Is First Person Really More Intimate?

Some time ago, a writing buddy of mine received a “Revise and Resubmit” (R&R) on her crime novel, with an attached editorial note stating that the editor thought it would work better in first person.

For a moment, I want to reflect on the simple fact that she got an R&R. People, this is an awesome thing for a writer to get.

It's not a rejection.
The acquisition editor saw something in your story and writing that has great potential, but they felt the manuscript wasn't quite ready to take before the powers that be who issue and sign contracts. The editor is giving the writer another chance.

If you get an R&R, celebrate! Then take the time to look over the editorial notes and seriously consider their merits.

Okay, so after we finished celebrating the fact she got an R&R, she told a group of fellow writers about the editor wanting the manuscript in first person. There were roughly ten of us around the table that day, and several piped up quickly to say, "first-person narratives were more intimate." There I was, sitting on the other side of the table, biting my tongue. The others in the room were so adamant about their view, and nothing I could say would change their point of view. More importantly, my writing buddy agreed with them.

Taking Weapons Overseas: Guest Blog Post

Fast Write Now! Edit Hell Later!

It's November, and many writers around the world have chosen to challenge themselves to write a minimum of 50,000 words in 30 days. During November, the writing community often finds ways to come out of random hidey holes to write in groups, both online and offline. To some, the whole challenge is a daunting task. But for many people who have never written before, embarking on the challenge can be freeing. And for those who have been writing for a while, such a challenge forces us to examine our writing habits—and sometimes, reset our routines.

Every year, I share my thoughts about how aiming for the high word counts shouldn't be your ultimate goal. In my opinion, the challenge to write 50,000 words in a month is about developing writing habits that will carry you through into your future writing career.

With that in mind, we need to address certain practices that will help you write fast now, but avoid the editing hell later.

Spy Toys: Seeing in the Dark

When writing our stories, we need to understand all aspects of our characters to help bring them to life on the page. Sometimes, that all important characterization is not about the way a character thinks or acts, but rather the toys that they have at their disposal. Let's face it, James Bond wouldn't be the captivating creature he is without all the gadgets and specially designed toys given to him by Q. Maxwell Smart would be nothing without his shoe phone. Batman would be just some spoiled billionaire without the famous gadget belt. And Judge Dread... Well, Judge Dread is Judge Dread, and he can do whatever he wants, even if it's blow up half the city.

But what about the men and women who are the real counterparts to our favorite spy-like fictional characters? Sure, they have their guns, the knives, and whatever other weapons they can get their hands on, but some gadgets at their disposal feel like they come out of science fiction. I'm talking about the toys they use to help them see their targets.

Facebook: Is it time to panic about security?

Facebook has hit the news once again with yet another security breach. This time, the breach was a flaw in the View as... feature built into the platform to give users the ability to see their profiles and pages as another user would see them. It had to do with some combination of settings between this feature and the uploading of videos that gave some hacker access to over 50 million people's data.

News of the breach is EVERYWHERE! There is even a public statement about it on the Facebook site.

To be honest, I'm not surprised this has happened. As much as people like to pretend otherwise, the internet and social media are still new technology. Yes, sites like Facebook have been around for a while, going public in 2004. However, what Facebook looked like in 2004 is NOTHING compared to what it looks like today. Social media as a whole is dramatically different. Same too with the internet.

More and more people are joining the world of the internet. For much of the Western Society, it has become a massive part of our lives. My children are now required to sit certain school exams or submit assignments online. This is the world we now live in.

With the changes in the world, we were bound to face issues surrounding privacy and security. The question is: is it time to panic?

In a one-word answer: No. In a longer answer: No, but it is time to examine our practices and take steps to protect ourselves.

Here is a list of steps you should take to protect yourself on the internet, not just Facebook.

The Must-Have Website

When I first started down the road towards publication myself, I did an extensive amount of research trying to understand exactly what I needed to do to make it happen. There was this one thing that kept cropping up, time and time again. Platform. Website. Website. Platform.

When I saw this constant theme of website for writers, I wanted to run screaming. There was no way I wanted to stress myself with having to do all the coding associated with having a website. And the cost... I could barely afford my internet bill. But if I wanted to make a name for myself as a writer, I was going to have to suck it up and just do it.

I was pleasantly surprised at how simple — and cheap — it all was.

I created the first iteration of my author website, with all the bells and whistles, within 30 minutes. I kid you not. And all it cost me was time. That website was FREE.

A Synopsis is NOT a Blurb

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been helping writing buddies prepare submissions for various writing contests. From PitchWars through to RWNZ’s Great Beginning, each of these contest required a synopsis as part of the submission packet. PitchWars required a query letter too. However, there was one thing that seemed to be a constant theme: there was confusion about the difference between a synopsis and a blurb.

To put it simply, a blurb is the short teaser that snags the interest of a reader, enticing them to read more. This is what is typically used on the back cover of a printed book. It’s a blurb that one will find in a query letter.

A synopsis is the spoiler alert, containing ALL plot points from the main thread of the story from start to finish, including the ending. It’s an editing tool that the public will never see unless you let them.

Let’s break this down a bit further.
Read More→

Exposition: A Literary Term Defined

Put your hand up if you are one of the many writers out there who hears one of the many terms that industry professionals throw out at you and you blink. "What exactly does that mean?" Let's not forget how stupid we feel for not knowing. However, there are so many well-known writers who are just as much in the dark about some of these terms as the rest of us.

In a recent post, I defined the term purple prose. Today, I want to talk about another term that tripped me up when I first started (and trips up so many new writers, understandably so): Exposition.

Basically, exposition is a comprehensive description of an idea. That is the dictionary definition, but what does this mean for writing?

Everyday Carry for the Spook: Guest Blog Post

Those who work with the intelligence agencies or special forces are often known as Spooks or Ghosts. Well, it turns out that a few of Real Spooks found out about our Assassins, Spies & SAS blog series and decided to lend a helping hand. They love how we just want writers to portray this special breed of characters correctly in a story. They want us to get inside the inner workings of their minds. (Although, some of their inner thoughts might be a little too scary even for me.)

Today's post really was written by a person who works in the intelligence industry. As a thriller writer, Judy L Mohr (the Black Wolf Editor herself) has amassed some creepy contacts. Don't ask. Just accept. And no, you can't ask us for their contact details. Go find your own creepy contacts.

Everyday carry (EDC) is a collection of things you carry with you on a daily basis when you are outside your house. There can, and will, be some variation. However, there will be some items you always carry.

My everyday carry consists of:

My wallet - do I need to explain this one?
My cell phone
A battery pack for my cell phone
A firearm
A knife
$100 in cash (small bills, i.e., $20's)
A multi tool
A signal blocking bag
A flashlight

Now that I have explained what I carry, please allow me to explain some of the items.

Purple Prose: A Literary Term Defined

There are many different terms that are commonly used within the publishing industry that many new writers look at those terms with one simple response: "Huh?" Even a few experienced writers will look at those terms and be completely baffled.

Over the past few weeks, I've been compiling a list of these terms. The list is actually quite extensive, and much bigger than I first thought. I've decided that it's time to help new and experienced writers to learn what some of these terms mean, so if you ever encounter them in an editorial report, you're not completely confused by what the editor is saying.

Let's start with one that tripped me up when I first started as a writer: Purple Prose.

To put it simply, purple prose is any passage that is excessively descriptive.

Everyday Carry: Advice from a Ghost