HOW TO SPEAK TO A GROUP ABOUT YOUR WRITING By Maria Hudgins

 

I'm not really sure why anyone would want to hear me speak about my writing, but people do ask and I am flattered. And frightened. Frightened, because standing up in front of a group of literate people most of whom are probably smarter than I am makes me feel like a third grader reporting on a book he hasn't read. Writing is so much easier than speaking. I can delete and change and try to remember what I meant to say when I started this.

I wonder. What do they want to know about me? About my writing? I'm not a very interesting person but I hope my books are. Why did they ask me? I have heard some intriguing talks by writers like Stephen King, Louise Penny, and Colin Dexter, but their experiences are not mine. I have to come up with my own. 

I have two speaking engagements coming up soon, and I'm searching for ideas. So far, nothing.

What do I want when I hear another writer speak? I want them to tell me what they are thinking about right now. Maybe it will give me an idea.

But then there's the old, "Where do you get your ideas?" Answer: Who knows? Ideas come at you from out of the blue and all at once. The great thing is to keep your mind open for ideas when they do come. Some writers keep a note pad and pencil on their bedside table. Works for some, but not for me. I wake up and read what seemed to me brilliant, earth-shattering, insight at 2 am, but at 8 am, it says (barely legible) something like, "Hoggamus, higgamus, all men are bigamous;  higgamus, hogggamus, women are monogamous."

(I've heard this silliness attributed to several different people, but I don't know who said it first. )

Sometimes people are curious to know how I write. How do I start? On my first book, "Death of an Obnoxious Tourist," I hit upon a good way to put my experience as at science teacher to work. I got a foam-core  three-sided science project board and glued pictures of my characters on one side, pictures of houses, cars, other scenes that looked like the settings in my head on the other, and in the middle, a table showing chapters, major events, etc. It worked well, but I have changed the system little by little until now it's more like a dozen or more pages for character descriptions, major plot points, and background info.

Most people are curious to find out: How did you get published? Do you have an agent and can I have their name? Do you have to pay anyone? I have no answers for any of these. I have only my own experiences and things change constantly in this volatile market. I would encourage anyone determined to get published, to attend conferences and gatherings that concentrate on the genre you love, and make contacts.

The most important thing, I think, is don't be boring. Whether you say anything illuminating or not is less important than making your audience glad they came. 

COZY UP WITH COASTAL CRIMES by Yvonne Saxon

Before you know it, it will be sweater weather here in Southeastern Virginia, and I can’t wait! Turning leaves and frosty days make me want to curl up with a hot cuppa and a good book. Soon, you can get cozy with a cozy mystery!

I’m looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of the soon to be published Coastal Crimes: Death Takes a Vacation, an anthology of fourteen mystery stories which take place at unique but deadly locations in the Coastal Plain of Virginia and North Carolina. The collection includes vacation getaways from the shores of Virginia Beach to the Eastern Shore and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Contributing authors are members of Mystery By The Sea, a local Virginia chapter of Sisters in Crime.

Keep your eye on this site for further updates!

WHAT IS GOOD WRITING THESE DAYS? By Penny Hutson

 

Don’t we all know what good writing is? It’s certainly not repeating too many words or using too many of the same words in the same sentence. That’s what I’ve always been taught and taught my students when I was an English teacher, teaching English for many years. Not using incomplete sentences, either. And you should never start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction like “and” or “but” or use a preposition like “with” to end a sentence with.  Anyone annoyed yet?

Okay, maybe that was a bit over the top. However, as a former English teacher trained in avoiding such writing faux pas, I wonder if I notice them more than the average reader. For instance, when I pick up a novel with a ton of repeated words, cliches, or adjectives, I stop reading it and likely refrain from reading other books by the same author. Perhaps that’s unfair, but with so many excellent books and a limited time to read them, I can’t justify spending it on poorly written ones that I truly don’t enjoy. I find myself getting annoyed, often ruminating aloud, “How many times is she going to swallow or bite her tongue? No, his eyes didn’t flash. That’s not even possible!” I believe you get the idea.

Yet, when I look at many of the best sellers and award-winning novels on the market today, I can’t help but notice how often these devices are used. It appears that a vast majority of readers don’t care about such things; and the writers (and publishers) are raking in big bucks to the tune of millions. According to several sources, James Patterson and John Grisham are worth over 800 and 400 million dollars, respectively. They are among the top-selling authors today, but they are certainly not alone. Many others are earning close to or as much and with worse writing, in my opinion.

So, what gives?

Now, I’m not asserting that either Patterson or Grisham are terrible writers whose works don’t deserve to be in print, although I’ll admit I’ve seen many whose publication successes are quite mystifying to me. I have read several books by Patterson and Grisham, including some of their young adult novels, and I enjoyed them. Truth be told, they manage exciting plot lines, interesting stories, and compelling characters even with all the cliches and what I’d call average writing. In fact, it makes me wonder if I’m overly concerned with such things in my own writing, when it appears that most readers in our current society don’t seem to care about or perhaps even prefer such writing.

Of course, I know there’s always been a difference between good literature, like the kind we read in high school and college, and what is often called junk or pulp fiction. You know the kind - those steamy romances, swashbuckling adventure, or detective mysteries essentially telling the same story over and over except with different characters and settings. We know they’re not winning any Pulitzers, but we love reading them anyway. However, there appears to be so much more of the latter being published and purchased today.

So, I’m asking you, as writers, how much do you worry about such things? Do you think readers today care more about the story than the writing itself, perhaps even preferring that style of writing over the more polished, literary kind? Essentially, I’m asking if you think “good writing” has been replaced. What else could explain the enormous profits made by those publishing works without it? I’d love to hear your responses.

SHIFT 3: FROM POUND SIGN TO HASHTAG By Michael Rigg

From: Your Complete Guide to Hashtag Analytics | Sprout Social

As users of social media, we’ve all seen them. On most keyboards, it’s the symbol that results when you hit “Shift” and the Number 3: #. Some might still call it a “pound sign” or a “hash mark.” But those of us, even Boomers like me, who have made the bold leap into social media call them “hashtags.”

Hashtags made their debut in social media—on Twitter—in about 2007. In 2014, the Oxford English Dictionary adopted this definition of hashtag: “On social media websites and applications: a word or phrase preceded by a hash sign and used to identify messages relating to a specific topic. Also: a hash sign used in this way.” (See, hashtag, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary (oed.com))

In “plain English”:

A hashtag is a keyword or phrase preceded by the hash symbol (#), written within a post or comment to highlight it and facilitate a search for it. Essentially, by including hash marks in your post; it can be indexed by the social network so that it can be discoverable to everyone, even if they’re not your followers or fans.

(Source: What are Hashtags and How to Use Them on Social Media (wix.com))

That’s the “What.” Now the “Why” and “How.”

According to the Digital Marketing Institute:

Hashtags are important on social media as they enable your content to be found by the right people. Using relevant hashtags helps give context to your content and drives traffic so that you can boost views, likes, and shares. The key is finding the right hashtags that match your content and appeal to users.

(Source: How to Use Hashtags Effectively on Social Media | Digital Marketing Institute.)

There are various types of hashtags. Wix.com identifies three: (1) content hashtags, (2) trending hashtags, and (3) brand-specific hashtags. I believe that LinkedIn provides a better, more detailed, discussion, identifying five types of hashtags: (1) location hashtags, (2) branded hashtags, (3) industry hashtags, (4) community hashtags, and (5) descriptive hashtags. (See, (30) HASHTAG CATEGORIES TO INCREASE REACH | LinkedIn.)

Here is a summary of each:   

Location hashtags are powerful tools for reaching a local or regional audience. Whether you're promoting a local event, a business, or simply sharing experiences from a particular place, incorporating location-specific hashtags can significantly increase visibility. For instance, using hashtags like #NewYorkCity or #London allows your content to be discovered by users searching for content related to those locations. Remember to be specific with your location hashtags to target the right audience effectively.

Branded hashtags are unique to your brand and serve as a way to foster community engagement and brand loyalty. Creating a branded hashtag that reflects your brand's identity or a specific campaign can help unify your content and encourage user-generated content. For example, #JustDoIt by Nike or #ShareACoke by Coca-Cola are excellent examples of branded hashtags that have gained widespread recognition and participation. When implementing branded hashtags, ensure they are memorable, relevant, and easy to spell.

Industry hashtags are tailored to a specific niche or industry, allowing you to connect with like-minded individuals and target audiences interested in your field. These hashtags help position your content within a broader conversation and establish your authority in your industry. Whether you're in technology, fashion, food, or any other sector, identifying and using relevant industry hashtags can help amplify your reach and attract relevant followers and engagement.

Community hashtags bring people with shared interests or affiliations together, fostering a sense of belonging and facilitating conversations within a community. These hashtags can range from hobbies and interests to social causes and movements. Engaging with community hashtags not only expands your reach but also allows you to connect with individuals who share similar passions or values. By participating in community discussions and using relevant hashtags, you can increase your visibility and build meaningful relationships with your audience.

Descriptive hashtags provide context or describe the content of your posts, making them more discoverable to users searching for specific topics or themes. These hashtags complement other types of hashtags and help categorize your content based on its subject matter. Whether it's #TravelPhotography, #HealthyRecipes, or #MondayMotivation, descriptive hashtags allow you to target users interested in particular topics or activities. When crafting descriptive hashtags, aim for clarity and relevance to maximize their effectiveness.

For additional assistance on developing hashtags, see: Infographic: The 5 Steps of Keyword Research | Digital Marketing Institute.

So, there you have it. A very basic primer on the What, Why, and How of hashtags—Hashtags 101. Next time you blog, or post on social media, think about adding a one or more hashtags. Some practice tips on using hashtags: (1) keep your hashtags short, (2) don’t overuse hashtags, and (3) think strategically about your target audience.

 Now, go forth and experiment! With a little practice, knock-on-wood, your social media reach and presence should grow.