Writer's Block-Busting Ideas

               This week has been a perfect writing week for me. I write a chapter during the day then type it up at night. I've sped through 4 chapters already. But the question is, what do you do to get past writer's block? 
               

Two Quick & Easy Ways to Combat Writer's Block for your WIP:

1. Plan out your writing one chapter at a time.

Grab a piece of paper and write down what you wish to accomplish in the chapter you're working on. I usually make a checklist stating all of the things that need to occur in a given chapter before I can move on to the next chapter. Think of it like brainstorming ideas to get the ideas flowing. 

2. Write Ahead or Write In Reverse.

With my current writing project I got a little stuck about five chapters in. Then I remembered some advice I once received from a writing group: write the ending first. See I knew how I wanted this book to end, I could clearly picture the final few chapters  in my mind. It was just the middle I was stuck on. So I've been writing this book in reverse, breezing right through it actually, and I don't regret a minute of it. So if you find yourself stuck but you ultimately know where you want the story to go write that first and come back to where you're stuck later. Think of it like reading ahead in a book you're reading. 

These a just a couple things that keep Writer's Block away. Give them a try and see what happens. What are some of the things that help you beat writer's block?

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #24

This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm reading a fantastic book by an author new to me...

Hush by Karen Robards

Blurb:

When Riley Cowan finds her estranged husband Jeff dead in his palatial home, she’s sure it’s no coincidence. The police rule it a suicide, but Riley thinks someone’s out for blood—specifically someone Jeff’s father ripped off in one of the biggest financial fraud cases of all time. She suspects that someone is trying to send a message to Jeff’s father: Tell me where the money is, or everyone you care about will die.

Enter Finn Bradley, an FBI agent with a dangerous secret. He's after the money too, and Riley quickly becomes his chief suspect. But when someone tries to kill her, he has no choice but to protect her until he can uncover the truth. The question becomes, can they discover the killer’s identity in time, before he resurfaces—and strikes again?

Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far:

I kept seeing this book over and over for the longest time at Barnes and Noble but I never picked it up. I instantly loved the cover because I have major hair envy... I wish I could get my hair that color. And the woman holding her finger to her lips dares you to ask "what secrets is she hiding?" I finally grabbed this book off the shelf when I saw it on my latest library trip. 

Riley's ex-husband is the son of a man who pulled off a Bernie Madoff-esque investment scam and when Riley discovers Jeff hanging from the galley of his parents' former home she knows it's no suicide. Jeff would never kill himself, and he definitely wouldn't do that to his mother and his seventeen-year-old sister, who have already suffered so much. So Riley takes his phone and hightails it out of the house and makes an anonymous call to the police alerting them to Jeff's demise. What is on his phone? Clues to who might have killed him? Jeff swore that someone was out to get him and now Riley must face that someone was after him, and may come after her. 

Sexy FBI agent Finn is intrigued by Riley from the moment he spots her enter the Cowan estate, where he's hiding in the shadows, to discover Jeff's body. But when she doesn't react as he expected her to he wants to know why. What is Riley hiding and why did she take Jeff's phone? He knows she's hiding something based on her tight-lipped attitude, especially after a Ukrainian with diplomatic immunity breaks into her apartment and tries to kill her. Does Riley know where the money is? 

So far I really like this book. The author has created a story that's hard to pull away from. I'm constantly wondering what's going to happen next and who killed Jeff. I'm a big fan of this genre and can easily compare this author to some of my favorite authors: Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, and Lisa Jackson. I can't wait to see how this book ends! 

Self-Publishing Vs. Small Press: Which Is Right For You?

               You've finished writing your novel and you're ready to dive into the world of publishing. Instead of going the traditional route you've decided you want to go Indie. But when presented with the choice of Small Press vs. Self-Publishing, which is right for you? 

             I've done it both ways so here's a rundown of  some of the pros and cons of each:

Small Press:

What is a small press publisher?

  A small press is a publisher independent of the "big 5". Some small presses publish ten or fewer novels a year, others publish more. 

My Experience with a Small Press Publisher:

Before I ever got into self-publishing and after getting a couple rejections from the "big 5" I submitted my first novel, The Haunting Love, to a small press. We all obviously know that it was contracted by them. There are both pros and cons to my experience working with the small press I worked with. Remember, though, each small press operates differently, this is just my experience.

Pros:

- The publisher pays for:

* Editors

* Cover Art

- The publisher takes care of:

* setting a timeline

* getting layout and formatting together

* obtaining ISBNs

* getting the book onto Amazon & every other book platform

- Having the publisher listed as the publisher of record for those snobby readers that don't want to read a book published by the author. 

Cons:

- Little-to-sometimes-no control over cover art

- Some small presses only publish ebooks (no print books)

- Lower Royalty Rate (most small presses offer 25-35% royalties to authors. This means for every $3.99 ebook you sell if your rate is 25% you get 99 cents and the publisher gets $3.00 before distributor fees)

Things you should definitely research or ask when looking into a small press:

- Does the publisher publish print books as well as ebooks? If so, will that print book be available for sale on the same release date as the ebook? Is there a delay? Will you receive any authors copies for giveaways, reviewers, or personal use?

- What is the royalty rate? Is the rate negotiable? 

- How much marketing will the publisher do for you? (Some publishers do a lot, while others do little-to-none, leaving you to do all the work.)

- What do some of their authors think of them as a publisher? If you are able t0, try to reach out to an author you know has published through the small press you're interested in and ask questions about their experience with the publisher. What do they like about working with the small press? Have they had any issues with them? Another good way to do research is to look them up on google. What do message boards, forums, or publishing blogs think of them? Are there any major complaints?

- Does the publisher charge anything to publish your book? If so, run far, far away! 

My experience with the small press I published through was not a very positive one. Some days I curse them, but at least it opened me up to the world of publishing. It got my foot in the door so I could broaden my horizons and learn more about other types of publishing. 

Self-Publishing:

What is Self-Publishing?

Publishing your work without going through a traditional or small press publisher. 

My Experience With Self-Publishing:

I've self-published two novels and each time I learn a little bit more about the industry and things I can improve on in the future, different marketing and publishing strategies, and such. I love self-publishing. For me it's easy and I can set my own pace. Sure, I've made mistakes but you take those mistakes and make sure you learn from them. 

Pros: 

- Complete control over cover art

-Ability to publish in any format you want: 

* eBook

* Paperback

* Hardcover

* Audiobook

- Higher Royalty Rate (KDP - Kindle Direct Publishing - offers a royalty rate of 70% for any ebook priced at $2.99 or higher. Smashwords offers 85% Royalties for books sold through their store and 60% for books sold through distributed channels such as Barnes and Noble and iBooks)

- Ability to make available (or not available) on any platform you want. (Want to have your book just enrolled in Kindle Unlimited? With Self-Publishing, you'll have the freedom to sell your book wherever you want, have sales on holidays if you want, or reduce the price/have free days anytime.)
- You can set your own timeline. (I worked at a much faster pace than my small press publisher, and I HATE delays, but that's just me.)

Cons:
-Costs covered by small presses and publishers such as: cover art costs (whether you do your own cover or hire someone to make one for you) editors, formatters, costs to obtain an ISBN, etc. have to come out of your pocket. The loophole? Some of these things you can do for yourself or get for free. If you're handy with Photoshop or know someone that is you can make your own covers and your only expense is the stock image costs. I use a combination of friends and family to edit my novels, as well as Grammarly for some minor editing, and beta readers. Just make sure whoever you're using as an editor can spell and knows something about grammar. A former English teacher turned friend maybe? Formatting your book for ebook and paperback formats is pretty easy. Amazin has a handbook you can download to help you meet their guidelines, as does Smashwords. Lulu and Createspace give you the option of obtaining a Free ISBN through them for your print books, and ebooks don't require an ISBN, although Smashwords will assign one to your ebook if you use them. 
Regardless of costs, as my Grandmother would say, sometimes you have to spend money to make money.

- You're on your own with marketing. (Although you can brainstorm some creative ideas to get the word out about your book.)


So there you go... These are just some of the pros and cons of small press vs. self-publishing. Before you make your choice do your research, ask other authors about their experiences with the path they've chosen, and in the end follow your heart. Everyone's publishing story is different. What works for one person may not work for another. Go with whatever feels right to you. Remember.. you can always do things differently with your next book. Nobody says that every single one of your books has to be published in the same way. Go small press with your first book, self-pub your second, use a different small press with a third. The possibilities are endless as the world of Indie Publishing grows every day.  

Have fun, and let me know when your book goes on sale, I'd love to check it out!

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #23

             I am head-over-heels in love with the series I'm reading this "WIR"-Wednesday!

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Blurb:

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two.

Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far:

I bought this book at the same time I bought A Court of Thorns and Roses because I figured if I ended up loving the first book then I'd save myself from making a second purchase to get the sequel. After reading ACOTAR of course I had to read the second book! I am in love with the characters and the world Sarah J. Maas has created. ACOMAF picks up three months after Tamlin, Feyre, and Lucien leave Under The Mountain. I'm about 40 pages in and so far Tamlin and Feyre are now engaged but Feyre's freedom has now lessened with all of her duties as Tamlin's future wife and his overprotectiveness about her safety. I can't wait to see where this book takes these characters and I'm anxiously awaiting the reappearance of Rhys. 

I also read the first book in this series this week...

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Blurb:

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin--one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin--and his world--forever.

What I Thought of This Book:

OMG I loved this book! I was so afraid I wouldn't be able to get into this book. I usually am not a fan of fantasy but after reading Wendy Higgins's latest book, The Great Hunt, and loving it when I saw this book I thought: why not give it a chance? I am so glad I did. Not only was this story easy to get into but the characters, the storyline, the world that Sarah J. Maas has created in this book... it's amazingly written. You'll easily relate to and fall in love with Feyre, even if you're not the tomboyish-huntress type. She's strong, she's caring, and she'll do anything for those that she loves. This book kind of reminds me of the "Beauty and the Beast" storyline mashed together with a wild and sometimes dangerous world of the Fae, but that's what makes it all the more better. Bottom line, read this book. Even if you're just getting into the fantasy genre, like me, you won't be able to put this book down. It will keep you up late reading, be the first thing you reach for when you wake up in the morning, and keep you captivated when you dream about it at night. And have I mentioned that I am in love with the covers on both ACOTAR and ACOMAF? Seriously, they're beautiful and colorful! 

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars!

Friday the 13th

            It's that awesome time again... come on you all know what I'm talking about. It's...

In honor of Friday the 13th, I'm counting down my top 13 favorite horror movies of all time. When you're as much of a horror movie fanatic as I am... well let's just say I'll try to remember them all.  But first, a WRITING PROMPT for all my writer friends out there...

Prompt:

Write a story about a woman that falls in love with the killer from a classic (or newer) horror movie. Think Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, etc.

Taylor Fenner's Top 13 Favorite Horror Movies of All Time:

(In no particular order)

Some old, some new, some remakes, some originals. 

The Haunting

1999, Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Liam Neeson, Lili Taylor, and Owen Wilson

The Roommate

2011, Starring Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly, and Cam Gigandet

House on Haunted Hill

1959, Starring Vincent Price

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane

1962,  Starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford

Crimson Peak

2015, Starring Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, and Charlie Hunnam

The Fog

2005, Starring Maggie Grace, Tom Welling, and Selma Blair

Shadow of a Doubt

1943, Starring Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotten

An American Haunting

2005, Starring Donald Sutherland, Sissy Spacek, James D'Arcy, and Rachel Hurd-Wood

Psycho

1960, Starring Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, and John Gavin

House of Wax

1953, Starring Vincent Price 

Nightmare on Elm Street

2010, Starring Roony Mara, Katie Cassidy, Kyle Gallner, Thomas Dekker, Kellan Lutz, and Connie Britton

Swimfan

2002, Starring Jesse Bradford, Erika Christensen, and Shiri Appleby

Scream 3

2000, Staring Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Courtney Cox

Getting inspired to add some of these to your Netflix queue? I know I'm in the mood for a horror movie marathon tonight. Happy Friday the 13th, and remember...

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #22

            This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm rejoining Naomi, Puck, and Kai in the Thorn Chronicles...

Destroyed (The Thorn Chronicles #2) by Kimberly Loth

Blurb:

In an ideal world, Naomi would still be living in Vegas with Ginny and Alejandro, kissing Puck whenever possible, and becoming a Guardian. But Naomi’s never lived in an ideal world. Instead, she’s stuck back in Arkansas with Father, Kai, and the Destroyers. Plus, her mother's power lives on inside of Naomi and she has no idea how to get rid of it. As Naomi struggles to understand the destructive power and help Kai with his role as the Master Destroyer, a new threat arises. Destroyers are killing Guardians and now all of Naomi’s friends are at risk. Everyone thinks that Kai is the only one who can stop it. But Naomi knows better—she alone can end it all. But how?

Why I Chose This Book/ What I Think So Far:

I loved Kissed (Thorn Chronicles #1) and I was really excited to read Destroyed. There's been a few months (and a lot of books) in between but I eagerly dived in. I'm nearly 50 pages in and for some reason it is not grabbing me as well as the first one did. I still like Naomi but I'm kind of wondering why Puck sent her to help Kai. At the beginning of Kissed I liked Kai, but now I kind of find him annoying. Naomi belongs in Vegas with Puck and her friends and family. Her being back in Arkansas with her dad and Kai is kind of a depressing thought. I guess I'll have to keep reading and see what happens. 

What's In A Character?

          What's in a character, that which we call a rose... wait... that's a name. Oops. But really, what makes up a good character?   

          Characters are one of the most important parts of developing a story. Without characters, well, you'd just have a setting and a vague idea. As writers, we have to learn what makes a good, well-rounded character. After all readers...

It's true. Readers will form their own picture in their head of how they think a character looks based on your physical description of the character. But you can't just physically describe the character; they'd just come off as one-dimensional and boring. Characters need personality, depth, goals, wishes, needs, dreams... you get the picture. 

One-Dimensional Characters can appear flat...


How does your character walk? Does he/she have a heavy-footed stomp, a light, bouncy gait, or a sexy swagger? Where is the story set, should your character have an accent? How do they dress? Why do they dress that way?
*Almost remember to show your reader instead of telling them. Instead of saying: "He had a southern accent." you could say, "His accent was as thick as molasses in January and the way he drawled his words sent a shiver down her spine."

All that aside, where can you find character inspiration? 

People Watching
I'm an avid people-watcher. It is a habit I sink into automatically whenever I'm out in the general public. All you have to do is pay attention and watch.

The Walmart employee dressed up for St. Patrick's Day? That's a real leprechaun turned away from his clan because he was too tall. Without his pot of gold, he has to work a dead-end retail job for a living.

Darn, those pesky leprechauns...


The little old man crossing the street wearing a red English driving cap is really a weathered old art dealer. He's walked with that antique hand-carved cane ever since a high-risk art deal went bad and his buyer broke his kneecap. Oh, the secrets those deep wrinkles that line his face could tell.

The girl that works at the bookstore with the horn-rimmed glasses? She's really a spy, the mousy book clerk job is just a front. She's undercover chasing after a rare stolen manuscript, but she's been distracted by falling in love with her hunky tattooed co-worker. 


See? Character inspiration can spring forth from watching people and thinking about what stories they might have hidden under the surface. 



Visual Inspiration

Much like last week's blog pictures can inspire how you see (and how you want your readers to see) your characters. Does a model's picture in a magazine spark your inspiration? Do you see a visually pleasing photo of a person on Pinterest? A lot of the time when I really need to get a visual representation of how my characters look in my head I pop onto Pinterest and search through photos. I even put the pictures I find onto an inspiration board for whatever book I'm working on. Inspiration boards are a major help to writers.

Not only is this an awesome picture, this is pretty much how I envisioned Lizette in Out of Darkness.

Family and Friends

Sometimes the people you know are just such... characters! We all know and love people that are just so different they'd make amazing characters in our writing projects. On the flipside, you might know someone who's hurt you or made you made angry so you might write that person into your story because killing them on paper is okay... in real life... not so much. 

Just a fair word of advice, if you write someone into your story when you're mad at them you may not still be angry with them by the end of the book and you may regret killing the character off. Either way, I don't suggest using their real name, maybe just their physical description.

Have I ever used someone I know as inspiration in a story? Yes, yes I  have. I've never used a real name, just a vague description, and sometimes the resemblance is only noticeable to me. While I won't tell you which characters are based on people I know, I will tell you that a lot of my male characters are loosely (and I really do mean loosely) based off of guys I've known. Guys I knew in high school then never saw again, guys I was involved with and it ended badly, guys I was involved with and it ended amicably but it didn't end amicably for the character, possibly a guy I'm currently involved with (shh!)...

Then there are friends. But in all cases, these are just vague comparisons. Most times the physical descriptions are far from what the actual person looks like. So who knows, I might just have written about you ;)

Always remember... if you're friends with a writer...

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #21

         This week I'm diving into a book I've been looking forward to reading for months...

The Obsession by Nora Roberts

Blurb:

“She stood in the deep, dark woods, breath shallow and cold prickling over her skin despite the hot, heavy air. She took a step back, then two, as the urge to run fell over her.” 

Naomi Bowes lost her innocence the night she followed her father into the woods. In freeing the girl trapped in the root cellar, Naomi revealed the horrible extent of her father’s crimes and made him infamous. No matter how close she gets to happiness, she can’t outrun the sins of Thomas David Bowes.

Now a successful photographer living under the name Naomi Carson, she has found a place that calls to her, a rambling old house in need of repair, thousands of miles away from everything she’s ever known. Naomi wants to embrace the solitude, but the kindly residents of Sunrise Cove keep forcing her to open up—especially the determined Xander Keaton. 

Naomi can feel her defenses failing, and knows that the connection her new life offers is something she’s always secretly craved. But the sins of her father can become an obsession, and, as she’s learned time and again, her past is never more than a nightmare away.

Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far:

Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors and when I read the blurb for this book, all the way back in November when I was on Barnes and Noble's website doing some Christmas shopping for my grandmother I knew I had to get this book. Waiting five months for its release was tough but I can't wait to dive into this book. So far I'm only about a page in since I've been busy working on my own work-in-progress, but the first page grabbed me and I feel sad that I haven't been able to spend more time reading over the past few days. My plan is to curl up this afternoon and get lost in The Obsession.