Tag: writing

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Friends writing

3 Writing Hashtags To Know On Twitter

Things really started to pick up for me as I discovered the power of popular hashtags. Goodbye frumpy tags that no one knows. I saw immediate results. And so, this article is going to go over 3 writing hashtags which I see time and time again.

They’re ones you should know.

#WritingCommunity

Writerscommunity, WritingCommunity, and other similar tags all take you into the world of agents and fellow writers in an instant. Also, these tags are specific enough that you’re sure to be found if someone searches for writing. Not only that, but the people that follow/post to this hashtag are overwhelmingly positive as they discuss the struggles they’ve faced while writing.

#Amwriting

Amwriting, Amwritingromance, Amwritingfantasy, and there are a whole lot more where that came from. These are great for writers to find people writing in your genre and discuss problems, tropes, and successes. Find your kin! This hashtag also extends to amreading or amagenting. Basically, keep this one handy because you’ll need it later. It applies everywhere that I’ve looked so far.

What are you writing? Not sure if there’s a hashtag for that? Helpful tip: use Twitter’s search like a google engine and type in your question.

#Writerslift

This one is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a lift. Either a lift in awareness, a lift in mood, or anything else to help your fellows. Let this one bring light to your day and use it to share the nice things that are happening in life. The writers and agents that use these tags are trying to share the happy.

Where To Look

The way I discovered hashtags was, surprisingly, as easy as a google search and one simple click. I found http://best-hashtags.com/. It had a list of hashtags, right at my fingertips. As well as:

http://best-hashtags.com/hashtag/writing/

A chart?

They have a chart. Fantastic. I’m sure this plays into SEO and I really miss Yoast (which is something I used while I interned for a blog agency). There are other websites out there for you to explore, if you have the time and the brainpower, but if not… here are the one’s I’ve found and used.

Thanks for sticking around until the end. In the comments below let us know what hashtags do you use to share your writing?

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Friends writing

10 Memes Every Writer Should Have On Hand

Writing is hard, but memes can make the work lighter. Here are 10 memes to brighten your day and give you the extra burst of motivation you need.

1.

Google, stop asking me if I need human teeth. I promise I don’t. When you’re writing, it’s fine that your search history makes you look like a serial killer. Trust me. Just do the research. It’s better than sounding silly.

2.

I’m a gardener (pantser) and I feel this on a deep level. I have to tell myself to plot at least a little to save me some stress when I get to editing. But honestly, I have no idea what my characters are going to find as they explore the world. I write as I go.

3.

Ah, yes. A healthy dose of fear. Also, setting deadlines helps keep that forward momentum. Even if you can’t meet the deadlines all the time, it’s a good thing to strive for. Get as close as you can in the time you’ve allotted yourself because I assure you that once you have an agent you can’t miss those important dates!

4.

This kitty is just too cute. Look at it thinking so hard. If I could think like this kitty I would obviously be the best among writers. Anyhow, don’t forget that thinking is part of writing. Don’t spend all your time thinking; but give yourself time to think between drafts and such to keep your creative juices flowing.

5.

Showing vs. Telling. The age old struggle. It would be so nice if all that eyebrow twitching you’re doing while writing those expressions would magically convey itself onto the page. But alas.

6.

Writing a book blurb is so hard. Make sure you do a couple of revisions of the blurb over time because that is the hook that’s going to get you a manuscript request. You’ll need a blurb, a log line, and an excellent cover letter. Don’t worry though, you’ve got time to get it all sorted out.

7.

You have to get rid of some “cool” things to have a good story. Trust me. It’s the hardest thing you’ll do, but it’s totally worth it. Also, hold onto those things you pull out and maybe you’ll be able to recycle them into another story some day. No writing is worthless, even if you end up not using it.

8.

Get yourself an Editor. Do it. Please. It’s worth it. Trust me. You need it. No matter how many times you read over your own work, there are still going to be errors and editors (in all their types) are a valuable part of both self and traditional publishing. So, go find an editor and get them to take a look at your book. In fact, I do have an editor listed on this very site. Deseretgear is an amazing editor!

9.

Once you’ve submitted your manuscript, all you can do is wait. Sometimes for weeks on end. Don’t become a skeleton, though. It’ll come, so find some other project to work on.

10.

Okay, for some people it takes really long, but don’t give up hope.

Thanks for staying all the way to the end. I hope you enjoyed the memes and if you haven’t already, don’t forget to follow us here at Rigmarole for updates and posts.

Categories
Novel Publications Short Story writing

My WIPs: An Update, An Admittance

I know I posted earlier this week about my “WIP” singular buuuuut, I haven’t been entirely honest. I actually have several projects which I’m working on and here’s a summary of where I’m at for each of them.

Mag Kad
(working title)

I’ve completed the dirty draft for this one which means that it’s sitting at 22,000 words and I expect to triple that. However, I realized that the story was 1. extremely trope ridden and 2. the characters were weak. So, I’ve set that one down for now and plan to come back to it sometime in July.

I don’t have a blurb for this one yet, but it’s an arcanepunk, solarpunk secondary world dystopian novel where magic users are caused by radiation and are viewed as abominations. I’m excited to flesh out this work and the characters. Right now it needs a lot of work, though.

Titaness of Bone (working title)

I’ve completed the dirty draft and dug into draft one on this one. The characters were stronger, I felt more invested in the story, and I knew where/what to change by the time I finished my dirty draft. I’ve revised draft 1 through the first story arc which means I’m sitting at 55,772 words currently and I hope to expand it out to around 90,000 (the higher end for fantasy drafts). I never imagined reaching anything of that length, but as I’m revising… things keep getting stretched out and fleshed out. So, I may end up eventually doing some trimming. Gasp.

I’ve previously posted about this one so go check out my first WIP post for the blurb and more details.

Sellsword
(working title)

This one’s a fantasy romance and I actually haven’t finished my dirty draft yet. I realized I didn’t know where I wanted to go with the story. Unfortunately, since I didn’t finish the dirty draft this one may drop off. But also, I certainly am hopeful that when I come back to it in August that I’ll better see the flaws and I’ll know where I want to take that story as well.

Right now it’s sitting right at 22,000 words-ish. And this isn’t the official blurb but this is what I wrote before delving into the novel. Rinise never wanted the throne. In fact, she and her brother actively fled from their cultish family so they wouldn’t try to sneak them back into the courts. Unfortunately, some fanatics got wind of surviving royals. And well, that would ruin everything. So, to keep the current king they’ve sent out an assassin. They killed her brother, but she’s still alive for now. And she’s in Lazaro looking for a sellsword. There’s all kinds of shifty sorts here. The barkeep said the one in the corner is honorable, however, so she’s walking towards him. And his flat eyes meet hers.

Queen of R
(working title)

It’s laughable, but this one’s sitting at 4,000 words. I started this gender-bent beauty and beast retelling a day or two ago. The protag, Gentry, wants to save his shop and so he’s heading to the soothsayer to see if she can tell him a way to earn the money to do that.

I’ll let you guys know when I finish the dirty draft for this one.

friends of clara

My Collab Works

I actually have two collaborative works going right now which I’m co-writing with two different individuals. Since I’m not the only one working on these projects, I can’t say exactly how far along in these two projects we are, or if they’ll ever reach completion in the way we envisioned. The first one, which has undergone multiple iterations, is currently on the back burner for myself and my co-writer. We’ll have to see if we come back together to salvage that one. The other work, which just underwent a major plot overhaul, is slow going as me and my co-writer are both currently very busy. But it’s moving along slowly.

My short stories

I’m going to say, I’m not very good at writing short stories at the moment. But that hasn’t stopped me from trying. The work is still a bit rough so I’ve set all four of them to rest for the moment. However, I’ve got my eye on them. I’m hoping that after a month or two I can make the required changes and send them out one more time for applications.

So, as you can see I’m a little crazy. Between these and increasing my online presence, I’m ready to pull out my hair, but I will continue to send updates every couple of weeks and I will be published, sooner or later. Thanks again for your support, I wish you all success and glory. What do you have in the works right now? Share in the comments below.

Categories
writing

3 Writing Misconceptions

When you decide to start writing, there’s so much pressure to perform right away. Especially in an age like ours where results are meant to be immediate and visible. Well, sorry to break it to you, but only an outlier would make it like that. The norm for most people is that good old recipe of time, luck, and money. If you haven’t already, go ahead and subscribe to our page for updates; and let’s talk about 3 writing misconceptions.

You have to write every day

writing every day

Flimflam. While it’s true that you do have to write consistently, for some people that does not mean they write every day. Perhaps it’s write so many pages a month or so many pages a week. As long as you have a consistent schedule, don’t worry about writing every day. Especially since so much of writing… isn’t writing. This is a huge writing misconception.

Fact or Fiction: Writing is Hard? Writing is Easy?

writing hard or easy

You’ve been hornswoggled. Some people say it’s a myth that writing is hard. Others say it’s a myth that writing is easy. Both are wrong. “Hard” and “easy” both get confused with time consuming in most cases. The more you write, the faster ideas and structures come to you. So, at first, crafting a good scene will take a very long time. However, with practice you will become more capable. And eventually you will write well. This writing misconception is a hard one to beat since it comes at you from both sides, but don’t give up. Writing really does take time; that’s not a myth. So make sure you set some hours aside for it, or things really will get out of hand.

What do you think? Do you agree that writing is more an issue of time rather than difficulty? Go ahead and add your thoughts to the comments below.

Fact or Fiction: A First Novel really is a First Novel

rewrite

Delusionary diddle. In case the image didn’t tip you off, this is false. People aren’t naturally good at writing. (Well, maybe someone is… but—squints suspiciously—I doubt that.) The book you read underwent at least a couple revisions, which might have taken the writer years to complete. This misconception has agents and self-publishers crying together. Please, don’t do it. A book you hold in your hands is truly a labor of love and effort on the part of the writer and anyone that helped them along the way.

Those are just three of the common writing misconceptions common today. For additional help with writing, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel is the book the industry is raving about. Check it out today and save yourself the hassle before you’re knees deep in a dirty draft.

Categories
Reviews

3 Stunning YA Fantasy Covers

Covers are what draw me to books, for better or for worse. Despite the saying, people really do judge a book by its cover. So why are so many covers bleh? Well, in this article we’re going to look at 3 YA covers that most certainly aren’t bleh.

1. Apolar’s Harry Potter Covers

COVER ART BY APOLAR

This book cover from the Thai artist, Apolar, is nothing short of stunning. And all the covers they’ve done for the Harry Potter series are equally as stunning. The face shapes, the story elements, and the use of cover space are all excellently done. If a teen picks up this book they know exactly what type of story they’re in for. And, because this cover is so well designed, if someone picks it up and doesn’t buy it, it’s because either 1. they’ve already heard about the books and didn’t think it was for them or 2. they genuinely aren’t interested in the genre that is presented to them.

With cover there’s no doubt about the content and that’s what a good cover does. A book cover accurately represents the genre it contains.

2. Simon Prades’ Tess of the Road Cover

COVER ART BY SIMON PRADES

After poking around his website, it seems that Simon Prades has an excellent understanding of positive and negative space. This German illustrator certainly implemented his talents on Tess of the Road‘s cover as well. The concepts of the book are gently explored without over-cluttering the space given him. This is more of a personal preference but I prefer when a book cover is concise.

3. Jeff Langevin’s Anya and the Dragon Cover

COVER ART BY JEFF LANGEVIN

Again, an excellent use of positive and negative space from artist Jeff Langevin for the book Anya and the Dragon. The setting, and glimpses of the plot are visible through the frame of the main character. Similar to the last one, this cover presents information without overwhelming the viewer and there’s no mistaking the genre the reader’s getting. This cover feels clean and makes great use of color.

What’s your favorite book cover and why?