The Philosophy of Marketing Online and Finding Your Creative Spark

Have you had a creative week? I have!

And it wouldn't have been creative at all, if it weren't for the participants of the Imagination Sparks Blogfest.

My focus lately has been on building a couple of WordPress sites (and my first post on how to start with your WordPress site is coming very soon). I've also taken a side interest in content marketing and analysing social media. Can't really say why, I think I wanted to know one thing or another and the subject became fascinating to me. My thoughts so far? 

Connect, be yourself, talk to people not at them, drop the virtual - this IS the real world.

Another topic tickling my fancy is business philosophy, and how we can bring that to our decisions on how we exist and trade online. I am enjoying Tim Ferriss' The 4-Hour Work Week. I can relate to the line 'To have more quality and less clutter.'

I get carried away with research, and although I'm enjoying learning how to surf the new marketing wave, I've neglected my creative writing. So, I'm very grateful to the participants of Imagination Sparks Blogfest for providing me with some great writing prompts.

We had musical prompts, changes in POV, character interviews and lists, photo prompts and even studying commercials for story ideas. I love that everyone was relaxed about their posts, without giving or feeling any pressure to post at particular times - that was the message I hoped to convey. The end result? I would definitely do this blogfest again next year (watch this space... or the one over at WordPress).

After all, I'm all about lifting the stress at the moment :)

If you get the time, pop about and visit some of our participants:

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8 Things to Give Up for NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month.

50,000 words in one month. Sounds crazy. Ready to give up? Great! Me too. I'll give up lots, just so long as I don't have to give up writing my novel. It's all about the words and we know getting words on  the page can often be all about finding the time to write. What are you prepared to sacrifice?

Here's a list of the things you could give up for November to win NaNoWriMo:

1. Plot - 'But I'm not a pantser!' I hear you shout. That's okay. Maybe you spent all of October planning every scene for your novel. Fine, try that. But if you don't have your story plotted out already - now is not the time to do it. Just go with it. And if you do? Add some random things on the days you feel stuck. Sometimes knowing what you have to write can slow you down. Have your character pop into a cafe for a bowl of jelly and find a fly in it. The thing is you'll get your word count, it's great writing practice and you can always delete it in the edits.
2. Perfection - Repeat after me - 'This will be a crap draft, but at least I'll have a draft.'
3. Cleanliness - Now I'm not suggesting you stop showering, that's a great place for inspiration. But forget the vacuuming, washing clothes, mowing lawns etc. Kids can wash their own clothes and wear their uniforms crinkled. The family will figure out how to make baked beans on toast, and maybe they wouldn't mind whipping up something for you while they're at it. It is a universal rule that NOBODY EVER visits an author's home in November. Make sure you don't visit a writer friends house and comment on the cobwebs either. That's like killing puppies, you don't want to kill puppies... do you?
4. Television - Ooh this is going to be a hard one for some people (me). I can't remember the last time I turned on tv to see what was on, but we watch a lot of DVDs and download tv series from iTunes (I love Castle, The Walking Dead, Justified & Bones). But for November I've pledged to watch NOTHING. My family are sadly not supporting this challenge, so I'll be spending a lot of time alone in my room typing.
5. Company - Those people called family and friends will only weigh you down dude! Ditch 'em now. You may however, hang with other writers and encourage each other with word races and accountability for word counts. If you can't trust yourself not to wander off for coffee with mates, hide all your shoes for the month.
6. Stress - Nothing slows action more than worrying about it.
7. Blogs - Don't panic, I'm not suggesting you HAVE to close down for the entire month (although many bloggers are), but you shouldn't let yourself on until you've met your word count for the day (at least). I'm not planning to do much blogging over November and I doubt I'll be visiting blogs, unless I get ahead of schedule. There's a zillion blogs to visit, no one will mind if a few of them slow down. Plus, I don't like to blog unless I'm reciprocating by visiting blogs, otherwise I think it's a bit selfish and rude. And I don't want to be rude. I want you to like me :)
8. Internet time - Schedule a reduced time, maybe thirty minutes a day, to check emails, Facebook, Twitter etc, or again, let yourself online AFTER you reach your daily word count.

That's my list. I'll be giving up all these things for November. How about you? Another one for the guys is shaving, let your stubble go wild this month!

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10 Ways to find Time to Write



Think you have no time to write? I'm finding some of these tactics helpful to get me through writing MY ZOMBIE DOG.

1. LOVE your WIP. Seriously, this is the best way to find time to write, if you can't wait to get back to it, you think about it all day long, then you'll find a way.
2. PRIORITISE. Stop thinking you need to find 'spare' time to write. There is no spare time, everyday only has the same 24 hrs. Start deciding to write before you take on daily chores.
3. MORE HOURS. There's the get up early or stay up late method. Even if it's just 30 minutes and you get a couple of hundred words in, it's a start to get you motivated.
4. NOTEBOOKS. Take one with you everywhere, you'll be amazed how many words will add up when you add a few on the bus, waiting in line at the supermarket or sitting in the pub waiting for your mate to get back from the bar.
5. DON'T COMPARE. If you start focusing on how many words other writers get in, you'll feel disappointed.
6. MINIMUM LIMITS. Sometimes I set a time I'll be on a break and I'll say, ok, just have to get ONE sentence in, then leave it. Of course once you get that one sentence, you'll be motivated to write more.
7. REWARDS. I've done this before where I want a book on writing or to attend a workshop. I'll set myself a wordcount I have to reach before I'm allowed to purchase/book it. I think everyone should have a nice big reward for finishing a draft. That's a big deal!
8. TURN OFF the Internet. I could be writing now.
9. Write BETWEEN tasks. I have a 20 minute  cleaning routine. The whole family runs around madly cleaning for 20 minutes. From now on, I'll extend that routine to 10 minutes writing, 20 cleaning, then 10 writing. Once it becomes part of the routine, it'll have to be done (those are the rules).
10. SHORT SPRINTS. Even if it's 5 minutes. If you can sneak in ten of those a day, you'll find you write faster and more productively if you know you don't have much time.

How's your writing coming? I've been squeezing in time in my lunch breaks to write, Zane has now found the smelly undead dog back in his room, after burying it yesterday. And it seems to like him.

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Secrets of Sheryl Gwyther

My last post was about Angela Sunde and her new book Pond Magic, Matilda was so wrapped with this story she read it in just 3 days and has reviewed it already on Paper Dolls. For today's post I'll be digging into the writerly advice from Sheryl Gwyther at the CYA Writers Conference.

Sheryl spoke to us about her journey as an author and spoke about her books. Her latest, Charlie and the Red Hot Chilli Pepper promises to be a fun read for kids. But, it was when she spoke of her children's novel Secrets of Eromanga that I sat upright. A novel about a twelve year old girl on a dinosaur dig in outback Queensland? OMG, my eldest is twelve and guess what she loves more than anything else in the world??? DINOSAURS. Yep, Emily has since pre-school had paleontologist on her future CV. And, until her pre-teen years, she always had a room decorated with dinosaurs and fossils. I had to get a copy of this novel!

After Sheryl's talk I quickly asked her where I could get a copy and lucky for me, she had a couple on her. Sheryl even wrote an inscription for Emily and posed for a picture with her book. I can't even begin to tell you how much Emily treasures that book! She'll be reviewing it on Paper Dolls soon.

"For Emily, Aussie dinosaurs Rule!!

Best wishes Sheryl Gwyther 2010"

Sheryl's advice to writers included:

• STUDY the format of the genre you wish to write for. What works, what doesn't?
• Get first hand EXPERIENCE where possible. Sheryl volunteered on an actual dinosaur dig in Queensland.
• READ as many books as you can. I know, it eats into writing time, but reading improves your writing.
• Write DAILY. Anything. (Here's a previous post I did on Ways to Make Yourself Write)
• Get used to the idea that your manuscript needs many REWRITES.
• Acquire writerly friends (check - I have you guys!).
• Take notice of SUBMISSION GUIDELINES. Don't waste time sending your manuscript to the wrong people.
• Never give up. (I never will - which is why I'd make a brilliant stalker).

You can visit Sheryl's website and blog at:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/sgwyther/index.htm

http://sherylgwyther.wordpress.com/

http://sherylgwyther4kids.wordpress.com/

When our dog had puppies, just days after Emily's 4th birthday, she decided the first born was present and named her Fossil (after we suggested Diplodocus was a bit hard to call out at the park). There are days when I'm ready to make this mutt a real fossil.

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Write Flashbacks Long, Edit them Short

When I first submitted Dog Show Detective to an online critique group, one of the common comments was about my long flashback. And it was true- this flashback was several pages long.

Through studies and reading, I've picked up that the story starts with the introduction of the problem, or at least the first change in the protagonist's life that leads to the story worthy conflict. But what if you love your long flashback and think it's necessary backstory defining your characters?

I trimmed my scene as much as I could, and it still felt too long. Putting it aside as 'too hard for now', I continued with the edits, until... I found another spot that would be suitable to host part of that flashback. I kept splicing it and weaving it through the novel, so ultimately each section of backstory was cut to a couple of lines.

When I read novels, especially with mystery novels, I am always in awe of the way the read weaves hints to backstory throughout the narrative, eventually revealing itself as clues to the protagonist's journey to this point. Now I wonder if it started with a big ol' info dump that gets transformed into snippets of backstory.

Writing is for writing, if a long flashback comes or a huge info dump, I'll write it that way - I can always make it look clever in the editing. To see why info dumping isn't recommended for your final draft, check out this long internal monologue of backstory:

Like to read more about how to handle back story? Here's my four favourite links on this topic:

1. Dump the Information Dump by Writing.com - trends change and readers no longer have the patience to read through pages of description.
2. 3 Tips for Writing Successful Flashbacks by Writers Digest - excellent advice on how to handle the flashback including time-frames.
3. How to Write Backstory that doesn't put your Reader to Sleep by Story Sensei - basic rules and exercises to try.
4. Mastering the Long Flashback by Anna Staniszewski - for when the story calls for an epic flashback.

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13 BEST RESOURCES FOR WRITERS

Take in too much advice or data and you absorb none. Now, you can be like me and buy every single book on writing that you come across, or, you can just try my favourites. These are my all-time-most-helpful resources for creating a manuscript and knowing what to do with it.

CHARMAINE'S 13 BEST RESOURCES FOR WRITERS:

1. Scrivener Scrivener seduced me. I love going into the program for each WIP I'm working on. I can have 'index cards' up on the corkboard screen, outline my plot, keep research files and photos handy and write scenes in any order. I can also convert my text and load it onto my Kindle (which then reads the novel back to me).


2. NaNoWriMo Held over the month of November each year and the idea is that you start and finish a 50,000 word novel (minimum) in that month. Last year I finished the first draft for The Costume Maker, a fantasy tale about a group of teenagers transported to an alternate world by an angry Gypsy. It's a great way to enforce a deadline!

3. Manuscript Makeover Elizabeth Lyon's guide is both practical and thorough. It's helpful for revision or when you get stuck in your manuscript. The book covers 'power positions', modelling (take a descriptive passage that impresses you and try to imitate the syntax and emotion of the sentences) and riff-writing as powerful techniques, but contains much more.

4. Les Edgerton on Writing One of the best FREE resources you'll ever find on the craft of writing. Scroll through the archives and read Edgerton's articles, brilliant. I also loved Edgerton's book:  Hooked


5. The Creative Penn Joanna Penn provides great advice for building your online presence and creating a platform for yourself as a writer. There are articles, podcasts and free downloads.

6. Beth Barany's Free Archetypes Chart I posted this link when talked about Building Characters with Jung's Archetypes. The chart includes character profiles, motivations, mottos and desires. Adaptable to any story!


7. Screenwriting For Hollywood by Michael Hauge This audiobook is like attending a full class on story structure. I got it from iTunes, but it is also on audiobook sites. Team it with  Michael Hauge's 6 Stage Plot, it's a free pdf file you can download!

8. Writers' Festivals You'll need to work out which ones are convenient for you to attend, but this year I'm going to book myself into The Brisbane Writers' Festival (join me?).


9. Inspired Novel: Creative Hypnosis Maggie Dubris In my post on Stories from the Subconscious, I trialled this audiobook from iTunes. I've used it many times since then and am now a huge fan of hypnosis before bedtime. I ALWAYS have imaginative dreams when I try it and always remember them the next morning. The title and picture link will take you to a sample of this audiobook.

10. How To Revise Your Novel Holly Lisle's online course takes you through weekly steps to perfecting your editing routine. I had no idea about editing before this course, but after learning what to look for in characters, pace, setting, plot, etc, I am sweeping through Dog Show Detective with just one revision/rewrite. Just one. And you get to play with index cards - what could be more fun?

11. The Elements of Style Usually I avoid American grammar books, because Australia follows English Grammar - but this book is great. I'm an English teacher and this is the first grammar book I've found easy to read.  Or, read it free online: http://www.bartleby.com/141/

12. Writing Excuses

This is my favourite podcast. Short, fun and helpful. You can also find them on iTunes.

13. Pen and Notebook

At the end of the day, this is all we really need.

Phew! It was hard picking my favourites, there were many that 'almost' made it. What is your favourite resource for writing, one of these, or, something else?

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Dichotomy is Garlic Bread on Jelly

Think the roller coaster will make you sick?

Check out Matilda's lunch!

 

Today I was provided a clear example of dichotomy. It was not from literature. Clarity came via my daughter's lunch.

Took the kids to Movieworld on the Goldcoast. They had a great day, going on rides, seeing shows, and, I had a great day - sitting under a tree with a book. For lunch, I took them to the buffet restaurant. They love to fill their plates with foods of their choice. Matilda's desert was particularly interesting: Garlic bread and jelly.

You gonna eat that Matilda?

I thought this might be a good opportunity to repost about dichotomy as a writing device:

Dichotomy is a writing device popular in fiction (it is the process of grouping themes or characters into binary oppositional groups). In order for opposites to reveal as dichotomies they must belong to one of the two opposing groups and never cross over. These days most writers using a dichotomy will have it strong to begin with but then start to blur the boundaries, showing that themes are rarely 'black and white'. Some popular uses are to show the dichotomy of:

• good and evil
• rich and poor
• human and alien
• life and death

In Warracknabeal Kids I will have a protagonist (12yr. old boy) begin with assumptions of the dichotomy of right and wrong. These will be supported by his father's view that the law decides and by the church's view that the soul decides. As the narrative progresses the boy will see the conflicts of defining right and wrong by actions, outcomes or intentions. The purpose of this is to support my novel's premise: Sometimes it takes a wrong action to make things right.

And, how did the garlic bread on jelly go down?

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L is for Links - lots a' links

L is for LINKS!

I've collated some fantastic links here on the craft of writing fiction, these links are focused on tips for writing - the do's and don'ts. They're worth bookmarking and reading through:

• Short Stories: 10 Tips for Creative Writers
• Advice on Novel Writing by Crawford Kilian
• Bohemian Word Werks - Writing blunders
• 8 Unstoppable Rules For Writing Killer Short Stories
• Writerisms and other Sins: A Writer's Shortcut to Stronger Writing
• How To Write A Novel Using The Snowflake Method
• Ten rules for writing fiction AND Ten rules for writing fiction(part two)
• How to write a novel in 100 days or less - this is a calendar of tips and motivators

And... (because I didn't want to get left out) a link to one of my previous posts on opening lines:

Wagging Tales: Opening Lines and Hooks

L is for Love and I love followers!

Just a reminder that time is almost running out to enter the book giveaway contest - you get to choose two of the books I've found most helpful in writing and editing. I LOVE these books and want to send you a brand new copy! Just go HERE or click on the image below for the entry form and details - open worldwide but only to followers :-)

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Why Wait?

A common theme is emerging amongst all I read about the writing craft, the Podcasts I listen to with tips from Authors and the writing course I'm progressing through on completing a novel. It concerns those times that we want to continue with our novel but can't find the time or inspiration or words.

Don't wait, just write.

If you wait for the perfect words, they may never come - after all, what is perfection? Just start with anything, a character, a setting, a situation and write and write and write. Once the words start to spread across the page they will take on their own life and grow and dance and play.

When you give up control of the pen (or keyboard) the story will take form, characters will emerge to find out what is going on and hopefully join in.

After all, with the technology of word processing and computers, words can be edited and edited, they can change and disappear and appear again. I hear of the importance of the rewrite and I wonder how much editing went on in the day of quill and ink?

So instead of letting menial distractions take me from my writing (like cleaning house, writing blogs... oh), I'm going to get stuck into my writing and reach my 500 word goal for the day.

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