Wednesday Word: Author to Author's Newsletter

  Author To Author’s Newsletter August 21, 2013

Writing & Publishing Tips

“I have this great idea! See, there’s a villain, and he’s got a hideout in a gravity-shelter underground on this other planet. And there’s a hero, right? And he’s got psychic abilities and then they fight and a war breaks out and they hide from nuclear fallout and then the villain dies. Isn’t that a great story?“

Believe it or not, I have been approached with…a variety of scenarios over the years. Not this one precisely, but others that have been outlandish, disorganized and most enthusiastically presented. The hopeful writer is generally convinced that their idea is amazing and original and mind-blowing. And indeed, it may be. But it lacks … well… It lacks discipline.

I tell authors about self-discipline often. To me, this is one of the KEY MUST-HAVES if one wants to work as a writer. DISCIPLINE. It does not mean spanking or whips or chains…so just tug your mind out of the gutter. Discipline means a structure for growth. For development. A writer needs that. So does her story. Do you think this kind of artwork happens without a plan? By no means. The macrame artist has a plan. She monitors the tension in each strand of string, braiding and designing and crafting knots at the appropriate intervals. She does this knowing there will be a support, or that it will hang “just so” and works to make sure the structure of the creation will work. The pattern is secure. There aren’t a bunch of oddly spaced loose ends dangling without form or function. This is a work of art and it requires discipline to achieve. Just like a novel.

There are many ways to achieve the balance of tension necessary to achieve a work of fiction that is coherent and comprehensive. One way is to outline. Another is to put different pieces together – like a quilt – and work the pieces into a glorious whole. But both ways require some planning. Some idea of what the final product will look like. For me, I HAVE TO KNOW where I will end up before I get much beyond chapter one when I write. I might write one chapter just because an idea won’t let me go. But if it goes much beyond that…I want to know where my story is stopping. Then, I make a plan to get there.

Contributed By Author to Author Member, Contributing Writer, and Author, Sandi Layne. Originally posted on her blog, http://sandyquill.com/2011/05/02/its-like-macrame/ on May 2, 2013.

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Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members

New Release from A2A Author, Savannah Leigh!

With This Ring A Novella Synopsis: Lily is a thirty-two year old single woman who owns Wedding Dreams. She spends her days planning weddings for other people. She is a realist, and knows that marriage is not in the cards for her. Drew Hamilton is a thirty-six year old lawyer who has no desire to have a wife or family. But, he is plagued by his desire to grant his mother’s only wish. When Drew meets Lily at a wedding, he thinks he has a solution to both of their problems. If only Lily sees it the same way.

With This Ring is only 99 cents on Kindle! You can’t beat that price! http://www.amazon.com/With-This-Wedding-Dreams-ebook/dp/B00EHMXUW2/
Congratulations to Savannah on her new release!

A2A Author N.K. Smith goes on blog tour with Are You Mine?

Synopsis: Human connection? Who needs it? Ever since she can remember, wealthy but weary Saige Armstrong has felt different from her peers in Pechimu, New Jersey. With only one good friend to her name, she has navigated the complicated halls of high school and is now faced with the timeless question: Now what? Fox Harrington, a fun-loving, socially charismatic graffiti artist uses his passions to color his world how he wants it. He knows exactly where his life is headed. That is, until he meets Saige. A summer project links the two together, making a tentative friendship bloom into romance, but despite their affection for each other, fundamental beliefs and ways of thinking threaten to destroy all they have built. "These moments in life are the best there are. They’re heavy with emotion, messy with the what-ifs, and frightening with the unknowns." 

Visit N.K. Smith’s blog and view the full schedule here: http://nksmithauthor.blogspot.com/2013/08/are-you-mine-blog-tour-schedule.html?zx=14a4f7adba85412a Are You Mine? may be purchased on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Are-You-Mine-ebook/dp/B00CSVPBGC/

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Author Lindsey Gray's Redemption Series I-Spy Game

For all you readers and writers out there who love to play online games and enter contests, here's a good one! The winner will receive an ebook of their choice published by The Writer's Coffee Shop! Take a look! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1WoqCjX55BmRPnEkJ0pLwac7xt_jU63fEfo6Ye71WURg/viewform

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Wednesday’s Weird Word

Acersecomic Definition: A person whose hair has never been cut. Origin: Greek- kome /Latin- acersecomes

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Thank you for reading Author to Author's first edition of The Wednesday Word! Visit us again next week for more news and savings to refresh your bookish pleasures! As always, feel free to share and spread the word!