Annnnyway…

What exactly do I research, you may wonder.  (Glad you asked.)  I research a little thing called “Market Financial Feasibility.”  That means, I find and analyze everything that would go into making a business profitable before they ever actually even pave a parking lot.  I’ve worked with a wide variety of companies like Paramount, Starbucks, Gardenwalk, Kellogg’s, and even the Staples Center—just to “name drop” a few.  I’ve researched over 350 museums in the U.S. alone, as well as every Harvey House from here to Chicago, and hundreds of sports arenas.  I access information most people would never even dream existed, and I find it all for FREE.  (In fact, when I first accepted this client, I was told that I would become one of the foremost financial feasibility experts  in the country, and after the huge amount of information I’ve had access to, I think it might be true.)  So to say that I know a thing or two about research would basically mean I’m being humble.  Truth is—I know a crapload.

Now I know what you’re thinking:  “That’s all good and well, but how does all that knowledge make you an expert at researching a novel?”  And my evasive answer would be, “I at least know where to begin.”  Because out of all the research sites I’ve been too, I’ve found inspiration.  I find information that is just plain fascinating, and it creates story ideas in my head that I never would have considered before.  And several of the research tools I use to research Financial Feasibility can also work when researching your average novel.  Here are a few of my favorites must-use sites:

1. Wikipedia:  A lot of people give this site flack because they say it isn’t accurate.  Entries can be added by any random person, and then modified by others.  It hardly makes it the most accurate place to go for information.  HOWEVER, it is a great jumping off place because all that collaborative information often actually comes from experts.  To top it off, at the bottom of nearly every article, there are links to actual websites where you can find more information.  In the past when I’ve researched romance, I’ve used it for everything from finding recipes that come out of a specific regional area, to garb from a certain time period.  I’ve even used it to find out every single show my favorite actors have been in since they were BORN.  It will give you details and links to other articles that expand your knowledge base on a particular topic very quickly.
2. Google Earth (and NO, I don’t mean just Google):  Google Earth is actually a free program Google created and is awesome for researching a location.  You can actually pull up satellite images of whatever area your setting takes place in.  On top of that, Google has had the ingenious idea of driving around and taking pictures of areas, which means you can now see “Street Level” images of the places you want to know more about, or you can even see a 3D map of the area and get an idea of how tall certain buildings are.  To top it off, they have links to websites about various businesses and historical landmarks that make it easy to see what your characters would see in that town, even if you’ve never been.  And lastly, they also have “historical” maps where you can see how a town would have been laid out in specific time periods—like London in Shakespeare’s time.  It’s a very worthwhile site to download and access whenever you begin researching any information.
3. Google:  This is a “Duh” site.  If you’re not using Google to find information, then you’re out of date.  Google is the best search engine out there right now, and it’s easy to use.  Simply enter in an expression you are looking for, and see what pops up.  Narrow your choices down by putting quotes around the expression.
4. Industry Magazine Websites:  Just about every magazine that exists today has a website now.  For many of those magazines, they use their magazine articles as website filler to help inspire people to subscribe to the paper copy.  That means you can often find the same industry information on the magazine’s website as you can find in the magazine itself, but you can find it for FREE.  So Google the magazine’s name, and “Search” their archives for subjects you want to know more about.  It’s that easy.
5. Newspaper Websites:  Just like for magazines, newspapers also use their articles to lure their readers to subscribe… And that information is always available.  Search the archives of a local region’s newspaper and see what local breaking news could make your stories richer.
6. Amazon:  That’s right—I said Amazon.  Did you know that Amazon offers hundreds and even thousands of eBooks for free?  Especially classics like Sherlock Holmes, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and so on.  In fact, if you want to start reading these books for free but don’t have an eBook reader, all you have to do is download their free “Kindle for PC” program, and you can be reading any of those books for free instantly.  What better way to find out the lingo of a specific time period than to read a book actually written in that time period.  So check out the thousands of free Amazon eBooks when researching and see if something inspires you.  (I can also tell you how to totally plagiarise from those eBooks without ever typing a word… but I won’t.)
7. Twitter: I know, I know—Twitter is a Social Networking site where people talk crap in 140 characters or less.  But the truth is, it’s also a great “Survey” site.  You can actually post a question on the site and get dozens of answers instantly.  In fact, this past week, I was watching the show “Castle” and the cops in that show used Twitter to help figure a movie star’s last route before dying.  By simply “Searching” for that movie star’s name, they were able to find Tweets about where that star had been spotted, as well as specific times.  Although this may seem far-fetched, I’ve also heard of travelers using it to find out what restaurants are good in a specific town.  There are limitless possibilities here—all you have to do is ask a question or search for an answer and you will find it in a very short, fast sentence.
8. Yahoo Answers:  Speaking of Questions and Answers—Yahoo Answers is another great place to get your questions answered for free.  All kinds of people will answer any question you ask and many will even go so far as to provide a link to a website  that goes into more detail.  If you’re too shy to ask a question, you can also browse through previously answered questions and find what other people have said.  It’s a great way to find information on everything from fixing your computer to finding semi-legal or medical advice.

So there are just a few quick research resources to help you get started. What are some of your favorite Research Sites?  Comment below to let me know.

Like many other writers, I participated in NaNoWriMo last year (National Novel Writing Month). The goal is to write 50K words in 30 days on a new book. During that time, I read every email I got from the NaNo website, including the information on how to pad your words when you were struggling. Here is some of the advice (that THEY gave) to help you finish your word count goal when things feel like they’re getting hard. Try it out and see if it works for you.

(Now, I know these rules may make you feel like your writing is turning into crap, but remember… December is revision month. You’ll fix things then. And you may just surprise yourself when you shut the critic off.)

1) Seek and Destroy All Apostrophes. Turn words like WON’T and DON’T into WILL NOT and DO NOT. You get an extra free word with each apostrophe. (I once attended a workshop given by Julia Quinn, and she said that she does this before she publishes because she often writes 75K word novels and her editors want her to publish a minimum of 80K words.)

2) Make Your Characters Hard of Hearing (or Stupid). That means they’re going to ask the other characters to repeat themselves, and those characters will. This may sound like a waste, but think of it this way: By repeating yourself, you-the-author are getting a second chance to describe something better. You will then choose the one you like best during the revision process (which may include merging the two different explanations).

3) Write As if You Were Speaking to A Friend. With friends, you don’t edit
your words. You say the same phrases over and over again without realizing it. That’s okay. By doing this, you may find that not only will your words flow more freely, but that your dialogue will seem more genuine. (For example, I use the words ONLY, JUST, NOW, and SO a lot, which I will look for later and cut if they’re not working.)

4) Pad Your Work as Much as Possible: This means you should use all of the long flowery descriptions you can think of. It’s okay… again, you will cut out what doesn’t work later.

5) Skip scenes that are dragging and move straight to the next one that excites you. Forget writing in sequence, you will string it all together later.

And when all else fails, 6) Pretend you’re writing a play and stick to the dialogue. Dialogue often comes easier than description, and it will be more authentic and snappy if you can just let the characters have at it.

JUST REMEMBER: Chris Baty (found of NaNoWriMo) doesn’t expect a 50K word book to be a ready-to-publish novel. He himself admits that he writes 50K in November, but then adds another 50K throughout the revision process to get a 100K words. Your goal is to put the bare bones of your story down NOW, and flesh the rest out later.

As an author and/or reader, I’m sure you’ve probably already looked into eBook readers and have been shocked at the high prices. Which is better: the $300 Kindle or the $280 Sony? While the Kindle can automatically download any eBook purchased at Amazon from anywhere and at anytime, it cannot save pictures like the Sony can. And while the Sony can save more books than the Kindle, you must manually hook up to the Internet whenever you want to download your eBooks. So which to choose? My answer – long and short – is the iPod Touch or the iPhone. You see, I did the research into both the Kindle and the Sony, and I was merely waiting for the prices to come down, when I came across a Blog by Agent Nathan Bransford. He had written about how much he loved reading eBooks on his iPhone, and how convenient it was considering he always had his iPhone with him and often forgot to bring his Kindle. So, when you are looking into an eBook reader, seriously consider the iPhone or iPod Touch since they have MANY benefits.

The iPod Touch / iPhone eBook Benefits:

1. These can be as much as $100 cheaper than the Kindle or Sony depending on where you buy it, if it’s on sale, and if you’re getting rebates from your phone company.

2. They both have backlighting so you can read at night – something that NEITHER the Sony or Kindle offer yet.

3. They come with WiFi capabilities – which means you can download books anywhere WiFi is offered without plugging into a computer.

4. There are dozens of different FREE eBook reader downloads you can put on your iPod or iPhone. This means that you can buy your books from ANY company, whether Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or direct from the publishing company.

5. There is a Kindle application for the iPod / iPhone which will automatically send any eBooks you purchase from Amazon directly to your iPod / iPhone.

6. You can reduce or enlarge the font size for easier reading.

7. You can read your text in black lettering with a white background, white lettering with a black background, or even Sepia.

8. And turning the page is less annoying than on a Kindle or Sony. When you flip the page, you see it immediately shuttle out of range where on the Kindle or Sony, you get a much slower fade out / fade in effect – which can be irritating.

On top of that you also get these benefits (which make it the ultimate travel companion):

1. You can download hundreds of games to play wherever you go.

2. You can download movies and TV shows.

3. You can download pictures (just like with the Sony).

4. You can download music that you can listen to WHILE you read your eBook or play your games.

5. You can surf the internet – as long as you are in a WiFi zone.

6. You can quickly and easily access and respond to your email.

7. Plus, hundreds of other applications you can use or download like the Calculator, Calendar, the “Bump” feature (a must-have for easy transferring of files and contacts), and your Contacts.

8. Lastly, you don’t need a Mac to transfer files. (This is a HUGE plus in my eyes since I am – 100% – a PC girl.)

Keeping all of the above in mind, here are the last few things you need to know before you decide if you are going to buy one or the other:

1. The iPhone is only sold by AT&T – which means you have to have their service to get the full use of the phone.

2. The iPhone is going to add about $50 a month to whatever phone plan you choose since unlimited texting, unlimited internet, and whatever else are included in the iPhone package.

3. The iPod Touch is exactly like the iPhone EXCEPT:

• It does NOT have a camera. All pictures you download are just that… downloaded.
• It is NOT a phone – so it will become a second item to carry with you.
• And, there is NO monthly service charge to use it. So, considering all these things, you can see why I’m now a HUGE fan of the iPod.

And having used the iPod Touch for only two incredibly-exciting weeks, I now know that my next phone is going to be an iPhone. (There is just so much it can do that a regular phone can’t.) If you want to try it for yourself, Target offers a 90-day money back guarantee where you can buy it and try it, then return it if you hate it.

Happy reading.

(First Posted at www.computersight.com)

I’ve always said, “If a man wants to meet a really good woman, he should go to the RWA ® National Conference.  Those women are smart, creative, funny… and they KNOW GOOD SEX!!!”  I’ve also said, “If you’re a man at the RWA ® Conference, the women will flock to you because they think you’re 1) an editor, 2) an agent, or 3) a male romance writer.  Any way you look at it, they want to know you better.”

For women, the reason to go is a bit different.  Sometimes, we let the cost scare us away from something that could be the experience of a lifetime.  And for those women who doubt if they should go next year, here are the real costs of attending:

Conference Registration:  $425

Hotel: $400 (Give or take)

Food:  (Depends on how many $1 burgers you’re willing to eat.)

Drink:  (Hard to say…after all, there is a bar in the lobby.)

Airfare:  $150 to $400

And then… The Priceless Moments (in no particular order):

1. The Golden Heart ® and RITA ® Awards:  Although I had no interest in going to the awards ceremony, I went just to see if a fabulous member from my chapter might win for her historical novel.  When Jeannie Lin walked across the stage to collect her Golden Heart ® award, I felt the strongest surge of emotion – as if I had won instead of her.  It was a moment of sheer joy and fulfilled dreams wrapped into a ball of fire that glows from deep within your heart.
2. Then, seeing all these other writers collect their GH and RITA ® awards and talking about the family members who couldn’t be there… well… the best way to describe it would be like a tidal wave of emotion that radiates from the microphone, flooding the enraptured audience in pure love and emotion, until every eye in the room glistens with empathy.  If you ever wondered about the existence of a Higher Power, you feel it in that room… at that moment.
3. Hearing Linda Howard talk about her “stupid slut” ex-sister-in-law riding along in a wheelchair strapped to her ex-husband’s riding lawn mower.  Then, imagining said ex-sister-in-law being slingshot-ted over a hill because the couple used bungee cords to tie the wheelchair to the lawn mower (all the while, the “poor idiot” is wailing like a screaming fire engine)… All I can say is: there’s nothing funnier than a scene like that finely painted by a master storyteller.
4. Hearing the catch in Janet Evanovich’s voice when she spoke about getting “The Phone Call” more than 20 years ago.  Every writer in that room felt her keenly emotional experience and realized that their own “Phone Call” would be a memory that would overwhelm them for the rest of their lives, no matter how famous they became.
5. Listening to Eloisa James speak about how she got into romance writing for the money, despite her parent’s refusal to acknowledge her career choice.  Then, somewhere along the lines, realizing how very friendly and approachable Ms. James really is.  At that moment, you ask yourself:  When I’m as famous as Ms. James, will I be a diva, or a soccer mom?
6. Watching one very hot married Indian guy (who looked like a cover model tailor-made for the romance industry) being repeatedly hit on by flirty romance writers while his very amused, romance-writing wife stood by, a highly-satisfied grin on her face.  (If you saw the poor guy in the elevator…you would know exactly who I’m talking about.)
7. Lounging around the hotel bar with other writers while wearing either 1) your beaded ball gown from the awards ceremony, or 2) your ratty pajamas.  Those are the moments when true sisterhood shines through.
8. “The Cupcake Cowboy” in that same bar (…so dubbed by my critique partner, Valerie Bowman, for his timely delivery of chocolate cupcakes to drunk romance writers).  I am sure his tight blue jeans and flirtatious grin will show up in many romance novels to come… and of course, frosting will be involved somehow.
9. My roommate, Suzanne Lazear, decked out in her Steampunk costume (what a babe!) for the annual Steampunk Extravaganza.  (All I can say is… where can I find my beaded whalebone corset?  Also, you better keep that incredible jewelry close…)
10. Sniffling over the Star Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian with my other roommate, Heather Gordon.  (I never realized I was patriotic until I saw that incredible, war-torn, historic flag.)  Then feeling a lump in my throat as our tour bus took us past Arlington National Cemetery.
11. Staying up late with both my roommates, reliving our experiences of the day long into the wee hours of the morning.
12. Jumping around in joy with your friends when editors or agents ask you (or your friends) to submit a manuscript.
13. Actually waking up cheerful after three hours of sleep, ready to catch the Jacqui Jacoby’s Firefly workshop.  (Anyone else a Browncoat?)
14. Seeing the flash of fear in Julia Quinn’s eyes as you barrel toward her across the glittering marble lobby floor, intent on getting the autograph you missed at the fundraiser.  (There’s nothing like terrorizing a New York Times Bestseller to make you feel all powerful.)
15. And finally… Knowing that you are in the right industry… Feeling, deep in your bones, that there’s nothing you want more than to see your book on a grocery store shelf, and knowing that RWA ® is the place where that dream can come true.

So, ask yourself… How much would these memories (and feelings) be worth to you?

Talia Clare writes historical romance and Chick Lit.  You can find more of her articles at www.TaliaClare.com.

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Have you ever wondered, “How much will I make on my first book?”  How about, “How much can I expect to get for a book advance?”  Of course everyone has wondered, “When can I quit my day job once I’m published?”  Sadly, the truth is it may take YEARS for you to make enough money as a published novelist, and exact answers are hard to find.  What one publishing house is willing to pay for a first book, another may not be.  Truth be told, one publishing house editor once revealed to me that most “first books” do not sell more than 100 copies.  At 6% of retail on 100 books (let’s say $6.99 per book), you could probably expect to make as little as $45.  (Ouch.)

However, there is a ray of hope in this dismal situation.  Brenda Hiatt’s website (www.BrendaHiatt.com) has a section she calls “Show Me the Money.”  In this section, Brenda has interviewed hundreds of romance authors about the different books they’ve published.  Her results include how much authors have received for advances and earn-outs.  The end results were fascinating.

Following are three tables displaying the “Top Ten” for Average Advances, Earn Outs, and Commissions.  With these handy little charts, you can see where you may want to submit your book first, and how much you could hope to make.

Top 10 Publishing Houses For

Average Advance (First Book)

Top 10 Publishing Houses For

Average Advance (Subsequent Books)

Top 4 Publishing Houses For

Highest Print Royalties

Top 10 Publishing Houses For

Average Earnings

Top 10 Publishing Houses For

Highest Total Earnings

Ms. Hiatt’s interviews also show that you can hope to negotiate the following for your first romantic novel:

· Advance for a first book = approximately $4,000

· Average Advance for subsequent books = $7,000

· Royalties = 6% to 7%

· Total Average Earnings Per Book = $9,000

I guess that’s why published writers always say “We don’t do this for the money.  We do this for the love of writing.”

This kind of lesson has a crossover into our lives as writers. Unpublished writers often wonder, “Why am I not getting published? Why do I keep getting rejected?” Yet your friends and family tell you, ““OMG, this is so good; it is the next bestseller.” People closer to the industry will tell you, “That type of book is no longer trendy,” and “Publishers are no longer buying your genre.” What they should probably be saying is, “This piece just isn’t good enough…but it could be with more work.”

So the question becomes, can you really trust your friends and family to give you the cruelest, most honest opinion possible? Or are they more likely to tell you words that comfort, like the women in “He’s Just Not That Into You”?

If you really want an answer to the question “Am I good enough”, there is a place online where you can go and get your work judged:  You need Helium…dot com. This website has four different ways of telling you if your writing is good enough. Those ways include:

1. Judgment by your peers. In this writing community, you pick a topic you want to write about and submit your work. Other website writers on the website will then judge whose work they think is best without any fore knowledge of author identity. On a day-to-day basis, you can see where your articles rank among your peers and which pieces could have benefitted from more revision. Furthermore, other writers can provide comments on your work, which can be valuable feedback should you wish to update and improve your article.
2. Payment for your work. Whether your article becomes number one, or number twenty, you still get paid for each article. However, due to the variation in article payments, you will soon see which of your topics did best, and which ones did nothing. In a very short period of time, you will be able to determine where your expertise excites readers, and where it is ignored.
3. Weekly Contests on a variety of topics. Each contest offers $25 compensation for winning articles. The winner is chosen by the anonymous ratings they get from other writers, the number of high ranking articles they write in a specific category, and being in the top 55% of the ratings. Again, your work is judged by writers making the feedback impartial, and any victory sweeter.
4. A Writer’s Marketplace where you can sell your articles. At Helium.com, there is a Writer’s Marketplace where magazine companies post assignments and compensation amounts. Like the contests, writers compete, and then the magazine company purchases and publishes the article they like best. This is a great way to know if your writing is magazine-worthy or not.

So what are you waiting for? If you this is a question that’s been plaguing you, sign up for a profile today and begin e-publishing your own work. In no time, you’ll have an answer.

The ones that melt our hearts, soften our minds, and make us sigh with longing.  It is the thoughtful things that can actually make a person (and often a reader/writer) melt versus the big gestures which are often commercial or just plain wrong.  Godek will show you how something as simple as a post-it note can become more exciting than roses.  So, if you are a writer that needs some romantic inspiration, “1001 Ways to Be Romantic” is a must-have for your shelf.  It will take your characters beyond the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Here are 25 of my favorite ideas that can be applied to any romance novel (although keep in mind, this is my interpretation of some of Godek’s ideas):

#55:  Hide Erotic Notes and Small Gifts in Random Places (Such as under the pillow, in a purse or briefcase, under the dinner plate, etc.)

#110:  Add Candlelight to Any Meal (or Event)

#117-144:  Instead of a Day of Romance, Make it a Month of Romance.  Do something special everyday for an entire month, whether delivering a single flower, taking walks, having a picnic, and so on.

#149:  Lie if necessary.  (By this, Godek means that it is okay to lie to your partner if you have a wonderful surprise planned.  His reasoning:  “The end justifies the means.”)

# 195:  Have the Hero Brush the Heroine’s Hair

#204:  Change a bad habit in the name of love, especially one that annoys the Heroine.  Make him stop gambling, change his appearance, have him give up other woman…all without the Heroine having to ask.

#238:  Go lingerie shopping together.

#250:  Build Anticipation by leaving an erotic note of what the Heroine would like to do to the Hero later.  It will be all he will be able to think about.  (This works well with “no undergarments” also.)

#257:  Try an exciting new adventure together (like hot air ballooning).

#277:  Have the Hero add to the Heroine’s entire collection of…whatever.  Music, trinkets, stamps, books by a particular author…whatever the Heroine is fond of.

#333:  Instead of having your Hero buy a piece of jewelry for the Heroine, why not have him design one.  Think of how silly but touching such a gift could be.

#348:  Have your Hero or Heroine attempt to be completely supportive, positive and non-judgmental for a specific period of time no matter how awful the other person is being.

#359:  Have the Hero go out of his way to do something nice for the Heroine.  (It may sound a bit nerdy, but what woman doesn’t appreciate this from the man in her life?)

#374:  Give him/her a favorite toy or trinket from his/her childhood.

#424:  Have a secret look or gesture that communicates the desire to be private immediately.

#449:  Make a list of “Ten Reasons Why I Married You.”  (This could be a very intriguing character quirk for a Hero/Heroine…the incessant need to make lists.)

#459:  Create a Romantic Ritual, like swapping unwanted food from each other’s plate, bathing together every morning, or bringing the other person a cup of tea before bed every night.

#627:  Have your Hero interview someone from the Heroine’s past who might know a bit more about what she likes and doesn’t like, and then have him surprise her with it.

#647:  Read the newspaper in bed together.  (This goes will with the Romantic Ritual idea.)

#653:  Have your characters work together to cook a meal.

#690:  Have a meal together in an unusual place, such as a museum, the airport or train station, or even by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.

#722:  Have your Hero stop to pick wildflowers from a field or the side of the road for the Heroine.

#745:  Name the Hero’s boat/horse/car (etc) after the Heroine.

#772:  Have your Hero or Heroine keep old mementos from their past; anything like love letters, a journal, ticket stubs, pressed flowers, etc.

And #813:  Have your Hero or Heroine do something totally out of character.

You did it. You finished it. You spent the past year (or ten years) of your life writing your masterpiece and you really think this is the “Big One” – your million dollar baby. You know your concept is spot on, your theme is sound, and your scenes are even moderately funny. But something’s missing… something’s wrong. You can’t quite put your finger on what that might be, but you sense you might need help. You need a new pair of eyes that will help fix whatever kinks exist in the woodwork, but you aren’t sure where to find that help. After all, handing your book to your family and friends is only going to result in dozens of “I loved it(s)”, but not reasoning as to why they loved it.

If this describes you, you’ve found the right article.

I’m not going to tell you what’s wrong with your book, because I haven’t read your book. But I am going to tell you where to go so that you can find those problems on your own. The answer lies in “First Draft in 30 Days” by Karen Weisner. This incredible book actually has 158 pages of reading, and then 50 pages of worksheets. It is a complete guide on how to “storyboard” your book so that once you are finished, you can physically see where the problems exist, where scenes may need to be added, and where you need to focus your attention. Her advice is simple, yet potent, and it is a must-have for any writer’s bookshelf.

Here is why you have to have it:

• Chapter One is all about Brainstorming. It discusses Productivity and offers 26 ways to conjure up ideas. (Another great place for brainstorming is Bubbl.us.)
• In Chapter Two (a.k.a. Week 1), you create a Preliminary Outline of your book. Ms. Weisner’s easy questionnaires generate the basic GMC’s (Goals, Motivations and Conflicts) of your characters, as well as Setting Sketches, Plot Sketches, and Timelines. Whether you apply this to a Work in Progress (WIP) or a New Manuscript, this important chapter will instantly let you know if you have developed your book “enough.”
• Chapter Three (Week 2) is all about Research. This is the chapter that helps you answer all of those relevant questions you may have forgotten, such as “How long would it really take to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the 1890’s?” Using the relevant worksheets, you will be able to make certain that your backup information is sound, and that those newfound facts will strengthen your story.
• Week Three (Chapters 4 and 5) focuses on Evolving and Formatting the Outline of your story. You will craft the Beginning, Middle and End of everything you have put together, and you will begin to incorporate some of the information you have recently discovered. By the time this week is done, you will know exactly where the holes in your story lie and what you need to do to make them better.
• Finally, in Week Four (Chapters 6 and 7), you will “fix” all of the things that went wrong. The book’s corresponding worksheets will help you evaluate which plot threads can be strengthened and which subplots may need to be cut. By the time you are done, your story’s outline will be so complete and complex, you won’t be able to sleep with the excitement of knowing that you are almost done.

So, if you really want to take your Novel and perfect it, get this book as soon as you can and utilize it. You will go back to it time and again, and soon you will find that it does not take 30 days at all to complete this process…it can actually be done in as little as 7 days.

My last piece of advice: When you fill out the Worksheets in the book, do not put them into a Word document. Instead, use Excel. List each series of questions in Column A, and list the corresponding character across the top row. Also, each set of questions should be in its own worksheet. By doing this, you will simplify the Organization Stage (Week 3) since all you will have to do is cut and paste all the information into one final worksheet. Plus, you can easily move things around should you wish to change your timeline. It is the only thing I recommend that is contrary to Ms. Weisner’s advice, whereas everything else I consider brilliant.

Good writing.

When writing any book, whether romance, murder, mystery or historical, one thing that will always be important to a fiction story is Setting. Where a story takes place is critical to a book because it is the difference between how your main character lives, what experiences build them as an individual, and whether or not they are aware of things outside of their world’s small scope. Setting can also determine what will happen next in your story, which can help any writer who may be suffering from Writer’s Block. For example, “Jurassic Park” is supposed to take place on a deserted tropical island in the middle of nowhere. What would the dynamic of humans and dinosaurs be in a location such as Antarctica versus Los Angeles? In Antarctica, reptiles cannot survive without the warmth of the sun, whereas Los Angeles would be the scene of a veritable T-Rex Buffet. The chosen setting would decide if the human race survives or becomes appetizers.

Thus, since Setting is so important to a story, it is just as important to get a true feel for a desired location. A writer needs to get a “lay of the land”, so to speak, and to physically see what may or may not impede their characters from making it to the end of their story. For most writers, however, travelling is not an option due to lack of funds and time commitments. (Heck, if you’re lucky, you might find a book about your chosen area at your local library while on break from your “day job.”) This is where Google Earth comes in. Although most people would go to Yahoo Maps or MapQuest to see the lay of the land, my first choice is always Google Earth. This is a powerful research tool that can help any writer fully define their setting from the comfort of their desk. It requires no monetary commitment or Dramamine, and it is a very simple program to use. Here are some of the most useful features applicable:

Features / Benefits

1. Google Earth offers Satellite Imaging. You can actually get almost close enough to see many details of your desired location. For example, if you were to type in your home address, you could see the shape of your building and the cars in your driveway. Be aware, however, that these satellite images are a couple years old, so it may not be your car you see, but the car of the people who lived there before you. Still, since your story could have taken place anytime in the last couple years, even data two years old can still be helpful.
2. Google Earth has an incredible Zoom-In Feature. By simply clicking on an area and zooming in, you can see the minute details as well as a street-level panoramic view of the area. You can digitally turn the picture and see whether your location is surrounded by mountains and how high those mountains might be. This one feature alone could help you determine how easy it may be for a character to escape should someone like Freddy Cougar come a-knocking.
3. Google Earth is linked to Wikipedia. This is so handy when beginning your research. By simply typing the name of your location, Google Earth pulls up the map with a special clickable icon that pops up the location’s history. You can find out when the place was first founded, how many people currently live there, what county it’s in, etcetera. It is an abbreviated article with a link to the full article, perfect for researching or trip planning.
4. It links to Pictures of the Area. The more you zoom in, the more you will see little blue icons that link to local attractions. Again, if you click on these items, you can often see multiple pictures with a brief history of the attraction and corresponding relics. Other times, it will be a professionally taken picture of the attraction with no corresponding information. Either way, this is handy for planning situations which could have taken place in any desired time period.
5. You can watch the Sun Rise or Set in your Desired Location. The newest Google Earth download offers a “Light and Shadow” setting where you can actually adjust the view to see what the area would look like as the sun rises or sets, or as the sun passes over the area. This could help set the mood in your setting. For example, if your main character was camping, the approximate time that the sun may warm the area would definitely affect the mood of your scene.
6. You Can Map Current Points of Interest. Suppose you wanted to know where all the churches in the area are located, Google Earth can map them. You simply check off the corresponding box under Points of Interest, and Google Earth will offer you names, addresses, phone numbers and applicable websites in a small pop up balloon. These balloons are huge timesavers when it comes to taking the next step in your research.

Cons:

Although this program is easy to use and is packed with information, there are a few minor downsides. These downsides include:

1. The applicable information is often a year or more old. This means some places may no longer be in business and websites or phone numbers may no longer be in use.
2. Satellite Images were also taken more than a year ago, so you cannot actually see what is there today, but what was there two years ago.
3. Weather affected the Satellite Images, so there may be some areas that are hard to see due to bad weather at the time the pictures were taken.
4. If you zoom in too closely, images can become blurry, largely because the program is shifting into Panoramic View.

And yet, despite all the cons, Google Earth is still an excellent program when in the planning phase of your book, or when you need research in a pinch. Although they do have a $400 version of this program, I recommend sticking with the free download.  It has more than enough information and it can really simplify a writer’s research.