Lots of interesting suggestions of books that have managed to stand out from the crowd, the common denominators that link them, and suggestions of books on writing that will help you join their ranks. Also many helpful tweets from @WriterLor, (president of Free-Expressions Seminars with NY agent Donald Maass) and @EditorialDept (The Editorial Department – editing services).
| 12:16 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @liakeyes Looking forward to #scribechat tonight. What if we talk about breaking out in today’s tough industry? |
| 12:19 am | LiaKeyes: | RT @HeatherMcCorkle: @liakeyes Looking forward to #scribechat tonight. What if we talk about breaking out in today’s tough industry? |
| 12:27 am | LiaKeyes: | An article on writing breakout fiction by journalist Cat Spaulding ?> http://bit.ly/9I9ke7 #scribechat |
| 12:29 am | LiaKeyes: | Writing the Breakout Novel by NY agent Donald Maass: http://amzn.to/98YN1o #scribechat |
| 12:30 am | LiaKeyes: | Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook (companion) by Donald Maass: http://amzn.to/9IBhM3#scribechat |
| 12:31 am | LiaKeyes: | Another terrific recommendation: BREAK INTO FICTION by Mary Buckham ?>http://amzn.to/9MOVZt #scribechat |
| 12:34 am | maryfranholm: | RT @LiaKeyes: Writing the Breakout Novel by NY agent Donald Maass: http://amzn.to/98YN1o#scribechat |
| 12:39 am | LiaKeyes: | Want to write a breakout novel? Read FLOGGING THE QUILL by Ray Rhamey ?>http://amzn.to/bNpkvk #scribechat |
| 12:47 am | SheviStories: | #ScribeChat in 15 min. Topic: breaking out in today’s tough publishing environment. Best way to follow: http://tweetchat.com/room/scribechat |
| 12:49 am | Annie_McElfresh: | RT @LiaKeyes: Writing the Breakout Novel by NY agent Donald Maass: http://amzn.to/98YN1o#scribechat |
| 12:50 am | CreativeK: | RT @SheviStories: #ScribeChat in 15 min. Topic: breaking out in today’s tough publishing environment. Best way to follow: http://tweetchat.com/room/scribechat |
| 12:51 am | GLHancock: | If you want to start a writing career, to get published – write nonfiction, short pieces. That’s the way to break IN to writing. #scribechat |
| 12:51 am | SheviStories: | #ScribeChat in 10 min. Topic: breaking out in today’s tough publishing environment. Best way to follow: http://tweetchat.com/room/scribechat |
| 12:51 am | LiaKeyes: | To write breakout fiction, make us care! Recommendation: WRITING FOR EMOTIONAL IMPACT ?>http://amzn.to/a4FZuy #scribechat |
| 12:53 am | teetate: | RT @SheviStories: #ScribeChat in 10 min. Topic: breaking out in today’s tough publishing environment. Best way to follow: http://tweetchat.com/room/scribechat |
| 12:54 am | dandellion: | RT @SheviStories: #ScribeChat in 15 min. Topic: breaking out in today’s tough publishing environment. Best way to follow: http://tweetchat.com/room/scribechat |
| 12:54 am | GLHancock: | Better than writing is getting published. Even better is getting PAID for your writing. Not trying 2 be difficult, practical! #scribechat |
| 12:54 am | LiaKeyes: | “Regardless of genre, the techniques of breakout fiction are universal” – Donald Maass (Writing the Breakout Novel) #scribechat |
| 12:57 am | LiaKeyes: | Why should we read about protagonists we don’t like? To write fiction that sells in any environment, make me CARE. #scribechat |
| 12:59 am | editorialdept: | Readers need a hook–either in plot, character, or setting–to keep them interested. No hook, no sales. #scribechat |
| 12:59 am | LiaKeyes: | “Dazzle your readers?spin them a story that they will never forget.” Donald Maass (Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook) #scribechat |
| 1:00 am | wildbloom: | Checking in for #scribechat |
| 1:00 am | teetate: | Hello, everyone. #scribechat |
| 1:00 am | LiaKeyes: | @wildbloom Hey, there! Nice to see you. #ScribeChat is just about to begin!!! #scribechat |
| 1:01 am | wildbloom: | @LiaKeyes Thanks! Glad to be here. #scribechat |
| 1:01 am | teetate: | Good. Thursday nights are my favorite now.  #scribechat |
| 1:01 am | LiaKeyes: | It is possible to learn how to write fiction that stands out from the crowd. What are the elements that make a story stand out? #scribechat |
| 1:02 am | SheviStories: | #ScribeChat on breaking out in today’s tough publishing environment starts now!http://tweetchat.com/room/scribechat #scribechat |
| 1:02 am | LiaKeyes: | WOW! That makes me glow with happiness!  RT @teetate: Good. Thursday nights are my favorite now. #scribechat |
| 1:02 am | thesadeianwoman: | RT @SheviStories: #ScribeChat on breaking out in today’s tough publishing environment starts now!http://tweetchat.com/room/scribechat #scribechat |
| 1:02 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes hmm…great hook, great plot, great characters. And something original. MHO anyway. #scribechat |
| 1:02 am | thesadeianwoman: | RT @LiaKeyes: It is possible to learn how to write fiction that stands out from the crowd. What are the elements that make a story stand out? #scribechat |
| 1:02 am | wildbloom: | @LiaKeyes For me, it’s unique, believable characters with flaws and a compelling story. #scribechat |
| 1:03 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes aww, well, I wouldn’t say if I didn’t mean it, dear. #scribechat |
| 1:03 am | SheviStories: | @LiaKeyes Hook the reader & keep the reader hooked until the last page. Give the MC a need & make me need to know what happens. #scribechat |
| 1:03 am | editorialdept: | Possible to learn “stand out” writing, yes, but up to author to decide if it compromises what they wish to accomplish w/ story. #scribechat |
| 1:03 am | LiaKeyes: | Donald Maass says that 80% of the novels that come into his office lack tension. #scribechat |
| 1:04 am | teetate: | @wildbloom agreed. No one wants to read about ‘perfect’ characters. #scribechat |
| 1:04 am | thesadeianwoman: | RT @LiaKeyes: Donald Maass says that 80% of the novels that come into his office lack tension. #scribechat |
| 1:05 am | thesadeianwoman: | RT @SheviStories: @LiaKeyes Hook the reader & keep the reader hooked until the last page. Give the MC a need & make me need to know what happens. #scribechat |
| 1:05 am | LiaKeyes: | While a high concept premise/high stakes certainly helps to get attention, any story can be made great if conflict is intense #scribechat |
| 1:05 am | teetate: | tension = conflict, right? Of course there has to be tension. Otherwise, you have a very bland, vanilla story. #scribechat |
| 1:05 am | wildbloom: | @LiaKeyes Written the right way, tension and conflict are key elements to any good story. #scribechat |
| 1:05 am | SheviStories: | A magazine editor once told me “Tell ‘em, then tell ‘em, then tell ‘em again.” I adapted that: “Hook ‘em, then hook ‘em…” #scribechat |
| 1:06 am | LiaKeyes: | If you love the character, care and feel for them passionately, the conflict and tension are automatically ramped up. #scribechat |
| 1:06 am | editorialdept: | I see a lot of authors who are afraid to hurt their characters, or who don’t know how to effectively write elements of tension. #scribechat |
| 1:06 am | cinnie2: | @LiaKeyes I love that thought. #scribechat |
| 1:06 am | teetate: | @editorialdept wow really? I LOVE being cruel to my characters. LOL #scribechat |
| 1:07 am | LiaKeyes: | @editorialdept Hi, there! What are the elements of tension, in your opinion? #scribechat |
| 1:07 am | HoodedMan: | @teetate @wildbloom some people do, I’m afraid RE. Twilight #scribechat |
| 1:08 am | LiaKeyes: | We know what we need to do, right? We all know the theory. So how come we so often fail to execute it on the page? #scribechat |
| 1:08 am | wildbloom: | @HoodedMan Bad or good? I haven’t read any of the books or seen any of the movie(s). #scribechat |
| 1:09 am | teetate: | @HoodedMan ::shudders:: #scribechat |
| 1:09 am | SheviStories: | Plant a question and a need to know the answer in my mind. The MC has a conflict. How will he/she overcome it? I need to know! #scribechat |
| 1:10 am | teetate: | @wildbloom oh, love, save yourself the headache. Trust me. #scribechat |
| 1:10 am | LiaKeyes: | RT @editorialdept: Tension (event/internal struggle) is only effective if the reader can identify with it #scribechat |
| 1:10 am | editorialdept: | Showing, not telling, is the gold standard for bringing the reader in to the tension/conflict #scribechat |
| 1:10 am | wildbloom: | Can there be too much tension or conflict? I wonder about that sometimes with my work. It’s filled with it. #scribechat |
| 1:11 am | sharifwrites: | @SheviStories Even if the character is unique/interesting/lovable I still want to see what problem s/he overcomes. #scribechat |
| 1:11 am | LiaKeyes: | @editorialdept If there’s a scene where nothing much is happening, should it be removed? Would deepening exposition save it? #scribechat |
| 1:11 am | wildbloom: | @teetate lol, so I keep hearing! #scribechat |
| 1:11 am | editorialdept: | You have to make your reader feel, see, touch, smell events to give them power. Just telling isn’t enough. #scribechat |
| 1:11 am | Moribundy: | @editorialdept Re showing: completely agree. I once read a short story where the story was told through dialogue. All TELLING. #scribechat |
| 1:11 am | marisabirns: | @LiaKeyes Constantly raising the stakes for character is element of tension. #scribechat |
| 1:11 am | LiaKeyes: | @wildbloom Honestly, no, I don’t think there’s such a thing as too much tension – though you might need to look at pacing #scribechat |
| 1:11 am | teetate: | I keep hearing conflict should be internal/interpersonal and external. I like that idea. #scribechat |
| 1:11 am | editorialdept: | Yes! RT @SheviStories I think we often know what we must do, but we doubt ourselves, and dont go all the way. Write all the way! #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | LiaKeyes: | @wildbloom Sometimes a reader needs a change of pace in all that tension, so they can catch their breath for the next nailbiter #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | GLHancock: | @editorialdept I see way too much telling and too little showing via action, dialog & description in the mss I receive to edit. #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | teetate: | @wildbloom if there is then it’s melodrama, which you really want to avoid. #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | SheviStories: | @editorialdept I think showing and telling both have their place, but neither lead to or lessen tension. #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | Moribundy: | @LiaKeyes it depends what u mean by “nothing much happening”. A pause after major conflict can be good, but it needs tension #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | editorialdept: | RT @LiaKeyes: If theres a scene where nothing much is happening, should it be removed? <<Generally, yes. Move story along! #scribechat |
| 1:12 am | HoodedMan: | @wildbloom both novels and films are beyond horrible #scribechat |
| 1:13 am | editorialdept: | @GLHancock What advice do you give clients to help them improve action & ratchet up tension? #scribechat |
| 1:13 am | wildbloom: | @LiaKeyes It’s hard to judge pacing sometimes. At least for me. Mine are pretty intense though they have their ‘breaks’. #scribechat |
| 1:13 am | junegoodwin: | Heard Donald Maas speak recently. He said make it worse for characters and I did. Last 3rd of story is so much better. #scribechat |
| 1:14 am | GLHancock: | @Moribundy I received on that was all narration-court records. Too bad. It could have been an interesting novel-refused to edit. #scribechat |
| 1:14 am | teetate: | @SheviStories that ‘showing not telling’ can be all over dialog…which, IMHO, is just lazy writing. #scribechat |
| 1:14 am | editorialdept: | To use Twilight, Bella’s internal monologue doesn’t leave much room for reader to experience things personally. It’s all told. #scribechat |
| 1:14 am | LiaKeyes: | Got scenes where protag is drinking coffee, taking a shower, smoking, or reviewing prior action, esp in first 50 pages? Cut it. #scribechat |
| 1:14 am | junegoodwin: | @wildbloom I read 2 Twilight books and saw movies. Loved them. #scribechat |
| 1:14 am | Moribundy: | @Moribundy I think you need an eb and flow of tension, with the tension constantly rising to a greater level. #scribechat |
| 1:15 am | GLHancock: | @editorialdept I tell it like it is. I am not a developmental editor. If they don’t know what to do, I send ‘em to a dev. ed. #scribechat |
| 1:15 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @LiaKeyes Great advice! Avoid cliques at all costs. 9 times out of ten an agent or editor will automatically deny for that! #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | junegoodwin: | @GLHancock What is a developmental editor? #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | LiaKeyes: | Low tension scenes: in a kitchen, living room, office, in a car in first 50 pages? Do you need the scene? If not, cut it. #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | cinnie2: | @junegoodwin loved the 1st book and movie, the 2nd not so much. I’m told they get better. #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | GLHancock: | @editorialdept The most recent I got is mostly the M.C.’s thoughts. Told writer is was boring. Can’t edit such bad writing. #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @Moribundy I agree, eb and flow is what helps keep it interesting. #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | Moribundy: | @SheviStories Exactly. You’ve got to always leave questions to be answered, whether they’re in a fight scene or a rest scene. #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | SheviStories: | @teetate Yes, sometimes people overdo it with showing. Telling can often move a scene along faster. #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | CreativeK: | Checking into #scribechat late ended up talking to a friend a little while. #scribechat |
| 1:16 am | jrmackenzie: | Sometimes you want to settle into a novel, enjoying a setting, for ex. w/o obligatory pins and needles every minute #scribechat |
| 1:17 am | LiaKeyes: | Backstory tends to be low tension. #scribechat |
| 1:17 am | Moribundy: | @HeatherMcCorkle I’m just learning it’s eb and flow. I can say it needs it – learning to write it is a different story! #scribechat |
| 1:17 am | GLHancock: | @junegoodwin One who helps with just the elements we are discussing. She helps you tell the story better. May be plot, charac. 2 #scribechat |
| 1:17 am | editorialdept: | RT @junegoodwin: What is a developmental editor? <<Dev. editors act as writing coaches and teach craft as well as fix errors #scribechat |
| 1:17 am | teetate: | RT @LiaKeyes: Backstory tends to be low tension. #scribechat |
| 1:17 am | Moribundy: | @LiaKeyes I’m so bad with backstory… idk how to go about adding it in properly, and yet it’s so important in my #wip #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @Moribundy So true! The balance is the key but unfortunately, it’s also the hard part. #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | junegoodwin: | @cinnie2 I agree. New moon–book and movie not as good. Just saw Eclipse. It wasn’t bad. Lot’s of conflict between Ed and jacob. #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | GLHancock: | @editorialdept TY My fingers are slow tonight. I didn’t mean dev. eds. don’t do the type of editing I do… #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | editorialdept: | So many times I see backstory inserted because it’s important to author, but not to story. Always question if it serves story. #scribechat |
| 1:18 am | Moribundy: | @HeatherMcCorkle Yup Currently redrafting my plot… so, hopefully I’ll learn it quickly so I can write the new draft! #scribechat |
| 1:19 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @Moribundy Backstory is tough. Try to add it where it fits naturally. Easier said than done, I know! #scribechat |
| 1:19 am | cinnie2: | @junegoodwin Good to know. Thanks! #scribechat |
| 1:19 am | junegoodwin: | @GLHancock Oh. Thanks. Are such editors uncommon? #scribechat |
| 1:19 am | kaylischolz: | @editorialdept When does dialogue become too long? Or does it solely depend on the scene and narrative around it? #scribechat |
| 1:19 am | teetate: | @Moribundy don’t over think it. Just let it flow. Sometimes taking a step back & just writing will help. #scribechat |
| 1:19 am | GLHancock: | Sorry to sound so negative, but I live by others’ mistakes. I know what to not do. What to do is the opposite. #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | LiaKeyes: | Example of backstory used as shocking revelation: Chinatown #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @editorialdept Yes! Backstory has to be important to the plot. Just because you did research doesn’t mean you have to put it in. #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | junegoodwin: | @cinnie2 You’re welcome. Now I have to buy Eclipse the book and read it. I watch movie 1st then read book. #scribechat |
| 1:20 am | teetate: | RT @editorialdept: So many times I see backstory inserted bc its impt 2author, but not 2story. Always questn if it serves story. #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | editorialdept: | RT @kaylischolz: Wen does dialogue become too long? When it detracts from story flow. Too much jabbering or internal reflection. #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | SheviStories: | To stand out, I think you need a great title, tag line, & hook. You can have a masterpiece, but it’ll be hard to sell w/o those. #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | Moribundy: | @LiaKeyes Chinatown: the movie? Or is that based on a book? I have it but never watched. #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | GLHancock: | @junegoodwin Oh, no. More common, well numerous that is, than you might think. Check sdpen.org or BAEF editorsforum.org/ #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | wildbloom: | @SheviStories I agree. Trying to get it just right can be difficult. At least for me. #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | junegoodwin: | @GLHancock True. Learning what others do wrong is just as helpful as being told what to do right. #scribechat |
| 1:21 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @SheviStories Yes! You must get to the heart of your story fast because you only have a few moments to grab their attention. #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | Moribundy: | @SheviStories As far as needing to sell: don’t forget cover art! Esp important for self pub’ed works #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | LiaKeyes: | @Moribundy Yes, Chinatown the movie. A masterpiece of storytelling. The backstory revelation spins the entire plot around #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | editorialdept: | That’s why editors have valuable insights RT @GLHancock: Sorry to sound so negative, but I live by others mistakes. #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | Moribundy: | @LiaKeyes I’ll have to watch that… maybe tonight. Thanks! #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | LiaKeyes: | @Moribundy The backstory revelation is a truly dark secret in the family’s past, motivating all actions #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | teetate: | @HeatherMcCorkle grab & keep it. That’s constantly in my thoughts while writing. #scribechat |
| 1:22 am | GLHancock: | @junegoodwin It is very difficult to concisely teach good creative writing, I think. Needs examples (good AND bad) and practice #scribechat |
| 1:23 am | GLHancock: | @editorialdept Thanks for saying that. Not everyone understands the value of the negatives! #scribechat |
| 1:23 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | The conference I just went to really taught me how to get to the heart of the story and how to pitch it. Loved it! #scribechat |
| 1:23 am | editorialdept: | A recent #scriptchat focused on Chinatown – check the archives for great convo. #scribechat |
| 1:23 am | Moribundy: | LOTS of practice! RT @GLHancock: Teaching creative writing ->Needs examples (good AND bad) and practice. #scribechat |
| 1:24 am | GeneDoucette: | Oh hey, what’s going on in here? #scribechat |
| 1:24 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @GLHancock The NYC Pitch and Sell conference in New York. What an eye opener! #scribechat |
| 1:24 am | LiaKeyes: | Writers often don’t explore their antagonists enough – the source of all conflict, without which the story would not exist. #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | wildbloom: | @GeneDoucette Hey, hey Gene. #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | GLHancock: | @HeatherMcCorkle Any particular speakers stand out as being outstandingly helpful? #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes exactly! Hi @GeneDoucette #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | deegarretson: | Dialogue-Too often dialogue doesn’t work if it sounds like everyday conversation. Dialogue in storytelling isn’t like real life. #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | LiaKeyes: | @GeneDoucette Hey, Gene! We’re talking about how to write break out fiction, even in a tough publishing environment #scribechat |
| 1:25 am | SheviStories: | @LiaKeyes That always amazes me, when writers don’t know the heart of their MC. It’s the heart of the story! #scribechat |
| 1:26 am | WriterLor: | @LiaKeyes Conversely, I find a lot of folks don’t make their protagonists essential to the story, the catalyst for events. #scribechat |
| 1:26 am | editorialdept: | RT @GLHancock: Not everyone understands the value of the negatives <Agreed & many can’t take crit, but it’s essential 4 learning #scribechat |
| 1:26 am | GeneDoucette: | Any topic? I’m busy scaring the holy hell out of myself #scribechat |
| 1:26 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @LiaKeyes I’m guilty of this. But my last two books have really taught me how to embrace my antagonist, & they’re better for it! #scribechat |
| 1:26 am | vleemahoney: | RT @LiaKeyes: An article on writing breakout fiction by journalist Cat Spaulding ?> http://bit.ly/9I9ke7#scribechat |
| 1:26 am | GeneDoucette: | Break out fiction? Define… #scribechat |
| 1:26 am | teetate: | @deegarretson don’t you think that depends on genre? A 15 yr MC who sounds 30 isn’t going to be embraced by YA audience. Right? #scribechat |
| 1:26 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @GLHancock There weren’t speakers. It was a very diff. kind of conference. We worked on our pitch & pitched straight to editors. #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | SheviStories: | Give your MC a serious problem and a need to resolve it. Give the reader the need to see it resolved, and he’s hooked. #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | PeterMcL: | “break out fiction” sounds like it should be covered in acne. #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | LiaKeyes: | @GeneDoucette Fiction that stands out from the pile in the agent’s/editor’s office. That screams to be published. NOW. #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | Moribundy: | @LiaKeyes On antags: what if it’s a group? Because my major antag currently is a government. There are specific people, but… #scribechat |
| 1:27 am | cinnie2: | @WriterLor Is that the same as having a protag that is not proactive? (Hi, Lorin!) #scribechat |
| 1:28 am | deegarretson: | @teetate Right, I meant some writers add in fillers to dialogue that just drag the story out. #scribechat |
| 1:28 am | LiaKeyes: | @Moribundy Always try to make groups specific. Pick the leader of the group, or the main source of trouble within that group. #scribechat |
| 1:28 am | GeneDoucette: | @LiaKeyes Ah. The holy grail. Like saying to a screenwriter “write a high concept film that will make millions.” um, okay. #scribechat |
| 1:28 am | WriterLor: | @cinnie2 That’s part of it, Claudine. But part of it has to do with creating a story that could literally unfold w/o the protag. #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | PeterMcL: | @Moribundy I read that it’s best to personify the baddie. People relate more to individuals than organisations. #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | GLHancock: | I thought breakout was defined in terms of sales. It often comes as a surprise to the publisher, and author. #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | SheviStories: | @teetate It’s not between a 30 and 15 year-old voice. YAs in books don’t say “like” “um” “so, yeah” etc. #scribechat |
| 1:29 am | cinnie2: | @WriterLor would prob be solved by choosing another mc? #scribechat |
| 1:30 am | lisagailgreen: | Mind if I join late? What’s the topic? #scribechat |
| 1:30 am | WriterLor: | @LiaKeyes And the story has to be THEIR story. Often, people plunk protags into situations that aren’t really critical to THEM. #scribechat |
| 1:30 am | Moribundy: | @PeterMcL @LiaKeyes Great advice. I have a person for the antag, but I’m not sure he’s dev’ed enough. Guess I’ll work on it. #scribechat |
| 1:30 am | teetate: | @SheviStories oh, I know. I just mean that the MC should be realistic, if it’s in first. #scribechat |
| 1:30 am | LiaKeyes: | Please welcome @WriterLor, founder of Free-Expressions Seminars (with talent Donald Maass as teacher) #scribechat |
| 1:30 am | GLHancock: | Most novels are not financial successes for publishers. Shows they can’t recognize “breakout” either. I’d say have fab marketer. #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | Moribundy: | What if the antag has no real reason for being evil? Or, they think they’re doing the right thing? Since he is part of the gov’t #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | LiaKeyes: | @lisagailgreen Hi, Lisa! Delighted to see you. We’re discussing how to write a novel that MUST be published, even in tough env #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | cinnie2: | @LiaKeyes Whistles and bells making noise here! #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | SheviStories: | @teetate Yes, the voice should be realistic, but edited.  #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | teetate: | @WriterLor *waves* welcome! #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @teetate I agree. The characters must be realistic and the voice should reflect the genre. #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | editorialdept: | Also, keep in mind that no matter how good your story is, patience is the key. We have a client who’s poised for -more- #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | WriterLor: | @GLHancock I think breakout is defined by its success. Often publishers aren’t looking for that but more of what sells reliably. #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | deegarretson: | @junegoodwin I’ve found in with beginning writers when I beta their work. #scribechat |
| 1:31 am | Moribundy: | @WriterLor Welcome! You’re so right about making the story for the protag. Your POV char is v important #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | LiaKeyes: | @cinnie2 Nice to see you, Claudine! #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | editorialdept: | (pt 2) a huge, breakout success, but it’s taken almost 6 years to get from draft to print #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | WriterLor: | Greetings, all. Thanks for the welcome, Lia. Just thought I’d sneak in and kibbitz! #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | cinnie2: | @LiaKeyes Hi ya, Lia! #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | GLHancock: | @WriterLor Build that backlist! #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | LiaKeyes: | Give me some examples of breakout fiction! #scribechat |
| 1:32 am | lisagailgreen: | @LiaKeyes Ooh good topic but tough question! #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | GeneDoucette: | @editorialdept that’s how long it’s taken my novel to get to the cusp of publication. Took forever. #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | junegoodwin: | @LiaKeyes An editor told me just that. The MC has to do something, not just react to what’s going on. Changed my whole story. #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | deegarretson: | @Moribundy love this question. The best antagonists often don’t think they are evil. They have their own agenda. #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | LiaKeyes: | Are breakout novels always debuts? #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | GLHancock: | @LiaKeyes Harry Potter #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | wildbloom: | @WriterLor Welcome! #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | teetate: | @editorialdept like I always say ‘slow and steady wins the race.’ It’s gonna take me forever w/ my WIP but I’m in no rush. #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | LiaKeyes: | @WriterLor Glad to see you. This is your subject, after all. Got some wine to hand? #scribechat |
| 1:33 am | PeterMcL: | @Moribundy I suspect MOST antags don’t think they’re evil. They just see things differently to protag. Bring that out. #scribechat |
| 1:34 am | WriterLor: | @LiaKeyes The Lovely Bones… Harry Potter… Girl with a Dragon Tattoo… Breakout Novels #scribechat |
| 1:34 am | TotallyWriteous: | Hi @LiaKeyes and scribechatters! Just logging on. Great topic! #scribechat |
| 1:34 am | junegoodwin: | @deegarretson Oh. Yes. I can imagine reading that stuff would be irritating. Can’t make the dialogue too “realistic”. LOL… #scribechat |
| 1:34 am | SheviStories: | Very often they aren’t. RT @LiaKeyes: Are breakout novels always debuts? #scribechat |
| 1:34 am | LiaKeyes: | @WriterLor Yes, great examples, Lorin! And all very different. Any common ground? #scribechat |
| 1:34 am | Moribundy: | @WriterLor I read first 30 pages of Dragon Tattoo… I was so bored? But people love it. I didn’t finish it. #scribechat |
| 1:35 am | editorialdept: | RT @LiaKeyes: Are breakout novels always debuts? <–Dan Brown wasn’t a household name until DaVinci Code. #scribechat |
| 1:35 am | Moribundy: | Basically, I mean, breakout fiction doesnt’ seem to work for EVERYONE. #scribechat |
| 1:35 am | junegoodwin: | @LiaKeyes No. Some people write a novel or two before they finally hit the big time and break out; get a lot of notice. #scribechat |
| 1:35 am | WriterLor: | @Moribundy Same here! I can’t get through the deathly exposition, though I’ve been told it’s worthwhile. #scribechat |
| 1:35 am | LiaKeyes: | @TotallyWriteous Welcome! Come and be Writeous on the subject of what makes a novel a “must publish” even in tough economy! #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | editorialdept: | as @GLHancock said, build that backlist! #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | junegoodwin: | @Moribundy Several people have said that. I heard it takes off after about the first 50 pages so you have 20 more to go! #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes common grnd? I say genre, voice & the journey the MCs take, though I have yet to read Dragon Tatt #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | SheviStories: | Great example: it was her second. Lucky: A Memoir was first. RT @WriterLor: The Lovely Bones… Breakout Novels #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | WriterLor: | I think common ground has to do with characterization, for starters, though I can’t speak to GWTDT. #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | GLHancock: | @editorialdept DaVinci great example. See, you don’t even have to write well or literary material to break out! #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | Moribundy: | @WriterLor Ugh, all the talk about finances and banking scams. I couldn’t tell what it was about which is bad for page 30 #scribechat |
| 1:36 am | GeneDoucette: | The novel has to hit at exactly the right time culturally; I don’t think there is a way to really predict a lot of it. #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | Moribundy: | @junegoodwin Well, my Nook preview was only to page 32. I’d have to buy it to get more – not sure I’m willing. #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | Moribundy: | @junegoodwin When they say you should hook the reader by page 1… it really shouldn’t take you 50 to do it. #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | cinnie2: | @GeneDoucette Right. Look at Pet Rocks for Pete’s sake. Timing is everything. #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | WriterLor: | I think you can look at certain common elements. Not 2 stump 4 my biz partner, but Don Maass has made a pretty extensive study. #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @Moribundy WOW! Yeah, if a book hasn’t caught you by page 32 it’s not going to. #scribechat |
| 1:37 am | GLHancock: | @GeneDoucette That was my point about publishers being unable to know which will break out. So much is luck — even the timing. #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | LiaKeyes: | @GLHancock Da Vinci Code had such a strong premise that it carried the lack-lustre protagonist. Writing was at least tight. #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | teetate: | Yes, I think timing has a lot to do with it. #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | SheviStories: | Breakout novels take the reader somewhere they’ve never been with characters like they’ve never met before. #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | cinnie2: | @cinnie2 well, maybe not everything, but I think it helps. #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | WriterLor: | @Moribundy I totally agree. I read (edit, evaluate, brainstorm) novels for a living. In my off time I can’t afford boredom. #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | editorialdept: | Sadly, you can’t predict trends or success. All you can do is write the most compelling story possible & hope it finds a niche. #scribechat |
| 1:38 am | GeneDoucette: | @GLHancock cultural zeitgeist, even. #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | lisagailgreen: | @GeneDoucette If there really were a way to predict, we’d all be jumping for joy. I still say write what’s meaningful to you #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | teetate: | I certainly can’t think of anything like Potter that came before it. I mean the level of it’s attraction. #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | junegoodwin: | @Moribundy Agreed! Author got real lucky it turned into a hit. And now he isn’t even around to enjoy it. #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | CreativeK: | RT @editorialdept: You have to make your reader feel, see, touch, smell events to give them power. Just telling isnt enough. #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | TotallyWriteous: | @Moribundy Took a little while 2 get into Girl w/Dragon Tattoo but then couldn’t put it down. On book 2. Skip boring parts. #scribechat |
| 1:39 am | GeneDoucette: | @lisagailgreen and hope it clicks with a large number of people. I agree. Can’t control a wildfire. #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate I’ve been studying Potter during last week. Fascinating. 83 characters were introduced by name in the first book! #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | wildbloom: | Trying to promote and market it is harder, I’m finding, than writing the actual story. #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | lisagailgreen: | @GeneDoucette exactly, but we sure can enjoy the journey and if it catches – great! #scribechat |
| 1:40 am | Moribundy: | @TotallyWriteous lol, to me if you have to skip boring parts, not sure I respect the writing enough to read the other parts? #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | junegoodwin: | @TotallyWriteous Oh gosh. There’s really slow parts in book 2 as well?! #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | teetate: | I believe that if ur positive about ur ability & your story, success will follow.Positive energy and hard work = success. #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | LiaKeyes: | One of the strengths of the Potter novels is the way no element is there arbitrarily. Right from first pages, the info/relevant #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | Moribundy: | @TotallyWriteous The whole book should be good, cover to cover. Or why am I paying $? #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | editorialdept: | It’s a whole different skillset. Yay for publicists RT @wildbloom: Trying to promote & market it is harder than writing #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | I think to write a breakout novel we must know exactly who our target audience is, know what they want, and give it to them. #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | TotallyWriteous: | @lisagailgreen Totally agree. If the story is close to your heart, it’ll come through on the page. #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | GLHancock: | So, if breaking out is one part luck and the rest publishers can’t predict — how can anyone say how to write one? #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | Or be lucky enough to have written a book that naturally does all that! #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | teetate: | @WriterLor absolutely. @LiaKeyes yes, Rowling is a master at that. #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | SheviStories: | Absolutely! RT @Moribundy: @TotallyWriteous The whole book should be good, cover to cover. Or why am I paying $? #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | Moribundy: | @teetate Don’t forget to market! A friend of mine calls himself an authorpreneur. #scribechat |
| 1:41 am | vleemahoney: | No. Think about Harry Potter. RT @LiaKeyes: Are breakout novels always debuts? #scribechat |
| 1:42 am | LiaKeyes: | @wildbloom If the premise is compelling enough, selling/marketing is easier. Worth checking that before you write whole novel. #scribechat |
| 1:42 am | WriterLor: | @HeatherMcCorkle That’s certainly part of it. My friend just gave a presentation on something called “design thinking” (more) #scribechat |
| 1:42 am | WriterLor: | @HeatherMcCorkle for writers, which basically has to do with that–giving your audience exactly what they’d want. #scribechat |
| 1:42 am | TotallyWriteous: | @junegoodwin Not as many as Book 1. He gets mired in the minutia. When he focuses on his heroine, you can’t stop turning pages. #scribechat |
| 1:43 am | GLHancock: | @Moribundy That’s what I was trying to say, that great marketing is the only factor about breakouts that is controllable. #scribechat |
| 1:43 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes yes and everything connects, throughout the series. #scribechat |
| 1:43 am | WriterLor: | AMEN! RT @Moribundy: @TotallyWriteous The whole book should be good, cover to cover. Or why am I paying $? #scribechat |
| 1:43 am | SheviStories: | @HeatherMcCorkle The irony is publishing often doesn’t recognize that audience until after someone succeeds in marketing to it. #scribechat |
| 1:43 am | teetate: | @Moribundy absolutely. But before u get to marketing, u need a great story which requires very hard work. #scribechat |
| 1:43 am | lisagailgreen: | I don’t think you can predict. You also can’t chase trends because they’ll be done by the time you get close enough. #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | deegarretson: | I agree! @LiaKeyes If the premise is compelling enough, selling/marketing is easier. Worth checking before writing whole novel #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | wildbloom: | @LiaKeyes I think it’s because I’ve never marketed anything before. Probably need to brush up on skills/ideas. #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate Exactly, which is why I’ve been studying it. When clues appear, how soon they pay off, backstory, etc. #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @SheviStories So true! #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | junegoodwin: | @TotallyWriteous Sounds like reader has to commit to plowing through the muck to get to the good stuff. #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | WriterLor: | @GLHancock Well, I’d argue about how much marketing you can do to effect large enough numbers to make a difference. #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | CreativeK: | I believe there is a time for it as well but it also has to be marketed properly. #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | Moribundy: | @teetate I think marketing and “building a platform” like they call it go hand in hand. I tweet while I Write – so I will have #scribechat |
| 1:44 am | LiaKeyes: | @wildbloom What specific challenges are you facing re marketing? #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | Moribundy: | @teetate an audience possibly willing to buy novel way before it is published. Publishers like this. #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes I may be biased, however. I’m a total Rowling fangirl. Helped teach an HP class in grad school. #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | junegoodwin: | You have to write the story that’s in you. It will take you where you’re supposed to go. #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | GLHancock: | @WriterLor Are there any great sellers without heavy marketing? #scribechat |
| 1:45 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes loads of red herrings in the series. That, I think, made it more popular, the theories. #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | wildbloom: | @LiaKeyes Where to market. Ads? Social networking? Both? I just published my first novel June 5th, so I’m brand new at this. #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | CreativeK: | @Moribundy “building a platform” is important these days. Having an online presence is imporant. I tweet while I write as well. #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | lisagailgreen: | I think marketing is important but it won’t do any good if the writing isn’t great #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | editorialdept: | RT @GLHancock: Are there any great sellers without heavy marketing? <<-I think The Help started w/ just good word of mouth #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | TotallyWriteous: | @junegoodwin Honestly, it’s worth it. Fun reads! Not 2 much muck but I think because Larson was a journalist, he loved details. #scribechat |
| 1:46 am | GLHancock: | Marketing a book is another career after the 2 of writing and publishing. Leave it to a pro! #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | Moribundy: | @CreativeK social networking: I like it more than trad advertising… I get to make friends with people #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | LiaKeyes: | @wildbloom There’s so much free marketing avlble on the net – why pay for ads? #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | junegoodwin: | The authors of the big hits had no idea that was going to happen. They were writing what they were lead to and destiny followed. #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @LiaKeyes Wise words! Building a platform isn’t about your book, it’s about you. #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | CreativeK: | @junegoodwin That is so good. Ur more passionate if u write the story in you. One of those things if you write they will read. #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | Moribundy: | @LiaKeyes That’s true. Wasn’t accurate in my response, but still, marketing myself is better than nothing at all. #scribechat |
| 1:47 am | editorialdept: | The true runaway bestsellers achieve success through word of mouth before traditional publicity. Book clubs help! #scribechat |
| 1:48 am | WriterLor: | Michael Palmer talk about sinking tens of thousands into marketing to get about a 5% bump in sales. #scribechat |
| 1:48 am | cinnie2: | @LiaKeyes 83 characters! My kind of writing! #scribechat |
| 1:48 am | wildbloom: | @LiaKeyes These are the things I’m still finding out. I’ve been actively promoting everywhere I can without doing ads first. #scribechat |
| 1:48 am | wildbloom: | @WriterLor Scary! #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | LiaKeyes: | @editorialdept Book clubs tend to be middle-aged suburban women. What about the books that don’t appeal to them? How to mrkt? #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | CreativeK: | I love it! RT @Moribundy: @CreativeK social networking: I like it more than trad advertising.I get to make friends with people #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | TotallyWriteous: | @LiaKeyes @Moribundy I do freelance marketing & agree w/Lia – an online presence will help when your book is published. #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | editorialdept: | If readers aren’t recommending your book to other readers, no publicity campaign will do much to boost sales. #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | junegoodwin: | @CreativeK Myers & Rowling weren’t thinking about becoming sensations or getting movie deals. Their writing took them there. #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | LiaKeyes: | ROFL, I KNOW!!! RT @cinnie2: @LiaKeyes 83 characters! My kind of writing! #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | WriterLor: | @wildbloom Actually, I think it speaks to the primacy of writing an amazing novel, first and foremost. #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | teetate: | And, I’m discovering networking is essential, leads to word of mouth, obviously. #scribechat |
| 1:49 am | deegarretson: | @teetate sounds like a great class! I still can’t believe it when I run across YA/MG writers who haven’t read Harry Potter #scribechat |
| 1:50 am | WriterLor: | RT @editorialdept: If readers arent recommending your book to other readers, no publicity campaign will do much to boost sales. #scribechat |
| 1:50 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | RT @editorialdept If readers aren’t recommending your book to other readers, no publicity campaign will do much to boost sales. #scribechat |
| 1:50 am | LiaKeyes: | Harry Potter was only published because editor gave it to his child to read and she nagged him until he considered it. #scribechat |
| 1:50 am | editorialdept: | re: book club mktg – find niche clubs. SF, or teens, or mystery lovers. Check w/ libraries – they usually have several clubs. #scribechat |
| 1:50 am | LiaKeyes: | RT @editorialdept: If readers arent recommending your book to other readers, no publicity campaign will do much to boost sales. #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | SheviStories: | There are book bloggers for every kind of book. Every reader looks for reviews. There are ways to connect. #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | WriterLor: | @LiaKeyes And first British printing was tiny, I believe. Even first print run from Scholastic wasn’t huge. #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | HoodedMan: | @wildbloom @LiaKeyes I wouldn’t be paying for ads even if I had the money, for several reasons #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | teetate: | @deegarretson it was a lot harder than 1 would think, but vry rewarding. Still get called to do my ‘presentations’ which I love. #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | junegoodwin: | @deegarretson A kid gave me his whole Potter collection and I can’t read it. I tried, but I don’t like it. Love the movies. #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | LiaKeyes: | That kind of enthusiasm meant that one kid would tell another kid to read it. And that’s the best kind of story – sells itself. #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | teetate: | @WriterLor absolutely! #scribechat |
| 1:51 am | editorialdept: | It all comes back to knowing your audience. If you know your aud,, you’ll know where they gather on & offline. Mkt to them! #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | LiaKeyes: | @WriterLor Yes, 10,000 books, right? HP’s first printing… #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | SheviStories: | I’m an Amazon Vine Voice. Subbing your book to the Vine program helps get you reviews. Look up Absolutely Maybe for examples. #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | chazleydotson: | I think of John Grisham: couldn’t find a publisher, self-published, sold copies from his trunk until he was “discovered.” Nice. #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | teetate: | @WriterLor yes and her first advanced was around 4k pounds. Funny, right? #scribechat |
| 1:52 am | wildbloom: | @HoodedMan I’m going the networking route first. Still sussing out viable outlets and places to talk it up. #scribechat |
| 1:53 am | lisagailgreen: | @junegoodwin I’m having a heart attack! I LOVE HP. To me, Rowling is the master #scribechat |
| 1:53 am | LiaKeyes: | Harry Potter broke out because characters felt real, behaved logically, plot intrigued, imagination ran riot and delighted #scribechat |
| 1:53 am | teetate: | @junegoodwin many feel this way, but get to three and you are sucked in. Trust me. #scribechat |
| 1:53 am | Moribundy: | I read HP backwards… started with 4, went back through 1, 2, stopped in middle of 3… #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | WriterLor: | Agreed! RT @LiaKeyes: Harry Potter broke out bc characters felt real, behaved logically, plot intrigued, imagination ran riot… #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | editorialdept: | @GLHancock good point. Best suggestion I have is to know your genre and start from there. Really pin it down & do your homework. #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | teetate: | @lisagailgreen you are a kindred sister, then. #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | wildbloom: | @SheviStories Out of curiosity, what’s an Amazon Vine Voice? #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | junegoodwin: | @lisagailgreen It’s terrible right!? That’s why I wanted to read it, but I couldn’t get pass the 1st paragraph. Bored silly. #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | GLHancock: | If HP had no marketing and small first run, how did it break out? Buzz! #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | chazleydotson: | @LiaKeyes And because the characters grew up. I think that made a huge difference, kept the readers as they were growing up. #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | lisagailgreen: | @LiaKeyes so I guess the formula, if there is one, is great plot, great characters and a lot of imagination/creativity #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | WriterLor: | @GLHancock I think you write to that one person you imagine, that one person whose heart/mind/soul you try to reach. #scribechat |
| 1:54 am | LiaKeyes: | @WriterLor Why did LOVELY BONES break out, in your opinion? #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | junegoodwin: | @teetate OK. You guys have convinced me to give it another go! #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | teetate: | @junegoodwin lol sorry, I just cannot wrap my brain around that. hehe #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | chazleydotson: | RT @WriterLor: @GLHancock I think you write to that one person you imagine, that one person whose heart/mind/soul you try to reach. #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | GLHancock: | @editorialdept Yes, of course with genre writing. That is predetermined. I guess I mean non-genre. #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | SheviStories: | RT @wildbloom: Amazon chooses helpful reviewers to become Amazon Vine Voices. We get products to review for Amazon. #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | LiaKeyes: | @lisagailgreen There is no formula. That’s what’s so frustrating. HP fulfilled fantasy genre expectations, and then some. #scribechat |
| 1:55 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes bc it was ‘lit fic’ in first that changed the rules, I think. A ghost narrator? It was very original. #scribechat |
| 1:56 am | TotallyWriteous: | @lisagailgreen @LiaKeyes – great plot, great characters & a lot of imagination/creativity – sounds like a recipe for success! #scribechat |
| 1:56 am | Moribundy: | Anyone here read Jonathan Safran Foer? Since we’re talking about books and break outs! #scribechat |
| 1:56 am | lisagailgreen: | @junegoodwin you know what’s funny, the 1st time I tried I couldn’t a few yrs later read all 7 books in two weeks. Try again! #scribechat |
| 1:56 am | wildbloom: | @SheviStories Oh, I see. Interesting! #scribechat |
| 1:56 am | LiaKeyes: | But what works in one genre, won’t necessarily work in another. The common ground is characters and conflict we care about. #scribechat |
| 1:56 am | WriterLor: | @LiaKeyes Re: Lovely Bones…combo of voice, unusual circumstances of protag, very keenly felt longing and issue of retribution. #scribechat |
| 1:57 am | SheviStories: | I think the only formula for breakout fiction is to have a unique voice and do nothing by half. #scribechat |
| 1:57 am | Brainmaker: | @wildbloom Honestly, if you’re new to ‘net mktg, consider hiring a pro like @liakeyes to shorten the curve. At least explore. #scribechat |
| 1:57 am | HoodedMan: | @TotallyWriteous every single story you write should be close to your heart #scribechat |
| 1:57 am | teetate: | @junegoodwin you should! Just finished rereading Deathly Hallows. #scribechat |
| 1:57 am | WriterLor: | @GLHancock I think when you try to write for EVERYONE, you run the risk of writing something diluted/generic. #scribechat |
| 1:57 am | Moribundy: | @SheviStories what do you mean “do nothing by half”? #scribechat |
| 1:57 am | junegoodwin: | @teetate Believe me. I can’t either. I mean, how can millions of people be wrong. That’s what I ask myself. LOL.. #scribechat |
| 1:57 am | TotallyWriteous: | @Moribundy I LOVED JSF’s second book! Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close much better than his first book. #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | editorialdept: | Harry Potter grabbed readers who never would have considered YA or fantasy. Good characters, plot, storytelling always wins. #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | teetate: | @deegarretson yes, agreed. #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | WriterLor: | @Moribundy Love Foer but his short stories much more than his novels #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | wildbloom: | @Brainmaker It’s looking like a good alternative. #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | lisagailgreen: | @LiaKeyes True. Like I said b4 if there were a formula we’d all be jumping for joy – write what you love that’s all u can do #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | Moribundy: | @TotallyWriteous Really? I loved EII more. I like them both VERY much, but his first one… I guess because I love history. #scribechat |
| 1:58 am | junegoodwin: | @deegarretson Maybe that was it–the adverbs. I’m not even sure. It was something about the way it was written that bothered me. #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | CreativeK: | Having people recommend ur book as well social marketing will allow you to reach a market that is powerful. #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | Moribundy: | @WriterLor I’ve never read his short stories? Guess I’ll have to look for them. #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | LiaKeyes: | RT @editorialdept: HP grabbed readers who never would have considered YA/fantasy. Gd characters, plot, storytelling always wins. #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | GLHancock: | If you’re intent on DIY marketing, consider booksneeze.com/ — sends copies to bloggers for reviews. (No, I get mine from pubs.) #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | cinnie2: | @WriterLor love that thought! #scribechat |
| 1:59 am | LiaKeyes: | @junegoodwin you can’t let writing rules get in the way of enjoying a damn good story. (re HP) #scribechat |
| 2:00 am | WriterLor: | @Moribundy First novel began as an AMAZING story in the New Yorker. Was much better as a story, I thought. #scribechat |
| 2:00 am | CreativeK: | RT @editorialdept: It all comes back to knowing your audience. If you know your aud,, you’ll know where they gather on & offline. Mkt to them! #scribechat |
| 2:00 am | LiaKeyes: | @junegoodwin The kids that drove HP’s success didn’t care about the adverbs. Just sayin… #scribechat |
| 2:00 am | TotallyWriteous: | @Moribundy I read ELIC shortly after my father passed away so it really touched me. He’s a beautiful writer. #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | SheviStories: | RT @Moribundy: I like to say, “Don’t do anything half-assed. It’s full-ass or nothing.” #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | junegoodwin: | @LiaKeyes I’m looking at the book now and I don’t see anything wrong with it. I was just bored. I’ve got to read the 1st book. #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | LiaKeyes: | RT @WriterLor: @GLHancock I think when you try to write for EVERYONE, you run the risk of writing something diluted/generic. #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | CreativeK: | @editorialdept I am learning that it is all about knowing who your market is and market to that. #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | WriterLor: | I think with HP a lot of the appeal is the move from downtrodden/powerlessness to power, esp. in the hands of kids. #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | lisagailgreen: | @junegoodwin she grows with every novel, you can see the learning curve. Yet #1 is still incredible in my opinion! #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | TotallyWriteous: | RT @HoodedMan every single story you write should be close to your heart. Totally Agree! Otherwise, why bother? #scribechat |
| 2:01 am | LiaKeyes: | @Brainmaker Wow, thanks for the marketing shout – just saw that. Blushing now… #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | Moribundy: | Great advice! RT @SheviStories: I like to say, “Dont do anything half-assed. Its full-ass or nothing.” #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | junegoodwin: | @LiaKeyes I’m going to commit to completing the 1st book and then see how I feel. #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | cinnie2: | does anyone know why sometimes a “reply” repeats the original post and sometimes does not? #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | LiaKeyes: | @WriterLor I love that there were so many adults in the HP books, all of varying degrees of helpfulness/obstruction #scribechat |
| 2:02 am | wildbloom: | @HoodedMan I agree with the writing. I can’t write anything I don’t have a passion for. Doesn’t translate as effectively. #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | editorialdept: | If you tell a story that hits on universal truths/emotions, it can transcend genre boundaries & hook readers who shun genre fic #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | LiaKeyes: | @cinnie2 You may have thought you clicked on reply (backward arrow) but clicked on the next one – the retweet arrow ?> #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | lisagailgreen: | @junegoodwin I think we can say we truly accomplished something here tonight. #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | CreativeK: | Some of the best books I have read that hooked me had many gramatical errors. So it is not necessaily all about form. #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | junegoodwin: | @lisagailgreen I’m a complete anomaly when it comes to Potter, but you guys have convinced me to try again! #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | WriterLor: | @LiaKeyes Oh, absolutely. But it’s still really about Harry finding his family, his power, and of course, conquering eviiiiil. #scribechat |
| 2:03 am | cinnie2: | @LiaKeyes Thank you! #scribechat |
| 2:04 am | TotallyWriteous: | @LiaKeyes @lisagailgreen Loved the HP books. In awe of the world she imagined and translated onto the page. Bow at her feet. #scribechat |
| 2:04 am | teetate: | @editorialdept I am really banking on that! #scribechat |
| 2:04 am | GeneDoucette: | @junegoodwin I enjoyed HP, and it’s not at all in my wheelhouse. #scribechat |
| 2:04 am | cinnie2: | Great tweets. Thanks, Lia. ‘Night, All. #scribechat |
| 2:05 am | teetate: | @TotallyWriteous her imagination alone is mind boggling. #scribechat |
| 2:05 am | junegoodwin: | @lisagailgreen Thanks for all your hardwork! #scribechat |
| 2:05 am | deegarretson: | Who mentioned Campbell earlier? I think one reason Harry Potter succeeded is because it’s the classic hero’s journey #scribechat |
| 2:05 am | LiaKeyes: | YES! RT @WriterLor: @LiaKeyes Oh, absolutely. But really about Harry finding family, power, and of course, conquering eviiiiil. #scribechat |
| 2:05 am | TotallyWriteous: | Great chat! Thanks everyone. Stay Writeous! #scribechat |
| 2:05 am | lisagailgreen: | Even my husband who won’t read anything listens to HP audio books over and over and over. He won’t read my stuff! #scribechat |
| 2:06 am | junegoodwin: | @GeneDoucette I’m sick of being left out. I’m diving in to read it! Lol…Lol… #scribechat |
| 2:06 am | Moribundy: | I’m v interesting in self pub’ing. Anything thing a self pub’d could break out? Or is the market not there yet? #scribechat |
| 2:06 am | Brainmaker: | @wildbloom A jumpstart plan for your mktg could be super valuable. Many cool options. Fun, even! #scribechat Pro must be current tho! |
| 2:06 am | teetate: | @deegarretson I did. Again, lol, in my paper. I drove my professors crazy. #scribechat |
| 2:06 am | lisagailgreen: | @junegoodwin LOL #scribechat |
| 2:06 am | LiaKeyes: | @GeneDoucette What example of a book that achieved huge success can you come up with that is in your wheelhouse? #scribechat |
| 2:06 am | teetate: | @lisagailgreen I read them to my hubby. It was our ‘bonding time’ hehee #scribechat |
| 2:06 am | CreativeK: | I have never read any of the HP books or the Twilight series but they knew who to market to and word of mouth really did it. #scribechat |
| 2:07 am | Moribundy: | Wow, sorry guys. That last post was riddled with typos… #scribechat |
| 2:07 am | junegoodwin: | @lisagailgreen A friend did recommend I get it on audio. She thought I’d enjoy that. #scribechat |
| 2:07 am | TotallyWriteous: | @teetate Right? Such well drawn characters, suspense, humor, intrigue. She is an inspiration. #scribechat |
| 2:07 am | GeneDoucette: | @LiaKeyes HUGE success? Um… I’m a bit eclectic. The best work of fiction I think I’ve ever read was The Baroque Cycle. #scribechat |
| 2:07 am | lisagailgreen: | @teetate He’ll refuse anything else but is hooked on HP #scribechat |
| 2:07 am | SheviStories: | HP has everything boys like: sports, fighting, puzzles to solve, good conquering evil, candy… #scribechat |
| 2:07 am | teetate: | @junegoodwin if you do, get the ones w/ Stephen Fry reading. #scribechat |
| 2:07 am | GeneDoucette: | @LiaKeyes Or Chris Moore’s book Lamb. #scribechat |
| 2:08 am | teetate: | @lisagailgreen mine too! We both cried. #scribechat |
| 2:08 am | lisagailgreen: | @junegoodwin If you do, get the English version the guy is incredible. I forget it isn’t the characters including the women! #scribechat |
| 2:08 am | LiaKeyes: | @GeneDoucette Baroque Cycle was Stephenson, right? What did you like about it? #scribechat |
| 2:08 am | chazleydotson: | @junegoodwin Jim Dale reads the Harry Potter books beautifully. #scribechat |
| 2:08 am | junegoodwin: | @CreativeK Thank goodness I’m not the only one, though I did read and love Twilight. #scribechat |
| 2:08 am | WriterLor: | @GeneDoucette Oh, I LOVE Lamb. My favorite of Moore’s books. #scribechat |
| 2:08 am | editorialdept: | The main successes I’ve seen w/ self pub have been ones picked up by trad. pubs. Don’t know of any breakouts purely self pub’d #scribechat |
| 2:08 am | teetate: | I’ll also read abs anything Neil Gaiman writes. He does the Campbell cliches w/ a twist. #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | CreativeK: | RT @editorialdept: The main successes I’ve seen w/ self pub have been ones picked up by trad. pubs. Don’t know of any breakouts purely self pub’d #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | junegoodwin: | @teetate ok. #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | LiaKeyes: | @GeneDoucette Chris Moore is like a poor man’s Terry Pratchett, to me. Tried it, wanted to love it, but ended up putting it dwn. #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | GeneDoucette: | @LiaKeyes Yes. It’s the only thing I’ve ever read where I literally could not figure out how he did it. #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | inkgypsy: | @LiaKeyes Possibly because a little ‘preachy’? Too obviously anti-christian? Guessing. #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | editorialdept: | I should add a bit “YET” qualifier to my last post. #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | deegarretson: | @teetate why were they driven crazy?? because it was a ‘kid’s book’? #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | junegoodwin: | @lisagailgreen Is that Stephen Fry or Jim Dale? #scribechat |
| 2:09 am | GeneDoucette: | @WriterLor Lamb is wonderful. #scribechat |
| 2:10 am | WriterLor: | @LiaKeyes Hmm…I don’t know if I agree. I don’t think he’s operating on the same frequency as Pratchett. Lamb manages to be #scribechat |
| 2:10 am | teetate: | @glenak sidebar: Pullman was rumored to be Rowling’s inspiration for Prof. Lockhart. hehe #scribechat |
| 2:10 am | WriterLor: | …totally reverent and totally profane at the same time. A neat trick! #scribechat |
| 2:10 am | wildbloom: | Thanks to everyone for an illuminating chat! Always a good time. #scribechat |
| 2:10 am | junegoodwin: | @chazleydotson Thanks. #scribechat |
| 2:10 am | GeneDoucette: | @inkgypsy Lamb? On the contrary, I don’t think it’s anti-christian at all. #scribechat |
| 2:10 am | Jfavreau: | RT @CreativeK: Having people recommend ur book as well social marketing will allow you to reach a market that is powerful. #scribechat |
| 2:10 am | CreativeK: | @editorialdept I don’t know any breakout self pubs and I have friends that did it. #scribechat |
| 2:11 am | lisagailgreen: | @junegoodwin Ha! Sorry, I just asked hubby and he thinks it’s Dale #scribechat |
| 2:11 am | inkgypsy: | @GeneDoucette No sorry – Dark Materials. Lamb is just funny. #scribechat |
| 2:11 am | LiaKeyes: | @CreativeK Eragon, by 16 yr old Christopher Paolini, was self-published, then picked up by major publisher #scribechat |
| 2:12 am | junegoodwin: | @lisagailgreen OK. Thanks. #scribechat |
| 2:12 am | WriterLor: | Off 2 chat with a west coast client. Sheesh…editors have long days! Night all, and thanks for a great talk as always, Lia. #scribechat |
| 2:12 am | GeneDoucette: | @WriterLor reverent and profane is a good description. #scribechat |
| 2:12 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes and he did some major self promotion prior to that. Traveled everywhere, schools, libraries, etc. #scribechat |
| 2:13 am | WriterLor: | @LiaKeyes Hope so too! Night! #scribechat |
| 2:13 am | teetate: | @WriterLor nice ‘meeting you’ #scribechat |
| 2:13 am | GeneDoucette: | gotta spend the rest of the night on a ghost story, and an episode of #thewire. Night all #scribechat |
| 2:13 am | lisagailgreen: | @Moribundy check out this post on self-publishing from @4kidlit http://bit.ly/aWfny8 #scribechat |
| 2:14 am | jeannevb: | @LiaKeyes *waves* one of these days, I’m going to get myself to #scribechat |
| 2:14 am | Moribundy: | @lisagailgreen Thanks for the link! #scribechat |
| 2:14 am | inkgypsy: | RT @teetate: @glenak sidebar: Pullman was rumored to be Rowling’s inspiration for Prof. Lockhart. hehe #scribechat |
| 2:14 am | LiaKeyes: | If any of you want to attend a great workshop on how to write breakout fiction, go to @WriterLor‘s site:http://bit.ly/9WK2Ql #scribechat |
| 2:15 am | teetate: | I always thought that self pub was a luck of the draw sort of thing. A gamble, really #scribechat |
| 2:15 am | CreativeK: | To be a breakout would you have to be picked up by a major publisher. Could you be a breakout and just self published? #scribechat |
| 2:15 am | lisagailgreen: | @Moribundy hope it helps! Don’t know much about self-pub myself #scribechat |
| 2:16 am | Brainmaker: | @LiaKeyes Gut response, “dark materials” does not stand up and walk in reader mind like “Harry potter” – titles can kill books. #scribechat |
| 2:16 am | teetate: | RT @LiaKeyes: u want 2attend a great workshop on how 2write breakout fiction, go 2 @WriterLorssite: http://bit.ly/9WK2Ql #scribechat |
| 2:16 am | LiaKeyes: | @CreativeK Breakout novels are ones that have sold in gigantic numbers. Usually need a major pub behind that kind of drive #scribechat |
| 2:16 am | teetate: | @CreativeK I think it’s possible. Just read something on galleycat, ebook, word of mouth, now the author is w/ a big publisher. #scribechat |
| 2:17 am | LiaKeyes: | @Brainmaker What about The Golden Compass (title of first book in Dark Materials)? #scribechat |
| 2:17 am | editorialdept: | e-books might make it easier for a self pub novel to gain traction and buzz w/out backing of a major publisher. There’s hope! #scribechat |
| 2:18 am | junegoodwin: | @LiaKeyes Is this the same Golden Compass as the movie with Nicole Kidman? #scribechat |
| 2:18 am | LiaKeyes: | @editorialdept Yes, I do think that digital publishing promises great things for independents. #scribechat |
| 2:18 am | teetate: | @junegoodwin yes #scribechat |
| 2:19 am | LiaKeyes: | @junegoodwin Yep, same as The Golden Compass movie, which was terrible. They cut off last third of the book! #scribechat |
| 2:19 am | SheviStories: | G’night, all! I have a 25-page outline to turn into a 10-page one (agency’s guidelines). Thanks, Lia! What’s next week? #scribechat |
| 2:19 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes is it wrong that I just wanna do it the ‘old fashioned’ way? Publish shorts, finish novel get agent, etc. #scribechat |
| 2:19 am | LiaKeyes: | @SheviStories Any suggestions for next week’s topic? #scribechat |
| 2:19 am | HeatherMcCorkle: | @teetate I have to agree, meeting new writers is one of the best parts of #scribechat! |
| 2:19 am | teetate: | @SheviStories night, honey. Great hearing from you. #scribechat |
| 2:20 am | LiaKeyes: | @SheviStories Good luck with the outline! Focus on the scenes that the story can’t be told without. #scribechat |
| 2:20 am | editorialdept: | RT @LiaKeyes: Any suggestions for next weeks topic? <–should we start w/ book club chat then? #scribechat |
| 2:20 am | LiaKeyes: | @SheviStories Also focus on character’s emotional arc. #scribechat |
| 2:20 am | teetate: | @HeatherMcCorkle it really is. @LiaKeyes since we touched on it tonight, how about building conflict? #scribechat |
| 2:20 am | junegoodwin: | @LiaKeyes @teetate Yep. Tried to watch that too, but it bored me silly. Plus I couldn’t make heads or tails out of it. #scribechat |
| 2:21 am | teetate: | @editorialdept FINALLY got Trees today. Woot! #scribechat |
| 2:21 am | LiaKeyes: | @editorialdept We could do, but many people still haven’t received their orders yet. I’d hate to leave them out. #scribechat |
| 2:21 am | SheviStories: | @LiaKeyes I sent them a two-page synosis, but that wasn’t good enough. Hard to create something in the middle. #scribechat |
| 2:21 am | teetate: | @junegoodwin I tried reading Pullman. Could not finish the first one. #scribechat |
| 2:22 am | LiaKeyes: | Join #ScribeChat‘s social network for writers’ book club on writing craft:http://grou.ps/scribechatbookclub #scribechat |
| 2:22 am | lisagailgreen: | @SheviStories to me that’s harder than writing the novel! but you can do it!! #scribechat |
| 2:22 am | SheviStories: | Have we done beginnings, middles and ends? Anyone interested in that? #scribechat |
| 2:22 am | junegoodwin: | @teetate What is Pullman? Never heard of it. #scribechat |
| 2:23 am | SheviStories: | @lisagailgreen Thanks! I’ll certainly give it my best. #scribechat |
| 2:23 am | junegoodwin: | RT @LiaKeyes: Join #ScribeChats social network for writers book club on writing craft:http://grou.ps/scribechatbookclub #scribechat |
| 2:23 am | SheviStories: | Phillip Pullman RT @junegoodwin: @teetate What is Pullman? Never heard of it. #scribechat |
| 2:23 am | lisagailgreen: | How about “mushy middle?” RT @SheviStories: Have we done beginnings, middles and ends? Anyone interested in that? #scribechat |
| 2:23 am | SheviStories: | Exactly my weak area too! RT @lisagailgreen: How about “mushy middle?” #scribechat |
| 2:24 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes lol awesome. #scribechat |
| 2:24 am | junegoodwin: | @SheviStories Thanks. I’ll have to look him up. #scribechat |
| 2:24 am | teetate: | @SheviStories mine too! #scribechat |
| 2:24 am | LiaKeyes: | Building Conflict and Beginnings, Middles and Ends are suggested topics. Any more? #scribechat |
| 2:25 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate Yep, but then I felt awful pressure to be that good. Froze my writing for ages. We’re a delicate breed… #scribechat |
| 2:25 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes lol how about ‘all of the above’ I so love picking y’all’s brains. Forgive my southernisms. #scribechat |
| 2:25 am | junegoodwin: | @teetate Oh. Well since I didn’t like that movie, I wouldn’t be drawn to finding out who wrote the book! Lol.I wanted to like it #scribechat |
| 2:25 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes oh, I can imagine! #scribechat |
| 2:26 am | LiaKeyes: | @Brainmaker Yes, good point! What about A Warning To The Curious? Like that title? #scribechat |
| 2:26 am | teetate: | @junegoodwin yeah, he’s not my favorite. #scribechat |
| 2:27 am | junegoodwin: | @teetate My MC used the word “southernism” and I wondered if it made sense. Well I see it does. Thanks! #scribechat |
| 2:27 am | lisagailgreen: | @LiaKeyes LOL I don’t know if you can help w/what I struggle with the most – patience! #scribechat |
| 2:27 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes I’m just stuck…still…but I am determined that will end tonight! #scribechat |
| 2:27 am | LiaKeyes: | @SheviStories We did querying recently, didn’t we? (thinks…) I’ll check, but we can always revisit – a perennial favorite. #scribechat |
| 2:28 am | CreativeK: | RT @LiaKeyes: Join #ScribeChats social network for writers book club on writing craft:http://grou.ps/scribechatbookclub #scribechat |
| 2:28 am | editorialdept: | I need to dash off. Thanks, all for the fab chat. See y’all next week! #scribechat |
| 2:28 am | SheviStories: | Did we? I should remember that. It’s really the hardest part for me. @SheviStories We did querying recently, didn’t we? #scribechat |
| 2:28 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes I would really love to focus on craft, but that’s just me. #scribechat |
| 2:28 am | glenak: | @teetate lol really? hahaha! I didn’t knw that. He’s a great writer. He just needs to chill about Catholics. So much hate! #scribechat |
| 2:29 am | teetate: | @editorialdept send me an email when you wanna start the critique group! #scribechat |
| 2:29 am | CreativeK: | Thanks @LiaKeyes for a great chat and to everyone involved. Have to head to bed now bc work early in the morning. GN! #scribechat |
| 2:29 am | LiaKeyes: | @glenak Yes, it makes me sad that he has such an axe to grind. But at least he has passion. #scribechat |
| 2:30 am | teetate: | @CreativeK night, honey! #scribechat |
| 2:30 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate What critique group is @editorialdept starting? interested! #scribechat |
| 2:30 am | junegoodwin: | @teetate LOL..My MC moves to the South and thought the same way about the folks, but she comes around! Lol… #scribechat |
| 2:31 am | LiaKeyes: | @editorialdept Thank you for joining us!!! So good to chat with you, always. #scribechat |
| 2:31 am | editorialdept: | @LiaKeyes nothing formal yet, but Tee & I talked about starting a crit group #scribechat |
| 2:31 am | junegoodwin: | @CreativeK Goodnight! Good ‘seeing’ you. #scribechat |
| 2:31 am | SheviStories: | We could discuss this: http://www.jimchines.com/2010/03/survey-results/ Takes 10-years on average to get 1st novel published. #scribechat |
| 2:31 am | teetate: | @junegoodwin lol yeah you either love us or hate us. #scribechat |
| 2:31 am | Brainmaker: | @LiaKeyes I like that title very much. A warning to the curious. Wonderful! #scribechat |
| 2:31 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate We mostly do focus on craft. There’s more craft chat about to start athttp://grou.ps/scribechatbookclub #scribechat |
| 2:31 am | glenak: | @LiaKeyes undeniable passion, true #scribechat |
| 2:31 am | teetate: | @editorialdept I was honored! #scribechat |
| 2:32 am | lisagailgreen: | @SheviStories you’re killing me! #scribechat |
| 2:32 am | LiaKeyes: | @editorialdept You’re welcome to add it to the ScribeChat Book Group, if you want a home. You can start a group within network #scribechat |
| 2:33 am | LiaKeyes: | @Brainmaker Good! NY editors loved it when my agent buzzed it as an upcoming manuscript. Now have to finish it. #scribechat |
| 2:33 am | SheviStories: | @LiaKeyes I know. I think I’d like a break from the craft discussion to discuss business and brass tacks. #scribechat |
| 2:33 am | lisagailgreen: | Okay back to the fam! Thanks @LiaKeyes for the fun chat as always. #scribechat |
| 2:33 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes as in tonight? I didn’t know that! #scribechat |
| 2:33 am | LiaKeyes: | @SheviStories Be specific about business and brass tacks. Just querying? #scribechat |
| 2:33 am | SheviStories: | The good news is I’ve been at this since 2002, so… RT @lisagailgreen: @SheviStories you’re killing me! #scribechat |
| 2:33 am | editorialdept: | was thinking small & personal & email based for starters, but thanks for the offer. Could definitely expand into SCBG soon #scribechat |
| 2:34 am | teetate: | @lisagailgreen night, hon! #scribechat |
| 2:34 am | LiaKeyes: | @editorialdept No problem. I can see how e-mail based group would be good. Feel free to use #scribechat to advertise. #scribechat |
| 2:35 am | SheviStories: | @LiaKeyes Querying, finding & choosing agents/editors, synopses, subbing, waiting, the whole shebang. #scribechat |
| 2:36 am | teetate: | @SheviStories I’d enjoy a chat on how to know who the right agent is for you. #scribechat |
| 2:36 am | LiaKeyes: | @SheviStories Great, thanks! Will add it to the list. #scribechat |
| 2:37 am | SheviStories: | Great! G’night, super scribes! G’night, Lia, and thanks! #scribechat |
| 2:38 am | jeannevb: | transcript http://bit.ly/9E5205 RT @editorialdept: recent #scriptchat focused on Chinatown – check the archives for great convo #scribechat |
| 2:38 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes lol I imagine it is. Just wondering on how to know who to query. #scribechat |
| 2:38 am | SheviStories: | But you got a great one, so you lucked out. RT @LiaKeyes: Most writers take the one offer they get, whether they like agent/not. #scribechat |
| 2:39 am | SheviStories: | Start with AgentQuery.com RT @teetate: @LiaKeyes lol I imagine it is. Just wondering on how to know who to query. #scribechat |
| 2:40 am | LiaKeyes: | RT @jeannevb: transcript http://bit.ly/9E5205 RT @editorialdept: recent #scriptchat focused on Chinatown – archives: great convo #scribechat |
| 2:40 am | teetate: | @SheviStories thanks, dear. I appreciate it. #scribechat |
| 2:40 am | teetate: | RT @LiaKeyes: transcript http://bit.ly/9E5205 RT @editorialdept: recent #scriptchat focused on Chinatown – archives: great convo #scribechat |
| 2:41 am | SheviStories: | @teetate You’re welcome. Start with AgentQuery.com and click on links. Then Google your top picks to find interviews, etc. #scribechat |
| 2:41 am | LiaKeyes: | @SheviStories Who to query: Go to Publishers Marketplace and study similar sales to yr story – see who repped them. #scribechat |
| 2:41 am | teetate: | Has anyone read Percy Jackson? Thanks again @SheviStories #scribechat |
| 2:42 am | SheviStories: | Gotta dash! #scribechat |
| 2:42 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate Yes, read Percy, now reading The Red Pyramid. #scribechat |
| 2:43 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes seems cool…am watching the movie now. #scribechat |
| 2:44 am | junegoodwin: | @teetate I did buy The lightning thief to read and learn about what works. Haven’t read it yet. Got it at school book fair. #scribechat |
| 2:44 am | LiaKeyes: | @SheviStories #ScribeChat Review article: Write A Selling Synopsis Without Losing Your Mind:http://scribechat.com/archives/1119 #scribechat |
| 2:45 am | teetate: | @junegoodwin let me know how you like it. I need to read some editing books first. #scribechat |
| 2:45 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes did you same something about another discussion off scribechat? #scribechat |
| 2:47 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate @editorialdept and I started a Book Club for discussing how-to books:http://grou.ps/scribechatbookclub #scribechat |
| 2:47 am | junegoodwin: | @teetate Well it won’t be read for months. I forgot it at the school and won’t be back there till Sept! #scribechat |
| 2:47 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes oh yeah, i knew that. Just thought there was another chat after this one. #scribechat |
| 2:48 am | LiaKeyes: | @SheviStories Article on Agents Who Blog: http://www.liakeyes.com/?p=1102 #scribechat |
| 2:48 am | teetate: | RT @LiaKeyes: @SheviStories Article on Agents Who Blog: http://www.liakeyes.com/?p=1102#scribechat |
| 2:48 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate Once everyone’s read the first book on Book Club’s list, there’ll be a #ScribeChat to discuss on Twitter. #scribechat |
| 2:49 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes okay, now I’ve got it. Lord, I really need to pay attention. Sorry! #scribechat |
| 2:49 am | junegoodwin: | @LiaKeyes What’s the name of the Book Club book? #scribechat |
| 2:50 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate I started a #storystorm hashtag for brainstorming story – feel free to use throughout the week! #scribechat |
| 2:50 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes oh, sweet! Thank you so much! #scribechat |
| 2:50 am | LiaKeyes: | @junegoodwin It’s the ScribeChat Book Club at http://grou.ps/scribechatbookclub #scribechat |
| 2:51 am | jeannevb: | @LiaKeyes we analyze a diff’t script the 1st Sunday of every month…. if u want to lurk #scriptchat#scribechat |
| 2:51 am | teetate: | Tonight’s official favorite person is @LiaKeyes #scribechat |
| 2:51 am | LiaKeyes: | RT @jeannevb: @LiaKeyes we analyze a difft script the 1st Sunday of every month…. if u want to lurk #scriptchat #scribechat |
| 2:51 am | junegoodwin: | @LiaKeyes No. I mean the first book that is to be read before the chat. #scribechat |
| 2:52 am | LiaKeyes: | @jeannevb I’d love to lurk at #scriptchat! Was a film student once… still apply principles to my writing. What time on Sunday? #scribechat |
| 2:52 am | teetate: | @junegoodwin ‘Forest for the Trees’ by Betsy Lerner. #scribechat |
| 2:53 am | LiaKeyes: | @junegoodwin Oh! (slaps forehead) It’s THE FOREST FOR THE TREES by Betsy Lerner, suggested by @editorialdept #scribechat |
| 2:53 am | junegoodwin: | @teetate Ahh…Thanks. You’ve been huge tonight. #scribechat |
| 2:53 am | jeannevb: | .@LiaKeyes 8pm EST (5pm PST). We also have a EURO #scriptchat at noon EST. Same topic. We LOVE novelist joining us! #scribechat |
| 2:54 am | teetate: | @junegoodwin aww, no problem, dear. Any old time. #scribechat |
| 2:54 am | LiaKeyes: | Thank you! Thx to all #ScribeChat-ers who make each chat ROCK! RT @teetate: Tonights official favorite person is @LiaKeyes #scribechat |
| 2:54 am | junegoodwin: | @LiaKeyes LOL…thanks. I need to pay closer attention. When do you think you’ll be reviewing it roughly? #scribechat |
| 2:55 am | LiaKeyes: | @jeannevb Will do! Feel free to be an affiliate of #ScriptChat (links on blogs and help each other promote) like #Story_Craft #scribechat |
| 2:55 am | KatrinaStonoff: | Forest for the Trees is a GREAT book! #scribechat |
| 2:55 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes anything you need help with this week? You know I’m up for anything. #scribechat |
| 2:56 am | LiaKeyes: | @junegoodwin Some people won’t get their copies until the 20th, so I think the last Thursday of the month (29th July) #scribechat |
| 2:56 am | jeannevb: | @LiaKeyes I love, love, LOVE getting writers to cross over & stretch their imagination #ScriptChat#Story_Craft #scribechat |
| 2:56 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate Thank you! Anything you want to do? #scribechat |
| 2:57 am | junegoodwin: | @LiaKeyes Oh great. That’ll give me time to order it. #scribechat |
| 2:57 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes lol you want me to promote or do another blog? #scribechat |
| 2:57 am | teetate: | @junegoodwin you’ve got a bit of time, I just got mine today. #scribechat |
| 2:57 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate Ooh, yeah, a blog on breakout fiction would be good… promoting is ALWAYS good! #scribechat |
| 2:58 am | junegoodwin: | @teetate From where? #scribechat |
| 2:58 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes okay…I can do something about breakout fiction, but I don’t know how much feedback I’d get back. Still kinds small. #scribechat |
| 2:59 am | teetate: | @junegoodwin barnes and noble. #scribechat |
| 2:59 am | junegoodwin: | @teetate Oh. Good. I’ll order from them if they don’t have it on the shelf. #scribechat |
| 2:59 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate Just make it personal to you. (I was on this twitter chat where this subject came up and it got me thinking about…) #scribechat |
| 3:00 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes gotcha. No problem. #scribechat |
| 3:01 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate I did a post about writing “character blogs” this week: http://www.liakeyes.com/?p=2137#scribechat |
| 3:01 am | LiaKeyes: | @teetate Cheers! #scribechat |
| 3:01 am | teetate: | @LiaKeyes oh sweet, I’ll retweet and comment. #scribechat |
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