StorytimeWednesday

  Happy New Year to my fellow writers. May you have amazing visions of your story and the capacity to write amazing prose, creation of outstanding scripts and most of all characters that inspire the imagination to tell an amazing story. 

  When you've invested time and effort into writing a book, finding the right publisher is crucial. Whether you go with a small press or self-publishing, it's essential to evaluate potential publishers carefully. Start by jotting down your priorities and questions regarding your work. Identify which publisher aligns best with your needs. Key Considerations: Contracts: Scrutinize the contract thoroughly; having an attorney review it can be invaluable. Pay attention to royalties, advances, rights retained, and how many copies y ou receive for personal use or promotional purposes. Formatting : Understand submission formats and error-checking options before publication. Know how to submit cover art and author photos as well as details about ISBNs. Print-on-Demand (POD) : Inquire if POD is available even if you're currently focused on eBooks—having print options can be beneficial later. Editing. Are the books polished or simply printed without review? Are there extra costs for ...

  Looking to snag yourself a literary agent and land that book deal? Well, buckle up because it's not going to be a walk in the park. Most publishers won't even sniff at your manuscript unless you have an agent by your side. To find that perfect match, you'll need to roll up your sleeves and do some serious digging. Here's the lowdown on how to charm your way into an agent's good graces: • Dive into those agent directories • Hone in on your book's genre and audience • Seek out agents who dig books like yours • Do your homework and narrow down your list • Draft those personalized query letters • Brace yourself for a rollercoaster of requests and rejections • Choose the agent who feels like the missing piece of your puzzle So, get ready to hustle and find that literary soulmate! 1. Check out literary agent directories Agents may be located in big cities like New York and London, but you can't just stroll through the literary district knoc...

So you have finished your book, so you think! Nope, you haven't really finished, you need to give it a day or two, then go back and reread it and do some editing. First take a look at the number of words in your book? Yes, write that number down you'll need to include it in your cover letter to a publisher. Then begin your editing phase, you see there are three phases of editing. Your editing is for storytelling purposes, second will be your correcting anything you forgot during the first editing phase, and then the final editing stage where you send it off to another person to read it with fresh eyes. This last person can be a friend or someone you contract to read the book and make corrections in spelling, grammar, or content. after that last phase, you go back and reread it for a final time and tweak it accordingly, and then you're finally done with your book.  Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing with 12 of those years in t...

In today's fast-paced world, distractions are everywhere when we sit down to work. It's crucial now more than ever to carve out a space free from interruptions so we can concentrate on our priorities. Even though I’m a jack of all trades when it comes to writing, artistic endeavors, business consulting, and life coaching, I also read other fields to learn about real estate, finance, banking, politics and so much more. I’ve found many successful people such as real estate mogul, Gary Keller gives great advice when it comes to being successful in business. He once said, “Success is not a marathon but a sprint, fueled by discipline until good habits take over.” He’s absolutely correct because I find when things start spiraling out of control, it's time for me to pause and evaluate my actions and determine what's effective and what's not. In this article, I'll be sharing the daily habits that I find helpful for me to establish a distraction-free environment and ...

  Creating your ideal writing space Forget the notion of a flawless writing space, what matters is the space that allows you to open your creative mind and affords you a place to write without interruptions.   Instead of fantasizing about the perfect setup, why not bring it to life? Transform your current space into a motivational haven where you can unleash your creativity. It's all about making your writing space where you can feel you can create your next work of art without the daily interruptions by family or friends. Encouraging a Positive Writing Environment Setting aside a designated writing area can be helpful. By creating a space specifically for writing, you can train your brain to associate that area with productivity. Just like how you might avoid certain foods after getting sick from them, your brain can link your writing space with feelings of creativity and accomplishing goals. When you enter your writing space, try to cultivate a positive mindset. Remind ...

Keep track of your progress Watch as your numbers update in real time based on your writing activity. Set your manuscript goal and see your daily targets adjust accordingly. Some writers use an app on their phone or laptop to monitor their writing sessions. I on the other hand use my brain. On Sundays, I write down what number i should be at each day and use that as my monitoring system. If I go over the allotted time for a day of writing, I adjust accordingly. Don't become distracted by anything that could distract you like notifications from Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, or some other annoying site you follow. Stay focused with a site blocker Don't let distractions get in the way of your writing routine.  Schedule block sessions in advance and monitor your productivity each day. Learn how to establish a strong writing routine In just 10 days, discover how to change your habits to better support your writing goals. Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty y...

  Set a schedule with achievable goals   Let's talk about setting up a writing schedule that works for you. To make progress on your book, it's important to set realistic word count goals for your writing sessions. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned writer, having a plan in place can help you stay on track and finish your book in a timely manner. For beginners, aiming for 500-750 words per day, 1,500-2,500 words per week, and 6,000-10,000 words per month is a good starting point. If you're looking to write your book quickly, consider setting higher goals like 1,500-2,000 words per session, 9,000-15,000 words per week, and 35,000-50,000 words per month. Remember, it's important to find a writing routine that works for you. Take advantage of your free time, productivity patterns, and other responsibilities to create a schedule that helps you reach your writing goals without burning out. And most importantly, don't forget to prioritize your mental health thr...

  First Draft of Manuscript Let's talk about writing a book. Plot, story, and theme are like the layers of an iceberg, hidden beneath the surface but crucial to the overall structure. While some may focus on flashy style, the real key to writing an amazing book lies in substance. Your plot, characters, conflicts, and themes should be the main focus. Avoid filler and prioritize killer content. Every sentence should reveal character or advance the action. Watch your pacing and cut down on excess description. Consider using tools like Hemingway to streamline your prose. Remember to keep your readers in mind and write with them in focus. Create a persona of your ideal reader to tailor your book to your target audience. By focusing on substance over style and keeping your readers at the forefront, you can craft a compelling and engaging book that will resonate with your audience. Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing with 12 of those yea...

  Writing that Outline Alright, so you've got this killer idea for a book, right? Well, before you dive headfirst into writing, you gotta get yourself an outline. Think of it as your trusty roadmap for the journey ahead. No need to make it super fancy or anything, just a basic structure will do. But trust me, having that outline will be a lifesaver when you hit those inevitable roadblocks along the way. And let's face it, every writer gets stuck at some point. So, how do you go about crafting this all-important outline? Well, there are a ton of different approaches you can take. Maybe you're into mind maps, or maybe you prefer a more detailed chapter breakdown. Experiment and see what works best for you. Make sure you've got a clear beginning, middle, and end mapped out. And don't forget about the juicy conflict that's gonna keep your readers hooked. Oh, and spend some time getting to know your characters too – trust me, it'll pay off in the long run. The ou...

  Finding your muse  Using a writing prompt software is a cheater way out of finding your creative muse.  How about sitting quietly and use your brain to come up with a good genre concept idea that will help you create a good plot-grabbing concept idea to use to write your book.   Dive into some genre-specific reading to fuel your writing journey. If you're writing in a genre you love, you're already ahead of the game! Immersing yourself in books from your chosen genre is the best way to grasp its unique conventions and storytelling techniques. If you're exploring a new genre, pick a few standout titles to analyze. Study their structure, themes, and overall vibe. Can you envision yourself crafting a book with similar elements? Don't forget to scope out the competition by checking out popular books in your genre in bookstores. Understanding what sells and resonates with readers is crucial for positioning your own book for success. Take note of common themes and e...

  Earlier this month I posted a piece about Character Bibles and how they should be created. Today I am going to delve into how to create a show pitch bible for any television show, or even movie script pitch. For a television show you have the original pilot then the first season of shows and onward. A movie script pitch is a little different. Right now the concept idea is in your head but you want to get it in front of a manager or agent to help you get it in front of a few producers or executives to get it to screen. So, now’s the time for you to get the story idea out of your head and onto paper. A mentor of mine once said “the story sounds great verbally, but you must put it on paper/computer screen for it to feel and be real. So, get it out of your head now.” He was right. Once I got it out of my head it took on a life of its own and ended up being both a book and a movie script. Although each of my books start out as a movie script because it’s easier to lay out the scenes...

  What is a storyboard? Why do you need it for a film? Storyboards are a huge part of the pre-production phase of making a film come alive. You don’t have to be a fancy artist or filmmaker to create a storyboard, but you do have to have a concept of the movie script to create one. You see a storyboard is a layout of each scene of the script. A storyboard is a visual of every scene in the movie. It allows the director, the camera guy, and even the actor to know what is expected in every scene. Camera angle, what the action will be in the scene, pan left, static shot, what the action will be in the scene, etc.  When you think of the movie script you can’t see the various scenes on paper, until you turn to the storyboard where the visualized scenes appear like magic. The storyboard shows the type of shot (single, close-up, far away, etc.) what the character movement will be, the camera movement will be if there is a voiceover in the shot, what the camera placement will be, th...

  Character Bible A character bible is a detailed document that outlines everything about a character, a detailed description of what they look like, including their background story, personality, motivations, and desires so the actor can better understand who they will be portraying in the movie or television show. Similar to a Story Bible used in TV shows like any cops and robbers show, or detective series, a character bible is essential for novelists and script writers. It serves as a reference tool, ensuring continuity and providing depth to characters, making their interactions more realistic. **Creating a Character Bible: Key Elements** 1. **Content**: Focus on the essentials—physical appearance (skin), backstory (flesh), and psychology (core). Address how characters look, their past influences, and their inner motivations. 2. **Coverage**: Include every character, not just the main ones. Even minor characters should have some background to make them feel real and contribute ...

  Film Treatment tips How to write a film treatment First, you’re asking what is a film treatment?  A treatment is a basic narrative tool that helps a screenwriter flesh out ideas and potential story scenarios that can help you also develop a good character base. What this basically means is that you create the narrative of your story first before you spend all your time writing the actual movie script. A film treatment outlines what your film will be about, the working or final title, your logline, a short story summary, and the descriptions of your main characters in the story itself. You need a film treatment to entice investors to give you the money to make your film. These investors want to know what type of movie, the genre, the story concept, and what kind of characters you want to have in your movie. Here is what they want to see in your treatment: What kind of world do you want your audience to envision. What is the structure of your storyline? What are yo...

  The Logline A logline is a one-line description of your book, or movie script that you create in order to pitch your work to an agent or production company that might be interested in your project. Your job as a professional writer is to describe your work in a short one liner that is comprehensive and concise in a logline. This one liner describes your story or main character and the premise of your story. This is not an easy thing to do, trust me when I say this. It can take anywhere from a week to a year before you come up with that perfect one liner. So, get cracking on how they are done by doing your research of loglines for your favorite movies. Here are a few examples that I found on the internet: The Godfather : The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son. Titanic: Two star-crossed lovers fall in love aboard the R.M.S. Titanic and struggle to keep their relationship afloat as the doomed ship sinks...