Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

I am so tired but I managed it! I got my It Came From the Trailer Park story from last year edited down to under 10K and added in the psychobilly connection. I did keep the longer version in case this doesn't work out well and I might try to make it a novella. Wish it luck.

And it's steeped in this area and that takes me to this short writerly way. Authors setting matters! No, we can't always visit the places we want to set a story in but this isn't 1983. You no longer have to dig through a card catalog and pray your library has the references you want. There is no need to haunt Barnes & Nobles for travel books.

The internet has opened the world to us. Google Earth is free. Download it. Pull up some local websites of the town you want to set your story in. There is nothing worse than reading a book set somewhere you know well and all the details are wrong, often ridiculously so (I'm not a fan of an author's note listing out all the things they changed for their story but that's another rant). I just finished reading a Mothman related book that I still need to review and their idea of Point Pleasant was laughable. I take it the character is living outside the town and there was a general store. Um....hon, we have Dollar Generals and Family Dollars everywhere here.

It was 100 miles to Wal-Mart. Um, no. It's like 5 miles at most across the river in Gallipolis and I thought you know, I only know the historic downtown of PP well. they could easily have a Wal-Mart (they didn't) but there's also another one in Jackson under 30 miles away and another in Barboursville about 30 miles the other direction. And that came up in a ten second Google search.

Please, if you're going to use any bit of a setting heavily, put in a little effort. It pays dividends. If nothing else you won't have someone like me going 'We have Wal-Marts' on Amazon reviews.

Open Calls


Solar Press Horror Anthology Volume 1

Monstrous Magazine #1

Diabolical Plots July 2023 Window

The Red Lemon Review June 2023 Window

What If… Walls Could Talk This isn't due til Dec (also it's the same publisher as the trailer park thing)

Broken Antler #1

Short Story Substack July 2023 Window (Early Listing)

The Unconventional Courier: Now Seeking Submissions




From Around the Web

How to Outline Your Story

5 Tips for Writing Non-binary Characters in Fiction Definitely processing this one even for my fanfic because one of my favorite side characters to write is non-binary

The Surprising Power Of Simpler Writing

7 (More) Things I Wish I'd Known as a Beginning Writer (Pt. 2)


Dreadful Dialogues: Crafting Convincing Conversations in Horror Stories

STORY LAB: THE STORY-SUBPLOT CONNECTION

The Most Important Writing Lesson Neil Gaiman Learned from Terry Pratchett

What’s the Difference Between Tone vs. Mood?

What’s the Difference Between a Static vs. Dynamic Character?

What is an Advance Reader Copy?

From Betty

5 Ways to Build an Audience for a Debut Book

Creating a Writer's Bullet Journal for NaNoWriMo

What’s the Difference? Your Character’s Ghost vs. Wound vs. Lie vs. Weakness

Writerly Advice That Is Worth Listening To

7 TIPS TO HELP YOU GROW YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA WITHOUT SACRIFICING TIME TO WRITE

4 Tips for Using Your Blog as a Marketing Tool

Troubleshooting When You’re Stuck

How to Research

Should You Use a Monster or a Villain in Your Story?

Seven Types of Adult Antagonists for Young Heroes

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Lover

How to Build Sizzling Sexual Tension in Your Novel

Is Deep Third an Actual POV?.



I have another week's worth of links but maybe tomorrow. It's getting late and I'm having connectivity issues

Comments

[spikedluv]

Agreed about the research! I tend to do too much research, probably, and end up putting too many 'facts' into the story. But that's another issue. *g*

[cornerofmadness]

You're not wrong. That is entirely a different problem (one I have too)

[suzume]

I keep forgetting to thank you for the Balloon Glow postcard! I received about two days after getting home from Japan and just keep forgetting to say anything!

[cornerofmadness]

Yay glad it got there

[suzume]

o/