WEbook Blog: A Writer's Resource

Pulitzer 2012: Love Is All You Need

The Pulitzer Prize is kind of a big deal. Awarded yearly under the administration of Columbia University’s School of Journalism, it recognizes excellence in twenty-one categories of journalism and the arts, bringing deserved attention to a group of writers who spend much of their careers relatively unsung. (Ever strike you as odd that even the most highly acclaimed authors can go to Starbucks, the gym, their own book event, with no fanfare whatsoever, while the Disney channel person of the week can hardly go to the mailbox without a media frenzy? Think about it…)

So the publishing world was on the edge of its seat Monday afternoon, waiting for the 3:05 pm award announcement. Authors, agents, editors, and publicists all hoping for a career-making moment. The lists went up—and the internet exploded into anxious, wounded fury, because there was no prize awarded in fiction.

That’s right. No prize. The biggest award of the bunch, the one with the power to fuel book clubs for months, keep bookstores in the red, justify an editor’s next big buy…zip, zilch, nada.  Before an hour had passed, links were flying around naming the three judges, who nominate the three finalists, and the list of jury members, who stalemated the fiction prize for the first time since 1977. Tweeters and bloggers ran their fingers ragged expressing their disappointment and analyzing what this means about—and for—publishing, American fiction, and reading itself.

But one good thing is tiptoeing around the edges of the firestorm: everyone is remembering just how important it is to acknowledge writers for their talent and hard work. The first reaction of most outraged interneters was to name books from 2011 that would merit a Pulitzer. Bookstores and book blogs gave out their own faux Pulitzers (follow hashtag #TwitterPulitzer to contribute yours!). Anyone could sit by the internet with a pen and paper and their To-Be-Read list would write itself. Publishers congratulated their winning authors in the other categories, and the three finalists are receiving a waterfall of praise from booksellers and fans; they may well see a little jump in sales and word-of-mouth marketing, even if not as much as the prize itself would have brought.

A prize of national standing is a big deal, and can bring a lot of extra opportunities. But perhaps its most important gift is that of affirmation­­—Hey writer, you’re good at this, and the sacrifices you made to bring your story to the world were worth it. Writing is a long and lonely pursuit. Winning an award says that every time you traded sleep for typing; every tear you shed letting go of favorite scenes in revision; every time you scraped together your ego after a rejection, and sent out the next query; every conversation you had about your book in a nearly empty bookstore; every blog tour you went on till your bum was numb…it was worth it. Your story is alive in the world. Readers love your book. You’re a writer. You’re an author.

And the great thing is, that’s encouragement we can give each other year round, published or aspiring, famous or undiscovered. Writers thrive on encouragement of any kind, no judge or jury needed. (Though the $10,000 prize money sure is nice.)

Let us know in the comments—what did YOU think of the Pulitzer kerfluffle ? What book do you remember most from 2011? What kind of motivation keeps you writing?

And if you want to give some encouragement RIGHT NOW, read and rate a few Page to Fame entries. Or just hug the next writer you see.

The Back Story Writing Contest

Last week we ran a blog post that explored George R. R. Martin’s talent for conveying back story in his fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Good old George may have some serious skills in this department, but it’s not an easy ability to learn. 

So the WEbook writing contest this time around is all about back story. Your task: 

Write a scene (300 word maximum) with at least two characters that conveys information about a major event in the past. 

A major event can mean a lot of things: a divorce, a murder, fighting in a civil war, a really big argument that never got resolved. The list goes on. It’s really up to you how “major” the event is and how many people are involved (beyond the required two). 

It’s also up to you how much information you actually give about the event. It can be a gentle allusion or a detailed description or something in between. 

WEbook will pick our favorite 6 entries and award them free entry to PageToFame. The #1 back story master will receive a copy of Game of Thrones!

To enter, start a new chapter in this writing project. Go forth and tell your two stories!

The deadline for this contest is 10 pm on April 29, 2012.

Winners of the All Aboard Writing Contest coming soon!

—WEbook 

Writers' Workout

Today's issue of Shelf Awareness for Readers included a mini-essay by famous zany journalist A.J. Jacobs, who has tried, and writen about, every outlandish life experiment, from trying to be a Mensa-level braniac to following George Washington's 110 Good Conduct rules. This time, A.J. typed away on his  manuscript while walking on a treadmill, claiming

"At first, I thought treadmill writing would be distracting. But it's actually easy (and believe me, I am far from coordinated). It's also strangely energizing: walking raises your brain's serotonin level, which helps with focus."

A.J. got us to thinking. Writing isn't exactly the most active of pursuits, but surely there are more ways to burn calories while hitting our daily word goals. We came up with a few ideas for mixing fitness into your writing regimen. Plenty of options here for techies and traditionalists hoping for a swimsuit-ready body...and maybe even a finished manuscript or two!

 Protagonist Push-Ups Every time you type your main character's name, drop to the ground beside your desk and do a push-up. 

WikiYoga Fact-checking dates for your historical novel? Reading up on the background of the Put your laptop on the ground and research in the downward-facing-dog position. For expert writers, stand on your head (all that blood flow will improve your memory for details).

Revision Reps If you still edit the old-fashioned way, red pen to paper, tie a 3-pound hand weight to the end of your Pilot Precise V-7. You'll feel the burn in your biceps and triceps with each sentence you strike through. Soon you'll see strong, uncluttered paragraphs, as well as well-developed upper arms.

Endurance Proofing More interested in tone than bulk? Print out your manuscript on really, really heavy paper stock, and pay careful attention to form while you turn each page. Breathe in, breathe out, semicolon in, comma out.

Query Zumba Right before you hit "Send" on your email to that agent you're eager to work with, put on some Latin music and sashay around for about 90 seconds. Then give your query letter a final read-through. You'll be confident and energized for whatever comes next, whether rejection or response.

Let us know if you give any of these a try, or if you have any more ideas for adding workouts to writing. Dictionary Detox? Master Criminal Crunches? Plot Twist Pilates?  Don't forget to hydrate and hyphenate, and get your sense of humor checked before beginning any new fitness routine.

Spoiler Alert! The Titanic Sinks

Historical fiction is a popular genre, and can be lots of fun for writers. But when you’re writing a story with a historical setting, you’re battling spoilers from the very first page. How do you keep readers invested in the story?

James Cameron faced this problem when he decided to make a movie about one of history’s most famous disasters.  And he succeeded—we all know the Titanic sinks and that only 700 of the 2200 passengers survived, yet Titanic is almost unbearably suspenseful! In fact, the movie’s dramatic appeal lasts for multiple viewings, making it the highest-grossing film of all time. And now it’s scooping in cash all over again thanks to its 3D re-release.

If only that narrative power could be bought for the price of a movie ticket and a small popcorn…wait a second, maybe it can! Here are a few of the tricks James Cameron and his writers used that you could apply to your writing.

Something’s Missing Titanic opens and closes with a present-day mystery: where is the Heart of the Ocean?  From the first scene of the submarine robots crawling through the eerie sunken ship, the story is built around a search. Why wasn’t the necklace in the safe? Where is it, who has it, how did it get there? Although not the movie’s central dramatic tension, new questions are introduced and unanswered throughout the movie, keeping the audience hooked until the final scenes. 

Young Love Poor Rose – so beautiful and privileged, and her fiancé is such a jerk! Then, she sails on the ship of the ages and meets a feisty young lad who won’t let his disadvantaged life get him down. Romance is a storyteller’s not-so-secret weapon. We love Jack before Rose does, and are deeply interested as their love blooms. Will Jack be embarrassed at dinner? Will Rose obey her mother’s command to stay away from him? Will they ever, ever kiss?? Even before the iceberg, Cameron has us clutching our throats.

Conflicting Hopes Clearly Jack and Rose are meant for each other, and obviously her fiancé is a nightmare. But because the strict social mores of the era are so vivid in the story, we’re also really worried that the stiff angry valet will catch the unlikely lovers in compromising circumstances. What will happen to Rose’s reputation? How will she and her mother avoid bankruptcy if Cal breaks the engagement? Drama!

Make the Spoiler Your Slave A good storyteller can make the how as gripping as a story with an unknown ending. The frame tale establishes Rose as a survivor, with the well-known historical facts feeding into the suspense. And she almost doesn’t make it about a thousand times during the movie. She’s trapped in steerage with Jack! She’s looking for an ax! She’s trapped in steerage again! There are no more lifeboats! Through each close call, the audience, fully engaged, is anxious to see how this one gets solved, and with each escape, the emotional investment grows.

Supporting Characters This one also works with the spoiler instead of fighting it. We all know the captain goes down with the ship, the band plays into the waves, and the Unsinkable Molly Brown, well, doesn’t sink. Cameron introduces us to other characters and makes us care about them—or at least care about what happens to them. You’re probably hoping Rose’s hateful fiancé Cal bites the ice, but do Jack’s friends Fabrizio and Tommy make it to safety? Odds are against them. And you feel a sad pang when you see the ship’s distinguished, kind, and heroic builder stand sadly in the elegant dining room of the ship he built during the final moments. Though we see Rose’s mother on a lifeboat early, most of these characters are fighting for survival until the very end.

If you’ve faced the spoiler challenge in your writing, tell us about it! How have you battled—or exploited—your story’s historical setting? Have you borrowed anything from Cameron’s tool box (and we don’t mean 3D glasses)? Leave a comment and tell us about it! 

And now that you’ve got what it takes to one-up Cameron, try your hand at our All Aboard! Writing contest (less than a week left!).

 

[Photo credit: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com]

 

 

 

Game of Thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire, and the Hidden Genius of George R. R. Martin’s Storytelling

With the first episode of season two of Game of Thrones premiering on HBO last Sunday, the world of Westeros has been pretty hot recently. Water coolers across the US were overwhelmed with talk of dragons, Craster’s Keep, and how big Rob’s direwolf has gotten.

Beyond that, talk also strayed to the book series the show is based on—A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. I’ve noticed two camps, those who have read the books and watch the series, and those who have only done the latter. Both seem to enjoy the series in different ways, but comments like “Oh, but you have to read the books,” inevitably slip into conversation when the two groups cross paths. And inevitably, you hear the sales pitches for why the books are so good:

“He just fleshes out so many more characters in the books.”

“It’s fantasy, but it’s so realistic.”

“The perspective changes are amazing.”

“He’s not afraid to kill off characters. Nobody is safe.”

These are all great reasons to read the books (and in some cases, also to watch the series) but there’s one element of GRRM’s storytelling I’ve noticed usually gets left out of these “water-cooler” conversations:

Blending back story with action.

Anyone’s who’s ever tried to write something has struggled with back story. It’s a pain. You need the reader to know information that’s happened in the past—people who have been in love, wars that have been fought, feuds burning below the surface—but you don’t want to slow down the present action.

A Song of Ice and Fire has more back story in twenty pages than some novels have in their entirety, and GRRM juggles this information like the master storyteller he is. He melds back story with action through a variety of means. Characters remember scenes and moments that are similar or related to the situation they’re currently in, other times two characters talk about a third character candidly, and some characters even relive past events in their dreams.

But George’s most effective strategy—his bread-and-butter of back story, if you will—is tucked between lines of dialogue and small mannerisms. It’s the events characters allude to but don’t ever state outright, the tensions between them that they dance around, and the veiled insults that mean more to them than they do to the reader. For now.

To me, this is one of my favorite parts of reading A Song of Ice and Fire—experiencing a story that’s evolving from two directions and getting richer and more interesting with every page. I can’t wait for the next episode (or the next book!).  

But what about you? What’s your favorite part of A Song of Ice and Fire?

And just as a not so subtle heads-up, there might be a back-story element to the next WEbook writing contest coming on April 15^th.

If you can’t wait that long, the All Aboard Writing Contest is still sailing strong!

Have a great weekend!

 

Six-Word Story Writing Contest Winners!

We were thrilled to receive so many creative entries to our Six-Word Story contest! Perhaps the age of Twitter has honed your skills in the brevity department.

Our number-one criterion was for the entries to tell a complete story in just six words, not needing a title or the prompt to set the scene. Still it was tough to choose just six winners out of nearly 300 stories…so we didn’t! We cheated on our own rules and picked seven, plus some honorable mentions. ‘Hope you don’t mind too much. 

 

Spilled white out erased his life. by KRHolbrook
A  vivid reminder that characters depend on the writer for their existence, which could be very tenuous in the pre-digital era. (What’s the modern equivalent?)  

Into the wedding dress, he wept. by tk_omalley
Love how this one makes a single, heartbreaking scene so vivid, like snapping a picture.

Batman: flying rodent exterminator. Call now! by Cazza3000
Made us chuckle – who would Batman think he was if all he had was a name?

Fixed machine. Goodbye cellphones, hello dinosaurs. by ChelseaHaynes
We applaud this one for being complete, yet ambiguous - with the prompt off the page, the meaning of “machine” expands.

I kissed Anna, and whispered, "Jane." by jwryt
Endlessly intriguing. Mistake or mourning? Jane Doe or Jane Eyre? We’d love to read a Six-Word Sequel… 

Loving stagnation, Erica jumps into pictures by JudahSpecal
Not quite sure which prompt sparked this one—is Erica an author? A character? A superhero? A lovelorn lady with a weakness for boring relationships? Who knows, but who needs to know. This one is so engaging that it wins a copy of Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure, edited by Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith.

And, because we loved its dark humor that much, we decided to give away a bonus copy to this edgy riff on Hemingway’s original:
New baby for sale. Needs shoes. by Waxwing

Congratulations, winners! You’ll be hearing from us with details on claiming your prizes. In the meantime, here’s a list of ten honorable mentions that win fame and glory.

Mayan deadline's here. Sun won't set. by emergen

My underpants on the outside. Why? by Riis_Marshall

Fractured phalange; manuscript overdue. Help wanted. by Southerner

Control my characters? That is fantasy. by Peetz

I got used to wearing togas. by May_Winner

Breasts of plastic, heart of gold. by NobodysHorse

Went back. Killed Mother. Return impossible. by Leo1

Writer's block? Hit head here. rf98ifeoghiodkifg8ty9ihu by M_Farris

Sorry, my dog always comes first. by Jvd9

Types last word. Pause. Ctrl-A, delete. by AreannaLuckett

Need still more six-word fun? Leave a comment – tell us which one was YOUR favorite, or write a new one of your own. And if you’re feeling long-winded, enter our new contest: write a 6+294-word story inspired by the Titanic’s 100^th anniversary.

 

Congratulations, Jack Knight!

We are excited to congratulate another WEbooker on finding publishing success! Jack Knight's debut horror novel was recently published by Dopamalovi Books.  

Jack was gracious enough to chat with us from his home in the UK, thanks to the modern marvel of email. For the scoop on his writing routine, his experience with the publication process, his plans for future books, and more, READ ON.

You’ve just published your debut horror thriller, Darkness Whispers, after twenty years of seeking publication. How exciting! Tell us a little more about the book itself—where did your initial inspiration come from?

Well actually, I started writing the book twenty years ago, but nothing came of it, so the manuscript was left to gather dust—until I joined WEbook.  At that time all I had was a paper copy of the novel, which looking back was not very good, so I decided to scrap it and do a complete rewrite. Now I am happy to say that Darkness Whispers has been published, and I hope people enjoy reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Darkness Whispers is about a group of friends who ignore the warnings of locals and embark on a wild weekend fuelled by alcohol and a desire to have a good time, but end up being stalked by an unseen assailant. They soon become caught up in a terrifying sequence of bloodshed, murder, and voodoo.

One of the main characters, Doc, is haunted by a nefarious past he cannot remember, and as his inner demon seizes the opportunity to take complete control, the few that are still standing frantically search for weapons to use against the encroaching danger because, as darkness falls, their only hope for survival is to win the final battle on the notorious shores of Beacons Cove.

I got the initial inspiration from working a summer season in a large hotel in South Devon with a friend. We made a lot of acquaintances, and had some good times. On one of our escapades we came across several abandoned prefabricated buildings, it looked pretty much like a ghost town. It was a strange place and one we could not explain, but it was there. Also, when I am on my own, I find nothing more relaxing than being on the coast, and one of the most memorable places for me was standing on top of a cliff, which overlooked a patch of land and the open sea. That is where I would lean on the parapet and reflect. This—along with Jack’s bloodlust—became the setting for Darkness Whispers.

And how did you find your publisher, Dopamalovi Books?

After I chose to do the rewrite of Darkness Whispers on WEbook, I put the chapters on as I wrote them, submitting them for feedback. I wasn’t far into the novel when I received an invite to send my work to an editor at Dopamalovi books.

Tell us about the publication process, once you signed with them, from editorial to cover design!

I was assigned to a lovely lady, Patricia Clemmons, who went through the story with me, chapter-by-chapter, and gave me some good advice on how to make my book saleable. When the rewrite was finished, it was submitted to the boss lady, Donna Jean Lyons, and accepted. Then of course we needed to run an extensive edit, which involved a lot of work, time, and rewriting, we had to proofread the print book, checking the manuscript and double-checking it before it was finally published and released March of this year. The staff at Dopamalovi Books treated me with respect and kindness throughout the whole process—making sure I was happy with the final product, including the very professional blurb—and a brilliant cover designed by a very talented artist and fellow author, Terrence Scott.

You have a very disciplined writing process, according to the profile in the Gainsborough Standard—a friend on Twitter admired the routine of “tea, a power nap, and an hour of writing,” calling it "bucolic"…what’s your biggest challenge as a writer? And how have you battled, or even overcome it?

Yes, I have an extremely disciplined routine. You have to have that in this game. I didn’t actually see that comment on twitter, but I would not have described my writing process as bucolic. However, “tea, a power nap, and an hour or two of writing” works for me. My biggest challenge was finding the time and the energy to write after a day’s work—but my love of writing and determination to succeed overcame that.

Of course, we want to hear about ourselves, too—how and when did you discover WEbook?  What kind of writing projects have you pursued here?

The urge to write has always simmered within me. I wanted to achieve my ambition of becoming a full-time writer—but it had to be done professionally. It had to be something saleable. Otherwise, what’s the point of writing if nobody can read and enjoy my work? The urge to achieve this surfaced from time-to-time and prompted me to keep trying. It was on such an occasion that I was searching the Internet to find a site that offered help.That’s when I found WEbook, and began the rewrite of Darkness Whispers. I also submitted a few short stories, two of which were published on Facebook by Dopamalovi Books for Halloween Free Treats—the third one was unsuitable to be published on that site, due to its rating and not because of its quality, so it’s on the backburner until I decide what to do with it. I’m thinking a short story collection is in order at some point.

 On to the future! Do you have a new book underway? Can you give us any bone-chilling details?

Yes, I have started another book and I have four more planned. Jack Knight intends to carry on killing, my inkwell is full of his victim’s blood…if only I had more time to spill it onto the page.

My next novel, The Voodoo Man, is about a sadistic serial killer, and he’s a pretty evil character, let me tell you. That’s as much information as I can give at the moment—but I’m getting the same buzz with this one as I did with Darkness Whispers. I’m not satisfied with a project until I get excited about it, because I believe if I get excited about it, so does the reader, and, WEbook, I am excited about my latest work.

Thanks, Jack, we are, too—so keep writing!

Do you have questions for Jack? Post them in the comments, or give us a holler on Twitter with hashtag #JackKnight, and we'll do our best to include them in a future blog feature.

For more information visit Dopamalovi Books or like Jack Knight on Facebook.

http://www.webook.com/landing/success-stories

All Aboard! Writing Contest

Titanic – it’s coming back to theatres in irresistible 3D, meaning we’re all going to drown once more in Rose and Leo’s doomed love, not to mention Celine Dion’s unavoidable ballad.  And what oddly perfect timing, after recent cruise disasters like the Costa Allegra, which was stranded in the Indian Ocean after catching fire, and the Costa Concordia's tragic grounding and capsizing off Italy's Tuscan coast.

So we’re thinking, there’s got to be more stories than just an Irish immigrant and a privileged young lady. It’s time to tell them!

For our next challenge, write a 300-word story set on a cruise ship. Tragedy on the RMS Titanic? Culinary adventure on a lush Caribbean vacation? Sunburn? Man overboard? Let your imagination set sail! Break a bottle over the prow of inspiration. Launch your sentences boldly out to sea…ok, we’ll stop with the naval puns, it’s time to WRITE! 

Back to the usual 300-word limit on this one, and the deadline is 10 PM EST on April 15, 2012—in Titanic terms, that’s one week after the movie re-premieres, and one day after the 100th anniversary of the sinking. WEbook will choose our six favorite winners and award them free entry to PageToFame, our flagship writing contest, and one exceptional entry will receive a copy of Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print.

To enter, start a new chapter in this writing project. All aboard!

THE FINE PRINT: Contest ends at 10 pm on April 15, 2012. WEbook does not take into account the user ratings when deciding who will win the challenge. We read each submission carefully, and decide the winners based on our own judgment. One  submission per person ( you can revise your entries up until the deadline).

The Building Description Writing Contest Winners

Reading through these was an awesome experience. So many buildings, so many worlds, and so many people moving around inside them!

If we were artists, we would  have drawn each building and made a massive collage of amazing structures.Alas, we are not, so we'll be picking winners and awarding prizes! 

#1 winner who will be getting a copy of Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley:

Dispatch to King Racc by simonmabee
This is straight up badass writing. Crisp descriptions, imaginative perspective, and all of it grounded with an image of a house you will never forget. All hail King Racc!

Winners who will receive free entry to PageToFame!

The Pit of Despair by J_Hucke 
This was written with a stunningly realistic adolescent voice. It also incorporated a large amount of complicated socioeconomic issues without ever addressing them head-on. Really great. Plus, we want to know what happens when he opens the door!

Bellmore by Michelle4Laughs
This entry had two great assets: solid research of castle structure and a larger, engaging story tying the scene together. Murder holes, a portcullis, and a quest to save a sister. Hell yes. 

House in the Woods by TheChemist
More than any other entry, this one gave us a sense of color. Color you can see and taste and feel and remember. Moreover, the last line is as enthralling as it gets when you're describing inanimate objects.

The Biffy by Atrees 
Vivid, irresistible, well-done borrowing rhythm from poetry without losing the strong prose.

The Event by SamTaylor
Here's a guy that knows how to pick adjectives. Putrid, decay, tormented, blackened. This is dark stuff, but also engaging. Nice.

Congratulations to the winners, you'll receive your prizes soon. 

Be on the lookout for the next writing contest on Monday. Let's just say, this will be an unsinkable challenge.

If you need something to do right this instant, check out the entries to the Six-word Story writing contest. They're really good.

Have a great weekend!

Six-Word Story Writing Contest

In their famous book of guidance for great writing, William Strunk and E.B. White (yes, THAT E.B. White!) offered writers the following great advice: Omit needless words.

Well, who are we to argue? So our next writing contest is meant to challenge your powers of concise expression. Concise expression. Six words, to be exact.

We’ve all heard Ernest Hemingway’s well-known six-word memoir: For sale: baby shoes, never worn. Now it’s your turn. Choose one of the prompts below and, in six words—no more, no fewer—tell us a story. (Don't worry, Ernest won't be your competition.)

• Your time machine is finally working.

• A writer’s life is never simple.

• Superhero with amnesia looks for work.

• Why am I always getting dumped?

We'll be tweeting entries during the contest, so include your Twitter handle with your entry! Our six favorites will earn free entry to PageToFame, our flagship writing contest, and one lucky winner will receive Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure, a collection edited by Rachel Fershleiser.

To enter the contest, create a new chapter in the Six-Word Story Writing Contest. Good luck!

THE FINE PRINT: Contest ends at 10 pm on March 18, 2012. WEbook does not take into account the user ratings when deciding who will win the challenge. We read each submission carefully, and decide the winners based on our own judgment. Just in case you love all our prompts, we’ll allow two submissions per person for this contest only (as usual, you can revise your entries up until the deadline).

 P.S. Don’t forget to check us out on Pinterest for Writing Contest Inspiration!