Best and Worst of the Digital Writing Life

By C.J. West

When my last physical was over, my doctor asked, “You still writing suspense novels?”

“Absolutely.” I smiled.

“But what do you do to make a living?” he asked.

If I sold a book for every time I heard that one...

Then yesterday someone asked about my schedule and was surprised that I usually work well past midnight. That’s if you call what I do work. I love writing and if I’m not sleeping, spending time with my kids, or doing chores, I’m working.

My boss is a slave driver!

Work for me can be anything from researching a subject for a new book, writing and editing a novel, to spending time online connecting with friends in the writing community.

Since the writing life is such a mystery to non-writers, I thought I’d shine a light on what my little corner of the universe is like.

The top 10 great things about being a writer in the digital world:

10. Writing connects me with thousands of great people all over the globe.

9. My commute consists of pulling back the covers and stretching to power on my laptop.

8. The digital store is open 365 days a year (366 this year) and I can see exactly what I’m earning minute to minute.

7. Tweeting and Facebooking are important job skills.

6. Blogging about my addiction to chocolate or my attempts to diet earn me readers.

5. My office fits in a carry-on with room to spare. I can work on a beach or plane.

4. When I’m looking out the window and dreaming, I’m doing my best work.

3. My imaginary coworkers can’t sue for sexual harassment and they don’t complain about working conditions or low pay.

2. People write to tell me my writing has changed their lives.

1. The digital explosion has allowed me to reach tens of thousands and earn a living doing what I love.


Ten worst things about being a writer in the digital world:

10. Mediating squabbles on the digital playground.

9. There is no excuse for being late to work.

8. I can check my earnings minute to minute, but sometimes it’s better not knowing.

7. My family and friends think I should have a real job.

6. Everyone thinks I’m available to help them 24/7. See # 7.

5. Marketing. I love writing. I’m not fond of selling. (But I do like giving stuff away.)

4. Thousands of people think I can write a bestselling book about their great idea, give them half the royalties, and we’ll both be rich. It’s funny until they ask the third time.

3. If something good happens in the book business it’s always luck.

2. If something bad happens, it’s my fault.

1. My imaginary coworkers don’t do what they’re told even though I created them.

I hope you enjoyed this peek into my writing life. 

Where the Hell Did I Put That Damned Earlobe Again?

By Andrew E. Kaufman

Newly branded author of psychological thrillers

I think it’s in my nature to stretch myself with each new novel. I’m on my third now, and I’ve noticed I’m talking risks I never would have previously considered. I suspect that’s because I’m developing confidence as an author. I’m growing. As a result, my stories seem to be growing in complexity as well.

That’s a good thing, but it can be a scary thing, too.

Because I’m also driving myself a little crazy. Several times, I’ve wondered whether I’m going too deep into the literary waters with this newfound sense of freedom and adventure. Kinda like a swimmer who dares to go past the buoys, then looks back and thinks, “Holy crap! Where’d the shoreline go?”

That’s me, right about now.

Case in point: about twenty-thousand words into the manuscript, it occurred to me that I’d lost an earlobe. Well, I didn’t really lose it—more like I misplaced it somewhere among the pages. And it wasn’t mine; it belonged to one of my characters. The severed appendage was an important piece of evidence in the story, and I'd forgotten to remember where I’d strategically placed it. Not good.

I actually ended up having to search the document for said earlobe, and alas, I found it exactly where I’d left it: in chapter fifteen. Silly me (In case you’re wondering, it was in a parking garage, underneath a car).

But it got me thinking about my writing routine. I’m what many in the industry would call a “pantser.” That is to say, I write on the seat of my pants, using intuition to guide me through my stories rather than plotting them out beforehand. I’ve never done outlines. I don’t understand them, and the times when I’ve tried, I’ve never stuck to them anyway. For me, structure feels oppressive.

People often ask me how I can do that, how I can write a novel with no outline and no notes to tell me where the story will go. To that, my answer is always same: “I. Have. No. Freaking. Idea.” But the truth is, I just do, and it always seems to work. My story arcs seem to flow correctly, and my endings tie everything together nicely.

I think what it comes down to is a wiring sort of thing. It’s just how we’re made. Some of us do well in a structured environment while others don’t. I happen have the attention span of gnat and I’m easily distracted and my brain moves faster than I can often keep track, and, well...see what I mean?

I’ve spoken to other authors who carefully plot their stories, and they can’t see how I can write a book that way, which is fine because I can’t see how they can do it their way, either. But it's just fine no matter what because when it comes to writing,  I don't think it's a matter of keeping the rhythm--it's a matter of finding it. We all have to find our own way, and nothing is right or wrong as long as it works for us.

Set up Your Story in the First Paragraphs

by Jodie Renner, editor, author, speaker    

I receive several first chapters (and synopses) every week as submissions for possibleediting, and I always read the first page. Some are clear and compelling and make me want to read more. But too often, two main problems emerge: Either the author spends too much time revving his engine with description or backstory before we even care (boring); or we’re plunged right into the story but have no idea where we are or what’s going on (confusing). 

There are three cardinal rules of successful novelists: 

1. Don’t bore your reader!

2. Don’t confuse your reader!   

3. Don’t annoy your reader!

I’ve discussed the negative effects of starting off too slowly, with too much description and/or backstory, in other articles (see the links at the end of this article). Today, I’ll focus on the other problem that can turn readers off — fuzzy beginnings. Sometimes I feel confused and frustrated, wondering who this character is — and is it the main character, or someone else? Also, where the heck is she? And what’s she doing, exactly? It’s frustrating not being able to form a mental picture of who it is and what’s going on, right from the start.

Your first paragraph and first page are absolutely critical! Not only do they need to hook your reader in quickly, set the tone for the rest of the book, and “show your stuff” in regards to your writing style, but the reader needs to be able to visualize your opening scene, the who, the where and the when, so they can relax and start enjoying the story. If they're confused, they’re going to start getting frustrated and could well put down your book. Readers want to be able to get into the story right away, not have to spend the first several pages — or more — trying to figure out what’s going on.

So try to work in the basics of the 4 W’s below in your first page — preferably within the first two or three paragraphs. Give the readers a quick snapshot of who, what, where and when, without going in to a great deal of detail yet. Give them just enough to get oriented so they’re not totally confused and can start enjoying the story.

Who? Whose story is it? Your protagonist should appear in the first paragraph; better yet, in the first sentence — in his/her point of view, of course! Don’t start out with someone else, then introduce your main character in chapter two, or even later in chapter one. Readers will have started emotionally investing in someone else who may be a minor character, then be disappointed and annoyed when they find out they’re not the person they’re supposed to be caring about!

What? What’s going on? What is he/she doing, exactly? Can the reader visualize the situation? If not, add a few details.

Where? Where is he/she? Overall setting — country, state/province, city/town; and if inside, inside where? An office building? A log cabin? At home? Which room? It can be really annoying for a reader to start reading dialogue and have no idea where the speakers are.

When? Is this story taking place in the present? The past? How far in the past? What season? What month? In the morning? Afternoon? Evening? Middle of the night?

Also, your first page is a kind of promise to your readers. Readers want to get a feel quickly for your writing style and the genre or your handling of the genre, so be sure that your first page reflects the overall tone, style, and voice of the novel, and even hints at aspects like the level of violence they can expect, etc. Then keep your promise by delivering for the rest of the novel!

Just as I was about to post this short article based on my own experiences reading, judging and editing fiction, I received the latest issue of Writer’s Digest magazine (March 2012), and serendipitously, noticed Steven James’ article, “5 Story Mistakes Even Good Writers Make.” In a sidebar, James discusses writing an effective first sentence, paragraph and page. His fifth point expresses my focus for this article.

Evaluate Your Hook:
With each story you start, always remember that an effective hook needs to do seven things:

1. Grab the readers’ attention

2. Introduce a character readers care about.

3. Set the story’s mood.

4. Establish the storyteller’s voice.

5. Orient readers to the world of the protagonist (and enable them to picture it).

6. Lock in the genre.

7. End in a way that is both surprising and satisfying.

See also, "Act First, Explain Later" on The Thrill Begins blogspot, and "Those Crucial First Five Pages" here at Crime Fiction Collective, both on writing an effective opening to your novel.

Jodie Renner is a freelance fiction editor and the award-winning author of three craft-of-writing guides in her series An Editor’s Guide to Writing Compelling Fiction: Captivate Your Readers, Fire up Your Fiction, and Writing a Killer Thriller, as well as two clickable time-saving e-resources, Quick Clicks: Spelling List and Quick Clicks: Word Usage. She has also organized two anthologies for charity, incl. Childhood Regained – Stories of Hope for Asian Child Workers. You can find Jodie at www.JodieRenner.com, www.JodieRennerEditing.com, her blog, http://jodierennerediting.blogspot.com/, and on Facebook and Twitter. 

Fourteen Things to Consider Before You Tie the Knot

By Peg Brantley, Writer at Work, Stumbling Toward Publication

Strong marriages yield strong results. Strong results strengthen marriages.

In a traditional publishing relationship, most writers are assigned his or her editor. It’s an arranged marriage. Some of them work, some of them don’t. It’s a crapshoot.

The world has changed, and now writers actually have choices. So do editors. We’ve entered the equivalent of the 60’s. Well, sorta.

Assuming we all agree every writer needs an editor in order to fulfill herself (and vice versa), the important thing here is to find a good match. Ideally, you want to create numerous offspring, make a lot of friends, and grow old together.

As I approach the time when I’m ready to enter into a relationship, I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that the first collaborative effort, and subsequent offspring, is like living together first to test the waters. Can we communicate? Do we have the same goals? Will you respect me in the morning?

Here are some things to consider (in no particular order) before you move in together:

•         Do you love my genre (or general genre)?
•         Who are your current partners?
•         Who are your former partners and why did you part ways?
•         How do you prefer to communicate?
•         Do you have a personal philosophy regarding editing?
•         What are your strengths?
•        What are your weaknesses?
•         How long does it take you, on average, to complete a project?
•         Are you too cheap? Too expensive? (This is not a trick question, although it can be tricky.)
•         What professional writer/editor organizations do you belong to?
•         When and why did you become a freelance editor?
•         What biases do you have that might reflect in your edits or editing style?
•         What are the main ways you feel you help a writer take their work to the next level?
•         Have you ever left a relationship early because you hated something about it?

I fully understand not all of these questions are going to be answered right away. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have them.

For those of you who have made the commitment, or experienced the pain of divorce, what should I be looking for . . . or looking out for?

Excuse me while I have a crazy moment of pure passion

By Gayle Carline

Wait - am I up again? Already?

Sorry, I'm a little crazed this week, as in, the further I get into this week, the crazier I am. You see, I'm on the board of my library's "friends foundation." If you've never heard of that term, we're the folks out raising funds to support a library's programs because they are usually at the mercy of city or county budgets.

Our library, fortunately, is not wedded to the city, county, or even state. It's a stand-alone unit that gets its own funds from the city's taxes. But that money only covers the basics of salaries, building maintenance, utilities, etc.

The Placentia Library Friends Foundation raises money for special programs and events, and even keeping the library relevant, with computers and training classes.

But I digress. The reason this is making me crazy is that, for the past year, I've been in charge of the library's biggest fundraiser - our Author's Luncheon. It happens this Saturday and has been running smooth as a well-oiled machine, which means everything's primed to go to hell in a handcart.

They put me in charge because I was silly enough to complain last year that they didn't give me enough to do. Lesson learned. I decided if I was going to be in charge, we'd have mystery authors. Everyone jumped on board with the theme of Make Mine a Mystery. We've got two dynamite speakers, Jeff Sherratt and Michele Scott.

Jeff writes noir stories about a defense attorney named Jimmy O'Brien. He's such an engaging guy, I always tease that he could sell books to a corpse. Michele writes everything, and I mean, if it pops into her noggin, she'll get a story out of it. She writes cozies, thrillers, women's fiction, and even young adult. Her thriller, Daddy's Home (written as A.K. Alexander) turned up in the Wall Street Journal's Best Seller list a couple of weeks ago for Fiction E-books.

As you can tell, I'm uber-excited to have these two come and speak at our luncheon.

I get really riled up when I start talking libraries. I want to support them in as many ways possible. I've read the news about library closings. I've heard people say libraries aren't relevant anymore. Sad to say, even members of my local community have said libraries are on their way out.

My answer is that they are more relevant than ever and we need to do whatever it takes to keep them. Why?

For one basic reason: Libraries are, and will always be, the last bastion of free information and education. Yes, you can find almost anything on the Internet. But it's not free. (No, not even with free WiFi at Starbucks.) Not if you're poor. If you are living hand-to-mouth, if you're scraping by on a couple of part-time jobs that offer no health benefits but have you working over 40 hours a week to try to feed your kids and keep your house payment and your car operating, how on earth do you go out and buy a computer and pay a monthly bill for internet service? Even a smart phone can be out of your budget.

But you can go down to your library and get knowledge. We have computers and classes to train you to use them. We have books with information about how to get things done, and books about people who started with nothing and built empires to inspire you, and books that just let you escape from a day of drudgery. We have movies. We have books on tape. We have tutoring programs and children's programs and librarians who are there to help you find what you're looking for.

It's all for your use, and it's all free.

As I watch the gulf widen between the very rich and the very poor, my passion for libraries grows stronger. So, no matter how much crazier this week becomes, or what kind of spinning I will be doing this Saturday, trying to make all of our patrons happy, I know I'm supporting something great. I will do it with a glad heart… a large glass of wine.

Can We Stop Calling Amazon a Bully?

by L.J. Sellers, author of provocative mysteries & thrillers

Amazon is a company. Granted, a retailer with aggressive tactics meant to support long-term growth. But it is not an oversized kid (or childish adult) with personality problems who deliberately picks on weaker people for sport. And when people call Amazon a bully, they dilute the term's meaning and diminish the experience of human beings who have been personally victimized, bruised, and emotionally scarred by such human behavior.

Amazon functions much like other companies, only more successfully than its competitors. Its tactics, as far as I know, are legal. (The tax issues are still being debated but that's another subject.) Some people would argue that its tactics are not fair, but what does that mean? Does the word fair apply in business? Again, we're not dealing with children. The concept of one for me and one for you is not how capitalism works.

Some businesses are content to coast along, partner with others, and not worry about the future. Other businesses are more ambitious. They have long-term goals, and they work aggressively to meet those goals, even if it means putting competitors out of business. Barnes & Noble was once that kind of business. It bought up competitors, closed many retail outlets, and forced hundreds of indie bookstores to fold. People called it a bully too. But it was just business, capitalism in action.

Now the same people who denounced B&N (small bookstore owners, small publishers, and writers clinging to the old model) are crying foul on Amazon and worrying that B&N, now the underdog, will not survive the competition for customers.

I too worry a little that Amazon will dominate the publishing industry, at least for a while, and that customer choice will begin to be limited. But Amazon won't get to that point by being a bully, just a savvy, fast-growing company with an eye on the long-term future.

And yes, this blog was inspired in response to the struggle between Amazon and Independent Publishers Group, which I blogged about yesterday in more detail. A struggle in which Amazon held firm on its terms and lost the right to publish all of IPG's ebooks. I saw Amazon called a bully over and over yesterday, but I think the word is misused.

I don't mean to imply that the human owners of indie publishers and bookstores aren't feeling emotional about what's happening in the publishing industry as a result of Amazon's success. I'm sure they are and rightfully so. But Amazon's success is not a vendetta, and there's no point in taking it personally. Those emotions will just keep people from making rational business decisions.

What do you think?

Preparing for Battle...

I always believed my greatest challenge would be writing a novel. Until recently, I had no idea how naive that belief was. You see, writing the novel was only the first step in the long march of becoming a successful writer. It is, by definition, the lowest common denominator of the writing equation. Even the most gifted writer can not sell a novel if they don’t finish it right? But it’s a mistake to believe that simply writing a novel is enough, just as in the false belief that getting a college degree will lead to a career. It is simply the standard by which all comparisons begin.

I love battle metaphors. They seem appropriate when describing struggle, sacrifice, and sorrow. In many ways I equate self-publishing with a battle. Not because anyone dies or loses a limb but because you have no idea what it is really like unless you’ve actually experienced it. I suppose that’s true with many endeavors, especially crime scene work.So I shouldn’t have been as surprised as I was to discover I was not fit for battle.

I feel like that soldier who has been issued his pack, his uniform, his rifle and then walks out onto the battlefield filled with a sense of invincibility. That feeling lasts right up to the moment a rocket propelled grenade streaks towards him. That’s because no matter how much you prepare for battle, no matter how advanced your gear, no matter how many lectures you’ve heard about the pain of war, there is nothing that compares with reality. It’s about confronting the unexpected. As an author I thought I had a good strategy. I thought I had a plan. But as every experienced General will tell you...no good plan survives the battlefield.

And when those unexpected obstacles rear their ugly faces you have two choices. You can freeze or you can move. I choose to plow forward; strategically. I’m not abandoning my plan, I’m simply modifying it. I go back to the veterans and seek council. But I keep moving forward. I am convinced that, by whatever means, I will take that hill. I will be victorious. Even if I fail, I see no other way to achieve the success I desire.

So when you find yourself unprepared for the battlefield of Indie publishing don’t give up or lose hope. Simply re-evaluate you plan, adjust your maneuvers, or reorganize your battlefield. The publishing landscape is changing before our very eyes and none of us has a crystal ball. This is good news. This is a time of opportunity; a time to influence the shape of the battlefield. So keep moving....keep up the pressure. No surrender, no retreat.

Interview with Thriller Writer, Ian Walkley

I love your action-thriller No Remorse. It’s your first published novel. How did that come about?
My kids were almost finished school and I had the opportunity to sell my business. Also, a couple of friends’ health scares made me realize I didn’t want to die wondering if I could write the action thriller I had always dreamed about... So I took the plunge, just as I had when I started my own company. I’m single-minded on a task (so my wife says). Once I put my mind to it, I just wrote. And wrote. The plot and characters sort of evolved. I wrote 300,000 words in nine months.

Three hundred thousand words?!
At the time I had no idea a novel was supposed to be around 80,000-110,000 words. Later, of course, attending writers’ courses, I found out many things I hadn’t been aware of.

You chose to write a thriller with the main character having a military background – why?
I’ve always loved thrillers and have had an interest in all things military, so I guess maybe it’s a way of linking this interest with my writing. No Remorse isn’t a military thriller though – the main character just happens to have that background.

The main character, Lee McCloud, is described as “a loose cannon” by his superior in the secret organization he is forced to join. Why?
McCloud is a special ops guy, trained for the toughest missions, deniable, highly intelligent, used to making quick decisions under extreme pressure. You can bet his bosses worry about whether someone like that can be controlled. Especially after McCloud leads an unsanctioned mission to rescue two kidnapped girls, which goes terribly wrong. As it turns out, they actually want a military man who is a loose cannon. Can’t tell you more than that…

And what’s the background on Tally, the woman Lee McCloud has to work with?
Tally is a computer specialist with a photographic memory. McCloud feels that Tally belongs in an office, not in the field where it’s dangerous. Tally also has a haunted past, which sets up some good conflict and humour, because McCloud has had problems with women. Recall the Moonlighting TV series, and the movies Mr & Mrs Smith, and Romancing the Stone? Tally’s a strong woman, but not a stereotype. She has her own unique traits and point of view that make her strong in her own way.

How much research did you do for the book? You live in Australia, yet No Remorse starts out in Mexico, then is mostly set in the Middle East. Did you go to those places to find out firsthand what they’re like? Or did you mostly rely on online searches?
I enjoy the research side. I’ve travelled extensively through the Middle East, thankfully just before the “Arab Spring”. And I like to get hands-on experience. For example, I want the weapons to be right, to understand more about how they feel, so I go out and shoot a sniper rifle. 

What made you decide to go the self-publishing route?
I probably submitted my manuscript before it was ready. It was rejected by about twenty agents and publishers. Later, I was told by an agent that out of 120 novels submitted to him at Thrillerfest, about 85 were about terrorism. They were looking for something fresh. Still, I wasn’t going to have my work sacrificed, so (thanks to Amazon) with self-publishing considered a viable route for both new and published authors, I decided to publish it myself. I’m glad I did. With the industry in its current state of turbulence, there are many authors out there waiting for a publisher or agent, who will die before they find one. The world of publishing has changed dramatically in the last three years. 

On the upside, we’re also seeing a large number of new publishers emerging that are offering a new publishing model, with higher royalties, and fewer levels of bloated bureaucracy than the traditional firms. The first thing the industry should do is combine wholesalers and distributors, to cut out one of the unnecessary layers of people on the take. I have now created a publishing imprint, Marq Books, which I am making available to other indie authors. Even so, I would still prefer to use a traditional publisher to do the marketing, so I can spend my time writing. 

But you used professionals?
Oh yes, this is critically important for any indie writer. I used the editing services of Jodie Renner, who, in addition to copyediting, was of vital assistance in suggesting several new chapters and various other changes that improved both character and plot. Jodie also helped with American idiom and French. I also used a professional designer for the cover. 

What are the things you’ve had to overcome, in order to be published?
Having confidence in what I’ve written. Of course, not everyone will like the story, but so far all the reviews have been quite complimentary. The second thing is the distribution network. Most buyers of fiction buy debut authors on impulse. So I am working hard to get the book known through social marketing and traditional media. I’ve produced marketing material, media releases, and information sheets, and have had copies printed for the Australian market, where I can take a more active role. Again, I am using professional PR people and distributors.


Is there any advice you would give to emerging, unpublished writers?
Listen to the criticisms carefully. Most people are reluctant to be critical enough early on, but it’s important to identify weaknesses so you can address them. Network in the industry wherever possible. The wallflower writer will not be published. Attend writers’ courses and writers’ conferences, and buy books about writing such as Donald Maass’ The Breakout Novelist. And don’t give up – keep writing, submit to wherever you can, and start the second book while you’re still editing the first. And dream about being a best-selling author by all means, but don’t expect this to happen. You can build it, but they won’t come without the marketing.


The process seems frustrating. Why would anyone want to be a novelist?
Good question. I think publishing must be one of the toughest industries to be in. Many people tell me they have a novel inside they’d love to write. But most won’t. You have to be a certain type, and willing to sacrifice money and social contact to follow through. I gave up managing thirty-five staff, a good salary and profit share for a solitary existence with a computer screen, living off my wife’s income for three years. It’s not for everyone. Sometimes I think I’m crazy.

Has writing changed you as a person?
I’m definitely more relaxed, more self-reliant, and paradoxically a more social person. Still very driven, but I don’t have to worry about others delivering to the standard I expect. I only have to meet those standards myself. And I enjoy the social networking with other writers and readers.


What is your next challenge?
Finding the balance between promoting book one and working on book two. Credibility is built through completed works in this industry. I’m also keen to help other writers get published, so they don’t have to spend the time I did learning what to do.

I’ve sold several thousand copies of No Remorse in about six weeks, which is good for a debut novel, I’m told by other authors. And having a book in print is a great motivation to keep writing.


Ian’s debut action thriller, No Remorse, is available at http://www.amazon.com/No-Remorse-Ian-Walkley/dp/0980806607/

If you don't have an e-reader, you can download the free Kindle reader for PC or iPad or phone at:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

Ian’s second novel, Bait, a crime thriller set in Australia, will be released in late 2012.