writing

Can Writing Courses Kill Your Writing Career?

Aug 11, 2014 | Writing

by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive editor

It sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? Writing courses are supposed to help build your writing career with insights into style, content, character development, and all the other things needed for a good novel. They also offer a good opportunity to network with fellow writers.

So how can something so good be bad?

When it’s misused. And I was a prime example of that.

I’ve taken lots of creative writing courses through the years, starting in college and then into post-graduate classes, and I got some good information and resources from each. In fact, I was able to use some of my writing exercises in my fiction writing. But after attending a number of them (I won’t say how many!), even though each one had a
somewhat different slant on the subject, I noticed that there was a lot of repetition.

Why can’t they come up with original content? I thought.

eleve_posant_une_question Well, they had. But there’s only so much original content creative writing courses can have. Each one dealt with a different aspect or specialty within creative writing, but there’s always that common ground that all creative writing classes have to cover.

And that’s when I realized that the old breakup line applied here: It’s not you, it’s me.

I needed to break up with writing courses.

I’d become a perpetual student. Every time I’d embark on a new piece of fiction writing, I’d see another course I should take. Who was I to think I was ready to write a novel when there were still so many courses I hadn’t taken?

I misused writing courses as an excuse to not actually do the writing. I always felt I needed more information, better direction, deeper insights into the craft. The dawn finally broke when I realized I was looking at taking a course on breaking into magazine writing – after I had already established myself as a freelance writer and had a couple hundred articles published from the local to the international level.

How much more “breaking in” did I need? At that point I could probably have taught the course!

So yes, take those courses when they’re relevant to your work. But don’t overdo it – don’t forgo the writing for the course-taking. Courses are meant to enhance your writing, not replace it.

Why Freelance Writing is Your Creative Writing Inspiration

Aug 8, 2014 | Writing

by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive editor

One thing I’ve noticed about the writing world – it likes to separate itself into groups. I’m not talking about genres. Two of the main groups I’ve noticed are “Writing for Hire” and “Creative Writing”, and members of each can sometimes cast disapproving glances at the other.

Though it may seem that never the twain shall meet, they do…if you look at your paid gigs through creative eyes.

I’ve had about 1,000 articles published, most of which are in print publications, but a couple hundred are in either online publications or publications that are both online and in print. I can safely say that only a scant few of all those published pieces are completely devoid of fodder for my fiction writing.

Here’s an example.

When I was writing feature newspaper pieces, I had an assignment to interview a man who trains guard dogs. The focus of the article was not only to discuss his business and how he happened to get into it, but also how people could train their own dogs in property protection.

Sounds simple, right?

Well, you just never know. And that’s one of the things I love about freelance writing.

While heading to do the interview, I had to double check the address when, in an upscale suburban town, I turned my car into the one and only driveway that looked like a jungle, completely enveloped by overgrown trees, vines, and shrubbery gone wild. I could almost hear the call of macaws and the roar of lions. The entire property was isolated by quite a few acres of “jungle”, so there were no immediate neighbors.

When my car emerged from the long, overgrown driveway, I was greeted by the sound of deep, angry barks coming from huge, muscular dogs in crates; none of them looked happy to see me. Their crates were scattered on the hard dirt ground around a small red ramshackle house that had seen much better days.

I was terrified to get out of my car. I had arrived on time, so I waited for my interviewee to Baddog come out of the house, since his living alarms had all gone off and were making more of a racket than Fourth of July fireworks.

But no one came out, so I called him from my cell phone. He laughed and told me I didn’t have to worry about the dogs, but I wasn’t buying it – they hadn’t taken their eyes off me and looked like they wanted to tear right through the cage bars to get at my throat. He laughingly agreed to come out.

His appearance shocked me. He was about ninety years old and on the frail side, with unkempt flowing white hair, a worn red plaid shirt, and jeans from 1950. He didn’t look like he could stop an ant, let alone stop one of those massive dogs from attacking. I figured we’d talk about the dogs (quickly), tour his training grounds (very quickly), and I could get the heck out of there.

Not so.

He escorted me between the cages and into the house, despite every one of my own internal alarms going off. The rooms were tiny, outdated by decades with torn furniture, and there were yet more cages with hundred-pound dogs growling and barking. These didn’t seem like trained guard dogs – they acted more like hungry attack dogs.

That isn’t the end of the story, but you get the idea.

This and many other interesting situations (thankfully not as dangerous) happened regularly in my life as a “writer for hire”. The possibility for storylines, subplots, and quirky characters is endless, even when you interview people and write about situations that aren’t as extreme. So many things can be discovered during interview conversations that it’s an endless supply of behaviors, quirks, language use and misuse, habits, surroundings – the list goes on and on.

So don’t turn your nose up at freelance writing to supplement your income as a fiction writer, just view it as living, breathing fodder for your novels…that you’re getting paid to discover.

Intention vs. Reality in Writing

Jul 17, 2014 | Writing

“But Your Honor, I intended to help that little old lady across the street. Her purse handle just happened to loop over my arm, and I didn’t realize it was there until I was several blocks away and that cop tackled me!”

Do you think any judge in the world would believe that statement? More importantly, do you think he even cares about the thought process or supposed intention the defendant had? No? Well, the same thing goes for writing – readers are your judges, and they don’t know or care about your intentions, they only know and care about what’s actually written on the page.

And since the only reality your readers know is what they read, you have to make your intentions perfectly clear in the written word. Readers can’t stop to think about what you Question_Guy may have intended when a scene or sentence doesn’t quite make sense or fit with a character’s personality or situation. Nor should they have to. And they’re not mind readers either.

Sometimes when we’re writing, we’re so in touch with our characters and their situations that we don’t clarify our intentions in a scene well enough.

Have you ever had a teacher whose lectures could only be understood by someone already knowledgeable in the field, while those of us on the “outside” couldn’t grasp their meaning? Or read instructions that skipped over the details and assumed the user would just “get it”? I think we’ve all experienced at least one of these things; personally, I’ve been on the receiving end of both. And it’s very frustrating.

Writers hire editors to take an objective look at their work before it’s published – at that point, the editor is one of your first readers, so if something is unclear or confusing to her/him, it will most likely be unclear to your future readers as well.

An editor’s job is to point out these problems within a story and suggest a better way.
A writer’s job is to take that point constructively and seriously consider the possibility that it needs modification in order to be easily understood or fit with the rest of the story.

But sometimes a writer is so married to their work that they become defensive about every line, even saying that they think readers will understand their intentions that aren’t written or just allow for incongruous scenes. If you, as a writer, hear yourself saying that, STOP. While the final decision always belongs to the writer as to how the book is written, it serves your book – and your readers – best if you consider the possibility that your intentions are not coming across in your writing.

The upshot: unless you’re writing experimental literature in which readers expect and want to spend time figuring things out, your words need to clearly convey your intentions, not suggest or skirt them.

Celebrities Are Off Limits. Here’s Why.

Jul 15, 2014 | Writing

The next time you’re going to include a celebrity name in your book, DON’T DO IT, even if it’s flattering! You could be sued for something you didn’t even know you were implying. In the French book La première chose qu’on regard, author Grégoire Delacourt included Scarlett Johansson’s name when someone mistakes the main character for her – but is clearly not actually her. According to this article on Melville House Publishing’s website, Johannson sued because the character who looks similar to her (remember, this is not a movie with an impersonator – just a book) has two affairs, and she claimed in court that this was defamatory. Both the author and his publisher were shocked that they lost the case and had to pay damages.

How can you, as a fellow author, avoid being blindsided by something like this? The answer is simple, albeit a little annoying: avoid using famous people’s names altogether. Instead, rely on your ability to describe characters clearly. More specifically, make sure to describe key features of a celebrity, focusing on things that make him or her stand out, things that make him or her recognizable. If you describe a character accurately enough, your reader will understand who you’re alluding to. Not only will this keep you from being sued (apparently), but it will also speak to your writing abilities.

Description is one of the most important parts of bestselling books – something we’ll soon talk about in more detail. Use this French author’s unfortunate problem as a lesson for yourself – and an opportunity to improve your own writing to avoid such misfortunes. After all, how can it hurt to NOT offend a celebrity?

Meet Author Michelle Diana Lowe

Jul 5, 2014 | Authors

“Fearless” is the best word to describe Michelle Diana Lowe’s just-published book, The Glass Heart Girl. Lowe’s incredible book breaks barriers rarely crossed in such detail with grace and honesty you won’t readily find elsewhere. The Glass Heart Girl was just published yesterday, and Lowe took the time to write a guest post about herself as a writer, her book, and why she wrote on such a sensitive topic.

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About Me

I am Michelle Diana Lowe, the author of the new adult romance novel The Glass Heart Girl. I was born in East London and continue to live in this area. I wrote my very first children’s book of 20,000 words at the tender age of nine and since then, I have loved writing. I adore creative writing and seeing a character grow and develop before my very eyes. I now write professionally and have two published books, Heaven Calls For An Angel and Dangerous Calculations. The Glass Heart Girl is my third book, but my first full-length fiction novel. This book is the standalone sequel of Dangerous Calculations.

What Is The Glass Heart Girl About?

A unique but powerful book, The Glass Heart Girl set to take the new adult romance genre to a whole new level. It is a deep and riveting story about one young woman’s momentous journey as she strives to overcome her traumatic past, learns about the true meaning of love and tries to embrace a new life with the man she loves.

Twenty year old Alena Pavlis is a beautiful college student who meets the gorgeous Phillip Gregson during the Freshers’ Fair at The University of Leicester. She is immediately drawn to Phillip and falls head over heels in love with him. But her past is seeping into her consciousness and threatens to destroy their special relationship. Phillip and Becca, her floormate and best friend, support her as best they can, but when a face from five years ago comes back into Alena’s life, her world spins into chaos and she finds herself at a dangerous crossroads. It is at this crucial moment that Alena must decide to vanquish the demons of the past and fight for the beautiful life that she deserves – or let the past devour her.

Personal and Positive Perspectives

The Glass Heart Girl carries a very positive and hopeful message about a woman’s courage and bravery to face her innermost fears and work towards a happier future. It also serves as a guide for young women who are facing similar issues. I sculpted Alena’s character in such a way that she would be relatable to women 17 and older, and so that people could understand and/or identify with her situation better. I am so thankful that I have created a novel covering real issues that can help women in Alena’s position move forward with their lives.

What to expect from The Glass Heart Girl

The Glass Heart Girl is full of life and zest – it deals with both the fun and challenges of university life. There are strong, honest friendships, deep romantic relationships, painful past experiences coming to the surface and the normal things you’d expect from 20-year-old college students – mucking about in the dorm corridors, petty arguments between friends, jealousy, breakups and make ups and more.

On a more serious note, wider issues in society are addressed in a sensible and appropriate fashion, and the book does tackle young people’s attitudes towards love and relationships.

Younger women between 17 and 30 will be able to relate to and understand the young, vibrant characters that I have created. Not only will they laugh out loud in certain chapters, but they will also be moved by the emotional and heartfelt aspects to the book. For the many women who are going through what Alena has experienced, this novel will not only help them on the road to recovery, but will also help them realize they are not alone. I think that more books like The Glass Heart Girl should be written to heal, bolster and empower women.

Why I Wrote This Book

I wanted to give a voice to young women who have gone through really difficult experiences. These people’s experiences are often overlooked or disregarded, in fiction and in real life too. I have always been someone who champions people who don’t have a real voice in society and am very passionate about bringing their experiences to the forefront. It is just in my nature to be this way. I also work with vulnerable clients as part of my job as an administrator. I listen to these people’s stories, sometimes sad and even heartbreaking, and I signpost or refer these clients to counselling services, therapy or Family Support Services, which will support their needs and that of their families while helping them work through difficult issues and emotions. So I can, to some degree, understand and can identify with Alena’s story.

In real life, women who have gone through the trauma of gender violence and abuse are often sidelined and marginalised. Their stories, usually told in nonfiction books, focus heavily on the negative and lasting effects these events have on their lives. Often the stories are very downbeat until the end, when the victim might possibly overcome the trauma. I did not want to depict Alena in this way. Firstly, it was important for me to make a victim of gender violence and abuse a heroine and give her a chance to be in the spotlight, and I really wanted to write a book that did not focus on her traumatic past so decidedly. From the very start, I inject hope and laughter into Alena’s world, giving her a zany but caring best friend in Becca, as well as a supportive boyfriend in Phillip.

As you can see, this all adds up to The Glass Heart Girl‘s publication date of July 4th being very significant. I published the novel on Independence Day to symbolise Alena’s bravery and determination to fight for her independence from the past and embrace her future.

Supporting the Cause

I am dedicated to raising awareness of issues relating to gender violence and abuse against women and girls to help society understand what such individuals go through. Raising awareness of these problems will also help others to be more supportive of those around them who might be suffering similar difficulties. I will be making a small donation per book sold to Women & Girls Network, a sensational London charity that supports women and children who have experienced gender violence, rape and domestic violence. They offer support and counselling services to help these individuals work through their problems and cope with the trauma of the past so they can hopefully move forward with their lives.

Commending the Editors

I really don’t think that Christie Stratos realises how amazing she is and how sensational her company Proof Positive is. From the moment I contacted her and she proofread the first five pages of The Glass Heart Girl, she totally embraced my characters and got exactly what the book is about. I cannot believe how Morgan and Christie who edited my book, understood my characters so deeply; namely Alena, my protagonist. They also recognised the positive and important messages the novel is sending to women suffering problems similar to Alena. I would like to thank them both from the bottom of my heart, for the extraordinary job they did on my manuscript. I was so tearful and blown away when I received it back, flawless and perfect, with my characters and story thoroughly polished. I can now see the true message of The Glass Heart Girl shining through the manuscript. I thank Morgan and Christie for their hard work, enthusiasm and sheer dedication. You guys are so great at what you do, and I will be recommending you to all of my writer friends.

The Glass Heart Girl will be released on July 4, 2014 and is available as an ebook and in paperback from Amazon, and in ebook format from Kobo.

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Connect with Michelle Diana Lowe:

Website
Twitter
Amazon
Goodreads

THE GLASS HEART GIRL EBOOK COVER

Meet Author Kevin Zdrill

Jun 27, 2014 | Authors

It’s not easy to craft a story that seamlessly weaves together disparate lives and situations, each in their own world yet ultimately affecting each other. But Kevin Zdrill has done this flawlessly in his book Crazy, Mixed-Up World, a novel whose characters and relationships are so relatable that readers will recognize and be touched by more than one.

In this author interview, Kevin shares his motivation and inspiration for writing this book; we think you’ll find it as interesting as we did.

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Is this your first book? How long did it take you to plan it before you began writing it?

This is my third book. My first two books, No Kiss Good-Night and Boom Chicka Wah Wah are a comedic dating series. Crazy, Mixed-Up World’s planning quickly unfolded within a month despite the complexities of the storyline.

What do you think makes your work stand out?

It’s a story premise that quickly draws the reader into the situational lives of the characters. The use of dialogue is crisp and engaging with descriptive settings kept to a minimum for brisk pacing. Readers tell me they find themselves reflecting on the book long after its completion.

Would you say this book fits into a particular genre or would you say it’s more of a commentary on contemporary life?

This book blurs the lines between several genres because it is a commentary on contemporary life and the diversities of social issues making it difficult to corral it into one category.

The characters in your book are very diverse – are any of them based on people you know or have seen/talked to in real life? Is there one you’d like to know in real life?

I’ve stayed away from developing a character based on someone I’ve actually met, believing it constricts the potential for where I can take the character’s development. That being said, I’ve been intrigued by situations described to me that have found places within my books in various designs.

Your characters are all so different from each other, as are their lifestyles and situations, yet you gave each one a distinct voice and circumstance. Did you find it difficult to immerse yourself in so many different characters’ personalities/situations so you could write authentically from each one’s POV?

The beauty of people as individuals is that there are no limits for distinct voices and personalities. In my careers in banking and mental health, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to meet and interview well over ten thousand people. The richness of personalities makes it very simple for me to immerse myself into an array of completely distinct characters and have a ton of fun with them.

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

I’ve become more disciplined in scripting out an outline and character profiles after suffering nightmarish editing to fix errors. While it’s easier to initally wing it, the price to pay in the final polish is huge. However, most chapters and scenes, despite adhering to a script, often take on a life of their own while I’m writing and I’ll roll with whatever direction it takes me. It’s often during these times that the best magic is written and character dialogue clicks.

Did you do any special research for this book?

For this book I wanted to incorporate a few specific mental health personality disorders to bring to life very real and very specific behavorial themes.

Do your friends and family know you’re a writer? Were they surprised when you told them?

There’s that inital shock when family and friends discover about the books I’ve written. In the past, the first reaction was a request to read the book. Everyone was so eager to finally see what went on inside my head! The frustration back in those days amounted to having zero avenues to get a book into print. Now, the reaction from friends each time I release a book is where I found the time to write with two boys under the age of three. Frankly, I think that surprises me as well!

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

I’m always thinking. I’m always reflecting. And I’m always putting myself in situations that become fodder for a book. I can be listening to a song, hear a lyric or a line spoken by an actor in a movie and an entire book idea comes tumbling within my head. I’ve had dreams so vivid and detailed they became storylines. A case in point, Crazy Mixed-Up World was sparked simply by a song that had a line that caught and germinated the entire book’s concept inside my head.

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?

Years ago I was involved in a couple of writing groups and I found myself overthinking what it takes to write a good story. I think they can complicate the creative process. At least for me it does. A good story should flow naturally by the author without constantly thinking of structure and what the guy sitting next to me does to write. A good editor will work out all the kinks. A writer has to get it down on paper first.

Do you read the kinds of books you like to write?

Not really. There’s a really small group of authors I’ll read, but mostly I’m into nonfiction books. Yet, I’ve heard to become truly good at the craft, a writer should constantly be reading books in their genre. The trouble for me is that I feel guilty if I’m reading because I could be writing.

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

Phoenix, Arizona. I spent some time there a couple of years ago. What a climate! I thrived in being able to sit outside day or night writing! There’s no downtime in the weather with rain or snow. I could sit out on the patio with my iPad and never come back inside!

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Connect with Kevin Zdrill:

Website
Amazon
Goodreads

Check out Kevin Zdrill’s Crazy, Mixed Up World:

Meet Author Joseph Murphy

Jun 20, 2014 | Authors

You’ve never read two series quite so intricately woven together as Joseph Murphy’s. And you’ve never read books so well laid out. In editing Murphy’s books, I’ve often wondered how he kept everything so straight, especially in his latest book, Beyond the Black Sea. If you haven’t read it yet, it’s a must-read for lovers of good, solid fiction as well as authors who are hungry to learn more by reading quality writing.

I’m so happy to share with you this in-depth interview with Murphy. And if you haven’t read any of his books yet, they’re worth every penny – and you’ll want to read them again and again!

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Did you originally plan to have two separate series instead of one series, or did that decision come after you wrote Council of Peacocks? Did you plan for your two series to intertwine?

I always planned to write about the two worlds, but originally they were two separate stories. After finishing the first draft of A Fallen Hero Rises, I realized it would be much more fun to have them connected. I grew up on Marvel comics. The reason I preferred them to DC is the universe was more cohesive. DC allowed more writer freedom which meant individual comics didn’t necessarily relate to the others. In Marvel, the big events in one comic always affected everything else. For me, that’s much more interesting.

How long did it take you to plan both of your series before you began writing them?

Too long. Embarassingly long. I get a tad addicted to worldbuilding. So I took a year to write a few “source books” similar to the type a roleplaying game (like Dungeons and Dragons) would use. They turned into encyclopedias. I have a 700 page book detailing the various magic systems, secret organizations, and races on Earth and Maghe Sihre and a separate 400 page document detailing plant and animal life on Maghe Sihre. I actually wrote first editions of the first three books in the Sword of Kassandra series. It took me that long before I figured out where everything was going. Then I went back and completely rewrote the first book. It was worse for Council of Peacocks. I have rough drafts and very extensive notes of five books in that series. It meant that I spent seven years or so writing without any published books to show for it. The good news is I’ll be able to publish 2-3 books per year very easily now.

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

When I started writing, I wrote almost exclusively horror. Over the years that’s changed along with my reading taste. I have so many books I need to finish in the two series that I don’t really have time to dabble with anything else. I use a program called Evernote to keep track of all my story ideas. At the rate I’m going, I’ll have all the books in my writing queue finished in 2-3 years and finally be able to try something new.

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

Wow. Good question. And hard to answer without sounding egotistical. It’s very important to me to have strong female characters. And lots of them. Women make up more than half the planet and they are severely under-represented in fantasy and sci-fi. Lord of the Rings is a perfect example. The movies have tried to address the issue by forcing in female characters. I apply the Bechdel test to every book I write. If you haven’t heard of the Bechdel test, it’s a way to determine if women have an active voice in a movie. It asks three questions: (1) does it have at least two women in it, (2) do they talk to each other (3) is their conversation about something other than a man. If the book doesn’t pass, I rewrite it.

In my new book, Beyond the Black Sea, the head of the U.N. council was male, as was a certain reptilian the characters meet in the later chapters. I changed their gender. Originally I wanted to make the book more balanced. It also made the characters more interesting because it forced me to think of them as people and not just placeholders.

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

Travis’ boss is based on a real boss I had. He was actually a bigger ass-hat in real life than he comes across as in the book.

Did your friends and family always know you were a writer? Were they surprised when you told them?

I started writing in 5^th grade. So they shouldn’t be surprised. But I see this look in people’s eyes when they hold a copy of one of my books in their hands. Something about a paperback makes people realize I really did it.

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

Watching movies and reading books. Nothing inspires me faster than looking at the stupid decisions characters make in movies and books. I get angry and then I head to the keyboard to “fix” the story. Council of Peacocks was inspired by the movie Wrong Turn. There’s a scene in the movie where the protagonists could kill the sleeping cannibal hill people…and they just try to sneak away. If you are ever confronted with monsters who have killed your friends and are now sleeping in front of you, you don’t run away. You drop a hammer on their head until they are sleeping forever. Sorry. As you can probably tell, I’m still very angry about that scene.

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?

I’m an active member of ASMSG. I’m the feature editor of their science fiction and fantasy emagazine, SFP Indie, and do cover art for the other upcoming emags. There is a ridiculous amount of talent in that group. They were founded to help writers improve their social media skills, but they’ve become so much more. They help with finding reviews, beta readers, editors, cover artists, handling the time crunch of deadlines. Every member I’ve met (and we have over 900) is always willing to help out other members. If a drama queen slips into the bunch, they are quickly removed from the group. I can easily say the group has made my experience as a writer much easier and more enjoyable.

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?

Again, I probably did too much of this. As far as outlining books, I have them outlined until the end of the series. But once I start writing the first draft, things can change dramatically. I originally planned to kill off a certain character in Beyond the Black Sea. I really tried to kill him…but the story wouldn’t let me.

As for the characters, I know their dating history, which types of ice cream they prefer, their genealogy. I also know their birthdates because I wanted to make sure their personality fit their astrological sign. Almost none of that stuff ends up on the page. But it does mean when I sit down to write, I don’t have to think. I know my characters better than I know people in the real world.

How do you keep track of all the details of your multiple storylines in both books? It’s amazing how well you start to bring the Activation series and the Sword of Kassandra series together in your upcoming book, Beyond the Black Sea.

Lots and lots of notes. I also rarely sleep, which I think is a crucial element for anyone planning a career as a writer.

Did you do any research for either of your series?

Tons of research. I love reading books on conspiracy theories and paranormal events. I read David Icke books to learn about reptilians. I read books on Atlantis by Edgar Cayce, Ignatius Donnelly, Plato, and a few dozen others. I’ve been worldbuilding since I was a teenager. That amounts to over 30 years of compiling ideas. The good news is I probably don’t have to do any significant research for the rest of my life.

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 think that’s another requirement. If you want to write a genre, you need to read a genre. If not, the reader is going to figure out very quickly that you’re a fake. I’m addicted to Jim Butcher, who writes urban fantasy and epic fantasy. I’d also pick Robert Jordan over George R.R. Martin any day. What I’ve realized by reading Martin is that I like a bit more fantasy in my fantasy and a little less reality.

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

Fictional – Atlantis. They would have dreamcatching devices that could capture my dreams and turn them into finished, fully edited novels. Non-fictional, probably Venice, Italy. Wandering the streets there at night, after the cruise ships have left port, I realized it is one of the few truly magical places left on Earth.

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Connect with Joseph Murphy:

Website
Twitter
Amazon
Goodreads

Check out Joseph Murphy’s awesome books:

Calling All Critiques: Second Week Wrap-Up

Jun 5, 2014 | Offers

Thank you to everyone who has participated so far in Calling All Critiques, whether you were a submitting author or a critiquer or just stopped by the blogs to see what was going on. The second week’s Rafflecopter random giveaway of two eBooks and a $10 Amazon gift certificate ends on Sunday at midnight, so give some feedback on one of the earlier posts and maybe win some prizes:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/6928ae4/

First Week Visiting Winner

The first week’s visiting winner who either commented or followed one of the participating bloggers on Twitter is:

Entry #49
Elliot W.

Elliot, you should have received an email yesterday. You have until Thursday to respond with further information for us to send you your prize. If we don’t hear from you by then, a runner-up will be chosen.

Cover Art Random Winner

As a thank you to all the authors who submitted their work to be critiqued, we’ve randomly chosen one lucky winner who has a choice of the following prizes:

20-page professional edit/critique by Proof Positive OR
An author interview on the Proof Positive blog AND an author WIP Q&A on MM Jaye Writes OR
An honest review of his or her book (no horror/hardcore erotica) on MM Jaye Writes AND, if it’s speculative or dark fiction, Magic & Mayhem Book Reviews, with corresponding Amazon and Goodreads reviews.

This week’s winner is:

Entrant #9
Bob Cradock

Bob, look for an email in your inbox later today. You have until Friday to respond as to which of the three prizes you want. If we don’t hear from you by then, a runner-up will be chosen. Once you choose your prize, we will provide you and the blogger with each other’s contact information to coordinate timing.

Next Week: Query Letter or Book Blurb Critique

Starting Saturday, June 7, 2014, at 6 a.m. Eastern and ending Monday, June 9, 2014, at 8 p.m. Eastern, submit your query letter or book blurb to Critiques@Saboviec.com. Cut and paste the following template into your email and fill it in.

The name you want to be known by:
Your website (optional):
Title:
Genre (include audience, such as YA/Adult, and category):
Entry:

We’re not imposing a word limit for this critique; however, you already know that too long isn’t going to get you an agent or interest in your novel, right?

This week’s deadline: Monday, June 9, 2014, at 8 p.m.

No changes for the rest of this from last week: Your entry will be assigned a number in the order in which it is received. Our cutoff is 30 entries. Entries 1-6 will be posted on our blogs Monday morning, entries 7-12 will be posted on our blogs Tuesday morning, etc.

Your email will be kept confidential. What you submit is what will be posted, so double- and triple-check your spelling and grammar. (We may correct crazy formatting errors as a result of email quirks, but still, make sure it’s clean before you press send.) You may resubmit an entry, but it goes to the end of the queue: if you submit it past the 30-entry cutoff, you’ll have lost your spot.

All 30 accepted entrants will be entered into the prize drawing, and the winner will be chosen by their assigned number through Random.org.

As always, if you don’t want both positive and negative feedback, please don’t enter. This event is for us to help one another grow as authors and maybe to make some friends in the process.

Some fine print: Entries that don’t include the above information will be discarded. At our sole discretion, we may also discard other posts for reasons such as offensive/distasteful material. Erotica may be confined only to certain blogs, and we may put an adult content warning on it.

If You Enter, Please …

Critique other entrants. The sky’s the limit on how many other entries you critique, but we ask that you at least provide feedback to two other participants.

Also, when you receive feedback on your entry, be gracious if you decide to respond. We would highly suggest not responding except for perhaps a “thank you,” but you’re going to do what you’re going to do, aren’t you? Don’t be defensive or explanatory; these critiques are for you to improve your writing. Take what you want and leave the rest behind.

And If You Critique, Please …

Be nice. Be constructive. Be specific. Be polite.

Mean-spirited or spam posts will be deleted. General “I love everything about it and I think you’re the next J.K. Rowling, ZOMG!” obviously-written-about-your-best-friend comments won’t be deleted, but that’s tacky. Don’t be tacky.

Join us for more fun next week!

While you wait, check out all the participating blogs and bloggers:

Official Blog of Brian Basham – Brian Basham (Twitter / Wattpad / Facebook)
MM Jaye Writes – MM Jaye (Twitter / Facebook)
Quanie Talks Writing – Quanie Miller
Proof Positive – Christie Stratos (Twitter / Facebook / Google+)
Before Ink Dries – Mike Verbickas
Magic & Mayhem Book Reviews – S. L. Saboviec

We look forward to seeing you back here soon.

Any questions? Leave them in the comments!

Calling All Critiques: Entry #14

May 28, 2014 | Offers

This is the final day of 500 word excerpts for Calling All Critiques! Thank you to all who participated – we hope you found the critiques you received useful. Next week we’ll have book covers in need of critiques, so stay tuned!

Don’t forget to enter our raffle to win a $10 Amazon gift card, an eCopy of It Ain’t Easy Being Jazzy by Quanie Miller, and an eCopy of Guarding Angel by S. L. Saboviec. This is your last chance!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/6928ae2/

And now, on to the final critique.

Author: Robert L. Slater
Website: www.desertedlands.com
Genre: YA/Adult Science Fiction
Entry:

*STRAIGHT INTO DARKNESS*
A Deserted Lands novel*.*

LIZZIE SLUNK BETWEEN THE CIRCLES of lights on the snow-scattered streets. The night’s cold bit at her through the layers of clothing she’d added after escaping. Her second day of freedom—slept away in an uncollected house—faded into the past. Happy Belated-f___ing Birthday, Lizzie. Now someone followed her. Or maybe paranoia lied to her again.

Her pace quickened, the baby in her belly kept her core warm, but her fear sent her running. She jogged down the center of the street away from the drifting snow that would give her path away.

Like her feared pursuer, the houses watched her; like hollow ghouls they represented the human deaths, the costs of the pandemic. Her heart twisted at the thought of her own dead. Mama, keep me safe. Jayce, help Mama not be too lonely. Lizzie wished she could hear their voices, see their pictures and videos. But that cell phone had died in the burning car. Stupid. Months later she still kicked herself for her forgetfulness and lack of focus.

A car engine hummed down a nearby street. She slid behind a wooden fence and found a knothole she could use to spy on the car. Good thing she’d hidden—one of The City’s finest. He looked like a cop, not just someone who had become one since the Quieting. That might make him better at his job.

He couldn’t be looking for her. No one should even know she was gone until she didn’t show up for Monday morning chores, cleaning up after breakfast in the cafeteria. Somebody might notice she didn’t show up for breakfast, but breakfast wasn’t mandatory for the preggers. They’d assume she’d prioritized sleep or felt nauseous. She should have had another day. She needed that day. Dammit. The cop stopped at the next intersection and turned a circle inside it, then another and stopped. Was he bored?

The patrol car sat idling. The door opened. Lizzie scanned behind herself, she needed to move. She slipped against the house and worked her way around, eyes peeled and ears open to anything. The car door closed. The engine revved and moved away from her. At the edge of the street, she waited behind another parked car until it turned onto a side street. Then she raced across.

This mission wasn’t what she’d imagined. It should have been easy. The night curfew meant no one on the streets. That was the mistake. No one except her. She needed to get out of the central district and into the suburbs. The viaduct cut across her path. She lowered herself down its incline on her butt. Ice covered the bottom, but she’d be more hidden. Unless, of course, someone had seen her go down and then there was no escape.

She slid along the ice for several blocks, but it slowed her down. She crawled out to streets blown clean of snow. Anger fueled her feet on the bare pavement, she ran, ignoring the mild stitch in her side and the uncomfortable bounce from the extra fat her body was piling up.

Liked critiquing this piece? There’s more to critique!

Or critique another piece on Proof Positive’s blog:

Calling All Critiques: Entry #6

May 26, 2014 | Authors, Offers

Thank you, C. Angeles Wolf, for submitting your 500 word entry to Calling All Critiques! We are so happy to post your work and give feedback.

To all those interested in critiquing the work below, please be constructive, proactive, and helpful. Not all feedback has to be positive, but it must help the author improve and/or let him/her know what s/he is doing right and wrong. Your feedback is important to the author, so please provide details and suggestions in a polite way. More info on how to critique here.

Please also make sure to check out our Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win two books and an Amazon gift certificate! Critique then enter!

Book Title: The Penumbrae Chronicles: From Ember and Ash
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Entry:

His prison was everywhere and nowhere.

Bound in inertia, he was blind, deaf, and mute but aware; immobilized yet vigorous in spirit; confined in sleep but lucid in dreams.

This existence, the enforced stasis, was slow torture. His body was growing steadily feebler while his life force raged within…and therein was the punishment, the…sentencing.

A great many things had been stolen from him.

Caged by his own might, the sorcery containing him powered his prison walls; the more he fought to be free, the more unbreakable his shackles became. In essence, he was a prisoner in and of himself.

Clever, his jailers were.

Meticulously planned, his torment bore insanity in its wake.

Was derangement even now his for vowing to overcome this restraint? He had a great deal left undone; this would not be his end.

He had no freedom, no power in physicality, but he had Will…one with great strength, rooted in Being, rooted in Blood.

He was learning passivity the hard way; he couldn’t waste any more energy raging against himself. Vitality – it was critical he conserve it.

Existence narrowed down to little more than torment…and dreams.

Chapter 1: The Last Outpost

The landscape was a searing empty skillet and it was the sum total of the world around her: nothing but a crust of dead earth, blasted rock and a horizon that enjoyed the chase. As the transport chugged its way across the plain, little else moved but waves of heat shimmying off the scorched landscape.

Earth’s environment was a harsh one, a place of violent weather and no water. Distantly, a massive boiling cloud of soil, dust, and lightning churned through the atmosphere. It stretched over half the horizon, a wrathful paladin unleashed by Mother Nature.

Jade Blackheart turned her outward gaze from the cloudy portal window to the handful of other passengers.

They, too, were journeying across the empty basin once known regionally as the Mid-West, heading for the last outpost of civilization: Frontier Town.

No one among them had the clean-cut appearance of the hospital personnel Jade had familiarized herself with, but so far the trip had been entertaining with a unique array of characters to consider.

The first was an older man whose weary eyes and grandfatherly face didn’t match his crude vocabulary. His traveling companion was a wretched scrawny youth, face full of acne, a mouthful of inflamed gums and plaque-coated teeth. The pair of them wore filth like it was in fashion, rank with old sweat and body odor.

The adolescent caught her looking and waggled his tongue suggestively for her, grabbing at his crotch.

His elder cackled and nudged him with an elbow, then, like the flicking of a switch, cast Jade a baneful glare.

“Look away, bitch!”

The third traveler wasn’t sharing the same reality as the rest of them; with mutterings about a blowtorch and a severed limb, his eyes were shiny bright with mania. He was fully present when he caught her inspection, though, lunging partway out of his seat at her from across the aisle.

Leave your comments below, and take a look at the other entries on Calling All Critiques’ hosts’ blogs:

(Website not yet live) Before Ink Dries – Mike Verbickas
M.G.’s Fantasy Blog – M.G. Silverstein
Magic & Mayhem Book Reviews – S. L. Saboviec
MM Jaye Writes – MM Jaye
Official Blog of Brian Basham – Brian Basham
Proof Positive – Christie Stratos
Quanie Talks Writing – Quanie Miller

Thank you all in advance!

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