writing

Awethors Event: Interview with Simon Coates

Apr 5, 2015 | Authors

Our fifth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Simon Coates. Simon turned his love for bike riding and competing into a book, Bike Racing into the Red. In fact, he’s competing today!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

Not sure yet – merchandise is a possibility. My cycling story was foreworded by Paul Curran, two-time 1986 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner, and I should be able to get some signed items. At the very least, ebook versions of the published books I have.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

The book I have just published is The Discovery of Love, which is a love story (obviously!) but not your typical romance. Yes, there are two people in love, but the title is about the discovery of love; these people have obviously found it, so it is not really about them…

I had a book launch last weekend in Saltburn, North East England. At the moment my paperback books are only available in my local area. I will be looking into making my books available across a wider area; I published with a local publisher, so I don’t use CreateSpace, which of course makes distribution a bit more difficult. However, my books are all on Kindle, so they can be downloaded from there. You can get more details on my website http://www.galactic-echo.com.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

Well it was originally a hobby, but I have since decided to see if I can take it to the ultimate level. I have found that I love writing, and going to events I get to meet people, which is great. In just a couple of months I have met some really famous people and I just enjoy the whole writing thing, from thinking of ideas, to talking to people, and everything else, really!

Also getting feedback is great. One person who read my cycling story said he used it as inspiration to climb a mountain he was riding up, which was quite humbling, really (it wasn’t Olympus Mons by the way…).

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

Well funnily enough I don’t read much, believe it or not. I can’t think of any books that I could live without, to be honest! Other authors can’t believe I don’t read, but I personally don’t feel the need to. I don’t need to read others’ work to gain inspiration, and one’s own style is something you develop naturally, not by reading other people’s books.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

Well I have a bike race on the same day, so it will probably be in the afternoon. I will actually be Bike Racing into the Red, then talking about the book of the same name!

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Author Bio

I am Simon Coates, 41 years old, I live in Middlesbrough, North East England, UK. I have been writing for about seven years, around the general idea of what life might be like in the 24th century. My stories take a general concept and I then build a story around it. For example, with Bike Racing into the Red, it is around the idea that we live on planet Mars. Mars has the highest mountain in the universe, so it is inevitable that we would want to climb it to the top. A bike race is a logical extension to this. So I wrote a story about one!

When I am not writing, I am likely out on my bike; I compete in road time trial races, up to national championship level.

Connect with Simon

Twitter: @GalacticEcho
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Galactic-Echo/533091686779159?ref=bookmarks
Books are available from local bookshops (the shops are listed on my homepage www.galactic-echo.com) and also as ebooks from Amazon. Bike Racing into the Red is available to download from Amazon on the following link: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LAGXA32?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Backward Writing – Withholding Critical Information

Nov 10, 2014 | Writing

by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive Editor

In psychology, when a person withholds affection from their partner, it’s considered a form of emotional abuse. In writing, withholding important information from the reader could almost be classified as story suicide.

I’m not talking about flashbacks here, I’m talking about important elements that should be part of readers’ information base.

Springing certain surprises on readers can be a great tool and can generate that sought-after “I never saw it coming” response from readers that’s both exciting and exhilarating.

But if you hold that coveted hole card too long or if the information you’re withholding shouldn’t be a secret at all, it can have the opposite effect and make readers angry or confused.

That’s because certain pieces of information can change readers’ perspectives on the character or situation, change their expectations of the character’s behavior in a way that the new information makes everything seem suddenly out of character, or makes them rethink the character they thought they knew.

None of these distractions are good.

Let’s take a peek into a couple of small, overly condensed scenes about Sonya’s job relocation and how it put a devastating strain on her family.

Page 56:

The move couldn’t have come at a worse time – it was February.

“But Mom,” Ellen complained, “first you make us lose all our friends and move to a new state for your job, and now you’re sticking me in a new school after everyone’s already got their friends. They’ll treat me like a freak! I’ll never make new friends!”

Sonya’s husband chimed in with complaints of his own. “And I was just about to get reassigned to the most lucrative region in the state. I put ten years of hell into that company just waiting for a shot at this assignment!”

With her father’s apparent support, Ellen went for the jugular. “Whatever happened to your old guilt line, ‘family comes first’? How come your job comes before your family when it suits you?”

Fast forward to page 89:

It wasn’t bad enough that their luggage had been lost by the airline, but the moving truck had suddenly disappeared with all of their household belongings as well. Sonya was beginning to think that the “universe” was sending her a very disapproving message about forcing her family to uproot themselves and their lives for her own personal gain.

And now Ellen’s mystery symptoms were showing up worse than ever, probably from the stress of the move. Her body was covered in rashes, she was constantly fatigued, and see seemed to be allergic to everything. This had happened on and off throughout her twelve years of life, and she had used this as part of her argument to not to move. “What if my problems get worse? How can I meet new kids looking like a blotchy mess? I don’t even have a doctor out there,” she’d said. Her current doctor had also suggested that Sonya factor Ellen’s undiagnosed ailment into her decision, since he had recently started a series of tests in an effort to figure out what was happening. Since birth, Ellen had been plagued by mystery symptoms, and Dr. Ellingworth was the first one who had ever tried to figure out the cause rather than just treating the symptoms with prescription creams and pills.

Wow, that’s a lot of backtracking. The writer not only went back in time to add more to Ellen’s original argument on page 59, but s/he went even further back in Ellen’s life to a time before the story started, which should have been covered early on.

Backward writing like this not only removes readers from the current situation in the story, it also changes their image of Ellen, her day-to-day struggles, and adds another level to Sonya’s selfishness. It’s like plunging readers into ice water from the comfortable warmth of a flowing storyline, then expecting them to jump back into the pool without so much as a transitional shower.

So when you’re editing your first draft, be mindful of the order in which you tell your story, know the difference between well-placed, well-orchestrated flashbacks and backward writing, and use surprises wisely. Your novel – and your readers – will thank you.

Need Inspiration?

Oct 13, 2014 | Genre Talk

by Sandra Ardoin, Inspirational Historical Romance Author

The Shack, A Log Cabin Christmas, Into the Free, Dying to Read, the Left Behind series. Karen Kingsbury, Francine Rivers, Wanda Brunstetter, Terri Blackstock, Cindy Woodsmall.

What do these books and authors have in common? First, the novels are written from a Christian world view. Second, each title and author has made the New York Times Best Sellers list. And I could name more of each.

For a long time, most fiction from a Christian world view revolved around sweet romance. Then Frank Perretti (another NY Times best seller) took up where C. S. Lewis of Narnia fame ended and opened the market to fiction that dealt with stronger issues than prairie romance—namely, demons and spiritual warfare. From then on, it was no longer grandma’s Christian fiction.

Or maybe it still is.

Middle-class female adults make up the bulk of readers, and romance tops the genre list. It doesn’t matter if it’s contemporary romance, romantic suspense, or historical romance. People love love whether it’s between a fictional hero and heroine or in their own relationship with God.

I recently conducted an informal survey and asked readers why they chose Christian fiction. Here are some of the reasons they repeated over and over:

It’s clean – This was number one. Not everyone wants to read scenes with explicit sex or coarse language. These readers are not prudes or ostriches. They simply want G and PG stories that won’t leave certain images and words lodged in their minds. It’s the old computer philosophy of “garbage in/garbage out.” (The Biblical version can be found in Philippians 4:8. J)

It’s relevant – One of the biggest complaints I’ve heard against books in this market is what I call the “roses and lollipops” impression. Characters live in an unrealistic world. (See paragraph three above.)

When I asked what has changed over the last decade and what readers would like to see, I got the same basic answer: relevancy. People were happy to see that authors now tackled subjects they dealt with in everyday life—single parenting, alcoholism, divorce, etc. And they want to see more of it. But they want those topics addressed in a Biblical manner.

It has expanded its reach – Yes, sweet romance is still published because there is still a large market (check out the success of Harlequin’s Love Inspired imprint). Today, you’ll find suspense, thrillers—including medical and military—mystery, historicals set in various periods, Amish, contemporary women’s fiction, westerns, science fiction and speculative fiction.

It’s well written – In years past, these novels lacked respect writing-wise, and there was some basis for it. That’s no longer the case. Like the best mainstream authors, those who write for the Christian market are well trained. With the formation of organizations like American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) with its nearly 3,000 members in the U.S. and internationally, writers are privy to educational resources, networking opportunities, critique groups, and contests—all meant to help them improve their craft.

It speaks to readers, spiritually – Many times, Jesus taught through story. Readers want Christian authors to do the same—without being “preachy.” It isn’t just a matter of throwing out a verse or prayer here and there. Readers want to see a character whose struggle either teaches them something they can use in their own lives or brings them into a deeper relationship with God.

It’s little wonder that large mainstream publishers such as Hachette, Random House, and HarperCollins decided to join in on the growing popularity of the Christian (or Inspirational) publishing market by either starting their own imprints or buying existing Christian houses.

Remember, these aren’t your grandma’s novels. They’re entertaining, funny, and emotionally moving. They’re waiting for you to try them.

Bio:

Sandra Ardoin writes inspirational historical romance. Her Christmas novella, The Yuletide Angel, releases October 2014 and is up for pre-order on Amazon. She’s the married mother of a young adult and lives in North Carolina. Visit her at www.sandraardoin.com and on the Seriously Write blog. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

Confessions of a Binge Word Writer

Oct 6, 2014 | Proofreading

by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive Editor

I have a confession to make. I’m a binge word writer. I tend to binge on certain words or phrases when writing a first draft like they were my favorite flavor of ice cream. In fact, if the first draft of my writing was ice cream, I’d weigh 500 pounds by now.

That’s because I tend to use a particular word or phrase (or both) repeatedly, as if it’s the only way to describe a certain attitude, action, feeling, whatever. In one first draft, “raised eyebrows” were flying all over the fictitious town; in another, “sideways glances” stole the scenes. Yikes.

The binge words that attach themselves to my brain are different with every manuscript I write. For some reason, different stories bring out different binges. So it’s not like I can just watch out for a particular word or phrase with each manuscript. It’s always a surprise binge – the ice cream attacks me rather than me attacking it.

Your laptop doesn’t want to read the same words over and over again either.

Train-of-thought writing is like that for me. And while anything goes in a first draft, those repetitions have to be replaced by more creative terms during the revision process.

Repetitions aren’t always obvious during the writing process because I’m so focused on the overall work or so engrossed in writing a scene. And that’s what’s most important with a first draft – getting those thoughts on paper without stopping to edit (something particularly difficult for me; the editor in me always tries to strong-arm the writer in me). But when rereading during that first revision, those binges pop off the page like hot pink Mexican jumping beans.

And that’s when the real work begins. Because sometimes a binge word just seems so perfectly suited in each and every place it appears that it’s hard to imagine any other word doing as good of a job.

At that point I have to step back from the writing and sometimes even act the dialogue or situation out, which can really help open the door for a better descriptive. In fact, sometimes the entire scene can benefit from my little impromptu plays because another dimension to the story or scene may reveal itself, or a character may surprise me with a new attitude or perspective.

You’re probably thinking, “Why doesn’t she just use a thesaurus?” Well, I do use an expanded thesaurus, but it still doesn’t always give me what I need, especially when it comes to phrases. But as a last resort, I’ll check the words it offers just in case it jumpstarts my brain.

And if that doesn’t work, I send my revised, best-as-I-can-get-it draft complete with binge words to my editor and let her work it out. 😉 (Thanks, Christie!)

Meet Author Susan Mills Wilson

Sep 29, 2014 | Authors

Here at Proof Positive, we’re huge fans of books that have something for everyone. Susan Mills Wilson’s latest book, Her Lying Eyes, has it all: suspense, romance, mystery, murder, politics, and lies – lots of them. If you’re looking for a book you can convince all your friends to read before you get together for lunch, you’ve found “the one”. Something tells me a lot of book clubs will be starting up once you discover this book. Be sure to check it out, but first read on to find out more about Wilson herself and how she develops characters and storylines that will have you reading far past your bedtime.

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How long did it take you to plan Her Lying Eyes before you began writing it?

I worked out the plot in my head about two months before I began writing a single word. I knew which direction I wanted to take it and who would be the main characters to carry the plot. Crazy as it sounds, I feel it’s important for me to develop a relationship with my imaginary characters so I will know how they will interact with each other and how they will react to situations, good or bad.

Do you mostly write in this particular genre or do you dabble in other genres? If so, which ones?

I also like to write romantic short stories. They’re always feel-good reads where the boy gets the girl or vice versa. Also, every Christmas, I write a holiday short story that I send to family and friends just for the fun of it. I write a weekly blog on my website that satisfies the nonfiction writer in me.

What do you think makes your work stand apart from other works in your genre?

Many romantic suspense books are cozy, but I like to write gritty. However, some topics are off limits for me. I don’t write about torture, child abuse, diabolical killers or erotica. What really makes my work stand apart is the complex relationships of characters where they are torn between decisions that could have dire consequences. Everyone, including my main characters, have flaws that sometimes take them over the edge. For example, Kirkus Review said this about my debut novel, GOOD GONE BAD: Like the best noir, this story puts its characters through an emotional wringer and makes the reader feel their desperation, too.

Are any of the characters in your book based on people you know or have seen/talked to in real life?

None of the characters are based on real people; however, they are a composite of certain traits I have seen in others. A minor character, newspaper editor Stu Blackmon, talks nonstop, and I feel we all know someone like that. In this novel, the head of the Reynolds empire is a rich, powerful person who abuses his wealth and influence, similar to real people we all read about in the news. Main character Jamison Jackson is an investigative reporter, a career I always wanted to have. I guess I’m living out that dream through her.

What inspires you to write? Music? Other books? Real life events? Just an incredible imagination?

My first novel (not yet published) was inspired by a Toby Keith song, “That’s My House.” Most of my inspiration comes from real life events that readers can identify with. My next novel, MELTDOWN, was inspired because I was at a concert in a park and saw a church tower across the street. I thought, “Wouldn’t that be a great place for a sniper to take shots at a crowd?” What can I say? Suspense writers are twisted.

Are you part of any writers’ groups? If so, what do you like about them? How do they help you or inspire you? If not, why not?

One of the most important things I have done, which I recommend to other writers, is to get involved in a critique group. I am coordinator of The Mystery Critique Group in my town. Their advice has been invaluable to me. I listened to what they said and accordingly made changes in writing HER LYING EYES.

Do you plan your writing out with outlines, character development exercises, and other pre-writing activities? Or do you just write as it comes to you?

The outline for my story is in my head. Sometimes I will mark up a calendar to get a timeline of when the action is to be played out. I write mock interviews with characters so I can get inside their heads and write from their point of view. I also write a personal profile of all main characters that includes their weaknesses, strength, goals, habits, how they dress, and even what their favorite drink is.

Did you do any research for this book?

The subplot of this book involves a toxic spill of chemicals, either accidental or intentional. I had to read a lot of articles and documentation to get it right. Also, I have attended three police citizens academies so that I have a clear understanding of police procedures and investigations. If there are mistakes with that part of the story, it’s on me and not the officers I consulted with.

Do you read the kinds of books you like to write? Do you watch movies similar to or the same genre as your writing?

Yes, I read mostly suspenseful books, but not necessarily romantic suspense. I like a book that is a good page-turner. I enjoy movies that keep you on the edge of your seat. I sometimes visualize certain actors in the roles of my characters.

If you could write anywhere in the world – in a fictional or nonfictional place – where would you write?

If I could write anywhere, it would be somewhere on the coast. I love the Carolina coast because it’s close to home and I know it well. Of course, laying low in a bungalow on a Caribbean island doesn’t sound like a bad gig either.

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Connect with Susan Mills Wilson:
Twitter
Amazon
Goodreads
Facebook

Check out Her Lying Eyes:
Amazon

Your Author Website Could Be Killing Your Book Sales

Sep 22, 2014 | Proofreading

by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive Editor

So you’ve given your new book as much social media play as you possibly can. Your efforts have resulted in a nice, steady uptick in visitors to your author website, which is just what you wanted.

Your blog talks about things like your writing process, inspirations for your book, your characters, your favorite writing spots, real world issues related to your book – whatever you feel is relevant and interesting.

Could any of this actually be working against the sale of your book?

If your website or blog posts contain misspellings, grammatical errors, poor phrasing – all those things you’ve hopefully had edited out of your book – then your credibility will take a hit.

Your website and blog posts may very well be the first impression many potential readers get of you and your writing, and as the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Readers view your website and blog posts as a reflection of you and your work. If your blog posts don’t show that you care enough to double and triple check for errors or write in a meaningful way, readers will understandably assume your book will be the same.

If you can’t step back from your writing far enough to see what needs fixing, ask a friend or fellow writer you trust to help, or see if your editor is willing to do it for a small fee.

One last note: choose your font carefully. This isn’t just a lot of type hype – fonts speak to readers. There are entire studies on the psychology of typography and the messages different fonts convey. Just like choosing the right name for your characters depending on their personalities (you wouldn’t name a tough, bar brawling assassin Harvey Milktoast), you also wouldn’t use a futuristic-looking font to describe a cozy, laid-back country romance story or Comic Sans font for a thriller.

With a shiny clean website, you’ll give your book a much better chance.

The Glass Heart Girl, Britain’s Next Bestseller

Sep 19, 2014 | Authors

Introduction by Proof Positive Editor Morgan Marsicano

Readers, look out! The up-and-coming author Michelle Diana Lowe is back with a new novel and is set to publish it with Britain’s Next Bestseller! However, in order to do so, she needs your help and support. For those of you who don’t know Michelle, she is a bright, spirited and caring individual whose writing speaks volumes for who she is. Through her craft, she allows us to feel for the characters in her novels and to provide hope for those who struggle with the same issues as her characters. The Glass Heart Girl is such a creation, as it tells the story of a girl who endured gender-based violence and is learning to love herself and to know what it means to be truly loved by someone else instead of enduring abuse and misuse at the hands of a man. Michelle gives a voice to the hurting woman, a voice that needs to be heard in a world increasingly riddled with pain. I think it would be fantastic for such a book to be read by those out there who are unfamiliar with how an abused individual suffers internally and how her struggle affects her ability to move forward with her life, and it’s also a great story about empowerment and love.

To help Michelle get her book into the hands of readers, however, she needs at least 250 readers to pre-order a copy of her book. So read on to hear more from Michelle about herself, why her book is great, and how you can go about getting yourself a copy!

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TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF

My name is Michelle Diana Lowe. I was born in East London and I’ve lived there most of my life. It’s amazing to live in a vibrant part of the city that is so alive and never sleeps. Writing has always been my passion, and I’ve had a strong desire to write since the age of six. Words excite me and move me, and writing makes me feel complete.

After graduating from Roehampton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature with Philosophy, my literary voice developed, and I finally started seeing a unique style in my writing. My literary career took a real turn for the better in January 2014, when my novel, Heaven Calls For An Angel, was discovered and published by a digital publisher. Writing this book proved to be an emotional task, since I wrote it as a tribute to a dear friend who sadly passed away the previous year.

Since January, I have met so many wonderful people online, including writers, readers, editors, bloggers, artists, music artists, and more with whom I have shared experiences, and many of them have helped me greatly. I have also grown so much as a writer this year, and I am so blessed that I’ve had the opportunity to share my work with others.

I currently raise money for good causes and support a number of charities, one of which is The Women and Girls Network, an organisation that provides life-changing services and support for female victims of domestic and gender-based violence.

WHAT IS THE GLASS HEART GIRL ABOUT?

The book tells the riveting story of Alena Pavlis, a beautiful 20-year-old woman, who is trying to rebuild her life and heal old wounds after being abused as a child. She goes to the University of Leicester and during Freshers’ Week meets the love of her life, the gorgeous Phillip Gregson. Although Phillip and Alena share a wonderful kind of love, a love she’s never felt before, she is at risk of losing herself as well as this special relationship, because she cannot let go of her past and is haunted by the dark memories of the abuse she suffered. Psychologically trapped by her childhood abuser and plagued by the demons that almost claimed her life, Alena must find a way to move on and embrace Phillip’s love, before it is too late. Can she banish the ghosts of yesterday and enjoy a future with the man she loves? Or will the spirits of the past devour her?

This is a powerful story of a woman’s courage, bravery and determination to overcome a distressing childhood and welcome a new life with the man she loves.

HOW IS THE GLASS HEART GIRL DIFFERENT FROM OTHER BOOKS, AND WHY IS IT SO SPECIAL?

The Glass Heart Girl gives a voice to underrepresented groups in society, but most of all, it gives a voice to women who have experienced gender-based violence. With its message of hope, this moving novel aims to help these women find their way onto the road of recovery. Working as an administrator in a children’s centre has really helped me to understand what these women are going through. Coping with the mental and physical scars of such violence can be an uphill struggle for these women. Quite often I come into contact with vulnerable females, just like my protagonist Alena, who have suffered trauma as a result of gender-based violence. I support these women by referring them to counselling and other appropriate services and by helping them to deal with their issues and raw emotions. In time, many of these women can heal and move forward with their lives.

I feel honoured and privileged to have the BNBS platform to raise awareness of these sensitive women’s issues and I am happy that I can show people how special and brave these women truly are with the power of words.

The setting of The Glass Heart Girl is also very significant. It is set in the University of Leicester—Alena, Phillip and Becca live in the Botanic Gardens at the University, a location that represents a sanctuary with the power to restore Alena’s faith in life and love.

The Glass Heart Girl is one of the most significant women’s fiction books written in today’s society, as it gives a voice to women, especially young women, who have experienced gender violence. The book aims to empower these women and help them move on with their lives. The main characters are in their early twenties—the story is set at the University of Leicester and is told with a fresh honest voice, in a way that is relatable to readers.

PUBLISHING CONTRACT – BNBS

I have signed a Pre-Publishing Agreement with Britain’s Next Bestseller (BNBS) for my ground-breaking women’s fiction book, The Glass Heart Girl.

BNBS is a new and exciting imprint which launched in March 2014 and was founded by UK Publisher Live It Publishing. They select a handful of authors (less than 30) out of thousands every two to four months. The authors they select have written a novel which they believe has the potential to be a bestseller. BNBS gives their signed authors a great online platform to promote their books between eight and twelve weeks (timescale chosen by the author), and the author is encouraged to gain reader support within that set period to secure the publishing deal. If the target is not received with the allocated time, the author will not secure the deal.

My pre-order target is 250. This means once 250 or more readers order a copy of The Glass Heart Girl within a ten-week period, I win the publishing deal. My pre-order page will be live between September 19 and November 28 on my publisher’s website, www.britainsnextbestseller.co.uk. So, I would really appreciate your help and support to make my dream a reality and to get a very important book in print and made available in bookstores and in the wider community.

To pre-order The Glass Heart Girl is £8.99 plus £2.99 postage and packaging. Postage and packaging costs for orders from outside the UK are slightly higher. Please note that if I reach my target, I will get the publishing deal and you will get your paperback copy of my book two weeks before it hits the bookstores. Sounds great, doesn’t it? If you pre-order and I don’t reach my target by the 28^th of November, you will not get charged a penny, but unfortunately you will also not receive my book. So please pre-order my book and help The Glass Heart Girl make it to print and into the bookshops! Those who pre-order also will receive their copy with their name written inside every copy ordered as a thank you for purchasing the book as well as receive access to lots of competitions, prizes and author goodies. So what are you waiting for?

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**To pre-order the book beginning on Friday, September 19, or to find out more information about BNBS, please visit their website – www.britainsnextbestseller.co.uk **

Superfluous Verbiage and Unnecessary Words

Sep 15, 2014 | Phrasing, Writing

by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive Editor

Did you trip over the title of this post? Did you have to read it twice? If so, that’s because both phrases, “superfluous verbiage” and “unnecessary words”, mean the same thing, but your mind was trying to discern a difference.

When you use extra words or duplicate a meaning in your writing, it can do a couple of different things: it can slow the action or forward movement of the story, and/or it can stop readers in their tracks while their minds backtrack over the repetition, searching for a missed meaning or misinterpretation. Neither is good.

Repetitions and extra verbiage slow stories down and can put the brakes on action scenes.

A few smaller examples we see frequently are:

“She took out her cell phone and dialed his number, then immediately hung up the phone.” The words “the phone” are superfluous because it’s already clear that the person was using a phone. Something like this may seem insignificant, but eliminating even the smallest unnecessary words tightens your writing and moves the story along faster. And in a story where there’s one superfluous phrase, chances are there are many more – add them up and you’ve got a lot of drag.

“His train was arriving at five o’clock p.m. in the evening.” When referring to a time after noon, “p.m.” is used, just like “a.m.” is used for morning. Therefore, using “in the evening” after “p.m.” is repetitious and can actually be annoying to some readers.

“He put his hat on his head as he walked out of her life forever.” “On his head” is extra verbiage because it’s assumed that’s where he’d put his hat – where else would it go? “He put on his hat as he walked out of her life forever” is smoother and has more impact without the unnecessary words.

Even more problematic, though, are entire phrases that essentially repeat what was just said without adding any new information.

“She tucked the letter into her pocket, secreting it away from prying eyes. It would be safe in her pocket where no one would see it.” If you see this type of repetition in your writing, choose whichever phrasing best fits the scene and keeps the action or tension going. Sometimes you may end up using the best of both worlds – a combination of the two: “She secreted the letter away in her pocket, where it would be safe from prying eyes.” No repetition, but plenty of information in a condensed and to-the-point way.

Tight writing moves faster and makes your points clearer, which readers always appreciate.

Go That Extra Mile!

Sep 8, 2014 | Writing

by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive Editor

Your book is edited, polished, published, and out there for the world to enjoy. You’ve got it listed on Amazon, its beautiful cover (that you agonized over getting just right) beckoning readers with its siren call, “You want me!”

Is that enough? No, it’s just the beginning.

You need to write a good come-hither summary for your Amazon listing. Something that whets readers’ appetites for your story, a real teaser that shows them your characters are interesting and your story is one they just must read.

And while a good summary is important, people also want to know something about the writer behind the words. Too many authors miss this prime opportunity to connect with potential readers. They forget about Amazon’s Author Pages, a great way to introduce yourself to your readers. It doesn’t need to be a lengthy life story – nor should it be – just enough information relative to you as an author.

If you want, you can also include a short paragraph at the end about your next work in progress, but remember to update that part when the work in progress becomes a published book. Make sure to include a good picture of yourself with your bio, one that suits the types of books you write.

With both the summary and your bio, double check, triple check, and quadruple check for errors. You can lose lots of sales if readers see obvious mistakes; they’ll naturally figure the book will be poorly written too. And we’ve read endless accounts, from blogs all the way up to the New York Times, about how much readers hate seeing too many typos, misspellings, and other mistakes, not to mention plot and character inconsistencies and other errors. In fact, many books have been returned to Amazon with complaints about numerous errors – and Amazon has refunded the buyers’ money. Don’t be that author.

On the other hand, books that have been well proofread are noticed and appreciated. In a review of book Proof Positive proofread, the reviewer wrote, “I appreciate that she gave her readers clean spelling and punctuation.”

Reviews are important to sales on Amazon, so ask for them from friends, family members, and readers who are willing to write reviews in exchange for a free copy of your book.

Go the extra mile and you may be rewarded with extra sales!

Writing Groups Are Great, But…

Aug 18, 2014 | Writing

Writing groups are great – there’s nothing better than spending time with people who have the same desire to write as you do and understand the writing life.

Everyone brings something new to the table, whether it’s an opinion, something they learned in a class or at a writing conference, deeper insight into publishing – whatever it is, the takeaway can be extremely helpful.

But it can also stop some writers in their tracks. It happened just recently to a writer friend of mine. We’ll call her Zoe for the purpose of this post.

She was going full steam on a mystery novel that she was really excited about and having a great time writing. One week she decided to submit a chapter to her writing group for a critique and was very excited to get their input and reactions.

As expected, she got a lot of different opinions, suggestions, and ideas. Stimulated and motivated by all the helpful insights, she returned home with her notes and went to work on her revisions.

The next month Zoe resubmitted the revised chapter. A couple of members who were absent at the last meeting were present this time. Their critiques were in direct conflict with the ones she’d received the previous month, but they were just as strongly confident that their way would improve the book. And some of the members whose suggestions she’d taken didn’t quite care for her rewrites. They wanted it to sound their way. In fact, one went so far as to try to change her voice, while another didn’t like the idea of which character she killed off. Yet a third felt the body should be found already deceased because she didn’t like books with any kind of violence, and she was adamant about that point.

This all took a bit of a toll on Zoe. While she welcomed and felt initially stimulated by all the input, she found that when she was considering all the new suggestions, she started feeling confused and overwhelmed. She lost interest in the book and turned to an entirely different hobby for a while.

When she finally confided in me about her conundrum, I reminded her that this was her book and no one else’s. Everyone has an opinion, a theory, or a preference – even bestselling authors have their detractors. And some of them have dealt with editors who tried to change their voice or story direction as well. I told her she needed to weigh the advice she was getting and decide what worked and what didn’t for her manuscript.

You, as the author, have the final word on your manuscript. These are your characters, your situations, and your story written your way. Take the suggestions that work for your manuscript and discard the rest. People give lots of well-intentioned critiques, but the story is ultimately yours.

I’m happy to say that Zoe’s manuscript is back on track and now almost complete. Her enthusiasm has returned, and she’s learned how to manage the input she gets from her writing group members.

So listen to the critiques but hear them as suggestions, not definitive answers, and never let them get in the way of your writing. The most important opinion is yours.

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