Each week I will post a new tip to help you when it comes to writing. These tips can range from how to develop your characters to how to describe a scene in such intense detail that your reader feels as if they're experiencing everything that the character does. I will post them below each Friday as well as on my Twitter. If you have anything specific you want to know send your questions in through the contact tab and I'll do my best to find an answer that will help each of you develop your writing to the fullest. You can also send questions in to me via my twitter using the hash tag, #LRBHelpfultips. Whenever I post a new tip to my twitter I will use this tag.
Keep on writing!
~Lindsey
Keep on writing!
~Lindsey
One Line Story SwapsOctober 9, 2015
A great way to get some writing in when you don't have much time to actually write? Find a writing buddy and create a story one line/text at a time. One person starts the story with a line and then the other person texts/writes the next line, and so on and so forth. It's a lot of fun and makes you think on your toes because you have to write your next line based on what the other person comes up with. Sydney Scrogham and I did this a couple of weeks ago, and it was the first legit "writing" I had done in a while since I'm so swamped with life. Happy #writing! Creating Your SettingJuly 31, 2015
Today I bought a book titled, Writing With Emotion, Tension, & Conflict Techniques for Crafting an Expressive and Compelling Novel written by Cheryl St. John. Just by skimming through it, I have already found so many helpful tips to enhance my writing. So, my tip today will be straight from this marvelous book that I can't wait to delve further into. On page 128 Ms. St. John describes how photos are great for visual inspiration (for a setting for example). By being able to see a picture of what she envisions for a setting, place, etc in her novel she is then able to describe it. She goes on to state how, "often in a book of photographs, descriptions are printed beside the pictures" (St. John, 128) that better enhance your ability to describe what you are seeing. To discover more amazing tips by Cheryl St. John, make sure to check her out and pick up a copy of her book. It may even be beneficial to go pick up a book or two of photographs. Happy writing! TravelThis is a little late, but I was out of town for the weekend spending some time with some writer friends. After hiking with my friend, Sydney Scrogham, in the Shenandoah National Park, which is the inspiration for the setting of her upcoming novel, today's writing tip is to travel.
Travel will open you up to many more experiences and potential settings for your writing. Whether it's a small hiking trip or traveling across the country or the world, traveling will do you and your writing a world of good! Writer's GroupsJuly 10, 2015
Joining a local writer's group can be very beneficial to you and your writing. I joined one a few months ago and have been loving having more writing buddies to geek out with about my writing and to receive more feedback on my writing and what I can do to improve it. It also helps you enhance you editing skills (which will help you with editing your own writing) since you'll be editing other people's work. NetworkingJune 12, 2015
Networking is very important when trying to promote you and your writing. This is especially true if you are a new author who is trying to promote your debut novel since they can help you promote it to a wider crowd. So, make sure to start building your writer network now! The Importance of ReadingMay 29, 2015
I know I've probably posted this before, but I can stress this enough. It is so very important to make sure to keep reading in order to help yourself become a better writer. Read all genres, but specifically the one you write in. By doing this you are learning new ways to describe things and keeping your vocabulary fresh. For me, I need to read more articles on similar topics that I write about to help me improve that side of my writing so that I can make it fresh an engaging while still getting the information in there in a smooth way. So pick up a book and have a nice calm day reading! Reading Your MS out Loud While EditingApril 11, 2015
Sorry this is a day late, but I was busy editing away yesterday! The editing bug has struck me lately and so I'm following my groove thing while I have it since I've been in a dry spell editing wise for a while. This week's tip is to try reading your manuscript out lout while you're editing. It helps you to hear where you, or your future readers readers, get tripped up. I've been doing this the past couple of days while editing my MS and it really does help! Building Your Social Media PlatformApril 3, 2015
Start building your social media platform now, that way when you are actually getting your book published you'll have a head start with marketing it! If Your Story is so Weird That you Think no one Will Like it, Then it's Probably AwesomeMarch 27, 2015
On Wednesday evening I attended this author talk back at my college with Maggie Stiefvater. She was amazing and such a wonderful performer! Yes, I say performer because she got up on stage and didn't just talk about herself, she acted it out in the most hilarious way possible! If you ever get the chance to meet her and/or see her speak, do it! You won't be able to stop laughing! Any who, afterward I had the opportunity to ask her if she had any advice for aspiring authors and she said that if your story is so weird that you don't think anyone else will like it, then that's when you know it's good. So, there you go! If you think whatever you're writing about is super weird and that no one will like it, there will be someone who will love it and it will only make it more interesting and memorable! Currently, I am reading her novel, The Scorpio Races - which I also had autographed - and it is most definitely weird, but also really interesting! Know how to Negotiate pay Raises and When to Accept Lower PayMarch 20, 2015
This week's tip has more to do with articles than other writing related work, but it can still be roughly applied to everything writing related. While talking this morning with my professor, who got me involved with my college's newspaper in the first place, which in turn got me interested in journalism (previously I only ever wanted to write novels), I learned a few tips on how to negotiate a higher pay and how to know if I should or not. If you are going to negotiate pay with your editor, make sure you do so respectfully and cautiously. You don't want to come off as being full of yourself and thinking that you deserve some big pay raise just because you're a writer or just because you're now a published writer. Have a good reason to ask for the pay raise or for the organization you're writing for (whether it be a newspaper, magazine, publishing house, etc) to cover your expenses of collecting the information necessary to write your story (ie gas, travel expenses, etc). Now, if you're going to negotiate simply a pay raise, I would try and have some publications under your belt first since this gives you a better basis for negotiations. When you're first starting out, it is often better to be willing to forgo a huge paycheck in order to get your name out there and build your resume, however, make sure not to let yourself get used to a smaller paycheck just because you think you're an amateur and undeserving. In summary, what my professor told me is that the pay you receive for your article (or novel, etc) should be for the story that you submit and not going to cover the expenses required to conduct interviews and collect information needed to write your story (ie gas, travel expensies, etc). In short, you should be making money and not having your paycheck go toward the expenses necessary to produce your story, and so it's okay to talk with your editor about if they will cover those expenses. If not, that's okay too, you just have to decide if you're okay with covering those expenses yourself and having your work published, or if you want to look for someplace else to have your work published that will cover those expenses. Happy writing and good luck! Don't Plan out Your EndingMarch 6, 2015
This week's tip sort of boils down to if you're a plotter or a pantser. So, take from it what you will. I am a pantser, so when I sit down to write I don't go through all of the planning processes that many writers undertake. I don't have an outline or any real idea of what I'm going to write and where my story will wind up other than the very general and basic plot line. I just go with it and let the story flow out of me. On that note, my advice to all of you writers out there, young and old, is to not plan your ending. Even if you're planning out the rest of your novel, try not to truly plan out how your story will end. Sure, have a general idea of "yeah, I want these two characters to wind up together" or "I want so and so to die", etc. However, don't have every nit picky little detail planned out. Let your story surprise you and form itself. If you plan it, then you will be set on it ending in a certain way. This can then lead you to make decisions in the meat of your story that you otherwise wouldn't have that can detract from the plot. So, don't focus so much on where your story is going/ending, but on how it gets there and let the ending come all on its own. Further Your LearningFebruary 27, 2015
Today's post is inspired by a friend of mine, Sydney Scrogham, who is currently attending a writing conference in Austin. Always strive to further your knowledge. Further your knowledge in everything, not just writing - but writing is definitely a plus! In order to better your writing you also need to throughly know your subject matter. So if you're interested in writing a novel centered around someone who owns a horse farm, you should take some basic Equine Studies courses. This will ensure that you sound educated in your subject matter to your readers. Of course, you should also attend as many writing conferences as you can! They are a great tool for any writer. I attended one about four and a half years ago and am still friends with many of the people I met there and have retained some very helpful information that still aids in my writing. My friend who is currently attending a conference seems to be enjoying it immensely so far, and I look forward to hearing all about her experiences when she gets back. I also hope to attend another conference sometime this summer or before 2015 ends. So just remember, that improving your knowledge and always learning - both in writing and other skills - will not only help you in your daily life but in your writing life as well! Three Steps to Writing a SequelFebruary 20, 2015
This week's tip comes from my friend, Sydney Scrogham, and can be found on her site that is also dedicated to writing! So check it out!
For a more in depth description as to why these three elements are key to the success of your sequel, make sure to check out Sydney's page! FlashbacksFebruary 6, 2015
This week's is one I found on Pinterest. Gotta love it! Before you use flashbacks make sure you've:
StereotypesJanuary 30, 2015
When working on your next novel, story, or article, or during your next edit of one of them, make sure you're not playing into the stereotypes of "good" writing. Try not to have your story be too cliche or have that stereotypical ending since this makes it predictable and nothing new. Instead add some unique elements that keeps your readers on their toes and makes your story something completely new and different! Character FlawsJanuary 23, 2015
Something I found on Pinterest that I thought was an interesting way to make your characters more three dimensional and realistic, is to give all of your characters, not just the bad guy, a flaw. Since everyone has some sort of a flaw, it's only natural that your characters do as well. This will make them more identifiable and realistic to your readers. Make me CareJanuary 16, 2015
"Make me care." These are the three words that Buffy Andrews believes that every writer should keep in mind. You need to make your reader care in order for your story to be a success. Make your reader develop an emotional connection with your characters, so that if something bad happens to them the reader feels the sorrow they feel, if something good the reader, subsequently, feels joy, etc. This will make for a strong character and a strong plot. Follow Your DreamsDecember 19, 2014
Today's tip isn't specifically writing related. I am in The Nutcracker Ballet this weekend for the first time in years since I recently picked up Ballet again and started pointe. Since I haven't done Ballet in so long, it seemed impossible to start it again and to do the performance. However, I didn't let that stop me and now here I am. In light of all of that today's tip is to always follow your dreams, whether it be in writing or another dream. If you never follow your dreams, then you'll never succeed. Read!December 5, 2014
Something that I hear time and time again, is to make sure you read. Read everything and anything you can get your hands on. By reading you are broadening your horizons and will be picking up on subtle things that will help your own writing. You will also begin to learn what you think makes a story work or not. So pick up a book and get reading! Writing PromptNovember 22, 2014
Try writing from a prompt, such as a prompt sentence. It'll help you think outside of the box and may aid in creating a really awesome and unique story. Even if it never progresses past a paragraph or two, it'll help get those creative juices flowing. Examples of prompt sentences or ideas (found on Pinterest - what a wonderful invention! :) )
Make up some of your own or find an interesting line for your favorite movie or book, and just have fun with it! Happy writing! :) Writing BuddyNovember 7, 2014
Having a writing buddy can help you see things about your writing that you may have overlooked otherwise. Having someone you can trust and who is, preferably, a writer as well can give a fresh pair of eyes to your work. One of my friends and I have recently started swapping chapters of our manuscripts, and the comments are incredibly helpful. There are certain plot elements that I, as the author, understand completely but that she, as the reader, may not. This let's me know that I need to more fully explain those scenes. It can also be a lot of fun since you get to goof off with a friend while writing. We plan to have our next all night sleepover writing party next weekend. I expect a lot of great ideas will be shared and some awesome work will be written. It'll be a night of fun and writing. Be Significant and Just SuccessfulSeptember 20, 2014
From the mouth of Amir Windom, strive to be significant and not just successful. You want to make something of your life and be remembered for what you love. So, with your writing strive to be significant rather than just successful. If you're significant, then people will remember you and your writing. As opposed to if you're just successful, then you'll have your work published and doing well but won't necessarily make an impact on the lives of those around you. Show, Don't TellSeptember 13, 2014
Show what is going on, don't tell. In other words don't just use words to describe someone who is angry, describe how they are feeling. "I balled my fists up, my nails digging into my hand. My heart raced, threatening to explode out of my chest." The more you can make your reader feel the emotion your character is encountering, the better your story will be! Your Hero's State of MindSeptember 1, 2014
Anton Chekov states, "be sure not to discuss your character's state of mind. Make it clear from his actions." By doing this you will make it more believable. If the character is doing what his state of mind would lead him to do, then it is truly that character and not just a bunch of words. Live Your LifeAugust 22, 2014
Today's tip is about getting out and living your life to the fullest. The more you get involved in your community, sports, or other activities the more life experiences you will gain. With an increased amount of personal life experiences, you'll be able to write scenes from a first hand basis that will provide your reader with the opportunity to feel what your character is feeling and see the scene as more than a bunch of well formed words. How to Write a SceneAugust 15, 2014
This week's tip is on how to write a scene in 11 steps. I found this little guide on Pintrest, so I hope you all enjoy it!
This will allow you to make the best scene possible by allowing you to work on it over and over again until it is finished. For more on this list click here. From Amateur to WriterAugust 9, 2014
While on Pintrest the other day I stumbled across a quote from Richard Bach that I found to be quite inspiring. "A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit." I thought this would be good as this week's #LRBHelpfultip because writing can be extremely difficult and sometimes discouraging, and because of that people will sometimes quit doing what they love because they let a seed of doubt grow in their minds. So to make your writing happen, you must sit down and exterminate that doubt so that you can go from being an amateur with an idea to a professional writer with published works. Agents and PublishingAugust 1, 2014
Before looking for an agent, you need to consider a few things first. First you need to make sure your manuscript is complete, or as complete as you can make it, since an agent won't want to waste their time reading something that isn't even complete and since you're trying to sell your story you want it to be as perfect as possible to keep your reader (in this case the agent) interested. If your manuscript isn't complete, then it won't be perfect and so it may not sell your potential agent. After you've completed your manuscript (or maybe even a little before you finish) you need to start looking for an agent. Before you start your search, you need to assess what genre your manuscript is and who your target audience is. Once you decide all of that, then you can target specific agents to try and send your manuscript to. By doing this you increase your chances of getting signed since you are sending your work to an agent in your specific field - who is interested in the type of story you're trying to sell. So do your research and make some killer query letters so you can get your book published! When you Have the Urge to Write, Write!
July 11, 2014
When you have the urge to write, it doesn't matter where you are or what you're doing, just write! And I don't mean just the desire to write, because if you are truly busy (or obviously doing something that you can't just put down) then you can't just drop everything and just write down something random. However, if you have an uncontrollable urge to write because you have a story running wild in your head, one that truly captivates your entire being so that you can't concentrate on anything else, then you need to sit down and write it out. That way you don't lose what could be your next great story. If you write while all of your creative juices are flowing and the idea is fresh in your head, then you're sure to write a killer first draft. It doesn't have to be pretty or well written, that's what editing is for! 'Merica
July 4, 2014
In honor of our country's Independence Day, I thought this week's #LRBHelpfultip should revolve around some red, white, and blue pride. When writing about a specific country, city, event, holiday, etc make sure you fully understand why it is so important and any interesting facts associated with the event or place. This can help you write a scene or description that is believable and one that your audience can relate with. By fully understanding the topic you are writing about, you can understand why people often say 'Merica and when to use it appropriately. Opening Lines
June 28, 2014
Opening lines should invite the reader in to your story, and the world that your story takes place in. As Stephen King says, "an opening line should invite the reader to begin the story. It should say: Listen. Come in here. You want to know about this." So, make sure the opening of your story is one that would make you want to turn the page, since readers won't stick around to find out what an amazing story you have created if they are bored by the beginning, even if the middle and end are the best story ever told. Have a killer opening and readers are sure to finish and love your tale! Keep Your Eyes OpenJune 21, 2014
Today's #LRBHelpfultip is to always keep your eyes and your ears open. Or, in other words observe the people and the scenery that surrounds you. Anything interesting or that stands out, write it down. Make sure you write down what the person or place looks like in as much detail as possible. Describe how it makes you feel, what it smells like, tastes, everything. That way you can refer to that when writing a scene that has something like that in it. Or you can use a person you have described for a character and already have half the work done for how to describe their physical appearance. It will also help you describe how something tastes, looks, or makes your character feel from a first hand basis so that it is believable and will make your reader experience those sensations while reading your awesome book! Evoking SensationsJune 13, 2014
Today's #LRBHelpfultip comes from something I came across on Pintrest and is a quote by E. L. Doctorow. "Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader. Not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon" (Doctorow). Think back to all of the great novels you have read and think about why they caught your attention. What was special about them that made you feel that emotional connection with the character, or that made you feel as if you were there? It was most likely the way the author described what was going on. By describing the sensation of the rain falling onto one's skin, it allows the reader to fully imagine being in the character's shoes. Back up Your Work!May 9, 2014
Today's tip is to make sure you back up everything! Just last night I managed to accidentally break my computer, which held my life. Unfortunately I hadn't backed up everything, but about a month ago I did back up all of my writing on my dad's computer. Thank God for that since I would have lost my entire novel! This has taught me to make sure to back up everything on a regular basis since you never know when something is going to happen that will result in you losing everything. ~Lindsey Practice Makes Perfect
Today's #LRBHelpfultip is that practice makes perfect. The more you practice something, like writing, the better you'll become! If you practice writing a little each day, whether it be in a diary, a little piece of a novel or short story, or by writing descriptions of the people you've seen and the places you've gone, you're sure to improve! A good way to do this in a fun way, is by entering my One Month Writing Challenge!
Opening Lines
Today's #LRBHelpfultip is, as Stephen King states, "an opening line should invite the reader to begin the story. It should say: Listen. Come in here. You want to know about this." Without a good hook, your reader will not continue to read your story. Would you read a story that bored you from page one and didn't become interesting until chapter five? So make sure you spend a lot of time on the opening lines so that your reader will want to keep reading!
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Query Letter
For those of us new to getting their work published, having an agent is fantastic. They can do all of the hard work of trying to find a publisher. However, you have to get a Literary Agent interested in what you have to say in order for them to take you on. Once you have found an agent you wish to represent you, you must write them a query letter. The query letter will give them the necessary information they need about you and your book to decide if they wish to represent you. While doing my own personal search on how to find a Literary Agent I learned a few helpful tips on how to write a winning query letter that I'll share with you below. You can also find the link to an excellent site listing everything you need to know about making your query.
Your query letter should be a single page that illustrates who you are and what your book is about. This is not a resume so don't go ranting on about the last job you had as an sales assistant or whatnot. If you do, however, have some previous job that pertains to what you wrote, then include that. It needs to be formal and needs to be no more than one page in length. You have three paragraphs in your letter. These are: the hook, mini-synopsis, and a little biography about yourself. You'll want to stick to this basic format so that you seem professional. Remember that the goal of this letter is to get the agent to want to read your book and represent you. So make sure your proof read, proof read, proof read! For more tips on how to write an amazing and successful query letter follow this link to read all of the tips in more detail and see some examples. Example Query for an ArticleName, Title (Example Name, Editor)
Magazine, Newspaper, etc name P.O. Box xyz Town, State zip (Date your query is sent) Dear Mr./Ms. XYZ, Introduction of the subject of your article. If it was about a small business you could say: "Much of the (area your article is about) consists of small businesses that (explain the importance of these businesses and their impact briefly.) Introduce the specific area you are talking about: One such area is the small town of (area) conveniently located just (xyz). (Explain how the subject of the article involves the magazine's/newspaper's readers.) As a lover of family oriented businesses, I propose an article that gives an inside look into (subject of your article.) Due to your recent coverage on (do your research and find examples of articles that they have recently covered, and sections that would cover your article, that are similar to what your story is on so that the editor/publisher you are addressing your query to will see how your article will fit in to their magazine/newspaper), I believe this story will have a tremendous impact on your readers and will be greatly beneficial to your magazine. This piece would run (the word count range of your article) words in its entirety. This article would work wonderfully as a piece for your (example section) or (example section). (Now briefly talk about your qualifications as a writer/reporter, such as a school newspaper you are a writer and/or writer for, or any previously published works) and would be pleased to provide you with samples of my work that has been published there. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you soon. Yours truly, (Example Name) Make sure to be polite and professional in the body of your email, your query, and all of your dealings with your editor, publisher, or agent. Also make sure to proof read everything before you send it in since no one wants to publish a writer who can't catch simple mistakes in a query sent in an attempt to sell their story.
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