I am so happy to be on O.D. Book Reviews today! Hello, all you wonderful readers of this great blog.
There have been a million writing tips coughed up like hairballs on the carpet by a million writers over the years. I myself have been a gluttonous consumer of any tidbit that would help turn my scribbles to something more than just regurgitate mundane monotony. After having been through the publication process myself, I get to share my insight. After the writing tips, stick around to learn about our books and enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card
So, without further ado, here are my...
Top 10 Writing Tips!
Tip #10: Drink copious amounts of caffeine. If I were a vehicle, my engine wouldn't be powered by something as typical as gasoline or diesel, but by the jet fuel otherwise known as caffeine. My tanker truck doesn't say "BPA" or "Enron" on its shiny hull, but "Starbucks." Man do I love that stuff. Like most people in the writing biz, I work full-time to pay the bills and don't have the luxury of picking when I get to write. Instead, I snag it when it becomes available. Usually early-early in the morning or late at night and, brotha, there is nothing like a cup of dark roast to keep my eyelids open!
Tip #9: Peanut butter! I LOOOOOOOVVVE peanut butter! In the afternoon when my stomach starts to growl and I need a distraction, nothing beats a scoop of PB. If you need an even bigger pick-me-up, add some chocolate chips and a Coke Zero. Now we're cooking with gas!
Tip #8: Have characters you love. I love my characters. I like their good elements, flawed elements, and their evil elements. Okay, I especially like the evil elements (see tip #6). You have to love your characters, find them interesting, and let them grow and fail. All we, as authors, do is document their progress. "Love" is kind of an interesting word. Maybe find them interesting, at least. I sure don't "love" Erebus, my main bad douche from 122, but I couldn't imagine this world without him!
Tip #7: Have a really great bad guy. I've always said that the most interesting characters are the bad guys. There is no Luke Skywalker, Superman, or Thor without Darth Vader, Lex Luthor, and Loki. As I mentioned in Tip #6, Erebus is my big-time bad guy in 122, along with his boss, Laven Michaels. You do NOT want to be in a room with either of these guys, but wow, do I love writing for them. I just hope I don't get anything they said wrong. No, I wouldn't want to do that. <gulp>
Tip #6: Music. Before I switched my major to something geeky—and that would, ya know, pay the bills—I was a music major. Tunes—beat, harmony, melody, tempo—they are in my bones, and there is nothing that will focus my thoughts and feelings like a great playlist. I listen to everything from grunge to jazz to a cappella, and depending on what mood I need to be in for a scene, I have a playlist to go with it. Spotify is easily the best $10 a month business expense we have. This only applies to raw material. For edits I have to have:Tip #5: Quiet. While raw material is pure emotion and imagination, edits are the other side of the brain. Does this make sense? Can this be said better? Does this need to be expanded? Is this telling? Can this be cut? Is this passive? On and on and on. Distractions simply don't cut it for edits, so find some place that you can concentrate. My time spent writing is about ten-to-one edits vs raw material, so most of the time, I need quiet.
Tip #4: Know your tools. What the smay is this all about? I'm not talking about drills and hammers, my friends. I'm talking about your writing software, your thesaurus, your lookup tools. This seems odd, but I can't tell you how much better my life has been since I spent 30 minutes watching a video on my edition of Word. It seems really straight-forward, but there are hidden features that solve problems you "live" with. One of the things I learned about is Office Live. Heard of it? Probably not. But if you had you'd know that you can keep your Office documents in the cloud for free and multiple people can work on them at the same time. That there are online versions of Word, Excel, and Power Point and, yep, they are all free. You will NEVER lose a file again. Keep them in the cloud and work on them, seamlessly with the software you use. You may think you know your tools, but take a few minutes and check them out on YouTube. You might be surprised.
Tip #3: Write what scares you. I remember when I was writing the rough draft of Birth of an American Gigolo and first getting to know Lindsey and Dios and Angel, I thought, these guys are going to get me ostracized from the writing world. There are some seriously controversial subjects that unfold in its 113 pages, and I actually considered not trying to publish this book at all, or at the very least cutting way back on some of what happens. Instead, I let it all hang out. The characters had a story to tell, and by gum, I was their faithful transcriber. I love what happens and now wouldn't dream of trying to take that away from them. So push the limits of what you're comfortable with.
Don't let your limits be your characters' limits.
Tip #2: Marry a beautiful and smart writer/grammarian. I joke that I got struck by lightning when Erin agreed to be my wife. Yes, she's beautiful, but behind her contagious laughter, charming smile, and large blue eyes lies a wickedly sharp mind and smart wit. She's a brilliant writer and knows grammar like no one's business. I've learned SO much from her and grown as an author by leaps and bounds from her tutelage. Yes, I love these things about her. But what she is to my mind, she's even more to my heart.Erin is my Ideal Reader and my staunchest supporter. Let's face it, writing is a long, often tedious task. You spend hours and hours deciding how to word things and spend even longer yo-yoing back and forth between thinking you're pretty good and hoping people will find the pages you write worthy of being fish wrap. When I write, I write for her. When I read something aloud, I think of her as being my audience and wonder if my characters will touch her heart, make her laugh, or give her chills. Everyone needs someone like that in their lives. Everyone. So, my friends, go find your Erin. (Sorry, this one is spoken for!) You, your life, and your writing will be immeasurably improved by her!
Tip #1: Have a fat cat literary cat by your side. Erin and I are way lucky to have a fat tabby cat that's willing to sit with us hour-by-hour as we dole out the words. Sometimes we get distracted by Facebook or Twitter, especially when the words are slow, but there isn't anything like catching a selfie with a cuddly—albeit a bit surly—literary cat.
A bonus tip: Stay tuned! We done with this Top 10, and I'm going to tell you how you can win a $50 Amazon gift card!
Thank you for having me on today, O.D. Book Reviews!
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| Rhew 2 Rhew Book Blog Tour |
Rhew 2 Rhew Blog Tour - 122 Rules Book Blitz Extravaganza!
How's that for a catchy title? What a crazy adventure this has been FIVE years in the making, and it has finally arrive: 122 Rules has been born unto the world. The stories I could tell just so I could tell you this story...well, let's just say it's been an interesting, educational, and life-altering adventure.
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| Who could resist those stunning blues? |
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| Ahhhh! It's cold out here! |
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| Do ya feel lucky punk? Well, do ya? |
Erin Rhew and I started out as critique partners, became friends, and now she's my bride. She's my best friend and partner in all things. Even if I don't sell a single copy of my writings, I'll always be a smashing success because I met Erin.
Book Blitz
On this half of the Rhewination tour, I am visiting blogs all over the globe, from Australia to the farthest corners in Canada. Next week, on the second half of the tour, Erin will be gracing the pages of 50+ bloggers!
In addition, we are giving away a $50 Amazon gift card! Prepare yourselves to win!
122 Rules
Today, we are announcing my adult thriller novel, 122 Rules.
Synopsis
In his black and white world, Sam Bradford--former Marine turned government assassin--finally sees a speck of grey. He has always followed orders without question, but his latest assignment threatens to disrupt the precision of his universe and may either severe or redeem his last remaining sliver of humanity.
Using his mastery of the 122 Rules of Psychology, Sam hunts down everyone The Agency sends him to find and eliminates them. Just as he has his rifle scope focused on his latest victim, Monica Sable, a SoCal girl entangled with the mob, his long-dormant conscience reappears for a final performance...one last ditch effort to save the sinking ship of Sam’s soul. He’s killed innocents before, but tarries on pulling the trigger this time.
When Monica escapes his crosshairs and fumbles her way across the country in a pathetic attempt to elude capture, Sam gives chase. But he’s not the only one after her. Ruthless henchmen, hired by the mob, froth like bloodhounds and nip at Monica’s heels. Now Sam is faced with a choice: turn his back on the rules and jeopardize his way of life by helping her or join the pack and rip her to shreds.
What are readers saying?
122 Rules is a fast-paced thrill-ride, filled with rich characters living in an expertly woven world of mystery and suspense. Deek Rhew’s debut novel will take readers by storm, and keep them coming back for sequels.
~Michelle K. Pickett, Bestselling and award-winning author of PODs and Unspeakable.
The perfect, fast-paced novel for fans of kick-butt heroines, creepy killers, and getting caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. An absolute must-read!
Visit the 122 Rules Web Page
Visit Amazon and Goodreads!
While you're on Deek's site check out Birth of an American Gigolo.
Synopsis
An old party girl shoehorned into domestic divaship, infuriated by her husband's cheating and his holier-than-thou, tree-hugging, no-tits and no-hips girlfriend, inflicts her wrath by training a local boy in the fine art of seduction. She and her new boy toy turned love god start a gigolo business as a distraction for the neglected and mistreated housewives of Alabaster Cove.
Take a selfie with your ebook or paper copy of Birth and post it on social media with the tag #BirthSelfie. We'll post you on the Rhewination web site!
Deek Rhew
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| Deek Rhew |
He and Erin love to share books by reading aloud to one another. In addition, they enjoy spending time with friends, running, boxing, lifting weights, and exploring the little town--with antique shops and bakeries--they call home.
Connect with Deek!
For the latest and greatest, visit his web page:
Next week be on the lookout for Erin's:
The Fulfillment Series Blitz Extravaganza!
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| Erin Rhew's book that started it all, The Prophecy! |
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| Erin Rhew's The Fulfillment |
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| Erin Rhew's The Outlanders |
Erin Rhew
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| Erin Rhew |
word. She went on to work as a grammar and writing tutor in college and is still teased by her family and friends for being a member of the "Grammar Police."
A Southern girl by blood and birth, Erin now lives in a rainy pocket of the Pacific Northwest with the amazingly talented (and totally handsome) writer Deek Rhew and their “overly fluffy,” patient-as-a-saint writing assistant, a tabby cat named Trinity. She and Deek enjoy reading aloud to one another, running, lifting, boxing, eating chocolate, and writing side-by-side.
For the latest and greatest, visit her web page:
Thank you SO much for hosting today and letting me share my writing "tips." It was just awesome to get to connect with you and your readers, and I very much appreciate the support!
ReplyDeleteHappy adventuring to you!
Deek
Thanks Deek! It has been wonderful working with you and I hope you had an awesome tour!
ReplyDelete