To write civilizations comparable to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time, I’d need to draw on my double major in archaeology and history to break down every major and minor component of world building. This series of posts will do so, also explaining how different factors within a world affect each other. I’ll give each post an overarching theme and highlight links between each world and civilization building factor.
This week I’ve paired Food with Fashion, because both are closely linked to plants and animals, all of which is influenced by geography, climate and trade.
Tweet Pitch Crafting & Party Participation
Posted on 6 commentsWith thousands of pitches set to pour through Twitter’s #Pitmad feed for literary agent and indie publisher perusal on Thursday, its time to tell you everything I know about crafting a quality tweet pitch (for any pitch party) and preparing for pitch party days.
Querying & Publishing Resources
Posted on 1 commentIf you thought writing and editing your novel was the hardest thing you’ve ever done -bad news- writing a query letter which clearly introduces your main character, conflict and stakes isn’t easy. Doing so concisely is harder still. Crafting a query which invites industry professionals to connect with your character and care about their conflict -which overall entices them- may seem impossible -at first. Great query crafting is an art (different to novel writing unfortunately) and requires honing a specific skill set. Luckily, there are many great resources listing the ingredients you need and more importantly -modelling what skillful inclusion of them can look like.
Outlining, Revising &Editing Resources & Links
Posted on 0 commentThe more I write, the more I think of a novel as requiring the perfect balance of hundreds of different ingredients, revised and edited countless times (with external feedback!!!) to make it quality fiction. In finding resources to help you on that journey, lets start at the beginning. If you don’t have a creative writing degree, plotting a novel and developing characters can be VERY DIFFICULT without referring to resources. If you dislike planning and develop your characters and plot by drafting in full (if you’re a pantser) structuring your novel is likely to be EVEN MORE difficult. There are lots of helpful resources on plot and character development, but I’ve included the three I found most useful below.
A Writing Community Hashtag Guide
Posted on 4 commentsI have a sneaking suspicion writers are missing opportunities to connect (with each other and readers) and to receive help and advice because of unfamiliarity with hashtags -Twitter old hands and newbies alike. Whether you’re new or a twitter veteran, I hope this guide helps you make the most of your tweets and positions you well to find whatever you seek in the #WritingCommunity. With so many non-writing related tweets flooding our feeds, I also hope it will help you find and participate in serious conversation about writing.
Twitter for Writers; An Introduction
Posted on 4 commentsA year and a half ago, I was a technophobe who didn’t see the point of social media, until I discovered Twitter’s #WritingCommunity. On twitter, I made friends and met many writers who have helped me on my editing journey and with preparation to query my first novel. Being a relative technophobe, Twitter was initially alien to me and quite a learning curve. Whether twitter is merely a next step for you, or a leap out of your comfort zone, I hope these tips will help you get started if you’re new, or continue to settle in if you’re new-ish.