April 5, 2010

To thrive in the present publishing climate, our manuscripts need to be submitted in the best condition possible. I’ve written previously about the need to continue studying the writing craft. [Strong Writers Do This, Self-Study Advanced Writing Program]

“But how do you find the TIME to study on top of writing and marketing?” I’ve been asked time and again. Actually, it’s simple.

Shorten the Learning Curve

Whenever possible, I piggyback on someone else’s research. For example, I prefer a book like Time to Write by Kelly L. Stone, who interviewed more than 100 professional writers about how they fit writing into their busy lives. All that experience condensed into one book is a gold mine.

Likewise, last week I put together two e-booklets that could also shorten your learning curve. First is 50 Tension Techniques: Hold a Reader’s Attention from Beginning to End. I teach a writing workshop called “Tension Techniques,” based on my thirty years of writing and selling 35 books. A few months ago in Austin, I met a woman who had attended that workshop years ago; she told me she’d worn out her hand-out and wished she had another one. I use the hand-out myself in my fiction writing when I come to spots that drag or when things are too calm for too long!

Editors tell us that we need tension on every page in order to keep readers hooked. But what exactly is tension? And how can you possibly increase tension on every page? The fifty simple techniques in this e-booklet show you how to infuse page-turning tension into your dialogue (15 techniques), your plot (14), your characterization (12), and setting descriptions (9). I’ve gathered these techniques from years of reading how-to and writing craft books. (I have six bookcases full of writing books in my office.)

Special Tension Needed

I love mysteries and have had eleven mysteries published (one won a children’s choice award), and mystery stories and books never seem to go out of fashion with kids. A few years ago I wrote a monthly magazine column on mystery writing. I’ve gathered those columns into a 50-page e-booklet called Writing Mysteries for Young People.

I’ve studied close to two dozen books on mystery writing, and these sixteen short chapters are the best techniques I’ve found. Writing Mysteries for Young People will show you how to construct a mystery. This includes the development of heroes, victims and villains, plotting and planting clues, creating the setting and scene of the crime–and then how to solve the mystery in a believable way.

Smarter, Not Harder

Yes, it’s important to study, and you need to always work to improve your craft. Sometimes, though, we need to study smarter, not harder. Strive to only spend your time and hard-earned money where you get the most “bang for your buck” (and your time.)

6 Comments »

1. 

   I love this idea, Kristi. My husband’s favorite phrase is “work smart, not hard” in terms of getting down to business and doing what needs to be done rather than just taking up space for hours on end. There are never enough hours in the day, so it certainly bears merit.

   Thanks for another insightful post!

   Karin Larson

   Comment by Karin Larson — April 6, 2010 @ 7:43 am

2. 

   Yes, Karin, there never seem to be enough hours in the day to do everything we need to do–and then everything we’d like to do. That’s why I love books that give me multiple practical tips that I can actually use (like HOW TO HAVE A 48-HOUR DAY or THE 4-HOUR WORKWEEK.) Even though I can’t use everything they say, I love when I learn something that cuts my work load and frustration in half or doubles my learning curve.

   When I run up against a problem, I always assume that SOMEBODY out there must have overcome this issue–AND written about it!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — April 6, 2010 @ 2:01 pm

3. 

   Wow! Six bookshelves full of writing books! WOW!!! I only have three bookshelves. One full of children’s books. And only three shelves on one bookshelf are writing books. Maybe one day I’ll have a bigger office for more bookshelves, and more writing books. In the meantime, a small office and lack of shelves has not made me quit collecting the craft books I know I need. Your post brings to mind – efficiency. My last job was all about efficiency. How can we as writers do things faster and better, but not so fast that we run out of steam? Thanks for the post!

   Comment by Christie Wright Wild — April 6, 2010 @ 8:25 pm

4. 

   Yes, Christie, and that’s after weeding out and giving away books. My girls called me a self-help junkie when they were little, but I was so enthralled with learning how to write. To this day, I could happily spend my days reading writing books (and NOT writing!) It’s probably a good thing for my budget that Writer’s Digest Book Club folded. I would look at their brochure every month and just HAVE TO HAVE one or two books advertised there. My poor budget. I drive a really old car and wear clothes dating back to my college days (styles haven’t changed!), but books are my downfall.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — April 6, 2010 @ 9:32 pm

5. 

   Hi Kristi:

   I love tip books. Anything that points me in the direction of not spinning my wheels without gaining ground is for me.

   Thanks!

   Comment by Donna McDine — April 7, 2010 @ 5:24 am

6. 

   Donna, that’s so true. Much of what we’re told by “experts” that we “have to do now” gets us spinning our wheels in one place instead of moving forward, slowly but surely. We get the feeling that we really must be going somewhere because we’re moving so frantically FAST! Not!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — April 7, 2010 @ 7:34 am

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