Crafting clever and unique book titles…

I don’t know about you, but naming my books are one of the hardest parts of writing process. You want to be creative and unique without causing readers to scratch their heads trying to understand the meaning behind your title.

I always give my writing projects a working title. It makes it so much easier for me in discussing my book with other writers or potential readers. 

I am always tempted to create an overly clever title. Lately, I’ve been using locations as inspirations for several of my mystery projects. For one of my current projects called: Old Woman, I’m toying with a new working title: Dry Dock. I like the idea of suggesting a person who is under repair, isolated from society. I don’t know…just an idea at this point.

If you are having problems with crafting a title, think about a location in a key scene or a feeling that you want to invoke in a reader. Working titles are a great way to test out a title without commitment.

Happy writing!

Make a note…

I am constantly finding inspiration from real life for my murder mysteries. It is important that I find a way to capture this info in a format that works best for my writing process. I find that I like to use Evernote for quick, short notes about book ideas or plot twists. I prefer hard copy for research notes, plot outlines, and character notes. I create a digital notebook and assign a particular physical journal for hard copy.

Don’t try to follow someone else’s note taking approach if it doesn’t work for you. You will find lots of suggestions online on the best way to take notes. I’ve learned through trial and error what works best for me. I appreciate having a digital copy of my notes that I can access from multiple devices. My journal is kept in my writing bag so it’s with me whenever I head out to write at a local coffee shop or library. I like being able to flip through the pages as I write. This is what works best for me.

If you aren’t sure, then have fun exploring the various options out there. Try note cards, notebooks, or digital notes. I’ve tried note cards, but just could never get the hang of them. But, I know fellow writers who swear by note cards to plan their books. Back to school sales are a great time to check out new physical note taking options. There are always plenty of blogs/vlogs on better ways for note taking. Never be afraid to try something new or to stick with what works best for you. Never let note taking be a block towards getting your book written…

Happy writing!

Who are you?

Developing a character can be a hard exercise for writers. It helps to develop a character profile – imagine details that you would use to create a social media or dating site profile. It helps me to visualize the character and how they would act in any particular scene if I know a little about their background.

It is part of my research to develop profiles for all major characters and key minor characters. If I’m stuck on a name, I will list them as <collegeroommate> and move on in my writing. It helps make it easier to go back and find out these unknown character names. Since I like to set my books in a specific location, then I will do some research in old census records to identify family names. Thank goodness for internet searches to find list of popular baby names by year.

As I write, I continue to develop each character’s profile. Needs, wants, and desires that help to create a 3-dimensional person. Since I write in a contemporary world, then having realistic people helps create more authenticity.

Happy writing!

Stop taking criticism so personal!

It is so hard to hear anything negative about your writing. I have to fight to not get defensive when someone doesn’t seem to understand something in my writing. I force myself to take a deep breath and really listen to their comments. Even if I don’t agree, I try to find something to take away from their review.

I’ve meet writers who are overwhelmed by criticism. They find it heart crushing to hear that someone didn’t like their writing. They lose their creativity as they keep hearing the negative words in their head as they stare at the blank page. Folks, unless you plan to never share your writing, then it is time to develop a thicker skin. I still have a thin skin about criticism, but I’ve been working harder to make it a little thicker. I want to be able to not take criticism so personal. To be more objective when reading reviews.

You have to understand that no one is exempt from criticism. There will always be someone who doesn’t like your book because of vague or petty reasons. They just might not like the color of your book cover. There will be haters who hate everything and you are their new target. There will also be jealous wannabe writers who cannot stand that you have managed to publish while they are still staring at their half-written book. Just shake it off! Thanks to Taylor for the inspiration.

Listen, reflect, and then it is okay to ignore a review as you keep writing your story.

Happy writing!

Living the life!

Are you living the life you want? Do you have regrets about past decisions? Writing can help soften these regrets by allowing you to escape to an alternate universe where you can make your dreams come true…

I’m suggesting that you can craft the perfect life in your writing, based on your own life experiences. It will help add to a sense of authenticity of your characters plus allow you to fulfill your desires and goals. Things that may be out of reach in your current life.

Perhaps you have always wanted a certain type of relationship, then why not write it into one of your stories. Do you wish that you had a certain career or lived somewhere? Then why not have your character experience these scenarios. We all have those moments where we regret making a certain decision. Why didn’t we turn left instead of right? Why not explore what could have happened if you had accepted that job after college?

Your writing can immortalize your current life or explore the roads not taken. Your imagination is the only restriction in crafting your alternate universe…

Happy writing!

Keeping up with the competition!

There are thousands of writers out there in my genre. We all have to fight to get our book to the top of the bookseller charts, to gain reader attention. But, I am not in competition with any of my fellow mystery writers. I don’t care if they are making the big bucks and signing the movie/television deals. My only competition is me.

Judging my writing against someone else is always going to lead to angst on my part since there were will always be someone who is better out there at crafting a sentence or plotting murder. I am content to compete against myself of yesterday. I can only improve on today and have confidence that I will be a slightly better writer tomorrow.

Don’t fall into the dark hole of despair by judging your own work against other writers. Ignore them. Focus on you being the best writer possible. No one else will have that unique twist of your story because they are your stories. You never fail when you try your best. And, reminder, you will always be better tomorrow than today.

Happy writing!

 

Writer as Entrepreneur

In today’s publishing world, I believe that writers need to act as entrepreneurs. No matter the route that you are taking: self-publishing or traditional publishing, you need to be prepared to market and sell the sh#t out of your book.

I love to read blogs and articles about start-ups, professional blogging, and Search Engine Optimization (SEOs). I try to find useful information to apply in selling my books. As far as I can see, when my books are available, I am going to have to fight through a crowded market to get the attention of my potential reader base. I don’t expect to be able to just release my book and it jump to the top of the charts. As a self-published writer, I don’t have a powerful and connected publishing house to support my book. I need to do whatever possible to make readers aware of my book.

I created this blog and matching social media accounts to help publicize my writing. Right now, I am an aspiring writer, but soon I hope to be a published writer. I advise you to check out blogs for ideas on marketing your own writing projects.

Happy writing!

Excerpt from “Camp Segomo”

I have several open projects. If my focus falters on my main book, then I can work on another project. I’m currently working on the first book, The Rosebay Cafe, in the Norwood County Mystery series. I am also researching the 2nd and 3rd books in the series. I developed the series so that you can read each one alone or all 3 as the complete series. Here is the list of titles in this series.

1. The Rosebay Cafe
2. Camp Segomo
3. The Saura Trail

Please enjoy the following excerpt from Camp Segomo:

…He signed out and headed back to town, he had a few more stops before heading to the county dump. He turned on the satellite radio – loved having so many channels at his fingertips. Unfortunately, local radio was stuck on offering multiple types of country. He liked country, but liked to hear a little rock and roll every once in a while.  He was cruising along and hitting the steering wheel in time to the music when he spotted a black SUV parked on the opposite side of the road with 2 guys looking over a map on the hood. He slowed down and rolled down the window: “Do you folks need a hand?” The 2 guys in dark suits with mirror sunglasses looked at each other. The one closest to the road stepped forward while his buddy started folding the map.  “No, we’re good. Just double checking the map since the GPS is having a hard time working out here.”

“Yah, I love GPS, but you sometimes have to go old-school with a paper map.” I’m familiar with most of the back roads around here – are you sure I cannot help you out with directions?”

The guy who folded the map stepped forward now, “Thanks for the offer, but we’re on the right track now and ready to get back on the road.”

They both headed to the car and were back on their way.  I shrugged and put the truck in gear: “Strange folks in these here woods today.” But that was a nice Ford Expedition…

This is a rough draft so please be kind with any comments.

Happy writing!

 

Excerpts from The Rosebay Cafe

I’ve been spending the last year working on my book, The Rosebay Cafe. My focus over last three months has been adding filler chapters and applying a tough approach in editing my first draft. I had a funny moment when I realized that I didn’t know who was being buried in a scene. I had changed some details for a contract killing which ended up with an extra body showing up in a chapter. Yes, these are issues that murder mystery writers have to deal with when writing our stories.

Please enjoy some excerpts from my draft of The Rosebay Cafe. I hope it gives you all a little taste that wets your appetite to read more about contract killers and murder in a small town in North Carolina…

A scene from the beginning of the story.

“…He listened to her story of a baby brother caught up in a real estate investment scam. How she was going to have to bail him out – again. He worried that she was growing more brittle as the years passed. She didn’t want to have to deal with the authorities. She wanted justice – personal justice. From years of friendship, he understood her message. This scam artist needed to be stopped – permanently. He’d have to do some research to see if this scam artist had any connections. He hoped that he wouldn’t have to make a choice between the two parties. For now, he would stay as neutral as possible while putting her in contact with two of his best contractors. He liked how they approached jobs as professionals; no funny business on a job…”

And here is a scene from the middle of the book that I think we coffee lovers can appreciate.

“…He heard a “Yes, sir,” from the hall. He returned to practicing his mental powers against the god of the breakroom, their new 12-cup commercial coffee machine. It won the battle again. Once the brewing cycle was done, he filled his coffee mug and added some sugar and cream. He placed the pot on the side burner to stay warm. He took a few more minutes to setup the machine to brew another pot. He figured that the first pot would be emptied shortly as the smell of brewed coffee hits the main work area. He grab his mug and headed to the conference room. He hoped that the SBI found some results that would help his team narrow down their investigation…”

I remind you that this is a first draft so still very much a work in progress. Please be kind with your comments…

Happy writing!

Our loved ones can live on in the pages of your book…

We all have loved ones and friends who have meant the world to us. That special someone who supported you through tough moments growing up and growing older. You can preserve their essence in your books. 

My mother passed away 2 years ago. She meant so much to her family. I have a book idea that would explore her life and try to capture her essence within the pages. She wasn’t famous, but she was someone who touched the lives of so many people. I want to share her with a larger audience that might come to appreciate her awesomeness. 

As a writer, you can incorporate your friends and family into your stories in many ways. You can write about their lives or include a favorite characteristic. My sister helped me with some research on a mystery story. Her reward is a character that will be part of the background in the story. A character that helps add to creating a three-dimensional world. A character that adds some spice to my story like my sister adds spice to my life.

As we age and memories fade, why not incorporate your loved ones into a story. The story doesn’t have to be specifically about them, but inspired by their life and how they added to your world. My life is a little dimmer with the loss of my mother, but she can shine bright in my stories.

Happy writing!