Shadow Swans by Laura Thomas

I never do this, but today is a day for exceptions. My cousin Laura Thomas recently published her first novel, Shadow Swans, and I just finished reading it this morning. After finishing this amazing adventure of human emotion, I feel compelled to tell others about it.

So today instead of a blog post on writing, you are getting a recommendation to read Shadow Swans (and to be clear, I will not receive any financial reward for this plug). I am not giving a full review or a synopsis. You can see those on Amazon. Here I want to focus on the writing process and craft.

Why read this book? Because as a writer, you are in a quest to learn about craft, hone your skills, defy the rules, and break new ground. Laura Thomas has succeeded in immersing the reader into the characters and the world of a New York you have never imagined. The underworld becomes alive with vivid descriptions as the characters effortlessly become people you care about and long to follow.

In short, reading a book so well crafted will help you as a writer. Learn from the methods of coloring a room with a tuned mixture of sound, sight, and smell. Relationships that are complex to all parties involved, and yet clear in their parts.

I know you will enjoy the book, but that is not the point in this blog. Use the book to take your writing to another level. Study the way voice is employed. Examine the incredible use of simile. Grow as a writer by reading great writing.

And enjoy.

Buy Shadow Swans on Kindle
Buy Shadow Swans on Nook
Buy Shadow Swans in Print

Scrivener Public Beta for Windows

If you are looking for software to help you organize your writing efforts, Scrivener is a great choice. If you are a Mac user, you may have been using this for quite a while. If you are a Windows user, you are now lucky enough to join the club.

I am not posting a full review here because I have not downloaded the software yet, but on reputation alone, I think the Public Beta is worth a test drive. If you have feedback on the product, please post comments.

Literature and Latte – Scrivener for Windows

Until next time, keep on writing.

Free Ebook Publishing – How to Publish on Smashwords

In the last few months, I have been exploring the self-publishing options in ebook format. Over time I will probably post on each of the major distribution options, but I found an interesting centralized option that I had never heard of.

Smashwords.

First, when you publish through Smashwords, your work becomes available through the Apple iPad/iPod store, Barnes & Noble, Sony Reader Store, Kobo Store, Aldiko Store, and more. Although they do not have a direct connection to the Kindle store, they will publish your work in Kindle format where users can transfer the book to their hard drive and to the Kindle when it is plugged in via USB.

That is an incredible first step to getting your new ebook to market. This is the closest thing to one-stop ebook publishing that I have seen so far.

Second, it is FREE! No setup cost, no publishing cost, no package cost, no upload or book revision cost, and they even include a free ISBN number for your ebook.

Third, for any ebook sold through their Smashwords store, you earn 85% of the price which is the most I have seen anywhere. And for the sales that occur through the major retailers you still receive 60%.

Fourth, they have free marketing tools to help you get the word out on your ebook, which is one of the hardest parts of self-publishing in my opinion.

Fifth, if you publish two or more different author works, you can upgrade your account for free to a publisher’s account to centrally manage all of your author’s works, and you get your own publisher’s page on their site to showcase the work as needed for new releases or circumstances like a good news cycle going along with one of your book topics.

Although I am sure I will also use some of the direct publishing through the individual ebook stores, I have a hard time finding a reason not to start with Smashwords due to the incredible return on your time investment.

Click the link to get all the details for yourself, but I’m sure you will agree this is a great ebook self-publishing option. If you find other key points that I missed, please post in the comments for others to see.

Smashwords – How to Publish on Smashwords

Until next time, let’s keep on writing.

100 Free Online Tools for Writers

Thanks to the Writing Fiction blog for posting this great list of tools.
http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/fiction/2010/03/web-apps-for-fiction-writers.html

Short Story Contest

Looked like a good contest, free to enter.

http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com/2010/02/short-story-contest-on-bookrix.html

Writing Contest Websites for 2010

Happy New Year! 2010 is upon us so it is time to start thinking about a new year of writing goals, project possibilities, and writing contests.

In my last post I listed some specific contests with detailed information about prizes and rules. In this post I want to list other websites that contain lists of writing contests, so a jumping off point for you to stroll through your options.

My advice for the new year, be intentional. Do not allow the year to just happen to you. You shape the year. Make a small list of specific goals, and if they may be difficult to complete even better. If you aim for a 300 foot drive on the green, you are much more likely to hit 250 feet.

Aim big! And remember, you will never win a contest unless you enter. Best of luck to you all.

Poets and Writers
Creative Writing Contests blog on WordPress
OnceWritten.com
Writers-editors.com
FreelanceWriting.com

New Author Writing Contest

I read this in the Writers and Authors blog and wanted to pass it along.

http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-author-writing-contest.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WritersAndAuthors+%28Writers+and+Authors%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

yWriter5 Writing Software Review

I decided to start the year out by trying to be more organized in my writing. I have a system, but it consists of individual files for things like character summaries, plot outline, and chapter summaries. Knowing that there is software out there for writers, I decided to search and see what I could find.

After reviewing a long list of possibilities, I focused in on yWriter5. I watched the video demo and I was sold. It is feature rich, very light-weight, and FREE! And as an unpublished writer, I am a big fan of free.

I formatted my latest writing project in rtf format with chapter headings as required by yWriter5, and was able to import my whole project and have it automatically create the chapter division files.

You have options to add characters with character details, locations, items, and scenes which make up your chapters. Because of the “scene” approach, it is easy to drag scenes between chapters or rearrange them as your story fleshes out.

The reports are helpful, and you can even do a word-count report to help you stick to your writing goals.

I am really amazed at how much this free program offers, and from what I have seen so far, you are getting a top quality program.

Check it out at http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter5.html

Until next time, let’s keep on writing.

www.jhughthomas.com

Writing Contests 2010

The new year is just around the corner. If you want to enter writing contests in 2010, start scanning the contest options and find one or more that fit you. Here’s my annual summary of some contests that look promising. Good luck!

CONTESTS – NO ENTRY FEE

Ladder Writers Competition – Short Story competition with a prize of approx. $100.
Deadline: January, 14, 2010

http://www.ladderwriters.com/

The Eric Hoffer Award – Here you will find two contests.
1) A winning work of short prose will earn you $500, and you can win other honors or distinctions.
Deadline: March 31, 2010
2) Submit your independent book, which includes self-published books, and you could win $1,500.
Deadline: January 21, 2010
http://www.hofferaward.com/

Career Transition Story Contest – Write a non-fiction story about your real life career change experiences and you could win $500.
Deadline: January 30, 2010
http://www.worklifegroup.com/contests/career-transition-stories/

First Annual Spirit Meditation Poetry Contest – Submit your unpublished poem for a chance to win one of three prizes between $50 and $150.
Deadline: January 31, 2010
http://www.spiritfirst.org/spirit_first_news.html#poetry

Christian Poetry Contest – You could win $3,000 in this poetry contest.
Deadline: February 28, 2010
http://www.utmostchristianwriters.com/

The William Saroyan Society Contest for 1st Grade through College – Submit your short story for a chance to win up to $100 in several grade groupings.
Deadline: March, 8, 2010
http://williamsaroyansociety.org/

CONTESTS – MODEST ENTRY FEE

American Short Fiction – Submit a short story and you could win up to $1,000 and publication.
Deadline: January 1, 2010
Entry Fee: $20
http://www.americanshortfiction.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp%3bview=article&amp%3bid=38-contest&amp%3bcatid=6-announcements

Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize – Write a short story on the theme Apartments and Neighbors under 750 words, and you could win $1,000.
Deadline: January 10, 2010
Entry Fee: $25
http://writingcontests.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/the-2010-stella-kupferberg-memorial-short-story-prize/

Iron Horse Literary Review Competition – Submit a collection to try for a $1,000 honorarium.
Deadline: February 15, 2010
Entry Fee: $15
http://writingcontests.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/iron-horse-literary-review-single-author-issue-competition/

Limnisa Short Story Contest – Write an original short story up to 3000 word and you could win a two week writing class in Greece or a one week vacation in an apartment in Greece.
Deadline: March 1, 2010
Entry Fee: £5.- (€6.-)
http://www.limnisa.com/pageID_7585721.html

Westmoreland Poetry and Short Story Contest – Submit unpublished short story or poems for prizes ranging from $75 to $200.
Deadline: March 15, 2010
Entry Fee: $10 – $20
http://www.artsandheritage.com/poetry-short-stories.htm

Once Bitten Contests – Here you will find a variety of poetry and other fiction contests with prizes from $150 to $5,000.
http://www.oncewritten.com/WritingContests.php

Web 1.0 vs 2.0 promotion

I thought this was an interesting reference chart that was worth sharing.

http://amarketingexpert.com/ameblog/marketing/web-10-vs-20-do-you-know-the-difference/