Writing What You Know - Building a Research Library

In my fiction 101 class in college, my teacher gave me the best and worst piece of advice ever. Write what you know, he said. At first, this discouraged me. How in the world could I write a good story if I only stuck to what I knew? But then, I thought more and realized, if I didn't know it, well I was going to do research until I did. As it turns out, research is a HUGE part of life as an author. You must become a jack of all trades yet the master of none. I mean after all, how do you expect to keep your audience enthralled if you don't make what you are writing real?

So you need to start building your research library. Of course, a lot of resources are available on the web but sometimes you just need a book to flip through, bookmark, dog ear, or mark with a post-it for future reference. The first thing you need is a good dictionary and thesaurus. For this, you can make do with web-based ones. I personally use www.dictionary.com and www.thesaurus.com. Next, you'll want a book for style and grammar. The one that most publishers use is The Chicago Manual of Style.

Now on to the juicy stuff. The first book in your library, in my honest opinon is Goals, Motivation, and Conflict. I know what you're thinking. I've tried all of those writing books and none of it works for me. Well, I was in that group myself until I read this book. It asks questions that help you flesh out your characters, to make certain they are real and have depth. The examples are very good and use movies and books that we are all familiar with.

As I was browsing amazon looking for links to some of the books, I came across the Elements of Fiction Writing Series. From what I could tell this series of books looks promising. I'll be getting a few of them to add to my arsenal.

Next up, is a more specific series : The Howdunit Series This series deals mostly with mystery and police work. It has several books on crime scene investigation and other related topics. If you're going to be writing a story dealing with police, then you should check these out.

What if you want to set your story in Colonial America? Or maybe Britian in the Middle Ages? Instead of slogging through your history books, check out The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life. It covers those periods and many more.

Romance too needs is share of research materials. On Writing Romance is just one of the many available. If you want to dip your toes in the BDSM field, I highly recommend The Loving Dominant and Screw the Roses, Send Me The Thorns.

In addition to the above mentioned, the For Dummies Series, the Complete Idiot's Series, and The Everything Guide series all have books for writing. A quick search at Amazon or Barnes & Noble will provide a plethora of material. As for web-based resources, Ive already mentioned the dictionary and thesaurus, but Goggle and Wikipedia can provide good sources too. Just remember to check the sources, especially with Wikipedia.

The final thing I'll mention is that along with all these research books, reading other books in your genre of choice will also help you along the way. Well, that's it from me for now. Good luck, happy researching and happy writing!

Deep POV - What is it?

The sun rose, pink and orange fingers caressing the purple and blue cloud banks as the countryside woke. Birds chirped. The leaves in the trees rustled a morning greeting. Janet sighed. This was her favorite time of day.

Or

Janet pulled her horse to a stop and sat astride its broad back staring at the horizon as the sun rose, pink and orange fingers caressing the purple and blue cloud banks. She inhaled deeply enjoying the scents of morning dew and fresh cut hay. The birds chirped and hopped about rustling the trees overhead as the countryside woke. Janet sighed deeply, she loved this time of day.

The first isn’t Deep POV the second is. Why? In the first one it could be anyone watching the sun rise. In the second the who is very clear. The character’s senses come into play. You are there with her – standing beside her as she sits on her horse, hearing the birds, smelling the dew and hay. That is Deep POV. I refer to it as crawling into the character’s skin. The most extreme Deep POV is first person – think Harry Potter by JK Rowling, or The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. Then there’s third person Deep POV, which is what most of the best sellers do.

When you write Deep POV the reader is in the story not watching the story they are experiencing it with the characters. When you watch a traditional movie shown on the screen you are aware that it is happening on the screen. How many of you have seen Avatar in 3D? I have – and swatted at the bugs. With the 3D glasses you are in the world of Pandora with Jake, if you didn’t see it in 3D you were watching. How many saw Titanic in the theater? Didn’t it seem as though the theater got colder as the ship sank? That’s what you are trying to achieve with Deep POV. That’s why Deep POV is so important. The reader of your book wants to be transported away from the kids, the husband, the pile of dishes waiting in the sink. It’s the job of the writer to do that and do it well.

As writer’s we hear it frequently – “Show don’t tell” – but what does that mean? If you are in Deep POV the question is answered. We are seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling, hearing and touching what the character does. In Shallow POV the reader is not walking with your characters but watching them, the reader is outside the characters world.

To quote Best Selling Author Angela Knight:
“Point of view is one of those concepts that gives newbies fits. One reason for this is that the effect of POV can be very subtle – so much so that most readers don’t notice it at all, so new writers don’t understand its importance.
…You’re in the character’s head, experiencing the scene as if you were that character. You think his thoughts, you feel the sensations he feels, you hear what he hears.”

Resources for POV:
Books:
Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies by Leslie Wainger
Write Great Fiction: Characters, Emotion and Viewpoint by Nancy Kress

Workshop:
Deep Point of View by Laurie Sanders (This one is hard to find but worth the search)

Websites
http://www.hbarwa.com/MemberArticles/DeepPointofView.htm
http://wow-womenonwriting.com/downloads/articles/14-MelissaJames/14-articles-edpt4.html
http://authorkarenkelley.com/deep.html
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/deep-pov/
http://www.angimorgan.com/DeepPOVMeans.htm
http://www.autocrit.com/websitepublisher/articles/12/1/Emotional-Depth-4-Deep-Point-of-View/Page1.html
http://storysensei.blogspot.com/2008/01/deep-point-of-view-part-one.html (There are 11 parts to this)

With special thanks to Laurie Sanders and her Deep Point of View Workshop and Angela Knight for her many workshops from which material for this article was taken.

Next time from Delilah: Head Hopping or Swapping POV – How do you tell the difference?

Super Exciting Submission Call

Summer Romances Series

for our expanded Romance line.

***Permission to Forward granted***
The hot summer nights are meant for romance. A summer vacation in an exotic location, a trip back home – let love blossom. eTreasures is currently seeking submissions for our Summer Romance themed anthologies due out in late August, 2010.



Each must have the following elements:

• Active writing, fast paced, with a solid plot.


• Well rounded, fully developed characters the reader can relate to.


• Must have a HEA



• Completed manuscripts, 20,000 to 25,000 words, with complete submission package. Put “Summer Anthology” in the subject line.



We're looking for a story that will make you laugh, cry, and want to pull out the bikini and tanning oils, and a great book to relax with. Stories the reader can relate to in all aspects. We are not looking for erotic fiction at this time.


Send your submission package - including a query letter, synopsis, and the completed novella length manuscript to: submissions@etreasurespublishing.com


All submissions must be in by April 15th and those titles that are accepted will be announced June 1, 2010 with the e-books due out late August, 2010.

Savvy Authors Annual Book Camp for Writers Workshops

This looks like a lot of good info and a good bargain to me!

\\*****Permission to Forward Granted and Encouraged*****//

Savvy Authors (savvyauthors.com) is presenting a series of short, intensive workshops as a part of our First Annual Bootcamp for Writers.  The workshops $5 each.  Or join Savvy Authors between now and Feb 14th for $25 and take them all for free - a $20 savings.

More information about these workshops may be found here: http://www.savvyauthors.com/workshops.cfm

More information about Savvy Authors and our Bootcamp for Writers may be found here:  Http://www.savvyauthors.com/members/index.cfm

Plotting for Pantsers – Beth Daniels – Begins 2/14

Assaulting A Writer's Thinking – Lea Schizas – Begins 2/21

How, When and Why to Change Point Of View Mid-Scene    - Laurie Saunders – Begins 3/7

Foreshadowing – June Diehl – Begins 3/7

Writing Erotic Love Scenes – Tambra Kendall – Begins 3/7

Before Copy Editing – Claudia Suzanne- Begins 3/14

Worldbuilding in Science Fiction and Fantasy - Christine Amsden- Begins 3/14

How to Promote When You Don’t Know How to Promote – Jamison Wolfe- Begins 3/21

Crash Revisions – Holly Lisle- Begins 3/28

Promoting with Social Media – Theresa Meyers- Begins 3/28

Ten Ugly Truths About Publishing – Renee Rocco- Begins 4/5

Submission Notice

Please see the Submission Guidelines at the eTreasures website.
When submitting to eTreasures, we will acknowledge receipt of the submission package and subsequent manuscript promptly, within 72 hours. Please note that we ask for a 21day exclusive on the submission package (first three chapters) and a 30-45 day (depending on length and number of submissions in house) exclusive when assessing the full manuscript.

We will strive to notify you of our decision within those time frames. If for some reason we have not gotten back to you within 4 weeks on the submission package and 8 weeks on full manuscript, please don't hesitate to drop us a quick email.



Please be sure to review our formatting guidelines for the proper way to submit your work.

If you don't follow them - we will NOT look at the manuscript. There is a link to the formatting guidelines on the Submission page. 

We look forward to warm and successful working relationships!
Thank you.

Patricia Bates (etreasurespub) on Twitter

Patricia Bates (etreasurespub) on Twitter

We're open for business and looking for authors to submit to our extended romance, fantasy, and Sci-Fi lines.

Secrets of the Fog Places 5th in YA at P&E

Congratulations to author Ellen Spain
for awards on her book Secrets in the Fog: The Invisibility Project
published by eTreasures!

eTreasures is proud to announce that Ellen's book, Secrets in the Fog: the Invisibility Project, ranked 5th place for YA in P&E's January 2010 Reader's Poll!

Secrets in the Fog: the Invisibility Project
was also a Nominee for EPIC's 2010 Awards for best YA novel.

Submission Call - A Cowboy for Christmas Series!

Submission Call

eTreasures Publishing has reopened under new ownership/management and to celebrate we're putting out a submission call.


A Cowboy for Christmas Series for our expanded Romance line.

Wanted, well written, holiday romances that feature cowboys. Must have a strong heroine, and the quintessential cowboy hero. They can be set in any time period from the wild, wild west to the modern ranch.

Each must have the following elements:

· Active writing, fast paced, with a solid plot.

· We're looking for stories that feature the holidays in December, and the sexy cowboy that we all want under the tree.

· Must have a HEA

· Ranging from 30-35K for the Christmas duology, we want only completed manuscripts.

Ranging from sweet to sensual, we're looking for a story that will make you laugh, cry, and want to wrap up with a handsome cowboy under your own Christmas tree. We're looking for stories that have involved intimacy scenes - that engage the reader's senses, grip their imagination. We want hot, romantic, well plotted scenes that enhance the story, but could be left out without affecting the novel.

Send your submission package - including a query letter, synopsis, and the completed novella length manuscript to: submissions@etreasurespublishing.com

All submissions must be in by June 1st and those who are accepted will be announced July 4, 2010 with the e-books due out early December 2010.

More Prizes - Bookmarks and Eye Glass Chains!

My friend went the extra mile and also created some "hook" bookmarks for me!!

 

The two smaller and the medium with orange beads are silverplate; the large one on the upper right is antique silver.  Aren't these wonderful! I keep trying to think of a special book for the big one!!

Last but not least she added these two wonderful eye glass chains made with semi-precious beads including turquoise, amethysts, opals and aventurine.

She even brought these to me today even though she has been under the weather with a terrible sinus infection!  So I give a BIG Thank you to my friend, Jensmere!! 

When she gets her work up on her blog I'll grab her button and post it!!

Upcoming Prizes - Unique, Beautiful Purse Charms!

I have a wonderful friend who is very artistically talented! I asked her to make some special purse charms for our eTreasures' Giveaways.

Here are the silver plated charms she made - each is unique!!

The one on the left is fluer de lis; the middle one has a dragonfly, butterfly and hearts; the one on the right has several crosses!

These are the original ones I asked for with "treasure" coins, keys, and beads! (She had to order special clamps that will be added!)

She made some other items too - see the next blog post.

Its Official! The Grand Reopening has begun!

We are now announcing over the web that eTreasures Publishing is  under new ownership/management. Martha Eskuchen is now at the helm of this treasure chest and has plenty planned.  We have a great team of excited staff too - check them out at Meet the Staff at the new website!

The site is not fully functional yet - we do expect all author and book pages up by tomorrow but we were all too excited to wait another day for announcements!

We're looking forward with a great deal of excitement (did you get that feeling yet?!) and some really cool plans for the future.
To start, we're having ourselves a great big celebration.
Starting Feb 6 and 7, we'll be at castle in the sky yahoo group chatting about our grand reopening and launch. There'll be prizes, giveaways, trivia and so much more so come out and have some fun.

We'll be here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/castleintheskyflightoffantasy/

We'll also be posting contests and discounts information here at the blog so check back!!

In the near future we'll be posting about our submissions calls, what genres we're looking to expand upon and more. For now, welcome to the new eTreasures Publishing!!

Welcome to the World of eTreasures!!

We are so excited to announce our Grand Re-opening under new ownership!!

Take a look at our trailer for a flash of news!!

We are celebrating over the next couple of weeks with some giveaways amidst the intros and announcements as we settle in with some guest blogs, interviews with our authors and guest promotion articles courtesy of 1st Turning Point!!

We hope you will visit often to check the latest!!

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