Sunday, April 12, 2015
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Black Hearts (Book 2 of the Jax Jensen Trilogy) FREE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS!
Well, my second scifi short, "Black Hearts" is free for the next two days on Kindle. So I would appreciate the support! It is a rather quick read, approximately 15k words, or 58 pages using standard sized font on kindle... If you don't have a kindle, dont worry! Amazon makes apps to allow reading on your phone and computer... I would love the support, and hope some of you will look into it, read it, and possibly review it! (be honest I don't mind!) If you have friends who love to read scifi, then tell them too! Thanks!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TW56UH6
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TW56UH6
Friday, March 20, 2015
Introducing a new cover artist!
Alright, I am excited to introduce you all to my friend Gary. He is a fantastic artist, and will be doing the cover art for my works (hopefully for a long long time). Check out his work on his website: www.garyinloes.com
Friday, March 13, 2015
Sample Prologue
This is a sample of a piece I am working on for fun. Just testing out first person POV, and ways to get an emotional hook in. Let me know what you think in the comment section below! It may contain some spelling or grammar errors... so, cut me some slack. It's a work in progress ;]
Prologue
I watched the door of the small café. Neon signs flashed from outside, casting the surrounding areas in a glow of reds, pinks, greens, and
blues. It was like an endless rave taking up the entire city block, the only
thing missing was the thumping pulse of music. This café was a favorite spot for local
officials, so close to the governance center that it was a convenient walking
distance away to be a reasonable lunch break destination. C’mon, I thought, looking up at the digital clock that ran the
length of the buildings walls. It paced to the left, followed by a flow of
advertisements for seasonal specials. It was spice drinks this time of year, in case you
were curious perfect to take the edge of
the weathers chill. A tagline read.
I was nervous, I had never done this before. I wiggled my
foot up and down, my knee pumping like a small piston. Would the plan work? Would
the target survive? I watched the passing crowds and wondered just how many
would die today. Hopefully I wasn’t going to be among them. Was it worth the cost?
My heel knocked back into the backpack I had set under my
chair. A leather satchel zipped shut. I winced and moved my feet away
—just to be safe. Where are you? The
time on the clock switched, it was now noon. A few more minutes until the
unthinkable would happen, until the war would start, until the snake would be
without its head. My observations had shown that Ansgar Ghering would usually
show up around 12:05, sometimes 12:06. There were two doors on separate ends of
the coffee shop, as it was set in the corner of a busy junction, but he always came
through the right door. Was that him?
I craned my neck around an older couple who were sat at a
table in front of a window. The crowds outside were parting as a retinue made
its way down the sidewalk. It is. I felt the flurry of butterflies within my
stomach stir. It seemed as if they had just given birth to hundreds more companions in
the span of a second, I couldn’t contain the excitement, and the sadness,
storming inside. I stood up and stretched. Time to leave.
“Mommy, over here!” A little girl pulled her mom through
the door. She was pointing frantically at the shelves which were filled with thermal
mugs decorated with seasonal characters. Her smile was ear to ear, between
locks of golden hair. Her baby teeth so small and fragile. She jabbed her
finger a few more times and a flustered older woman, maybe only a few years
older than myself, dragged herself behind the energetic little girl.
“Yes dear.” She sighed and met my eyes, a lopsided grin
taking up her face. “Kids huh?”
No, no, no. I
thought. Is it worth it? Warn her. I
started to speak but stopped myself. Don’t
say a thing, you can’t say a thing. A second voice within my head affirmed.
Just leave. She paused and waited for
me to continue.
“What was that?” She asked.
“I,” I looked at her with sad eyes, hopefully it wouldn’t
be painful, and hopefully this child wasn’t destined for anything great. It
wouldn’t matter now, I guess. “I’m sorry.” I said. I felt tears starting to
well up in my eyes, and brushed my way past her at a steady pace.
“What?” She called after me. I ignored her. The dead
don’t speak. Thus was the cost of freedom.
I left through the other door just as Ansgar Ghering
entered with his security detail, all pomp and circumstance. All reason to die.
As soon as I was a block away I pulled a small device
from my pocket and squeezed. The relative peace of the afternoon was shattered
as a thunderous explosion echoed throughout the downtown area. A choir of
screams and shrieks arose to join the cannonade in a splendid symphony of
chaos. Chaos and victory.
*End Prologue*
Thank you for taking the time to read this sample I decided to share. Have any of you been working on a new challenge? Any advice for the prologue above? Did it do an OK job with some sort of hook? I want to hear from you!
Follow me on Twitter: @MattTaylor1776
-Matt
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
"Everyday" vs "Every Day"
I found this article to be interesting on the Writers Digest website, it goes into the use of the term everyday as compared to every day. As writers, we have all probably run into those moments where you aren't sure which is correct. This article will help! Click here to see the article
Here's a quick summary of it if you don't want to click on the link above:
"Everyday" is an adjective that describes on object. "That is an everyday item."
"Every day" is an adverbial phrase. "Every" is describing "Day". So, "I wake up every day and fluff my pet llama."
That's pretty much it. Hopefully it helps you out. Comment below, share, let me know about your writing ventures.
-Matt
Here's a quick summary of it if you don't want to click on the link above:
"Everyday" is an adjective that describes on object. "That is an everyday item."
"Every day" is an adverbial phrase. "Every" is describing "Day". So, "I wake up every day and fluff my pet llama."
That's pretty much it. Hopefully it helps you out. Comment below, share, let me know about your writing ventures.
-Matt
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Radio Silence
Hey all,
Sorry for the radio silence. Nothing really new in terms of writing for me right now. Waiting for edits back on the second short. Hopefully that will be received within this next week! Started my next set of classes to attain my Bachelors degree, for anyone who cares haha. Bracing myself for tons of reading... working on some other side projects, how is everyone else?
-Matt
Sorry for the radio silence. Nothing really new in terms of writing for me right now. Waiting for edits back on the second short. Hopefully that will be received within this next week! Started my next set of classes to attain my Bachelors degree, for anyone who cares haha. Bracing myself for tons of reading... working on some other side projects, how is everyone else?
-Matt
Sunday, January 4, 2015
First person POV.
Alright,
So I am trying my hand at first person POV. Normally I stick to some kind of 3rd person... it is, I believe, one of the most common POVs that writers use. But in an effort to flex my writing muscles, I decided to punish myself by switching to something new for a bit!
First thing I'm noticing about switching from 3rd to 1st, is that I feel a lot more repetitive... all of the "I" and "my, "me", whatever, seems to stand out more than any of the equivalents in 3rd. Another thing is sharing information. There isn't really any jumping into the thoughts of others, since you are sticking to the perspective of your main character. Everything needs to be told from his/her perspective, and that makes for an interesting exercise. On the bright side, I have read and believe, that writing in first person makes it easier for the reader to connect to your character, since you're describing things a lot more intimately, and can convey attitudes towards objects more directly.
If you have never tried writing in first person, check it out, even if you don't think you will like it!
If you have written in first person before, or do it regularly, please share your experiences in the comments below! Tell us what you think! Or if you would like to do a guest article feel free to send me a tweet @matttaylor1776 and we can talk about potential topics including first person pieces!
Good luck! Like and share this blog post if you found it interesting, join in the conversation!
Matt
So I am trying my hand at first person POV. Normally I stick to some kind of 3rd person... it is, I believe, one of the most common POVs that writers use. But in an effort to flex my writing muscles, I decided to punish myself by switching to something new for a bit!
First thing I'm noticing about switching from 3rd to 1st, is that I feel a lot more repetitive... all of the "I" and "my, "me", whatever, seems to stand out more than any of the equivalents in 3rd. Another thing is sharing information. There isn't really any jumping into the thoughts of others, since you are sticking to the perspective of your main character. Everything needs to be told from his/her perspective, and that makes for an interesting exercise. On the bright side, I have read and believe, that writing in first person makes it easier for the reader to connect to your character, since you're describing things a lot more intimately, and can convey attitudes towards objects more directly.
If you have never tried writing in first person, check it out, even if you don't think you will like it!
If you have written in first person before, or do it regularly, please share your experiences in the comments below! Tell us what you think! Or if you would like to do a guest article feel free to send me a tweet @matttaylor1776 and we can talk about potential topics including first person pieces!
Good luck! Like and share this blog post if you found it interesting, join in the conversation!
Matt
Sunday, December 28, 2014
This book is ridiculous!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RGK9XCI
This book "Dear Reader your pet may be a servant of Dear Leader", capitalized on the North Korean drama we had recently with "The Interview". It is very short, but pretty humorous. Have any of you checked it out? What do you think?
-Matt
This book "Dear Reader your pet may be a servant of Dear Leader", capitalized on the North Korean drama we had recently with "The Interview". It is very short, but pretty humorous. Have any of you checked it out? What do you think?
-Matt
Friday, December 26, 2014
Dry spell...
Alright, this post really isn't about a specific writing topic. I am just flustered with not being sure whether I should start writing a new manuscript, or continue with my revisions and editing... Boooooo I'm not sure.
What do my fellow writers do when they have a dry spell?! (A writing dry spell...)
-Matt.
What do my fellow writers do when they have a dry spell?! (A writing dry spell...)
-Matt.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Writing for Fun
Alright, so I listened to the latest Writing Excuses -check this sweet podcast out here:
http://www.writingexcuses.com/
It was an interesting topic: Writing for fun.
Often times, as writers, we can get caught up in:
"I need to finish this project simply because it's a deadline to meet."
"I need to write this to make money."
"I can't work on that idea because it is silly and won't make me money."
Sure, there are writers that write just for fun, and there are others who write with the intent to make money off of it, admittedly I am the latter. There is nothing wrong with that. If you are writing to make money, good for you, hopefully it is successful! If you are writing just for fun, good for you! Do what you enjoy! My message is mainly for the crowd who is writing for money.
Don't forget to have fun with it.
My bet is the first time you started writing, was because you found the task fun. If you didn't get any joy out of it, why would you do it initially? You don't want to take the craft that you've worked so hard to polish up, and suck the fun out of it. The day you write begrudgingly, simply because you need to, is the day it becomes a job just like any other job. So, take the time to work on that silly idea, write out a few scenes of that thing you don't think would sell. Because in the end, it's still practice.
Every time you write you polish things up even more for the day you are working on that big seller idea. Brandon Sanderson himself admitted he has plenty of things that he never intends to publish, Stephen King probably has tons of ideas as well that will never be published -not because they can't (that guy can publish anything), but because he wrote them to be silly, to have "fun". I guess what I'm saying is that having fun, doesn't equate to not being productive. At the very least, you are honing more of the writing craft.
Who knows what else you'll discover along the way.
Follow me on twitter! @MattTaylor1776 I will follow you back, I promise. Like and share this post! Comment! Share your thoughts, I'd love to hear from you!
-Matt
http://www.writingexcuses.com/
It was an interesting topic: Writing for fun.
Often times, as writers, we can get caught up in:
"I need to finish this project simply because it's a deadline to meet."
"I need to write this to make money."
"I can't work on that idea because it is silly and won't make me money."
Sure, there are writers that write just for fun, and there are others who write with the intent to make money off of it, admittedly I am the latter. There is nothing wrong with that. If you are writing to make money, good for you, hopefully it is successful! If you are writing just for fun, good for you! Do what you enjoy! My message is mainly for the crowd who is writing for money.
Don't forget to have fun with it.
My bet is the first time you started writing, was because you found the task fun. If you didn't get any joy out of it, why would you do it initially? You don't want to take the craft that you've worked so hard to polish up, and suck the fun out of it. The day you write begrudgingly, simply because you need to, is the day it becomes a job just like any other job. So, take the time to work on that silly idea, write out a few scenes of that thing you don't think would sell. Because in the end, it's still practice.
Every time you write you polish things up even more for the day you are working on that big seller idea. Brandon Sanderson himself admitted he has plenty of things that he never intends to publish, Stephen King probably has tons of ideas as well that will never be published -not because they can't (that guy can publish anything), but because he wrote them to be silly, to have "fun". I guess what I'm saying is that having fun, doesn't equate to not being productive. At the very least, you are honing more of the writing craft.
Who knows what else you'll discover along the way.
Follow me on twitter! @MattTaylor1776 I will follow you back, I promise. Like and share this post! Comment! Share your thoughts, I'd love to hear from you!
-Matt
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
"Heedless" is out! and other news.
Well, my short story "Heedless" is out. Book 1 of the Jax Jensen Trilogy. I would post a link to the amazon page, but there are plenty scattered about I don't want to overwhelm you all with links. Book two has gone off for editing. And I have started revising book 3.
As for nonwriting things, I saw the third Hobbit. I'll just leave it at this: I liked the first one in terms of story/progression more. But this one had the greatest amount of action and "cool" scenes. There were plenty of "what the heck" moments scattered throughout though.
On the Warhammer 40k front, I have started a Blood Angels army, those guys look pretty cool. I know a lot of individuals are hating on the codex, but, I actually don't mind it right now!
Did you guys see the hobbit? Any fellow 40k players here? My writing friends, any updates? Let me know!
Follow me on twitter to chat! (I follow back) @MattTaylor1776 , or comment below! Like and share the blog!
Love you all!
-Matt
As for nonwriting things, I saw the third Hobbit. I'll just leave it at this: I liked the first one in terms of story/progression more. But this one had the greatest amount of action and "cool" scenes. There were plenty of "what the heck" moments scattered throughout though.
On the Warhammer 40k front, I have started a Blood Angels army, those guys look pretty cool. I know a lot of individuals are hating on the codex, but, I actually don't mind it right now!
Did you guys see the hobbit? Any fellow 40k players here? My writing friends, any updates? Let me know!
Follow me on twitter to chat! (I follow back) @MattTaylor1776 , or comment below! Like and share the blog!
Love you all!
-Matt
Thursday, December 11, 2014
"Heedless" up for Pre-order!
"Heedless" book one of The Jax Jensen Trilogy, is up for pre-order on Kindle only!
Saturday, December 6, 2014
"Heedless" Short Story Progress: With pictures of book cover progress.
 |
| First concept: Very comic book looking, more cartoon-like |
 |
| Earlier Concept: Testing out crimson uniform. |
 |
| Heedless Semi-Final Cover Concept: Black uniform, black duster, medals and badges still need to be added. |
Alright so in the next week or so, my first short story, "Heedless", will be up for preorder on Amazon Kindle! My friend Joshua made this lovely piece, you can see more of his work at http://www.joshuapapaleo.com/ .
That is the main character in the story, Jax Jensen. These three short stories I am releasing are going to be a preceding trilogy to a series of novels featuring him and his universe (which I have been calling the Jensen-verse... its a working title...). I can't decide what to call the short story collections, I was thinking "The Jax Jensen Trilogy" so, Heedless would be scrawled across the top, then beneath would read "Book 1 of the Jax Jensen Trilogy". My only issue with that is, what do I do with the longer novels once those are out?"
What do you all think? Eye catching? We are trying to decide what to do with the background, right now, as pictured above, it is just a black to grey gradient. (Or should I say grey-dient -hahaha!)
Anyway, comment below and let me know what you all think! I would love to hear input, if you like the artwork, go checkout my buddy Josh's site, it is still in its early stages, but I know he has some stuff up there right now. He will be doing the next three covers as well!
Follow me on twitter! @MattTaylor1776
I love talking to new people, especially those who share my interests! So, if you want to talk about writing, war gaming, or anything really, just leave a comment, shoot me a tweet, send me a pigeon!
Thanks for reading,
Matt
Matt
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Finished NaNoWriMo 2014!
I finished NaNoWriMo this year, at a word count of: 50,537 words!
Boy it was a challenge. But it was a good experience, being encouraged to write an entire novel in one month. I didn't really hit that lull some writers get when you hit the mid point in your story, because I didn't really have time to get tired of the idea. I'm glad it's over, it was a great feeling of accomplishment, ready for 2015!
I wrote a novel with a female lead, which was different! It's weird as a male to write a female roll, I'm never sure if how I'm saying something, or the details my character is noticing, is genuinely what a girl would notice. Example: My mom pointed out the waitresses ring tonight at dinner because she thought it was pretty. My dad and I never even looked at her ring or hand to see if there was any jewelry. The novel is set in 1865 America, but the civil war has stalled out since the southern generals used more defensive tactics to mitigate the differences in manpower. The main character is a gunslinger who hunts down monsters, and the magic system in this world is called Cattlemancy, which is temporary augmentations granted by little vials of brewed liquid taken from the cattle and mixed with voodoo Indian rituals to result in a specific enhancement for a certain period of time. Anyway that's all I'm going to say about it for now. Back to formatting my first short story for kindle, will be releasing it later this month! (December)
Did you guys participate this year? What was your experience like? Let me know in the comments below!
Follow me on twitter and I'll follow back! @MattTaylor1776
Thanks,
Matt
Boy it was a challenge. But it was a good experience, being encouraged to write an entire novel in one month. I didn't really hit that lull some writers get when you hit the mid point in your story, because I didn't really have time to get tired of the idea. I'm glad it's over, it was a great feeling of accomplishment, ready for 2015!
I wrote a novel with a female lead, which was different! It's weird as a male to write a female roll, I'm never sure if how I'm saying something, or the details my character is noticing, is genuinely what a girl would notice. Example: My mom pointed out the waitresses ring tonight at dinner because she thought it was pretty. My dad and I never even looked at her ring or hand to see if there was any jewelry. The novel is set in 1865 America, but the civil war has stalled out since the southern generals used more defensive tactics to mitigate the differences in manpower. The main character is a gunslinger who hunts down monsters, and the magic system in this world is called Cattlemancy, which is temporary augmentations granted by little vials of brewed liquid taken from the cattle and mixed with voodoo Indian rituals to result in a specific enhancement for a certain period of time. Anyway that's all I'm going to say about it for now. Back to formatting my first short story for kindle, will be releasing it later this month! (December)
Did you guys participate this year? What was your experience like? Let me know in the comments below!
Follow me on twitter and I'll follow back! @MattTaylor1776
Thanks,
Matt
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Over Half Way Through NaNoWriMo
Alright, I am a little over 25,000 words into NaNoWriMo... a bit behind! Have to step up to writing 2k words per day to finish on time... challenge accepted :P. I hope you are all doing well! Any updates on your NaNo? Let me know!
-Matt
(Follow me on Twitter! @MattTaylor1776)
-Matt
(Follow me on Twitter! @MattTaylor1776)
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Tyranid Tuesday
Alright, so some of you may know that I play Warhammer 40k, it is a tabletop war game set in the grimdark future of the 41st millennium! I have roughly two thousand points of Eldar, and with the release of the new Tyranids have decided to start a Tyranid swarm!
It is a daunting task though, so many awesome models, I'm not sure where to start. Definitely out of my comfort zone as far as play style goes... my Eldar are lightning quick and unleash an ungodly amount of firepower... I was to make these nids close combat focused -as their fluff would suggest... if you have never heard of Warhammer, check out the two videos I have linked below... they serve as thoughtful inspiration for science fiction writing, and many writers may find their lore and the other lore intriguing!
Eldar Lore:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64PdT7nnALo
Tyranid Lore:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsHRsuMW9_0
anyway, comment below if you are excited for the new models! Or have found the two videos above interesting/inspiring for any of your world building!
For the gamers out there, I am thinking of making a swarm using the new sporemines. Taking 6 as my troop choice (2x3 units or 3x 2 units) and drop podding in 3 fex. The mines will drop and contain the enemy, or disrupt their lines, then the fex will drop and wreck vehicles and everything else while being covered by the shooting of the pods and the flyrants... think it'll work?
-Matt
Follow me on Twitter! @MattTaylor1776 I will follow back I swear!
Like and share this post, become part of my little writing community!
If you are participating in NaNoWriMo add me to your writing buddies! = MatthewTaylor1776
It is a daunting task though, so many awesome models, I'm not sure where to start. Definitely out of my comfort zone as far as play style goes... my Eldar are lightning quick and unleash an ungodly amount of firepower... I was to make these nids close combat focused -as their fluff would suggest... if you have never heard of Warhammer, check out the two videos I have linked below... they serve as thoughtful inspiration for science fiction writing, and many writers may find their lore and the other lore intriguing!
Eldar Lore:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64PdT7nnALo
Tyranid Lore:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsHRsuMW9_0
anyway, comment below if you are excited for the new models! Or have found the two videos above interesting/inspiring for any of your world building!
For the gamers out there, I am thinking of making a swarm using the new sporemines. Taking 6 as my troop choice (2x3 units or 3x 2 units) and drop podding in 3 fex. The mines will drop and contain the enemy, or disrupt their lines, then the fex will drop and wreck vehicles and everything else while being covered by the shooting of the pods and the flyrants... think it'll work?
-Matt
Follow me on Twitter! @MattTaylor1776 I will follow back I swear!
Like and share this post, become part of my little writing community!
If you are participating in NaNoWriMo add me to your writing buddies! = MatthewTaylor1776
Sunday, November 9, 2014
NaNoWriMo update!
Alright NaNoWriMo is quite the challenge! The best tip I have heard so far is to only stop writing once you know what will happen next... that way when you start back up, you wont be stuck there wondering what to write. Simple, but brilliant!
I am a little under 10k words in... checking out this program called Scrivener... I've heard great things about it, do any of you know how good it is? Recommend it? Avoid it? Let me know!
Hope you are all doing well both in writing and in life... I am feeling motivational today so here is something I always remembered from my health teacher way back in high school:
"Do the best with what you have, and where you are."
So keep at it guys! Share the blog, leave your comments, if you want to write a guest post then sweet! Let me know! Find me on Twitter (I promise I follow back) @MattTaylor1776
-Matt
I am a little under 10k words in... checking out this program called Scrivener... I've heard great things about it, do any of you know how good it is? Recommend it? Avoid it? Let me know!
Hope you are all doing well both in writing and in life... I am feeling motivational today so here is something I always remembered from my health teacher way back in high school:
"Do the best with what you have, and where you are."
So keep at it guys! Share the blog, leave your comments, if you want to write a guest post then sweet! Let me know! Find me on Twitter (I promise I follow back) @MattTaylor1776
-Matt
Monday, November 3, 2014
NaNoWriMo Day 3!
Alright, so we are three days into NaNo... everyone still breathing? Check your pulses. Stretch your legs. Brace yourself for more... MoMoWriMo (More More Write More?)
Anyway, I fell a bit behind due to Halloween. Derek needs more pressure into starting, I think he is scared, so tweet him words of encouragement! @derekdyer_WF
Comment below and let me know how your WriMo is going!
-Matt
Anyway, I fell a bit behind due to Halloween. Derek needs more pressure into starting, I think he is scared, so tweet him words of encouragement! @derekdyer_WF
Comment below and let me know how your WriMo is going!
-Matt
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Short Stories!
Short stories are a growing trend among all authors, new and published alike. While old publishing methods arguably did not favor production of short stories, new publishing practices with the advent of the eBook market (Here's lookin' at you Kindle/Amazon) are enabling all writers to produce and distribute short works to a massive audience. Here are some benefits of short stories:
Earning Potential: With the ability to put out multiple short stories within a short length of time, and sell them at a price that most full length novels are being sold for. Shorts offer a great way to make quick income. Per word, a short story can make more money than a novel. Shorts also offer multiple selling options. You could sell: Short 1, Short 2, Short 3. Three options right? Well consider a 4th option which won't cost you anything but a few extra minutes, sell a collection of the first three shorts as a value bundle. More often than not a reader will pick up the first short, and if they like it purchase the collection instead of individually buying the other two -which works out great for you, if you stop to consider what is actually taking place.
Bridge Between Novels: Alright, so you wrote Novel 1, and are getting to work on Novel 2. Meanwhile your loyal fans and ravenous readers are chomping at the bit to get at more of your work. To see other aspects of your world, and to be taken on more adventures. You can use short stories to sate the hunger of your followers while you type away at Novel 2, whether its to include short side stories or introduce other characters.
Networking: Short stories offer a great way for you to network with other writers and readers. You can use it to hook new readers onto your work, or to develop writing skills. Plenty of websites like Figment, and Wattpad service thousands upon thousands of new writers and offer readers looking for the next big thing a source to scour. (Shameless plug: My buddy and I who also run the blog "Wordsmiths Foundry" have made an account on Wattpad where we will be sharing shorts/flashfiction randomly. http://www.wattpad.com/user/WordsmithsFoundry)
Earning Potential: With the ability to put out multiple short stories within a short length of time, and sell them at a price that most full length novels are being sold for. Shorts offer a great way to make quick income. Per word, a short story can make more money than a novel. Shorts also offer multiple selling options. You could sell: Short 1, Short 2, Short 3. Three options right? Well consider a 4th option which won't cost you anything but a few extra minutes, sell a collection of the first three shorts as a value bundle. More often than not a reader will pick up the first short, and if they like it purchase the collection instead of individually buying the other two -which works out great for you, if you stop to consider what is actually taking place.
Bridge Between Novels: Alright, so you wrote Novel 1, and are getting to work on Novel 2. Meanwhile your loyal fans and ravenous readers are chomping at the bit to get at more of your work. To see other aspects of your world, and to be taken on more adventures. You can use short stories to sate the hunger of your followers while you type away at Novel 2, whether its to include short side stories or introduce other characters.
Networking: Short stories offer a great way for you to network with other writers and readers. You can use it to hook new readers onto your work, or to develop writing skills. Plenty of websites like Figment, and Wattpad service thousands upon thousands of new writers and offer readers looking for the next big thing a source to scour. (Shameless plug: My buddy and I who also run the blog "Wordsmiths Foundry" have made an account on Wattpad where we will be sharing shorts/flashfiction randomly. http://www.wattpad.com/user/WordsmithsFoundry)
Friday, October 24, 2014
Male vs Female perspectives!
Alright,
So either because I'm sadistic, or just up for a challenge, I decided to start writing a story with a female lead character. If you guys couldn't guess by my name, Matt, I am a male. I realized something... it's hard.
I had gotten a fair few pages written, and one of my friends who enjoys alpha reading for me decided to read what I had so far. She is also, a girl.
"Matt, this doesn't really seem like a girl speaking."
That was the first thing she said to me! I was like, huh? Then it dawned on me. If you and I both described a car, we would give a different description pointing out different aspects. For example, I may first notice the color:
"Damn, that red is really sexy."
While you may be like:
"Damn, that car has a lot of dents in it. The driver must be reckless."
The fact is, people notice and point out different things. This varies by age, occupation, and as you may have figured out -gender. A cop entering a room may first look for threats, potential hidings spots, escape routes. While carpenter Joe Citizen may recognize the style of cabinets, or how abused the wooden carved handrail is.
Girls, and guys, notice different things first. Whether its a person - "damn that girl has a nice rack" may be a guys first reaction. A girl may be like "that's a cute ear ring, or I wonder what perfume she is wearing -I think it's that *insert some name here* from Victoria Secret."
Or if it's a room
"Damn the fridge is too small, you can't fit beer in that!"
"What a lovely stove. Those blinds are sick, I need to get some of those."
However you write it, guys and girls will have different perspectives and notice different things. They will speak differently, treat others differently.
I'll keep it short today! If you have any input feel free to share! Like, comment, share this blog with your writing friends.
-Matt
So either because I'm sadistic, or just up for a challenge, I decided to start writing a story with a female lead character. If you guys couldn't guess by my name, Matt, I am a male. I realized something... it's hard.
I had gotten a fair few pages written, and one of my friends who enjoys alpha reading for me decided to read what I had so far. She is also, a girl.
"Matt, this doesn't really seem like a girl speaking."
That was the first thing she said to me! I was like, huh? Then it dawned on me. If you and I both described a car, we would give a different description pointing out different aspects. For example, I may first notice the color:
"Damn, that red is really sexy."
While you may be like:
"Damn, that car has a lot of dents in it. The driver must be reckless."
The fact is, people notice and point out different things. This varies by age, occupation, and as you may have figured out -gender. A cop entering a room may first look for threats, potential hidings spots, escape routes. While carpenter Joe Citizen may recognize the style of cabinets, or how abused the wooden carved handrail is.
Girls, and guys, notice different things first. Whether its a person - "damn that girl has a nice rack" may be a guys first reaction. A girl may be like "that's a cute ear ring, or I wonder what perfume she is wearing -I think it's that *insert some name here* from Victoria Secret."
Or if it's a room
"Damn the fridge is too small, you can't fit beer in that!"
"What a lovely stove. Those blinds are sick, I need to get some of those."
However you write it, guys and girls will have different perspectives and notice different things. They will speak differently, treat others differently.
I'll keep it short today! If you have any input feel free to share! Like, comment, share this blog with your writing friends.
-Matt
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