If you are looking at making a movie script, don't just start writing.
Sure, you need to get familiar with so many things that it boggles your mind. Starting to write just seems simpler, no?
Wrong.
The best book on screenwriting: Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. Get it. Really well explained process to creating a script.
You will still need a great concept, though.
And, if you happen to have one ready, Mike Cheda has a great service to help you along with making it better.
lauantai 30. marraskuuta 2013
perjantai 22. marraskuuta 2013
Historical novels - people & places pages, some advice
When you have created a historical novel with a sack full of characters, names of so many places no longer on the map, religious cultures assassinated long ago by our dominant religions, foreign languages, and items that have no modern name, you will need to help the poor reader out a bit.
What I did not expect is the list to be twenty pages long and take four days to create and trim down to five pages. Thanks to Word (never thought I would thank it) you can erase your grammar check and re check. All the weird names will pop up.
But, do not neglect this: like doing a study, make sure you know where you got your references from. Mark the book, mark the spot. With Kindle (I used iPad Kindle) you can highlight them in the app itself, but you are bound to have those books that are rare and not in a digital form. Save days and mark them properly when writing.
Or go nuts.
Or go nuts.
perjantai 8. marraskuuta 2013
torstai 31. lokakuuta 2013
Lamentations and "wise" thoughts
When you go over your unedited material, full of self loathing and decide to compare it with your favourite books, do not shoot yourself. You should sound different from those guys and gals. It will be ok after its edited.
It's always satisfactory to finish something, no matter how small.
When someone tells you that it is a miracle that your literary creation has not been published yet, tell them that in this business, miracles are more commonplace than in the bible.
If your wife, or special someone tells you, with a concentrated face, that you do have some grammar issues in your text, along with comma problems, you are allowed to scream, jump up and down, and go into deep depression. Just as long as you get up in the morning.
If you feel paranoid about your family trying to stop you from writing during the weekends, you are right to do so. They hate it, no matter if they deny it. Do that at your own peril.
It's always satisfactory to finish something, no matter how small.
When someone tells you that it is a miracle that your literary creation has not been published yet, tell them that in this business, miracles are more commonplace than in the bible.
If your wife, or special someone tells you, with a concentrated face, that you do have some grammar issues in your text, along with comma problems, you are allowed to scream, jump up and down, and go into deep depression. Just as long as you get up in the morning.
If you feel paranoid about your family trying to stop you from writing during the weekends, you are right to do so. They hate it, no matter if they deny it. Do that at your own peril.
Useful links for a writer
I am no expert, and have not yet published anything, but I have three books written (though not edited), and have finally started to sell them. I have an agent. So, looking at that, I wish to share some of the sites and tools I have found useful in this journey.
Grammarly - I recommend Grammarly program at www.grammarly.com . Not an answer to everything, but will help you fix some of the grammar issues. It's not free, but worth it. Much better than Office grammar checkup, which is nearly useless. Let's face it; nothing beats human eyeballs on your writing, but Grammarly does give you confidence and even help.
Agents - Check out http://www.agentquery.com/default.aspx. Here you can filter your literary agents and find which ones might take your stuff seriously. Do not send anything that you have not thought about for a long time. Read their submission guidelines, check out each agent. You might have best luck with the ones who are new and "hungry." Remember, you can get a dozen rejections. Don't get shot down by that, unless you were not serious to begin with. Be ready to bleed, and cry, and to spend many sleepless nights ready to throw yourself over the cliff.
Synopsis, the query letter. GODS I hate doing them. I loved this link, though. http://www.marissameyer.com/blogtype/6-steps-for-writing-a-book-synopsis/
Not directly a guide for books, but for creating a product. Writing from heart is great, but you can also think about the customer. What would they like to see, and how would you brand... yourself? http://www.slideshare.net/cultbranding.com/7-steps-to-a-cult-brand?from_search=5
Self publishing - the fact is, that self published books are gaining ground. One reason why an agent does not take your stuff is that they really, really have to concentrate on those, they think might be super hits. Your stuff still deserves to be seen.
For promoting your book, use anything that is at hand. Look how this guy got a job. Why not make a slide set of your work, blog, whatever, and put it on Slideshare? http://www.slideshare.net/sjoman/superman-viral-resume
Publicist, campaigns. If you can afford them. Really good read to introduce you to the world of internet awareness. http://www.slideshare.net/paulakrapf/how-to-market-your-book-still-have-time-to-write
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/seller-account/mm-summary-page.html?topic=200260520 Many opportunities here, perhaps too many, but your book is different, right?
Amazon is not an answer by itself, you will need help to sell your book. These tips are helpful. http://www.writersstore.com/15-do-it-yourself-tools-to-promote-your-book/ Obviously, not everyone can go and speak in conferences, but do all you can. Your book is great, right?
Some thoughts about self promotion. http://www.forbes.com/sites/suwcharmananderson/2012/06/19/book-promotion-for-self-publishers-a-waste-of-time/ You still need the great product.
How someone did it in Amazon. http://www.copyblogger.com/amazon-content-marketing/
Goodreads, how to make your book known to the millions of people out there. http://www.slideshare.net/paulakrapf/promoting-your-book-on-goodreads?from_search=6
Grammarly - I recommend Grammarly program at www.grammarly.com . Not an answer to everything, but will help you fix some of the grammar issues. It's not free, but worth it. Much better than Office grammar checkup, which is nearly useless. Let's face it; nothing beats human eyeballs on your writing, but Grammarly does give you confidence and even help.
Agents - Check out http://www.agentquery.com/default.aspx. Here you can filter your literary agents and find which ones might take your stuff seriously. Do not send anything that you have not thought about for a long time. Read their submission guidelines, check out each agent. You might have best luck with the ones who are new and "hungry." Remember, you can get a dozen rejections. Don't get shot down by that, unless you were not serious to begin with. Be ready to bleed, and cry, and to spend many sleepless nights ready to throw yourself over the cliff.
Synopsis, the query letter. GODS I hate doing them. I loved this link, though. http://www.marissameyer.com/blogtype/6-steps-for-writing-a-book-synopsis/
Not directly a guide for books, but for creating a product. Writing from heart is great, but you can also think about the customer. What would they like to see, and how would you brand... yourself? http://www.slideshare.net/cultbranding.com/7-steps-to-a-cult-brand?from_search=5
Self publishing - the fact is, that self published books are gaining ground. One reason why an agent does not take your stuff is that they really, really have to concentrate on those, they think might be super hits. Your stuff still deserves to be seen.
For promoting your book, use anything that is at hand. Look how this guy got a job. Why not make a slide set of your work, blog, whatever, and put it on Slideshare? http://www.slideshare.net/sjoman/superman-viral-resume
Publicist, campaigns. If you can afford them. Really good read to introduce you to the world of internet awareness. http://www.slideshare.net/paulakrapf/how-to-market-your-book-still-have-time-to-write
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/seller-account/mm-summary-page.html?topic=200260520 Many opportunities here, perhaps too many, but your book is different, right?
Amazon is not an answer by itself, you will need help to sell your book. These tips are helpful. http://www.writersstore.com/15-do-it-yourself-tools-to-promote-your-book/ Obviously, not everyone can go and speak in conferences, but do all you can. Your book is great, right?
Some thoughts about self promotion. http://www.forbes.com/sites/suwcharmananderson/2012/06/19/book-promotion-for-self-publishers-a-waste-of-time/ You still need the great product.
How someone did it in Amazon. http://www.copyblogger.com/amazon-content-marketing/
Goodreads, how to make your book known to the millions of people out there. http://www.slideshare.net/paulakrapf/promoting-your-book-on-goodreads?from_search=6
Plan and redo. No way around that.
Not sure what type of a writer you are, but for me, the stories just pour out in to the paper. Plans? Pfft. I rather just get this...
Stop right there. Ok, maybe write that first chapter, perhaps another, but stop there. You will redo it soon.
These days, I spend months in preparation, reading books, gathering info, tasting the subject. Then I put it on the board, all the acts, all the scenes. Then, I write.
But it does not really stop there. The hard part is to admit that you are not ready after your skull is empty and all the chapters are there on the screen. Usually, you end up writing the same book more than once. In my case, in more than one language. Which is great, since I see it getting better. Meaning, I will have to redo much of the first version.
Take the time. Take it, and redo. There are many stories that have been screwed up by the need to finish. The good news is, that it really will be epic in the end. No need to worry about that.
Stop right there. Ok, maybe write that first chapter, perhaps another, but stop there. You will redo it soon.
These days, I spend months in preparation, reading books, gathering info, tasting the subject. Then I put it on the board, all the acts, all the scenes. Then, I write.
But it does not really stop there. The hard part is to admit that you are not ready after your skull is empty and all the chapters are there on the screen. Usually, you end up writing the same book more than once. In my case, in more than one language. Which is great, since I see it getting better. Meaning, I will have to redo much of the first version.
Take the time. Take it, and redo. There are many stories that have been screwed up by the need to finish. The good news is, that it really will be epic in the end. No need to worry about that.
Getting closer.
Finally, finally editing a version of my first book that might not be too long. Getting there, little by little. The story has gotten smarter, and people like it. In fact, I like it.
In the meantime, halfway through another book. It's all about the French revolution, Napoleonic era and a woman with a grudge.
Oh, and have some movie scripts that need writing.
Gods, give me hours!
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