomplishes that level of verisimilitude, it has the ability to move readers beyond their comfy reading chairs, beyond even the movie projectors in their heads, and right into a deeply visceral experience.

When done well, we call this technique “show, don’t tell.” This is actually an umbrella term for hundreds of little tricks that all combine to create strong narrative writing. If you master show, don’t tell, you will have largely mastered narrative writing itself.”

4. https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2019/05/08/story-shaman-end-writers-block/ “Tell me if this sounds familiar.

One minute you’re writing along, the Muse is singing, your characters are cooperating, and even the cat is giving you room to type your fast-flowing words.

The next moment, you’re stalled. You’ve written yourself into a corner, your characters have rebelled, and the Muse has ditched you for a bender in Vegas.

Been there? I sure have.”

5. https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/05/yes-virginia-you-are-a-writer/ “Why is it so damned difficult to believe that we are really writers?

I was discussing imposter syndrome recently with a highly successful author who has two bestselling non-fiction books out and is in the middle of an extensive, publisher supported tour. She confessed that she doesn’t really feel like she’s a writer.

Sound familiar? I hear this from my clients and writer friends. I see the phrase “aspiring writer” all over the internet. I often feel like a fraud myself, despite eight published novels and more under contract.

Part of the problem is that we keep adding silent tags onto the word writer, associating it with qualifiers like:”

6. https://megdowell.com/2019/05/07/writers-your-failures-do-not-define-your-future/ “I have a friend who once made it a goal to receive 100 poetry submission rejections in a single year. This method of “motivation” fascinated me. Because in order to receive that many rejections, she had to write and send out MANY submissions. And in the process — she did end up getting 100 rejections — some of her submissions even got accepted.

She faced a lot of failure as a writer that year. But she’s much stronger, and much more motivated to continue pursuing her goals, because of it.”

7. https://jamigold.com/2019/05/pitching-our-story-insights-from-movie-trailers/ “Years ago, before I decided to self-publish, I admitted several times here that I struggled with querying. Even after I made the self-publishing decision, I was still faced with the need to describe my story in an interesting way that would get readers’ attention.

Story pitches are used for self-published books as well as traditionally published books. No matter how we publish, we need to introduce our story to potential readers and interest them enough to want to look closer.

Over the years, I got better at this skill (just like we do with most skills we study and practice), but I know I wasn’t alone in my struggle. The skill of pitching our book is completely different from the skill of writing our book—they have different learning curves and require different strengths.”

Research & Fun Bits:

1. https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2019/05/05/the-author-lifestyle/ “I’ve always updated with warts and all. Seems like lately there have been more warts than cool stuff. It wasn’t in my master plan, but much of it is out of my control.

This is the third weekend in a row that I haven’t been able to write. I’ve done some blog things, and they count. They simply aren’t new fiction.

We watched the Derby yesterday, and I spotted the interference before the race was even over. I may be in the minority, but I agree with the disqualification.

This is the biggest stage in the world for horse racing, and they struggle to survive in this world of extended animal rights. I’ve been at a race where a horse had to be shot, and watched the tractor drag him away. News crews would love that for their headlines, but the sport itself doesn’t need it.”

2. https://mariacatalinaegan.com/2019/05/04/smorgasbord-short-stories-the-carrot-ranch-flash-fiction-sisu-dna-by-sally-cronin/

3. http://storitorigrace.blogspot.com/2019/05/questions-for-skua-red-hood.html “Here’s another character that I need to know more about. Though he’s only in the first book he has “cameo” roles in the other two, so I’d like to learn more about him. His name is Skua!

Though Skua looks in his thirties, he is closer to sixty because of his Isamaour longevity and has been a gun for hire for more than half of his life. He has deadly aim with his rifle and swift precision with his ulu knives with dozens of kills to his name and he rides upon a kisafonn, a giant snow leopard, who’s as lethal as he is. He has worked for crime lords and even common folk as long as they can pay, but currently, his services are contracted to Lord Nzelt.”

4. https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2019/05/07/moving-in/ ““As you’re an author and writer, I thought this would be the perfect new home for you, Mr Roberts.”

“Oh, I already love it. How old is it? Of course, I’ll need to see the inside, but I like what I already see.”

5. https://amdobritt.wordpress.com/2019/05/07/the-fear-within/ “The fear lurks within all who put pen to page or fingers to keyboard. Should I do this? Should I actually sit down and write a story? What do I have to say that others would want to read? Our need to write is deep-seated, something we can’t deny. It’s a craving like you have for a cigarette or a drink of alcohol. Denying ourselves the opportunity to write leaves us with a deep ache within. Yes, we sometimes struggle to write, but we manage to get words down. A sentence here, a short paragraph there. Each word leading to the next, until the start of a story emerges onto the page or screen. The grammar may not be perfect, the sentences rough, but your message to yourself and your readers starts to come through. The plot takes shape with each piece of dialogue you write; the conflict between your protagonist and antagonist grows, heading for the last act. Who will triumph? What did your protagonist learn about herself and the others in her life during the journey to the end? Writers control what emerges in the story.”

6. https://sistersofthefey.com/2019/05/08/your-stealthy-pagan-garden-molly-khan/ “Our new house will allow me the freedom to set up my flower beds the way I want. I have plans to grow veggies and herbs – things I can use in the practice of Faery Craft.

One thing I’ve learned is that we must open and close our gardening sessions with prayers and offerings to the spirits of the land around us and the plants we are trying to”

7. https://nicholasrossis.wordpress.com/2019/05/07/4-tips-for-a-successful-book-fair/ “So far, I’ve never attended a book fair, but will probably do so here in Greece. So, I found this guest post by Elaine Bennett of particular interest. I hope you, too, enjoy it! Elaine is a marketing specialist-turned blogger, currently writing for Bizzmark Blog.”

Some Things More Serious:

1. http://beckiesmentalmess.blog/2019/05/08/%F0%9F%98%89may-8-2019-quote-of-the-day-my-thoughts/ ““Don’t Gain The World & Lose Your Soul, Wisdom Is Better Than Silver Or Gold.”
― Bob Marley”

2. https://mybipolarmind.com/2019/05/07/my-bipolar-mind-youre-not-alone-is-now-available-at-the-barnes-noble-in-whitehall-pa/ “Just a quick note: To my surprise, I just recently learned that my book, My Bipolar Mind: You’re not alone , is now officially available at a local Barnes & Noble book store near me! I knew they sold it on their website, but not at the actual branch in Whitehall, PA! If you are from or are familiar with the area, it is at the one inside the Lehigh Valley Mall shopping center. This is so exciting!”

3. https://annetterochelleaben.wordpress.com/2019/05/08/attitude-of-gratitude-may-8-2019/

4. https://scvincent.com/2019/05/08/lord-of-the-deep-true-colours/ “Gilgamesh and Enkidu journey into the wilderness; pursuing the king’s desire for personal glory, the two have left Uruk to seek out the ‘forest demon’, Humbaba. Gilgamesh has vowed to kill the demon and cut down the Great Trees of the forest, seeking to prove his own might and carve his name in the annals of memory.”

Teaser Fiction & Poetry:

1. https://dayswiththeundead.com/2019/05/06/randommondaymini-raindrops/ “The patter of the rain on the tin roof set the acoustics of the building off, throwing noise at her from each corner. Startled, she peered into the gloom. She knew she’d lost them in the rain, the reverberation of the droplets on the cold ground meant they couldn’t easily track her.

Breathing a small sigh of relief, she sat down on the damp dirt floor to wait out the rain and the dead outside. The rain was calming; protective.”

2. https://mythsofthemirror.com/2019/05/07/may-speculative-fiction-writingprompt-from-myths-of-the-mirror-poetry/ “Difference

Time makes fools of us all

You cannot outrun it, cannot change it

Let yourself ride the wave it places you on

It may push you further out beyond the sea”

3. https://audreydriscoll.com/2019/05/07/the-ice-cream-truck-from-hell-part-7/ “hree shapes surrounded them as they approached the ice cream truck. In the uncertain light from a distant streetlight and the multicolored whirl of the ice cream cone on top of the truck, it was hard to make out their faces. All three wore black coveralls with some sort of red symbol on the breast pocket, the same outfit as Doof’s. One of them might have been a girl.”

4. https://thepbsblog.com/2019/05/08/yecheilyahs-3rd-annual-poetry-contest-2019-rules-guidelines-and-prizes/ “THEME:

The purpose of this year’s theme is”

“Excuse me.”

“What?”

“Where are you taking those sprouts?”

“What do you mean?”

“You just took a bucket full of my sprouts, and I want to know where you are taking them.”

“What makes you think these are your sprouts?”

6. https://legendsofwindemere.com/2019/05/07/teaser-tuesday-viewing-the-carnage-vampires-fantasy/ “Here’s another excerpt from War of Nytefall: Rivalry. I was looking for something that would show off Titus Winthrop a bit. He’s kind of background here, but I enjoyed writing him as the ‘little guy’ for once. Check it out! As usual, there could be spoilers below.”

Book Reviews, Cover Reveals, & Author Interviews:

1. https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2019/05/06/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-author-update-reviews-c-s-boyack-lizzie-chantree-and-sheila-williams/ “An honorable man is mistaken for his disreputable father. Now he’s pushed into a political scheme to start a war that will spread across multiple kingdoms. James Cuttler’s fiancé is being held captive to ensure he goes through with the plan.

He soon decides his skills are at sea and procures a ship to wage war upon those who disrupted his simple life. He can’t do it alone, so he recruits a band of cutthroats to help him. But first, they need guns and munitions to outfit the ship properly. Deception and trickery will only get them so far. Eventually, they’re going to have to engage the enemy.”

2. https://mariacatalinaegan.com/2019/05/06/a-shifting-of-stars-by-kathy-kimbray/ “Seventeen-year-old Meadow Sircha watched her mother die from the wilting sickness. Tormented by the knowledge that the emperor failed to import the medicine that would have saved her, she speaks out at a gathering of villagers, inciting them to boycott his prized gladiator tournament.

But doing so comes at a steep cost.

Arrested as punishment for her impulsive tongue, Meadow finds herself caught up in the kind of danger she’s always tried to avoid. After a chance meeting with an enigmatic boy, she’s propelled on a perilous trek across the outer lands. But she soon unearths a staggering secret: one that will shift her world—and the kingdom—forever.”

3. https://teripolen.com/2019/05/07/interview-and-newrelease-by-r-k-landers-tuesdaybookblog-fantasy/ “A few weeks ago, I hosted a cover reveal for R.K. Lander’s Dawn of a Legend, the third book in her Silvan Series, released on April 22nd. The second book in the series, Road of a Warrior, won the 2018 Best Indie Book Award in the Fantasy/Paranormal category. Make yourself comfortable, settle in, and get to know R.K. Lander a little better and learn more about this series.”

4. https://maeclair.net/2019/05/08/tangled-roots-by-denise-d-young-fantasyromance/ “A witch lost in time. A man with magic in his blood and a chip on his shoulder. Dark secrets and shadowy magic. Steamy romance meets contemporary fantasy with a time slip in the first book of this new series.”